Reigate Heath Golf Club

Sympathieke 9 holes rond oude molen (sinds 1895). De baan wordt omschreven als ‘ a little gem’.

Greenfee ca. 30€ voor 9 holes

De holes hebben steeds 2 verschillende afslagplaatsen zodat je 2 x deze 9 holes kan spelen met een ander course management. De teeboxen en greens liggen daardoor soms vrij compact op elkaar.

Slechts één par 5. Wachten met afslagen tot greens vorige hole vrij zijn. Bovendien zijn er verschillende personen die gebruik maken van dit heidelandschap en waar het regelmatig opletten is om de honden en hun baasjes te respecteren. Meer dan één keer heb ik toch enkele minuten moeten wachten alvorens ik veilig kon (af)slaan. Ik had het geluk om de voorliggende flight te volgen want course lay-out is soms moeilijk. Ook hier sterk verhoogde afslagplaatsen (met mooi uitzicht) en harde, snelle greens.

Supervriendelijke ontvangst en leuke, toffe, mooie heidebaan voor geen geld (ca. 20£), kleine beperkte parking.

Reigate Heath is part of a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) which covers some 120 acres. While the site makes for a stunning golf landscape, it is the post mill which evokes thoughts of times gone by. Built around 1765 where a gibbet once stood, the mill ceased working by wind in the early 1860s. The roundhouse was converted into chapel of ease to St Mary’s in Reigate and it is known as the St Cross Chapel. Services are still held in the chapel during summer months. Interested parties may tour the chapel; contact the golf club for information.

Built in 1895, possibly by Tom Dunn, the course was on land owned by Lady Henry Somerset and a stipulation for her permission was that ladies would be treated as equals, being allowed to vote and take part in competitions. Lady Henry Somerset was a head strong woman and became embroiled in a scandal when she sued her husband for custody of their son on the grounds that Lord Somerset was a homosexual! On her death, the entire heath was bequeathed to the people of Reigate and the club now rents the course on a long term lease from the local council.

Set at the base of the North Downs, the partially chalky soil provides very good year round drainage for golf. Although, with several fairways set dangerously close to roads and a steady stream of walkers crowding the course, it wouldn’t surprise me at all to learn changes were made to the original design.

It would be churlish not to appreciate the beauty and quality of holes such as 3-5 and 9. The idea of a common for shared activities which includes golf has had an immense impact on the way I view the game. Sure, sharing a course with walkers, horses, and livestock can cause irritation from time to time. However, non-golfers must feel the same way at times about golfers. If a spirit of responsibility and common good prevails, all can and should work just fine. With this in mind, I encourage all golfers to play courses such as Reigate Heath, you too may wonder why golf "needs" to be such a secluded game.

Described by professionals and amateurs alike as "a little gem. " Play here well, despite being only a 9 hole course, and you can play anywhere. Imagine a top quality course being vacuum packed and that is Reigate Heath.

An absolute gem, quirky, old school golf, great layout and very surprising holes. very, much recomended

They say that nice things come in small packages and that is exactly what Reigate Heath is and does.

It’s a dramatically stunning nine-hole golf course located just outside the M25 on excellent golfing terrain which I can only describe as a heathery heaven. Perhaps it is apt that the grade II listed post mill situated adjacent to the clubhouse has been restored and is now used as a chapel!

Despite its par of just 67 and yardage of 5,664 there is a real sense of grandeur about the course, especially during the opening holes, on what is a wonderfully scenic part of the property. The clubhouse is located at the highest point with the course plunging immediately downhill before wending its way round and back up in a clockwise direction.