Once heath and woodland, then a 19th century English manor house, Foxhills is a now a secluded resort offering a choice of three golf courses, four restaurants, tennis courts, swimming pools and a spa, all spread across 400 acres of pristine Surrey countryside, within an easy drive of London.
It even has its own intriguing history – in the form of a colorful member of parliament, James Fox, a passionate orator and high-flying gambler who lived on the estate in the 1780s with his mistress and former courtesan, Elizabeth Armistead, and survived a pistol duel in the center of Hyde Park.
Built in gothic revival style with elaborate chimneys and decorative stone urns of colorful begonias, entry to the resort is along a narrow country road lined with trees. As befitting Old World English ambience, a large room just beyond the reception desk, a ‘drawing room’ in a bygone era, is furnished with soft comfortable stretch-sofas and armchairs, gilt-framed 19th-century oil paintings, delicate porcelain Chinese vases and charming table lamps. A cozy fireplace means guests can enjoy drinks or a traditional afternoon tea and quiet leisurely moments here while admiring the thick forest of beech, oak and fir just outside the large bay window, or catching up on the latest news through a collection of complimentary newspapers. In warm weather, alfresco dining is a preferred option on the outdoor patio.
Overlooking tennis courts and a forest, it reflected a contemporary classic design with ash-gray stretch sofa and a chaise longue of leather and velvet. Black and white photographs of athletes in different sports adorned the walls and the bathroom featured a separate shower and bath with toiletries from The White Company.
Using Elemis La Sultane de Saba products, the Foxhills spa menu includes signature face and body treatments including massage and physiotherapy sessions, as well as a hydro pool, steam-room, swimming pools, outdoor hot tub and two Finnish saunas.
Golfers at all levels are well catered for at Foxhills. The club’s two 18-hole championship courses, combining parkland and heathland, are ranked among the best in England while the 9-hole manor course suits players wishing to improve their short game or those discovering golf for the first time.
Well-qualified coaches offer lessons and clinics. The club, which also features a putting green and driving range, has staged a number of prestigious tournaments since it opened in 1975, including the European Tour’s Tournament Players Championship.
Interestingly, Foxhills is not a destination exclusively for golfers. Indicating its popularity as a corporate venue, while we were there, a group of lively ladies from a major company enjoyed dinner with clients at one table in the Manor Restaurant while a quartet of young male and female entrepreneurs talked enthusiastically at another.
For a quiet English countryside experience with a wide choice of activities and discreet accommodation surrounded by woodland, Foxhills Club & Resort is a strong choice.
