It’s been 18 years since a major golf Championship – and Tiger Woods – graced The Grove, a golf course and resort just off the M25 on the outskirts of Watford. Walking the grounds and playing the course, you’d never know it.
The Grove has become the destination for elite football sides prior to stepping out at Wembley. The England men’s national team have been staying there for years and Real Madrid set-up base there ahead of their Champions League Final victory earlier this year.
An immaculately kept football pitch at the back of the grounds is just a part of the package. A luxury spa, a summertime outside cinema, a variety of restaurants, nature trails, stunning rooms and, of course, a must-play golf course are part of the top tier ensemble.
While golf’s very best hasn’t been back to The Grove in a while, plenty in the sporting world have for one reason or another and given all the grounds has to offer, it’s easy to see why.
Mail Sport stayed the night and played a round of golf at their picturesque grounds to see why so many top names and clubs keep flocking to these grounds in Hertfordshire.
Check out The Grove and plan your round or your stay in the heart of Hertfordshire!
The main entrance to The Grove that leads you through to a reception, bar and then restaurant
The Grove is clearly very proud of hosting Tiger Woods in his prime – as they should be!
The main building for where the rooms are found – we were lucky enough to have a balcony
The lush greens of The Grove were a joy to play, the whole course is in perfect condition
Golf at The Grove
First of all, you’d never know they’re not currently hosting world championship golf – although they are aiming to once more.
Some light drizzle (in July? Noooo) meant we were treated to a greasy surface for our morning tee and thus, some sensational views of the perfectly kept greens. Lush cuts were visible at every turn from all angles off the main buildings at the top of the hill. The care and attention is right in line with the top of the line care The Grove clearly shoot for from start to finish. Great start.
A short stroll from the pro shop and first tee – where you can also get your buggy and avoid said stroll – there is a practice range as well as chipping and putting greens. The range comes complete with more practice balls than you’d ever need as well as a host of tees and gives you the chance to start the round right.
The first tee is just in front of where the putting green sits and hits downhill with trees and long rough on the left hand side with bunkers trying to will you towards them in the middle. Not the easiest start! But very much a taster of what’s to come.
The practice range where players are given balls and tees for their warm up
Wasn’t the sunniest July on record but still made for nice playing conditions
Two things. Once you’re in the rough, you’ll be very lucky to see your ball again! Most holes gives you enough room to play with off the tee, but for those shanks and slices, you will pay the price if you don’t come with enough balls (I actually bought more balls at the Pro Shop after the front nine while my friends enjoyed sausage rolls they would not stop raving about).
Secondly, the greens are very, very fast. Anything downhill is a nightmare and it will take you a few holes to get even a rough feel for how to putt. I undoubtedly lost most of my shots putting (or attempting to) but it was a challenge I did really enjoy as we went round and I got mildly better.
Players can order food and drinks from their buggy as they approach the 9th hole
Once back to where you started, you’ll find your order ready and waiting for you
One of the front nine par threes that show off The Grove’s estate as well as the greens
The course has beautiful scenery all around it with all 300 acres on display
There’s a few highlight holes at The Grove aside from the obvious ninth hole that Tiger Woods made his own. I was on course to par that hole, but remember what I said about the greens? It’s still haunting me!
On that hole, the club has put plaques in the ground of where Woods drove on all three of the consecutive days he made eagle on that long par five. The plaques are about 10-15 yards apart and almost on an identical line – truly absurd stuff from Tiger.
The par five where Tiger Woods eagled three times has plaques where he drove the ball
And here’s the sign that let’s you know you’re about to play the iconic hole
I really enjoyed the par threes The Grove has to offer. The 3rd has a green protected by a moat of water that’s only about five a yard or two long, but two of my friends managed to find the drink.
As you head up the hill on the 7th, you hit towards the stunning view of the manor house with an elevated green from about 130 yards. On the back nine, another par three forces you to do the opposite and hit downwards to about 160 yards, but a 100-yard long bed of rough has to be negotiated before you’re even in play.
The variety of holes and different challenges is one thing, but the standard of the actual course and its grounds is a joy to play whatever your ability.
