The Old Course
Burhill's Old Course dates to 1907, designed by Willie Park Jr on the Burhill Estate beside the River Mole. The Guinness family – specifically Sir Edward Cecil Guinness, later the 1st Earl of Iveagh – had purchased the estate in 1888, and the course was built on their parkland. At 6,481 yards and par 70, it plays shorter than modern championship courses but demands accuracy through mature trees and across the river, which comes into play on several holes.
The clubhouse is a Grade II listed Georgian building dating to 1726, originally built by Peter De La Porte. It serves both courses and manages the trick of feeling grand without being stuffy.
Barnes Wallis and the Bouncing Bomb
In June 1940, the Ministry of Aircraft Production requisitioned the clubhouse. Barnes Wallis and a team of 200 moved in and spent the next three years developing the "Upkeep" bouncing bomb – the weapon used in Operation Chastise, the legendary Dambusters raid of May 1943. Six bombs hit the course during the war. The clubhouse was not returned until 1947. It is one of the most remarkable wartime stories attached to any English golf club.
The New Course and Modern Burhill
Simon Gidman designed the New Course, which opened in 2001 at 6,728 yards. It has hosted Open Championship Regional Qualifying from 2016. The New Course runs through more open parkland than the Old, with more pronounced bunkering and larger greens. Together, the 36 holes offer genuine variety – tight, tree-lined golf on the Old; broader, more strategic play on the New.
Burhill welcomes visitors alongside its membership, with green fees from £135 on weekdays. Corporate packages are available. The club holds GEO Certification and has achieved Carbon Neutral status – a reflection of the Guinness family's continued stewardship of the estate.
