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Hankley Common, England |
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Hankley Common Golf Club
Tilford
Farnham
Surrey
GU10 2DD
England |  | James Braid, Harry Colt |  | Peter Stow |
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 | +44 (0) 1252 792493 |  | 5 miles W of Guildford |
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Golf Club Website
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 | Weekdays and pm at weekends |  | Iain McColl |
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Hankley Common Golf Club is situated on the North Downs, in a preservation area or to be precise, a ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’, home to oak, rowan and the woodlark.
In many ways, Hankley is reminiscent of Walton Heath, which is high praise indeed; the common at Tilford has the same ferocious heather and the same wide-open and windswept appearance as that of the heath at Walton on the Hill. If there was ever a place where seaside links golf meets inland heathery golf, it’s here at Hankley Common.
Golf at Hankley commenced in 1897 with a modest nine-hole course but it remained an innocuous layout until James Braid added a further nine holes in 1922. Many people believe that Hankley Common became a truly great course in 1936, after Harry Colt remodelled it.
There is an overwhelming feeling of spaciousness on this heathland course, so much so that it seems plausible that a second or third course could be intertwined between the existing 18 holes. To put everything into context, the course at Hankley Common occupies 164 acres, but the club actually owns more than 850 acres of perfect heathland. Don’t let this feeling of space lull you into a false sense of security – this is not the place to open your shoulders and let rip. Anything slightly off-line will be swallowed up by bunkers, or even worse, by the thick tangled heather.
Eight new back tees are now in play, adding more than 250 extra yards. Hankley Common now measures an impressive 6,702 yards from the tips. This is a really technically testing golf course. Regional Qualifying for the Open has been held at Hankley Common since 1984 and the club has hosted numerous other important amateur and professional events over the years.
The par threes, especially the 7th and the 11th are extremely memorable and challenging, as are the opening and closing holes. Both are tough par fours, measuring well over 400 yards.
So, if you are looking for a memorable, testing and underrated golf course with outstanding greens, look no further than Hankley Common. | |
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If the above course review article is not accurate, let us know by clicking here |
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 |  | | Average Reviewers Score: |   | | | Very nice indeed….of all of the 5-ball rankings I have given courses, this is one of the closest to a 6-ball so far. This is a great course, a great club and has so much going for it – plus a warm welcome is evident from start to finish for visitors. The opening holes are very pleasing on the eye; the 1st tee is perfectly placed just 30 yards from the pro-shop and 30 yards from the clubhouse and is a cracking par-4 of around 420 yards. The 2nd is the shortest par-3 on the course and like many holes is en-circled by mature trees. A tip on the 3rd , use the purple tee with great consideration – it adds 80 yards to this par-4! The position of the 4th green completes a circle back to the clubhouse from the start of the round, which is a nice touch especially if you fancy a second bacon roll! The course starts to open out from the 5th, a straight away par-4 and then the first par-5 at the 6th which is pretty tough, with the second half of the hole all uphill. The run of four holes from the 10th move away from the tree-lined avenues to the open part of the heath, here you can see the huge amount of land that the course is part of – super holes. Back into the trees at the 14th to start a great set of finishing holes. A short par-4 at the 15th is a very clever hole, about 320 yards that turns left but slopes to the right – it is all about the position off of the tee here. The last two holes cover about 850 yards (both par-4’s) and if you need a par par finish, good luck as the course will give you nothing – the 17th is similar to the 15th but longer and the 18th has a fairly long approach over some wasteland just short of the green. I recommend a visit to Hankley Common highly and I am still considering why I cannot go to a 6-ball ranking – if I am being picky, then maybe one more par-5 on the back 9; there certainly is plenty of land for it... |
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| 08 August 2012
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| | I played Hankley Common in glorious sunshire (which always leads to a better review than playing it in pouring rain!) on Wednesday. The members and staff were all very welcoming and the course was fantastic. There is really not a weak hole and the conditioning is excellent. Personal favorites were: the 3rd, just for the new back tee. The par 3 7th is a beautiful looking hole and the stretch from 10 through to 13 are super tough and great to play. As previous reviews have mentioned the course is spread over a vast area and this gives you the feeling that you have the course to yourself even on a moderately busy day. If I were restricted to only playing Hankley for the rest of my golfing life I would be a very happy hacker... |
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| 25 May 2012
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| | Agree with last review - it's a real gem. One of the most tranquil courses in the south east. There can be no nicer inland golf setting than the 7th tee on a sunny evening. Visited again this week, and the layout is just as good as I remember. The condition of the greens was moderate, but then we have had considerable rain in the last 4 weeks. However each hole is memorable in it's own way, with my pick of the bunch being 6, 7, 13 & 14. Well worth a visit if in the area and stands up well against the more lauded courses in the county. Also a less stuffy atmoshphere than some others in the area. |
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| 03 May 2012
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| | I have played Hankley on a golf trip for the last 4 years, and personnelly think the rating is too low.
