Thorndon Park Golf Club
Overview
Thorndon Park Golf Club is the home course of Sir Michael Bonallack, 5 X British Amateur Champion and former Captain and Secretary of the R&A.
The misconception sometimes is that the Hall also serves as the clubhouse. In fact, despite owning the Hall at one point, the club sold it to a private developer in 1976 who converted it into luxury apartments. The club then built its modest but well-appointed clubhouse nearby.
Golf Course Review
Thorndon Park Golf Club is sat in over 250 acres of parkland in Essex, England just 25 miles from London and two miles from Brentwood. Essex is primarily known for its clay. As such, fast and firm golf is not easy to find until you reach Suffolk.
In 1935, Brer Rabbit wrote a glowing report. In fact, he described it as one of the best not only inside but also outside of the county. He called the third, fourth, sixth, fifteenth, and seventeenth ‘brilliant holes.’ What about the other 13? ‘Extraordinarily good’ comes the reply.
Thorndon Park Golf Club History
Founded in 1920, Harry Colt and Charles Alison designed the course. Making the most of the former hunting grounds, the deer park is also home to Thorndon Hall. The impressive Georgian Palladian country house is a Grade 1 listed building designed by James Paine while the gardens were designed by none other than Capability Brown. There are some serious parallels to both Stoke Park and Moor Park in London! In fact, St George’s Hill was said to be the inspiration for the development.
Thorndon Park has the pedigree and is your best bet for decent golf on the golf-starved northeast side of London.
Thorndon Park Golf Club - Videos
Watch the thorndon park golf club promo video
Featured Architect: MacKenzie, Alister
As taken from his book, Golf Architecture, Alister MacKenzie felt the following were essential: The course, where possible, should be arranged in two loops of nine holes. There should be a large proportion of good two-shot holes and at least four one-shot holes. There should be little walking between...
