Oddsocks
Ryder Cup Winner
I’m generally a Saturday or Sunday golfer so you just need to let me know a weekend that suits. I’m not far from east Croydon station so happy to pick you up too
SE London Membership Options
- Thread starter BigPhil14
- Start date
I’m generally a Saturday or Sunday golfer so you just need to let me know a weekend that suits. I’m not far from east Croydon station so happy to pick you up too
backwoodsman
Tour Winner
Dulwich & Sydenham Hill is just a few yards short of 6000 yards in length. Whilst not too long, no-one ever "takes the course apart" . Its really good in summer and (I might be biased) the greens are some of the best in the area. They were superb this year. The downside is that we're on clay, so it gets pretty wet & muddy in winter. Other thing to consider is that we now have a waiting list - nearly 200 I'm told. That's quite a change from 2 years ago. (And if we have a waiting list, I guess it's safe to assume other nearby clubs do too? Though how long after Covid this situation remains is anyone's guess).
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BigPhil14
New member
Thanks everyone for your input on this, it has been really helpful!!
Unfortunately it is proving to be very difficult to join a club in London!! Pretty much all of the clubs now have waiting lists, with most saying between 1-2 years of wait times. Lots of time on the range upcoming it seems!
Unfortunately it is proving to be very difficult to join a club in London!! Pretty much all of the clubs now have waiting lists, with most saying between 1-2 years of wait times. Lots of time on the range upcoming it seems!
spongebob59
Journeyman Pro
You're limited if you can't drive 
Blue in Munich
Crocked Professional Yeti Impersonator
And if they haven't you can work out why. Good luck with the hunt.
Bratty
Princess Pouty (Queen of Fish Lips)
And just realised we may have one too! Checking now! D'oh!
Foxholer
Blackballed
Very few London ones are not - at least as far as I know. Those that aren't (heathland ones?) tend to be expensive/have huge waiting lists.
Oddsocks
Ryder Cup Winner
The waiting lists are scary. With every club in demand I can see joining fees coming back, membership prices increasing and p&p prices also. Effectively for the costs to remain the same we need more course, this is of course if participation levels remain the same.
Locally we’ve seen a few courses close due to low numbers (selsdon park potentially, broke hill, coulsdon court) that arguably in todays climate as it stands would clear a good portion of waiting lists in my area.
Locally we’ve seen a few courses close due to low numbers (selsdon park potentially, broke hill, coulsdon court) that arguably in todays climate as it stands would clear a good portion of waiting lists in my area.
Bratty
Princess Pouty (Queen of Fish Lips)
Broke Hill wasn't due to low numbers, but Russian Owners believing they'd get planning for houses galore - which they didn't!
Oddsocks
Ryder Cup Winner
Bet they were pissed! No reason it can’t reopen then?
spongebob59
Journeyman Pro
Austin Lodge went back to farmland, never sure why it never worked, decent layout and clubhouse.
Bratty
Princess Pouty (Queen of Fish Lips)
None as far as I can tell. Oh, the clubhouse burned down...!??
Oddsocks
Ryder Cup Winner
Rumours of this reopening.
BigPhil14
New member
Is Coulsdon Court also closing? I heard it was getting sold by the council but I thought that was to the group who were already running it?
Oddsocks
Ryder Cup Winner
Seems 50/50 but the last I heard on good authority was that it was going. Be a shame as we could do with not losing another course
Dominik
New member
Hello fellow South East golfers. A long-time Golf Monthly subscriber, I thought I'd finally contribute to the forum & ask for some feedback, as potentially looking to switch my home club. This said (and with the membership renewal season upon us, I wanted to give my thoughts on Westerham (where I'm currently a member) & ask for a bit of advice on Sundridge Park / Royal Blackheath / Shooters Hill.
Re: Westerham (a 40 min drive for me, as I'm based in GMV, North Greenwich) - I have been a member there for 2 years, but doubt I will renew comes June 1.
To those of the fellow GM readers with either membership or experience in playing on the above, I'd appreciate your input on (i) - (iv) above, as well as the idea of current cost of the membership & joining fee.
All the best,
Dominik
Re: Westerham (a 40 min drive for me, as I'm based in GMV, North Greenwich) - I have been a member there for 2 years, but doubt I will renew comes June 1.
- Pros: a very interesting and varied layout, with most holes requiring precise woods/iron play to score well; beautiful surroundings which let you fully disconnect from London; spacious practice facilities (although ball hopper is very often out of balls); a decent clubhouse.
- Cons: very busy both during the week and before 1pm on weekends; tee times every 8 mins; unless playing before 7am on weekends, pace of play can be 4.5h+ (vs. a 3-3.5h round for a 2-ball w/o delays); can get very wet / borderline unplayable during the wet season (late Sept - early March). Course is also currently undergoing extensive reconstruction, which is clearly positive long-term, but means many GURs / temporary tee boxes over the next year, and a further year of seeding in.
To those of the fellow GM readers with either membership or experience in playing on the above, I'd appreciate your input on (i) - (iv) above, as well as the idea of current cost of the membership & joining fee.
All the best,
Dominik
Blackheath isn’t a great course and is full of knobs
Shooters hill (my local) gets very wet in winter and gets closed quite a lot
Shooters hill (my local) gets very wet in winter and gets closed quite a lot
Bratty
Princess Pouty (Queen of Fish Lips)
Sundridge can get very wet in winter too. Most courses in the South East unless they're links courses get wet in winter. I always feel Westerham is better than most others near it (Hever, Cherry Lodge and Nizels certainly are far worse and close when Westerham is open) but as a 15 year member, I may be biaised! ?
Sundridge has two courses and is certainly going to mean you get a game, and I believe few visitors at weekends. I enjoyed the one I played, some interesting holes for sure.
I liked Royal Blackheath, but it's a little built around itself, so when it's a busy comp day, I can see distractions abound with stray balls and noise. Great putter fitting studio there though!
Haven't ever played Shooters Hill, so can't comment on it.
Sundridge has two courses and is certainly going to mean you get a game, and I believe few visitors at weekends. I enjoyed the one I played, some interesting holes for sure.
I liked Royal Blackheath, but it's a little built around itself, so when it's a busy comp day, I can see distractions abound with stray balls and noise. Great putter fitting studio there though!
Haven't ever played Shooters Hill, so can't comment on it.
Bunkermagnet
Journeyman Pro
How about a little further down the A2?...theres Mid Kent, or Rochester and Cobham.
spongebob59
Journeyman Pro
Dartford/Pedham.
