Horsham Golf, a well-established proprietary club located in West Sussex, attracts a healthy flow of new and existing golfers thanks to its impressive array of facilities, including an 18-hole championship course, 9-hole academy course, 16-bay hi-tech driving range and a well-stocked pro shop – all of which are competitively priced and staffed by a friendly team of experienced PGA Professionals who are looking to help you get the most out of your game
Judging by the number of cars making use of the overflow car park on a weekday summer’s afternoon, Horsham Golf is one of many golf clubs up and down the country that is enjoying the fruits of golf’s current popularity.
And while the boom in the number of rounds played back in the Covid years were welcome at the time, not all golf clubs have managed to maintain the momentum that was generated during that period or hold on to the new golfers that took up the game in the absence of other sources of outdoor sport during the height of the pandemic.
And, while Horsham Golf clearly benefitted from the boom, it has positively thrived in the years since, with continued investment leading to a busy tee sheet on its 18-hole Oaks Course, while the number of players of all ages lining up to play its 9-hole, par-3 Firs Course, and the queues to make use of its 16-bay covered driving range, provide all the evidence that this is a club that has clearly got things right when it comes to attracting the complete spectrum of golfers.
CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF COMMUNITY GOLF
Part of the golfing landscape since 1994, when it first opened as a 9-hole course, Horsham Golf moved to another level in 2016 when it expanded to 18 holes after purchasing some land from a neighboring farm. The reconfigured layout also freed up some space to create a new par-3 course, which provided somewhere for those new to the game to hone their skills in a more relaxed environment.
Add to those courses a modern driving range, short game areas, expansive pro shop and an experienced team of PGA Professionals, Horsham Golf has created a clear pathway for golfers coming into the game to progress from absolute beginner to single figure player.
CHAMPIONSHIP CHALLENGE
The par-70 Oaks Course offers a choice of five tees, measuring 6,111 yards off the championship [black] tees, 5,725 from the blues, 5,306 from the green, 5,004 from the purple, and 4,755 from the orange. Like many forward-thinking clubs, Horsham has removed gender designations for tees, and you play from the yardage that you feel most comfortable from.
And while it may look short on paper, the tight woodland course is anything put a pushover, with the opening holes carving their way through picturesque, tree-lined avenues before opening to more of a parkland feel in the middle section of the course.
Water comes into play on five holes in the form of ponds and small lakes, with the water feature fronting the par-three 13th green being the visual highlight for golfers as they drive into the club. In another interesting design feature, greenside bunkers have been kept to a minimum to help speed up play, although contoured false fronts on some holes ensure that golfers have to find the putting surface to avoid awkward chip shots from tight lies around the fringes. And there are plenty of expertly placed fairway bunkers to capture anything hit offline from the tee.
The fairways themselves have been beautifully sculpted, with plenty of raised mounding to give each hole a sense of isolation from the others. The large USGA-specification greens roll smoothly, while an extensive drainage system ensures that the course avoids the worst of the squidgy conditions that are common on Sussex’s clay soils, and unlike many courses it remains open for play whatever the weather. With a complete buggy track around the course too Horsham Golf also keep buggies and trollies on all year round making it a go to winter destination in the area.
With green fees starting from as little as £30 for pre-booked afternoon rounds and £42 for pre booked peak tee times, Horsham Golf is also extremely affordable too.
SHARPEN UP YOUR SHORT GAME
The Firs Course features nine holes measuring from 70-130 yards and is ideal for introducing children and new golfers to the game, as well as for fun rounds with friends of all ages. With small greens, and some devilishly difficult pin positions, it’s a great way to sharpen all your short game for all skill levels, and at just £12 for an adult round – £8 for U16s – also represents great value. Sitting alongside the Firs course are 2 chipping and putting greens to sharpen up your short game skills.
SERIOUS PRACTICE & SERIOUS FUN
In addition to the short course, the practice facilities at Horsham are among the best around, with the covered driving range boasting 16 spacious bays, all fitted with side and rear mirrors, heating, and a Flightscope ball-tracking system which not only allows golfers to track their shots in real-time and analyse all manner of detailed performance data (spin rates, dispersion, flight and club path, ball speeds etc.), but also enables users to play golf on a wide choice of virtual courses and fun challenges via the Awesome Golf platform, which allows for plenty of friendly competition from the comfort of your bay – this is golf entertainment at it’s best.
Although the range is podded at just over 60 yards long, it is easily big enough to track the initial trajectory of the ball before the Flightscope radar technology takes over to track the rest of the flight which is displayed on your in-bay screen. The range is also fully floodlit, enabling practice after work and long into the night, with last balls dispensed at 8pm before closing at 9pm during the week.
For those without their own clubs, all the essential kit is available for hire from the pro shop, starting at just £1 for a junior iron.
And for those that want to work on their short game outside of the range environment, there is a large putting green just behind the clubhouse with chipping greens nearby adjacent to the par-3 course – here you will find multiple pin options and lies to hit shots from.
COACHING & CUSTOM FITTING
Horsham Golf has a fitting bay offering all the latest club technology along with a digital loft and lie machine too! The same can be found in their indoor putting studio too so whether you are looking for longer drives, fewer putts or simply more consistency then Horsham Golf can help. The club offers expert fitting service for almost all the major brands in golf allowing customers to test the whole market.
The club also partners with leading golf brands to host fitting days, where specialist fitters from the likes of PING, Callaway, TaylorMade and Titleist bringing their own teams down to host events.
For those looking to raise their game and lower their handicap, a team of highly qualified PGA Professionals from MY Golf Academy are on hand to offer one-to-one tuition both on the range and out on the course. There are group sessions for all ages and skill levels run throughout the week, school holiday camps with women-only sessions and groups for beginners and seniors.
GREAT CHOICE, COMPETITIVE PRICES & EXPERT ADVICE
Horsham Golf’s pro shop is more of a retail emporium and stocks an impressively wide range of equipment from all the leading equipment hardware brands, including Callaway, Ping, TaylorMade, Cobra, Srixon, Titleist and Yonex.
Staffed by a team of friendly pros who are happy to offer advice on prospective purchases, there is also a good choice of footwear, including the latest models from FootJoy, Puma, Under Armour and G/FORE, while the apparel section is generously stocked with a sizeable choice of on-trend brands, including Peter Millar, Puma, Ping, Callaway and Under Armour.
There are also plenty of options if you’re looking for a new golf bag, or to stock up with balls and accessories – and all of them are offered with a price match guarantee. Horsham Golf is also an authorised Motocaddy Service Centre so they can take care of any issues you might have whether it be in or out of warranty.
Beyond trollies, Horsham Golf have an impressive workshop and incredible grip range too offering the complete repair service too. Whether it regrips, a new shaft or change of adaptor, the qualified team can help.
Open seven days a week until late and conveniently located off the A24, and easily accessible from Gatwick, Horsham, Crawley and the surrounding areas, it’s no wonder golfers are travelling to Horsham Golf for all their equipment needs.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Finally, for those in need of refreshment and sustenance, Horsham Golf’s bar and catering facilities are housed above the shop in what was formerly a barn, where a wide range of hot food and cold meals, snacks and drinks can be enjoyed in comfortable surroundings.
With plenty of room to accommodate society golf days and visiting golfers, there is also an outdoor seating area beside the clubhouse, along with a food shack that serves a tasty selection of freshly cooked wood-fired pizzas.
MAKE A BOOKING
To book a round of golf, or to find out details about membership, lessons or club fitting sessions, visit www.horshamgolf.co.uk or call 01403 271525.