Course Reviews
Real Rounds. Real Scorecards. Real Opinions.
Every review on this page is a course I’ve actually stood on and played.
I’ve played 33 UK courses over 22 years. I could sit here and write reviews of all of them from memory, or pad the page out with research dressed up as experience.
I’m not going to do that.
Reviews on this page get written when I’ve played the course recently enough to give you something genuinely useful — the state of the greens, the pace of play, whether the green fee is actually worth it, and the holes that will make or break your round. One honest review beats ten generic ones every time.
Right now there’s one published review. There will be more. Every time I play somewhere worth writing about, this page grows.
Published Reviews
Richmond Park Golf Club — Duke’s Course
Location: Richmond, London | Public: Pay and Play | Rounds Played: 4 | Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — 4/5
Richmond Park is one of the best-value rounds you can play in London — a proper 18-hole parkland layout inside a Royal Park, with deer on the fairways and green fees that won’t embarrass your bank account.
But it’s not without its challenges. Beverley Brook winds through almost every hole on the front nine. The 14th — stroke index 1 at 425 yards, stream across the fairway, OOB left, two-tier green — is one of those holes you’ll still be thinking about on the drive home. And if you tee off on a busy Saturday morning, pace of play will test your patience before your swing does.
I’ve played it multiple times. Here’s everything you need to know before you book.
| Par | 71 |
| Yardage | 6,369 Yards (White Tees) |
| Green Fees | From £25 (twilight) to £46 (peak weekend) |
| Best time to play | Twilight, April–September |
| Verdict | Excellent value. Pick your time wisely. |
Redbourn Golf Club (Review coming)
Location: Hertfordshire | Members: Visitors Green Fees Available | Rounds Played: 100+ | Overall Rating: TBC
My home club for over a decade across two separate memberships — 2010 to 2013, then again from Covid until the end of 2023. I’ve played more rounds here than anywhere else in the UK. This isn’t a standard visitor review.
This is the club where I shot my best round, had my only hole-in-one. The club I’ve had to leave twice when life got in the way. The club I keep coming back to, even as a pay-and-play visitor now. When the full review goes up, it’ll be honest about all of it — the course, the condition, the membership question, and what 13 years of history with one club actually feels like.
I played it again last week. The review is being written now.
| Par | 72 |
| Location | Redbourn, Hertfordshire |
| Type | Members club, Visitor Green Fees Available |
| Verdict | Coming soon |
Review in progress — check back shortly
Coming next
Stockwood Park Golf Club
Location: Luton, Parkland | Public: Pay and Play | Rounds Played: 100+ | Overall Rating: TBC
This is where it all started. September 2004 — my second year in the UK, my father-in-law with a set of clubs, a sunny Sunday morning, and a set of shanked tee shots that somehow got me completely hooked on the game.
I was a member here from 2005 to 2010. I haven’t played it in years. I’m going back in the coming weeks specifically to write this review — and it’ll be as much about the journey as the course itself.
Status: Playing soon — review to follow
Richmond Park Golf Club – Prince’s Course
Location: Richmond, Parkland | Public: Pay and Play | Rounds Played: 3 | Overall Rating: TBC
The shorter, more undulating partner to the Duke’s. Where the Duke’s tests you with water and length, the Prince’s tests you with elevation changes and views across the park that genuinely distract you mid-swing. A different experience from the same site — and one that deserves its own proper write-up.
Status: On the calendar — review to follow
Celtic Manor Resort — Twenty Ten Course
Location: Newport, Wales | Championship, Resort | Rounds Played: 0 | Overall Rating: TBC
he course built for the 2010 Ryder Cup. I’ve played the Montgomerie at Celtic Manor and loved the resort — but the Twenty Ten is the main event. When I get back to Wales, this is what I’m booking.
Status: Planning
On The Radar
Section heading: Still to Play, Still to Write
| Course | Why I want to play it |
|---|---|
| The Grove, Hertfordshire | England’s finest resort course, 20 minutes from home. No excuse left. |
| The Belfry — Brabazon Course | Four Ryder Cups. I’ve driven past the entrance too many times to count. |
| Royal St George’s, Kent | An Open venue reachable by train from London. On the calendar. |
| Royal Porthcawl, Wales | Wales’ greatest links. The logical next step after Celtic Manor. |
When I play them, they get reviewed. Honestly.
The Standard
What Every Review Covers
Every course review on Golf Passport UK is written the same way — for the 10+ handicapper who plays when life allows and wants to know if a course is worth the drive.
Here’s what you’ll always find:
The honest summary — Overall verdict upfront, no burying the lead
Hole-by-hole — Not every hole in exhaustive detail, but the ones that matter. The signature hole. The round-wreckers. The ones where course management makes the difference between a good score and a disaster.
Pace of play — Because five hours on a beautiful course is still five hours.
Value for money — Green fee context, whether it’s worth it, and the best time to book to get the most for your money.
Insider tips — The things you only know from actually playing there.
Practical info — Address, Green Fees, Booking link, Best time of year. No fluff. No padding. Just what you need to decide whether to book it.
CLOSING CTA
Think I Should Play Somewhere?
With 33 courses already on the log and a list of 10 I’m still chasing, there are plenty of UK courses I haven’t written about yet. If you’ve played somewhere you think deserves a proper review — especially if it won’t break the bank — drop me a message. I read every one.
— Jabunong