Luffenham Heath Golf Club
Luffenham Heath Golf Club, Stamford Road, Ketton, United Kingdom
About the club
The Luffenham Heath Golf Club is a top 100 course in England and the premier private members’ club in Leicestershire and Rutland. Easily accessible, in the heart of England, located just five miles from the A1 and 15 minutes from Stamford, one of England’s finest stone Georgian towns and home of the renowned George Hotel.
This classic heathland course has been shaped by golf legends Harry Colt and James Braid and upgraded to host Regional Qualifying for The Open Championship from 2013 to 2017. Our naturally beautiful golf course, set in a rolling Rutland landscape, was declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1973 and features rare flora, including the Purple Vetch. An agronomist to The Open Championship Committee stated “Luffenham Heath is one of the best inland courses in the UK. The combination of facilities and challenge make it a fabulous venue to the R&A”.
We are an exclusive, contemporary private members’ club and a sought after destination for visiting golfers, for whom a warm welcome and unpretentious hospitality awaits in our characterful clubhouse.
It was in 1909 when the Right Hon Gilbert Heathcote Drummond Willoughby Baron Willoughby de Eresby MP first chaired a meeting at The Stamford Hotel to discuss the feasibility of a golf course to be designed on South Luffenham Heath.
Sketches of the original course layout were produced in 1910 by Charles Allison, and officially opened the following year with a celebrity match, witnessed by over 1000 spectators, between James Braid and Harry Vardon, both five time winners of The Open Championship.
Before being crowned Edward VIII in 1936, the Prince of Wales played golf regularly at The Luffenham Heath Golf Club, one of his favourite courses, and was Club Captain in 1928.
In 1943 The Club gave up 60 acres of land, including holes 9, 10 & 11, to help meet demands for food during World War II. A re-arrange of holes 9 & 10 and new holes for 11 & 12 were reinstated in 1943 and has remained in this layout ever since.
A sum of £6000 was raised and, with membership donations, in 1951 when The Club took the opportunity to purchase the freehold of land and buildings from the Ancaster estate. The members Club in which it exists today, dates back to 1964.
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“Was treated to a day out here for a big birthday. What a lovely course. Was in excellent condition when we played in July. Greens testing but not ridiculous. Plenty of rough but finding ball want an issue. Not keen on sand, granite in bunkers. Very harsh on ball and club faces. We ate in the clubhouse, very enjoyable and very nice staff. Will look to return.”
“What a gem in the middle of nowhere. From the moment you group the drive and park the car you can see the care and attention and then to how the course is well managed. Big breakfast, 18 holes and a curry with a couple of local ales to finish, perfect. The course is open to the elements and when the wind blows it can catch you out, particularly when it's behind with the greens below you. Generous fairways with lots of deep fairway bunkers and sculpted mounds. Fairway irrigation means you nearly always get a perfect lie. Lots of subtle hard to read breaks on the greens. Played off the Bronze, one of 5 tee positions and slope index of 135. Would love to come back and play from the whites. Expensive but worth it.”
“One of the best course around, great team in the office, thanks Jack. The lunch menu is very nice, The PGA professional looked after myself and my guests. Thanks to the Greens team and all the people that make it happen.”