Set in the heart of Norfolk’s Breckland landscape, Swaffham Golf Club is a welcoming and well-regarded members’ club with a proud heritage and a forward-thinking spirit. Whether you're picking up a club for the first time or you've played for decades, our course offers challenge and enjoyment in equal measure. With a vibrant membership, beautifully maintained 18-hole course, and friendly atmosphere, we’re proud to be a club where golf is for everyone.
Swaffham Golf Club was founded on 3rd May 1922 by a group of 17 local residents determined to bring golf to the area. The original 9-hole course on Cley Road was built with just £300 of investment (equivalent to around £18,000 today), with land generously provided by Rear Admiral Harbord-Hamond, the 10th Baron Suffield and the club’s first President. Designed by Captain B.K. Wilson of Royal West Norfolk, the course opened just six months later.
In 2001, the club expanded to a full 18-hole layout, adding nine new holes carved through mature woodland. The extension was carefully designed to blend with the original heathland-style course, creating the varied, challenging, and scenic experience our members and visitors enjoy today.
Blending heathland features with woodland charm, our par-71 course offers variety, natural beauty, and excellent playing conditions throughout the year. Situated on the well-draining Breckland soil, we’re one of the few clubs in the region that rarely needs to close or switch to temporary greens – even in wetter months.
Golfers of all levels enjoy the mix of open fairways and tighter, tree-lined holes. Regular visitors praise the course for being "in immaculate condition" and "a hidden gem in Norfolk." The layout rewards thoughtful play and offers something different every round. Whether you're here for a casual game, a county competition, or a corporate day, you’ll find the course both fair and memorable.
At the heart of Swaffham Golf Club is a strong sense of belonging. We’re proud to offer a diverse calendar of competitions and social fixtures for Men, Women, Seniors, Juniors, and Mixed groups. Our members often describe the club as “one of the friendliest in the region” – something we actively work to maintain.
We host regular open events and inter-club matches, and we’re proud to have enjoyed county-level success, including winning the Cullington Cup and the Ladies County Scratch League in our early years as an 18-hole course.
From newcomers to county players, everyone is welcome at Swaffham. And with a variety of membership options, flexible tee times, and friendly coaching staff, it's easy to get started – or pick the game back up again.
We may be over a century old, but Swaffham Golf Club is far from stuck in the past. We’re continually investing in course improvements, modernising our clubhouse facilities, and finding new ways to welcome more people to the game we all love.
As a community hub for golfers across Norfolk – from Thetford to Dereham, Downham Market to Watton – our goal is simple: to make golf more enjoyable and accessible for everyone.
Get in touch today to book a tee time, arrange a visit, or explore our Norfolk golf membership options. We look forward to welcoming you to Swaffham Golf Club – a place where tradition meets opportunity, and every golfer belongs.