History
With origins of golf first played on the original Cowley Marsh site as far back as 1873, it’s safe to say that Oxford Golf Club is part of the fabric of the city. One of the oldest golf clubs in England and most certainly the oldest in Oxfordshire.
The course has sprinklings of design by the highly acclaimed architect and champion golfer James Braid when the course was laid out with holes dotted around the University cricket ground, and up the hill towards the ‘barracks’, just touching upon what is now the far end of the course.
Golf was played here for a number of years by the University, but was deemed unsatisfactory and the University tried a few other locations around Oxfordshire during this time. This trial and error period represents the origins of many courses in the area, Radley and Frilford Heath to name two that have also stood the test of time.
In 1922 the University acquired Southfield Farm and commissioned the services of the legendary Henry Shapland Colt (Harry Colt) to re-design the course, Southfield Golf Club was borne and apart from a few changes the course is very much as it is today.
Colt chose to incorporate some of the original holes laid out by James Braid, which gives this course one of the finest pedigrees possible in golf course design.
Our 18-hole par-70 course, built mainly on sand, drains extremely well, offering members and visitors excellent all year round playing conditions.
Located just two miles from the centre of the city on a small parcel of land covering close to 100 acres many people find it hard to believe that there is a golf course here, but once you are on the course you will experience all of the tranquillity of being deep in the countryside.
With a great variety of trees, including; oaks, poplars, willows, and hawthorns, and an abundance of wildlife, like muntjac deer, rabbits, pheasants and red kites, we really do live up to the tagline of ‘hidden gem’. With our unique location, long history and amazing design Oxford Golf Club is definitely one course that visitors and tourists want to tick off their bucket list!
One of the oldest, one of the best… this is golf as it should be!
