Foxhills Country Club & Resort

Endroit magnifique proche de Londres Calme très agréable Dessins pas fabuleux Il manque de l’eau , des difficultés intéressantes, l’aspect général est sympathique À faire pour un séjour de découverte de la ville de Londres

The first thing that strikes you about Foxhills is that being a member there is a lifestyle rather than just golf. The club has 3 courses, a gym, a spa, swimming pool, tennis courts and a number of restaurants and cafes.

We played the Longcross course, which is their top rates course (their website describes it as consistently ranked one of the top 100 golf courses in England. However, as at the time of playing and writing this review it is not in the top 100). Sitting in the ‘Surrey sand belt’ the course has some very big neighbours (Sunningdale, Wentworth, Queenwood and St George’s Hill to name but a few).

The practice facilities are good – there is a covered range with real golf balls and a large chipping area. Next to the first tee the is a practice putting green to dial in those point saving putts.

The course is marketed as parkland/heathland but in reality is 95% parkland. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, the tall pines edging the fairways are nice and demand accurate tee shots unless you want to be playing your second shot sideways out of the woods. The tee boxes, fairways and greens were all in good condition (a few burnt out bits on the edges of some fairways but nothing that would impact play). All the holes are interesting and there is a good variety of lengths and shapes meaning no two holes feel similar.

There’s nothing really negative to say about the course but somehow it didn’t live up to my expectations. After having been told how good it was I was expecting something more, something extra special.

Foxhills Country Club & Resort is a popular destination for golf enthusiasts situated in the beautiful Surrey countryside. The club has a total of 45 holes of golf, including the famous Longcross course, which has earned it a place among the top 100 resorts in Great Britain and Ireland. Foxhills is located near exclusive neighbors such as Queenswood and Wentworth, making it an ideal location for golf lovers.

Upon arrival, guests are greeted with warmth and hospitality, creating a welcoming atmosphere for an unforgettable golfing experience. The pro shop has knowledgeable staff who can help with all golfing needs. Despite being a popular club, Foxhills can accommodate large groups to make sure everyone has an enjoyable visit.

Longcross was designed by Fred Hawtree in 1975 and is a highlight of the Foxhills experience. The course offers a formidable challenge, especially with its strategically placed Par 3s that demand precision and finesse from players. The abundance of trees lining each fairway gives Longcross a parkland feel, which is a refreshing change from the typical heathland courses found in the area.

Foxhills also has a sister course, the Bernard Hunt, which offers golfers another exciting experience. The club caters to all levels of experience, from seasoned players to novices looking to improve their skills. Foxhills Country Club & Resort is the perfect place to enjoy a unique golfing experience in the tranquil beauty of Surrey's countryside.

I was scrolling through my reviewed courses the other day and realised I had made quite the blunder. I had only omitted my home course. The one place where I spend the most time outside of my own house – well this lock-down anyway. An embarrassing oversight on my part. Apologies.

The Longcross course at Foxhills is a sanctuary for me. My second home. If I am not at home my Mrs knows she can find me here – whether that be at the newly renovated Practice Den (below) or on the first tee. During lock-down we have become well acquainted. I know all her perfections and imperfections (the course, not my other half). When to push and when to hold back. Every yard.

I want to primarily talk about the course in this review. I may one day talk of the club as a whole but as this golf course sits at No. 95 in England’s Top 100, let’s get specific.

The course is sometimes likened to Sunningdale’s Old Course. This is quite the complement but I think a tad stretched. Listen, I rate the Longcross but nothing really compares to Sunningdale. The lack of heather for one makes the course play around 2-3 shots easier. The bunkering is simple. And the Longcross does not quite sit on the same sand-belt as the Three Ws or Sunningdale, so Winter drainage can be an obstacle. Harsh but I think in this instance, fair.

Let’s start at the very beginning.

