Founded

Founded and opened in 1891, Burnham Beeches is the oldest club in Buckinghamshire.

It is situated on the edge of 500 acres of historic woodland, bought by the Corporation of the City of London in 1880, and it is this conservation area that gives the club its name.

The club opened with 47 members: 21 ladies and 26 men. In 1897 the R&A rules were adopted and in 1902 JH Taylor [five times open champion] redesigned the course, making it 5,610 yards long with a par of 81.

The current course was redesigned by FW Hawtree in 1965 and remains largely unchanged today.

Lord Burnham bought the course in 1909 and leased it to the Club for 80 years. This was further extended in 1959. Finally the Golf Club’s future was secured in 2013 when the freehold of the course was purchased from the Burnham Estate. Burnham Beeches Golf Club course and facilities are now owned by the membership as a private members club.

Early Years

One of the better known members over the years was Lady Astor, the first woman to take a seat in the House of Commons, she was a member at Burnham from 1930 to 1962, and lived at Cliveden a couple of miles away.


The cottage on the right of the 5th hole visible on the approach to the 12th green was once the cottage of the Club’s first green-keeper. His children were born there and one of them, Arthur Lacey, played in the Ryder Cup teams of 1933 and 1937, became Chairman of the PGA in 1949 and the Ryder Cup Captain in 1951.

During both wars the course was used in part as arable farmland and for army tactical exercises.

Professional Rounds

Over the years many famous golfers have played the course, including the Great Triumvirate of James Braid, J H Taylor and Harry Vardon who, between them, won the British Open 16 times.

Other golfing legends include many Ryder Cup players such as Percy Allis and his son Peter, Ken Bousfield, Dai Rees, David Thomas, Bernhard Langer, Seve Ballesteros, Luke Donald and more recently Charlie Hull.

Celebrity Visitors

The course has also attracted stars of other sports. The great Australian cricketers Don Bradman (pictured) and Richie Benaud brought their Test teams play and Burnham members have included England players such as R W V Robins and Andrew Strauss.

Many famous footballers have enjoyed golf at Burnham during visits by the England squad. Kevin Keegan, Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Michael Owen are just a few of the many well known names to have visited.

Recent Times

The Club’s 125 anniversary was celebrated in 2016 and continues to thrive and develop in its attractive and unique position on the edge of Burnham Beeches.

As a members’ club, the destiny of the club and key decisions are made through an elected board, Men’s and Ladies Captains and associated committees and working with a general manager and his staff.

There is a healthy demand for membership and many golfing societies come back year after year.