This page contains information about Pitch and Putt courses and Par 3 courses in the London area.
PITCH AND PUTT
Pitch and putt courses are mostly found in public parks and are typically owned by the local authority, or managed on their behalf by a private company.
The difference between a pitch and putt and a par 3 golf course is the length of the holes. The greens on a pitch and putt should be within a full wedge distance for the average player, whereas the greens on a par 3 course may be anything up to 280 yards away from the tee.
If you’re visiting a pitch and putt course for the first time, bear in mind before setting out that some of them close for the winter months from the end of September to the end of March. They are also vulnerable to closure for good so call before visiting if it’s possible.
You can take your own clubs, balls and tees with you if you like. Anything from a lob wedge to a 8 iron is suitable. A pitching wedge or sand wedge is usually enough. It’s accuracy not length you need. The greens on a pitch and putt course tend to be small and not of the same quality of a full size golf course and you’ll be playing quarter, half and three-quarter wedge shots to them.
Like golf, there are pitch and putt clubs associated with some pitch and putt courses whose members can play competitions with other clubs, Open championships, and tournaments in Europe and worldwide. Several organisations have been formed in order to promote pitch and putt as an amateur sport, such as the British Pitch and Putt Association and the European Pitch and Putt Association.
Fees for a round of Pitch and Putt can be £3-£8. The majority are 9 holes, but there a number of 18 hole courses out there too.
Whether you’re playing Pitch and Putt to competition standard, just for laughs, as an introduction to golf, orjust to practise your short game you will find many top-quality courses in the London area.
From the pitch the putt courses I have played in the London area so far, my current top 5 pitch and putt courses are:
1. ‘Little Ricky’, Rickmansworth
2. Central Park, Dagenham
3. Centenary Park, Stanmore
4. Hangar Hill Park, Ealing
5. Valley golf course, Sewardstone
In my view, Rickmansworth is the pitch and putt by which all others should be judged, it’s an outstanding course.
See the full list below.
PAR 3 COURSES
On this website a par 3 courses is any par 3 course which has a hole over 150 yards. If all holes are under 150 yards, it’s a Pitch and Putt course.
Par 3 courses are found in public parks and nestled away in land which is unsuitable for housing development. Many golf clubs have an 18 hole course and a par 3 course. Owners of golf ranges often construct a 9 hole course around the range to create a ‘Golf Centre’ and encourage more visitors during the summer months. Many of these courses are marketed as ‘Academy’ courses, associating the course with the teaching facilities at the driving range. They vary in quality from forgotten and overgrown to manicured striped and fountained.
Fees for a par 3 course vary between £5-£15.
Unlike pitch and putt courses, owners of par 3 courses may have several rules. If in doubt, assume that you need to wear a shirt with a collar and that jeans aren’t allowed. Some courses even require you to wear soft spike golf shoes to protect their greens. They will all offer you clubs to hire, and balls and tees to buy. You’re going to need more clubs on a par 3 course than you would on a pitch and putt.
It’s best to call before you go to check if they hire clubs and whether they have any rules you need to know about before turning up.
I’ve not played that many par 3 courses, but so far my top 3 in the London area are:
1. Hobbs Cross Par 3 Course, Epping
2. High Beech Par 3 ‘Yellow’ course, High Beech
3. Dukes Meadows, Chiswick
LIST OF PITCH AND PUTT AND PAR 3 COURSES IN THE LONDON AREA
This list gives the names, address, and telephone number (if there is one) for each course. In many cases there is more than just a pitch and putt or par 3 course at the same location.
Addington Vale Pitch and Putt - 18 holes
Goldcrest Road
Off King Henry’s Drive
New Addington
Croydon
Surrey
Tel. (020) 8760 5584
Addington Court Academy Course - 9 holes
Featherbed Lane
Addington
Croydon
Surrey CR0 9AA
Tel. (020) 8657 0281
Alexandra Palace Pitch and Putt - currently under renovation -
Alexandra Palace Way
Wood Green
London
N22 7AY
Aldwickbury Park Golf Club - 9 holes
Piggotshill Lane
Harpenden
Herts
AL5 1AB
Tel. (01582) 760 112
Bethune Park Pitch and Putt - closed 06
Bethune Avenue
Friern Barnet
London
N12
Birchwood Park Golf Centre - 9 holes
Birchwood Road
Wilmington
Kent
DA2 7HJ
Tel. (01322) 662038
Centenary Park Golf Course - 9 holes
Culver Grove
Stanmore
London
HA7 2NW
Tel. (020) 8907 5544
Central Park Pitch and Putt - 18 holes
Central Park
Dagenham
London
Tel. (01245) 257 682
Danson Park - 9 holes (closed 08)
Danson Road
Bexleyheath
London
DA6 8HL
Denham Grove Hotel - 9 holes pitch and putt
Tilehouse Lane
Denham
Uxbridge
Buckinghamshire
UB9 5DU
Tel. (0870) 609 1144
Dukes Meadows Par 3 course - 9 holes
Dan Mason Drive
Great Chertsey Road
London
W4 2SH
Tel.
