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Addington, England |
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The Addington Golf Club
Shirley Church Road
Addington
Croydon
Surrey
CR0 5AB |  | J. F. Abercromby |  | Malcolm Churchill |
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 | +44 (0) 208 777 1055 |  | 2.5 miles E of Croydon |
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Golf Club Website
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 | Welcome, contact in advance |  | Oliver Peel |
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If you've never visited the Addington Golf Club and Mr Spock beamed you onto the first tee, you would never believe you were a mere ten miles from the centre of London. The Addington is an extraordinary heathland golfing paradise. It's a course which has remained virtually unchanged since J.F. Abercromby, the man behind Worplesdon, designed it back in 1914. Many believe the Addington is Abercromby's finest creation. 
In the early days, the Addington boasted two golf courses, the Old and the New - 36 of the finest golf holes in England, as good, if not better than Sunningdale. Unfortunately, the New course no longer exists; a housing estate now stands in its place. The current course is an idiosyncratic affair, with rickety trestle bridges spanning glorious heathland dells. Mature pine and birch trees provide a wonderful feeling of intimacy. It really is a delightful place to be, especially in the winter, because the sandy course drains perfectly and remains bone dry underfoot.
The course measures slightly more than 6,300 yards and opens up with a challenging par three. The 5th hole is a long par four with a slight dogleg to the left. An accurate tee shot is required to the right to the left-sloping fairway. A hanging lie is often the order of the day for the second shot, which is uphill to a well-guarded green. Take plenty of club for the approach shot, which is usually longer than it looks.
Bernard Darwin was a lover of the Addington, especially the new course, which as we have already said, sadly no longer exists. The course we play today remains witness to Abercromby's skill. Or as Darwin said in his book, Golf Between Two Wars: "He had admirable material, the country of sand and heather and birch trees, and with what an artistic eye he used it!" | |
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If the above course review article is not accurate, let us know by clicking here |
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In the section below, headed “Your Reviews”, are golf course reviews posted by visitors to the Top 100 website. There are no specific rules for reviewing a golf course except you MUST have played the golf course first. Merits of each course are left entirely to your discretion. Important factors, such as course location, condition (or presentation), course difficulty and historical importance are all left for you to judge and we have developed a simple rating system where you can allocate one score to each course. | |
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 |  | | Average Reviewers Score: |   | | Pure golfing heaven and a wonderful layout.Quirky but pretty course with rickety bridges to cross and one of the best par 3's(13th) in the world according to an american golf writer in the 1980s.Even low handicappers will find the course tricky as it starts with a testing uphill par 3.The 9th par 4 dogleg left requires a well struck tee shot over a ravine and then your approach is some 170yds over another ravine to the green.A must play course! | | 28 August 2010
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| | | I went back to this course this week (june 2010). dont go expecting golfing perfection, just go expecting a totally bonkers experience . The bunkers were not good, and the hot weather has not been kind to the fairways - but approach and green are still spotless. I havent played such dramatic holes anywhere - just go and have sme fun. This week I have played also wentworth , woburn there is no doubt these are better courses - BUT - this old track i think remains my favourite, its a tough one to explain !! go during the week for a total bargain, and if you live in south london , dont mess about just join it ! is in a different league to the near alternatives..... | | 23 June 2010
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| | | Played the Addington in March 2010. Great fun to play. Deep chasms; smatterings of gorse and heather; tight fairways bordered by mature woodland; thin, wooden bridges and immaculate greens. The bridges only add to the character of the club. The driving is tight and it is hard to score well without driving straight. The fairways are in decent condition and the greens were superb. They were fast, firm and had many subtle slopes along with some large slopes. The 12th is a short par 5. Lay-up at the top and enjoy the rest of this fantastic hole. 13th is very challenging but i can see why it is rated so highly. All of the holes were different and all were memorable. It was a super course with only 1 weak hole: the 18th. Also served a nice ploughmans afterwards. Overall a great course but it has no practice facilities. Must-play | | 13 May 2010
