Hindhead Golf Club

Hindhead Golf Club sits on the high heathland of the Surrey-Hampshire border, approximately forty miles southwest of London. The course was designed by five-time Open Champion J. H. Taylor and opened in 1904, making it one of the earlier examples of a professional golfer turning his hand to architecture. Taylor, who grew up on links turf in Devon, brought an understanding of natural ground movement and strategic bunkering to this inland site, which occupies sandy, well-draining soil typical of the Surrey heaths. The routing moves across rolling terrain covered in heather, gorse, and stands of pine and silver birch. Elevation changes are frequent, with several holes playing uphill or downhill and offering views across the surrounding countryside. The layout requires accurate placement off the tee, as the heather and natural vegetation encroach closely on many fairways. Approach shots must often carry or avoid bunkers set into slopes and ridges that Taylor used to frame greens and define angles of play. Hindhead has remained relatively true to Taylor's original design, though modifications have been made over the decades to accommodate modern equipment and maintenance practices. The club maintains a traditional members' culture and has hosted regional amateur competitions. The heathland character—firm turf, natural hazards, and strategic rather than penal design—places Hindhead within the broader family of Surrey and Berkshire courses that share similar landscape and architectural heritage.