Cirencester at Cirencester Golf Club

Cirencester Golf Club occupies parkland on the edge of the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire, designed by James Braid and opened in the 1920s. Braid, one of the Great Triumvirate alongside Harry Vardon and J.H. Taylor, laid out hundreds of courses across Britain during his prolific design career, and Cirencester represents his characteristic approach to inland golf: strategic bunkering, thoughtful use of natural contours, and routing that emphasizes variety in hole length and direction.

The course sits at approximately 500 feet elevation on gently rolling terrain typical of the Cotswold fringe, with mature trees lining many fairways and defining corridors of play. The layout measures around 6,000 yards from the back tees, a length that reflects both its era of construction and the nature of the property. Braid's design asks players to position tee shots carefully rather than simply overpower holes, with doglegs and strategically placed hazards rewarding accuracy over distance.

The club serves the historic market town of Cirencester, one of the most significant Roman settlements in Britain, and the course itself reflects the traditional member-club culture common to English parkland venues of this vintage. The setting provides views across the surrounding Cotswold countryside, and the mature tree cover and established turf give the course a settled, timeless character. Cirencester remains a straightforward test of golf that emphasizes course management and consistent ball-striking within a pleasant rural landscape.