London Borough of Barnet

Map showing golf courses in borough.

Barnet has nine active golf courses, (excluding those with fewer than nine holes) which together cover a total of 319.64 hectares. That's approximately 3.69% of the borough's total area. Of these, six are publicly owned.

Course NameFreehold Ownership
Oak Hill ParkOwned by borough
Old Fold Manor Golf ClubOwned by borough
South Herts Golf CoursePrivately-owned
Mill Hill Golf ClubOwned by borough
Arkley Golf ClubOwned by borough
North Middlesex Golf CourseOther public body
Hampstead Golf ClubPrivately-owned
Hendon Golf ClubPrivately-owned
Finchley Golf CourseOwned by borough

In total, Barnet has 153 holes across these courses.

Assuming one hole takes an average of 12.5 minutes to play, and that a maximum of four players can play each hole at the same time, the maximum number of people occupying Barnet's courses over a twelve-hour day is 1,913, or 612 people at a time. Therefore the total maximum density across the borough's golf courses is 1.91 people per hectare.

Barnet has an approximate housing density of around 18 homes per hectare. If new homes were to be built on all of the publicly-owned courses in the borough, at this density it would deliver circa 2,737 homes.

Alternatively, if housing was built on those areas of golf course limited to within 800m of a station or high street, or with a PTAL of 3 or more, then around 1,889 homes could be delivered at prevailing densities. That figure is 7.99% of total housing target for the next 10 years according to the Intend to the New London Plan.

However, the current London Plan advocates for higher density development in areas with good access to public transport. Assuming a (conservative) target of 60 dwellings per hectare, the total capacity of Barnet's golf courses to provide new housing is 6,336, assuming only those areas of courses within the new London Plan policy H2 zone are reclaimed for housing. That is 26.80% of the borough's total housing target for the next decade.

Based on an average occupancy of 4 people per home (based on 3.1–3.7 hr/unit), the total number of people living within the H2 zone of these courses would be 25,344.

Using the same methodology for publicly-owned golf courses within Barnet, a total of 5,164 homes might be created (6.51% of the London Plan target). Based on an average occupancy of 4 people per home (based on 3.1–3.7 hr/unit), the total number of people living within the H2 zone of these courses would be 20,657.

Barnet has 8,031 people in temporary accommodation, and 2,914 households on its housing waiting list.

Area of Golf Courses by Freehold Ownership Type

Arkley Golf Club

Arkley Golf Club is a publicly-owned golf course with 18 holes, and an area of 21.38 hectares.

The freehold is owned by London Borough of Barnet, under freehold title number AGL314228.

The entirety of this course's area lies within the green belt.

The course is leased to Arkley Golf Club under title AGL105917, with a period of 180 years from 25 March 2002. According to news reports the lease was bought by U+I for £300,000 in April 2020, although at the time of writing this is not yet reflected on the Land Registry.

Finchley Golf Course

Finchley Golf Course is a publicly-owned golf course with 18 holes, and an area of 37.44 hectares.

The freehold is owned by London Borough of Barnet, under freehold title number AGL318364.

33.18 hectares (88.62%) of the course's area lie within the London Plan Policy H2 zone (ie. within 800m of a station or town centre, or with a PTAL of 3 or more).

If the area of this course within the policy H2 zone were released for housing at existing borough densities (around 18 homes per hectare), it might be possible accommodate around 593 homes.

However, with a more ambitious density target of 125% compared to prevailing densities, this could be increased to around 742 homes.

The current London Plan advocates densities of between 35 and 130 dwellings per hectare, depending on PTAL. Assuming an average density of 60 dph, the capacity of golf courses within the new London Plan policy H2 zone is around 1,991.

The entirety of this course's area lies within the green belt.

Hampstead Golf Club

Hampstead Golf Club is a privately-owned golf course with 9 holes, and an area of 19.32 hectares.

The freehold is owned by private individuals.

All of this course's area is designated as Metropolitan Open Land.

None of this course lies within the green belt.

Hendon Golf Club

Hendon Golf Club is a privately-owned golf course with 18 holes, and an area of 44.07 hectares.

