What it's like to play golf at Centurion Club
By: Matt Holbrook | Edited: Thu 18 Jun 2026
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Situated less than an hour from central London, Centurion Club offers its members an exquisite and challenging golf course accompanied by some world class facilities and dining options.
2010 saw the birth of Centurion Club when former professional golfer Scott Evans purchased the land. He sought experienced help and advice from course designer Simon Gidman, together with Southern Golf supporting the construction and world-renowned Troon Golf assisting with agronomy guidance, the result was a high-end golf venue that now plays host to professional events that attract some of the very best golfers in the world.
Currently taking memberships, Centurion welcomes golfers of all ages and abilities as well as a host of corporate offerings, charity days and other bespoke events.
The course itself is an elegant layout starting with some tranquil tree-lined holes before heading into more open land with scenic views and rolling fairways.
Pre-Round Thoughts
Whilst most recently known as the inaugural venue for LIV Golf in 2022, my first experience of Centurion came way back in 2017 when I attended the GolfSixes event that was held there. I remember then being impressed with what I saw of the course and little did I know it would be nine years later that I would have the chance to pull into the car park in front of the lavish clubhouse before heading out onto the course.
Entering reception, the helpful lady on the desk pointed out the direction to the bar, changing rooms and professional shop.
The pro shop itself isn't as big as some I've visited, but it fits the nature of the building and is well stocked with everything you need along with some crested items to take away from your experience. The gents in the pro shop were very helpful too, pointing us in the direction of the driving range where complimentary balls are available as well as the two putting greens and pitching areas that you can use before stepping onto the first tee.
We also managed to get a quick bite to eat in the bar area overlooking the 18th green and the rather large pond that guards it, before we headed back down the path to the first tee.
Front 9 Overview
Tall pine trees lining both sides of the fairway greet you on the par 5 opening hole. A stunning scene as you jump onto your preferred tee box. Whilst under 500 yards, a precise tee shot to a fairway that starts to move from right to left as the hole moves on is required, as the three fairway bunkers on the right-hand side are ready to grab any tee shot that starts to drift that way.
If you are lucky enough to find the fairway, there are two more bunkers - one each side of the fairway - to avoid if going for the green in two. Although this opening hole offers up a genuine opportunity of a birdie start, the two-tiered green is no easy two putt!
After navigating the incredibly undulating green on the par 3 second hole, the course's first big test comes at the third hole. Still in the tree-lined section of the course, the 400-yard par 4 is a demanding tee shot as the hole turns close to 90 degrees from left to right at around 200-250 yards depending on the tee. The smart shot would be to hit a left to righter off the bunker at the end of the fairway, but anything too far left or right will land you in trouble.
The approach into a green raised above the fairway is well protected by a couple of greenside bunkers short and, again, another undulating surface awaits.
As you reach the sixth hole, the course starts to open up away from the pine trees. This is another attackable par 5 that falls away from the tee and up again to the green, but is reachable for the longer hitters. Ultimately, it’s not until the seventh hole where, for the first time, club choice off the tee is crucial.
One of the shorter holes on the front 9, the fairway will run out around 270 yards. A tee shot up the left-hand side of the fairway will leave a great angle into a green that is guarded by a big dune on the right-hand side. The green all runs away from front to back so the shorter the second shot, the better. Anything left of the fairway will either end up in some juicy fescue or, even worse, the bunkers.
The view from the eighth tee is spectacular, as the three rolling fairways of the eighth in the middle, the ninth to the right, and the 11th to the left, are all in full view from this elevated tee. Before you hit, pop into the halfway house to make your order ready for collection as you head back up.
The eighth falls aways from the tee and if you avoid the fairway bunkers the approach shot into a raised green is still fairly tricky, before turning back on yourself to finish the front 9 with the par 5 ninth hole - the narrow fairway is a must find but it pinches in around 250/260 yards with a pond on the left-hand side and bunker on the right.
Back 9 Overview
The back 9 starts in a similar fashion as the front 9 - with a genuine birdie chance - but this time in the shape of a shorter par 4. From a tee positioned on the other side of the halfway house, it falls away in similar fashion to the eighth, but with less distance to cover and a bigger green to aim at, two well struck shots will at least give you a good look at a birdie.
Following a tough par 3 at the 11th, the 12th is another incredibly designed hole.
Playing down the left-hand side of the fairway will both open up the angle to the green but also avoid the trees and hazard on the right-hand side. The green sits a long way below the fairway - a club less at least - but the green is all carry over the large water feature. Due to the way the fairway slopes away, your approach shot may also be on a downhill lie, just to throw another thing to think about into the mix. Make a four here and you're doing something right.
