Romford Golf Club Top 100 Review

Romford Golf Club is an 18-hole parkland course founded in 1894 on land that formed part of the historic Gidea Hall Estate in Gidea Park, Essex. The course was originally laid out by the club's first professional, George McIntosh, before James Braid took over as head professional in 1896 and refashioned the layout — his first design work of note. Harry Colt made further alterations in 1920, and subsequent additions by club secretary W.A. Murray brought the bunker count to over 100. The course plays to a par of 71 over approximately 6,383 yards.

Situated around 18 miles from central London and close to the M25, the course occupies a mature parkland setting with tree-lined fairways and relatively flat terrain. Its character is defined by tight driving corridors, well-placed bunkering, and fast greens. The golf writer Bernard Darwin described it as "neither short nor easy," a characterisation that remains apt. The 477-yard par-four 4th, typically played into the prevailing wind, and the 455-yard 14th — where a pond threatens approaches from the right — are considered the most demanding holes on the card.

The club has a notable tournament pedigree. It has served as a Regional Qualifying venue for The Open Championship on six occasions and hosted the Senior PGA Professional Championship in 2022 and 2023. Ryder Cup player Brian Huggett served as head professional from 1960 to 1966, and the clubhouse contains a small museum dedicated to James Braid, who won the first of his five Open Championship titles while attached to the club in 1901.