When you arrive at the gates to The London Golf Club you are met by friendly staff who check your name off the list and wave you down the long and winding driveway. At this point you really start to feel that you have arrived somewhere special, there is a buzz and you are in for a treat.
The London Golf Club itself was built by a Japanese businessman named Masao Nagahara. Nagahara’s intention was to build a truly magical place worthy of hosting prestigious events. To do this there was only one man for the job, the Golden Bear himself Jack Nicklaus. Between Nicklaus and his team, they created two wonderful courses, The Heritage is officially the members’ course and The International the visitors’ course. Both are worthy adversaries and make up this excellent venue.
The official opening of the venue in 1994 saw some of the greatest to ever play the game grace its fairways. A Skins match between Nicklaus, Jacklin and Ballesteros which saw the Spanish titan do what he does best and walk away victorious.
The International Course is chalk-based, meaning even in the winter months the greenkeepers can maintain the course to the highest standard. The visitors’ course has many stand out holes with a cracking opening par 5 that asks you a question straight away with water down the righthand side leading up to the front edge of the green. The signature stretch of holes has to be the 12th and 13th. The 12th is a 190 yards downhill par 3 with water up to the front of the green that you need to carry, only the brave will take the pin on here with most bailing out to the left. Once you have safely navigated the 12th the par 5 13th asks even more questions, will you follow the conventional route or take the tight line down the left which requires a 220 yard carry over the pond for your second shot to make the green in two.
When you finish your round, your clubs are collected and whisked away to be cleaned and you can relax in the delightful spike bar which looks back out over the courses and the lovely rolling views that form The London Golf Club. This course definitely has the potential to host hallowed events such as the
Solheim Cup or Ryder Cup and it would be our pick to host something in the not too distant future.
