Hankley Common Golf Club

Hankley Common Golf Club, Farnham, South East, England, GU10 2DD

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17 reviews of Hankley Common Golf Club

I had the very good fortune to play Hankley Common in a match for a token green fee. It is a great example of a Surrey sandbelt course, with plenty of space. Playing off the white tees it is a real test with five par fours at 400 yards plus, three solid par fives, and four excellent par threes - the 7th and 11th are both particularly difficult. There are many beautifully sculptured heathland holes through swathes of heather with some subtle elevation changes creating interesting and attractive challenges. The purple tees add another 350 yards to the course. Playing in early November, the course was not at its finest; some of the greens were a bit patchy, the bunkers were a bit soggy, and the 4th hole was out of commission as it is being reshaped -a temporary hole (9a) currently replaces it. However, despite the heavy rain over the previous two weeks, not to mention the storm on the 28th October, the course still looked and played good. It must be absolutely stunning in the height of summer. Recommended.

Posted by Peter Frost on 01/11/2013
4
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Overall Rating 4
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  • Green conditions 3
  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 5
  • Staff service 4
  • Value for money 5
  • Green conditions 3
  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 5
  • Staff service 4
  • Value for money 5

Hankley Common is a real gem. Each of the holes is very separate and different in design. Despite the rain the course had drained fantastically and was in superb condition. There are a few standout holes in the 18, in particular the par-3 7th which is an elevated green of nearly 200 yards combined with a two-tiered green. The 8th is a great par 5 with excellent views from the elevated tee. The 10th and 11th are really good tests and the finishing holes from 14-18 are amongst the best I've played - all very different and great uses of the landscape. One of the best in the UK in my opinion.

Posted by Roger Wood on 08/05/2012
5
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Overall Rating 5
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  • Green conditions 5
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 5
  • Staff service 5
  • Value for money 5
  • Green conditions 5
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 5
  • Staff service 5
  • Value for money 5

I have to agree this is a top heathland course, lots of heather, imaculate, tees, fairways and greens. Lots of space between holes, there is some room on the fairways, so if you avoid the heather you usually have a shot, the greens and fairways were firm, and I felt that it paid to land your approaches on many holes just short or at the front as the ball tended to run through the slick firm greens. This course is a step above the likes of Woking & East Berkshire and makes it into my top 3. In short I loved it and can't wait to return.

Posted by Steve A on 10/08/2011

I was invited to play a match against Hankley's scratch team on Sunday 8th May 2011, needless to say I accepted the invitation immediately. Without doubt this is one of the best golf courses you will find in the UK. The layout is spread out over huge fields of heather which seem to go on for miles. The members are very welcoming and the clubhouse was busy for Sunday lunch (which was excellent). Each hole is very separate, individual and fantastically laid out. Stand out holes, in my opinion, are the 3rd hole (new back tee makes this a tough driving hole), the uphill par-3 7th which is exposed to the elements and only the best struck shot will find the putting surface. The par-4 10th hole is an excellent par 4 which despite two well struck woods I was unable to reach the putting surface. The 18th hole can prove to be a bit of a scorecard wrecker if you miss the fairway, with a valley which runs in front of the green it is a great finishing hole with par a very tough score to achieve. Measuring 6,782 yards with a par of 71 (SSS 73), this is a fantastic example of heathland golf and one which I can not recommend enough.

Posted by Oliver Gunning on 09/05/2011
5
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Overall Rating 5
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  • Green conditions 5
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 5
  • Staff service 5
  • Value for money 5
  • Green conditions 5
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 5
  • Staff service 5
  • Value for money 5