The fast greens will leave many of you feeling like this! But it’s a fun challenge to work out
Plenty of holes feature long rough before you can make the fairway just to add to the difficulty
Many three putts were had…
The course measures a hefty 7,152 yards from the back tees to a kinder 5,507 from the front
Staying at The Grove
The day before I graced The Grove’s greens, I took my partner to stay the night and enjoy the many offerings of the resort. After navigating the long winding road up to the main manor house – where the beautiful sights will distract you – some ample, easy parking is followed by a personal greeting at the door and swift service on reception. A nice start.
Our room wasn’t ready for a few hours, so we went and had lunch in The Stables. This restaurant is stationed next to where players will come for food and drink at the end of their round with an impressive outside area to take in some putts while you gorge.
The food came out faster than the putting greens, if that’s possible! I ordered The Stables burger – essentially a bacon and cheese burger – while my partner enjoyed Classic ale-battered fish and chips and both were with us within five minutes of ordering.
The Stables is a high-end spot for lunch right next to the golf facilities
As you can see, the portions are no joke! With the putting greens just over the hedge
The portion you get for your money is exactly what I’m after. None of this small, super decorated portions you get in some expensive restaurants. My partner and I left some food such was the size! Following that, we strolled back past the pro shop, the clubhouse, the spa and grabbed or key from reception.
We stayed in a King deluxe room with a garden view and the room came with plenty of charm you’d be forgiven for not wanting to leave it to explore the grounds. The TV has Netflix, Disney and Paramount built in so all you have to do is log in, a huge, comfy bed complete with a sofa area in front of the aforementioned TV.
The balcony overlooks the stunning water features and garden that links the main reception and Glasshouse restaurant up to the spa and The Stables; it’s not a bad way to raid the mini fridge for a drink (or enjoy the bottle of prosecco waiting for you when you arrive in your room).
A warm greeting to our room and a stocked mini-fridge made for a welcome start
It would have been easy to spend a lot of time in the room given it’s space and connectable TV
The pool area had a handful of people around and had plenty of space to swim and relax
Could certainly imagine this terrace area being busier when there are less clouds
The only thing deeper than the rough I found myself in on the golf course was the bath in my room! Before my partner could complain at me for being in that for too long, we had an afternoon swim and stint in the steam room in the spa area. Very relaxing and not too busy at all.
Dinner and breakfast went down at The Glasshouse and that was undoubtedly the most impressive part of the stay. It’s buffet style dining but with chefs on each station that will cock and make whatever you want right in front of you. Steaks, Chinese, curry, roast dinner, seafood, pasta and pizza – whatever you want, you can have it and have it fresh.
The cooking stations are maybe the most impressive part about The Grove!
Fresh pasta made right in front of you as you request it from start to finish – absolutely superb
Crucially, you can have as much as you want. It’s ordinarily about £52 a person if you just want to turn up and eat there and while that sounds steep, I go there again and pay that. The food is well worth it.
We enjoyed a beer or two in the bar area after and there’s plenty of places to take a stroll or chill out while you’re drinking. All kinds of parties are ongoing (my sister got married there a few years ago) but there’s plenty of space for all of it.
Gabriel’s football pitch is worth a little walk adjacent to the main building. A host of famous faces have kicked a ball around on that carpet-like turf including many, many England squads. A short walk down from that was the pop-up outside cinema with beanbag seats and a little bar with drinks and snacks behind it, very tempting on a nice summer evening.
The rear-gardens feature a pop up restaurant called Skewd and an outdoor summer cinema
The cinema played classic films rather than new releases but had a food truck alongside it
Here’s the turf Real Madrid and England have graced! The urge to hit a daisy cutter is strong
Check out The Grove and plan your round or your stay in the heart of Hertfordshire!
The fact The Grove hasn’t had a major championship in nearly 20 years would lead you to believe their standards have slipped, but that’s far from it.
In fact, every part of their course and resort, it’s very evident they hold themselves to the highest standards and in a world where you hope to get what you pay for, The Grove delivers just that.
