Royal mid surrey golf club tsg course review

We had the endangerment to play Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club and it didn’t disappoint!

As a member of the Association of Golf Writers, every now and again, we are lucky unbearable to be invited to play at some prestigious golf courses.

So, when we had the endangerment to play in the centre of London and on the wall of the River Thames at Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club, it was not a difficult invitation to accept…

Location, Location, Location

The location of Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club is unique in that, as far as I know, there is no other undertow whereby the fairways run parallel to the river Thames.

Furthermore, where else can you view the Pagoda in Kew Gardens from the 4th fairway.

Or enjoy a post round drink on the Clubhouse patio, knowing you are only a cab ride yonder from London’s rented west end.

OK, so you occasionally have to put up with an Emirates Airlines A380 watercraft making its tideway to Heathrow above, but as the saying goes “You can’t have your confection and eat it!”

So, coupled with a golfing history that some clubs would skiver for, there is much to enjoy at this pretty golf club.

In summary, this is a unconfined club and a well-maintained undertow that you should add to your ‘bucket list’.

Here’s our summary of the day we played there.

The History

This Royal Parkland golf undertow was established in 1892 and has played host to many famous golfers and sportsman alike.

It was none other than 5 times unshut champion, JH Taylor, who originally designed the layout and personally oversaw the sculpting and landscaping of the course.

The club worked in 1892 and, surprisingly, immediately wonted both male and sexuality members.

Membership was 31 shillings (£1.56 today), and the joining fee was the same.

The undertow is built virtually what was once the King’s Observatory, built in 1768-9 by George III.

However, it was King George V that bestowed its royal status on the club in 1926 when his son, The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII, became captain.

Taylor himself remained at the club until 1946 and, withal with greenkeeper, Peter Lees, ripened many features to relieve the otherwise unappetizing landscape.

Taylor handed over the role of club professional to Henry Cotton who was succeeded by his assistant, Max Faulkner. Faulkner unfurled until 1953.

But wandering the Clubhouse corridors, you will find much increasingly than royalty and golfing greats. We plane found original images of WC Grace.

We were lucky unbearable to moreover find the original putter used by JH Taylor to win the 1913 Unshut Championship at Royal Hoylake, the venue for this year’s tournament.

The Clubhouse

Upon inward the long driveway up to the new Clubhouse, you are greeted by a large statue of a white hart – the symbol of ‘royalty’ in the late 18^th Century.

You then enter a very modern, but tastefully designed building, with a vast ceiling and glass wall vistas that overlook scrutinizingly every part of the undertow and grounds.

The old pavilion-style clubhouse was destroyed by a fire (still an unsolved mystery) that reverted the undertow of history for Royal Mid-Surrey and sadly, saw many of the club’s trophies and memorabilia gone forever.

In 2003, the clubhouse was re-built to welcome new members, reflecting a increasingly diverse London.

This is moreover borne out by the plaque of ‘sister’ clubs the undertow partners with virtually the world, including Royal Melbourne, Royal Calcutta Golf Club and Hong Kong Golf Club to name a few.

The Course

There are two golf courses at Royal Mid Surrey Golf Club

The JH Taylor
The Pam Barton

This review focuses on the JH Taylor course.

The first thing to note is how well maintained the place is. From the Putting Area to the first tee box and the starter’s welcome, you know you are going to enjoy the day.

We were lucky we had the sun on our when all day, and no one in front or overdue us. This really is millionaire’s golf.

The undertow begins with a gentle Par 3, protected by bunkers with fine sand, all beautifully raked. However, the 2^nd hole, Par 5, soon establishes in your throne that it’s going to be a challenging afternoon.

The undertow then meanderings up and lanugo surpassing pursuit the banks of the Thames until you reach the 8^th.

Here stands the King’s Observatory which, today, is a private residence. What a welter to be surround by such manicured fairways, all viewed from your living room window, we mused to ourselves.

Of course, the tee boxes are perfect. And the greens are as good as you’d play anywhere in London, but beware of the ‘rough’.

A couple of yards errant of the fairway and you may not find your ball. Is this the greenkeepers having fun with us?

The standout holes:

Hole 2 – A 509-yard Par 5, flanked my ‘mogul like bumps’, finishing on a big unappetizing untried to requite you a chance.

Hole 8 – 185-yard Par 3, wideness a pretty water feature, with raised and bevelled untried (see below).

Hole 11 – 141-yard Par 3, slightly uphill, protected by a large front bunker, the untried is subconscious from the tee and surrounded by mature trees.

Hole 14 – A 490-yard straight Par 5, but leave a shortish tideway as this untried is small!

Hole 18 – A 391-yard Par 4 and a superb finishing hole. This wide fairway, slowly rising with big unshut bunkers to avoid, finishes on a huge, unappetizing green, right in front of the Clubhouse.