Hankley Common Golf Club
Tilford, Surrey. A Braid heathland classic on a Site of Special Scientific Interest, with springy turf, heather and pines, a Top 100 ranking and a famous par-3 7th.
Hankley Common Golf Club sits at Tilford near Farnham in Surrey, about 35 miles south-west of London, on open heathland that is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The club opened in 1897 with nine holes, and in 1922 James Braid added a further nine. Harry Colt made changes in the early 1930s, and Golf Monthly ranks it 31st in its 2025/26 Top 100 for Great Britain and Ireland.
The course is classic heathland golf, played on springy but firm turf over sandy subsoil, with fairways lined by heather, rowan, oak, pine and birch. Excellent drainage helps keep it in good condition. It is a par 72, and it has an open, expansive feel that Bobby Locke said reminded him of a seaside links even though it is inland. Charles Lawrie called it one of the best inland layouts in Britain.
The par-3 7th, played from a raised tee with views across the common, is often named among the finest short holes in the country, and holes 6 to 8, which include two par 5s, make a memorable stretch. The site is also a haven for wildlife, including Dartford warblers, woodlarks and sand lizards.
Visitors play midweek and at set times at weekends, generally after 2pm on Saturdays and around midday on Sundays. Tee times at these private clubs need to be arranged in advance, and Golf Tours London can build them into a bespoke itinerary and organise transport between your hotel and the course.
