Harpenden Common Golf ClubHCGC official club website. is a private members' golf club in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.
Although golf has been played on Harpenden Common since 1895, Harpenden Common Golf Club itself was founded in 1931 when Harpenden Golf Club moved to a new course at Hammonds End. The similarities between the two clubs' names has been known to create confusion for visiting golfers but once visitors are redirected to the club on Cravells Road they can expect a warm welcome. After a major revision to the course in 1996, the golf course consists of eleven holes on the original common and seven new holes on private land in an area known as the Jockey Field. Harpenden Common Golf Club is also a part of the Hertfordshire Golf Affiliated Courses Group (HGACG).
Notable Members
The club's most famous member is Ken Brown who joined as a junior member in 1969 and also worked as a green keeper at the club. Ken acknowledged his attachmentKen Brown biography at the European Tour official site to the club during his professional playing career. Ken frequently discusses goings on at '"the Common"' during his BBC commentary at major golf tournaments. Ken was recently joined by the mayors of Harpenden and St Albans in May 2013 when he officially opened the newly developed clubhouse.
The Golf Course
The golf course is partly based on Harpenden Common and partly on private land owned by the Club (known as the Jockey Field. The holes in the Jockey Field were added in 1996 and were designed by club member and Ryder Cup player Ken Brown. At the same time some of the holes on the Common were amended and lengthened. Some of the original holes on the Common which are no longer used as part of the course now provide excellent practice facilities for the members of the club and visitors.
The golf course at Harpenden Common Golf Club has a number of interesting or unusual features:
Holes 1 to 5, 8 to 11, and 17 to 18 are played on Harpenden Common which is public common land. The approach shot to the 2nd green is played over a public road called Cross Lane; The 3rd fairway includes the cricket square and pitch on which Bamville Cricket Club play cricket on Sunday afternoons between May and September each year. At times when cricket is being played, the 3rd hole is played as a par three hole from past the cricket pitch. The 4th and 5th holes are consecutive par threes, a rare occurrence on British golf courses; Tee shots on the 8th and 9th holes are played over public roads Cross Lane and Limbrick Road respectively. The copse of trees between the 8th green and 9th tee mark the site of the "paddock" which is all that remains of the historical horse races that were held on the Common between the 1830s and 1914. The course ends with a par three. This is relatively unusual on golf courses but does enable members on the terraces and balconies of the clubhouse to watch the entire final hole of important matches from their seats.
The Club is private though guests are allowed at most times, subject to course availability; a handicap certificate may be requested in order to establish proficiency.
The golf course has three tees – "Ladies" (red tees), "Visitors" (yellow tees) and "Medal" (white tees).
Current Layout
Men's card (since 22nd of January 2026)
HoleYards - White TeesYards - Yellow TeesPar HoleYards - White TeesYards - Yellow TeesPar13213034 1030229742373367411375374435335235124764565418918831335134545146135314365355463883764154083804729426641617414838458400417382378493873814181521473Out3,0892,93935In2,9852,88035 Total6,0745,81970
The current course record is held by Tony Wilkins who scored a 62, -8 to par.
Ladies' card (since 1996)
HoleYards - Red TeesPar HoleYards - Red TeesPar13134 1029742360411363434955124125417131329645130314336463424153404723441612938403517362493864181413Out2,83436In2,67635 Total5,51071
Hertfordshire County Honours
Harpenden Common Golf Club has frequently produced good amateur players who have performed well at the County level.
YearCompetitionMemberYTDJunior County Team MembersJ.McCann J.WilkinsYTDCounty Team MembersT.Wilkins, L.Owen, M.Roche2025Herts County Championship - WinnerL.Owen2025Knebworth Bowl T.Turner, T.Wilkins, L.Owen2024BIGGA tournamentL.Owen2017Herts County Championship - winnerT.Wilkins2013Herts Champion Club - WinnerS Claridge, P Wilkins, T Wilkins2012Herts Open Championship - WinnerLewis Watcham2012Herts Scratch League Division 1 - WinnerScratch Team2011Herts Inter Club Foursome Championship - WinnerPaul Wilkins, Lewis Watcham2008Herts Men's Order of Merit - WinnerSam Claridge2008Herts Boys Team Championship - WinnerS Claridge, T Brown, M Fox2008Herts Inter Club Foursome Championship - WinnerSam Claridge, Tom Brown2004Herts County Championship - WinnerRob Leonard2004Herts Colts Championship - WinnerRob Leonard2004Herts Champion Club - WinnerR Leonard, S Mulkerrin, T Wilkins2003Herts Scratch League Division 1 - WinnerScratch Team2002Herts Colts Championship - WinnerRob Leonard2000Herts County Championship - WinnerIan Farrant2000Herts Scratch League Division 1 - WinnerScratch Team2008Herts Inter Club Foursome Championship - WinnerIan Farrant, Ben Connelly2006Herts Seniors Championship - WinnerRoger Dew1996Herts Boys Championship - WinnerCraig Arnott1996Herts Boys Team Championship - WinnerB Armstrong, T Turner, A Turner1996Malcolm Reid Trophies - WinnerCraig Arnott1995Herts Colts Championship - WinnerMichael Mulkerrin1994Herts Salver - WinnerIan Farrant1991Herts County Championship - WinnerMark Peate1991Herts Salver - WinnerRichard Dew1990Herts Salver - WinnerReg Coates1973Herts Boys Championship - WinnerKen Brown1952Herts County Championship - WinnerE.R. ′Dickie′ Anscombe
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References