The Grove

If you relish putting on speedy, true greens, you’ll love The Grove to bits. This set of ‘dancefloors’ have got to be among the best greens in the land though overall you’ll do remarkably well to find a course in better condition. The Grove is a class act – on and off the course – and always in immaculate shape. It is of course where Tiger Woods famously celebrated a memorable World Golf Championship success in 2006.

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Interesting modern parkland where the cunning angling of the greens, with their multitude of surrounding slopes and run-off areas, rewards accurate approach play. It’s only a few years old, but The Grove has already built itself a reputation for being one of the best golfing venues in the London area. Everything about the place oozes class – from the guys at the bag drop who get your bag out of the car and clean your clubs, to the beautiful ring-bound yardage books. The golf course itself is a very good track in superb, year-round condition although many holes are too featureless and open to be particularly memorable. Arguably the proud home of some of the best inland greens you’re ever likely to grace, well putt on anyway.

Designed by golf’s hottest course architect – Kyle Phillips who also oversaw latest links legend Kingsbarns – The Grove is everything a British inland course should be: it’s always in great condition and the tests include subtle bunkering, undulating greens, lakes, streams and mature woods. And when you put that lot together it makes for 18 holes that are distinctly individual yet fit together as an extremely impressive whole. 

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The Grove is widely regarded as one of the finest new golf courses in Europe and just three years after opening hosted the 2006 WGC-American Express Championship won by a certain Tiger Woods.

Here's you big chance to test your skills here and see how you compare to Tiger. Okay, it will set you back over a 100 quid to tee it up but at least you can follow in the footsteps of the stars - The Grove isn't a members club but is open to all and furthermore is playable all year round and is virtually guaranteed to be in tip-top condition whenever you turn up to play.

Golfing legend Gary Player summed it up by saying: "The Grove is without doubt one of the finest facilities I have ever seen anywhere in the world."

Stay & Play: The Grove was awarded AA Hotel of the Year in 2005 and the 227 guest rooms and suites range from the luxurious to the truly palatial. Facilities are top class to and include the Sequoia Spa and three restaurants. 

• 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 does not have: Handicap

• 5 out of 5 Awesome and Officially No Dress Code 30 June 2014

  By The Black Flag

  Played this place about 3 years ago on a corporate day. It has kept coming back up in my head ever since as the place makes the news every now and then. This review isn't really even going to talk about the course other than to say that it was an absolutely magnificent course and the greens were awesome. On our corporate day there was a little coaching session before on the driving range, chipping and putting green. At the chipping session the pro asked us to go and get a club to play from the fringe. I was the only one who got a putter and I ended up closest of our group, putting it about 5" from the hole. The pro asked me "why a putter?" and I said that their fringe was like our greens so I thought I had more chance of getting close with a putter. In the main foyer they have a glass case full of signed balls from everyone who played at the World Golf Championship in 2006. There is a noticeably missing ball, namely that of that year's champion Tiger Woods, who apparently refused to take part. The hotel and conference facilities were also where the Bilderberg Group met in 2013 under maximum security. Not sure if any of them played golf, but if they didn't they missed out. If you don't know who The Bilderberg Group are, you should. If only David Icke was a golfer. Finally, I'd like to add the thing I love the most about this place. There is no dress code. I always believed that if it doesn't affect your game, or the course, there shouldn't be any reason why you shouldn't be allowed to play golf in it. Golf shoes are good and not being half naked is good, but beyond that who cares. Let's encourage as many people as possible to play this game without the distractions of feeling you have to look like an old duffer. Their website says: "We're friendly, not stuffy. There's no dress code." I applaud this.

• 4 out of 5 always in top condition 22 July 2010

  By clay

   I have been lucky enough to mplay the grove a few time - and at different times of thye year. it is ALWAYS in absolutely great condition. Even in the depths of winter, the greens are fast and true   It is a bit american in design but there are some very good holes and as the course matures it simply gets better. It is expen sive, but play it with 2f1 when you can or try to get a deal and it's worth every penny. it's a real treat to come here... yes - the food etc is expensive but this is ` course on the edge of london aimed at the corporate business visitor so that's what you'r egoing to get. It';s the same at Stoke Park etc but this is a much better course.   if you want modern, if you want condtion and you want service - look no further... 