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| Response: | | | sam djavit | 21 May 2010 | | Just to let you know that The Addington has a full par 4 hole as a practise facility(the old 18th), a putting green and a net. This course is blinking brilliant and really interesting to play |
| | I played the course in good weather during early April 2010. Addington is an outstanding collection of interesting holes, including the always-admired par threes. A very traditional, old world, unspoiled feel, with the layout dictated by the interesting heathland ground rather than bulldozers and tricked-up hazards. I played Addington the morning after playing Walton Heath, and I'm surprised Addington's international profile isn't a bit more prominent than it is, since I judged it to be in the same league as the more well known Walton Heath (perhaps a function of the '81 Ryder Cup). At any rate, Addington certainly belongs on any London area golf itinerary.  | | 12 May 2010
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| | | I played the Addington again yesterday and have to say that I had a great day of golf. When you arrive at the club (its a bit of a mission to get to) - the clubhouse and setting is very low key and somewhat misleading - as it is the first hole which is somewhat of a tame start, with none of the 1st tee potential for embrassment factor I like to set the competitive juices flowing. That said the addington as a course is a great test of golf and there are plenty of interesting quirks such as deep ravines, wooden gang ways etc that keep the course challenging. To my mind the course is distinguished by its par 3's - the 3rd is a tough ask into any sort of wind. Equally the 7th is a pictureque hole. The standout hole for me though is the 13th which had nothing to do with sticking it to 8ft (honestly!!) - and the 17th from the back tees is a tough club call. Only downside to me was some of the fairways which are very well drained but do seem to be slightly bald in places - or maybe am just used to the lush feel of my home club Moor Park. All in all the Addington is a fab day out - and if it ever gets the practice facilities and club house to match the course then it will be truly great. However, I agree with the prior review in that the course I think is optimal for visitors rather than a week in week out member. But thats not necessarily a negative... If you have not played it - then get on it! | | 28 February 2010
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| | | A good review should help you make your mind up if you want to play a course, or give you an idea of what to expect if you are already committed to making a trip somewhere. This reviewer would say to those dithering that you should definitely make the effort and if you are already going then prepare for some old fashioned fun!
Our party of 8 were coming to take advantage of the great winter deal (also on this year) last March. There were problems on the M25 so several people were delayed, but the Club staff did everything they could to accommodate the changes and make sure we still got a full day’s entertainment.
The course itself has the feel of other heathland courses in Surrey, is not overly long as the fairways are fast running, but has many twists and turns, ups and downs and a smattering of ravines! This makes it sound like crazy golf but it just makes you think a little harder, is not ‘unfair’ and adds to the enjoyment of pulling off the good shots. Almost all the holes have some sort of memorable feature from tee to green and if you negotiate these then the greens themselves are also challenging, with many subtleties (and were pretty fast, even in March).
I, and the rest of our party, really enjoyed our trip to the Addington, and came away wanting to go back – if only to try to score a few more points next time! | | 19 January 2010
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| | | I played here for the first time a few weeks ago as the club were offering a days golf at a very advantageous rate. £50.00 including breakfast, a bargain if ever there was one.
Twenty of us in all, and nobody had a bad word to say about the course.
It has some very unusual holes to say the least. Standing on the tee for the first time, not knowing which club to hit or where exactly to hit it.
The only thing that I feel would make the course a little "fairer" would be if the fairway grass were allowed to grow a little. Bearing in mind we played the course in March, there was very little growth on the fairways at all, which meant that the ball just ran and ran. This was fine if you were on a nice, level fairway...but there aren't many of these at the Addington so subsequently a lot of shots were being played from under (or behind) trees, which I thought was a little penal as even good shots were being punished. The tees and greens were in superb condition, and I would love to go back in the Summer when those punishing trees were in leaf. The course looks very bare at this time of year but then that is to be expected. I didn't play too badly, managed to par the signature 13th both morning and afternoon, so quite chuffed with that!
