The Grove Golf Course Review, Green Fees, Tee Times and Key Info

The Grove is a superbly maintained parkland course that has tested the best players in the world. It’s a welcoming and enjoyable place to visit and play.

The Grove Golf Course
The Grove Golf Course 17th hole
(Image credit: The Grove)

The Grove Golf Course Key Information

Top 100 Courses UK & Ireland 2023/24

(Image credit: Future)
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Row 0 - Cell 0 Row 0 - Cell 1
AddressThe Grove, Chandler's Cross, Hertfordshire, WD3 4TG
Phone Number01923 294266
Websitehttps://www.thegrove.co.uk/golf/
Emailinfo@thegrove.co.uk
Green Fees£130 - £225
Visitor TimesAvailable every day
Par72
Slope Rating132 (Black), 131 (Medal), 126 (Grove), 129 (Women's Front Tees)
Opened2003
Designed byKyle Phillips
Golf Monthly Verdict

The Grove - Stay and Play - the green on the par-3 seventh at The Grove with the mansion beyond

(Image credit: The Grove)

The course has terrific variety and great visual appeal, and the informal and friendly welcome is a refreshing alternative to that at some of our rather more traditional clubs.

Condition and presentation is the area that sets The Grove aside from many of its competitors, particularly out of season. The condition and presentation of the course is truly exceptional.

REASONS TO PLAY THE GROVE GOLF COURSE

– Beautifully maintained parkland layout

– Stadium course designed by the great Kyle Phillips

– Follow in the footsteps of previous pro winners at The Grove, including Tiger Woods

RANKINGS

UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2023/24 - 94

Designed by Kyle Phillips, this beautifully laid-out course flows naturally across an impressive swathe of mature parkland. It played host to the WGC-American Express Championship won by Tiger in 2006 as well as the 2016 British Masters hosted by Luke Donald and won by Alex Noren.

The course has a traditional feel and it’s clear Phillips was influenced by the great British parkland and heathland courses built in the early part of the 20th Century. It's one of the best golf courses in Hertfordshire.

Making use of the natural contouring, the undulating fairways stretch attractively across this mature piece of parkland with a wonderful array of trees lining many holes.

The sumptuous 3rd, with its approach over ‘Hell’s Lake’, is a real test of the nerves, and the short hole that follows is all about hitting the right length.

There are further excellent par 4s both at the 5th and the perfect 18th to its raised green, and in 2006 Tiger Woods recorded an eagle three on the 567-yard 9th hole three days in succession.

The short holes are all very appealing, particularly the inviting 13th from its elevated tee. The course is always presented in fabulous condition and the greens are a joy to putt on. Recent work to renovate the bunkering has further enhanced the look and condition of the course.

The 3rd at The Grove
(Image credit: Kevin Murray)

What The Top 100 Panel Said

Paula Crabtree UK&I Top 100 panel
Paula Crabtree

The course was in excellent condition.  The fairways looked like green carpets. The Grove is a golf resort course which is very playable from the tees of the day (I played to my handicap).  The staff couldn’t be more attentive and helpful. There are no stunning visual holes but the course has the feeling of the tranquility of a country estate while only a few miles from the M25.

Russ Groombridge UK&I Top 100 panel
Russ Groombridge

The Grove offers a great challenge and one that gets better every time you play it. The condition and presentation of the course is truly exceptional and having played it numerous times across the golfing calendar, I can testify that it’s amazing all year round. The Grove really know how to look after you and make your day there incredibly special and memorable. Facilities are incredible.

The Grove Golf Course Location

The Grove Golf Green Fees

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1st May - 23rd OctRoundHeader Cell - Column 2
Off Peak (Mon-Wed)£199Row 0 - Cell 2
Peak (Thurs-Sun)£225Row 1 - Cell 2
Resident (All week)£170Row 2 - Cell 2
Twilight Off Peak (Mon-Wed from 3pm or 1pm in Oct)£99Row 3 - Cell 2
Twilight Peak (Thurs-Sun from 3pm or 1pm in Oct)£129Row 4 - Cell 2
Junior (17 and under)£60Row 5 - Cell 2

For complete details on green fees, see The Grove website

The Grove Golf Course scorecard

The Grove scorecard

(Image credit: The Grove)

Best Courses Near to The Grove

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<a href="https://www.golfmonthly.com/courses/uk-and-ireland/berkhamsted-golf-club-course-review" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"">BERKHAMSTED

The characterful course at Berkhamsted dates back to the 1880s and its commonland setting accounts for the club’s original approach of creating a design that preserved the heathland, making use of its mounds, hollows, gorse and heather. <a href="https://www.golfmonthly.com/features/the-game/what-courses-has-james-braid-designed-188002" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"">James Braid followed this principle when he revamped the course in the 1920s, since when little has changed. With no sand bunkers on the course, several holes call for a shot to be played over Grim’s Dyke, a huge defensive earthwork, and the course offers golf in as natural an environment as you will find anywhere.


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<a href="https://www.golfmonthly.com/courses/uk-and-ireland/centurion-club-course-review-84344" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"">CENTURION CLUB

Architect Simon Gidman was given the remit of revising his original specification and building a course of championship status by developing greens with greater and more dramatic contouring, adding and revising bunkers, and creating greater length. The result is a very distinct mix of tree-lined and more heathland and undulating holes. Relaxation is very much the name of the game at Centurion where the emphasis is on making sure that members and their guests feel truly at home. Play when you want to, eat what you like, wear what makes you feel comfortable, and come and go as you please. The Centurion Club is one of a new breed.

For all the best courses in the area, check out our guide to the best golf courses in Hertfordshire.

Best places to stay near The Grove Golf Course

The Grove Hotel - Book now at Booking.com
Why not stay on site at The Grove - There's an extremely luxurious hotel to make the most of. Elegant and spacious, rooms, fine dining, the salubrious Sequoia Spa. There are walled gardens and tennis courts.

Leonardo Hotel Watford - Book now at Booking.com
On Clarendon Road, in the centre of Watford, Leonardo Hotel London Watford is 5 minutes’ walk from Watford Junction Railway Station. The hotel has a 24-hour reception, a bar and restaurant. It's a short drive from The Grove.

The Grove Golf Course Gallery

The Grove Golf Course Historical Top 100 Ranking UK&I

  • 2023/24 - 94
  • 2021/22 - 91
  • 2019/20 - 85
  • 2017/18 - 83
  • 2015/16 - 87
  • 2013/14 - 82
  • 2011/12 - 85
  • 2009/10 - 81

The 7th at The Grove
(Image credit: Kevin Murray)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is a round of golf at The Grove?

Pace of play at The Grove is 4.5 hours based on four players; therefore they do reserve the right to pair up bookings of less than four.

When Did Tiger Woods play at The Grove?

Tiger played in the WGC-American Express Championship at The Grove in September 2006. He won the event by eight shots from Ian Poulter and Adam Scott. He posted a four-round total of 23-under-par which included an opening round of 63.

Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly. 

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?