The Oxfordshire Golf Club

Reviewed by Olympic rowing legend Matthew Pinsent: “It’s a top course and thankfully there’s not too much rough on it, so my wayward drives are usually findable! The greens are superb while the wind makes even the shortest holes a test though the pick of the holes for me is the magnificent par 5 17th where you have to dice with the dreaded water three times. Because the course is open and exposed to the elements, you’ll certainly know it if the weather takes a turn for the worse.”

RELATED: Golf World’s Top 100 Resorts in the UK and Ireland

A stunning US-style layout in the heart of rural Oxfordshire, The Oxfordshire is the pride and joy of the Leaderboard Group and is always in tip-top playing condition. With sand and water aplenty, it’s a terrific match play course. The venue benefited big-time from the opening of a luxury new on-site hotel which opened last year and has proved a welcome addition, meaning you can stay and play in style.

A big open beast that is fair but has a reputation for being windy due to being open and exposed. The 17th is a stunning par-5 signature hole.

Click here to find out where The Oxfordshire ranks in Golf World's Top 100 Resorts UK & Ireland

Set in the rolling hills of the Chilterns, The Oxfordshire is located about 45 minutes north west of London on the outskirts of Oxford. It opened in 1993 and was the first golf course built in Britain by Rees Jones.

The Oxfordshire has been a European Tour venue, staging the former Benson & Hedges International Open, and is certainly a home of the stars - the current president is top talk show host Michael Parkinson.

It is also the home of one of the finest clubhouses in the country with conference facilities for up to 200 people, a fabulous restaurant that provides continental and Japanese cuisine, lounge and spike bars and, would you believe, a traditional Ofuro bath house.

*Meanwhile, celebrity patrons of the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation will join golf fans and supporters of the charity for a weekend of fundraising and golf at The Oxfordshire next month.

NSIF is hosting its eighth annual golf day on August 3^rd & 4^th, with 34 teams, each joined by a celebrity guest, vying for the top prize of a five-star golf holiday in Spain.

This year celebrity guests such as James Martin, Will Greenwood, Jimmy Tarbuck, Jason Atherton, Ed Stewart, Willie Thorne, Allan Lamb, Austin Healy and David Lloyd will be attending.

NSIF fundraises to support the work of Professor Geoffrey Raisman at the UCL’s Institute of Neurology. Professor Raisman is at the cutting edge of research into neural regeneration following spinal cord injury.

The charity was founded by David Nicholls, director of food & beverage at Mandarin Oriental, following an accident in which his son was left paralysed from the arms down.

The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, a generous supporter of the charity, will be providing the food and service. Leaderboard, along with owners Paul and Jennifer Gibbons, are kindly hosting the event for the 2^nd year running. 

There is a practice round of golf on the Sunday, followed by a gala dinner and auction, with incredible one-off items to be won. On Monday the teams and their celebrities will tee off for the competition.

*For more information contact: The Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation - Harriet Davies – harriet@nichollsfoundation.org.uk

• Course has: Bar
• Course has: Buggy Hire
• Course has: Driving Range
• Course does not have: 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 What a win!! 02 June 2010

  By jwakley75

  Having just played in the annual "pairs open champsionship", I can say that is not the last The Oxfordshire has seen of me! What a stunning day out, can't fault the staff, the welcome, the course (the weather wasn't great and a five hour round was a bit tedious at times but neither of those are the clubs fault)... It probably helped that my partner & I won the event - still can't believe we got 47 points better ball stableford with individual scores of 34 a piece!! Great welcome from Chris, who explained everything to us, from catering, locker rooms, event timings etc. The course was in stunning condition, if you missed a putt it was your fault! Even when it hammered down with rain on the 17th, the greens and bunkers just soaked it up. My 6 footer in the rain (unfortunately for bogey after a visit to the lake) was never anywhere but the bottom of the cup. The food was superb, the bar staff were a good laugh & the prizes for the event were fantastic. Great day out on a great course. My friends and I regularly play the open championships around Hampshire and surrounding counties & we unanimously said The Oxfordshire is the best so far. Well worth a visit (if you can afford it) & as another earlier review said, make a whole day of it. Get there early for breakfast, use the practice facilities and have a meal after your game, it's a great day out on a tough but fair track...