(Also at Dukes Meadows: Academy course, Driving range, putting green, short game practice area, shop, bar)
Dunton Hills Par 3 course - 18 holes
Tilbury Road
West Horndon
Brentwood
Essex
CM13 3LT
Tel. (01277) 812 340
(Also at Dunton Hills: 18 hole full size golf course, Driving range, Crazy Golf course, shop, bar)
Edgwarebury Par 3 course - 9 holes (closed 08)
Edgware Way
Edgware
HA8 8DD
(Edgwarebury appears to be a car wash at the moment)
Fairlop Waters Par 3 course
Forest Road
Barkingside
Essex
IG6 3JA
Tel.
(Also at Fairlop Waters: 18 hole golf course and driving range)
Forster Memorial Park Pitch and Putt - 9 holes
Whitefoot Lane
Lewisham
London
SE6 2NZ
Foxhills - 9 holes
Ottershaw
Surrey
KT16 0EL
Tel. 01932 872 050
Grovelands Pitch and Putt - 9 holes
Grovelands Park
Bourne Hill
Southgate
London
N14 6RS
Tel. (020) 8882 6879
Gunnersbury Park Pitch and Putt - 18 holes
Gunnersbury Park Estate
Popes Lane
London
W3 8LQ
Tel. (020) 8876 3357
(Also at Gunnersbury Park: putting green)
Hangar Hill Park Pitch and Putt - 9 holes
Chatsworth Road
Ealing
London
W3
Harrow Hill Golf Course - 9 holes
Kenton Road
Harrow
London
HA1 2BW
Tel. (020) 8864 3754
Hatfield London Country Club - 9 holes
Bedwell Park
Essendon
Hatfield
Herts
AL9 6HN
Tel. (01707) 260 360
(Also at Hatfield London: 2 x 18 hole golf courses)
High Beech Golf Club - 2 x 9 holes
Wellington Hill
High Beech
Essex
IG10 5AH
Tel. (020) 8508 7323
(One 9 hole course is a pitch and putt, the other is a 9 hole par 3 course)
(Also at High Beech: practice nets, putting green)
Hobbs Cross Par 3 course - 9 holes
Hobbs Cross Road
Near Epping
Essex
CM16 7NQ
Tel. (01992) 561 661
(Also at Hobbs Cross Golf Centre: A full-size 9 hole course, driving range, and putting green)
Hoebridge Golf Centre Par 3 course - 18 holes
Old Woking Road
Old Woking
Surrey
GU22 8JH
Tel. (01483) 722 611
Horton Park Golf and Country Club - 9 holes
Hook Road
Epsom
Surrey
KT19 8QG
Tel.
(Also at Horton Park: Driving range, 18 hole golf course, putting green)
Jubilee Park Pitch and Putt (closed)
Galliard Road
London
N9 7PB
Tel.
(apparently due to re-open soon)
London Beach Golf Club - 9 holes
Ashford Road
Tenterden
Kent
TN30 6HX
Tel. (01580) 766 279
Morden Park Pitch and Putt - 9 holes
London Road
Morden
Merton
London
SM4 4SF
North Weald Par 3 Course - 9 holes
Epping Road
North Weald
Epping
CM16 6BJ
Tel. (01992) 524142
(Also at North Weald: a grass practice ground where lessons with a PGA professional can be taken).
Oakhill Park Pitch and Putt - 9 holes
Parkside Gardens
East Barnet
London
EN4 8JS
Oakwood Pitch and Putt -
Prince George Avenue
London
N14 4TL
Tel. (020) 8364 2530
(Closed by Enfield Council 2007)
Orpington Golf Centre - 9 holes
Cray Ruxley
Sandy Lane
St Paul’s Cray
Orpington
Kent
BR5 3HY
Tel. (01689) 839 677
(Also at Orpington: Driving range, 2 x 18 holes and a 9 hole course)
Palewell Pitch and Putt - 9 holes
Palewell Common
East Sheen
London
SW14 8RE
Tel. (020) 8876 3357
Pedham Place Golf Centre - 9 holes
London Road
Swanley
Kent
BR8 8PP
Tel. 01322 86 7000
Playgolf Metro - 9 holes
Barnet Copthall
Champions Way
London
NW4 1PX
Tel. (020) 8202 1202
(Also at Metro: Golf range, short game practice area, restaurant)
Queen’s Park Pitch and Putt
Near Kingswood Avenue
London
NW6
Tel. (020) 8969 5661
Redbourn Golf Club Par 3 course -9 holes
Kinsbourne Green Lane
St. Albans
Hertfordshire
AL3 7QA
Tel. (01582) 793 493
Rickmansworth Public Golf Course - 9 holes
Moor Lane
Rickmansworth
Herts
WD3 1QL
Tel. (01923) 775278
(Also at Rickmansworth: 18 hole golf course, short game ‘Academy’, practice nets)
Risebridge Golf Centre - 9 holes
Risebridge Chase
Lower Bedfords Road
Romford
RM1 4DG
Tel. (01708) 741 429
(Also at Risebridge: 18 hole golf course, driving range)
Sidcup Place - 9 hole pitch and putt
Chislehurst Road
Sidcup
Kent
South Norwood Country Park Pitch and Putt
Albert Road
Elmers End
Beckenham
Stanmore and Edgware Golf Centre - 9 holes
Brockley Hill
Stanmore
London
HA7 4LR
Tel. (020) 8420 6222
(Also at Stanmore: Driving range and golf shop)
Upminster Pitch and Putt - 18 holes
114 Hall Lane
Upminster
Essex
RM14 1AU
Tel. (01708) 220 249
Valentines Park Pitch and Putt - closed 1 April 2005
Cranbrook Road
Ilford
London
Tel. (020) 8708 3578
Valley Golf Course - 9 holes 
Sewardstone Road
Chingford
London E4
Tel. (020) 8559 4381
The Waterworks Nature Reserve and Golf Centre - 18 holes
Lammas Road
Off Lea Bridge Road
Leyton
London
E10 7NU
Tel. (020) 8988 7566
(Also at The Waterworks: small, netted driving range)
16 responses so far ↓
1 Mark Daly // Jun 4, 2007 at 6:33 pm
hey there, i work for Centenary Park Pitch and Putt in Harrow and I would like to make some info changes as in the last 2 years the course has been under new management. The revised contact number for the course is - 02089075544
we also have a website up and running which can be viewed at - www.centenaryparksports.co.uk
in the last 2 years the course has gone through a major revamp and the course is now playing to a very high standard. The course is proud to say that it is the home to the UK Pitch & Putt champion Robert Penzes.
