Monday 10 March 2008

Foxhills - The Jewell in the Surrey Golfing Crown

Last weekend I was lucky enough to visit a glorious Surrey golf resort called Foxhills. Surrey is probably the best blessed county in England for top quality golf courses and as a result I was looking forward to the trip. Before I travelled I read in Golf World that ""Foxhills is a little like heaven; many people know of it, but only a few of us will ever go there" but nothing could have prepared me for this wonderful golfing escape. Set in 400 acres of Surrey countryside, Foxhills is as luxurious a golfing venue as you will find anywhere in the UK but easily located just off the M25 motorway and located close to both Gatwick and Heathrow Airports. While at the resort it is hard to believe you are so close to London.

As soon as you arrive at Foxhills it quickly dawns on you that you are at a great golfing facility - Foxhills is one of the finest golfing resorts in Europe boasting two 18 hole championship courses, as well as a challenging 9 hole par 3 course. Set in the undulating Surrey landscape, the Bernard Hunt and Longcross Courses represent everything that is great about golf in Surrey. The Longcross Course is widely considered the better of the two golf courses and winds through Scots pine, beech and silver birch trees and is very reminiscent of Sunningdale's Old Course in places. The Bernard Hunt Course is slightly more open however it is by no means an easier course as my scorecard proved! I actually took 5 more shots round the Bernard Hunt than the Longcross. The course is named after Bernard Hunt, MBE, who won 30 times on the European Tour and played in the Ryder Cup 10 times - he is still seen regularly at the club! I was told in the pro shop that he still hands out the odd lesson to members!

Out of the two golf courses I preferred the Longcross (only slightly) however I would guess out of a poll of 100 golfers the vote would be very close of which golf course is better. Both courses are championship standard and only bad golfers would not enjoying either golf course. This is a resort for proper golfers that enjoy a challenge as it provides a 36 hole challenge and it my opinion is a perfect golf break venue for golfers with a handicap under 14.

Away from the golf course the facilities are of the same high standard as the golf courses. There are 70 individually appointed bedrooms in the hotel and three restaurants to choose from; The Summerhouse Brasserie, The XIX Bar and Restaurant and The Manor Restaurant. Other activities on site include three heated swimming pools (one indoors), 12 tennis courts, two exercise studios, gymnasium, sauna, salon, steam room, three squash courts, croquet and jogging trail. Off the golf course there is a lot to keep you busy!

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