The Shire London Golf Club

Seve Ballesteros design on the outskirts of London. Undulating parkland course with a LOT of water. Not a fan of the 6-6-6 set-up (the short par 5 13th hole is really just a long par four), but the course maintenance is very good, with greens in exceptional condition and there are a number of very interesting and surprising holes, which make for a very enjoyable experience.

Amazing hilly parkland championship course designed by Seve Ballesteros. Spicy, but playable.

Pro:

-Very friendly reception. Very welcoming to guests.

-Lovely short game practice area.

-I love the lay-out of the 18-hole championship course. Every hole is amazing. A lot of variation. Short holes, long holes, technical holes. Every single hole keeps you on the top of your toes. Many risk/reward options. Most shots require you to think, because many holes have several options on how to play them. The bunkers are exceptionally well-placed and there is water on 11 of the 18 holes.

At the same time the course is very playable.

-Fantastic greens with beautiful constant role. Some of them have 3 levels!

-Beautiful tee boxes & excellent wide fairways.

-Good sand in bunkers.

-What I really liked is that the rough is quite short. If you miss the fairway, you can mostly find your balls.

-Very well-maintained. Well done greenkeepers!

-Signs with lay-out on every hole.

-Many trees with beautiful autumn colours.

-Very peaceful.

-This golf course is soooo much fun to play.

-Finish hole that grabs you by the throat. Long par 4 with S-shaped water hazard in front of the green. I love it!

Con:

-Small and short driving range (irons only). For 4 pounds you get a mix of 25 balls.

-The small shop was not very tidy.

-The clubhouse could use some TLC (tender love & care). It looks a bit worn.

Very nice course. Maintained pretty good. Went there on a crazy rain day and the course was very wet. Greens were great. Clubhouse and practice are not too good.

Played The Shire for an international disabled Ryder Cup, the Cairns Cup, as part of Team Europe. Had the opportunity to play at this spectacular golf course five days in a row and it never disappointed me.

Designed by Seve, it hosts 6 par 3s,6 par 4s and 6 par 5s. Awesome to play. Every hole provides you with a unique challenge, with 1 starting with a downhill shot over water to a par 3, often playing into the wind (club up!) and 18 ending in spectacular fashion with double water to clear when approaching the island green in front of a raised clubhouse.

Greens are spectacular. They are fast and honest, easily being rolled to stimp 11 and higher on a rainy day.

The course really pushes you to play strategically and think about the choices you make. Play it once and you’ll want to play it again.

Parking is okay albeit in small spots, and practice facilities are pretty mediocre. The driving range isn’t up to par with the rest of the course and the practice green is so ridiculously fast and undulated that it is a lot of fun, but not very representative of the rest of the greens.

Changing rooms are a bit Spartan but the showers are excellent. It would be great if towels would be provided (but that might have been a temporary Covid measure).

The clubhouse is warm and welcoming with a great terrace looking out over the 18th. Food and drink is good and fairly priced.

Stuart from the pro shop is a great guy and Cae, one of the owners who you’ll also find behind the bar often, is one of the warmest and friendliest people you’re going to meet.

If you’re in the area: I highly recommend this golf course.

This is my home course so a little biased but would say we are one of the friendliest courses in the UK. Always welcoming to guests no stuffy members committees.

Greens in great condition always, a warm welcome always guaranteed.

Can be a little slow if anything mainly due to the toughness of the course and people losing balls etc.

Definitely one to tick off the list.

The clubhouse when open is fantastic great food and drink selection.