Matt Nicholson pays a visit to Hever Castle, where history, five hospitality and great golf make for a perfect golfing getaway.
While I’ve had the pleasure of playing the Championship course at Hever Castle Golf Club many times, and have taken my family to visit the historic Castle on more than one occasion, I’ve never had the opportunity to enjoy extended hospitality at what is widely regarded as one of Kent’s most popular visitor attractions. So, when the opportunity arose to bring my overnight bag, I jumped at the chance to find out what made Anne Boleyn and her family fell in love with this special place over 600 years ago.
Hever Castle itself offers visitors a rich and fascinating past, with the oldest parts of the Castle dating back to the 13th century. It was Anne Boleyn’s childhood home in the early 1500s, and it was here that Henry VIII first met her, establishing the property’s royal connection. Four hundred years later, in 1903, it was bought by William Waldorf Astor, one of the richest men in America at the time, who invested millions into restoring the Castle and building the incredible Italian Garden and the ‘Tudor Village’, which is now referred to as the Astor Wing – which would be where my room for the night would be.
The Astor Wing offers 28 luxurious bedrooms, set within stunning private areas of the castle, while Medley Court, a luxurious four-bedroom property, boasts its own private entrance and fabulous views of Hever Castle, perfect for golf groups and couples celebrating special occasions.
My room was on the first floor of the Astor Wing, looking out through leaded windows over the private lawns. The room was as spacious as it was luxurious, offering a combination of old world charm and modern comforts, with plump sofas, a huge bed, acres of cream carpet and a gleaming marble-tiled bathroom, complete with free-standing bath, walk-in shower, and Molton Brown toiletries.
Elsewhere in the Astor Wing, I discovered a magnificent Billiard Room with a huge fireplace, which after a few frames, had me feeling like the Lord of the Manor, or rather the King of the Castle – if only for a few hours. There is also a lovely panelled lounge offering books magazine and newspapers to be enjoyed in front of the log burner.
I headed out for dinner at the appropriately-named King Henry VIII pub in the village, which is also owned by Hever Castle and only a five-minute walk from the accommodation. With oak-panelled walls and a roaring log fire, I enjoyed a superb meal of slow-roasted pork belly and mustard mash, washed down with a selection of local Kentish ales, before heading back to my room.
After a restful night’s sleep, and a superb full English breakfast in the Tudor Suite, I wandered around the gardens for a while, taking in the moated Castle, the boating lake, the maze and the croquet lawn, before heading over to the golf club for my allotted tee time.
With 27 holes of top quality parkland golf on offer, Hever Castle Golf Club it’s no wonder that it’s one of the most popular venues in the county for societies and visitors. A former host of the Kent PGA Championship and Kent Open on numerous occasions since opening in 1992, the Kings and Queens’ courses combine to produce a championship course of over 7,000 yards. With water hazards, numerous astutely-placed bunkers, small greens, and some narrow tree-lined fairways, its place an emphasis on accuracy, although there are plenty of opportunities to open the shoulders, especially on the front nine.
While much of the post-round chat will be about how you negotiated the 644-yard 17th, few courses can boast such an array of stunning holes, with the short third and sixth holes, both of which are played over water, being early personal highlights. Later on, it’s the trio of holes from the 11th to the 13th – Hever’s very own ‘Amen Corner’ – that stand out, not only for their beauty, but their difficulty, with carries over and beside water to small, well-protected targets.
Off the course, Hever boasts a superb Tudor-style clubhouse, part of which dates back to the 13th century, which provides the perfect place to relax after a day’s golf. With a spacious patio, informal spike bar, and a huge lounge and dining room, it is the ideal environment for entertaining, with a choice of dining facilities and meeting rooms.
There are a wide range of golf break packages on offer, starting from £93pp for one night in a deluxe room, including full English breakfast, nine holes on the Prince’s course, and entrance to the Castle and gardens. Upgrade packages to the Championship Course are available.
For more details and bookings, visit www.hever.co.uk/stay-at-hever-castle or call Claire on 01732 701003.
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