Frilford Heath Red
Five time Open champion JH Taylor laid out the Red at Frilford Heath in 1908, the senior of the club's three courses and its championship test. A par 72 of 6,912 yards over free draining Oxfordshire heath, the Red rewards accurate driving and a deft touch on its pushed up greens, an authentic inland round less than half an hour from Oxford.
Photo: Frilford Heath Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Frilford Heath sits on a pocket of sandy heath southwest of Oxford, rare terrain in this part of England, and the Red is the oldest and most demanding of its three eighteens. JH Taylor set out the original lines in 1908, and successive hands have kept it a proper championship test rather than a museum piece.
Heather, gorse and silver birch frame fairways that run firm and fast, and the pushed up greens shed anything less than a committed approach. At 6,912 yards off the back it has the length to test the better player while remaining a fair and enjoyable day for the visitor. With three courses on one site and a welcoming clubhouse, Frilford is built for a golfing day out within easy reach of the Cotswolds and Oxford.
Frilford Heath Red at a glance
- Opened
- 1908
- Designer
- JH Taylor
- Type
- Heathland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 6,912 yds
- Green fee
- Visitor rate
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Frilford Heath Golf Club and leading course databases. The Red was laid out by JH Taylor in 1908, a par 72 of 6,912 yards. Frilford Heath welcomes visitors across its three courses; green fees vary by season, day and round versus day ticket (indicative, 2026), so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Red plays as a classic heathland examination, the fairways winding between heather and birch on sandy soil that drains fast and runs firm for much of the year. Position off the tee is everything, with the heather waiting to swallow the wayward and the angles into the greens favouring the bold line.
Taylor's greens are the signature, many of them pushed up and falling away at the edges so that a fraction short or long is repelled into trouble. The approach game is where scores are made and lost, and a controlled long iron is worth more here than raw distance.
There is variety through the round, a strong set of par 4s, testing two shotters and short holes that demand precision, and a finish that asks for one last accurate drive. The Red is the kind of honest inland course that improves on repeat play, which is exactly what a multi course site like Frilford invites.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Members club that welcomes visitors across its three courses; book a tee time in advance, especially at weekends |
| Green fee | Indicative visitor green fees in the region of 50 to 85 pounds depending on season, day and round versus day ticket (2026); always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Reserve through the pro shop or online; weekend and society slots fill early |
| On the day | Trolleys and buggies available; the heathland walk is gentle; three courses to choose from on site |
| Getting there | Frilford near Abingdon, about 25 minutes southwest of Oxford and well placed for the Cotswolds |
| Best months | May to September for the driest, firmest heathland conditions |
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
Oxford, twenty five minutes away, offers everything from grand college city hotels to country house retreats, and the eastern Cotswolds begin just to the west for a quieter, scenic base.
Frilford pairs well with the other heathland and parkland courses of the Thames valley and the Cotswolds for a multi day inland trip, with Oxford's history and dining filling the evenings.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Frilford Heath Red.
Build an Oxfordshire golf trip
We arrange tee times at Frilford Heath, pair them with the best of the Thames valley and Cotswolds 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.
Frilford Heath Red questions
Who designed the Red Course at Frilford Heath and when did it open?
The Red Course was laid out by five time Open champion JH Taylor and opened in 1908, the senior of the three courses at Frilford Heath.
What is the par and length of the Frilford Heath Red Course?
The Red is a par 72 of 6,912 yards, a heathland championship layout with pushed up greens that reward accurate driving and approach play.
Can visitors play Frilford Heath?
Yes. Frilford Heath is a members club that welcomes visitors across its three courses; book in advance, especially at weekends, and confirm the current green fee before you travel.
Where is Frilford Heath?
Frilford Heath is at Frilford near Abingdon in Oxfordshire, England, about 25 minutes southwest of Oxford.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.