The Abercromby Trail

The Abercromby Trail is a selection of outstanding courses close to London designed by the architect J.F. Abercromby. 

'Aber' was an accomplished amateur golfer in his day who turned his hand to golf course architecture and following a period where he was advised by Willie Park jnr designedf his first course at Worplesdon in 1908. This success brought him a second contract, and during the design of Coombe Hill (1909) he became the first recorded architect to use a hot air balloon to survey the land. 

From there he then designed two courses at The Addington in 1912, the Old and the New. Whilst the New has long since disappeared, thankfully the superb Old course remains in all its glory today.

Following World War 1, he went on to design another course that is excellent example of his creativity and sense of drama, Knole Park near Sevenoaks. 

The four courses above all have very interesting routings, very memorable and dramatic holes, and there is no doubting Abercromby's right to be considered one of the great architects alongside many of the other great names of this Golden Age, despite only being attributed with 9 courses.

Another Abercromby gem is Bovey Castle in Devon, which has a magnificent hotel attached. Once you have played one Abercromby course, you will want to play them all.