No 81 - The Grove

Architect Kyle Phillips is responsible for an excellent modern design in The Grove, which features fairways and greens that are superbly conditioned

The Grove

81 THE GROVE

Architect: Phillips 2006 position: 88 Stats: 6,766 yds; par 72; SSS 72 GF: £105-£170 T: 01923 294266 W: thegrove.co.uk

It may be relatively close to a busy spur of the M25, but that only briefly interferes with the peaceful enjoyment of playing this excellent Kyle Phillips design.

The bunkering and contouring are superb and there are a number of highly memorable holes, including the 3rd, with its approach across a pond, and the 13th, an inviting but long par 3 played from an elevated tee.

When The Grove first opened the greens were absolutely pristine, and they have pretty much remained so, although they do have a tendency to spike up a little at the end of a busy day. RS

+ Excellent modern design; always in immaculate condition - Expensive; quite a corporate/commercial feel; greens can get spiked up

Enter your review of The Grove below

Rob Smith
Contributing Editor

Rob Smith has been playing golf for 45 years and been a contributing editor for Golf Monthly since 2012. He specialises in course reviews and travel, and has played more than 1,200 courses in almost 50 countries. In 2022, he played all 21 courses in East Lothian in 13 days. Last year, his tally was 81, 32 of them for the first time. One of Rob's primary roles is helping to prepare the Top 100 and Next 100 Courses of the UK&I, of which he has played all but seven and a half... i.e. not the new 9 at Carne! Of those missing, some are already booked for 2024. He is a member of Tandridge in Surrey where his handicap hovers around 16. You can contact him at r.smith896@btinternet.com.