No. 1 is a simple straightaway par 4 but does offer a strategic question before you pull a club out of your bag. Trees line the fairway and a confident and straight driver can thread these with ease but the wind should be the deciding factor here. The hole either plays downwind, into wind or a west-east cross wind. At 407 yards from the tips, you want to be pulling the driver but anything but straight into wind, as we all know, will be on a one way ticket to Treeville. The fairway also narrows just at the point of a driver carry, so there’s that too. I normally try and hit a low hybrid (as I don’t carry a 3 wood – sponsors are welcome) which leaves me with a 7 iron to a front pin. Don’t go left short or long as the green falls away towards the second tee. Don’t go right either because if you don’t hit the ominous pine you’ll find the bunker or a nasty tight, airy, sandy lie. A par here is a great start but a birdie is definitely possible.

Now I could go into severe detail into every hole but for the purposes of a succinct read, I am going to highlight the holes I deem worthy of some analysis and summarise those that make up the rest of the routing.

Holes 2 to 7 are as follows:

Hole 2 – 376 yards – Par 4 – Downhill dog-leg right.

Hole 3 – 435 yards – Par 4 – Blind uphill drive leaving a mid iron off a downhill lie.

Hole 4 – 167 yards – Par 3 – Plays long and wind/pin location will determine club choice.

Hole 5 – 534 yards – Par 5 – Very narrow landing area. Left side of the fairway is ideal as encroaching tree leaves second shot impossible from the right side.

Hole 6 – 192 yards – Par 3 – Plays long to narrow green. Often a 4 iron here.

Hole 7 – 548 yards – Par 5 – Straight up the hill. Reachable in two. The miss is short middle or short right. Short left is a sandy, airy lie. One where you’re on your knees praying for some sort of contact.

Hole 8 and 9 are two of my favourite holes on the course. Two very playful holes but also penal if you aren’t placed correctly.

Hole 8 is a severe 348 yard dog-leg left Par 4. Because of the severity of the dog-leg, driver is not the play here. Unless you can hit a controlled slinging hook or a straight towering bomb over the correct Pine tree. For me its a comfortable Hybrid. One that I can attack a bit more and get some right to left swing on it, adding an extra 5-10 yards. The tee shot seems really simple, as you have a large landing area, but you cannot go left as either the rhododendron bush will swallow your ball or you will be cut off from the green by some well placed Pines. You can’t go too long either as a fairway bunker is expertly placed along the right length of the fairway. If you spray it right it will be okay but you don’t want to be hitting an 8, or even 7, iron into this tiny target. The second shot into the green is one of Foxhills’ premier views. It is well defended with bunkers left and right. The green also falls dramatically towards the back and sides, so anything long trundles down in amongst the ferns and bracken. In addition, the green slopes severally back to front. The approach is very fun to play and beautiful to execute. That backdrop of lush Pines highlights your little white ball perfectly. A birdie here is definitely possible but it can all go wrong quite quickly on this short Par 4.

The 9th hole is, again a stern dog-leg left. And at 431 yards it presents a much tougher challenge than the previous hole. The drive is straight uphill. Just don’t go left or right – It seems a simple enough instruction but it is so important here to get your drive away and the feeling you have upon execution is brilliant. You just know you are going to have a wonderful view down to the green and an opportunity to make a comfortable closing Par on the front nine. As the drive is uphill, you can expect a 6/7 iron approach. However, the second shot plays short due to the elevation change so you can get some nice height and be aggressive here. I think I would be right in saying that this green is the smallest on the course. TINY in fact. Bunkers left and right guard the green brilliantly and what may appear a simple sand save at first, slowly becomes a concern when you realise how much the green slopes from back to front. This green is rapid. Soft hands are definitely required here, especially if you find yourself above the hole. Just play short. Please. Run off towards the Halfway Hut if you bag a Par here. Stroke Index 1.

The back nine begins with the perfect risk reward hole. A 327 yard, drivable, Par 4. The first time I ever played this hole was when I was invited to play with two existing members at the turn. I pulled driver and greened it. Two-putt Birdie – Thank you very much. I haven’t hit the Big Dog since on this hole. It just isn’t the play. A Hybrid that leaves me a full 50° is perfect. The fairway slopes firmly from right to left so take this into consideration. It should be a Birdie hole but a Par is comfortable. In the summer the hole is beautifully framed by two purple rhododendron walls. Pretty.