A delightfully looking par 3 comes up at 14 - where the green sits surrounded by the pine trees once again, playing close to 190 yards. This is a demanding tee shot into a tricky green and depending on pin placement, finding the correct section of the surface is vital. It’s as tough as it is pretty from the tee box.
The hardest hole on the course greets you at the 16th. A 400+ yard par 4 from three of the five different tee boxes. Longer hitters will like the line going directly over the fairway bunker on the right-hand side. As the hole moves in that direction, but on that line, it also brings another fairway bunker into play that sits directly in the middle of the fairway and is hardly visible from the tee.
The two fairway bunkers on the left of the fairway sit in front of a pond that may well be in play, so the smartest move might be to play less club off the tee - leaving a longer second shot into another green that has two distinct sections. A real gem.
A cool short par 3 at 17 comes next - 138 yards off the very back tees and 92 yards off the very front, it’s a nice respite towards the end of the round to be able to hit a wedge into a green!
The finishing hole - probably the most well-known at Centurion - is the longest of the seven par 5s.
Only the big hitters will fancy having a go in two. But the pond that sits between the fairway and green on the right-hand side and the clubhouse is the most stunning hazard on the course.
11 bunkers between the tee and green will also need to be avoided if you are to find the putting surface in regulation and give yourself a look at a final birdie before wrapping up your round in stunning fashion. A fitting end to an incredible course.
Post-Round Thoughts
With five different teeing options, Centurion can play anything between 7,084 yards to 5,507 yards.
Each tee is numbered relevant to its total yardage, so 71, 67, 61 and 55. This is a great addition to what is already a fantastic layout as it offers playability for all ages and levels - specifically in our group, we had handicaps of 1, 5 and 8 and elected the 67 tees and most of the par 5s were reachable with two good shots which, for me, adds a lot of enjoyment to this course.
With seven par 5s - the course will offer up plenty of birdie chances for those that are on their game. Six par 4s and five par 3s complete the layout.
From the 71 tees, it’s a par 72 as two of the par 5s technically become long par 4s. But from every other tee it’s a par 74.
The condition is impeccable, not a blade of grass out of place. The fairways are like carpets, the greens slick but receptive and extremely undulating. As good as the bunkers look and play, they are super penal in places and not to be messed with.
The putting surfaces themselves are fairly big in the majority of cases, but the nature of the breaks and slopes on them mean that wherever you hit it, a two putt is never a foregone conclusion, and I think this is standard with a tour level course. As tough as they are, though, they are equally as fun.
Due to the nature of the course, I think I would recommend a buggy, we did walk the course (just a personal preference), but if I went back, I think I would opt for a buggy as it’s a tough walk.
To finish, sitting outside watching others tackle their second and third shots into the par 5 18th is a great and fitting end to the day at Centurion.
Verdict
Centurion has a world class golf course that can be enjoyed by tour professionals to weekend golfers and offers a challenge to all in equal measure.
The layout and design doesn't get boring at any stage and gives as much as it takes - my advice would be to not get too macho when selecting the tee to play from as picking correctly will maximise your enjoyment.
As well as incredible golf facilities, Centurion offers both members and visitors exceptional dining experiences in an array of different settings.
Whether it's afternoon tea in the quaint garden room delivering a selection of sandwiches, scones and a patisserie selection, to a more formal A la carte lunch and dinner menu, Centurion Club seems to also have all dining bases covered too.
The Prix Fixe menu changes daily offering a great option for a business lunch, leisurely lunch or early weekday dinner, while the Birch and Oak private dining rooms are perfect for birthdays, anniversaries and small weddings.
And if you're ever about on a Sunday, the three-course Sunday lunch menu also proves popular with members and their guests.
From the moment you arrive here, to the moment you leave, you feel and appreciate an extraordinary golf venue that has left no stone unturned.
Overall Rating - 10
Course (Conditions) - 10
Course (Hole Variety/Layout) - 10
Course (Green Condition) - 10
Course (Challenge/Difficulty) - 10
Club Facilities & Clubhouse - 10
Practice Facilities - 10
Friendliness/Hospitality - 10
Pace of Play - 9
Value For Money - 9
About the author
Matt Holbrook is a long-serving Golfshake ambassador known for his course features, opinion pieces, and product reviews. A dedicated golfer from Suffolk, he is an active member of Stowmarket and Felixstowe Ferry Golf Clubs and frequently travels to play in open competitions. With hundreds of rounds logged through Golfshake, Matt is committed to continuous improvement and enjoys sharing insights from his experiences on and off the course.
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