St George's Hill

History:

Tucked into the rolling heathland of Weybridge, Surrey, St George’s Hill Golf Club is a masterpiece of early 20th-century golf architecture. Created during the golden age of golf course design, the club was founded in 1912 as part of a visionary real estate development by W.G. Tarrant, with the course designed by the legendary Harry Colt. At the time of its conception, St George’s Hill was more than just a golf course—it was a bold and ambitious residential estate project. W.G. Tarrant, a successful builder, envisioned an exclusive enclave of luxury homes nestled within a pristine natural environment, with a world-class golf course as its centerpiece. To bring this vision to life, Tarrant enlisted Harry Colt, one of the most respected golf architects of the era. Colt had recently worked on courses like Sunningdale (New) and Swinley Forest, and his reputation for blending strategy, beauty, and playability made him the perfect choice. What Colt created at St George’s Hill is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and intelligently routed golf courses in the world. He worked with the natural contours of the land rather than against them, preserving the landscape’s elevation changes, sweeping ridges, and rich heathland character.

The club officially opened in 1913, just a year before the outbreak of World War I. Despite the war’s interruption, the course soon gained acclaim among golf’s elite for its stunning setting and ingenious design.

St George’s Hill originally featured 27 holes, all designed by Colt, and that configuration remains to this day: an 18-hole Red and Blue course, and an additional 9-hole Green course. The Red and Blue nines make up the main championship layout.

From the start, the club became a haven for wealthy golfers, aristocrats, and professionals alike. The surrounding estate homes attracted London’s upper class, and the combination of luxury living and elite golf made it one of the most desirable addresses in England.

Over a century later, the club remains deeply faithful to Colt’s original vision. With only minor modifications over the years, the routing, bunkering, and green complexes remain remarkably intact. Restoration efforts in recent decades have carefully returned overgrown heather and original Colt-style bunkers to prominence, further enhancing the course’s strategic integrity and classic feel.

Description:

Set in the rolling heathland of Weybridge, Surrey, St George’s Hill Golf Club offers one of the most visually stunning and architecturally revered inland golf experiences in the world.

The main championship layout is formed by combining the Red and Blue nines, while the Green nine offers a shorter, though equally charming, alternative loop. All three courses wind through pine forest, heather-covered slopes, and natural ridges, making the most of the undulating, sandy terrain.

Red Nine

• Par: 35
• Yardage: Approx. 3,408 yards

The Red Nine is widely considered one of the most visually stunning and strategically rich nines in the UK. It begins dramatically from the clubhouse terrace, with a par-4 opening hole that plays downhill over a valley and then climbs gently to an elevated green—one of the most iconic starts in English golf.

This nine is defined by elevation changes, long views, and Colt’s masterful use of natural contours. The par 3s are bold and often played across ravines or into raised greens framed by towering pines and dense heather. The 4th hole, a downhill par 5, is a highlight—reachable in two for longer hitters, but with steep runoffs and deceptive bunkering near the green.

Colt’s bunkering is both aesthetically pleasing and tactically demanding, often defining angles into the greens rather than simply penalizing poor shots.

Blue Nine

• Par: 35
• Yardage: Approx. 3,464 yards

The Blue Nine complements the Red perfectly, offering a slightly more intimate feel as it loops back through the lower parts of the property. It features narrower corridors, more doglegs, and subtle strategy. Though slightly less dramatic topographically, the Blue is full of nuance.

The par-4 5th and 6th holes on the Blue nine are some of Colt’s finest—requiring shaped tee shots and careful approach play to small, well-defended greens. The final hole, a long par 4 played back toward the clubhouse with heather and bunkers flanking both sides, is a fitting and elegant finish.

Course Style & Design Character

• Terrain: Heathland — sandy soil, elevation changes, native heather, mature pines
• Style: Golden Age strategic design with natural routing
• Bunkering: Elegant but punishing, often diagonal and angle-defining
• Greens: Subtle, fast, often raised or flanked by runoffs
• Visuals: Panoramic views, dramatic tee shots, and intimate green settings