London Golf Club

The Heritage is London Golf Club’s private flagship course at Ash in Kent. Designed personally by Jack Nicklaus, it is a modern interpretation of championship parkland golf: dramatic tee shots, substantial water features, shaped fairways, strategic bunkering and greens that demand controlled approaches. Its identity is more theatrical and exclusive than that of the neighbouring International Course.

London Golf Club officially opened in July 1994, and the inauguration took place on the Heritage in a Charity Challenge Skins Match between Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros and Tony Jacklin, won by Ballesteros. Nicklaus worked directly on this course while Ron Kirby led the design of the International. This gives the Heritage a special status as both the founding stage of the club and a direct expression of Nicklaus Design philosophy.

London Golf Club describes the Heritage as a classic Jack Nicklaus course that forces players to consider every shot. Tee shots can be dramatic and approaches intimidating when water or bunkering guard the greens. The course is reserved for members and their guests, allowing presentation to be maintained to a tightly controlled standard. Multiple tee positions nevertheless make the architecture workable for different levels.

The tournament record is substantial. The Heritage hosted the European Open in 2008 and 2009, won by Ross Fisher and Christian Cévaër. In 2021 it staged the European Tour’s Cazoo Classic, formerly known as the English Open. Repeated professional use confirms that the course functions as more than a private showpiece and can withstand elite tournament preparation.

The club lies in rolling Kent countryside south-east of London. The Heritage occupies heavily shaped parkland where water, mounding, planting and broad fairway corridors create a carefully constructed sequence of holes. Natural movement remains visible but is amplified by the architecture. The resulting landscape has the scale and visual confidence of a modern championship venue.

London Golf Club offers two championship courses, a turf driving range of roughly 330 yards, short-game areas, several putting greens and a high-level clubhouse. The Heritage remains the exclusive members-and-guests course while the International is more accessible to visitors. London Golf Club is recognised as a European Tour Destination. The overall experience combines Nicklaus architecture, tournament culture and private-club service close to London.