Welcome – One of my other sporting websites is all about rowing and now is the apex of the UK season with the Henley Royal Regatta. In the spirit of “The Season”, we thought we would venture a bit further from Thames Valley to the Harpsden Valley for a round at Henley Golf Club. A couple of friendly greeting to the girls from the members made us feel welcome, but the most telling was that we actually saw another golfer playing with their Golden Retriever. While lots of courses welcome dogs (as many as possible catalogued here), still the acid test is how many people actually take advantage of it (to set the tone and make you not feel like such an anomaly).

Wildlife – Again, a distracting squirrel fest mostly.

Walk – Mostly a modestly undulating walk except for a few holes with greens perched on virtual precipices requiring crampons and grappling hook to summit.

Water – Despite the absence of bodies of water, the course was one of the best water supplied we have to. The course has stone water fountains on the 11^th and 13^th holes, as well as a toilet near both the 7^th and 9^th with running water.

Wind Down – For the first time ever, we tried what I guess could be dubbed a “wind up” rather than a “wind down”. We went to a pub meal before our round rather than after. It avoided all of the pressures of finishing in time before kitchens closed and it fueled us up for a sunny 18 holes. Once again turning to DoggiePubs, we decided to try the Angel on the Bridge pub right on the river and in the epicenter of Regatta buzz. The food is sort of a cross between conventional pub grub and trendy gastro. Tasty dishes sadly executed quite poorly. Both the pea with ham soup and the seafood chowder were extremely delectable, and the fish-and-chips were prepared nicely with not too batter. Unfortunately, the sides (fries, peas) were quite cold (actually the soup wasn’t hot either). And the fish goujons were quite underwhelming (also cold). Worst of all, the jugs of Pims were the weakest Pims I had ever tasted. More like Lemonade with a touch of Pims essence. But the biggest problem was the service. They mistakenly brought our starters and main together (due to a mix up in the note taking), and tragically, told me that the chowder did not have mussels in it (because I am allergic to them!) and lo and behold I found one floating in the bowl after I had taken a few sips (no effects fortunately). They were very courteous and they not only removed the soups from the bill (which we didn’t eat), but gave us our Pims (such as it was) complementary.

Welcome – Despite the proud traditions in the sport and the evangelical efforts of this website, golfing with your dog remains a bit of anomaly even at the most dog-friendly courses. We are always a bit wary of how the “welcome” will compare with the protocol. The club policy might say “dogs welcome”, but you wonder if the members are really on board. Well, one thing that influences the culture of a place is the tone and example set at the top. So it was especially reassuring when upon arriving at Moor Park we met by happenstance the Chairman of the club, David, with his own best friend, George, which he brings out with him for a round from time to time (see photo directly below).

Water – No water hazards or water supplies on the course (the West Course, the other High Course does have some), but the layout of the holes that meant there a many opportunities to peel off to the manor home in a pinch. Hole 9 arrives back at the main facility (and also has its own halfway house right on the course). But also the 12^th, 13^th and 15^th holes all finish close to the clubhouse (for the West course). The lack of water hazards seemed to be compensated for by added bunkers instead. On Hole 3, we faced a gauntlet of 4 sand traps lined up one after the other approaching the hole. And the Hole 9 had more sand than green around the hole. One perverse curiosity was that many of the bunkers were carved into a sort of post-ironic heart-shape (see photos below) despite their ubiquity being anything but sweet or endearing.

Walk – We played the West Course which is a bit less pricey (£50 twilight green fee versus £75 for the High Course) and a bit more relaxed for recreational players like ourselves. The number of holes – ie. 9, 12, 13, 15 and of course 18 – that finish close to the main facility (eg. manor home, club house, tennis courts, practice pitches, car pack) provide great flexibility in finishing or breaking up your round. We were running out of time before the kitchen closed so we stopped at the 15^th. The grounds themselves are on fairly level topology; however a few greens were perched up on elevated precipices adding an arduous uphill climb to a missed chip shot rolling off the other side of the green.

Wildlife – SQUIRREL! No water hazards meant no water fowl, but the plentiful wooded hills meant lots of squirrels which provided constant distraction to Rusty and Grace (and appreciative of the on-lead policy of the course to help keep their enthusiasm contained).

Wind Down – Once again, we were constrained by serving times. Most of the kitchens at doggie pubs in the area shut at 8:30 pm. Being in the week with the longest days of the year, we want to use of every bit of sunshine. Moor House’s own restaurant also shut at 8:30 pm, but at least we could save the precious minutes of packing up the car and driving to the pub. The setting was spectacular perched on the veranda of this grand Palladian edifice watch the sun finally set on the long summer day. The dogs were settled comfortably on their beds outdoors (not allowed indoors though to note for more inclement days) while we tucked in. Unfortunately, the food didn’t quite match up to the grandeur of the locale. Fairly pedestrian pub-grub made for a somewhat incongruous 3-star meal in this 5-star venue. No complaints though as you can get fancy food anywhere, but moments in settings like these are rare treats indeed.