Played here for the first time yesterday (36 hole Society meeting) and have to report that this was one of the nicest heath and heather course I have played. The views are outstanding, and looking down the first fairway immediately told me that I was in for a treat. The condition of the course was superb. Tees were immaculate, as were the fairways, and the greens (despite hearing rumours to the contrary) were some of the best I have played on this season. Very quick and true. We played off the yellow tees in the morning, and then moved back to the whites in the afternoon, but to be honest this only affected a couple of holes to any great extent. As others have mentioned, the heather is penal. Avoid at all costs!! I was ticking along quite nicely after 8 holes, my driver was performing well and I had avoided the rough stuff up until then. I was putting a good card together. Then I stood on the 9th and hit a big pull towards a bunker up the left hand side. I avoided the sand trap which from the tee appeared to be a blessing. But when I found my ball completely buried in the heather I realised that the bunker would have been my preferred choice after all. Three attempts to extracate my ball later, a chip and missed putt saw me recording my first N/R of the day. Never mind, onward and upward. The back 9 starts with a tough par 4, which was playing into a stiffish right to left breeze which doesn't help when you really need to hit a fade up here. Two good knocks to get anywhere near the green and then onto the 11th, a great long par 3 that was playing straight into the wind, which was at least a two club, maybe 3. I'm not usually a fan of long par 3's like this, where it is normally hit and hope with almost everything you've got in the bag. But this hole is a superb one shotter, with trees and steep banking to the right. Made par here in the morning, dropped a shot in the afternoon. I'll take those thank you very much. More lovely holes and heather followed, standing on the 17th tee with 32 points under my belt I was thinking a par bogie finish would give me 37 points a a chance of glory. Sadly, the course had other ideas and finding the heavy rough again from both of the closing holes saw me failing to add to my score. But all in all a very enjoyable day. I will definitely return to Hankley Common. It really was a special day. And the welcome afforded to us in the clubhouse, and by the starter in particular was fantastic.

Posted by Robert Smith on 26/08/2009
5
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Overall Rating 5
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  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 4
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 4

Played here with 'Young B' at the start of June. In summary: this is a tight and challenging layout that's a bit more down-to-earth than other heathland tracks in the region. One piece of advice for the uninitiated: there’s lots of heather here. Avoid it. For me, the standout hole was the 14th - a superb tree-lined par 4 with a semi-blind tee shot over a sea of heather down into a valley and an approach to an obscured green that sits above you. The par 3 seventh is obviously a famous hole but the 11th is also another cracker that demands nothing less than a perfectly struck long iron. The club own a colossal amount of land (I believe it's something in the region of about 850 acres) and so space and tranquillity are here in abundance. When the heather is purple, the views must be unforgettable. However, courses that are highly rated invariably demand a higher level of criticism. So, being appropriately picky, I would have to say I'm not a fan of routings that return to the clubhouse after the first few holes (Worplesdon is another example that springs to mind). I also felt the course was set up too tight, with the effect of discouraging players from risking driver (or even 3 wood). Furthermore, Kevin B. and I seem to be exchanging reports on a regular basis and, whilst I'm evidently more of a heathland aficionado than him - viz our contrasting write-ups on West Sussex and The Addington - I do agree with him that there is a tiny something missing here that doesn't impel me to return (compared to somewhere like West Sussex which, for me, does have that X factor). However, all that should not detract from the fact that this is an excellent test of golf with an unpretentious club attached. A final mention to the outstanding pro, whose character and service manner befits that fact that you're stumping up £80-odd quid for a day ticket and not that you're some unwanted urchin whose presence the club has grudgingly elected to tolerate (we've all been to those kinds of places). 8.75/10 'Young P' (h/c 12)

Posted by 'Young P' on 28/06/2009
4
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Overall Rating 4
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  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 3
  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 3

Played here December 08 . Highly regarded,classic heath & heather course that didn't quite live up to expectations.Very similar to Walton Heath ,but with more trees & undulations.It all looks lovely ,is very scenic & has some fine views & is pleasant with a really tranquil ambience but, for me ,the holes were lacking something that would put it on a par with the top courses.When i walked off 18 it hadn't made me want to play it again. Also ,at £70 a round i don't think it represents value when you can play superior courses such as Hindhead ,Woking & West Byfleet for half the amount using the county card. I enjoyed the front 9 but the back 9 seemed to drag on a bit. Admittedly ,although they look nice , heather courses aren't my favourite to play as searching for & playing balls out of the heather can get a bit wearing. Greens were fairly slow compared to others i've played this winter & the members don't seem interested in replacing their divots. Kevin B.

