Our first time at Westerham following a return to one of our favourites in Surrey.
Founded in 1913, the Addington Golf Club is a rare Golden Age heathland layout in Croydon, south London, representing the only known collaboration between architects J.F. Abercromby and Harry Colt. The course stretches to 6,300 yards across rugged terrain, and has undergone an extensive restoration by Clayton, DeVries & Pont since 2020. The course occupies a piece of ground unlike anything else in British golf and the routing spans the high ground of the Croydon hills, producing a course that plays longer than its yardage and demands a full repertoire of shots across a par of 69. Wooden bridges transport players across grassy ravines and large sand-faced bunkers guard wide and demanding greens with several holes requiring blind tee shots. The views from the high tees at the 14th and 16th take in the full London skyline with the Shard, Canary Wharf and the Gherkin visible on the horizon.
The Society make their first ever visit to Westerham in July, a fine parkland layout located close to the Kent / Surrey border. There are 27 holes on site with the main 18-hole course being set in mature woodland with tree-lined fairways, water features and stunning views over the North Downs. The 6,270 yards, par 72 course has been built with USGA specification greens and irrigation installed on the greens, tees and approaches. Designed by respected architect David Williams in 1997, the course is owned by the Altonwood group who also own The Addington. Williams returned to Westerham in 2016 to build the 9-hole Churchill par-3 course. Lasting memories of the course often revolve around the ‘eye of the storm’ 11th – a par-3 with daunting pine trees and bunkers protecting a small green or the closing hole which brings you back to a grandstand finish in front of the clubhouse.