Hounslow Heath Municipal Golf Course

Hounslow Heath Municipal Golf Course, Hounslow, East of England, England, TW4 5DS

020 8570 5271 | E-mail golf course | Golf course website

30 reviews of Hounslow Heath Municipal Golf Course

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We played this course on Sunday morning 26th June 2011. The course was very quiet and we had no one in front or behind for seveal holes each way, which was great for a Sunday round. The course needs some tender loving care as most of the tee markers, rakes etc were all absent. The tees and fairways could do with more attention although the greens seemed fine. Saying all that the price of £15 for a round was fantastic value. The holes themselves were enjoyable to play and challenging. It was a real test of golf and our three ball enjoyed the round. Most fairways were tree lined and narrow with deep rough so any tee shots slightly off the fairway were punished. If you can see past the rough edges of this course you'll really enjoy it. I would definately play there again.

Posted by John Drummond on 28/06/2011

Played the course on a quiet Sunday afternoon 15/08/2010, so was pleased to find only four other people on the course so nice to have the course to myself. £20 for the round was OK but unfortunately given the recent dry weather the course has suffered with parched dry fairways that crumble under most shots and make getting a clean hit off the fairway very difficult, felt a bit cheated and felt £15 for a municipal run course would have been more reasonable Anyway the course itself which I have played many a time is a challenging and demanding one requiring the ability to hit straight left and right on command However i think this course is best played in Spring or Autumn when the fairways have some green to them The greens were not too bad but suffered from usual problem with most municipal courses of pitch marks not being repaired Without doubt the best holes are the 5th par 3, the superb long par 4 15th and dog leg 16th par 4. You need alot of stamina for this course since there is a lot of walking up and down and if you are peckish during the round theres plenty of wild fruit on offer during August - lush berries, lots of red apples, pears and plums! During my round there was one family out berry picking no doubt to make some jam. All in all for a municipal course not bad but I would avoid playing it during any very dry periods since the fairways make the course a bit of a lottery

Posted by Al Pate on 15/08/2010
3
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Overall Rating 3
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  • Clubhouse 2
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 3
  • Clubhouse 2
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 3

Played in November - course very wet but a good test even under winter rules and off yellow tees. One of my favourite courses, this is a technically demanding course for anyone wanting a low score -10 dog-legs -and you need to be able to draw and fade the ball off the tee and thru the fairway and hit it over (or round ) high trees. A great opening hole - do you go for the green with a big draw or play safe? Two, a medium par 3 into the wind, is easy to underclub. Three needs a big draw off the tee as does the 16th - SI 1 and a high second shot over trees to a well defended green. Four (550 yds) is probably unreachable in 2 and requires straight long hitting to stay on the exposed wind-blown fairway. 5-8 provide a wide variety of shots and 9 is a good two shotter. 13 at 276 yds is a good bet for a go for glory, 14 is a quirky short dog-leg - just a mid-iron for position avoiding being stymied by the tree and 15 requires a shaped drive and an accurate second. Two good closing holes where a birdie is on the cards but a lost ball the penalty for wayward drives going for the green. This course demands accuracy as well as length and every hole is different. This is a course I like - rough and ready parkland/heathland fairways with punishing rough and hard-running linksland in summer - not the modern manicured lawn-turf layouts that are all so easy, boring and repetitive- we have too many of these now. Of 22 beautifully manicured parkland courses in a corner of the USA indistinguishable from each other the only requisite for success is brainless slogging at the ball. But here we have a course to make you think “ Kin’el how do I play this one? Wind comes into play on some holes requiring low penetrating shots. Who needs bunkers when there are this many natural hazards? Here you have to work the ball and take it cleanly off the sometimes sparse or tight fairway grass, playing chip and run and all variety of shots - a true test of golf in the “Old Course” tradition. On nearly every hole you have to stop and think "what am I going to do here and how am I going to do it?" I hope they don't poncify the course and spoil it – this is how real golf is played. I saw no litter and heard no planes and could have been in the wilds of Hampshire. A bit of work on the tees and greens yes, but don't cut back the scrub or re-lay country manor garden turf. And keep the “clubhouse”. Out of nearly 300 courses these are some of the tightest fairways and only a controlled fade or draw depending on the shape of the hole will keep the ball in play. Henry Longhurst described what would be his ideal club - not more than 6,000 yards, testing fairways, few bunkers, lots of natural hazards, friendly no-frills clubhouse and a game with anyone any time with a par 5 unreachable in 2, several long shot par 4s and four not too long par 3s facing all points of the compass plus a few “go for glory” holes. What more could you want? Well, I was waved through with a friendly chat on at least three holes – you don’t get that from the 4 ball “wrecking crews” at my club. Next time I'm going to play it with hickories - now there's a challenge.

