Hindhead

Overview: Hindhead is a heathland course in the Surrey hills, set among sandy ground, heather and the distinctive valleys around the Devil's Punch Bowl. The layout is associated with J.H. Taylor and is valued for the way it divides into two contrasting halves. The front nine runs through ancient, ice-age valleys, while the back nine climbs onto higher ground and uses a more open heathland setting. That change of elevation gives the round a natural rhythm: some holes are enclosed by banks and woodland, while others open toward the surrounding Surrey landscape. At 6,390 yards and par 70, Hindhead is not a brute-force course. Heather carries, uneven lies and precise approaches place a premium on choosing the right target and accepting that the safest line is not always the most direct one. The club's current visitor information describes a limited route for visiting golfers, consistent with its private-club character.

History: The club's heritage record identifies Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Edward Turle and other local figures among its founding group. In 1904, the course was laid out under the eye of J.H. Taylor, with an initial twelve holes opened on the leased heathland. The eighteen-hole version was in place by 1905, and the club marked that stage with a match between James Braid and Taylor, won by Braid. Later history includes the Devil's Punch Bowl Open Scratch Meeting, the impact of the Great Storm of 1987 and a long-term heathland project that removed some encroaching trees and encouraged the return of heather. These layers help explain why Hindhead feels both historic and carefully managed.

Did You Know? Hindhead's Devil's Punch Bowl Open Scratch Meeting began in 1930, and Justin Rose won the event in 1995. The tournament takes its name from the nearby natural beauty spot, linking one of the club's best-known competitions directly to the landform that shapes the course's identity.