Hankley Common Golf Club
If the Surrey heathland has a wilder, breezier outlier, this is it. Laid out by James Braid on open common land near Tilford and refined by Harry Colt, Hankley Common is heathland golf at its most natural: big, exposed and beautifully turfed, building to a closing par 4 that is regularly named among the finest in England. It is the connoisseur's pick of the lesser known greats.
Photo: Hankley Common Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Hankley Common is the Surrey heathland course that golf architects quietly rate above many of the famous names. It sits on genuine open common, so there is more sky and more wind than at the tree framed clubs nearby, and the turf is among the firmest and fastest inland in England. James Braid set the routing and Harry Colt sharpened the short holes, and the result is a course with no weak stretches and a finish that golfers talk about for years.
For the travelling golfer it is both a destination in its own right and the perfect partner to a Surrey heathland week. It is a short drive from Sunningdale, Wentworth and the Berkshire commons, it asks a sensible green fee for golf of this class, and the closing holes alone are worth the trip. This is the inland equivalent of finding a great links with no crowd on it.
Hankley Common at a glance
- Founded
- 1896
- Designer
- James Braid, Harry Colt
- Type
- Heathland
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- 6,930 yds
- Green fee
- From £145
Founding, designers, par and yardage verified June 2026; Hankley Common was founded in 1896, with the 18-hole course largely the work of James Braid and the par 3s later improved by Harry Colt. It plays par 71 at around 6,930 yards, stretching to nearly 7,000 yards from the back. Indicative 2026 visitor green fees are around 145 pounds on weekdays and around 160 pounds at weekends. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The short seventh is the hole the architects come to study. Colt's reworking gave Hankley a short hole played across a sea of heather to a green that sheds anything short or wide, a hole so well sited it is cited as one of the best par 3s in the country. It is the kind of green where the safe shot still leaves you a putt that breaks more than you expect.
Through the middle the course rides the natural roll of the common, with fairways that bound between heather banks and greens set on the contours rather than pushed up on top of them. There is width to drive into, but the second shots demand judgement of firm turf and wind, and the open aspect means the breeze is rarely off your shoulder for long.
Then comes the finish. The 18th is a long par 4 that asks you to carry a deep heather filled valley with your second to reach a green perched on rising ground, a genuinely heroic shot to close the round, and the reason Hankley sits on so many lists of England's best finishing holes. Walk off that green and you understand why this course earns its reputation among those who know.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A private members club that welcomes visitors and societies, generally on weekdays and at limited weekend times |
| Green fee | Around 145 pounds for 18 holes on weekdays and around 160 pounds at weekends in 2026 (indicative) |
| Booking | Book ahead through the club; weekday mornings are the easiest to secure on this sought after heathland |
| On the day | A firm, fast walking course on open common; a smart golf dress code applies and trolleys are usually available |
| Getting there | At Tilford near Farnham in Surrey, around an hour from central London and 35 minutes from the Sunningdale heath |
| Best months | May to October for the firmest turf, with late summer the most striking as the heather flowers across the common |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the club; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with Hankley Common Golf Club or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Hankley sits in the heart of the Surrey heathland, so a base near Farnham, Guildford or out toward Ascot puts the whole region within reach. The market town of Farnham is the nearest, with hotels and inns minutes from the course, while a stay toward Sunningdale and Ascot lines you up for Wentworth and the Berkshire commons on the same trip.
London is close enough to combine the city with the golf, around an hour from the West End and well served by Heathrow and Gatwick, so many groups fly in, play the Surrey heathland for three or four days and barely touch the motorway.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Hankley Common.
Stay and play the Surrey heathland
We secure the tee times at Hankley Common, build the week around Sunningdale, Wentworth and the Surrey and Berkshire commons, and sort a base and transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Hankley Common questions
Who designed Hankley Common and how old is it?
Hankley Common Golf Club was founded in 1896. The 18-hole course played today was largely laid out by the great Open champion James Braid, with the architect Harry Colt later brought in to improve the spacing of the par 3s, work that produced the celebrated short seventh.
What is the par and yardage of Hankley Common?
Hankley Common plays as a par 71 of around 6,930 yards, stretching to nearly 7,000 yards from the back tees. It is open heathland and common land, so wind and firm turf are as much a defence as the heather that lines the fairways.
How much does it cost to play Hankley Common?
Indicative 2026 visitor green fees are around 145 pounds for 18 holes on weekdays and around 160 pounds at weekends. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Can visitors play Hankley Common?
Yes. Hankley Common is a private members club that welcomes visitors and societies, generally on weekdays and at limited weekend times. Book ahead through the club, as tee times for one of Surrey's best heathland courses are in demand.
Why is the 18th at Hankley Common famous?
The closing hole is regularly named among the best finishing holes in England. It is a long par 4 that demands a carry over a deep heather filled chasm to a green set on rising ground, a genuinely heroic and testing shot to end the round.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Founding year, designers, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.