Posted by DAVID BENTLEY on 20/11/2009
5
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Overall Rating 5
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  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5

My favourite golf course - it's cheap down-to-earth and friendly. It's also a challenge to play. Good idea to stock up on golfballs as you will need them if your shots aren't laser-straight. Hounslow Heath is great for its variety. The front nine is heathland and elevated to it catches the wind. It can be very much like a links course at times. Challenging holes here are the 3rd - always tempting to cut the dog-leg with the big stick; the par-5 4th with the bridleway in a valley just after the tee to catch any topped shots; the par-3 5th over water and the blind 7th. *** The back nine is of a totally different character, running alongside the river Crane. Holes 10 to 13 are in an annexe over the road, which is reached via a tunnel. The 13th is the easy hole, a good birdie opprtunity. The 14th to 16th are the real tests - a 90-degree dog-leg on the 14 to a green over the water; the very tight, tree-lined 15th with water on both sides *and* crossing the fairway abour 100yds from the green; the 16th is also water-guarded and very pretty and you're back up onto the heath for the final two. The course is at its best and most scenic on a summers evening.

Posted by Dan Evans on 26/04/2009
4
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Overall Rating 4
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  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5

By far the best municipal in the area. Some of the back nine are gorgeous the greens and fairways have improved massively we rediscovered it 3 months ago and regularly play there now. At the moment it's like a millionaires playground it's that quiet. Seriously considering getting annual membership.

Posted by liam corrigan on 07/08/2008
4
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Overall Rating 4
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  • Clubhouse 2
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 2
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5

Played 15/June 2008. Worst condition greens I've ever seen. Tee boxes ? well you're lucky to find a flat piece of turf to hit from. But do you know what ? I'd go back for £15.00 a round. Holes 3 and 4 make you think off the tees. Hole 5 is a nice looking par 3. Holes 14, 15 and 16- well you'll be hard pushed to find 3 better holes one after the other on any municipal course. Hole flags are plastic plumbing tubes, I can only assume it's because they keep getting stolen. So go give it a go, the condition may or may not make you go back but one thing is for sure, you'll remember some of the holes as amongst the best you've played.

Posted by Phil Reynolds on 17/07/2008
3
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Overall Rating 3
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  • Clubhouse 2
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 4
  • Clubhouse 2
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 4

Tempted to play this course after hearing it's been taken over and gradually improved. It's a mature, heathland course with decent (albeit slow) greens and bunkers in good condition. Some fairways a bit boggy (admittedly there has been a fair bit of rain recently), especially on the back nine. Due to it's location, it's not the most tranquil of courses - planes, trains & automobiles add plenty of background noise. Not intrusive, but worth noting. A shortish course with plenty of dog-legs - you might as well leave the driver at home. However, although the rampant rough has apparently been cut back, anything not on the fairway is invariably lost - d'oh ! Straight hitters welcome.... A little jaunt through a tunnel under the main road to reach holes 10-13..... Back nine more interesting than the front set, with the 14th being the stand-out. A right-angle dog-leg - 160 yards to the corner and then 180 yards down onto a green in a hollow. The 15th over the river and tight 17th are also noteworthy. Off-course facilities a bit scant - portacabin club-house, little putting green and short practise area. £15 for a weekday round isn't too bad and, living very locally, I would make a return visit.

Posted by Nick Kaye on 02/05/2008
3
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Overall Rating 3
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  • Clubhouse 2
  • Course challenge 3
  • Value for money 3
  • Clubhouse 2
  • Course challenge 3
  • Value for money 3

Get down and play this course while the green fees are still £15. The course has been bought by a private company. They are going to build a floodlit range, a clubhouse and a hotel.The course is now at the best it has ever been after some much needed TLC.The greens are good, the bunkers are raked,the burnt out cars have gone,the ball sellers have gone,the motorbikes have gone and the impenetrable rough has been hacked back so the lost ball count is way down on previous years. No hole is the same and the last five holes are truly spectacular and bloody difficult!If you have played there before and you have been put off by the complete and utter mess the course decended into, get back there you wont believe it! Terrific value!