you will play this course once and remember every hole. Set in 900 acres of land and only 5mile from the A3,you would think you are on the Ilse of Skye.
an absolute must for the bucket list and do not count the cost, it's worth every penny. |
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| 23 August 2011
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| | This course was imaculate, a tough test and a joy to play. I have played 10 or so courses in the top 100 and it is worthy of its current ranking. It is covered in thick heather,fast true greens and contrary to the previous reports the bunkers I went in had plenty of sand and were in top condition. I would find it hard to pick fault. |
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| 11 August 2011
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| | Good... and could be great. I played in the Mid-Age Amateur Open last week and although the heathland setting is majestic, I couldn’t help feeling a tad disappointed. Let’s start with the good points: the quality of the heather surely must be the best in the UK and the course itself is a great test especially off the purple tees – particularly 3, 10 and 12; a lovely variety of holes with 7 and 18 being outstanding; the welcome in the clubhouse was very warm - excellent food and friendly staff. And yet... the greens were not up to what I expect for this type of course, not nearly as good as I remember them and certainly nowhere near Top 100 standard; the bunkers were in a dreadful state, some had a few inches of sand, others had hardly any. Overall, Hankley is a delight... but it could be so much better. |
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| 13 July 2011
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| | I’m a huge fan of Hankley Common. It’s a great layout by Braid/Colt and in a beautiful heathland setting. We played in June and to my surprise the greens were not in great nick – very patchy and bumpy and with an inconsistent bounce. The course has been tinkered with a bit, new bunkers looked odd and some artificial humps here and there, which looked out of character with the course. Some areas -especially the tees - had more of a manicured parkland feel to it, rather than heathland. Warm welcome from everyone and food was very good. Still a great layout, shame about the greens. |
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| 13 June 2011
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| | Played in March on abright breesey day. A very emnjoyable heathland course, designed by Harry Colt it has many of his vavioured features manly the ablity to run the ball into greens which makes it playable to all handicap levels. |
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| 27 July 2010
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| | Hankley Common is an excellent course. Attractive, challenging, excellently maintained. We had a thoroughly enjoyable round, spoilt only by the incredibly rude pair of duffers who were in front of us.
Completely unable to keep up with the four balls in front, they forced us to wait countless times while they looked for their balls in the heather. I have also seen glaciers move quicker, and as for showing respect for other players who are putting, forget it!
I would guess that they added 30 - 45 minutes to our round.
Clearly, etiquette is something that is not required from the male members of the club (the ladies behind us who were also forced to wait were the very epitome of charm and grace - gentlemen of Hankley, learn from them!)
All in all, a great course, but if our experience is anything to go by, make sure you book a tee time when there are no male members playing. |
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| 05 July 2010
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| | Played on a blustery early May day for the first time and was left feeling that whilst its a very nice course i think the ranking of 22nd in England is a bit on the high side. A nice start with a tough Par 4 (especially into the wind) but after the first couple of holes i'm struggling to remeber many until you get to the final 6 or 7. Things get better on the final stretch and my playing companions and I all agreed that the back nine was a lot stronger then the front with a couple of lovely par 4s and a strong finishing hole. The par 3s are pretty good but I don't agree with a previous reviewers comments that they're the best collection of Par 3s he's ever seen. Just go down the road to Liphook and they have better Par3s, plus the greens at Liphook knock spots of those at Hankley. Overall its a nice track but not great. Max |
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| 04 May 2010
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| Response: | | | McCall | 21 July 2010 | | The greens at Liphook are good but have you tried the fairways recently? |
| | | Played here for the first time earlier this week and absolutey loved it. I had heard a rumour somewhere that the greens weren't up to their usual standard, but have to be honest they were some of the nicest I have putted on this season. Fast and true. The par 3's here are all different in nature, and if you play them well, and keep out of the heather (of which there is plenty!) you will score well. The heather here really is penal and I managed to stay out of it for the first 8 holes, but on the 9th I pulled my drive badly. Just missing a bunker it looked like I was lucky (from the tee). Unfortunately when I found my ball buried in the thick stuff, I was now wishing I had found the sand. My old course (Crowborough Beacon) had a little heather on it, but I can't ever remember it being this thick! Three attempts to extracate myself, a chip and missed putt saw me record my first N/R of the day. Shame that, because I was putting a good card together! Two more visits to the thick stuff (17 & 18) saw me tumbling down the leaderboard very quickly. The whole course was in splendid condition though, superb tees, carpet-like fairways and as I say, the greens were top notch. The welcome afforded us in the clubhouse was first rate too. The starter (can't remember his name now!) was very helpful and gave us "newbies" to the course some good advice and a few hints and tips. The food in the clubhouse was some of the best I have had at a golf club. All in all a memorable visit, and I will certainly return to play again....but only 18 next time. |
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| 27 August 2009
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| | Good but not great. Fantastic peice of ground and not a bad layout, but i really came away thinking the green complexes and bunkering were pretty poor when compared to what they could be. Not an interesting green on the entire course
Nice but not a patch on the potential of the land they have available. |
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| 02 July 2009
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| | I played twice in one day recently and have say - it is beautiful.
