Spotlight
SHIRLEY PARK GOLF CLUB Opened in 1914, and designed by Tom Simpson and Herbert Fowler of Walton Heath and Pebble Beach fame, the 6,200-yard parkland course is not overly long, but the undulating nature of the topography, clever bunkering, narrow fairways, several dog-legs, and testing approaches, ensure that all elements of your game are examined and birdies are well earned.
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he club has a fabulous quartet of par threes, including the 180-yard seventh, which is played across a valley to a raised green. The short holes all offer an opportunity for good scoring, although getting four Pars is easier said than done.
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The greens are presented in excellent condition all year round, even during last year’s heatwave and the wettest of winters. A tip for visitors is to remember that many of the straightest-looking putts may not be quite as simple as they seem! With no two holes alike, and some interesting changes in elevation, it’s a course that you’ll want to come back to, again and again. Located just 12 miles from Central London, and one mile from East Croydon train station, the club boasts excellent transport links, with the A232 right on the doorstep. Despite its urban location, the protection provided by mature trees from all
sides ensures the 135-acre site offers an ‘oasis of green tranquillity’. The club boasts an active and well-supported social scene, with an event calendar featuring regular music evenings, quizzes and horse racing nights, as well as formal club occasions. Even when there is not a function in the diary, there is invariably a buzz in the clubhouse, with members and visitors enjoying the excellent range of food and drinks on offer. The members and visitors can enjoy top quality sport on the latest TV in the Players Bar, and the atmosphere on match days especially, is the envy of many clubs nearby. Whether your first contact is with
SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE