It was once said that ‘golf is a good work spoiled’ and anyone who has ever played the game can more than understand this thought process. When you hit a good golf shot it can feel like nothing else in the world, but more often than not your shots will not be good and the feeling you will have more than any other is one of immense frustration. If you are going to spoil a good work then there are definitely worse places to do so than at Guildford Golf Club, which promises excellent views and a course that is challenging but far from impossible to play. The flexible memberships are also appealing to many.
What the Golf Course Offers
Guildford Golf Club was established in 1886, albeit it has changed somewhat since then. In fact, a redesign by J. H. Taylor was carried out in order to get the most out of the area in which the club is located. That means that you’ll be hitting your irons and using your wedges in an area of typical Surrey chalk downs, with attractive woodlands surrounding the fairways as you make your way along them. When golf first became popular in the United Kingdom, many of the courses were laid out on open commons and the rolling slopes on offer here are reminiscent of exactly what the sport would’ve been like back then.
Based over 6,160 yards, the course presents a challenge for golfers of all abilities. Whilst new-comers to the sport will most likely hack their way around and be keen to avoid the bunkers or getting stuck behind a tree, even the most adept player will be aware of the challenges presented on the oldest golf course in Surrey. The Course Rating is 70.3 if you’re playing off the white tees, 68.5 if you’re off the yellows and 67.3 for anyone hitting off the red tees. Any younger players are likely to look for the blue tees, from which you’ll be playing with a Course Rating of 65.7, so it’s not the toughest but certainly not the easiest.
Flexible Membership
One of the things that Guildford Golf Club prides itself over is its approach to membership. If you are the sort of person who likes a more classical membership when it comes to your golf club then you’re very much covered, but there is also a ‘radical new approach’ that will appeal to others. The entire idea is to make golf affordable for all and to ensure that people are asked to pay an amount that makes sense for them. Whether you’re an occasional golfer who can only really fit in between 15 and 20 rounds a year or you’re more of the competitive type who likes to get out on the course come rain or shine, you’ll be ok.
They offer various levels of membership from Bronze to Premier, which obviously have different prices attached to them and also have different perks. Premier members can pay an unlimited number of rounds a year, but obviously pay the most for the privilege. They also get the highest discount at the bar, though, so for some people it will definitely even out. Younger people can get a further discount on their membership rate regardless of which tier it is that they go for. The thinking behind the approach to membership is that not everyone can commit to long-term, expensive memberships, so offering various ones aims to please everyone.
A Club with Facilities
The Clubhouse at Guildford Golf Club was built in 1901 before undergoing major refurbishment as well as an extension in the late 1990s. It was officially reopened by famed commentator Peter Alliss, maintaining the original character of the Victorian building whilst also adding in modern touches. There is a Lounge Bar that sits next to the restaurant and provides a bar menu that has plenty of the things you’d expect to find an a few specials that you might not. The south-facing terrace overlooks the practice green and the 18th hole, allowing players to put pressure on the groups following them in a competition.
The Gallery Bar is open in the summer, promising some of the best views in the local area. Although you can’t rent the function suite or other parts of the Clubhouse if you’re not a member, those that are are able to make use of the facilities for private functions. There is, as is the case at any golf course worth its salt, a club shop available for everything from buying new clubs to getting your old ones fixed or re-gripped. The PGA pro on-site is also able to offer lessons for those of you that are looking to improve your game in certain areas or learn the sport for the first time. Both indoor and outdoor lessons are available.