Golf Courses in Essex: Parkland, Henry Cotton and 27 Holes

Essex is not the first county people think of for golf. However, it has a wide spread of parkland courses, long-established clubs and large multi-nine layouts. This guide picks out nine of them, using facts taken from each club’s own website.

Golf courses in Essex at a glance

Our directory currently lists 22 open courses in the county. You can browse the full list on the Essex golf courses page. It covers everything from old members’ clubs to modern country club courses, so there is something for most budgets and abilities.

Most Essex courses are parkland, although a few sit in woodland or on the edge of the forest. If you want a county-by-county overview first, our guide to golf courses in England puts Essex in context.

Parkland clubs with long histories

Chelmsford Golf Club calls itself an established parkland course. The club lists 5,892 yards and a par of 68 or 72, depending on the tees. Two of its par 3s stand out because of their setting. The 9th plays over a ravine, and the 18th sits in front of the clubhouse.

Rochford Hundred Golf Club describes a par 72 parkland course. It says the layout has been in its current form since a redesign in 1924. The club also says it is the only course in England with an active church within its grounds. Golfers can use the flag on St Andrew’s church to judge the wind.

Theydon Bois Golf Club takes a different approach, and it is a useful read before a first visit. Its website walks through every hole by name, from Crystal Brook at the 1st to Nightingale Alley at the 18th. The descriptions mention elevated tees, a valley hole and a two-tier green.

Two Henry Cotton courses

Henry Cotton is the name behind two Essex layouts in our directory. Both clubs say so on their own websites.

Abridge Golf & Country Club describes a Henry Cotton designed parkland par 72 course. It measures 6,704 yards from the white tees. The club also lists 36 bunkers, a slope rating of 131 and 240 acres of parkland. A driving range and an 18-hole putting green are on site, so you can warm up before you play.

Canons Brook Golf Club says its championship course opened in 1963. It measures 6,706 yards, with little rough, many bunkers and large greens. A brook runs through the layout, and it punishes wayward shots. The short 17th, a 350-yard par 4, carries the nickname “Death or Glory”.

Bigger layouts and newer courses

Some Essex venues offer more than a standard round of 18, for example the 27-hole sites below.

• Warley Park Golf Club says it has 27 holes among lakes and mature trees. Its greens, tees and approaches are built to USGA specification.
• Stock Brook Manor Golf Club also lists 27 holes. It describes undulating greens and a rolling landscape.
• Nazeing Golf Club lists a 6,521-yard parkland course. It says water hazards feature on many holes, and its 13th is a long par 3.
• Burstead Golf Club says its course was designed by Patrick Tallack in 1993. It begins at the source of the River Crouch.

Because these sites have three loops of nine, you may be able to play different combinations on return visits, although the club will confirm how it works.

Comparing the lengths

Yardage is a quick way to compare courses, although tees and par vary. These are the figures each club publishes.

• Chelmsford Golf Club: 5,892 yards.
• Nazeing Golf Club: 6,521 yards.
• Abridge Golf & Country Club: 6,704 yards from the white tees.
• Canons Brook Golf Club: 6,706 yards.

A shorter course is not always an easier one. Chelmsford’s par 3s, for example, include a ravine carry and a finishing hole in front of the clubhouse. Rochford Hundred says its fairways can become firm in the main playing season. That helps distance off the tee but makes approach shots harder.

Golf for different players

Beginners often prefer a shorter course because forgiving holes keep the round enjoyable. Our beginners’ guide to golf courses explains what to look for. Parents can also read our junior golf guide.

Experienced players may prefer Abridge or Canons Brook, since the length and bunkering ask for steady driving. Abridge also lists a driving range, which helps if you want to warm up first.

How to choose an Essex golf course

Start with what you want from the round. For example, a shorter parkland course such as Chelmsford suits a relaxed game. A longer layout such as Abridge or Canons Brook asks more of your driving.

Next, check access. Rules for visitors differ from club to club, and fees change often. Therefore, we do not quote prices here. Each club’s website is the place to confirm green fees and tee times.

If you are planning a group day, our golf society day guide covers the practical side. If you want to play without joining a club, read our pay and play golf guide. Living near the capital? Try our guide to golf courses near London as well.

You can also look at the other Essex clubs in the county directory. Each listing links to the club’s own website, because that is where the latest details live. You can check the latest course details yourself.

A note on our sources

Every figure above comes from the club’s own website, checked on 10 October 2026. Where a club does not publish a fact, we have left it out. However, clubs change their details, so the club’s site is always the most current source.

Planning a wider trip? You can browse every course we list in England. The directory also lists golf courses near London for the clubs just inside the M25, golf courses near Cambridge to the north-west, and golf courses near Norwich if you are heading on to the Norfolk coast.