Must Play Golf Courses to Experience in the South of England

By: Golfshake Editor | Wed 10 Mar 2021

Golfers across the South of England are looking forward to a memorable season and the chance to experience many of the fantastic layouts that can be discovered within this expansive region - and there are some crackers to choose from.

On Golfshake, we recently unveiled our special OUTSTANDING VENUE Service Award Winners, those destinations that have been Highly Recommended by the Golfshake Community for each of the past three years.

Among them, a fair number can be found in the South, venues that have achieved high standards over a prolonged period, representing courses and facilities that can be considered must visits - all endorsed by hundreds of everyday golfers.

Look out for future articles on the South East and South West, but for now, if you live in the South or feel like making the journey in 2021, these are confirmed to be OUTSTANDING!

Sherfield Oaks Golf Club

Location: Hampshire

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 226

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 94.69%

Review Comment: "Good course with very good greens, relaxed friendly atmosphere and at a fair price."

Dummer Golf Club

Location: Hampshire

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 182

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 99.45%

Review Comment: "Course is easy to find as is just off of Junction 7 of the M3 toward village of Dummer. Welcoming to guests and course in very good condition."

The Oxfordshire Golf, Hotel & Spa

Location: Oxfordshire

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 166

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 99.39%

Review Comment: "Just fantastic, beautiful course, water holes, views and layout."

Wycombe Heights Golf Centre

Location: Buckinghamshire

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 160

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 98.75%

Review Comment: "Worth a visit - greens in exceptional condition for time of year. Fairways not too bad as well. Despite some work being undertaken on the course worth playing."

Old Thorns Golf Club

Location: Hampshire

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 157

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 96.81%

Review Comment: "One of the better courses I have played. We come back here every year for a long weekend of golf. It's a thinking course with holes that look easy but then you get caught out."

The Hampshire Golf Club

Location: Hampshire

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 155

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 94.83%

Review Comment: "Lovely course with amazing view of the Hampshire countryside. Quite forgiving with short rough. Tough going when windy."

Woburn Golf Club

Location: Buckinghamshire

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 154

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 99.35%

Review Comment: "Amazing day spent with awesome weather playing the Marquess. Played Duchess in the past, but marquess is my favourite."

Abbey Hill Golf Club

Location: Buckinghamshire

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 154

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 97.40%

Review Comment: "Excellent all the way, but then I am biased, I am a member. Seriously a beautiful course as well as challenging."

Huntswood Golf Club

Location: Buckinghamshire

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 148

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 94.59%

Review Comment: "Huntswood GC represents a great challenge in that the course has comparatively small fairways which are protected by many 'out-of-bound' areas thus hitting the ball straight is imperative. The greens are deceiving as are most of the hole layouts themselves."

Dibden (Bramshott Hill) Golf Centre

Location: Hampshire

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 129

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 99.22%

Review Comment: "Great course, shame about how I played. Very well looked after and good cutting off rough. Interesting layout of holes. No two holes feel the same which is great and does make it a challenge if you are not on your game."

Test Valley Golf Club

Location: Hampshire

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 126

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 98.41%

Review Comment: "Varied course in the Hampshire countryside bordered by a railway line so occasionally noisy. Varied challenges on chalk so well drained in the winter, course in excellent condition with no muddy patches. Some greens have slope challenge, ran true but need to have the pace of your first putt right to avoid three putting. Excellent clubhouse and range, welcoming friendly staff. Intend to play again."

Cams Hall Estate Golf Club

Location: Hampshire

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 113

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 99.11%

Review Comment: "Brilliant course, excellent condition, had an amazing golfing experience, would highly recommend."

Thorney Park Golf Club

Location: Buckinghamshire

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 101

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 96.03%

Review Comment: "Lovely course and greens are really in great condition. Some clever holes and something for all levels of golf."

Studley Wood Golf Club

Location: Oxfordshire

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 100

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 100%

Review Comment: "This is a great course which is varied and in great condition. Superb practice area. Friendly team with a great set up. Lots of water makes it challenging!"

South Winchester Golf Club

Location: Hampshire

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 97

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 98.96%

Review Comment: "This is a lovely course and well worth a visit. It was in a great condition and the 18th is fab!"

Drayton Park Golf Club

Location: Oxfordshire

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 80

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 97.50%

Review Comment: "Fantastic greens. Beautiful fairways throughout. The staff was welcoming 100%. The lads enjoyed the food. A beautiful day it was."

Hamptworth Golf & Country Club

Location: Wiltshire

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 79

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 96.20%

Review Comment: "Fantastic course, great layout. Tough in parts but also forgiving so it's a great mix and beautiful woodland area. Very friendly staff and members, definitely visiting again."