Welcome – London Scottish is one of the most dog-friendly golf courses you will find. Probably rivaling Sunningdale (don’t know as I haven’t had the chance to experience Sunningdale first hand and am only going by reports) and maybe the best of the open visitor clubs (Sunningdale requires playing with a member and a handicap certificate). It is also outstanding for anyone wanting to give dog golfing a try as it is so relaxed. And there are so many dogs!

Dogs everywhere. There are almost as many dogs are there are people. Admittedly, this was a sunny Sunday morning and all the dog walkers were out on this park land which is open to everyone. And admittedly, we were the only people playing golf with dogs that we saw. But still, the welcome to us as dog golfers was pretty much unequalled. At the pro shop, I asked about the protocol for dogs and the response was “You can do pretty much what you like with your dogs.”

It is also a great off-lead course, but somehow we forgot our whistle (and don’t quite trust Rusty to voice commands). Amazingly, we bumped into some walkers who stopped and admired Rusty and Grace, and when we mentioned our regret about the whistle, they reached into their pocket and loaned us one of theirs for the day!

One curious constraint on playing protocol was actually put on the humans – you had to wear “pillbox red” (ie. bright red) shirt “by order of the Wimbledon & Putney Commons Conservators” (which the lovely Lori is modelling in the photo above). Fortunately, the pro shop had some to lend out for visitors (though there was a limited supply on a busy day so if you have your own, it would be easier and safer to bring it). And fortunately, Rusty and Grace has their own “red” coats. Maybe not pillbox red, but we did put on their brightest red collars for the day.

Wildlife – Perhaps due to being in the city and the dearth of water hazards and the throngs of dogs, there wasn’t much wildlife to be seen. One animal you don’t often seen on the course was all over the place at London Scottish – horses. They also have paths in the park and you saw them all over the place (I suspect they have to stick to the bridleways or else it could be the only course in the world where you could play “Horse Golf”!).

Walk – As a west London course, it was an easy walk on pretty much entirely flat ground. It’s also a relatively short course at 5458 yards.

Water – Do bring water. There are no water hazards, no water spigots and the course doesn’t return to the clubhouse until the 18^th hole. There is a little rivulet on the 17^th with some water, but by that time you are just about home.

Wind Down – Your options for post-round vittles are as abundant as the canines roaming the course. For starters, the clubhouse itself offers tasty baguettes and full bar with picnic tables outside (surrounded by a little fence to keep the dogs confined to the area while you eat).

In fact, London Scottish might just have the most dog-friendly “wind down” (or “rub down”) in the entire UK! At the clubhouse, the Dharma Clinical Therapies offers massage treatments in one of the rooms. The room is quite spacious and they said that dog would be welcome to curl up on the floor while the owners get their therapy session (book in advance to avoid disappointment).

Seeking a more expansive menu were turned to DoggiePubs again and there were a half-dozen top reviewed establishments within a mile or so. We were playing on a Sunday and usually our problem is that by the time we are done, the typical pub Sunday roast is finished and the kitchens close up in the late afternoon and early evening. This time we decided to do an early round and hit one of the Sunday roasts.

Our problem wasn’t lack of pubs to consider, but their popularity. We called one after another (we couldn’t reserve ahead of time because we really weren’t sure when we would finish) and they were all booked up. Often, pubs take bookings for restaurant tables, but the dog friendly areas (outside and by the bar) are first come, first serve. But in London, it seems more of, if not all, tables are bookable. Not only was there no room at the inns, but also the proprietors were a bit unpleasant on the phone responding in an almost churlish fashion of “don’t even think about coming here mate” (probably a bit stressed with the heavy crowds). Fortunately, after a few calls we hit upon The Alexandra in Wimbledon centre. When I phoned, they were very encouraging and told us that they would find a way to squeeze us in. When we arrived, there were several tables available (as lunch period was starting to taper). They had outside tables facing a cozy cul-de-sac, but we opted for one of the internal tables. When we rocked up to the bar, the first question we got was “Can I fill your dog’s water bowls for you?” The food was first rate with tasty starters and sumptuous roast platters we could barely eat all of (mind you, Rusty and Grace didn’t mind helping us with the bits we couldn’t finish).

