Make New Friends, Play More Golf
There are golf courses that impress with their presentation, and others that captivate through setting and atmosphere; Hanbury Manor delivers both in abundance.
Set within the Hertfordshire countryside, this championship venue offers something genuinely unique: a course with two distinct personalities. The front nine feels modern and expansive, with open undulating fairways, quick greens, water hazards and classic parkland features.
While the back nine tells a very different story, weaving around the magnificent manor house and hotel through mature trees and tight fairways, and where history and architecture combine to create some truly unforgettable scenery.
What makes Hanbury Manor so special, however, is the sense of calm that surrounds the entire venue.
Despite its championship pedigree, there is a peacefulness here that makes the whole experience feel refined, relaxing and immensely enjoyable.
This was the third time I have played Hanbury Manor, and each visit has reinforced why it remains one of my favourite golfing venues in Hertfordshire.
The Social Golfer gives our view…
Course: Hanbury Manor Golf Club
Location: Hertfordshire, UK
Course Type: Championship / Parkland / Resort
Par: 72
Designed By: Jack Nicklaus II
Opened: 1991
Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel & Country Club is located near Ware in Hertfordshire, making it easily accessible from London and much of the South East.
By car, the venue is conveniently positioned just off the A10, with straightforward access from the M25 (Junction 25) and M11 (Junction 7).
Depending on traffic, the drive from Central London typically takes around 45–60 minutes, while golfers travelling from Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire or North London will find it comfortably reachable for both day trips and overnight stays.
For those travelling by rail, Ware and Hertford East stations offer the nearest train connections, with taxi transfers to the manor taking approximately 10–15 minutes.
Hanbury Manor’s clubhouse experience is one of its standout features.
At the heart of this venue stands the historic manor building, which combines period grandeur with modern luxury, creating a venue that feels both prestigious and welcoming.
Although we didn’t stay overnight on this visit, Hanbury already holds personal significance for me, having celebrated my 40th birthday there several years ago.
I still remember being hugely impressed by the scale and quality of the accommodation. The rooms were spacious, elegant and maintained to a very high standard.
This combination of championship golf, luxury accommodation and premium hospitality is a major part of what makes Hanbury Manor so special. It is far more than simply a golf club; it is a genuine destination venue.
We did not get the opportunity to fully experience the practice facilities, as we were keen to get out onto the course as quickly as possible.
However, Chris (Our Host – see below) assured me the open driving range is excellent.
Additional facilities include a large putting green, short-game practice area, chipping facilities and an indoor simulator.
PGA coaching and instruction are also available for golfers looking to improve their game.
Hanbury’s greatest strength lies in its variety.
The front nine feels distinctly modern in design, with open fairways, strategic bunkering, water hazards and fast, true greens. There are wide fairways on view from the tee, but plenty of danger awaits any lapse in concentration.
By contrast, the back nine offers a completely different challenge. Here the course becomes more intimate, weaving through mature trees and around the stunning manor house. Shot placement becomes increasingly important, and the visual appeal reaches another level.
The course continually evolves throughout the round, which means you never feel like you are playing the same hole twice.
Well maintained and consistently presented.
Beautifully kept and rewarding to play from.
Well positioned and strategically placed to punish poor decision-making.
Quick, true and consistently excellent. Good putters will enjoy the challenge; poor readers may struggle.
One of the highlights of the day was playing alongside Hanbury Manor club professional Chris Foster.
Chris is widely recognised as the UK’s first disabled PGA Professional and his story is nothing short of inspirational.
After losing his leg to bone cancer as a child, he refused to let his disability define him. Instead, he developed his own remarkable way of playing golf, competing and coaching at the highest level.
Chris competes in events sanctioned by the European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA), one of the leading organisations supporting golfers with disabilities, and has represented Team Europe in The Cairns Cup — disability golf’s equivalent of the Ryder Cup, where Europe faces the USA in elite matchplay competition.
Despite knowing Chris for many years, I am still amazed watching him play. He does not use a prosthetic leg; instead, he moves around the course on crutches, literally hopping his way from shot to shot.
Yet once he addresses the ball, any thoughts of limitation disappear. His balance, rhythm and ball-striking are extraordinary.
As our host, Chris could not have been more accommodating.
Our buggies were arranged in advance and ready for us outside the pro shop. Each buggy featured excellent GPS sat-nav, adding another premium touch to the day.
Playing alongside Chris was and is always great fun. He is engaging and relaxed, and playing with him again added a memorable personal dimension to an already special experience.
Hanbury Manor sits firmly in the premium category, with green fees ranging from around £55 in winter to approximately £140 during peak summer months.
That said, value here depends on how you experience it.
As a standalone round, it is a premium green fee. But as part of a stay-and-play package combining luxury accommodation, spa facilities and championship golf, Hanbury offers excellent value.
Few venues in Hertfordshire combine heritage, hospitality and championship golf so effectively.
Having now played Hanbury Manor several times, each visit has reinforced what I like about the course and venue.
You come for the golf, but long after you have left, it is the setting, atmosphere and history that remain in your memory.
This course offers tremendous variety. From the more open, modern and expansive front nine to the tighter, more strategic back nine that wraps around the magnificent manor house, every few holes feel like a fresh challenge.
The constantly changing layout ensures the course never becomes repetitive, which is why members here are truly spoiled.
Having Chris Foster as our host made the experience even more memorable. His knowledge of the course, helpful advice and inspiring story added a personal dimension that elevated an already special day.
Would I Return? Absolutely — and happily.
Would I Recommend It? Without hesitation.
The Social Golfer Opinion: Hanbury Manor is the perfect venue for golfers seeking far more than just 18 holes. It delivers challenge, beauty, history and atmosphere in equal measure, leaving memories that last long after the final putt drops.
Ian is the Editor of The Social Golfer. He has been reviewing golf courses for more than ten years. He was the Marketing Director of the London Golf Show from 2011-2016. His golf articles have appeared in Golf News Magazine, Today’s Golfer and Golf Business News. He was also the Brand Director for The Cairns Cup (Golf’s Premier Disability Match Play Event).
