Possibly moving to London

[lowndes]

Hi, I have a potential move to London which I am currently thinking about doing and was wondering as to how accessible golf was from central London. Are there courses/practice facilities that are easy to get to without a car (might end up getting a car just undecided right now). The current plan is to live in the South Kensington area but are still exploring other options around central London. Any help would be much appreciated.

[rb990]

Hi lowndes,

I live in Paddington and work in the South Kensington area.
I have to admit, finding good courses to be a member of whilst only getting to them via public transport does limit your choice, however there are a few reasonable options available to you.

The most obvious course I can think of is Ealing GC (Perivale station), which has a really good reputation for its condition, this should take about 25 minutes to get to from South Kensington. In terms of a practice facility, Dukes meadows is a great little par 3 course and driving range about 25 mins away via tube and bus. The balls at the range are flight restricted, but the par 3 course for me is the real draw, was in very good condition the last time i played it.

I have a car, but play at Muswell Hill GC, a 6500 yard track which is always in excellent condition and a solid layout, this is also accessible by underground, with Bounds Green a station on the piccadilly line ( which has a stop at south kensington) about 30 minutes away.


Let me know what you are planning to do, are you looking to become a full time member somewhere, or just looking for places to practice and play the occassional round? There are a few other public/ extremely private clubs around, but accessibility by public transport helps so knowing exactly what you've in mind would help.

[compton1977]

As a Londoner one of the only negative things about living in the centre is the lack of accessible golf. There are a few courses on the perimeter, Richmond Park having 2 18 hole "courses" i put courses in speech marks as they are more like fields with greens mown in. They have a range with some of the hardest rocks/mats you will ever encounter. Duke Meadows is a nice little par 3 course and the range is quite nice but is a 20 minute walk from Chiswick station. If you are willing to jump on the train (overground) probably the most accessible course (ever) is Mitcham in South London, you basically head to Mitcham station and when the train pulls up you are outside! The course is so so, but easily reached, probably 45 minutes from South Ken. Heading more northwards, after an hour or so ride on the Tube there is Trent Park which is at Oakwood station on the Piccadilly line, when you reach the station turn right, 3 minutes walk and it's opposite the petrol station on your left, not a bad track and no need for a car. Looking further afield you can then become spoilt for choice, a 40 minute train journey South towards either Woking or Epsom way and then you have plenty of options if you are willing to take a taxi, then you have places like Surrey Downs, Woodcote Park, Cuddington, Banstead Downs honestly the list is exhaustive. I am planning on moving back to Greater London early next year and the Kingswood area is top of my list as i would be surrounded by 8 courses offering reasonable membership rates. The key with London is that there is good golf out there you just need to be willing to explore. Good luck!

[Sean25rp]

I agree with the other 2 posters. Living in centralish London will always mean you have to travel a bit to your nearest course. I lived in Chiswick and can second that Duke Meadows is a nice little facility. The few times I ventured out with my bats on my back on the tube I headed to Stanmore GC, Wyke Green GC and Mill Hill GC. All three of these were nice enough but a couple of them wanted a lot for membership. I agree that the Richmond courses are easily reached but are not great. My friend luckily had a car so a couple of times we ventured further afield playing Stockley Pines GC (was ok, quite executive so a little bland but was also having a lot of work done), Hampton court palace GC (which was a nice course with a more parkland/Heath front nine and a more linksy/Heath back nine, set in lovely manor grounds) and Hounslow Heath GC (which is what you would call a municipal I think? Anyway it was not great and not in the best shape!).

I only lived in London for a year so there will be others on here far more informed.

[fredo]

I lived in central London for 8 years and was a member of Dulwich GC for all of that time, it is a nice private club in Dulwich, South London and is reachable from South Ken by overground train to West Dulwich station or by cab/car. Not sure if you are looking to join a club or just play but if looking to become a member I would strongly recomend trying to get into Dulwich as I thouroughly enjoyed my time there.

[url="http://dulwichgolf.co.uk/"]http://dulwichgolf.co.uk/[/url]

Regards

Mark

[ESONEULB]

[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/780587-the-shire-london-golf-course/"]http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/780587-the-shire-london-golf-course/[/url]

This is a course worth playing..