I wish to only speak of two more holes on the back nine, the 13th and the 18th. The remaining holes are as such:

Hole 11 – 219 yards – Par 3 – Long carry over a ravine. Another subtle but tricky green. Often fall short here.

Hole 12 – 386 yards – Par 4 – Lovely and simple. Straight two-shotter. Driver is not necessary but can result in a very short second. Birdie is on the cards.

Hole 14 – 533 yards – Par 5 – Impossible into wind. A three-shotter. Elevated tee with trees down the right and left. Bit of a slog.

Hole 15 – 353 yards – Par 4 – FUN. Just a Hybrid leaving a Wedge in. Enjoy this one.

Hole 16 – 219 yards – Par 3 – Very tough Par 3. Plays every yard and sometimes requires a Hybrid off the tee, something I don’t like doing. Water short.

Hole 17 – 392 yards – Par 4 – Second shot is wickedly uphill. Water running down the right from the tee. The green sits high above you, so to hold this narrow green (maybe 4 paces deep from front to back) is an accomplishment.

As mentioned, I want to address the 13th and the 18th in detail.

The 13th is fiddly. Another acute dog-leg left of 347 yards. Many dislike this hole but I think it is a great test. The bunkering off the tee is fantastic. Three cross bunkers stare you boldly in the face. You have to play short of these – a 4 iron, Hybrid max. Trying to carry with a Driver is possible, more so with a favourable wind but it is not advisable. The second shot will therefore likely be a 9 iron. No bunkers defend the green but do not be fooled. The rough short is sticky and will result in an adverse lie. Short right would be the miss, but a tight lie ensues and an up and down is tough. Another hole to be par-content.

The finishing hole gives you that last glimmer of Birdie hope. One last opportunity to walk off the course with your head held high. A Par 5. Most likely requiring three shots – I haven’t heard of too many Eagles here. At 528 yards, it isn’t particularly long for a Par 5 but the tee shot is uphill and thus leaves a lengthy second. A sweeping dog-leg left suits a draw, but as with the 13th, a squad of fairway bunkers are, of course, brilliantly positioned. If you miss these, a fist pump is justified. The second shot can be troublesome thanks to a solitary monstrous tree on the right side of the fairway. This removes the option of a high draw with a 3-wood that would probably get to the fairly accessible putting surface. A comfortable fade with my Hybrid leaves me with a stock 54°, where I should be putting inside 10 feet for Birdie. A par is often the outcome. Foxhills hosts a rare architectural phenomenon of a shared 18th green across the Bernard Hunt and the Longcross courses. Very à la Old Course but I like it.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time walking the Longcross. It is both testing and comforting. Very scorable at times, but can punish you when not concentrating. I don’t have many bad things to say about the course, I really don’t, but one thing that does upset me is the view into the 18th green. Despite the shared putting surface, which is a great terminus, the club house is an eye-sore. When playing with my brother recently, he likened it as to a motorway service station. A bit harsh maybe, but I cannot see where any thought has been made to what the building looks likes from the course. A token balcony offers a viewing position but I would much rather be playing to the stunning Manor House, as the Manor Course (Par 3) does, as seen below. I know I am not alone in this.

Foxhills, and in particular the Longcross course, has provided me many happy memories. Some good play and some not so good play. If you are on a similar quest to me then you will have to tick it off anyway. But if not, I would still recommend the walk. It is beautiful. Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter. I’m off down the the Practice Den as I write. Who knows, I may see some of you here one day.

Always an enjoyable experience at Foxhills. It really is a modern golf venue with a superb clubhouse and hospitality.

The Longcross is a very nice course and quite tight in places. The greens were a little patchy but rolled well.

I would recommend Foxhills which is great for golfers and equally as welcoming for non golfers too and just want a drink / bite to eat.