Denham

Few courses in the London commuter belt carry the quiet prestige of Denham Golf Club, which has occupied its Buckinghamshire setting since 1910. Harry Colt — arguably the greatest British course architect of the 20th century — designed the layout, and his fingerprints are unmistakable: strategic bunkering, natural routings through mature woodland, and holes that reward thoughtful play over brute force. The course has been refined over the decades but retains the essential Colt character, and it consistently ranks among the stronger private members' clubs in the Home Counties.

Denham sits in the Colne Valley, where the Buckinghamshire countryside begins to assert itself despite the proximity to Greater London. Ancient oaks and beeches frame the fairways, and the undulating ground gives the course a sense of depth and seclusion that belies how close you are to the capital.

At par 70, Denham makes no apology for favouring precision over length. Colt rarely needed extra yardage to manufacture difficulty — his courses ask questions, and Denham asks plenty of good ones.