We would like to extend an invite for you to play our course which is argubly the best par 3 you could play
2 londongolfer // Jun 4, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Thanks for letting me know. I’ve amended the details for Centenary Park on this site.
I will definitely take a drive over to Stanmore this summer and will be sure to make time to play the golf course at Centenary Park.
Cheers.
3 Mark Daly // Jun 5, 2007 at 10:46 am
thanks for all your help! we look forward to meeting you in the summer!
4 Ian Scagnelli // Jul 18, 2007 at 12:36 am
Please note our golf course is not currently closed as indicated in your comments!
Thanks
5 londongolfer // Jul 18, 2007 at 4:34 pm
As the man says, just the rain folks, Grovelands is open for wedges once more.
Thanks for letting me know Ian.
6 Nicola McGrath // Feb 6, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Hi, I am part of the Friends Group at Oakwood Park and I can confirm that sadly the Pitch and Putt course has been closed by Enfield Council. However, we are contesting this decision. Has anyone used this course, how does it compare with others?
Many thanks, Nicola
7 Londongolfer // Feb 6, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I never played at Oakwood. Only just found it was there and now it’s gone. Looks as though Enfield have closed it as part of cost saving exercise in favour of Jubilee (to be reopened) and Grovelands.
Can anyone help Nicola with some views on how it played and is it worth saving?
I hate to see another course go and can’t believe how golf is barely mentioned in Enfield’s Sports Strategy.
If it’s cost-saving that’s the issue, you would have thought it could be operated successfully by a private company.
8 Huw // Feb 10, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Does anyone know what’s happening to the Oakhill Park P&P? Went there today (Sunday 10 02) and it was closed.
9 Londongolfer // Feb 10, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Huw,
I would guess maybe it’s just closed for the winter.
I’ll email Barnet Council to ask them. They can be contacted about the Park on Tel. (020) 8359 7820 and parks@barnet.gov.uk
Hopefully it’s just temporary until the Spring.
10 Jon // Feb 11, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I used to play Oakwood Park quite often some time ago, between 1994-96 when I was a student at Middlesex Uni. I remember it as a well cared for and well managed course. It was never that busy but the greens (although sometimes wet down at the bottom of the valley) were generally very good. This course first got me interested in the sport, it’s a real shame it has been closed. Good luck Nicola in getting it re-opened by the council or privately.
11 Londongolfer // Feb 13, 2008 at 12:04 am
Huw -
Glad to report that someone on behalf of Barnet Council has let me know Oakhill Pitch and Putt golf course in Oakhill Park is open, it’s just not open during the winter.
Apparently it’s open from 1st March to 30th September (weather permitting).
Thanks go to Barnet Council and Ian Scagnelli for letting us know.
12 Pete Blanch // Feb 25, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Just wanted to let every body know that the pitch and putt course at alexandra palace is re-opening easter weekend this year. It has had extensive work carried out on the course and there will be golf lessons available from resident PGA professional as well as a cafe.
There will be some launch promotions available call Pete or Sara on 07824 516348 for details.
13 Nicola McGrath // Feb 28, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Good news, Enfield Council have had a change of heart and the Pitch and Putt course at Oakwood Park will be re-opened next month.
It will be operated privately by Golfwise, who are also going to maintain the greens, which will hopefully lead to a much higher playing standard.
14 Jon // Mar 4, 2008 at 10:18 am
That’s fantastic news about Oakwood Park. I live in south London now but might have to venture up there for old times sake and to add my support!
15 Adam // May 29, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Yes brilliant I love Oakwood park its a great place to go and I live so near it great that it has re-opened
16 Chris de Souza // Jun 23, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Hi
This course has been renovated and is now open.
Not sure why but has 10 holes.
Regards
Chris
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