Hertfordshire

Championship parkland golf in Hertfordshire.
The Home Counties’ finest — Brocket Hall, The Grove, Hanbury Manor and championship golf within the M25.

Hertfordshire’s golf occupies a specific and valuable niche in the English golf landscape — championship-standard resort courses within the M25, offering a quality and facility level that the strictly private Surrey clubs cannot match for accessibility. The Grove near Watford is a five-star Kyle Phillips design attached to one of England’s finest hotels. Hanbury Manor near Ware combines a Jack Nicklaus II parkland with a beautifully restored Jacobean manor house and comprehensive spa. Brocket Hall offers two courses on a historic estate with a hall that has hosted prime ministers.

These are not courses for the purist seeking wild terrain and ancient character. They are courses for the golfer who wants excellent playing conditions, resort infrastructure, and the ability to combine a round with a night at a quality hotel without driving more than an hour from London. Hertfordshire does this better than any county in England. The infrastructure — hotel, spa, food, golf — is consistently high, and the green fees, while not inexpensive, are substantially lower than the equivalent Surrey private club experience.

The Courses

The Grove Golf Course ⭐ Stay•Play•Recover

Watford, Hertfordshire · Parkland · Hotel Guests Priority · Par 72

Kyle Phillips’ design at The Grove delivers what near-London golf rarely achieves — a genuinely excellent championship parkland within a five-star country house hotel. The course makes skillful use of the estate’s natural contours and water features, with a finish that is as dramatic as any hotel course in England. The Grove hotel and spa is exceptional: two Michelin-starred dining (Claude Bosi), full spa facilities and a setting that makes it the most complete Stay•Play•Recover property in Hertfordshire.

Green fees from: £95 (hotel guest)Full review: The Grove →

Hanbury Manor Golf & Country Club ⭐ Stay•Play•Recover

Ware, Hertfordshire · Parkland · Hotel Guests Priority · Par 72

A Jack Nicklaus II championship parkland within a beautifully restored Jacobean manor house — Hanbury Manor combines a demanding course with spa facilities and hotel accommodation that make it the most polished golf resort in Hertfordshire. The course played host to the Women’s British Open and consistently features among England’s top hotel golf courses. The spa is comprehensive and the manor house setting is exceptional.

Green fees from: £85 (hotel guest)Full review: Hanbury Manor →

Brocket Hall Golf Club

Welwyn, Hertfordshire · Parkland · Hotel Guests & Members · Two courses*

Two courses on a historic Hertfordshire estate — the Melbourne Course (Par 72) and the Palmerston Course (Par 68) — set within parkland that has hosted both Whig and Tory prime ministers as guests. The Melbourne is the more demanding of the two, with maturity and natural character that the newer resort courses lack. The hall has been converted into a luxury boutique hotel. A distinctive and atmospheric option for golfers who want history with their round.

Green fees from: £75 (hotel guest)

Knebworth Golf Club

Knebworth, Hertfordshire · Parkland · Visitors Welcome · Par 71

One of Hertfordshire’s finest traditional members’ clubs — a well-maintained parkland course on the Knebworth estate with a strong layout and good visitor access on weekdays. A reliable choice for golfers looking for a quality round away from the resort courses, at a green fee that reflects the genuine members’ club rather than the resort premium.

Green fees from: £55 (visitor)

Stay•Play•Recover in Hertfordshire

The Grove Hotel & Spa ⭐

The definitive Stay•Play•Recover property in Hertfordshire — five-star hotel, Michelin-starred restaurant (Claude Bosi at The Grove), full spa and leisure facilities, Kyle Phillips golf course on site. The most complete offering in the county and a legitimate alternative to a Surrey or Cotswolds golf resort break for golfers based in or visiting London.

Hanbury Manor, a Marriott Hotel & Country Club ⭐

Championship golf, comprehensive spa, Jacobean manor house setting — Hanbury Manor is the most complete traditional golf resort in Hertfordshire, operated by Marriott. A well-established choice for corporate golf and couples’ breaks alike.

Recovery & Wellness in Hertfordshire

Golf Physiotherapists in Hertfordshire →Sports Massage for Golfers in Hertfordshire →Golf Fitness Coaches in Hertfordshire →

Practical Information

Best time to visit: Year-round — all main Hertfordshire courses are parkland and play well in all seasons. The Grove and Hanbury Manor are particularly good in autumn when the estate colours are at their best.

Getting there: London Euston to Watford Junction (The Grove) takes 20 minutes. London Kings Cross to Knebworth takes 25 minutes. By road, the M1, M25 and A1(M) give fast access from London to all county courses. The Grove is 25 minutes from central London by car.

Green fee ranges: Budget £55 (Knebworth and members’ clubs) · Mid-range £75–95 (Brocket Hall, Hanbury Manor, The Grove hotel guests) · All resort courses require or strongly prefer hotel guest booking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best golf course in Hertfordshire?

The Grove’s Kyle Phillips course is widely regarded as the finest in the county — a championship parkland of genuine quality within a five-star hotel. Hanbury Manor’s Jack Nicklaus II course is the second-ranked option and offers a more traditional resort golf experience. Both require hotel guest or advance booking.

Is there a golf resort with a spa near London in Hertfordshire?

Yes — The Grove near Watford is the closest five-star golf and spa resort to London, with a full spa, Michelin-starred dining, championship course and hotel within 25 minutes of central London. Hanbury Manor near Ware is the second option, with a Marriott-operated spa and Jacobean manor setting.

How far is The Grove from London?

Approximately 25 minutes from central London by car via the M1 or A41, near Watford. London Euston to Watford Junction by train takes 20 minutes, with a short taxi to the hotel. It is the most accessible five-star golf resort to central London of any county.

Hertfordshire

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