Many of golf’s roots and its founding fathers are closely linked with the military. This is especially so in the south of England and up towards the Midlands. While some courses were originally for use by service staff and their families, each of these five very different designs welcomes all golfers, often at more pocket-friendly rates than many of the courses in the Golf Monthly Top 100.
Army
A stream protects the approach to the green on the par-4 fifteenth
(Image credit: Army Golf Club)
Golf in England was very much in its infancy in the early 1880s, but its popularity was beginning to spread thanks to the influence of Scottish expats such as those serving in the Army. The 1st Battalion, the Cameronians, were based in nearby Aldershot, and in 1883 proposed the creation of a new club, just the second and still one of the best golf courses in Hampshire. Over the years it has had five clubhouses, six titles and eight courses, with its current design dating back roughly half a century. The par-71 layout stretches to 6,631 yards from the purple tees and opens with the first of just two three-shotters. It runs through pine and birch on beautiful, crisp, sandy soil.
Whittington Heath
The par-3 seventh at Whittington Heath is a real beauty
(Image credit: Kevin Murray)
Dating back to 1886 and originally known as Whittington Barracks, this is also one of the oldest clubs in the country. Its original 9-holer was laid out over the heath that was once the only race track in Staffordshire. For some time, golf was exclusively for services personnel and Harry Colt redesigned and extended the course to a full 18 in 1927.
Looking down on the well-protected par-3 eleventh
(Image credit: Kevin Murray)
The course was purchased from the Ministry of Defence just over 30 years ago, and now has five new holes and a very smart new clubhouse on the back of the proposed High Speed 2 rail link. It is still without doubt one of the best golf courses in the Midlands.
Southwick Park
The par-3 seventh at Southwick Park is played over a marshy pond
(Image credit: Rob Smith)
Peacefully situated a few miles inland from the historic docklands of Portsmouth, Southwick Park is a very friendly club that was founded as recently as 1977. Its relatively short course was originally opened as a source of recreation for Navy personnel.
Looking back from behind the green on the sole par 5, the thirteenth
(Image credit: Rob Smith)
It runs over an easy-walking plot of attractive parkland…
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