Chessington

Surrey's golf landscape ranges from the heathland classics of Sunningdale and Wentworth to workaday suburban layouts, and Chessington sits firmly in the latter camp — a public, accessible course in the commuter belt southwest of London. The area itself is better known for its theme park and zoo than for serious golf, which tells you something about the character of the place: family-friendly, unpretentious, and rooted in everyday recreation rather than golfing pilgrimage.

Without a storied architect or championship pedigree to draw on, Chessington's appeal lies in its accessibility. Public courses in this corner of Surrey serve a dense population of golfers who need somewhere to play without a membership, a handicap certificate, or a journey to the countryside — and that function is genuinely valuable in one of England's most golf-hungry regions.

The terrain here is gentle Home Counties ground, unlikely to produce dramatic elevation changes or the sandy, heathery character that defines the county's famous layouts. Expect a straightforward, manageable round — the kind of course that suits beginners, families, or anyone after a relaxed game close to the city.