Posted by Ian Taylor on 10/02/2008
4
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Overall Rating 4
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  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5

This is a true test of golf, not long but not forgiving . You won't be held up as it is always very quiet,this is due to very poor greens and fairways. The fact that it is might be a reason as well, the layout will keep you on your toes and wayward shots of the tees usually end up into a lost ball. If you are an experience golfer this course will give you a true indication of your handicap.

Posted by Chris D on 27/03/2007
4
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Overall Rating 4
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  • Clubhouse 2
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 2
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5

I really rate this course. It is a test for anyone. The rough is very testing (lost balls are a way of life) and some of the holes spectacular. I rate the back nine as truly excellent on their own they would still be worth the green fee. Unfortunately it is open to the public, their dogs, and their motor bikes. Because it is common heathland it cannot be fenced off and it is trashed by hooligans. It is frustrating for the club and those who enjoy a golfing test. Clubhouse facilities are very basic but for the price I wouldn't dream of moaning about it.

Posted by Ray Corcoran on 19/11/2006
4
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Overall Rating 4
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  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5

I turned up on a Friday afternoon in July to find 1 other car in the car park. It is not in the greatest condition, this is due to it being public land, and an obvious lack of investment by the local council. Despite this, it is an excellent golf course with some really interesting holes providing a real challenge. If you hit a wayward shot you will be punished. If you want to kid yourself about your handicap then stick to the countless mundane courses in the area, where if you slice or hook off the tee then all you have to do is play off the adjoining fairway. but for a real test and to see exactly what your handicap should be, play Hounslow heath

Posted by Richard Coveney on 17/07/2006
3
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Overall Rating 3
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  • Clubhouse 1
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 1
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5

I think this course is very underrated, yes the fairways are more conducive to grazing sheep, but I found the greens excelent, better than a lot of more rated courses. Maybe that's due to the lack of people who play there, as it was very quiet when I played, another bonus! There are also some very interesting and challenging holes, some of the most interesting I've played. There's a tree-lined dog-leg hole, with a large ditch before the green, which is a absolute beauty. It's nearly 6,000 yards long as well. All for £15, a complete steal!

Posted by Evan Beachley on 13/09/2005
5
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Overall Rating 5
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  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5

great layout. tough course, challenge for any handicap due to tight fairwats,professional del is best value coach around and is a very experienced coach..

Posted by delamame perkin on 09/08/2005
4
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Overall Rating 4
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  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5

This course is enjoyable, depending what you are used to and also what your expectations are of a good round of golf. The layout is very good, and can be very challenging with some very tight tee shots and fairways to contend with. However the condiiton of this course is the worst I have come across and really lets the layout down, the fairways are well, terrible and greens are also very poor(one even had virtually no grass on it)the people are very friendly though, and if you want a low cost round of golf then it will suit the purpose. I believe this course is to be taken over very shortly and this will help the course development. Not for golfing snobs or people used to qualiy golf. I am afraid the condiiton can spoil what can be a good round of golf. Take lots of balls as losing a ball is very easy!!!!

Posted by Ross Pemberton on 04/08/2005
3
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Overall Rating 3
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  • Clubhouse 1
  • Course challenge 3
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 1
  • Course challenge 3
  • Value for money 5

A very good course layout is ruined by planes flying overhead every 5 mins, burn-out cars just off the fairways and people taking their dogs around completely oblivious to the fact that it is actually a golf course. One particular Rottweiler decided that a spot right in the middle of the green was a good place to do its business. Shame, with some tightening-up this could be an excellent course.

Posted by Nick DP on 16/05/2005
3
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Overall Rating 3
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  • Clubhouse 1
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 4
  • Clubhouse 1
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 4

As municipal golf courses go this is one of the best in the area. Can be challenging for all levels. Its very easy to loose your ball which I find makes you concentrate more on the shots being stright (you will learn a lot about your faults). If you loose you ball there is always someone willing to find it and sell it back to you and the od dog may run off with your ball once in a while. But seriously, it is excellent value for money.

