Hever Castle (Kings & Queens)

Hever castle is located on the high weald's northern side. One of england's most ancient and charming castles is located in this area of outstanding natural beauty. This double-moated castle, which dates from the 13th century, was the childhood home of anne boleyn, henry viii's second wife and mother of elizabeth i.

Hever castle golf club is located within this historic estate to the north of the river eden, and includes the award-winning hever gardens, which cover 125 acres. Golf first came to hever in the 1920s, when a 9-hole course was designed for william waldorf astor (one of america's wealthiest men at the time), who bought the property at the turn of the century and started an extensive renovation project.

The original 9-hole course was dismantled during wwii, and it took about fifty years for golf to return to hever castle in the shape of a new 18-hole course, which was constructed in 1992 by dr. peter nicholson, author of science and golf, a book on the technical aspects of the game. Nicholson was a landscape consultant and agronomist for several clubs in the uk, consulting with peter alliss and dave thomas.

The shorter 9-hole princes course, constructed by hever castle's course manager david wood in 1998, was added to nicholson's course (which was planned in two returning 9-hole loops called the kings and queens). The kings and queens 18-hole layout hosted a pga europro tour event in 2010, which matthew evans won, ensuring his place on the challenge tour the next season.