Betchworth Park - Surrey - England
Reigate Road,
Brockham,
Dorking,
Surrey,
RH4 1NZ,
England
+44 (0) 1306 882052
1 mile E of Dorking
Welcome
Peter Gallagher
Tom Bridger
Betchworth Park Golf Club was established in 1911, when a founding committee of sixteen gentlemen arranged to lease land on the estate of Lord Francis Hope of Deepdene House, whose family had acquired the property during the 19th century. Harry Colt was brought in to design the layout and the course opened in September 1913.
According to the club, “the first change to the course was made in 1920, when the order in which the holes were played was changed to enable 4 balls to start on the tenth.” Betchworth Park is listed in the catalogue raisonné of Simpson & Company Golf Architects, so presumably Tom Simpson was responsible for this work.
In 1966, a new clubhouse was positioned for easy access to three starting and finishing holes but its location near the 17th green required holes to be re-sequenced, along with the construction of a new par three hole to replace the old 17th. Three years later, a new 2nd hole was built to avoid problems with those driving on the 3rd.
At the start of the new millennium, the order of play was changed, allowing the course to be configured as two returning nines. New tees have since been added to several holes and the green was remodelled on the short par three 10th. Among other course improvements, tree removal has opened up views of the River Mole on the 16th..
Reviews for Betchworth Park
Tim Elliott
Betchworth Park is found in an incredibly scenic part of Surrey, just outside Dorking, with the North Downs and the local beauty spot of Box Hill much in evidence. The glorious location for a golf course allowed Harry Colt in the early stages of the 20th century to design some beautiful holes. Some of the par fours, flanked by trees with leaves turning a lovely burnished golden colour in the autumn sunshine, are quite majestic. Colt has used the undulating terrain to create many inspiring challenges whilst offering plenty of variety to the golfer.
The golf course is presented in splendid order with the fairways and greens immaculate. And yet somehow it doesn’t flow or work as well as I feel it should.
The sequencing of the holes has been a problem for a long time as evidenced by the foreword on this website. And yet the Club seems no nearer after over 100 years to have developed a route for the layout so that everything blends together seamlessly. Shoddy signposting does not help, nor does some of the route marches between holes, factors which reduce the course’s appeal. Additionally and a personal view is that the large club-house in the middle of the site is an eyesore with its 1960’s style and unwelcoming appearance.
As for the golf, the highlights for me were the downhill third hole and the thrilling drive at four from a raised tee with a quite magnificent vista. After the turn, the testing nature of the holes increased at the imposing uphill 11th hole followed by some really tough par fours. The scenic par three at 15 set the scene for a final three holes which would challenge golfers far better than this moderate player.
My disappointment is because I feel that Betchworth Park flies under the radar and is potentially a very fine golf course. Whilst playing our round, we noticed that reconstruction was in progress of the par three 13th hole and perhaps this is a start to raising the course’s standing within Surrey, a county that already has plenty of excellent places to play the game.
Respond to above review
Was this review helpful?
0 people found this review helpful
See other reviews from Tim Elliott