Posted by Dave Haslam on 24/04/2005

This course represents good value golf in an unpretentious environment. I have mixed feelings about the quality of the course. Some holes are very well laid out and present a huge challenge to even the better players amoung us, whilst others are a bit boring and sometimes quite short. The quality of the greens is not great but I have seen worse on municpial courses that charge more. The fairways are on the whole quite good although I have been led to believe that some of them get water-logged quite quickly. All in all, if you're not bothered about the "trimmings" I would highly recommend you try this course as it definitely represents the best value for money I've seen.

Posted by S Singh on 20/05/2003

I have to agree that this is the best value for money course in London. I've played at least 10 times and I've found the course challenging enough but not too tough. Major gripes are that after heavy rains, the 3 nicest and most challenging holes 13, 14 and 15th become waterlogged and unplayable (in winter they are actually taken out of play). The course is also at times subjected to vandals riding motorbikes across the greens amongst other things. Those gripes aside, I always try and play this course at least once a year as it will always represent, to me, a cheap and unpretentious round of golf

Posted by SBJ on 30/04/2003

I have played this course 3 or 4 times and there is no arguing with the green fees for a golf course in London, but this course really is in a state of disrepair. If a little bit of money was spent, it could be improved enormously. The greens are very poor as are the fairways and the tees are terrible, quite a shame really.

Posted by david doherty on 22/10/2002

This course is probably too good to be a municipal course with several holes being superb. The 14th - Take no more than a 7 Iron from the tee to leave yourself 140 yards to the green. The 15th - Stay Straight - One of the toughest holes I've ever come across - The 16th - You'll need to be 220 yards of the tee to get a good look at the green - Oh and watch out for Concorde taking off - My god it's loud. When you're playing the 11th and 12th listen out for the vortex of the landing planes. The 4th (the only par 5) is also worth a mention since it is very tight and everything runs off to the right and the drive is very tough. The food in the clubhouse/portakabin wasn't bad either and there was loads of fruit out on the course - Apples and Pears by the bucket load. There will also be guys selling good quality balls at 4 for £1 around and about.

Posted by Ian Brown on 13/10/2002

At £9 this course must represent the best value golf in London, though for a novice like myself who hasn't broken 110 yet, achieving a par on either 15 or 16 seems nigh on impossible. 14 is a very scenic hole (the view of the green as you take your 2nd represents the ultimate -for me- "Do I go for the the green " challenge. A plus point for these tougher holes is that you'll usually see a bit of wildlife: butterflies, dragonflys, frogs (as you look for your lost ball in the river), the odd heron (one of the biggest birds in the UK if you're interested in that sort of thing).

Posted by cormac9 on 10/06/2002

Very tough course if you have never played before, good value for only £9. Greens could have done with a cut sometime in the last week and not a rake in sight but overall a fair course with no queues during the week.

Posted by BdW on 17/05/2002

Like everyone says,14,15 and16 a real challenge,like playing through a nice rain-forest after being up on dry land-I've not played challenging holes like this anywhere around london area.Don't expect your best score ever and keep straight(well that's the idea ,anyway).I've played this course about 6 times and will keep on coming back to try and better myself.It's a good public course and if you ace this one not many will hold you back.

Posted by Andy Kidd on 25/04/2002

This is a public course but don't be put off by that fact. I played here on 10/04/02, the greens were in good condition, green keepers were out and about which was good to see and the outlay is a big challenge to any player. Undulating, well kept fairways are the order of the day here. Holes 15 and 16 are two of the toughest holes you're likely to play. I finished my round 7 shots over my handicap and to be honest I thought I'd played some good golf (15 and 16 took their toll however).

Posted by Ian McAllan on 12/04/2002

Agree with the majority that 14,15 + 16 are all nice holes, and you can't argue with the price you pay to play here. It can be hard going, especially if the weather is against you. It can get very watery around the track in heavy rain with lots of standing puddles etc. Not in great condition and probably not the best place to go if you like immaculately manicured courses and compulsory golf shoes. The holes over (or should that be under?) the Hounslow Road are very plain indeed and it is a spine snapping experience to get to them.

Posted by Charles Gordon on 19/03/2002

Course information

Number of holes 18
Year opened -
Designer -
Style heathland

Tee information

TeesYardsParSSS
Competition
Men's590170
Ladies'

Green Fees

Summer/High season

Weekday round£9.85
Weekday day-
Weekend round£14.3
Weekend day-

Winter/Low season

Weekday round-
Weekday day-
Weekend round-
Weekend day-

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