Championship Course

Hever Castle Golf Club’s Championship Course occupies the northern part of the historic Hever Castle estate in Kent’s Eden Valley. Water, mature trees, broad playing corridors and long-established parkland give the course a setting that feels much older than the present layout. Today’s course dates from 1992, but golf has been part of the Hever estate since the 1920s and remains closely connected with the Astor era.

The property lies close to the meeting point of Kent, Surrey and Sussex, beside the medieval castle and the extensive gardens developed by William Waldorf Astor. Lakes, streams and established planting shape the golf landscape. Tree belts define many holes very clearly, while more open sections reveal wider views across the valley. This landscape maturity separates Hever from modern courses built on newly created sites.

In the 1920s John Jacob Astor V commissioned a private nine-hole course north of Hever Lake. Golf became part of the estate’s social life and was used to entertain family, friends, politicians and colleagues from The Times. The original course was abandoned during the Second World War. A new chapter began in 1992 with the construction of the modern Championship Course, followed by the nine-hole Princes Course in 1998.

The present course is attributed to Dr Peter Nicholson, a golf-course consultant and agronomist. Nicholson used the existing contours, water and especially the mature estate trees to give each hole a distinct identity. From the back tees the course has genuine championship scale, while multiple tee positions make the design suitable for a wide range of golfers. Its strength is the integration of modern golf into old parkland rather than excessive artificial shaping.

The Championship Course combines the Kings and Queens nines and plays to par 72. Hever Castle lists a maximum yardage of 7,002 yards from the blue tees, with several shorter options. Water features regularly, especially on the short sixth and eighth holes and through the 11th-to-13th stretch known locally as Hever’s “Amen Corner”. The 17th is a 644-yard par five and stands among the longest holes in Britain.

Hever Castle operates as both a golf venue and a heritage destination. The Championship Course has hosted the Kent Amateur Championships, Kent PGA Championships and PGA EuroPro Tour events. The club also offers the Princes Course, a TrackMan-equipped range and broader practice facilities. Golf can be combined with accommodation on the estate. Tee availability, visitor rates, range hours and event closures remain dynamic.

Current course created in 1992 ; golf on the estate since the 1920s ; Kings and Queens nines ; par 72 ; up to 7,002 yards ; extensive water ; 644-yard 17th ; historic Astor estate ; host of Kent Amateur, Kent PGA and PGA EuroPro Tour events.