The 13 Best Golf Courses Inside the M25 — Ranked by NCG
The national Top 100 barely touches London. NCG's own regional ranking — covering everything inside the M25 — tells a different story.
The NCG Top 100s for England and GB&I are the most widely recognised course rankings in Britain. But they're national lists — and national lists have a bias towards the dramatic. Open Championship venues. Remote Scottish links. Clifftop courses that photograph well.
London's golf is different. It's heathland, mostly. Private, often. Inconveniently close to millions of people who'd love to play it. The NCG publishes a separate regional ranking to reflect this — 13 courses they consider the finest inside the M25, spanning Greater London and the surrounding commuter belt across Surrey, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
Only four of those 13 appear in the main NCG England Top 100. The rest are excluded for various reasons — some opted out of the national ranking, one is literally only open to members of the Royal Automobile Club, and one isn't currently accepting visitors at all. Here's the full picture.
All 13 courses
Walton Heath (Old) →
The Old Course is one of two championship layouts at Walton Heath — the New (ranked 3rd by NCG London) sits alongside it. 1981 Ryder Cup venue. Handicap required.
St George's Hill →
Set within a private residential estate — about as exclusive an address as English golf gets. 27-hole course, with the third layout considered among the best in the county.
Walton Heath (New) →
The New Course shares the same booking process as the Old. Often seen as the lesser sibling nationally, but NCG rank it third in London — a mark of how good both layouts are.
The Addington →
The great hidden gem of London golf. J.F. Abercromby's design through Croydon heathland jumped 22 places in the latest national rankings after an acclaimed restoration. ~300 member cap.
The Grove
The only resort course on the list. 18 miles from central London. Has hosted the World Golf Championships and the British Masters. Green fees vary by season — check thegrove.co.uk.
Royal Wimbledon →
Third oldest golf club in England (1865). Very traditional. No weekend access, no drop-ins — you write ahead, you explain who you are, and you wait to hear back.
Coombe Hill
Not in the national Top 100 but clearly rated highly by those who know London golf. Restricted visitor days — three per week. Membership by application.
Moor Park (High)
Set in a Grade I listed mansion, the High Course was once the home of the Ryder Cup. Fees not published — contact Moor Park directly. Two courses on site (High and West).
Denham
Two days a week, no exceptions. Harry Colt design (1910) in green-belt Buckinghamshire. Day rate — multiple rounds permitted for the fee. Low season (Jan–Apr, Nov–Dec): £95.
Hadley Wood
Dr Alister MacKenzie design (1922). Appears in some national rankings but not the NCG England Top 100. £225 on Fridays. No visitor access on weekends.
Burhill (Old)
Two courses — Old (historic, opened 1907) and New. The Old Course is the one NCG rank. Good visitor access compared to many on this list. Saturday afternoons available.
RAC Club (Old)
The Royal Automobile Club's private estate at Woodcote Park. Two courses: Old Course and Coronation. No independent visitor access — you need to be the guest of an RAC member. Guest green fee: £79 Old Course, £66 Coronation Course.
Royal Mid-Surrey (Taylor)
Arguably the most central Top 100 address in London — the Old Deer Park, Richmond. Visitor bookings currently suspended. Mon–Thu access (handicap required) when they do open to visitors.
Summary table
| NCG London | Course | England Top 100 | Green Fee | Visitor Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Walton Heath (Old) | #13 | £275 | All week — Mon–Fri from 9:30am, weekends from noon |
| #2 | St George's Hill | #16 | £300 | Mon–Thu only |
| #3 | Walton Heath (New) | — | £275 | All week — same access as the Old Course |
| #4 | The Addington | #45 | £175 weekday / £195 weekend | All week — call the pro shop to arrange |
| #5 | The Grove | — | Resort rate — contact direct | Open as a resort — book via The Grove hotel |
| #6 | Royal Wimbledon | #89 | ~£180 | Mon–Thu only |
| #7 | Coombe Hill | — | £180 | Mon, Tue & Thu only |
| #8 | Moor Park (High) | — | Not published | Contact club directly |
| #9 | Denham | — | £135 (May–Oct) | Tuesdays and Thursdays only |
| #10 | Hadley Wood | — | £200 (peak) | Mon–Fri only |
| #11 | Burhill (Old) | — | £145 | Visitors after 11am every day |
| #12 | RAC Club (Old) | — | Guest rate: £79 (Old), £66 (Coronation) | 🔒 Closed to visitors |
| #13 | Royal Mid-Surrey (Taylor) | — | Currently suspended | 🔒 Closed to visitors |
Why aren't more London courses in the national Top 100? Several high-profile clubs — including Wentworth and Coombe Hill — have historically asked not to be considered for the national ranking. Queenwood and Bearwood Lakes, two of the most acclaimed private courses in Surrey, don't allow visitors at all and have also opted out. The national lists reward courses that can actually be played and reviewed by panellists. London's most exclusive addresses make that difficult.