Harping on about Harpenden Common...
Harpenden is a beautiful area just outside St Albans in London’s commuter belt and home to one of Hertfordshire’s oldest golf clubs.

Harpenden is a beautiful area just outside St Albans in London’s commuter belt and home to one of Hertfordshire’s oldest golf clubs.

Harpenden Common Golf Club has quietly been going about its business on the common for well over a century. The original layout over common land was a par 64, with very tight fairways and small greens. The paddock adjacent to the old second tee which alluded to a time when ‘point–to–point racing’ took part on the common alongside the game of Golf.

At the beginning of the 1990s the adjoining land became available for purchase and the members called in the services of Ryder Cup player and BBC Commentator, Ken Brown who redesigned the entire layout. Now the delightful 6214yard heathland course can officially compete with its Hertfordshire neighbours with its head held high.

THE COURSE
Now that the changes have had a chance to mature, Harpenden Common has become a charming golf course.

You are eased gently into the round with a 330yard par 4 that, with its cleverly manicured, shapely fairway meandering its way up to the green ahead, shouldn’t cause too many problems.

The second is a longer version of the first but allows for a slightly more erratic tee shot, as the landing area is considerably wider. At nearly 400yards from the white tees this hole will require a good approach to accomplish your par.

The beginning half of Harpenden Common is predominantly carved between the aged oaks and silver birches that line the fairways and the 540yard third is no exception.

A slight dogleg left it has the unusual feature of the local cricket pavilion to the right hand side of the fairway and the actual cricket square in the middle of it.

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