• 3.5 out of 5 Flatters to deceive 19 October 2009

  By AndrewIPearce

  I was really looking forward to playing on such a highy-rated course, and the general facilities and practice area were excellent. However, I found the course a bit disappointing - although it was in great condition (Sept 09), and some of the tees were better than some greens I have played on, for me it just lacked any truly memorable holes. I like to replay my round over again in my mind afterwards, and even using the great course planner provided, I struggled to distinguish clearly between some of the holes. Perhaps the 5 and a half hours it took to get round dulled my memory. The par-3s are good, but many of the other holes (10th excepted) are too much alike. On all of the remaining holes it was simply "get the driver out", rather than forcing some sort of club-choice decision on the tee.  Allied to this, I feel the cost is extremely high for what you get - perhaps I am being a bit ungrateful here, as I won the chance to play in a draw, but while I liked the course enough to go back if another free round was available, I would not be prepared to pay the prices asked.

• 4.5 out of 5 A Fantastic Days Golf 01 September 2009

  By elmo79

  Don't get me wrong, £170 is far too much too pay for this course (as it is for any course imo), but for £85 it's a fantastic day out. Get there early and enjoy the facilities, including a large practice putting green, and free driving range (off grass not mats). The round will be slow (you will want to study the hole layout and the take time on the quick greens), but why would you want to rush round? Staff are very friendly and helpful, and there are plenty of greenkeepers keeping the course in spotless condition (but they're never in the way) Only downside is the wow factor. They're aren't enough holes that make you think about your 2nd shot, or just leave you with that feeling of enthrallment after the round a.k.a the 17th @ The Oxfordshire, 18th @ The Shire

• 4 out of 5 Play as a guest of someone else 28 October 2008

  By Guttenbiel

  A great course, typically Troon service, but just a little too sterile. Don't get me wrong I cannot fault The Grove, but it is extremely expensive. Add to the green fee the sleeve of balls that will end up in the rough after finding the fairway plus the expensive sarnies and you won't have much change from £200 per player. It is however a treat to be able to play shots from where Tiger hit into the green on the 9th (I dont care if he used a 5 iron and I used a 3 wood). This however makes for a long round as every player in the group fancies their chances at walking with the legends. Go as a guest on a corporate day.

• 2 out of 5 Its not worth the Money 20 September 2008

  By evandando2

  The course is well maintained,the greens are good its long but its not special and its not worth the money £155 is just a rip of plus £6 for a bacon sarnie with no brown source!1 Its a scandle!

• 5 out of 5 A perfect treat - but it's hard!!! 04 July 2007

  By pauljohnson8

  The Grove is an amazing course. The fairways are just like a brand new driving matt at your local range. I played shortly after the WGC and the rough was very very tough indeed. I play off 9 and started par, par but posted a round of 101 so be prepared to suffer. 3 of my drives that split the fairway were lost. They must have run into the rough but finding them was a nightmare - this is partly because the WGC had been only a couple of weeks before - I wish we had spotters! The greens are sand based on USGA standards (as I understand it) so there is a lot of sediment on the greens, which is kind of annoying, but the greens are the the most true I've played. My recommendation is to get there early, warm up properly, use the facilities and make a day of it... you'll have an idea of what it's like to be a tour player. P.S. I hope they've cut the rough back a bit!

• 5 out of 5 This course rocks! 08 March 2007

  By Anonymous

  After all the rain that has fallen this course is open & mostly dry!!! Alot of better known courses are closed! The greens are better than most courses in summer. A real treat to play.

• 5 out of 5 The best in the UK! 04 March 2007

  By Anonymous

  Ernie Els was spot on! I have played in the USA and this course is as good as it gets in the UK!

• 4.5 out of 5 The best course I have played in the UK 03 March 2007

  By Anonymous

  I played this course before the WGC, after the WGC and after heavy rains. The best surfaces I have played on and the staff are extremely friendly - well worth the money!

• 4 out of 5 Pretty good club 26 January 2007

  By Anonymous

  Pretty good club (Written By: Michael)