Welcome – A bit of sunshine on the weekend and a chance to grab a last minute round at Sandford Springs. As usual no other dogs around, but no one batted an eyelash at Rusty and Grace joining us around the course and several stopped to greet them.

Walk – Roly-poly landscape had its literal ups and downs. Hole 12 seemed like the Everest of fairways with its relentless ascent, while Hole 18 seemed like a merciful abyss where the slights nudge off the tee would send the ball rolling for ages down the fairway.

Water – Water, water, everywhere…but not really a drop to drink. As the name implies, Sandford Springs is awash with water hazards. In fact, the 9-hole course we first played is called “Lakes”. And lakes it has. But those are not necessarily watering holes for the dogs. First, they have quite steep banks making them mostly hard to access. But more importantly, they are all quite stagnant. Even playing in the early summer after some plentiful rain, the water was quite murky and not the most appealing for quenching a thirst. Not to worry though. The 3 courses of 9 holes each means that you are back at the clubhouse (or their “Halfway House” café) after 9 holes where everyone in your party, man and mutt, can slake their thirst.

Wildlife – All the bodies of water meant plenty of water fowl – all sort of ducks, geese, cormorants and others.

Wind Down – We played on a late Sunday. While that is one of our favourite dog golfing times as most people have cleared off, it also makes it very hard to find a dog friendly pub for some grub after the round. Most pubs serve Sunday roasts and then shut shop mid-afternoon. So we opted for the most convenient option which was dining at the Sandford Springs clubhouse itself. The dining rooms doesn’t allow dogs, but it has an outdoor patio area which does. We were also very pleasantly surprised by the pretty much gastropub quality of the vittles. The pea soup was superb, the truffle egg on brioche toast was an unexpected gourmet treat and all the food was expertly prepared.

The pitch is back! (And the putt and the drive) After an extended hiatus of winter dark, wet and short days, the Dog Golf pack finally ventured out onto the course for a round. Well, a half round at Deanwood Park’s lovely 9 hole.

Walk – A perfect start to ease into the 2019 season. The course is an easy play – not too many sand traps, no significant water hazards, short par 4s and lots of par 3. All set on easy to amble, relatively flat ground.

Welcome – You always know you are at a truly dog-friendly course when you rock up to the pro shop for your tee time and bump into another pooch there. This time I was welcomed by a sweet spaniel. No other dogs on the course itself, but plenty of dog-lovers about admiring Rusty and Grace (much to their delight).

Wildlife – The photo at bottom shows the pond adjacent to the 9^th hole with, when we played, a stunning display of azaleas in bloom. This one, and the one between the 7^th and the 8^th attracted a few resident ducks.

Water – No real water on the course, but being a shortish 9-hole, it isn’t too long before one is back at the clubhouse for a drink (water or otherwise for the dog minders). There are a few small water hazards, but they were mostly dried out and it was only May. The one big pond in the area (not really a hazard as it is set way off to the side) is right near the clubhouse anyway.

Wind Down – The clubhouse actually serves what looked like some tasty vittles, but we had booked a table at the nearby Lock Stock and Barrel (another Doggie Pub website 5-star find). The pub features a tasty menu and a charming setting on the canal. The doggie welcome was first rate with biscuits at the bar, water bowls on offer and plenty of fellow canines accompanying their families for the day out. The service was quite slow (took us an hour to get our food), but we didn’t mind so much as the dogs settled onto their blankets and we tucked into our pints to relax after exercising some golf muscles that have been dormant for a few months.

Welcome – On a number of occasions in the past, our welcome was a bit less than anticipated (typically because either someone was misinformed who told us that dogs were welcome or because the policy had changed since the enquiry), but Burhill Golf Club turned out to be a surprise of the pleasant kind. According to our records, Burhill had responded to our enquiry about the dog protocol saying that they were not allowed, but my friend Peter Cummins is a member there and was surprised to see them not included in the database. He told me that a number of players take their dogs around for rounds. In fact, Peter and his family recently adopted a spaniel puppy who he is training diligently to be able to join him on the course. Peter and I hadn’t seen each other for a while so he invited us for a round – me to catch up with and Grace to check out her dog golfing style (I’ve duly updated the database).

Walk – Burhill is a stunning venue. Beautifully laid out with gently undulating landscape and just enough hazards to keep you on your toes (we played the Old Course and I understand the New Course is a bit more challenging).

Wildlife – We happened upon a few Egyptian geese who were as nonplussed by Grace and she was by them.

Water – We played the Old Course which is (gratefully for me) devoid of water hazards (though the New Course has several quite large ones). Not a problem for Grace’s thirst though as the “Halfway Hut” served up a doggie dish of fresh drink before even taking our order (however I think Grace would have been happier with a sausage roll of her own instead of the few crumbs we shared with her).

