Coombe Hill

Ranked no.60 in England’s Top 100 courses

An exciting day in prospect, with it  being our first visit here after numerous recommendations from players at past IGC events. And no wonder, having been created by the renowned golf architect, J.F.Abercrombie. After his major contribution to the first ever heathland course, Worplesdon (we are there again in November), he walked the course for many weeks, measuring distances by eye & shaping the course in his own mind. The club’s own history states ‘it is said he hovered over the landscape for hours in a hot air balloon.’ By the same token, I guess we could say Montgolfier played off scratch…..but we get the message.

It opened in 1911 with Winston Churchill amongst its early members. Prominent writers W.Somerset Maugham & Ian Fleming also enrolled there. The club boasts 4 past club professionals who won the Open, including the legendary Henry Cotton who won it 3 times. It’s early history was of future kings & princes, but it later attracted the nobility of showbusiness - Jimmy Tarbuck (a past Captain), Danny Kaye, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Harry Secombe, Sean Connery etc etc………all were frequent visitors.

It is an amazingly tranquil course being so close to the centre of London. Beautifully sculpted by Abercrombie all those years ago & containing pines, heather, streams, rhododendrons & azaleas. Little has changed since. A truly picturesque course.

• 0730 Meet for tea/coffee & Danish pastries
• 0830. 18 holes - Individual Stableford
• Nearest the Pin - 17th
• After play, return to the clubhouse for a 3 course lunch & prizegiving
• A bottle of Moët et Chandon champagne to the individual winner
• A bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape to the runner up & winner of Nearest the Pin