West Essex Golf Club

Affectionately known as “The West”, West Essex Golf Club was founded in 1900. The engaging 6,385-yard parkland course is a James Braid design that is routed through the glorious Epping Forest at Chingford.

With far reaching views across the City of London to the landmarks of Canary Wharf, the London Eye and Wembley Stadium, those that think Essex is a flat county should play Chingford’s West and dispel the myth.

With three one-shot holes on the outward half and just one reachable par five that measures less than 500 yards from the tips, the front half is there for the taking... just as long as your tee shots are pin-point accurate. You will have to contend with uneven uphill and downhill lies with many fairways canting this way and that and also you’ll have to negotiate trees, hedges and one of the smallest greens in England.

The par three 5th is affectionately called “The Frying Pan” by the West’s members and the putting surface measures around half the square yardage of the Postage Stamp at Royal Troon. If you hit the green and two putt this devilish 159-yard par three, you can legitimately pat yourself on the back.

The contrasting homeward nine starts with the longest hole on the course. With only one par three and three par fours that measure in excess of 400 yards, you can open your shoulders on this flatter and more open closing nine.

Key to carding a good score at West Essex is accuracy. The greens are small, sloping and will test everyone’s short game. It’s no wonder that the club’s junior squad were the Champions of England and the Home Nations Champions in 2011.