Introduction
Finding the best golf courses near London for a first round is easier than most people expect. Several of them don’t ask for a membership, and none of them expect a full set of clubs. What you want is a layout that lets you hit a few bad shots without ruining the day.
So forget the famous names. The best golf courses near London for beginners are short, relaxed, and cheap. Here’s what to look for: five courses worth your time and a checklist before you book.
What Makes the Best Golf Courses Near London Beginner-Friendly?
Lots of people try golf once and never go back. Usually, the first round is the problem.
Manageable Course Length and Layout
Shorter holes mean less pressure. You can reach more greens, and you’ll lose fewer balls in the rough. A nine-hole course is handy too because you can call it a day when your hands start to hurt.
Practice Facilities Before the Round
I always tell new players to hit a few balls before they step onto the first tee. A range of putting greens gives your swing a chance to wake up. You also find out how far you really hit a seven-iron, which is usually less than you imagined.
Accessible Playing Options for New Golfers
Pay on the day and hire clubs if you need to. Nobody should have to buy a bag before trying the game. Twilight slots are worth a look as well since the course tends to be calmer.
A Beginner-Friendly Playing Environment
This one is hard to spot online, but you notice it within minutes. Staff who smile when you ask where to stand make a big difference. So do regulars who don’t tut at slower groups.
None of it needs to be fancy. A decent short course with a range next door and friendly people at the desk beats a famous layout most of the time when you’re learning.
Best Golf Courses Near London for Beginners
Five courses, all within easy reach of central London. Different reasons to love each one.
Dukes Meadows Golf
Dukes Meadows is on the Thames at Chiswick, and it’s the easiest place on this list to start. The main course has nine par-3 holes, so you never face a long shot. You pay as you go and there’s no membership. Clubs can be hired, and a standard golf dress code applies.
Next to it you’ll find a driving range and a short game area. There’s also a five-hole academy course used for coaching and practice, which is a quiet spot to try a few chips before heading out. Tee times can be booked ahead online, so there’s no guessing on the day.
Richmond Park Golf Course
Richmond Park Golf Course is a public pay-and-play site inside the Royal Park. It has two 18-hole courses. Dukes is the flatter and longer one with a stream across a few holes. Princes is shorter with more ups and downs. A driving range is there for warming up.
Both have a bit of history too. Princes opened in 1923, and Dukes followed two years later. Weekends can get slow, so I’d aim for a weekday. Deer wander through the park, and the clubhouse has a coffee shop for afterwards.
Trent Park Golf Club
Trent Park is my pick for North London. It’s a public 18-hole course near Southgate and plays to around 6,200 yards over rolling ground. Visitors are welcome every day, and you don’t need a handicap.
The best part is the transport. Oakwood Station on the Piccadilly line is a couple of minutes’ walk away, so you can leave the car at home. There’s a driving range and club hire on site, plus putting and chipping greens. Expect a few uphill approaches that need an extra club.
Aquarius Golf Club
Aquarius is a quirky one. It’s a small nine-hole club in East Dulwich built over a Thames Water reservoir and run by volunteers. Listings say the play is for members and their guests, so a beginner would need to join or go with a member.
Aquarius may work for a newer golfer who already knows a member or is thinking seriously about joining. It is not the most practical choice for a complete beginner looking for an open tee time.
Strawberry Hill Golf Club
And southwest London has this gem. Strawberry Hill in Twickenham. Nine holes, in play since 1900.
It feels like golf from another era, in a good way. Short, walkable, completely unpretentious. Nine holes keep it cheap, and the whole day stays relaxed. Just one thing: visitor access can change with the seasons, so check before you book. Lovely first taste of the game, this one.
What Should a Beginner Check Before Booking a Golf Course Near London?
A bit of homework saves a wasted journey.
- Visitor access: Richmond Park and Trent Park let anyone pay a green fee. Strawberry Hill and Aquarius are member clubs, so check which days visitors can play.
- Handicap: Public courses rarely ask for one. Private clubs might, so ask when you book.
- Holes and format: Nine is plenty for a first go. An 18-hole round can wait until your swing feels steadier.
- Club hire: Dukes Meadows and Trent Park both list it. Find out how many clubs come in a set and whether you need a minimum number in your bag.
- Tee times: Some places want you to book online in advance, while others take walk-ups. Look at the cancellation terms before you pay.
- Pace of play: Tell the starter it’s your first time. Let faster groups go through if you’re holding people up.
- Getting there: Trent Park and Strawberry Hill are near stations. For the others, look up parking or bus routes before you leave.
Conclusion
The best golf courses near London for a first round are the ones that keep things simple. Dukes Meadows is the gentlest start, and Strawberry Hill is short but tricky. Richmond Park and Trent Park give you a full 18 holes when you feel ready.
If you’d like a little help first, Golf Gift Days has half-hour PGA lessons for people who’ve never played. Equipment can be provided if you don’t have any. A lesson plus a nine-hole round makes a decent first weekend of golf.