[Sean25rp]

[quote name='ESONEULB' timestamp='1359239597' post='6304425']
[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/780587-the-shire-london-golf-course/"]http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/780587-the-shire-london-golf-course/[/url]

This is a course worth playing..
[/quote]

How far out of central London is this ESONEULB? Thanks.

[ESONEULB]

[quote name='Sean25rp' timestamp='1359283049' post='6307173']
[quote name='ESONEULB' timestamp='1359239597' post='6304425']
[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/780587-the-shire-london-golf-course/"]http://www.golfwrx.c...on-golf-course/[/url]

This is a course worth playing..
[/quote]

How far out of central London is this ESONEULB? Thanks.
[/quote]

I have put a couple of maps up...

Driving depending on traffic anywhere from 20 mins to an 1 hour... thats london driving.

You can get to High Barnet on the tube from Euston in 28 minutes and then it is a quick taxi or a 15 minute walk to the club.

You can zoom in and out on these below

Tube map
[url="http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/standard-tube-map.pdf"]http://www.tfl.gov.u...d-tube-map.pdf[/url]


On the Google map you can also get a great overhead of the course from the satellite image.

Google Map
[url="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=the+shire+london&aq=&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=16.471166,53.569336&ie=UTF8&hq=the+shire+london&hnear=&ll=51.664038,-0.209084&spn=0.042591,0.102997&z=12&iwloc=A"]https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=the+shire+london&aq=&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=16.471166,53.569336&ie=UTF8&hq=the+shire+london&hnear=&ll=51.664038,-0.209084&spn=0.042591,0.102997&z=12&iwloc=A[/url]

[Sean25rp]

[quote name='ESONEULB' timestamp='1359291244' post='6307403']
[quote name='Sean25rp' timestamp='1359283049' post='6307173']
[quote name='ESONEULB' timestamp='1359239597' post='6304425']
[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/780587-the-shire-london-golf-course/"]http://www.golfwrx.c...on-golf-course/[/url]

This is a course worth playing..
[/quote]

How far out of central London is this ESONEULB? Thanks.
[/quote]

I have put a couple of maps up...

Driving depending on traffic anywhere from 20 mins to an 1 hour... thats london driving.

You can get to High Barnet on the tube from Euston in 28 minutes and then it is a quick taxi or a 15 minute walk to the club.

You can zoom in and out on these below

Tube map
[url="http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/standard-tube-map.pdf"]http://www.tfl.gov.u...d-tube-map.pdf[/url]


On the Google map you can also get a great overhead of the course from the satellite image.

Google Map
[url="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=the+shire+london&aq=&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=16.471166,53.569336&ie=UTF8&hq=the+shire+london&hnear=&ll=51.664038,-0.209084&spn=0.042591,0.102997&z=12&iwloc=A"]https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=the+shire+london&aq=&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=16.471166,53.569336&ie=UTF8&hq=the+shire+london&hnear=&ll=51.664038,-0.209084&spn=0.042591,0.102997&z=12&iwloc=A[/url]
[/quote]

Thanks. I have been wanting to play here for a while. My sister still lives in Chiswick so I often use her house as a base when I'm in London.

[ESONEULB]

[quote name='Sean25rp' timestamp='1359307058' post='6308635']
[quote name='ESONEULB' timestamp='1359291244' post='6307403']
[quote name='Sean25rp' timestamp='1359283049' post='6307173']
[quote name='ESONEULB' timestamp='1359239597' post='6304425']
[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/780587-the-shire-london-golf-course/"]http://www.golfwrx.c...on-golf-course/[/url]

This is a course worth playing..
[/quote]

How far out of central London is this ESONEULB? Thanks.
[/quote]

I have put a couple of maps up...

Driving depending on traffic anywhere from 20 mins to an 1 hour... thats london driving.

You can get to High Barnet on the tube from Euston in 28 minutes and then it is a quick taxi or a 15 minute walk to the club.

