Kids in London – Golf at Duke’s Meadows, Chiswick

If you have always wanted to learn to play golf, but have been a bit shy and nervous of the possibly snotty reception you will get at a golf club when you pitch up as a beginner – here’s a solution. Take your kids along to Duke’ Meadows near Chiswick Bridge. Malcolm, Mark and the eight other professionals are all really user friendly and welcoming…and they might even lend your kids some clubs if you are a real first timer.

£5 will purchase a bucket of balls to take onto the 50 bay driving range (open from 9am to 10pm every day). Kids love being able to whack balls into the distance and you won’t believe how quickly they learn. And it keeps them quiet for quite a while. For £6 each you can have a go on the special Academy short course which is designed for juniors – no need to book to play, just turn up and wait your turn. There are only six holes and each is par three and there’s only one bunker. So kids can experience a real game in a reasonable amount of time (my nine year old daughter has been playing for a couple of months now and three of us got round the six holes in about 50 minutes. I have to tell you that we did a celebratory dance though when I managed a birdie on the fourth hole! I guess I’m just a big kid at heart).

And if your kids get the bug then you can consider some lessons. An hour of coaching in a junior group costs £7 and individual coaching for up to three juniors costs £13 for half an hour. There are also school holiday courses. They have lots of leaflets and brochures to explain it all or the pros are happy to talk you through the options.

The club house offers a large bar with a reasonable selection on the menu. There is also a lovely outside terrace where you can watch people on the practice putting green (kids need to be supervised by an adult) and look out over greenery and distant swaying poplars. You can watch the main course players start off from this vantage point and also their return (are they smiling?). You can also hear the gentle sounds of the fountain on the lake. You might be lucky enough to see the resident geese (both Canadian and Egyptian varieties) and the heron and cormorant who fish in the lake. It’s a small peace of countryside and peace – and just a couple of miles from Hammersmith.

There is plenty of parking space. There are some dress code rules for adults who want to play on the main 9 hole, par 3 course though – you need proper golf shoes with soft spikes, men need to wear a collar and it is smart casual (although you can wear smart jeans). To play on the main course you will also need a half set of clubs and a proper golf bag. And best to book in advance - especially at weekends when it can get busy. Kids under 16 can only play on the main course during the week, unless they are members of the club or escorted by a member. But they can play during the week without being members.

The course is really close to the river too – and that offers a nice walk. Although it is not buggy friendly…and a couple of miles down the road is Hogarth’s House which is a nice place to visit too.

Alternatively, you can unload your older kids at Duke’s Meadows with a responsible adult and take off to do some shopping in Richmond which is only about another 15 minutes drive.

:)