Banstead Downs Golf Club

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.