Sheringham Golf Club Review

Golfshake user Paul W rated Sheringham Golf Club 4.5 out of 5 when he submitted his review of the course in March 2023.

His comments were a very accurate summary of the venue as a whole: “Superb. If you don't like Sheringham, you don't like golf. Fabulous golf course with some of the best views. Lovely people too.”

Sheringham has been rated as consistently Highly Recommended by all our reviewers since 2019 and was awarded the Must Play status this year.

How cool is this?!

A proper train passing by @SheringhamGolf! pic.twitter.com/b14DQOssZg

— golfshake (@golfshake) May 15, 2023

It has an enviable history and provenance linking it to the golden days of golf by train. Imagine my delight as I walked towards the first tee to spot the steam train from the North Norfolk Railway running past the golf course. These are steam trains for holiday makers running between Sheringham and Holt.

Joyce Wethered won the 1920 English Women’s Amateur Championship on the 17th green by sinking a clutch putt. She was asked by a spectator about how she managed to keep her concentration and focus during the putt as the train went billowing past the edge of the green. Her response: “What train?”

Bobby Jones, the world’s greatest amateur golfer and builder of Augusta National, described her golf swing as the best he had ever seen, man or woman.   

On the venue itself, Henry Cotton is quoted as saying that: “Sheringham has a charm that belongs to itself and is one of the best kept secrets in golf. Sheringham’s golf course is special.”

Sheringham is synonymous with the lobster pot type flags used because conventional flags ripped apart due to the strength of the weather so they adapted small lobster pots mounted on flag sticks for convenience. 

Please don’t think that this venue just rests on its historic laurels. Proudly displayed is the following tribute to member Amelia Williamson, who was a Curtis Cup representative in 2022. 

The Front Nine

The first hole offers a gentle introduction to the course with an elevated green nestled into the hillside. The 2nd hole - Town View - is described perfectly by its name. A great par 5 offering views across the town and the salt-water open-air swimming pool. Well bunkered with a rolling, rumpled fairway towards a tight green complex protected front left and right by bunkers. 

Fulmars, the 5th is an excellent par 4, offering glorious views of the course and the North Sea that forms its right boundary. Named after the sea birds that sought nesting sanctuary along the cliff edge. This is a demanding tee shot especially when played in any kind of weather. This is an outstanding par 4 both visually and from a purely golfing perspective.

Old Hythe is the 6th hole and is named after the green that sits on the lowest part of the cliffs that used to house the lifeboat station. This short hole is long at 210 yards and is played from a raised tee, the hole drops 30-40 feet providing a stunning vista of the Norfolk coastline stretching off into the distance. The green is generous and inviting as it collects balls to its centre, but miss it left or short in one of the bunkers and a bogey awaits. The coastal footpaths run parallel to the course at this point so beware of any walkers who may be nearby if your tee shot is lacking accuracy.

Pretty Corner, the 8th hole offers the first real change of direction as you turn back towards the clubhouse. It’s a delicious short hole that offers a genuine challenge to every standard of player.

Upchers, the 9th hole is named in remembrance of the Upcher family who purchased and developed the golf course land in 1892. A blind driving hole that has a fairway sloping from right to left. The second shot has to be estimated by use of the marker post and then the green complex drops into view as you near the green.

The Back Nine

The Warren is the 10th hole named because of the number of rabbits that reside in this area. Another elevated drive over a shallow valley with a rise on the opposite side of the fairway. The green is a tight one that is well protected with bunkers and swales with a double tier surface offering additional difficulties. 

Riseboro is the 11th hole. Named as a tribute to long serving administrators at the club. This is a lovely short hole that presents so well from the tee box. Inviting yet intimidating.

The tee box for the 12th hole, known as Charity, is located on land that was previously owned by the Poor’s Charity hence its name. The elevated tee box gives awesome views and invites the full open shoulder shot.

Hole 14 is called Deadman’s. Reputedly because of the number of shipwrecked sailor’s bodies that were buried in nearby fields. A semi-blind tee shot with cleverly situated fairway bunkers will leave a mid to short iron approach to a long and thin green protected by swales and bunkers.

The 15th is known as Poppy Line as a tribute to the steam railway that runs parallel to this hole for its length. Watch out for the train as it chugs its burden of tourists along the course boundary. So evocative and worth the trip to experience in itself.

The finishing three holes all head back towards the clubhouse and offer a challenge to all levels of golfer wishing to finish the round in style.

The 16th, called The Pit, is a classic short par 4. It has a large dip in the fairway meaning the second shot is blind into the green with seven pot bunkers waiting to grab anything short and off line.

The 17th is called What Train as a tribute to the aforementioned Joyce Wethered and her global reputation and skills. This is another hole that feels tight off the tee as the fairway rolls from right to left making you feel like you the need to aim to the right, however, the proximity of the train line and OOB is genuinely intimidating. Finding the fairway is a challenge, getting onto the green in regulation another issue. The green slopes front to back, protected by large gorse left and a big drop off right. This is a great golf hole.

Finally, hole 18 is called Shannocks, a tribute to those who live in Sheringham who are known locally as “Shannocks.”

A blind tee shot up a steep gradient towards a marker post that is in line with a cleverly situated bunker. The ground falls away towards the green and clubhouse adding another level of difficulty to this lovely finishing hole. Balconies in the clubhouse overlook this green site and I can imagine many cards being wrecked by these closing three holes over the years.

Post Round Thoughts

I was accompanied on this round by a dedicated non-golfer, my wife, who still loved every second of our Sheringham experience. The walks, the views, the history, the closeness to some rugged nature and coastal views. The welcome in the clubhouse and quality of food on offer was also exemplary. To share this golfing delight with her was a joy and I will return here soon such is the enjoyment it provides. Perhaps utilising the railway completely and travelling to and from the venue by train with clubs and luggage as in days of old.  

I can say without fear of challenge that this venue is a Must Play on any golfer’s bucket list. Golf of the purest and finest order.