Wind Down – Our threesome settled down for an outdoor lunch in the atypical (nearly) December sunshine for a lovely salad and sandwich (as well as another doggie water bowl at the ready) at the clubhouse (dogs are not allowed in the clubhouse).

Welcome – While we didn’t meet any fellow dog golfers, we did see lots of dog walkers going through and around the course on trails that share the land of Epsom Downs so we didn’t feel out of place at all. Many of the walkers had their dogs off lead so we felt that letting the hounds loose (under control) was perfectly normal too.

Walk – That said, we did keep the girls on the lead for the majority of the course simply due to the proximity of a number of busy roads flanking and criss-crossing the course and we didn’t want them (especially Rusty) inadvertently wandering on to them. The 5^th through 7^th and the 14^th-15^th are your best places away from the roads to let them stretch their legs. The course itself is one of the most enjoyable we have played. It is on the short side (par 70 and 5780 yards) making it a bit more manageable hike. Third, the course does have some undulations in the topography, but none seemed overly steep or difficult to summit. At the topmost part of the hilly bits are some of the finest views of London in the distance.

Wildlife – Coincidentally, aside from a few birds and squirrels loitering around, the only wildlife we came upon was a horse rider crossing behind the 5^th green. So the walking paths must be riding trails as well. I guess we shouldn’t have been too surprised since the south side of the course abuts the Epsom Downs race course. The 9^th and 10^th parallel the Epsom Downs racetrack (so if you time your round well enough, you could catch a few races going past you).

Water – The course is devoid of hazards. Neither sand traps nor water hazards. A few holes in we were congratulating ourselves on avoiding them until we realized that there had been none to avoid. While this encumbrance free play adds to the golfers enjoyment, it does mean no water on the course for the dogs

Wind Down – Once you start on your round, the course doesn’t swing back to the clubhouse until the 18^th. But if you want a mid-round break, both the 5^th and 10^th holes finish right next to the Derby Arms pub which has a 4-star rating on DoggiePubs.org (“Lovely Gastro Pub, dogs are only allowed in the cosy bar area however the full pub menu is available. Lovely atmosphere and great food!”).

Welcome – Hampton Court Golf Club gave us perhaps the warmest dog golfing welcome we’ve ever had. We were greeted at the clubhouse by members with their own dogs (including an adorable and dachshund/corgi mix who was especially friendly when my sausage bap came out). We found ourselves surrounded on the course by a considerable number of dog walkers who have access to the grounds. But the best welcome of all was by a resident veteran golf Beagle, Poppy (see photo top). We had taken a bacon buttie break after the ninth, but being a weekend morning the course was quite packed and slotting into the back nine was going to be a bit of a challenge. Until Poppy (and her master Khalil) came by in her own two ball and invited us to join them. We formed a very affable foursome where Khalil was able to share lots of insights and background about the course (eg. the course was previously known as “Home Park” until some Americans with more marketing hype took it over). It was the first golfing dog friends we have made since friends of ours first introduced us to dog golfing.

Wildlife – Deery me! What wildlife! The round was also distinguished by having by far the most chock-full collection of fauna. The usual little critters like squirrels and geese, but the main event was the roving herds of deer. A pack of a dozen or so resting in the rough on nearly every other hole (see photos below). Apologies (or “you’re welcome”) for the record number of pictures, but it really did feel like “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom”…or perhaps more currently “Walking With Dino-Deers” because these stags were gigantic. The size of horses. But they seemed utterly content to just lie there with golf balls whizzing past them. And even dogs walking by. They didn’t seem to mind when Rusty and Grace passed within feet of them (see photos below). If you ventured closer than 20 feet, they did start to get alert and one would stand up so we tried to keep our distance beyond that. The course attendant passed by and was happy to see the dogs but did reiterate the importance of keeping them on a lead. He said if a dog does decide to approach them, then they get up and start stampeding and there is no stopping them (“Fenton!…Fenton!!…Jesus Christ…Fenton!”). And despite how biddable Rusty and Grace are, we were happy to have them on lead because I’m not sure that Rusty would be able to resist an unwelcome friendly greeting to these curious creatures.

Walk – After what seems like an eternity of hiking rolling hills, Hampton Court was a treat in its table-like flat terrain throughout.

Water – The course is flanked by a couple of bodies of water, but neither are easily accessible. The “Rick Pond” across the boulevard leading to the palace as well as a good size pond flanking the 5th hole. There is a water fountain by the 2^nd hole which you can also hit when you return to the 9^th tee.

