Prince's at Richmond Park Golf Club

Prince's at Richmond Park Golf Club occupies a distinctive position within one of London's most historic royal parks. The course was designed by five-time Open Champion J.H. Taylor in collaboration with F.G. Hawtree and opened in the 1920s, making it one of two 18-hole layouts operating within the 2,500-acre Richmond Park. The routing takes advantage of the park's gently rolling terrain and mature woodland, with fairways framed by ancient oaks and chestnuts that have stood for centuries.

The layout reflects Taylor's practical design philosophy, emphasizing strategic shot-making over length. Holes weave through the parkland landscape, where players navigate natural undulations and must account for the occasional presence of the park's famous deer herds, which roam freely across the grounds. The course shares the park with its companion layout, the Duke's Course, and both operate under public access arrangements that make them among London's most accessible golf venues.

Richmond Park itself provides a remarkable setting, with views across the Thames Valley and connections to royal history dating back to Charles I. The golf club maintains a welcoming, unpretentious character befitting its public park location, drawing a diverse membership from across London and serving as an introduction to the game for many metropolitan golfers. The combination of Taylor's design principles, the ancient parkland setting, and the democratic access model creates a golf experience quite unlike the private clubs that dominate much of English golf.