Berkhamsted
Berkhamsted is one of golf's great curiosities and one of its most respected inland tests: a heathland course with no sand bunkers at all. Founded in 1890 on open common land in Hertfordshire, this par 71 of roughly 6,600 yards is defended by natural hollows, grassy banks and an ancient earthwork, proving that you do not need a single rake to build a thoroughly demanding course.
Photo: Berkhamsted Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Ask a golfer what defines a hard hole and most will start with the bunkers. Berkhamsted answers by having none. Laid out on rolling common land in the Chiltern hills of Hertfordshire, the course has not a single sand bunker, and yet it is regularly ranked among the finest and stiffest inland tests in England, a result that says everything about how cleverly it uses the land it sits on.
The club was founded in 1890, with the original nine holes attributed to Willie Park Jr, an expansion to eighteen helped along by Harry Colt by 1909, and significant alterations by James Braid in 1926 that largely give the course its present shape. The defenses are entirely natural: humps and hollows, steep grassy banks, gorse and heather, and the medieval Grim's Ditch earthwork that crosses the line of play. At a par 71 of around 6,600 yards, it is the firm, fast running ground and the punishing short game that protect par, not sand.
Berkhamsted at a glance
- Founded
- 1890
- Design
- Park Jr, Braid
- Type
- Heathland
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- ~6,600 yds
- Bunkers
- None
Founding year, design history and par verified June 2026 from Berkhamsted Golf Club and leading course databases. Founded 1890, with work by Willie Park Jr, Harry Colt and James Braid, Berkhamsted is a par 71 of roughly 6,600 yards and famously has no sand bunkers. Berkhamsted welcomes visiting golfers; green fees vary by season and day (indicative, 2026), so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Without bunkers to frame the targets, Berkhamsted demands a different kind of reading. The fairways run firm over the common, the ground throws shots in unexpected directions, and the player has to judge where a drive will finish rather than simply where it lands. Grassy hollows and banks lurk where a bunker would sit on another course, and a ball that runs into one of them often leaves an awkward, half buried lie that is harder to escape than sand.
The greens are the real examination. Many sit on subtle plateaus or are guarded by steep falloffs, so an approach that misses the surface tumbles away into trouble and leaves a delicate, often blind recovery. The famous Grim's Ditch and the rolling contours mean position and angle matter on nearly every hole, and the short game has to be both imaginative and reliable.
The result is a course that gets under your skin. It looks open and benign from the first tee, then quietly extracts a price for every loose shot, and golfers who play it once tend to talk about it for years. For anyone interested in how golf was meant to be played over natural ground, Berkhamsted is essential.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Members' club that welcomes visiting golfers and societies on selected days outside member competitions; advance booking through the club is essential |
| Green fee | Indicative visitor green fees in the region of 60 to 100 pounds depending on season and day (2026); always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Reserve ahead through the Berkhamsted office; midweek tee times are easiest and society packages are available |
| On the day | Smart golf dress on course and in the clubhouse; trolleys available; the common land walk is rolling and stays dry underfoot |
| Getting there | On the common above Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire, close to the A41 and roughly 40 minutes northwest of London, near Tring and the Chilterns |
| Best months | The course plays firm and fast much of the year, with late summer bringing the heather and gorse into color |
Access and fee details verified June 2026; rates change by season and day, so always confirm directly with the club or your trip planner before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Berkhamsted is an easy run from northwest London, so visitors can stay in town, which has good inns and restaurants, or in the wider Chilterns and Tring area for a peaceful countryside base close to the first tee.
The course pairs well with the other heathland and parkland gems of Hertfordshire and the home counties, so a few unhurried days can combine Berkhamsted's bunkerless test with the best inland golf north of the capital.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Berkhamsted.
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Berkhamsted questions
Why does Berkhamsted Golf Club have no bunkers?
Berkhamsted is famous for having no sand bunkers. The course is defended instead by natural grassy hollows, mounds and banks, plus a medieval earthwork called Grim's Ditch, which makes the heathland and common ground itself the hazard.
When was Berkhamsted Golf Club founded and who designed it?
Berkhamsted was founded in 1890. Willie Park Jr laid out the original nine holes, Harry Colt helped expand it to eighteen by 1909, and James Braid made alterations in 1926 that largely shape the course today.
What is the par and length of Berkhamsted?
Berkhamsted is a par 71 of roughly 6,600 yards, a heathland and common land course whose lack of bunkers is balanced by demanding contours and a stiff short game test.
Can visitors play Berkhamsted Golf Club?
Yes. Berkhamsted welcomes visiting golfers and societies on selected days; book in advance through the club and confirm the current green fee before you travel.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Founding year, design history and par verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.