The Grove: London’s country escape for the whole family

As you pull through The Grove’s rather grand entrance and make your way down the winding, mile-long driveway that leads up to the resort’s spectacular five-star hotel, it’s hard to believe you’re just a few miles from the centre of London.

Set in 300 acres of glorious Hertfordshire scenery, only the concrete jungle of our country’s capital teetering above the horizon gives you any kind of clue that civilisation is nearby.

Having escaped the rush of commuter traffic weaving its way into Watford, I pull into the car park and do that thing we all do where we wonder if it will be frowned upon to put your shoes on while sitting on the boot.

But I’m not only here for golf. It’s half-term and I’ve been promised that there are reams of activities for children, so I’ve got my family in tow. I set them on their way to where the fun is – more on that, later – and make my way round to the pro shop…

The Golf

As I approach the first tee, a cheery fellow greets me and we make small talk about how far I’ve come – today, not in life – and whether I’ve been to The Grove before. I hadn’t, but I’ve heard only good things about a course that’s regularly ranked inside the UK’s top 100 by publications that do those sorts of lists and the scene of the 12th of Tiger Woods’ 18 World Golf Championship wins.

I jump in my buggy – which is not only equipped with built-in GPS but a speaker to which I can connect my phone and listen to my favourite bops – and it’s soon apparent that the course itself is exactly what you would expect from a resort of this prestige.

Perfectly manicured fairways are interrupted only by the golden sands of bunkers in all shapes and sizes, while the USGA-standard greens are as true as any you will ever have the fortune on which to putt. Given this is February, and I’m pretty sure it hasn’t stopped raining since Noah built his ark, the course is in remarkable condition.

There are four tee options available – Front, Grove, Medal and Back – which gives you options from 5,500 yards to a little more than 7,100. I opt for the Grove tees, which come in at the much more manageable 6,300-yard mark.

A couple of friendly par-four holes almost give you a false sense of security about what’s to come before the third sets out a marker with its demand for a long approach over a pond which hugs the front edge.

The fourth, an inviting par-three running alongside the River Gade, is the first of four short holes of varying length and difficulty throughout the round and a true representation of what this course has to offer. From the Grove tees, the par-four holes range from around 340 yards to maxing out at 420.

And it’s that variety that makes The Grove such a fun course to play. No one wants to play a track with par-three holes topping out at 200 yards, or where every par-four still has you reaching for your fairway wood after a good drive.

The second nine features a delicious stretch of holes on the other side of the road which starts with the dramatic, downhill par-three 13th before a pair of par-fours weave their way around the picturesque Grove Mill – now a series of private residencies that leave you thinking ‘imagine living there’ as you line up each putt.

Before you cross back to re-join the area of land that occupies the majority of the course, another wonderfully-crafted par-three – described in the course planner “hoodwinkingly great” – will test every last inch of your short game.

As I roll in one final par putt on the finishing hole, my clubs are whisked away for a good clean and I retreat to the splendid Stables Bar for a well-earned burger and a chance to reflect on the previous few hours.

It is easy to see why The Grove is so well regarded. It might not be the toughest of tests – who comes to stay at a resort and wants to get beaten up by the golf course, anyway? – but when you take into consideration the variety and the condition, you are never going to have a boring round here.

Things to do

It’s not only The Grove’s golf course that exceeds expectations. Other activities include trail walking and bike rides, while there is so much going on for families that you’ll wonder if you’ll ever have enough time to get it all in.

I join my family in the Potting Shed, where my children are beaming from ear to ear as they decorate shortbread biscuits with a variety of colourful sugar-based products.

Over the course of the afternoon, we swim, we play arcade games, we shoot pool, we fill our faces with sweets, and we even take on an escape room in a specially-built area known as The Grid.

Outside, in the Walled Garden, you can play football and tennis, or relax on Ralph’s Beach – one for the summer, perhaps – while activities such as arts and crafts, den building, and magic shows run regularly throughout each day.

For adults, the Sequoia Spa offers a number of treatments for you to rejuvenate after a long day of fun.

However long your stay at The Grove, you will not run out of things to do.

Where to eat

This is where The Grove really stands out, with a number of casual and fine-dining options to suit all tastes and needs.

Enjoy a modern take on British classics in The Stables, treat yourself to an Indian-inspired banquet in Madhu’s, have afternoon tea in High Chai, or relax with some sushi in The Lounges.

But the piece de resistance is The Glasshouse, one of the world’s finest buffets, they say, with a number of live-action food stations showcasing the very best cuisine from around the globe. There is something for everyone here, and you’ll always find yourself going back for more, whether it’s the grill, the pizza oven, or the dessert station.

You won’t be leaving here feeling anything but full and satisfied.

Where to stay

After a refurbishment led by award-winning designer Martin Hulbert, each room at The Grove is modern, stylish, clean, and spacious, with a huge TV in each and a state-of-the-art bathroom.

The perfect place to retreat.

For more information and to book your stay, visit The Grove’s website. 

Alex Perry is the Associate Editor of bunkered. A journalist for more than 20 years, he has been a golf industry stalwart for the majority of his career and, in a five-year spell at ESPN, covered every sporting event you can think of. He completed his own Grand Slam at the 2023 Masters, having fallen in love with the sport at his hometown club of Okehampton and on the links of nearby Bude & North Cornwall.

Associate Editor