North Hants
North Hants at Fleet opened in 1904 and was shaped over the following century by James Braid, Harry Colt and Tom Simpson, a roll call of the great names. A par 70 of roughly 6,550 yards on the western edge of the heathland sand belt, it is a connoisseur's course and, famously, the place where Justin Rose learned to play.
Photo: North Hants Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
North Hants sits on the western reach of the great sand belt that runs through Surrey, Berkshire and Hampshire, the same seam of free draining heath that produced so many of England's finest inland courses. Opened in 1904 to a James Braid layout, it has been refined by an extraordinary succession of architects, Harry Colt and Tom Simpson among them, and later by Donald Steel and the firm of Mackenzie and Ebert.
The result is a course that golf people speak about with real affection. Braid himself called it most sporting and interesting, and that judgment still holds. Stately pines and silver birch line the fairways, heather and gorse wait for the loose shot, and the routing asks for placement and shape rather than brute length. It is also a club with a serious amateur pedigree, the long running Hampshire Hog among its events, and the course on which a teenage Justin Rose set a record before going on to win a major.
North Hants at a glance
- Opened
- 1904
- Design
- Braid, Colt, Simpson
- Type
- Heathland
- Par
- 70
- Yardage
- ~6,550 yds
- Green fee
- Visitor rate
Opening year, design history and par verified June 2026 from North Hants Golf Club and leading course databases. North Hants opened in 1904 to a James Braid layout, later shaped by Harry Colt and Tom Simpson, a par 70 of roughly 6,550 yards. North Hants 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
North Hants is a course of subtle, sustained quality rather than a handful of postcard holes. The layered design history shows in how cleverly the fairways move through the heath, the bunkers sit on the lines that tempt you, and the greens reward the approach played from the right angle. It is heathland golf that asks you to think your way around.
The par 3s are a strength, varied in length and direction so that you reach for a different club and a different shape each time, and the par 4s do the steady work of testing your driving against the heather and the trees. There is little room for the wild shot here, and the smart play is often the one club less from the correct side of the fairway.
For all the pedigree it is an inviting, walkable course in a quiet corner of Hampshire, and a natural pairing with the heathland and links of the wider region for a golfer building a trip around classic English inland golf.
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 70 to 120 pounds depending on season and day (2026); always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Reserve ahead through the North Hants office; the course pairs well with the Surrey heath and the Hampshire links for a multi day trip |
| On the day | Smart golf dress on course and in the clubhouse; trolleys available; the heathland walk is gentle and dry underfoot |
| Getting there | Beside Fleet station in Hampshire, just off the M3, about 45 minutes southwest of London by road or a direct train from London Waterloo |
| Best months | Heathland plays firm and true much of the year; late summer brings the heather into full 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
North Hants sits beside Fleet in north Hampshire, well placed off the M3 for a trip that takes in the wider sand belt rather than the club alone.
The obvious itinerary pairs it with the Surrey heathland a short drive north, around Woking and West Hill, or runs south toward the Hampshire coast and the links at Hayling, giving a group a varied few days of classic English golf.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Fleet.
Build a Hampshire golf trip
We arrange tee times at North Hants, pair it with the best of the Surrey heath and the Hampshire links, 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.
North Hants questions
When did North Hants Golf Club open and who designed it?
North Hants at Fleet opened in 1904 to a James Braid layout, then was refined over the following century by Harry Colt and Tom Simpson, with later work by Donald Steel and the firm of Mackenzie and Ebert.
What is the par and length of North Hants?
North Hants plays to a par of 70 over roughly 6,550 yards of classic Hampshire heathland, framed by pines, silver birch, heather and gorse.
Can visitors play North Hants Golf Club?
Yes. North Hants is a members' club that welcomes visiting golfers and societies on selected days; book in advance through the club and confirm the current rate before you travel.
Is North Hants connected to Justin Rose?
Yes. North Hants is widely known as the course where major champion Justin Rose grew up and learned the game, setting a course record there as a teenager.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Opening year, design history and par verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.