The Shire (London)

Ryder Cup  legend Seve Ballesteros’s sole UK course design guarantees plenty of action with water featuring on 12 holes including the S-shaped (for Seve) burn on the 18th. This is parkland Florida-style with six par 3s, 4s and 5s and you’ll relish putting out on the USGA-spec greens. The course offers a number of different visual aspects. Some will have a distinctly links feel with gorse and high level fescues. In other areas we are creating woodland plantations with over 10,000 mature trees. There are parkland holes with dramatic water features. There is a choice of tee positions on every hole which you are entitled to play depending on your ability and your courage!

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The club's objective has been to create a natural landscape with gentle slopes and inviting fairways. The course contractors have over 40 years of experience in golf course construction and have helped give each hole a unique character. All fairway and greenside bunkers are designed to complement the various styles of the course, but all are cleverly positioned to provide a fair challenge. The Shire (London) also offers both a 9-hole Ballesteros challenge course as well as the 18-hole Ballesteros Masters course.

Fairways
Fairways follow the natural contours of the course. Long accurate shots are rewarded but there is always a shorter, safer option. All fairways have a drainage and irrigation system to ensure perfect playing conditions all year round. They are sown with a specialist fairway grass mixture of rye, bent, fescue and meadow grasses which guarantees great playing characteristics for golfers of every standard. 

Greens
The Shire has fast, true greens with subtle slopes and borrows. They will be tough but fair with a variety of challenging pin positions. They are sown with Providence Creeping Bent, generally regarded as producing the best putting surfaces in the world. The substrata of the greens has benefited from the latest technology with graded sands and gravels to provide perfect drainage and surface grip and conform to USGA specification.

Water
Water features predominantly across the course. The course is blessed with natural lakes and those that have been created are sculptured and planted to blend in with their surroundings. An exception is the water feature that fronts the 18th green which is a signature "S" shape in honour of Seve, the Course Designer.

• Course has: Bar
• Course has: Buggy Hire
• Course has: Driving Range
• Course has: Practice Green
• Course has: Pro Shop
• Course has: Restaurant
• Course has: Trolley Hire
• Course does not have: Dress Code
• Course has: Club Hire
• Course has: Handicap

• 3 out of 5 Average Course, nice service 16 August 2014

  By Chicag0

  This course has a lot of potential. The design is pretty fun with the 6 par 4.'s 5s and 3s. Conditions were only average. Slit seeded greens I Was not told about before I paid made putting difficult. Friendly staff. I would play other courses before going back to this one. Close in distance to central London where I was staying.

• 5 out of 5 loved every minute. 17 May 2010

  By dannyos

   we played the shire for the first time today and we both agreed that it golf as its meant to be..a strong and fair test of golf , a well defined and interesting course..the pga at the belfry is similar but not at all superior....where is there a course that is so good and represents such value in london..i loved it...read the strokesaver on the way around and you'll imagine seve there to guide you thru..one last point.. no dinosaurs here..the welcome from the shop staff was brilliant and not like the rude bar steward  looking down his nose in a worn out ,smelly old club house..not a club tie or a pair of fara's or a club tie in sight...these people should be proud..  

• 4 out of 5 Windy day = true test of golfing skills 22 July 2009

  By Paul Bragg

  Had the pleasure of taking advantage of The Shire's Summer Four Ball offer on 22nd July and can honestly say, this course does exactly what it says on the tin.... The welcome was plesant, the food before hand was lovely, go for "The Shire breakfast". Perfect feed before going out.. A true test of golf & scuba skills as this course has water on may holes...  The greens were very fast and the fairways in great condition.  The 1st hole, Island Green Par 3 is a great start and the holes just get better. I will definately play this couse again (hopefully on a less blustery day)

• 5 out of 5 one of the best golf courses inside the M25 26 May 2008

  By AdamRT

  This course is for serious golfers who want to think there way around a course then relex in the clubhouse without being told how to dress! This course is one of the best inside the M25 and £ for £ top 3 You might only shoot 25 points but don't blame the course!

• 4.5 out of 5 THE SHIRE 28 January 2008

  By walker0

  EXELLENT course, great clubhouse, every hole has something different, lots and lots of water, plays very long off the back tees, it is that good i have applied for membership.

• 5 out of 5 The Shire 31 October 2007

  By wilkomusic

  The previous chap must have gone into the wrong clubhouse as there isn't even a hotel !(so forget his comments!)..Great course..lovely atmosphere and warm welcome...this is exactly what golf needs to take it into the future and lose its 'stuffy' reputation it still has..First Class guys.. Well Done!

• 3.5 out of 5 very american 24 October 2007

  By clay

  A well thought-out and well-maintained course. A bit bland in places but a good test... great clubhouse, hotel and practice facilities...

• 3 out of 5 Needs ten years 24 October 2007

  By simonp

  I played this in a fourball and found it a little disappointing in places. There are some great holes but some less memorable too. The opening hole is really testing too. A par three island green into wind isn't the best way to build into a great round! Great facilities though.