It has been a long and arduous 108-year wait for fans of the game since golf was last featured in the
Olympics. The year was 1904, Teddy
Roosevelt was in the White House, three
years into his two-term presidency, and
with St. Louis, Missouri, as host of the
third Olympiad, 77 golfers from the
U.S., Great Britain, and Canada shared
a total of 13 individual and team medals
between them.
And though keen amateurs, observers
of the ancient and royal game, and
the adept professionals who hope to
compete for their country will have
to wait until 2016 in Rio de Janeiro
for golf to be reinstated as part of the
games, devotees headed to London this
summer have much to look forward to.
As a gateway to Europe, the
Mediterranean and beyond, a bevy
of superlative courses are just a short
flight away—whether that’s Alicante or
Abu Dhabi. In fact, some of the most
heralded tracks in the world are on
London’s doorstep. So whilst we’ll all
have to wait another four years to see
our beloved pastime get the recognition
it so aptly deserves, there is no reason
why we can’t celebrate that fact during
this, the Games of the XXXI Olympiad.
Here are a few of the better golf
destinations within easy reach of London:
The Grove, England
Set on 300 private acres abutting a nature reserve in the rolling
hills of Hertfordshire, just 18 miles from central London, The
Grove is a country-house hotel with a difference. Anchored by
a restored 18th century, brick-clad mansion (once belonging to
the earls of Clarendon), it features all the intangible amenities
and accoutrements you’d expect for a perfect weekend gateway,
including a world-class spa with a 72-foot black-titled swimming
pool; a large Walled Garden complemented by manicured
grounds speckled with sculptures and arts installations; and
a smattering of lounges, bars and eateries. What sets it apart
is the challenging, 7,152-yard, par-72 golf course, designed by
Kyle Philips. Framed by natural grasses and knee-high fescue,
the course is a tour de force, meandering its way through the
countryside and presenting a myriad of challenges, regardless of
which of the four sets of tees you choose to play.
thegrove.co.uk
The Grove
