Sunbury Golf

Origins

The land occupied by Sunbury Golf had an industrial history before golf arrived. Local film-location research relating to the former gravel pits off Charlton Lane identifies the present golf-club site as one of those workings and records golf development beginning around 1991. A long-term Sunbury member writing in Golf Monthly's forum in 2010 gave a more specific account, stating that the original nine-hole course was built in 1992.

That early layout was therefore the starting point for a facility that subsequently grew substantially. Modern golf-course databases commonly give 1996 as the opening year for the current Sunbury course and credit Bruce Weller, Peter Alliss and Clive Clark as its architects. These dates are not necessarily contradictory: 1992 appears to relate to the original nine holes, while 1996 is associated with the expanded course configuration.

Design Philosophy

Published sources do not preserve a detailed design brief from Weller, Alliss or Clark, so attributing a particular strategic philosophy to them would be speculative. What can be established is that the expanded facility was conceived as two complementary courses: a full 18-hole layout and a shorter nine-hole course. The present main course is relatively compact at 5,135 yards from the White tees and plays to par 68, while the nine-hole course measures 2,444 yards and plays to par 33.

This arrangement allows the same property to accommodate conventional rounds as well as shorter-format golf and development play.

Development

According to the detailed account published by a member who had played at Sunbury since 1995, the original nine-hole course was subsequently converted into 13 holes while another 14 holes were built on land across the railway line, producing 27 holes in total. That description helps explain why directory sources date the current complex to 1996 even though golf was already being played there several years earlier. The present configuration retains 18-hole and 9-hole courses rather than presenting all 27 holes as one continuous course.

Sunbury later became part of Crown Golf's portfolio. Practice provision has also developed substantially: the club now operates a Toptracer driving range using electronic ball-tracking technology, alongside a putting green and professional coaching.

Today

Sunbury Golf currently operates as a visitor-accessible and membership golf facility under the Crown Golf umbrella. Its official site promotes both the 9-hole and 18-hole courses and provides online visitor tee-time booking. The 18-hole course is par 68, with the current competition system listing 5,135 yards from White tees and 4,785 yards from Yellow.

The shorter course remains a separate nine-hole par-33 layout. Off the course, the current clubhouse includes a restaurant, bar, function space and changing facilities. The Toptracer range operates seven days a week, with no advance bay reservation required under the current range system.

The combination of two courses and a substantial practice operation continues the multi-purpose model established when the original nine-hole facility was expanded during the 1990s.