Coombe Hill
Coombe Hill is one of the great hidden courses on London's doorstep, a J.F. Abercromby design founded in 1911 that climbs and tumbles through mature woodland near Kingston. A par 71 of roughly 6,300 yards, it is short on paper and severe in person, with hillside lies, small quick greens and a quiet exclusivity that has long made it a favorite of those in the know.
Photo: Coombe Hill Golf Club via Google, by George Roberts.
The verdict
Few courses so close to central London feel as private or as removed as Coombe Hill. Tucked into a wooded hillside near Kingston upon Thames, it is a J.F. Abercromby creation, the same architect responsible for Worplesdon, and it carries his signature gift for fitting golf to dramatic ground without ever forcing it.
Founded in 1911, it measures a modest par 71 of around 6,300 yards, but the scorecard tells you almost nothing. Abercromby walked the land for weeks before drawing a line, and the result is a course of steep climbs, sidehill stances and small, fast, beautifully contoured greens that demand precision over power. It plays far longer and far harder than its yardage, and its roll of professional members, who between them won four Open Championships, speaks to a course that has always been taken seriously by the best.
Coombe Hill at a glance
- Founded
- 1911
- Design
- J.F. Abercromby
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- ~6,300 yds
- Green fee
- By arrangement
Founding year, design history and par verified June 2026 from Coombe Hill Golf Club and leading course databases. Coombe Hill was founded in 1911 to a J.F. Abercromby design, a par 71 of roughly 6,300 yards. Visitor access is limited and by arrangement; green fees vary by season and day (indicative, 2026), so always confirm availability and the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The defining feature of Coombe Hill is the land itself. The course rises and falls across a steep wooded hill, so level stances are rare and the round becomes an exercise in shaping shots to slopes, judging how far an uphill approach will fall short and how much a downhill one will run. Abercromby used every contour, and the player who thinks his way around scores far better than the one who simply hits hard.
The greens complete the test. They are small, firm and quick, set on subtle shelves that throw away anything not struck cleanly to the right portion, so approach play and a deft short game matter more than length. A modern bunker restoration sharpened the strategy without changing the character, and the putting surfaces remain among the most admired around London.
Add in the seclusion, the towering trees and the springtime carpet of rhododendrons, and Coombe Hill is as much an experience as a test. It is a course that rewards a return visit, where local knowledge of which slope feeds where is worth several shots, and a real prize for any golfer lucky enough to get a game.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members' club that takes a limited number of visitors and societies on selected days, usually by prior arrangement and often with a member; contact the club well in advance |
| Green fee | Visitor green fees are premium and arranged directly; indicative rates are confirmed on enquiry for the season and day (2026); always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Reserve well ahead through the Coombe Hill office; access is easiest on agreed visitor days outside member competitions |
| On the day | Smart golf dress on course and in the clubhouse; the hillside walk is demanding, so a caddie or buggy where allowed is welcome |
| Getting there | Kingston upon Thames in Surrey on the southwestern edge of London, close to Richmond Park and within easy reach of Heathrow and Gatwick |
| Best months | Late spring is glorious when the rhododendrons bloom; the parkland plays well from spring through autumn |
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
Coombe Hill sits on the edge of London, so visitors can stay in central London and drive out in under an hour, or base themselves in the leafy southwest near Richmond and Kingston for a quicker run to the first tee.
The course pairs naturally with the great heathland clubs of the Surrey sand belt a little further out, so a trip built around Coombe Hill can take in some of the finest inland golf in England over a few unhurried days.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Coombe Hill.
Build a Surrey golf trip
We arrange access and tee times where we can at Coombe Hill and across the great courses on London's southwestern edge, pair them with the Surrey heath and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Coombe Hill questions
When did Coombe Hill Golf Club open and who designed it?
Coombe Hill was founded in 1911 and designed by J.F. Abercromby, one of the most admired architects of the golden age, who walked the wooded Surrey hillside for weeks before laying out the course.
What is the par and length of Coombe Hill?
Coombe Hill is a par 71 of roughly 6,300 yards. The steep slopes and small, quick greens make it play noticeably longer than the yardage suggests.
Can visitors play Coombe Hill Golf Club?
Coombe Hill is a private members' club that takes a limited number of visitors and societies on selected days, usually with prior arrangement. Contact the club well ahead and confirm access and the current fee before you travel.
Where is Coombe Hill Golf Club?
Coombe Hill sits at Kingston upon Thames in Surrey, on the southwestern edge of London close to Richmond Park and an easy reach of central London and both Heathrow and Gatwick.
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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.