A small borough, a tight cluster of courses
Southend-on-Sea is not a large golfing county in terms of numbers — five clubs in total, spread across Leigh-on-Sea, Thorpe Bay and the town centre itself — but what it lacks in spread it makes up for in quality. The course-type mix here is almost entirely parkland, four of the five clubs falling into that category, so the golf tends towards tree-lined fairways, established layouts and settings shaped more by decades of maturing turf and planting than by wind off the Thames Estuary. Green fees start from around £24, which keeps the golf accessible for a borough this close to London.
Belfairs and the Colt connection
Belfairs Golf Club in Leigh-on-Sea is the standout name for anyone interested in course design. Laid out by Harry Colt and opened in 1926, it sits within woodland and plays two distinct characters across its 18 holes: a front nine with wide, forgiving fairways giving way to a back nine that narrows and tightens between the trees. Peter Alliss reportedly described it as a hidden jewel, and the contrast between its two nines is exactly the sort of thing that keeps golfers coming back to test themselves against a Colt routing rather than simply enjoying the scenery.
Thorpe Hall's remarkable roster
Thorpe Hall Golf Club, in Thorpe Bay, has an even longer story. Founded in 1907 and designed by Kenneth Costley-White and Bert Batley, the course was converted from agricultural land — seaside farmland turned into parkland golf — and its clubhouse dates to the Elizabethan era, giving the club a sense of permanence rare in a borough this compact. The golfing history attached to Thorpe Hall is genuinely notable: Sir Michael Bonallack joined as a cadet in 1948 and went on to win the Essex Boys Championship in 1950 and 1951, the British Boys Championship in 1952, five Amateur Championships and nine Walker Cup appearances. Peter Dawson also started out as a cadet there before becoming Secretary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club between 1999 and 2015. The club's list of England internationals extends further still, with Sally Barber playing in the 1962 Curtis Cup and Lady Angela Bonallack representing her country across six Curtis Cup matches. Thorpe Hall hosted the Sir Michael Bonallack Trophy in 2025, when Essex were Seniors Team Champions, a fitting continuation of that history on home ground.
Practical golf for groups and visitors
For golfers wanting something more straightforward, Garon Park Golf Complex offers a 27-hole championship course on a pay-and-play basis, set across rolling Essex countryside. It's geared towards groups and casual visitors, with society rates available for parties of 12 or more and function facilities that can handle banqueting for up to 120 guests, making it a sensible base for a society day that wants golf and a meal sorted under one roof. Southend On Sea Golf Club, also in Leigh-on-Sea, adds a further parkland option in the same corner of the borough, while Golf.One rounds out the county's offering in the town centre itself.
Taken together, Southend-on-Sea's courses suit golfers who want variety within a short drive rather than a single dominant style. There's a genuine design pedigree at Belfairs and Thorpe Hall, real amateur golf history attached to the latter, and enough pay-and-play flexibility at Garon Park to make the borough workable for society outings as well as regular members. Five clubs is not a huge choice, but each one earns its place.