Wildernesse

Wildernesse Golf Club is one of two great venues in and around the town of Sevenoaks in Kent, alongside Knole Park.

Having moved just down the road from its original location in the 1890s, five-time Open Champion James Braid was the man to design the current layout.

Like all good courses, there are plenty of tough holes at Wildernesse, including narrow and long par 4s. However, there are also some good opportunities to score, to keep you interested...

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The history of Wildernesse Golf Club dates back to the late 19th Century. The club was founded in 1890, making it one of the oldest clubs in Kent.

It was originally a 9-hole layout that was based on the Wildernesse Estate, around half a mile to the northwest of the club’s current location.

When the club made its move, the great James Braid was brought in to design the new layout, and the 18 holes that he created have since remained relatively unchanged.

The impeccably presented parkland fairways move smoothly through the woodland at Wildernesse and the recently renovated clubhouse is now equipped with what might just be the most idyllic terrace in the whole of English golf. Wildernesse is green and tree-lined, and not much had changed at Wildernesse since Braid’s day until recently. This par 72 layout runs to more than 6,500 yards off the Whites, so although there are chances to score, there are also holes where it can all go wrong...

An unexacting opening hole, of which it would be wise to take advantage, gets you on your way. It is only 360 yards, but make sure you stay short of this flag as the green slopes from back to front. The 2nd is much tougher - 450 yards, a dog-leg from left to right, and with water in the middle. A drive down the left side is required to give yourself the best angle to this green. The 3rd is the Stroke Index 1 at Wildernesse, thanks to the three bunkers in the landing zone that make the fairway extremely narrow. You can opt to stay short of those, but then you leave yourself a long approach into a narrow green. Although straight, the 4th is also testing. A bunker down the left and trees on either side make accuracy off the tee vital.

The 5th is the opening short hole at Wildernesse, and although it is only 160 yards in length, it presents a real challenge. It is the most sloping green on the course, so even if you find it, a two-putt is not necessarily assured. The first par 5 follows, and at only 495 yards, the 6th offers a real birdie chance. Avoid the two bunkers on the left of the fairway, and you might be tempted to take it on with your second shot. However, those laying up have aiming points with three bunkers down the right side closer to the green. A good par, and an even better chance at birdie. 7 is only 340 yards, but its lack of width makes it more difficult than you might think, while the 8th is the shortest par 4 on the course at 330 yards. Two bunkers end the first part of the fairway, but laying up with a long iron or fairway wood is the best play here anyway, as you will still only have a wedge or low iron in hand for your second.

The course than bares its teeth again with the 470-yard par-4 9th. Most will play this as a par 5 due to its sheer length, with two lusty blows being required to get home and to give yourself a shot at making par. The back nine begins with back-to-back par 5s, sandwiched in between par 3s. The short holes come at 10 and 13, with the former being the longest of the par 3s at almost 200 yards. It has a two-tiered green, so make sure you find the right layer, otherwise two-putting is difficult. 13 is the shortest hole on the course at less than 140 yards, but four bunkers protect the small target. In between lie two par 5s, both of which are less than 500 yards. The 11th is the shorter of the two, but plays uphill and left to right which makes it feel longer. You then come to 12, which is wider, but longer. Bunkers line the fairway, and there is a good area to lay up short of the two traps that sit some 50 yards from the green.

The closing stretch at Wildernesse begins with a medium-length par 4, one of the final chances to score on the layout. Two fairway bunkers do pinch the fairway in, but the longer hitters may fancy their chances at clearing those. The 15th can be anywhere from 140 to 180 yards due to the length of the green, making it one of the trickier par 3s on the course. 16 and 17 are both tough par 4s, and easily holes where you can lose a good card. The former moves from left to right, and although there are no bunkers, this 425-yard par 4 is narrow. 17 moves from right to left and features an uphill tee shot – one where the right side must be favoured. After those, you do get the chance to make a shot or two back on the par 5 18th. It is only 490 yards, and it plays downhill, making it reachable in two for those that get a good drive away around the trees...

Where is Wildernesse Golf Club located?

Wildernesse Golf Club is situated to the southeast of London, in the county of Kent. It is just outside the town of Sevenoaks, with the junction of the M25 and the M26 only a few miles to its west. The M26, along with the A25, then run along the northern side of the property. The centre of England’s capital city is 30 miles to the northwest of Wildernesse, while both Folkestone and Dover are within 60 miles on the southeast coastline of the country.

Those provide the best route for visitors from northern Europe, with the Channel Crossing and Channel Tunnel getting people to and from Calais. For those taking flights have a number of options. London Gatwick Airport is the nearest to Wildernesse – 25 miles to the west of the golf club. London City and London Heathrow – the latter being the busiest airport in the country – are both within 50 miles as well. Bat & Ball is the nearest train station, with services running between London Blackfriars and Sevenoaks. The latter is also within a short drive from Wildernesse, and provides a wider range of destinations via rail, including London Charing Cross, Dover Priory and Tunbridge Wells.

Are there any NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?

Thanks to its location in the southeast of the country, there are plenty of venues on the NCG Top 100s: England list in close order. Knole Park is just minutes away, while Tandridge, The Addington, Chart Hills, Royal Ashdown Forest’s Old Course, and Walton Heath – with its Old and New Courses – are all within a 30-mile journey.

What golf facilities does Wildernesse Golf Club offer?

The golf club also has incredible practice facilities, as well as the glorious 18-hole golf course. There is a full-length driving range and a short game area, both of which sit to the side of the opening tee box. The putting green is next to the clubhouse for those final touches before you take to the course.

What are the green fees at Wildernesse Golf Club?

The price of a green fee at Wildernesse Golf Club changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

For more information on current green fees at Wildernesse, visit their website here.