Make New Friends, Play More Golf
There’s something rather satisfying about playing a golf course that quietly exceeds expectations.
Tucked away down the narrow winding lanes of the Surrey Hills, is not the sort of venue that shouts loudly about itself. But first impressions can be deceptive.
Now a Get Golfing course, you quickly discover a newly refurbished bar and spike bar area, friendly staff and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere that immediately puts visiting golfers at ease.
There’s none of the stuffy “club tie” nonsense here either. No one’s worrying about whether you’ve removed your cap before ordering a post-round pint.
The Social Golfer gives our view…
Location: Woldingham, Surrey
Designed: Established 1899
Course Type: Downland / Hillside
Par: 69
Price: Approx. £30 Midweek / Weekend Afternoon
Verdict: A quirky, strategic and hugely enjoyable Surrey Hills layout that rewards brains over brute force.
Located near Woldingham in Surrey, North Downs Golf Club sits high within the beautiful Surrey Hills countryside, around 30 miles south of Central London.
Despite feeling wonderfully rural and secluded, the club is surprisingly accessible from the M25 and surrounding areas including Croydon, Redhill, Caterham and Guildford.
The final approach takes you along a series of narrow winding country lanes, which only adds to the sense that you are discovering one of Surrey’s lesser-known golfing gems. For golfers travelling by train, Woldingham Station is also only a short taxi ride away.
While first impressions from the outside may suggest a slightly old-fashioned golf club, stepping inside quickly changes that perception.
The refurbished bar and spike bar area provide a far more modern and welcoming atmosphere than the exterior initially suggests. While the staff immediately make visitors feel at home.
There’s also a wonderfully relaxed vibe around the club. No stuffy dress-code policing. No awkward clubhouse formalities. Just golfers enjoying their golf.
It was founded in 1899. Making North Downs Golf Club one of Surrey’s oldest golfing venues. And has remained remarkably faithful to its traditional roots over the decades.
Originally laid out on the natural contours of the North Downs landscape, the course has evolved steadily rather than dramatically. Thus preserving much of the character and charm associated with older English golf clubs.
Unlike many modern developments built around housing estates or corporate leisure facilities, North Downs still feels very much like a members’ golf club first and foremost.
Its hilltop location has long been one of its defining features, providing both spectacular views and a physically demanding golfing experience that has challenged generations of Surrey golfers.
Recent investment inside the clubhouse — particularly around the bar and social areas — has also helped modernise the visitor experience. And thankfully, the golf course itself still offers great variety and personality.
Practice facilities are fairly modest by modern standards. There’s no driving range, but there are warm-up nets available and enough space to loosen up before heading to the first tee.
However, North Downs isn’t really the type of club golfers visit for Tour-level practice amenities. The real attraction here is the golf course itself.
North Downs enjoys spectacular elevated views across the Surrey countryside. It offers a completely different golfing experience to many of the manicured parkland layouts found closer to London.
At first glance, North Downs appears relatively short on the scorecard. Big hitters may even fancy overpowering it. That would be a mistake. This is a golf course that rewards thought, patience and strategy far more than brute force.
The defining characteristic here is undoubtedly the movement in the fairways. Rarely do you find yourself playing from a completely flat lie, and the sloping terrain means approach shots require genuine planning before pulling a club.
Course management is your friend at North Downs.
Overall, the course was presented in very good condition during my visit in May 2026. The tee boxes were flat, tidy and attractively maintained, many framed beautifully by flowers and neatly manicured hedging.
The bunkers were also in excellent shape, full of proper sand. Rather than the compacted concrete substitute some clubs sadly offer these days. And I understand several are due for renovation later in 2026.
The greens rolled flat and true throughout the round. Some golfers may argue they were slightly on the “fluffy” side, but given the recent spell of dry weather. But wanting to keep additional moisture in the putting surfaces is entirely understandable.
And frankly, once you’ve negotiated the fairway slopes and elevation changes, you’ll simply be grateful to have a genuine putt at par.
Ps Did I mention the course is hilly?
North Downs has several genuinely memorable holes…
Whether that’s enjoyable or frustrating depends entirely on how your round has gone.
However, I believe this closing hole provides a superb finish to your round.
What makes North Downs particularly interesting is how deceptive the challenge feels. On paper, it doesn’t appear intimidating.
In reality, the constant elevation changes, uneven lies and strategic angles force you to think your way around the course. Bomb-and-gouge golf simply doesn’t work particularly well here.
Long hitters who automatically reach for the driver on every tee may well find themselves fighting awkward sidehill lies and blocked approaches. Meanwhile, golfers willing to plot their way around carefully are likely to score far better. It’s also more physically demanding than many courses in Surrey.
If you enjoy a flat stroll, this probably isn’t the venue for you. But if you appreciate golf courses with personality, variety and character, North Downs delivers in abundance.
At approximately £30 for a midweek or weekend afternoon round, North Downs represents outstanding value.
Particularly when you consider the uniqueness of the layout, the memorable holes and the quality of the conditioning.
Call 01883 652057 to book a tee time or visit www.northdownsgolfclub.co.uk
In truth, you would be hard pushed to find a better-value golf experience anywhere around Surrey or the outskirts of London.
And for players who appreciate strategic golf, quirky, memorable holes, dramatic elevation changes and genuine character: this Surrey Hills layout offers a hugely enjoyable experience.
And in an era where many golf courses are becoming increasingly similar, this layout proudly remains refreshingly different.
Personally, my own round started badly. A few errant tee shots and some distinctly rusty play on the fairway suggested this could become a very long afternoon.
Playing off a current handicap of 21, I eventually finished with 30 Stableford points — respectable enough given the terrain and tactical demands of the course.
More importantly, I walked off feeling there were at least half a dozen shots left out there…and that’s usually the sign of a golf course worth revisiting!
Which is why we’ve chosen it as the venue for the third TSG Major Golf Event of 2026 – The Social Golfer OPEN.
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. He has had golf articles published 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).