The freehold is owned by private individuals, under freehold title number AGL63394.

11.24 hectares (25.50%) of the course's area lie within the London Plan Policy H2 zone (ie. within 800m of a station or town centre, or with a PTAL of 3 or more).

If the area of this course within the policy H2 zone were released for housing at existing borough densities (around 18 homes per hectare), it might be possible accommodate around 201 homes.

However, with a more ambitious density target of 125% compared to prevailing densities, this could be increased to around 251 homes.

The current London Plan advocates densities of between 35 and 130 dwellings per hectare, depending on PTAL. Assuming an average density of 60 dph, the capacity of golf courses within the new London Plan policy H2 zone is around 674.

The entirety of this course's area lies within the green belt.

Mill Hill Golf Club

Mill Hill Golf Club is a publicly-owned golf course with 18 holes, and an area of 66.76 hectares.

The freehold is owned by London Borough of Barnet, under freehold title number AGL273537.

The entirety of this course's area lies within the green belt.

North Middlesex Golf Course

North Middlesex Golf Course is a publicly-owned golf course with 18 holes, and an area of 30.12 hectares.

The freehold is owned by Church Commissioners for England, under freehold title number AGL275951.

The course is leased to The North Middlesex Golf Club (1928) Limited under title number AGL102246.

29.39 hectares (97.58%) of the course's area lie within the London Plan Policy H2 zone (ie. within 800m of a station or town centre, or with a PTAL of 3 or more).

If the area of this course within the policy H2 zone were released for housing at existing borough densities (around 18 homes per hectare), it might be possible accommodate around 526 homes.

However, with a more ambitious density target of 125% compared to prevailing densities, this could be increased to around 657 homes.

The current London Plan advocates densities of between 35 and 130 dwellings per hectare, depending on PTAL. Assuming an average density of 60 dph, the capacity of golf courses within the new London Plan policy H2 zone is around 1,763.

All of this course's area is designated as Metropolitan Open Land.

None of this course lies within the green belt.

The North Middlesex Golf Club (1928) Limited benefits from a 200 year lease from 28 March 2002, paying a rent of one peppercorn.

Oak Hill Park

Oak Hill Park is a publicly-owned golf course with 9 holes, and an area of 3.91 hectares.

The freehold is owned by London Borough of Barnet, under freehold title number AGL315660.

None of this course lies within the green belt.

Old Fold Manor Golf Club

Old Fold Manor Golf Club is a publicly-owned golf course with 18 holes, and an area of 48.69 hectares.

The freehold is owned by London Borough of Barnet, under freehold title number AGL70807.

23.50 hectares (48.26%) of the course's area lie within the London Plan Policy H2 zone (ie. within 800m of a station or town centre, or with a PTAL of 3 or more).

If the area of this course within the policy H2 zone were released for housing at existing borough densities (around 18 homes per hectare), it might be possible accommodate around 420 homes.

However, with a more ambitious density target of 125% compared to prevailing densities, this could be increased to around 525 homes.

The current London Plan advocates densities of between 35 and 130 dwellings per hectare, depending on PTAL. Assuming an average density of 60 dph, the capacity of golf courses within the new London Plan policy H2 zone is around 1,410.

The entirety of this course's area lies within the green belt.

South Herts Golf Course

South Herts Golf Course is a privately-owned golf course with 27 holes, and an area of 47.95 hectares.

The freehold is owned by private individuals, under freehold title number NGL733581.

8.29 hectares (17.29%) of the course's area lie within the London Plan Policy H2 zone (ie. within 800m of a station or town centre, or with a PTAL of 3 or more).

If the area of this course within the policy H2 zone were released for housing at existing borough densities (around 18 homes per hectare), it might be possible accommodate around 148 homes.

However, with a more ambitious density target of 125% compared to prevailing densities, this could be increased to around 185 homes.

The current London Plan advocates densities of between 35 and 130 dwellings per hectare, depending on PTAL. Assuming an average density of 60 dph, the capacity of golf courses within the new London Plan policy H2 zone is around 497.

The entirety of this course's area lies within the green belt.

Comprises 2 courses: 1 x 18-hole and 1 x 9-hole