Silvermere Golf Club Review

Silvermere Golf and Leisure Club is the archetypal modern golf resort, and must be considered one of the best all-round golfing venues in Surrey. Located on the outskirts of affluent Cobham, it combines top-notch facilities with accessibility and value for money.

The site originally sprung up around the impressive Silvermere Lake, and it has grown from a basic course into a fully-fledged resort, which attracts hundreds of visitors every day, even during the winter months. Its popularity is a combination of two factors: its par-71 golf course and its wide range of amenities.

The course itself is set over a sizeable plot of parkland and woodland, and the designers have done a good job of using the natural characteristics of the plot to create a golf course that changes more than once as the round progresses. The first handful of holes are narrow and played through thick woodland before the course opens up into parkland around the turn. If you are a wayward driver of the ball you may struggle initially, but there are scoring chances in the middle portion of the round. You must take advantage of these holes, though, as the lake comes significantly into play on the last two holes to create a brilliant finish to the course.

After your round, a drink at the clubhouse is obligatory. The majestic two-floor structure serves good food and overlooks the 18^th green, and with ample seating, tasteful interior design, a second floor balcony and a sizeable patio, it is the perfect place to relax and discuss what transpired on the course. Silvermere also possesses conference rooms, excellent practice facilities and one of the largest and best-stocked professional shops in the south.

Par 3s

The par 3s at Silvermere vary greatly depending on the tees you play off. From the yellows, they are relatively short, but from the whites, you will need at least a five iron on three of the four holes. The 17^th hole is arguably the best on the course, and will instil fear into any golfer, regardless of tee choice.

It plays 175 yards from the whites and 143 yards from the yellows, but all you can see when you stand on the tee is a vast expanse of water. Anything even slightly mishit won’t make the long carry and will be consumed by the lake. Only the best shots will find the undulating putting surface, and whilst there room long, over-cautious tee shots will leave a daunting chip back towards the water. A great golf hole.   

Par 4s

There is a good mix of par 4s at Silvermere; some are short but tree lined, some are long but open and others are a mix of the two, but Silvermere saves the best until last as the course reaches a thrilling climax.

That being said, there are some good par 4s on the front nine, most notably the tree-lined stretch from three-five. The first six holes really are very hard to negotiate if you aren’t hitting the ball straight, no more so that the 410-yard third. Drives are hit uphill to a narrow fairway, with trees running all the way down the left of the hole. Even if you find the fairway, you will need to move the ball from right to left to hit the putting surface, as a huge tree is placed on the left of the fairway some 50 yards short of the green.

There are scoring opportunities around the turn and, in truth, some of the holes are a touch monotonous, but the same thing simply cannot be said about the fantastic closing hole. The first challenge as you stand on the tee is to find the fairway, which is lined both left and especially right by numerous trees and bushes. If you find the fairway, you will only need a short iron for your approach, but it is fraught with danger. The island green is surrounded on all sides by water, and there simply isn’t any bail out area. The shot is made even more difficult by the number of people watching from the clubhouse’s many vantage points. If you are on for a record round or one up in matchplay, the 18^th is the last hole you want to come across. One of the best finishing holes I have played.

Par 5s

There are three par 5s at Silvermere from the yellows and four from the whites, and are divided between holes that should yield some birdies and holes that are fiendishly difficult. The 11^th, for example, plays a staggering 605 yards from the whites.

The 14^th is probably the best par 5 on the golf course, thanks to a combination of clever design and aesthetics. The tee is the most elevated on the golf course, offering great views of the surrounding Surrey countryside, and with a wide fairway below, it is a very appealing driving hole. If you catch you tee shot, ideally with a bit of draw, and get some good run out of the fairway, the green is just about in range. That being said, laying up is probably wise, especially when the flag is positioned on the back right of the green. The putting surface is raised, and slopes dramatically from back right to front left. If you miss long, an up and down is nigh on impossible.

In the current economic environment, places like Silvermere that offer a reasonably priced round of golf on a varied and exciting golf course are only going to go from strength to strength. The first six holes provide a great start to the golf course, and the last two are arguably the best two finishing holes I have played. What’s more, the off-course facilities are as good as you will find anywhere. Overall, I would give Silvermere Golf and Leisure Club a rating of 7/10.