Hanbury Manor
Jack Nicklaus II laid out the championship course at Hanbury Manor in 1991, a par 72 of roughly 7,000 yards rolling across a historic Hertfordshire estate in front of a Jacobean style manor. Built around the bones of an earlier Victorian nine and now the centerpiece of a Marriott hotel and country club, it tested European Tour fields through the 1990s and remains one of the county's stoutest resort courses.
Photo: Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel & Country Club via Google.
The verdict
Hanbury Manor wears its history lightly. The estate dates back centuries and the present manor is a grand Jacobean revival house, but the golf is modern, a 1991 design by Jack Nicklaus II that wove a championship course out of former parkland and meadow on the estate, drawing on the line of an earlier nine that Harry Vardon is said to have had a hand in.
The result is a genuine test. At close to 7,000 yards from the back tees, with mature trees, water and well defended greens, it was a worthy European Tour venue in the years it hosted the English Open, a title won here by major champions. Today it serves resort guests and visiting golfers as the headline course of a country club hotel, and it still asks for long, accurate driving and a sharp short game. For a golf trip built around comfort and a serious round close to London, Hanbury Manor delivers both.
Hanbury Manor at a glance
- Opened
- 1991
- Designer
- Jack Nicklaus II
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- ~7,000 yds
- Green fee
- Resort rate
Designer, opening year and par verified June 2026 from Nicklaus Design, Hanbury Manor and leading course databases. The championship course was designed by Jack Nicklaus II and opened in 1991, a par 72 of roughly 7,000 yards. Hanbury Manor welcomes visiting golfers and resort guests; green fees vary by season and day (indicative, 2026), so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The course splits between two characters. The outward stretch climbs and falls over more open parkland, giving you room to open the shoulders, while the back nine tightens through trees and brings water and bunkering into sharper focus as the round builds toward its finish.
The par 3s are demanding throughout, played to greens ringed by sand and falloffs that punish the timid shot, and several of the par 4s ask for a placed drive before a long iron into a green that will not hold a careless approach. Nicklaus II shaped the greens with movement, so reading the slopes and leaving the ball below the hole matters as much here as anywhere in the county.
The closing holes return to the manor, and finishing with the great house framing the home green is a fitting end to a round that rewards the complete game. It is a course that flatters nobody and pleases the player who drives it straight and putts it well.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Marriott hotel and country club that welcomes visiting golfers and resort guests, often as part of a green fee or stay and play package; advance booking is essential |
| Green fee | Indicative visitor green fees in the region of 90 to 170 pounds depending on season and day (2026); always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Reserve through the Hanbury Manor golf office or your trip planner well ahead, especially for weekend play |
| On the day | Smart golf dress on course and in the clubhouse; trolleys and buggies available; the parkland walk is long but comfortable |
| Getting there | Thundridge near Ware in Hertfordshire, close to the A10 and about an hour north of central London |
| Best months | May to September for the firmest fairways and the fullest estate setting |
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
Hanbury Manor is a destination hotel as much as a golf course, with its own rooms, spa and dining on the estate, which makes it the natural base for a Hertfordshire golf break rather than just a day's round.
From here the rest of the county is within easy reach, and a strong trip can pair Hanbury Manor with Brocket Hall and Moor Park before pushing on toward the Surrey heath southwest of London.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts at and near Hanbury Manor.
Build a Hertfordshire golf trip
We arrange tee times at Hanbury Manor, pair it with the best of the Hertfordshire parkland and 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.
Hanbury Manor questions
Who designed the golf course at Hanbury Manor and when did it open?
The championship course was designed by Jack Nicklaus II and opened in 1991, incorporating land from an earlier nine hole course on the estate.
What is the par and length of Hanbury Manor?
Hanbury Manor is a par 72 of roughly 7,000 yards from the championship tees, a parkland course that hosted European Tour events in the 1990s.
Can visitors play Hanbury Manor?
Yes. Hanbury Manor is a Marriott hotel and country club that welcomes visiting golfers and resort guests; book in advance and confirm the current rate before you travel.
Where is Hanbury Manor?
Hanbury Manor is at Thundridge near Ware in Hertfordshire, England, close to the A10 and about an hour north of central London.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year and par verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.