The start is so-so but once you turn away from the club house, stunning holes come one after the other. There's a fantastic range of long par 4s but I thought the collection of 3s are possibly the best I have ever played.
A surprisingly warm welcome and a fantastic greens await!
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| 31 October 2008
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| | What a pleasure this course is. My expectations were set high before playing here and at the end of the day having played the course twice nearly all of those were exceeded. It really a superb example of Heathland golf in the UK of the highest order and a very enjoyable place to spend time. The heather was more benign this year than is usual so the course wasn't playing as penal as I'm sure it could. The members and staff are welcoming and obviously proud of the club/set up they have-and rightly so. Would recommend anyone looking at Sunningdale/The Berkshire/Swinley Forest to have a round here and see how it compares to those great courses as well. |
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| 01 October 2008
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| | I am very lucky to have joined this course recently and pursued membership here over Walton Heath, Worplesdon and other top London area golf courses. The overall golfing experience is the best I have had in the region. Although it is not as tough a test as Walton the course is difficult but fair and a joy to play. Every hole has it's own character, the course is in great order, the members and staff are friendly and welcoming but the biggest draw for me is the incredible heathland setting, the magnificance of the surrounding area and the abundance of wildlife allows true escapsism from the bustle of London. |
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| 25 July 2008
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| | Played here last week and the course was in great condition. I was fortunate to play from the purple tees in a competition so i played the course at it's max length. Needless to say the course won !!. The heather can be brutal so keep it straight and you will enjoy it more. Similar to Walton Heath but each hole isolated from the next by trees or masses of gorse. The greens were quick and very difficult to read. Simply a great test of golf in a very nice location. Enjoy !! |
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| 07 July 2008
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| | Tricky to think of land more suited to golf than this - absolutly stunning. And the course is very special indeed. The openess and lack of trees really makes the place - magnificant conduition and endless interest. Possibly suffers from slightly dull greens, and a few of the holes might be seen as a little too straight given the amount of land available to them, but splitting hairs here. So while not quite a Sunningdale, St George's Hill or Swinley Forest, it is certainly up there with the Berkshire. |
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| 03 July 2008
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| | Cracking course that seems hidden away. Great mixture of holes with the highlights being the par 3's. Electric fast greens that run extremely true. Heather as far as the eye can see, much more here than its more famous Surrey neighbours such as St George's Hill and the 3 W's. Room here for at least another 18 holes!! Great food and a friendly welcome, would love to come back again. |
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| 03 June 2008
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| | Play in John Ling Trophy for London Scottish against hankley Common - wonderful day despite loosing 3-2. Superb greens and wonderful views- unfortunately the tension of the day detracted from my enjoyment of the course - but on reflection it was very good. Also lovely clubhouse and staff. |
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| 20 May 2008
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| | Superbly conditioned course set in a vast heath, Gorse and heather abound here if you stray from the fairway. The front 9 is a little easier than the superb back 9 - highlights are - par 3's - 7th, 11th and 16th, Par 4's - 10th, 14th and 18th, Par 5's - 6th and 13th. Very welcoming clubhouse and excellent catering, I look forward to returning soon. |
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| 02 April 2008
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| | Hankley Common has something that many of the “heath” courses now lack : an expansive beautiful heath. The outstanding holes are 6, 7 and 18, the rest are good but don’t have the variety of the more famous heath courses in Surrey/Berkshire. Hankley lacks really exciting terrain and whereas a similar course like Walton Heath makes up for this with challenging bunker placement and interesting greens, Hankley Common doesn’t quite have these qualities It’s a very good course but Top 100 in England not in Britain and Ireland |
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| 26 October 2007
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| | A course on a great expansive heath, Sunningdale, Woking, The Berkshire etc. should take note on what a heathland course is supposed to look like i.e. more heather and less trees! Having written that, I’m surprised to see all those 6 ball reviews; most of the holes at Hankley don’t have nearly the strategic interest of the more famous heath courses and with the exception of the 7th, the green complexes are a bit plain, the bunker placement isn’t that interesting and the terrain doesn’t move much to make up for it. It’s a nice course but I think Hankley is more of a hidden gem than a Top 100 course. |
