Established in 1910, Denham Golf Club enlisted the services of Harry Colt to lay out a course for members and these 18 holes opened for play the following year. Unusually, the clubhouse was fashioned from a 16th century tithe barn and farmhouse and this rustic old structure adds greatly to the charm and ambience of the place.
Another interesting aspect to the infrastructure at Denham is the railway station beside the course – a bit like Prestwick in Scotland or Aberdovey in Wales – where golfers can alight the train at Denham Golf Club Station on the Chiltern line from Marylebone then cross the 11th fairway to the clubhouse.
There’s nothing spectacular or awe-inspiring about Denham; it’s just an honest, solid parkland track that delivers a challenging, engaging game for members and visitors alike.
With only two par fives on the scorecard (back-to-back at holes 13 and 14), the strength of the course is found amongst its dozen par fours, particularly the 7th on the front nine and the 15th on the inward half.
Donald Steel – a long-standing member at Denham Golf Club – reckons it is the perfect model for any club, saying that “at the heart is the imperishable hallmark of a Harry Colt golf course and a unique farmhouse-style clubhouse but, equally as important, is a vibrant membership that appreciates both. On a personal note, you only have one Home Club and Denham has been mine for over sixty years. Never would I have traded it for any other”.
