Hankley common golf club - 17 points
The magnificent 7th at Hankley Common is one of the best par 3s in the land
There are some Surrey golf courses with big reputations known the world over think Sunningdale, Swinley Forest, Walton Heath. Hankley Common wouldn’t be one of those but I would say the world are missing out. It is a really lovely course which thoroughly deserves to be included in any golf trip to the area.
Do a bit of research into Hankley Common and one of the things you will soon discover is that the course is built on a huge piece of land, but nothing can quite prepare you for how this feels on the course. From the 7th green and 8th tee you get a real sense of the incredible vastness of the estate - some 850 acres. It really is quite breathtaking. To give you some idea, if you have seen the final scene in the James Bond Skyfall then it may surprise you to know the final scenes supposed to be in the Scottish Highlands were actually filmed in this part of Surrey. Such is the nature of the land.
The course started as a nine holer in 1897 before James Braid added another nine and then Harry Colt remodelled the course. However, this isn’t a club that rests on its laurels. In recent years the club has undertaken a significant project which is really paying dividends. Many many trees have been taken out - whole forests on the property. Environmental agencies have supported (and paid for) this work as restoring heather to the area is seen as important for the indigenous nature.
In recent years they have done further. The club have embarked on a multi-year plan with the architects Mackenzie and Ebert to further enhance the course. When I played it the first third of holes had been done and the early results were really impressive. Much of the work is on the bunkering which have been reshaped, heather eyebrows introduces and moved to help the strategy of the holes on occasion. It reminded me in part of the work that Tom Doak has undertaken at Woodhall Spa and just as impressive.
This is sometimes described as a heathland links and I understand why. Heather covers the estate and frames most of the holes. While it is definitely a factor, I don’t think that it is oppressive. As ever though if you are in the heather taking your punishment and getting out with a wedge is key for the mid-handicap golfer.
As for the links element there is no doubt this ground runs fast. Apparently the green keeping stuff have been working on this hard in recent years and it has definitely paid dividends. This is a course where you can use the ground to run balls in and I was delighted to be able to putt rather than yip-chip my approaches!
While the scale of the estate is vast, the course itself doesn’t intimidate. From the tee you will need to be pretty accurate to avoid the bunkers and heather, but it’s not incredibly narrow. And with your approaches keeping out of the bunkers is again key. There is often a ‘side’ to come in from and it’s well worth taking that into account going for the green.
The greens themselves aren’t overly tricked up. The 4th green feels odd - a perched dome at the end of a short par 4 - but this is being redone as part of the changes I understand. The rest are relatively flat, although be careful as this can lull you into a false sense of security at times as I found out. I would also give a nod to the conditioning. I played in mid May and the whole course was in really excellent shape and the greens were in excellent shape. You got the sense that there was a real pride in the presentation which was lovely to see.
In terms of stand-out holes a few come to mind I really liked the opening hole - a par 4 which moves down to the left and then downhill to the green. It has all the elements on this one hole which I enjoyed about Hankley Common. Brute force is rewarded less than guile and intelligence.
The second is a par 3 which has been worked on by M&E to great effect. The area in front of the green has some lovely exposed sand - like a little bit of Pine Valley in Surrey - before a green which is framed beautifully by a forest behind.
The excellent 2nd hole at Hankley Common gives you a taste of what is to come
You come back to the clubhouse after 4 before heading out again. This next run of holes is really strong. The 7th is probably the hero hole on the course. A 183 yard par 3 from the white tees but all carry over heater from peak to peak which makes it feel (and play) a lot longer than the yardage on the card.
The eighth is one of three par 5s and it’s well worth looking behind you on the tee. You will see in the distance one of 12 ‘purple’ tees put in to stretch the course to 6,900 yards. The carry is 240 yards and only for players much better than me! The hole itself is does play a little shorter than it yardage on the card due to some elevation change, you want to be coming in from the left of the green with your approach as the bunkering on the right will get you otherwise.
I’ve met few golfers who don’t like a short par 4 and the 15th is a good one. Only 318 yards but it’s well bunkered so laying back from the tee may be a smart move.
The finishing hole is a really strong par 4. 432 yards but with a dell short of the green laying up and trying to get up and down for a closing par may well be a prudent play.
The well guarded 18th green at Hankley Common
I really enjoyed Hankley Common and can’t wait to go back to see it after the changes have been completed. I think this course will definitely be in the top 50 in the GB&I when it’s finished and could go high up that list. Playing here is a real pleasure which more should discover.
BOOKING THE COURSE
Summer weekday green fees are £145 at Hankley Common, rising to £160 on summer. Discounts are available in winter months.
There is no online booking as yet so you need to call them on 01252 797717. It’s a friendly place and they are keen to show off the recent changes to a bigger audience so you should get a warm welcome.
Prices correct as of August 2023.
TOUR TIPS
There are a huge range of options for a great trip to this area. Swinley Forest is open to visitors now and both St George’s Hill and Walton Heath are in the world top 100. Either the New or Old course at Sunningdale would make for a wonderful trip too and don’t forget The Berkshire, especially the Red Course. Woking, Worplesdon and West Hill are all maybe just a slight tier down but excellent quality still. If you have good connections and can get a game at Queenwood or Wentworth then you would be remiss not to play!
You could come out as a day trip to London but you are looking to play a few courses in the area then staying in the leafy Surrey suburbs makes sense. If you are happy with a relatively laid-back nightlife then somewhere like Bagshot or Camberley would do the trick. There are perfectly serviceable Premier Inns and Travlodges to be found there.
If you are looking for something a little grander then Pennyhill Park (where the England rugby team stay) would give you a nice base with a good restaurant and spa facilities although you are looking at quite a step-up in cost from the Premier Inn and it isn’t walking distance from anywhere else.
If you are looking for a little more in the way of nightlife then consider Woking or Guildford where you will get more food and drink options as well as better connections to London - Woking is just 25 minutes on the train from Waterloo.
CONTACT DETAILS
The Clubhouse,
Tilford Rd,
Farnham
GU10 2DD
Phone: +44 (0)1252 792493
E-mail: proshop@hankley.co.uk
Web: https://www.hankley.co.uk/