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| 30 September 2007
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| Response: | | | Shahir Raja | 01 October 2007 | | Appreciated that golf course views are subjective, but to suggest that HC is not a top 100 course is pathetic and a joke! You clearly have no understanding of the game, and more importantly the architecture which defines a great course! I am passionate about HC because it is quite simply possibly the best heathland course there is. Your view reeks of little understanding of the course. | | | Chris | 29 October 2007 | | Instead of insulting the reviewer, why not argue specifically how the architecture at Hankley Common makes it a "great course". Stating "it is simply possibly the best heathland course there is" won't do. |
| | | When the heather is in flower this is the most beautiful inland course in England. It is a cross between Walton Heath and Sunningdale or The Berkshire and it beats them all. I have played with 3 other widely travelled non-members in the last month and we were all most impressed. While the course is neither the longest nor the toughest test of golf it is very fair, with quick true greens and excellent bunkering...and the heather of course is a stunning and very effective hazard! |
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| 10 September 2007
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| | I was fortunate enough to play in a PGA Amateur event here recently. What an amazing test of golf this place is. You are challenged from the word get go with a gorgeous par 4 than reminds me of Pinehurst Number 2 in the USA. The course asks almost every question the sport has to offer you. The heather in bloom is simply stunning in August. Without a doubt this course rates as one of the best (if not the best) heathland courses there are in Surrey. Way better than St George's Hill, just more pleasing to the eye and a far superior test of Golf. If this was 20 miles closer to London (like St George's Hill) it would be rated right up there with Woodhall Spa for sure. The 7th hole (Par 3) is just sensational, quite possibly THE BEST par 3 in England. |
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| 16 August 2007
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| | Hankley Common is a wonderful heathland course, but the debate amongst our fourball as to whether it is the best in surrey was split?? Thre are some great holes particuarly the 5th, 7th, 9th and much of the back nine, but it is a very flat course and therefore lacks the contours and elevation that you get with St George's Hill and Sunningdale. We were certainly not dissapointed and see the course as an excellent challenge with tight fairways and conditioned fast greens. For us though St George's Hill is the number 1 of all Heathland tracks. |
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| 13 July 2007
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| Response: | | | simon white | 24 January 2009 | | Hankley could never be the best in Surrey because of it's very tame start. The course doesn,t really start untill the fifth tee. | | | Alex | 05 March 2010 | | Simon, not sure when you last played the course, but I would urge a return. A new purple tee on the 3rd, opened in 2009, has taken the hole from the 3rd easiest to the 3rd hardest on the course. It's a great credit to the greenstaff and membership who have continued to work with the land to improve the golf course. |
| | | Alongside Woodhall Spa, this for me is the very best Heathland Course in England. It has the length, it has the Colt and Braid feel, it has the tranquility, the purple heather (more than any other in the country), it has the turf, the greens, the condition, and it has the holes.... The 7th perhaps regarded as the best par 3 in GB?! Just go play there and ask yourself what is the "best kept secret in golf?"... |
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| 26 April 2007
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| | Played the course off the back purple tees on 9th March 2007. This course is in my opinion is better than Sunningdale New and on a par with Sunningdale Old. At 6,700 yards this is a very stiff test and you need to be off single figures to even contemplate playing off the purple tees. I absolutly loved this course, the greens were extemerly fast for March with a true even roll they were shaved down which surprised me in March. Goodness knows how good they must be in the summer! If you get the opportunity to play here seize it with both hands, absolutley a first class club and course....highly recommended. |
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| 11 March 2007
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| | Simple, the best and most enjoyable heathland golf course to play... Almost, only slightly behind Woodhall Spa of course. Just amazing and a Colt / Braid CLASSIC. If you can afford to live in Surrey and you enjoy Golf you are one lucky lot. Magical place and gorgeous course. |
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| 10 January 2007
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| | It is at least 3 years since i last played Hankley and i am pleased to say it is on the up.Wonderful condition and a fantastic challenge.From the minute your starter directs your drive towards a green in the distance ,with heather in flower down both sides of the fairways, you know your playing a great course.
