Hankley Common Golf Club Key Information
The layout at Hankley Common was designed by James Braid and Harry Colt and it has long been cherished as one of the most beautiful golf courses in the country. It's a superb design over incredible turf and terrain in a simply beautiful setting. The course is maintained brilliantly and sympathetically with free-draining soil and excellent playing surfaces. Hankley Common is a club that is constantly looking to improve upon what is already a high-quality offering.
REASONS TO PLAY HANKLEY COMMON GOLF CLUB
– Simply stunning swathe of protected heathland
– Tremendous layout by James Braid and Harry Colt
– Incredible springy, sandy turf is a joy to play from
RANKINGS
UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2025/26 - 31
Hankley Common Golf Club, which has made good progress in our Top 100 Golf Courses UK & Ireland rankings over the years, began life in 1897. Play was originally over nine holes across this fabulous stretch of Surrey countryside. In 1922 James Braid advised on the addition of a second nine and Harry Colt made further alterations in the early 1930s.
Hankley is, without question, one of our very finest inland courses and one of Surrey's very best – a superb design over excellent terrain. Springy yet firm turf with sandy subsoil, greens that are slick and true, fairways lined with heather, rowans, oaks, pines and birches – the layout delivers classic heathland golf of the highest order.
From the high points across the course at Hankley Common, it’s amazing to view the holes stretching in all directions across the huge swathe of land over which the layout sits. Both course and surrounding area are classed as a “Site of Special Scientific Interest,” and are home to many interesting species of flora and fauna. The club takes pains to ensure the course is maintained superbly but sympathetically.
The excellent, free-draining turf at Hankley gives a real links-like playing quality and the surfaces are of the very highest standard.
A game at Hankley is always a treat and on my most recent visit I got to see some of the latest improvement works, with the changes to the par-3 2nd hole transforming what was perhaps one of the less strong holes visually into an absolute picture.
What I particularly like about Hankley is that although many holes are lined by heather and trees, it rarely feel overly claustrophobic and is happy to overlook minor miscues in many places, choosing to punish only really poor shots.
And however you're playing, reaching the raised tee on the par-3 7th is always a thrill as is the shot back down to the lower ground from the 8th tee, a par 5 you always feel offers a great chance to get one back on the card.
That stretch of holes from the 6th to the 8th is particularly memorable, with another par 5 preceding that climb to the 7th tee. The high point you then reach affords stunning views of the common and the vast expanse of land which Hankley occupies.
Indeed, there’s enough space to build another couple of golf courses on the land that it occupies, but why would you when you have such an amazing masterpiece already?
Hankley Common Golf Club never rests on its laurels and continues to make improvements and alterations if and where appropriate.
What's new for 2025/26? What our panellists said…
My visit was in the early season after a poor/wet winter/early spring and conditioning was impressive considering the lead-in. Set within an extensive SSSI, the course is draped over this wonderful terrain but has to exist and sympathetically operate without impacting this very special, protected landscape. There is an open feel; the trees and gorse heather and shrubs have large natural spaces running between them; and the elevation changes do wonders to frame the holes and offer some lovely views. Where else can you enjoy such a wonderful, beautiful course and wander through an SSSI of such natural significance?
There are 12 holes that are as good-looking as a heathland can get. The first four are delightful, as is the closing stretch. The vast heathland is a wonderful context and the pines that intersperse the heather give most holes definition and visual complexity. It is a truly beautiful inland course. While being reasonably level, the changes in terrain are used well and holes move left and right to test line and shot-making.
Hankley Common Golf Club Location
For more information on visiting Hankley Common see the club's website
Hankley Common Golf Club Scorecard
Best Courses Near To Hankley Common
Best Places to Stay Near Hankley Common Golf Club
Tilford Woods - Book now at Booking.com
Excellent log cabin self-catering lodge retreat. It's in a perfect location for Hankley Common - basically right next door. It's always well reviewed and is known for offering comfortable and spacious accommodation.
Harbour Hotel Guildford - Book now at Booking.com
Set in a contemporary glass-fronted building, this 4-star hotel is a one minute walk from the cobbled High Street of Guildford. Guests can enjoy the hotel's spa facilities, which features a gymnasium, indoor swimming pool, stone oven sauna, aromatic crystal steam room and relaxation room. Good restaurant.
Hankley Common Golf Club Course Gallery
Hankley Common Golf Club Historical Top 100 Ranking UK&I
- 2025/26 - 31
- 2023/24 - 30
- 2021/22 - 32
- 2019/20 - 33
- 2017/18 - 34
- 2015/16 - 41
- 2013/14 - 44
- 2011/12 - 50
- 2009/10 - 64
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is Hankley Common?
The whole common is 560 hectares or 1,400 acres. The site is part of the Thursley, Hankley and Frensham Commons Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area and Site of
What movies were filmed at Hankley Common?
Hankley Common has been used for plenty of productions over the years including the James Bond films The World Is Not Enough, Die Another Day and Skyfall. It was also used for the Oscar-winning 1917 where it doubled as a French battlefield.
