There is an area just outside South London, close to the suburb of Selsdon, that is something of a mecca for the London golf course visitor. It’s what I refer to the Addington Cluster, a group of courses that are so closely located together it’s tempting to consider playing them all as a super hybrid course. Tempting as that idea may be I doubt my back would probably not hold up to such as intense golfing experience so like most mortals I have decided to spread my visits over a more reasonable amount of time. Farleigh Golf Course is very much part of this London golf course super cluster, located inbetween Selsdon Park and Addington Court golf courses and while it shares the undulating character of it’s next door neighbors the similarity ends there.
Some of the courses that make up The Addington Cluster
In terms of character, Farleigh falls somewhere inbetween the heath land and parkland style of golf course the county of Surrey is internationally famous for. Open and exposed, many of the 27 holes that make up this course present a high level of challenge in what is a perennial stiff breeze.
Farleigh is set up as three 9 hole courses, red, blue and yellow, any combination of which can be played or a full round; on the day I played the purple course, a combination of the red and blue. Those of you that have played golf courses in Europe and other parts of the World will be familiar with this set up and it’s one that has become more common on many golf courses in Britain and one that offers flexibility and variety.
Curiously, arrival at Farleigh reminded me of driving though a wildlife animal park; a very long single lane private road winds its way through the open countryside which gives you an opportunity to see how many golfers are out on the course, I couldn’t help imagining what it would be like with the introduction of a few hundred gazelle leaping around (you’ll know what I mean when you see it).
Eventually the long entrance drive ends at a very well appointed and modern single story building which architecturally seems to hug the landscape. The clubhouse is a welcoming open plan and modern design that incorporates the club shop, restaurant and bar area. Upon arrival the standard of customer service was superb, from the staff in the club shop to the grounds keepers and course marshals everyone was polite and engaging; some the best customer service I’ve experienced on any course I’ve visited yet.
Some golfers “warming up” on the driving range.
The practice facilities are also excellent. The putting greens are cut to the same length as the greens on the course and the adjacent chipping green is well serviced with range ball made available for practice purposes. The driving range is a little bit peculiar, a bit of a walk away from the first tees and rather unusually for a London golf course driving range it’s uncovered, providing no shelter from the elements.
The course itself definitely has more in common with the heathland courses I’m such a fan of in the neighboring county of Kent. The rough had been cut back for the winter but still presented a significant hazard in the damp conditions. Combining the blue and red courses on the day meant a length of around 6100 yards off the yellow tees; but the course felt longer than that. Farleigh is a physically demanding course to walk around. I would leave the trolley at home and invest in a stand bag as the hills are particularly difficult to navigate.
As a sufferer of vertigo, the third par three will gave me some insight into how Jason Day felt when he collapsed after he descended the ninth at Chambers bay during the 2015 USPGA open. This is a rather unexpected little hole with a dramatic and memorable change in elevation. Despite the dizziness I experienced I would rate this as one of my favorite hole on the course, a fun tee which also includes a small pond in front of the green for added risk and reward.
The view down the 18th (9th on the red course) towards the clubhouse.
The fairways on the blue course were generally quite narrow lined as they were with a mix of rough as fescue that swallowed up a wayward ball. The course occasionally opens up into a bit more space tempting you into bunkers bordered by the same thick rough. As I moved round onto the back nine (red course) the course was slightly more sheltered from the wind with more trees and hedges providing some much needed respite.
Some of the many excellent bunkers protecting the greens on the red course
Farleigh is an attractive course and I think even without the wind it would still be tricky to go round. I genuinely feel that this is a course a high handicap player may find frustrating, particularly so if the weather is as challenging as it was when I played. However, It was pleasing to see so many juniors on the course and the placement of Junior/high handicap tees, something I personally believe should be introduced onto every course in Britain. The greens were superb and were still remarkably quick on the day of play despite the damp conditions.
Unfortunately I didn’t have time to play the yellow course but I look forward to a return visit to Farleigh. I honestly think that Farleigh will become one of my favorite courses over the next few years, not only because it’s a beautifully set up course but because this is a forward thinking business with a superb customer service ethic at its heart. The London golf course visitor would do well to immerse themselves in the middle of the Addington cluster.
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Farleigh Club & Restaurant, Farleigh Common, Farleigh, Surrey, CR6 9PE
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