Posted by Kevin B. on 26/12/2008

I was asked to stand in for a fellow club member and take part in an Adult/Junior competition on 7th August this. I knoe that the course has an enviable reputation and it did not disappoint. The course was in magnificent condition and |I thought I had died and gone to heaven!! Absolutely wonderful. The hospitality was first class and the three course buffet lunch after play was delicious. What a great Day!

Posted by John Coogan on 09/08/2007
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

Just awesome. What a golf course, what an amazing golf course. Exceptional in every way possible.

Posted by Chris Poole on 25/01/2006
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

I'm over from the USA on Business - Am lucky enough to be a member of the Olympic Club in San Fran (US Open Venue). I was invited to play this course whilst in the UK and what an awesome esperience it was. This course is similar in many ways to many of our top inland courses stateside, in actual fact it even has a similar feel to Pine Valley NJ. Without a doubt this is one of the best Golf Courses in the World. It would certainly rank above 95% of PGA tour golf courses. Memories of this historical course will be shared with many a friend and fellow member in the US.

Posted by Josh Billard on 19/11/2005
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

Without doubt this course deserves its place within GB & I's top 50 list of courses. British Golf Guide currently rate Hankley Common as the 36th best course in GB & I. Its easy to see why. A gorgeous golf course, everything you'd expect from a Harry Colt / James Braid design in Surrey. Over 100 years old, and described by Bobby Locke himself as "A course as close to an inland Links as you could ever wish to play". Heaven for the purists. If you're lucky enough to get an invite, accept it.

Posted by Christopher K on 07/11/2005
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

Played this in mid-May and thought the course and condition were outstanding. I would rate it only marginally behind Sunningdale New for looks. The sheer tranquility was amazing - the seclusion is wonderful. Again, comparing it to other top heathland courses I have played I think it is as good a challenge as any of the the 3Ws and as good as the Berkshire (Blue). Conditioning is on a par with any of these too. A really excellent track that you would be happy to play time and again.

Posted by Chas Mason on 14/05/2004

I had the pleasure of playing this course today and throughly enjoyed every minute. Stunning countryside, smooth fairways and the best greens I have played in a very long time. The members and staff are welcoming and friendly and I now understand why so many glowing articles have been written about this course.

Posted by Alexander Tracey on 14/10/2003

I have played Hankley on numerous occasions through the year as a guest of a member. The course is always in "good nick" particularly the greens. The heather always provides a challenge, particulary in the summer months but do take the short route out. The 18th has an unusual finish with a "moat" around the front of the green to gather up your ball.

Posted by Richard Sharpe on 08/08/2002

I Played this course yesterday and what a joy it was !! Even though i wasn't playing too well the location and the beauty of the course is incredible. It is great Value for money and in my mind should be rated alot higher than #26 in the Brittish Isles. Great Condition and Great Fun, there is a variety of different challenges from short par 3s to long par 5s, just make sure that if you play here that you you don't have a bad slice !!

Posted by Darren Thompson on 20/05/2002

I personally think that this course is perfection. Beautifully manicured but with the heather element to make it difficult enough to get into a lot of trouble. A thoroughly great day out and a lovely place to be. I would rate this course highly - a place to return to again and again.

Posted by Sally on 23/06/2000

Don't know what the previous reviewer was smoking... I Played this course on March 9, 2000. Secretary was very welcoming and the course lived up to its billing (#26 in the British Isles according to my guidebook). Courses definitely favours those who can move the ball right to left off the tee as no less than 8 holes turn in that direction. Course condition was outstanding (though some maintenance was ongoing) and the trimmed heather was a welcome site (balls were relatively easy to find and playable even off the fairways). Some great holes, particularly the par 3 7th which is played from one peak across to another where the green is situated. On a somewhat windy day (it was @ 15 -20 MPH) an impossible target to hit! A beautiful course which I hope to play again many times. At 42 pounds a round and @50 for the day, a great value.

Posted by Peter Cobb on 12/03/2000

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Number of holes 18
Year opened -
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Style heathland

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