The Addington Golf Club is a rare Golden Age heathland layout in Croydon, south London, representing the only known collaboration between architects J.F. Abercromby and Harry Colt. Founded in 1913, the course stretches to over 6,300 yards across rugged, ravine-cut terrain, and has undergone an extensive restoration by Clayton, DeVries & Pont since 2020.
The Addington Golf Club
The Addington Golf Club is a rare Golden Age heathland layout in Croydon, south London, representing the only known collaboration between architects J.F. Abercromby and Harry Colt. Founded in 1913, the course stretches to over 6,300 yards across rugged, ravine-cut terrain, and has undergone an extensive restoration by Clayton, DeVries & Pont since 2020.
4.5
The Addington is easy enough to find, sitting between Croydon and Biggin Hill in South London. From the road, it looks impressive, framed by its stone boundary wall and metal gates, which open onto a driveway climbing towards the clubhouse. Pines line the first stretch, giving a hint of the dramatic land that’s about to unfold.
The clubhouse is relatively modern — the original was lost to a fire in 1952 — and today everything is housed in one neat building: pro shop, bar, and changing rooms all under one roof. The welcome is warm and informal; head pro Phil deserves special mention. There’s a terrace overlooking the first few holes, and inside, a traditional locker room with wooden lockers, decent showers, and clean towels (though allow a few minutes for the hot water pump to kick in).
The club opened in 1919, the brainchild of J.F. Abercromby, who was joined in the project by Harry Colt and John Morrison. Construction was an epic task: 500 men were employed to carve fairways through woodland, moving barrowloads of stone and clearing more than 1,500 trees. Abercromby was never shy of grand ambition, and here he created something audacious — a London heathland with heroic carries, dramatic valleys, and greens perched in improbable places.
The Addington once boasted a second course (long since lost) and, in its heyday, was considered one of the finest inland layouts in the world. Recent years have seen serious restoration work, clearing undergrowth, re-exposing vistas, and returning the course closer to Abercromby’s intent. It feels alive again — and still very much a work in progress.
The first six holes climb relentlessly, a stern warm-up that will test both your lungs and your patience. The turf isn’t quite Surrey sandbelt, but it’s good and firm, and conditioning is excellent thanks to constant renovation. Tees are well rotated, fairways immaculately mown, and the greens — well, they’re another beast entirely.
Early on, many of the greens feel almost too wild: bold undulations, tight run-offs, and cup placements flirting with bunkers or the very edges. Combine that with the elevation changes, and it can feel like you’re being toyed with. The bunkering, though, is excellent — steep faces, crisp edges, and fluffy sand that makes you think you’ve accidentally wandered into the Bahamas.
Routing-wise, the course twists and turns cleverly. Signage is mostly good, though I found myself confused twice — once after the 2nd when the 3rd tee had been shifted behind the green, and again when hunting for the 17th tee hidden behind the 16th. The opening stretch is heavy going, but the course truly comes alive from the 7th onwards.
8th, par 4 (360 yards): A classic Abercromby hole. A dog-leg left that demands a carry over bracken, a dip, and a wooden bridge. A 200-yard tee shot leaves a mid-iron approach across another chasm, again crossed by a bridge, to a generous green. From here you’re rewarded with one of the best panoramas of London, The Shard and Walkie Talkie in the distance.
9th, par 3 (115 yards): Short on the card but vicious in reality. Downhill wedge to one of the craziest green complexes I’ve ever seen: ridges, hollows, mounds, and swales everywhere. Land it in the saucer centre and you’re fine; miss by a yard and you’ll be adventuring.
12th, par 5 (440 yards): Outstanding. The tee shot is blind from an elevated box, tumbling into a tiered fairway so steep it needs steps to get down. The second is a heroic carry over a rippled dip, the fairway sloping hard from left to right. A wooden bridge marks the way, and the green sits on a rise framed by craggy ground.
15th, par 4 (420 yards): Brutal but brilliant. Plays all uphill to an undulating fairway with a gaping bunker on the left (which, naturally, I found with unerring accuracy). Pines frame the approach, and the green at the top is wildly contoured, making recovery shots near impossible.
16th, par 5 (500 yards): One of the most dramatic on the course. The tee shot is played downhill with the London skyline in front of you, then the hole climbs again through a narrowing fairway. Anything right will tumble away down a bank by yet another bridge. Strategic, scenic, and fun.
From the 8th onwards, it’s one showstopper after another. The early slog is forgiven once you hit this stretch.
Practice facilities are compact but useful: a putting green full of swales that mirrors what awaits on the course, a short-game area with a bunker, some nets, and a small grass range.
I paid £150 for a weekend tee time (visitors allowed from midday), though the pace of play that day was slowed by members’ guests. To the club’s credit, they kindly offered me an early weekday slot to make up for it. That gesture summed up the place: accommodating, straightforward, and welcoming.
It is pricey, no denying that, but this is London. And given the restoration work, the heritage, and the quality of the layout, it feels justifiable — even if I wouldn’t rush back every month.
The Addington is a course of two halves: the opening stretch is a physical and mental grind, but from the 8th onwards it’s nothing short of thrilling. Abercromby’s boldness still shines through, the views are superb, and the current restoration is bringing back its original magic.
If you like your golf with drama, history, and a touch of masochism, The Addington will stay with you long after the last putt. Bring a few spare sleeves, leave your ego at the gates, and enjoy one of London’s most charismatic tests.
Overall rating
4.5
Overall rating
4.5
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