The other most noticeable improvements are off the course gone is the old stuffiness.Its been replaced with cheerful smiling staff and great food.
Played 36 and would have gone round again.DB |
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| 23 August 2006
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| | "How about Wentworth?" asked David Kidd, architect of the revered Bandon Dunes in Oregon and Queenwood in Surrey, England, which is currently growing in. "Is that a better golf course than say Hankley Common which is just up the road in Farnham?" Kidd's comparison bears scrutiny: Wentworth was designed by Harry Colt in 1924 and Hankley Common by James Braid in 1896, though its redesign and new back nine in 1936 were overseen by, you guessed it, Harry Colt. Similar terrain, similar soil, same architect, same era. If a straw poll were taken anywhere outside the European golf industry, Wentworth would be recognised immediately, Hankley Common would not. However, ask an 'insider' which course they prefer, and Hankley Common would likely run away with it. "Maybe it's a case of 'fame for fame's sake," continued Kidd, "like a celebrity who appears on TV game shows so often that they become famous for being famous. Wentworth has hosted the World Match Play for donkey's years, and the Volvo PGA for almost as long. It's a hard course, it most definitely is a classic, whatever that might be. But from an architectural standpoint and from the point of view of variety and interest, Hankley Common wins by a knockout." |
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| 29 June 2006
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| Response: | | | Carl | 25 June 2007 | | Interesting point. Walton Heath wins it for me. Mainly I think because Walton is so distinctive. Wentworth West is a great course, but it is a championship course in a heathland area. Where as Walton is a heath with a championship course(or two) on it. If you understand my distinction? | | | pbt | 30 September 2007 | | Kidd hardly knows either course so his comments should be taken with a grain. | | | Shahir Raja | 01 October 2007 | | I think someone who has designed one of the best courses in the world in the last decade (Kidd @ Bandon Dunes) holds a little more weight than you my friend! |
| | | What is there to say about this golf course that hasn't been said? It is just fantastic and the most attractive and lovely looking course I've ever visited. The condition is second to none, especially the greens and tee boxes. In my view this is better golfing experience than Walton Heath, it is so quiet and offers all the shots. Courses like this are so few and far between that they should be allowed to be enjoyed by more people other than members and their guests. Go play this one. |
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| 24 April 2006
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| | I agree with most other comments made. This golf course is just gorgeous, it oozes quality, history and class. The design is fantastic and the turf, greens, and all round condition are up there with the best in England for sure... How on earth this isn't rated in your list as a top 40 course I will never know?! Perhaps you need to review your algorithim somewhat? A magical Heathland trek. |
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| 24 January 2006
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| | A really good test of golf which uses most of the clubs in your bag. I have played this course quite a few times and it has always been in very good condition. The tee boxes are the best I have come across and the feeling of space whilst surrounded by miles of purple heather make this a visual treat. And at around £50 for a midweek green fee it is good value for money. Couldn't fault the course but perhaps the people in the clubhouse could be a bit more friendly to non-members. A real heathland treat and should be in the top 50 at least. |
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| 12 January 2006
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| | In spite of the rain this was a magnificent experience.The section of holes around the turn are particularly good and the bunkering is generally beautiful.Not sure if I agree with fairway watering mind.Still well worth a visit |
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| 21 September 2005
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| | Superbly designed with some excellent holes. Hankley Common provided a friendly welcome(always nice) and the new clubhouse and facilities were good. The course itself races off to a difficult start at the 1st. The course then settles down with some shortish Par 4's, these however are no walkovers as the greens are tricky. The course really gets going from the 6th. Some holes are tight in places and finding the fairway is a must. The condition of the course was very good, especially the greens. Overall, I found this a good test of golf and very enjoyable. |
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| 01 June 2005
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| | Played Hankley in August and the course was in amazing condition. It’s located in a gorgeous spot, secluded and tranquil. It certainly compares favourably with the very best of the numerous heathland courses in this area (Sunningdale, Wentworth, Walton Heath The Berkshire etc). If you’ve got a natural draw, then this is the course for you - many of the holes are shaped from right to left. It is great Hankley also represents great value for money in an area of England that is notorious for its high green fees. And for a pleasant change, the members and the staff are actually welcoming…it’s no wonder this course is well regarded, but surely it should be higher in these rankings? |
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| 17 January 2005
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| | Almost as good as Walton Heath (Old) but Walton does the best lunch south of Muirfield! Hankley Common is a heathland delight, providing you can keep out of that heather. Could play this course for the rest of my life. |
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| 31 March 2004
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