Old at Hainault Golf Club

The Old Course at Hainault Golf Club occupies a distinctive setting on the edge of Hainault Forest in Essex, approximately twelve miles northeast of central London. Designed by five-time Open Champion J. H. Taylor and opened in 1912, the course represents one of several layouts the celebrated player-architect created in the greater London area during the early twentieth century. Taylor's design philosophy typically emphasized strategic bunkering and natural terrain, and Hainault reflects his preference for courses that reward thoughtful play over pure power.

The routing makes use of gently rolling parkland terrain with mature woodland defining many holes. The course sits at a modest elevation, and several holes play through or alongside sections of ancient forest that give the layout its character. Taylor incorporated the natural contours into his design, creating holes that require careful club selection and course management rather than relying on dramatic elevation changes or water hazards.

Hainault Golf Club operates as a municipal facility, making it accessible to a broad range of golfers in the Essex and East London region. The club also maintains a shorter New Course, but the Old Course remains the primary championship layout. While it has not hosted major professional tournaments, the course serves as a competitive venue for regional amateur events and provides a straightforward test of golf that reflects Taylor's principles of strategic design within a traditional English parkland setting.