Frilford Heath Golf Club
 Frilford Heath club house in 2013 | |
| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Frilford, Oxfordshire   |
| Established | 1908 |
| Type | Private |
| Total holes | 54 |
| Website | www.frilfordheath.co.uk |
| Red Course | |
| Designed by | John Henry Taylor |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 6,912 |
| Green Course | |
| Designed by | JH Turner |
| Par | 69 |
| Length | 6,015 |
| Blue Course | |
| Designed by | Simon Gidman |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 6,728 |
Frilford Heath Golf Club is a 54 hole golf club in Frilford, Oxfordshire and is set amongst 500 acres of heathland to the southwest of Oxford city.
History
Frilford Heath was founded in 1908 by Dr Harry Challenor (a local physician), A.E Preston, and T.S Skurray, the head of Morland Brewery which was located nearby in Abingdon. The club held its centenary in 2008.[1]
Club House
Throughout its long history and gradual expansion to a 54 holes, Frilford Heath has had several club houses. After the original thatched club house was destroyed by fire as a result of a storm, a new building was erected in 1921 near the junction of Faringdon Road and Oxford Road. After the Second World War, Frilford Heath House Estate and its woodland which bordered the course was put up for sale. Fearing the estate could be bought for development, the club purchased the property to avoid endangering the isolation the club enjoyed. Now heavily altered the original country mansion forms the clubs impressive club house and replaced the 1921 building.
Golf Courses
Red Course
The earliest of Frilford Heath's three courses, the Red Course was designed by the Open Champion JH Taylor in 1908.[2]
Green Course
The shortest of Frilford's golf courses, the 6,015 yard, par 69 Green Course was initially designed as a 9-hole course and was created by Frilford's first professional JH Turner to supplement the existing 18-hole Red Course. The course was extended in the years following the Second World War.
Blue Course
The club's latest addition is the 6,728 yard, par 72, Blue Course designed in 1994 by Oxfordshire based golf course architect Simon Gidman. The Blue Course was set out on an additional 169 acres of heathland purchased by the club in 1991.[3]