Bucks Tour
I’m pleased to share the details of a delightful mini-tour I experienced last week in Buckinghamshire, just 45 minutes from my home in Surrey.
The trip began with a midday meet-up at Burnham Beeches Golf Club, a well-established parkland course designed by J.H. Taylor. We kicked off the day with a pint of excellent Guinness to settle the excitement and anticipation of what lay ahead.
Sitting beneath the Clubhouse clock tower, gazing out over the sunlit, wooded terrain, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the brief reprieve from the recent stretch of terrible weather.
As a group of enthusiastic golfers, though our physiques might reveal our primary sport is rugby, we certainly know how to appreciate a great golf course—and Burnham Beeches didn’t disappoint. Most holes are framed by mature woodland and well-placed bunkers, with many gently doglegging, requiring precise drives. The course was in superb condition, and though the numerous elevation changes added to the challenge, it was an incredibly enjoyable walk.
Each of us had our favourite holes, often tied to how well we played them, but for me, the Par 4 8th, Par 3 10th, and the challenging Par 4 14th stood out. The 18th is also an excellent finishing hole, providing a fitting end to a memorable round
Following this thoroughly enjoyable round of golf, we headed to the Bull Hotel in Gerrards Cross to check in, which was done swiftly. We abandoned the cars and headed to the village of Beaconsfield by taxi. Following a refreshment at the Royal Saracen pub, we walked over to the Riwaz Restaurant run by TV chef Atul Kochhar. Simply outstanding Indian food!!
A further refreshment may have been taken before heading back and getting some sleep in for our next round at the Denham Golf Club.
It had been many years since I played Denham, and my memories had faded somewhat, although I did have a clear recollection of a number of holes, not least the Par 3 12th, which has Harry Colt’s stamp all over it. The weather was threatening, but we managed to avoid needing an umbrella apart from a little burst of rain on the 1st green, so we were able to fully appreciate this fine parkland course. Richard Penley Martin, the Club Secretary, alerted me to the fact that a complete bunkering programme had occurred in the previous three years, and I can confirm that this has been a huge success, not just from a playing point of view, but also aesthetically. The consistency and quality of the sand really stood out too.
The variety of holes at Denham is excellent, and every hole presents a thought-provoking challenge. The condition of the course is superb, and the Club is an impressive one with a 16th century farmhouse style Clubhouse, and it’s own train station that can whisk you into London in 20 minutes or so. So, in little more than 24 hours, we experienced two excellent golf courses, a first-class restaurant, an ideally situated hotel and a vibrant old English pub. And for the quality of the golf we experienced, very good value in terms of green fees.
