Burdon Lane,
Cheam, Surrey SM2 7DD
Office
+44 (0)208 642 2284Pro shop
+44 (0)208 642 2284Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Stephen Plane (PGA, Head Professional).The Course:
18 holes. Tree-lined downland. Gently undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Wooded downland and common land (Banstead Downs); the busy Brighton Rd (A217) bisects the course.
Designer:
Original design by John Henry "J.H." Taylor; subsequently redesigned by James Braid.
51.338767
-0.203950
1.5 mi N of Banstead / 14 mi S of central London.
Banstead Downs Golf Club is home to an enjoyable "all-weather" downland course, laid out on an easy-draining chalky base. James Braid's solid design, building on the earlier work of JH Taylor, offers another absorbing round amongst south London's enviable collection of parkland, heathland and downland golf courses.
The mainly tree-lined layout comprises a 15-hole loop, rounded-off with a three-hole closing loop that plays out-and-back from the clubhouse. In its pleasantly natural downland setting, the good-width holes are typically lined by trees and bushes, with no housing intruding beside the course. Very occasionally the tree-line opens-up to reveal glimpses of the London skyline.
Around the often quite large greens is where the course comes into its own. An array of good-quality bunkering is complemented by gentle mounding, which throws up plenty of grassy bumps and hollows.
The holes around the turn (7 thru' 12) are played on the other side of the busy A217 Brighton road (to be crossed with great care, in both directions). The drone of the traffic noise is less bothersome than you might think, perhaps most noticeable at 13 and 14, when you are closest to it.
Pick of the holes: the "signature" par-3 17th plays slightly downhill to a heavily bunker-defended green. Tall mature trees attractively frame the hole. The par-4 2nd is also worth a mention; a drop-down sunken green sits in front of an attractive large detached house, which creates a memorable hole.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance.
Players generally walk this course. Golf carts available for hire (if booked in advance).
Good
The golf course on Banstead Downs was originally opened in 1890 and founded as Sutton Ladies' Golf Club. It was not until 1904 that the current name was adopted.
The course was designed by John Henry "JH" Taylor and later reworked by James Braid. Both were five-time winners of the Open Championship around the turn of the 20th century.
Sitting just to the west of Banstead Downs GC, is the Harry Colt-designed and also well-rated course of Cuddington Golf Club.
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
You can subscribe to the Where2Golf channel on YT if you like to see more video content. You'll find a "Subscribe" button on any of our YouTube videos. Or if you want a quick and direct access subscribe here. Once done, any new published videos will show up in your Subscriptions feed.