It's an experience I will grant you. I wouldn't like to play the course every week though...not unless they let the fairway grass grow a little.
| | 09 April 2009
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| | | The only negative is that there are two par-3’s in the first three holes – more unusual than negative maybe. Golf at the Addington is everything that is great about the game – a beautiful setting, testing holes and a great club atmosphere. The Surrey/Berks counties have to be the very best county for quality courses; Sunningdale, The Berkshire, Wentworth, St Georges Hill, the list goes on. The Addington can comfortably be discussed amongst these great courses. The 6th is a fine short par-4, the 7th a great par-3 and the 9th is my choice as best hole on the course; driving over a valley, turn left and approach the green over another valley – unique and exhilarating. The par-5 12th is another favourite (need to play it twice before you can understand it really) and then the celebrated 13th ; 220 yards uphill par-3 set in an amphitheatre of pine, birch and heather. It is a strong finish also, I loved the 16th (par-5) as it is all about the 2nd shot (go for the green or lay up – that’s the choice) – another cracking par-3 at the 17th; around 190 yards back over the 16th green and another valley, brilliant. There are places on the course that will certainly remind you of others in the area but the natural contours of the land give that little extra. Do not expect many flat lies as this terrain does not provide them but do expect a wonderful experience. The current GB&I ranking of 88 does not do this justice – I believe around 50th would feel about right. | | 03 December 2008
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| | | The Addington, the best. Quite simply a fantastic course. A super welcome and cheap food before you start the round!! Holes 6-13 must be the best stretch of holes anywhere in England, and the 4 finishing holes are just as good. Some truly amazing holes where you cross old narrow bridges that are as tall as the tree tops!! Super condition course with some wicked greens. A masterpiece of design, this is a must play course, can't wait to return. | | 11 September 2008
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| | | I can not believe that this course has become my favourite golf course in the world!
Seriously, I have played Algarve, Marbella, Scotland, Wales, North, South, East and West England and the Addington has beat the lot for presentation, beauty, imagination, welcoming, true greens.
If you are a low handicapper, you have to play this course! Even if you aren't, YOU HAVE TO PLAY THIS COURSE. | | 06 August 2008
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| | | A great course which has been substantially improved over the past year. A journey back to a time when golf was more art than science. The heather is abundant and an autumnal setting brings out the true beauty of the surroundings. The signature hole twelth is a test for even the best scratch golfers. | | 04 November 2007
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| | | Addington is uniquely brilliant. It has such aan amazing routing using the ravines to the greatest effect. Forget the ranking, old Aber's Addington is one England's gems. PS Why highlight the 5th? It's one of the least interesting holes. | | 30 September 2007
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| | | Played with a member on a crisp saturday morning in slightly frosty conditions. Would say that this is a truly stunning course, I have played a few good courses incuding St George's Hill which is magnificent but the condition is not as high. With the new change in ownership this is likely to improve I feel. If I lived a little nearer than I would be very tempted to join, the membership of 2k is very reasonable in my opinion for such a gorgeous course. | | 28 January 2007
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| Response: | | | John Wade | 02 April 2007 | | Are you sure, the new owners are decimating the old course with the removal of all holly, yew and corse bushes that nestled under the pine trees that line the fairways, where once it was intimate, now its open plan, where you can see three different fairways at a glance. To say that the course remains dry underfoot in the winter, you must have been playing somewhere else, not the Addington. | | | Addington Member | 24 May 2007 | | In reply, to John Wade`s comments, when you actually look at the course and think to how it was originally designed, there are very few trees that are more than forty years old, when it was constructed I would think you could 5 or 6 fairways at a glance, it was a heathland course not a tree lined course. I have to say I did play it this winter and it was very wet, wasn`t everywhere?? We had 6 months of above average rainfall!!
Now it is in fantastic condition, this is thanks to the new owners who have invested in the club. Take a look at the Atlasgolf web page it shows a picture of the 12th hole from the London illustrated, please note the lack of trees!! |
| | | I live less than 2 miles from here and played it for the first time last weekend. Wow! It's hard to believe that golfing heaven is in Croydon.
Despite it being alternately windy, rainy, and sunny, this course was magnificently enjoyable. I cannot think of a hole that was not at the same time tough and fair. There are a few blind shots but the Strokesaver keeps you in play. The 13th hole has to be seen to be believed, as does the bunker under the bridge at the 6th.
The greens are in great shape, even though wet. You can't overpower the course, but a big drive is often rewarded. Wayward play is punished, but not extremely, and accurate play is always rewarded.
Clubhouse facilities are the only let down, but under the new ownership I expect this will change.
This to me seems the perfect members’ club; the pace of play was brisk and you feel sheltered from the world once inside the gates. I would happily play here every weekend for the rest of my life - it is that good. All I have to do is convince the Mrs we can afford it!
| | 02 October 2006
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| | Very good course with no weak holes. Clubhouse reminded me of Fawlty Towers. | | 21 August 2006
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| Response: | | | Carl | 22 September 2006 | | Good point it is. It has just been taken over by a local golf course magnate. Changes will happen .......... I looked at joining ........ £6k in the first year. I think now it is down to just the £2k a year. |
| | | An absolute gem. I work nearby and try to play this on summer evenings as often as I can. With its ravines and valleys it's hard to believe that you are in the middle of the Croydon/Addington conurbation. The course may not be long by todays standards but it has charm and challenges in abundance. The early holes are good but the course really gets going from the 7th a tricky short Par 3. The 9th is a 90 degree dogleg which you have to cross 2 ravines via 2 wooden bridges to get to! The 12th is a stunning downhill hole. And the 13th might just be the greatest Par 3 in England and certainly Surrey (particularly when the rhododendrons are in full bloom). On the 14th tee you have a fantastic view towards the City and Canary Wharf on a clear day. This course is easily in my top 10 English courses. | | 16 June 2006
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| | A solid and good course, comparable perhaps with Royal Wimbledon?. A tad short for todays game but very nice to play. Not sure what previous reviewers are saying comparing to Walton Heath etc as its not even close to the best Heathland courses in Surrey. Still, a pretty and good golf course all the same, and should be ranked about 150th IMO.  | | 04 May 2006
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| | | Difficult to think of a better course inside the M25, Walton Heath maybe, it's that good. Like W.H. an opening par 3 hole but then you immediately get a feel for the rest of the holes, narrow, mixed with heather and treelined. Simply stunning in parts and some very good short holes. The condition on the times I have played, has always been exemplary, yes the clubhouse could do with a lick of paint, but the people there are friendly and the members rightly proud. Strongly recommend a game here | | 09 November 2005
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| | | It is an amazing place. If it were in a more famous suburb rather than it's east Croydon location you'd wait many a year to join. It is a very challenging heathland course with huge ravines running through out, which conveniently have bridges accross. However the ravines also make for some very quirky holes. There seems no rhyme or reason why it languishes this far down the list, only it's condition, fast improving, stops it being ranked along with Walton Heath, Worplesdon and other great Surrey heath land courses. Just play it is my advice and if you make a par at the 13 then well done. It's ranked as one of the best par 3's in the world and once you have found your ball on the 12th you'll understand why. | | 22 October 2005
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| | | I’ve played the Addington on and off for more than 20 years and it’s an absolute dream. At one stage the club and course was run down but they are now working hard on returning the course to its former glory. The course is short, so take the opportunity to play off the back tees for maximum enjoyment. Once upon a time, this course was voted into the Top 50 and for me it’s almost as good as St George’s Hill and probably, inside the M25, only Walton Heath is better than this heathland beauty. Many of the holes are tight and as I’ve already mentioned, the course doesn’t have huge length, so stay in play and you can score well. I can’t think of a more charming course or club, except perhaps for the quirky Swinley Forest. There are no weak holes and the highlights are many but the ravine which comes into play on the 9th is especially memorable. Old, traditional and totally absorbing, this is a real hidden gem. Play it and prepare to be blown away. | | 27 May 2005
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