• 4.5 out of 5 A complete day out. Not an experience to rush to or back from! 21 November 2008

  By W12ACE

  Just look at the variety of reviews below and you can see right away that The Oxfordshire is either a course that you love with a passion or hate with complete and utter distain. Personally, I am a lover of this incredible test of golf. Having played as a guest over 30 times in the last 15 years, I think that I am qualified to judge. I suspect that many of the course's "haters" write their comments still reeling from having their game destroyed and after handing over the spoils to their opponents. These can be the only reasons why you would not be in awe of this magnificent beast of a golf course. From the minute that you arrive through the gates and drive up the long ambling road to the grandiose clubhouse you begin to feel intimidated. A glance to your left exposes what lies ahead and there's usually a little gulp which reinforces the fear. If you get out the car and the wind is blowing (which it usually does) get back in and drive away! Entering the clubhouse reinforces the feeling that you have arrived somewhere a bit special. There's real money here. The changing rooms and facilities are second to none, the men's being twice the size of most clubhouses! The catering and bar are pricey, as you might expect, but the food is simply outstanding and the service and welcome sublime. See Alberto in the bar and get the best "Gunner" you ever had. The pro-shop is also pricey, reflecting the deep pockets of the members, so don't blame them because what business wouldn't take the opportunity to make money like this? Just go for the golf and I promise that you won't be disappointed with the VFM. As for the course, it is unique in the UK. An Americana monster of a track where you will have to hit the ball the longest and straightest you ever have to play to your handicap. You will need every shot in the bag here! The holes are varied and breathtaking, each holding its own unique golfing challenge. The name of the 4th hole "Hell's half acre" sums up the course. There's a half acre bunker slap in the middle of the fairway of this bendy par 5. Hopefully, you will pass without finding it but stand in it and you will feel that you have been teleported to desert sands. I swear that I have seen Lawrence of Arabia on a hot day! The greens at The Oxfordshire are the most excellent greens I have played on, all year around, never so much as a bobble and as quick and slidy-tricky as you can imagine. The 17th is The Oxfordshire's signature hole and it truly is fantastic with two fairways to choose from and a stomach-wrenching hit over the minimum 130 yard carry across the lake if you dare. However, if you play here regularly, it is the 8th that you will fall in love with. A truly stunning hole which requires a keen Poirot-like mystery solving-mind to work out how to hit that island green without finding the water right, bunkers left, tree guarding the green, water short, water long, etc, etc, etc. Play this course with an open mind, don't expect to beat it and you will love every bit of it. The "halfway house" isn't really halfway at all! It's a "third house" and also a "two third house" very cleverly appointed to give you the chance for two visits to the excellent food and bar (try any of the corned-beef hash pie, pasties or spicy vegetable soup in the winter) and also the loo. If it blows (which it usually does) it can destroy you and your game. You may well finish tired with no more than twenty-something points to show for your efforts and still you will often feel like you have had the round of your life. I have been in many competitions here but never seen a "bandit" win yet. It doesn't matter how many shots you get, as a high-handicapper they will long be gone before the turn! In my experience only single-figure handicappers score high around this beauty so, if you want to win a competition here, load your team with pros or 1 to 5 handicappers. I am going to unashamedly name-drop now. I have been so very very blessed to fall in love with this game and been lucky enough to be able to enjoy playing many outstanding courses including St Andrews Old-New-Dukes, Kingsbarns, Carnoustie, Hoylake, Birkdale, St Georges, The Belfry, Woburn, Valderrama and many more. The point of this is that, until recently, my favourite course in the world was Royal Lytham & St Annes and most of the others listed above would have figured right up there. Slowly but surely, with each visit, The Oxfordshire has climbed up the list and now sits proudly as the course that I most want to return to. In summary it is a fantastic day out. My best advice is to treat this as an experience. Spend the whole day. Take it really slow, Take breakfast and lunch, enjoy the facilities including the Japanese baths, and relax. Socialise. Have fun. If you do all of this, whether you pay top dollar or get a winter rate bargain you will love it. Just please take your time and take it all in. Oh and please say "hi" to Alberto for me!

• 3 out of 5 ordinary 05 February 2008

  By madennis

  The welcombe from the pro in the shop was top class. Gave a range token free. Once on the course you soon realise how many bukers are about. The condition was nice but a bit of work on the 4th was unhelpful. The back 9 seemed to be more intersting although if its windy its a nightmare. A bit pricey

• 3.5 out of 5 Inland Links 04 December 2007

  By gslack

  Cracking 'corporate' course with high prices (in bar & pro shop) to satisfy shareholders. Expect a 4+ hour round. Club house has no soul.

• 4.5 out of 5 What can i say!! 21 August 2007

  By chris boulton

  this track in mind blowing, its like an inland links will test the very best golfer.well worth a try