You can zoom in and out on these below

Tube map
[url="http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/standard-tube-map.pdf"]http://www.tfl.gov.u...d-tube-map.pdf[/url]


On the Google map you can also get a great overhead of the course from the satellite image.

Google Map
[url="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=the+shire+london&aq=&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=16.471166,53.569336&ie=UTF8&hq=the+shire+london&hnear=&ll=51.664038,-0.209084&spn=0.042591,0.102997&z=12&iwloc=A"]https://maps.google....=12&iwloc=A[/url]
[/quote]

Thanks. I have been wanting to play here for a while. My sister still lives in Chiswick so I often use her house as a base when I'm in London.
[/quote]


If you need anymore help or even a playing partner to show you round etc then by all means contact me before playing..

[Sean25rp]

[quote name='ESONEULB' timestamp='1359368545' post='6313247']
[quote name='Sean25rp' timestamp='1359307058' post='6308635']
[quote name='ESONEULB' timestamp='1359291244' post='6307403']
[quote name='Sean25rp' timestamp='1359283049' post='6307173']
[quote name='ESONEULB' timestamp='1359239597' post='6304425']
[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/780587-the-shire-london-golf-course/"]http://www.golfwrx.c...on-golf-course/[/url]

This is a course worth playing..
[/quote]

How far out of central London is this ESONEULB? Thanks.
[/quote]

I have put a couple of maps up...

Driving depending on traffic anywhere from 20 mins to an 1 hour... thats london driving.

You can get to High Barnet on the tube from Euston in 28 minutes and then it is a quick taxi or a 15 minute walk to the club.

You can zoom in and out on these below

Tube map
[url="http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/standard-tube-map.pdf"]http://www.tfl.gov.u...d-tube-map.pdf[/url]


On the Google map you can also get a great overhead of the course from the satellite image.

Google Map
[url="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=the+shire+london&aq=&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=16.471166,53.569336&ie=UTF8&hq=the+shire+london&hnear=&ll=51.664038,-0.209084&spn=0.042591,0.102997&z=12&iwloc=A"]https://maps.google....=12&iwloc=A[/url]
[/quote]

Thanks. I have been wanting to play here for a while. My sister still lives in Chiswick so I often use her house as a base when I'm in London.
[/quote]


If you need anymore help or even a playing partner to show you round etc then by all means contact me before playing..
[/quote]

Thanks very much. I may well take you up on this offer when the weather improves!

[ESONEULB]

[quote name='Sean25rp' timestamp='1359394958' post='6315123']
[quote name='ESONEULB' timestamp='1359368545' post='6313247']
[quote name='Sean25rp' timestamp='1359307058' post='6308635']
[quote name='ESONEULB' timestamp='1359291244' post='6307403']
[quote name='Sean25rp' timestamp='1359283049' post='6307173']
[quote name='ESONEULB' timestamp='1359239597' post='6304425']
[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/780587-the-shire-london-golf-course/"]http://www.golfwrx.c...on-golf-course/[/url]

This is a course worth playing..
[/quote]

How far out of central London is this ESONEULB? Thanks.
[/quote]

I have put a couple of maps up...

Driving depending on traffic anywhere from 20 mins to an 1 hour... thats london driving.

You can get to High Barnet on the tube from Euston in 28 minutes and then it is a quick taxi or a 15 minute walk to the club.

You can zoom in and out on these below

Tube map
[url="http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/standard-tube-map.pdf"]http://www.tfl.gov.u...d-tube-map.pdf[/url]


On the Google map you can also get a great overhead of the course from the satellite image.

Google Map
[url="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=the+shire+london&aq=&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=16.471166,53.569336&ie=UTF8&hq=the+shire+london&hnear=&ll=51.664038,-0.209084&spn=0.042591,0.102997&z=12&iwloc=A"]https://maps.google....#38;#38;iwloc=A[/url]
[/quote]

Thanks. I have been wanting to play here for a while. My sister still lives in Chiswick so I often use her house as a base when I'm in London.
[/quote]


If you need anymore help or even a playing partner to show you round etc then by all means contact me before playing..
[/quote]

Thanks very much. I may well take you up on this offer when the weather improves!
[/quote]


no problems ... i work away in the week and play weekends