Flackwell Heath offers two clear themes for a stay: golf and local history. The Flackwell Heath Golf Club Golf Academy represents a present-day offering of lessons, play and practice. Alongside it, a former golf course, a listed war memorial and a milestone on the A404 point to different layers of time. A historic summer tradition and the Smith family’s former fruit-growing business also give the area further cultural connections. This gives sporting interests and curiosity about local history and culture concrete points of connection.
Golf today and in local history
The Flackwell Heath Golf Club Golf Academy offers six lessons, unlimited rounds of golf and full use of the club’s practice facilities for six months. Each element has a different emphasis: lessons have a set number, rounds of golf can be played without limit, and full use of the practice facilities is available for six months. If you are planning the golf part of your stay, you can consider these options separately: guided lessons, play and practice at the club’s facilities.
Golf is also part of the area’s earlier history. By 1904, a nine-hole golf course had been laid out at Minchins Farm in Flackwell Heath. This places a present-day academy offering and a historic course side by side in different periods. For golf enthusiasts, the former course adds a specific connection to local history to the present-day offering.
Monument and historic road connections
The Flackwell Heath War Memorial is listed as a Grade II building for its historic and architectural interest. The designation reflects two aspects: the historical and architectural interest of the memorial.
The milestone on the A404 dates from the 18th or 19th century. Its inscription reads: “(20) Reading Hatfield (30): right: Amersham 6 Wycombe 1”. It originally stood on the road of the Reading and Hatfield Turnpike Trust. The inscription combines place names and numbers; its historic road connection also places the stone within an earlier transport route. Unlike the memorial, whose Grade II listing identifies its historical and architectural interest, the milestone is notable for its date, inscription and connection to the road.
Earlier traditions and fruit growing
The Cherry Fair, also known as the Cherry Fayre, was held annually at the end of July as a historic tradition. Its annual recurrence distinguishes it from a one-off event and complements the built heritage with an earlier tradition of events.
The area’s former fruit-growing business is also part of its local history: the Smith family, fruit growers from Chapel Road, took their produce to the London markets. This story thus leads from a named local origin to markets in London. While the fair describes a recurring local event, the Smiths’ story focuses on the journey of the fruit to market.
The timeframe is particularly helpful when choosing the focus of your trip: the golf academy describes a present-day offering, while the golf course, memorial, milestone, fair and fruit-growing history take you into the area’s past. This can help you decide whether you would rather focus on a sporting activity or on historical and cultural themes.
Discover more destinations: Iver, Farnham Royal, Buckingham, West Wycombe, Little Missenden, Middle Claydon, Cheddington, Aston Clinton
For the wider travel overview: Buckinghamshire.