Wind Down – Turning once again to the handy DoggiePubs.org which provides reviewed dog-friendly pubs in order of proximity to target location. So we plugged in the “KT1 4AD” postcode for the Hampton Court Golf Club and up popped The Albany a mere “0.6 miles” away. A literally, even at my age a stone throw (or at least a pitching iron strike) from the 5th hole itself. Well, it is true that the Albany is virtually next door to the golf club…but only if you scale a brick wall and swim across the Thames (see map below). The driving distance is 3.5 miles. Still, you need to drive most of that just to get out of the expansive Hampton Court grounds. The establishment is a stunning riverside eatery virtually on top of the Thames. The food was tasty, but unfortunately the service woefully understaffed (two people managing both the drinks and the food orders at the bar meant an incessant scrum like last orders at a Balham bar). Still, sitting Thames-side on such a lovely day with plenty of room (the lower seating area even has some grassy areas which are a bit of a softer place to settle for the dogs) made the waiting more tolerable.

Wokefield Estate is a palatial complex with hazards of a size that rivals its sprawling country house namesake. A new benchmark for largest lake was the body of water on the 12 hole completely as long as the hole itself. For birdie position on this par 3, you have to traverse every inch of it. It reminded me of the dreaded 5^th hole on the Shangri-La Villingili course in the Maldives. And the water extends further from there with rivulets extending from each end linking it to yet another sizeable body.

The sand traps are just as a leviathan sometimes larger than the greens themselves. In fact, Lori referred to them as “sand lakes”. Sort of the Morecombe Bay of golf courses (and just as dangerous). The trap at Hole 2 is like some runaway deformity with random appendages protruding in various directions like some giant, ball-eating, flat-world octopus. And the size of so many traps doesn’t mean the sand has been sucked up into a few big pits. There’s plenty of sand left for a huge number of smaller traps as well (71 in total to be precise).

Welcome – When I originally contacted Wokefield, they said that dogs were “welcome on a lead or under control”, but when a booked the tee time, the pro shop mentioned the lead again. As a result, while I have included the comment “on a lead or under control” in the Notes section of their profile, I have ticked them as a “Lead Required” course. Given all the wildlife around, it’s probably not a bad thing to have a bit of extra constraint to guard against temptation.

Walk – After so many hilly courses, Wokefield was a welcome relief as a nearly flat landscape.

Water – Eight water hazards in total, many of which are quite sizeable (see above) means that you are never very far from a sip of water for the dogs (and most quite accessible with gentle embankments in places to set down to them).

Wildlife – A virtual menagerie. Pheasants in all the rough. Rabbits too.. Water fowl galore. And even llamas by the exit!

Wind Down – For the first time since starting this site, we took our wind down at the halfway point with a tasty lunch and refreshing drink at clubhouse itself near the 9^th Hole. Being a hotel operation, they had an extensive menu that was available all day long. The burger on brioche and very crunchy chips quite exceeded our expectations (though admittedly a bit pricier than your typical pub fare).

Expand your mind as big as the traps that surround you and get Woke to dog golfing.

Welcome – Off to the dog golfing desert of the UK – the Midlands. My wife and I have long wanted to visit the Lake District and Blackpool to dance in the Tower Ballroom. Our previous dog golfing expeditions this year have taken us to coastal extremes – Norfolk to the east and Cornwall to the west. Now it is time to try the northwest coast. The outset of the trip underscored the challenges keeping information up to date. We originally planned to stop off at Brookfield GC about two-thirds (bit over 2 hours) of the way up to Blackpool, but when we set off and called for a tee-time, it turns out that they had shut down operations since I spoke to them last year. We then tried Enville and Burslem and both no longer allow dogs (the website database has been updated). We finally found Sedgley (aka Mark Butler Golf Academy) just past Birmingham. They are happy to have dogs, but are concerned that they be properly controlled with a lead and looked after (eg. cleaned up after) which they make clear when you arrive. That said, everyone there seemed very happy to welcome Rusty and Grace.

Walk – It’s mostly all downhill from the expansive vista at the clubhouse (see photo above). Unfortunately, you do have a Matterhorn like climb back up to the 8^th and 9^th at the end of your round (but being a short course it was all quite manageable).

Water – No water on the course, but again, being a short course you don’t have too long to go before you are back at the clubhouse for some water.

Wildlife – And not a lot of wildlife to speak of.

Wind Down – The doggie pubs situation in the area is nearly as limited as the dog golfing. We turned to our trusty site, DoggyPubs.org.uk, and went through about the first dozen without any luck to find one open and serving. So we had to make do with proceeding on our way for our northwest passage and simply stopping at a motorway services for some refreshment.