Bucks &amp; Oxon


<p>Has the gentle thwacking of tennis balls on Centre Court inspired you to dig out your old tennis gear? Does the promise of long summer days and a gentle soft breeze make you long for manicured lawns, lashings of ginger beer and a jolly good game or two with friends? Well, then, it&#8217;s time to find some outdoor sporting activities  &#8211; and there&#8217;s no two games that say High Summer more than tennis and golf. Here are the best options near you.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TENNIS &#8211; OXFORDSHIRE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="720" height="498" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Tennis-racket-720x498.jpg" alt="Tennis" class="wp-image-105462" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Tennis-racket-720x498.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Tennis-racket-300x207.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Tennis-racket-150x104.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Tennis-racket-760x525.jpg 760w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Tennis-racket.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></figure>



<p>Dig out those tennis whites! Many public tennis courts in Oxfordshire are open for 55-minute slots, some of which <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="you can book here (opens in a new tab)" href="https://tennisoxfordshire.com/courts" target="_blank">you can book here</a>. If there aren&#8217;t any near you, try one of these instead.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/ThameTennisClub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Thame Tennis Club (opens in a new tab)">Thame Tennis Club</a>, Thame</h2>



<p>Those in Thame will want to hotfoot it over to the Thame Sport Club, as all five courts are currently open. The two artificial grass courts are available to non-members, while members can take advantage of the clay courts. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Cropredy Tennis Club (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.cropredytennisclub.co.uk/home" target="_blank">Cropredy Tennis Club</a>, Banbury </h2>



<p>Small but perfectly formed, Cropredy Tennis Club is home to two all-weather hard courts in Cropredy Sports Field. Sign up for free to <a href="https://www2.lta.org.uk/register/">LTA Advantage</a> to book a court or alternatively, become a member for £40 and get involved with the social side. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="David Lloyd (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.davidlloyd.co.uk/clubs/oxford/" target="_blank">David Lloyd</a>, Oxford</h2>



<p>If you&#8217;re a member of David Lloyd, then head down to the Oxford club where there are three outdoor and three indoor courts &#8211; all free for members who usually have access to racquet facilities. There&#8217;s also a four-week free refresher course on offer if you need to give your game some, er&#8230; polish.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/wychwoodstennisclub/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Wychwoods Tennis Club (opens in a new tab)">Wychwoods Tennis Club</a>, Shipton-under-Wychwood</h2>



<p>All three of the club&#8217;s artificial grass courts are now available for members &#8211; but you&#8217;ll have to get in quick! Wychwoods is very popular, being home to over 300 members in the surrounding area. Non-members can come as guests for the costly sum of £3 per game.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Henley Tennis Club (opens in a new tab)" href="https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/HenleyTennisClub" target="_blank">Henley Tennis Club</a>, Henley</h2>



<p>A handy club for Henley locals, there are five courts available here, all just a 15-minute stroll from the centre of town. Currently all five courts are open and new members are welcome; it costs £75 for the year. Non-members can book a court but need to sign up and will be required to pay a one-off fee. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TENNIS &#8211; BUCKINGHAMSHIRE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="720" height="480" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Tennis-720x480.jpg" alt="Tennis" class="wp-image-105461" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Tennis-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Tennis-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Tennis-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Tennis-787x525.jpg 787w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Tennis.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Buckingham Tennis Club (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.buckinghamtennis.net" target="_blank">Buckingham Tennis Club</a>, Buckingham</h2>



<p>It might be easy to miss these three courts in the centre of Chandos Park, but they&#8217;re ideal for a quick game, and online bookings are currently open to the public as well as members. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Chesham Moor Fitness (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.cheshammoorfitness.org.uk" target="_blank">Chesham Moor Fitness</a>, Chesham</h2>



<p>The two hard courts at Chesham Moor Gym and Swim can be booked on a &#8216;Pay to Play&#8217; basis for £8 for 55 minutes. Members have access to the courts as part of their monthly fee. Advance booking only.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Prestwood Tennis Club (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.prestwoodtennisclub.co.uk" target="_blank">Prestwood Tennis Club</a>, Prestwood</h2>



<p>This award-winning tennis club near Great Missenden has recently re-opened its three all-weather tennis courts to its members. If you&#8217;re not yet a member, you can try a seven-day trial to see how you like it. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.gxltc.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Gerrards Cross Lawn Tennis Club (opens in a new tab)">Gerrards Cross Lawn Tennis Club</a>, Gerrards Cross</h2>



<p>For sheer numbers, it&#8217;s hard to beat Gerrards Cross! There are a whopping 18 courts to choose from here, including eight clay courts and seven grass courts &#8211; perfect for a little socially distanced exercise. The courts are only to members only, but there are membership offers for new joiners. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Aston Park Tennis Club (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.astonparktennis.co.uk" target="_blank">Aston Park Tennis Club</a>, Aston Clinton</h2>



<p>Aston Park is a friendly village club with three outdoor courts, which are free to members. &#8216;Pay to Play&#8217; is available for non-members &#8211; £10 for an hour. And, of course, booking needs to sorted online before you turn up.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">GOLFING &#8211; OXFORDSHIRE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="720" height="375" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Heythrop-Park-golf-720x375.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-105474" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Heythrop-Park-golf-720x375.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Heythrop-Park-golf-300x156.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Heythrop-Park-golf-150x78.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Heythrop-Park-golf-900x469.jpg 900w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Heythrop-Park-golf.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Heythrop Park (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.heythroppark.co.uk" target="_blank">Heythrop Park</a>, Chipping Norton </h2>



<p>This four-star hotel and spa is also home to the 18-hole Bainbridge course (above) which sports incredible Cotswolds views, a peaceful woodland setting and water elements. The course is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8.30am to 4.30pm, for members and non-members. Stop by for a drink in the Charlbury Bar afterwards of book in for an afternoon tea in the Wedgwood Lounge.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Henley Golf Club (opens in a new tab)" href="https://henleygolfclub.com" target="_blank">Henley Golf Club</a>, Henley</h2>



<p>You&#8217;d never know this 18-hole course is just a mile outside of central Henley, as the surrounding woodland and epic views make Henley Golf Club feel like it&#8217;s slap-bang in the middle of the countryside. Now&#8217;s the time to visit too, as the club is offering membership with no joining fee. A word of warning &#8211; some of the uphill slopes are a slog, so not one for dicky knees. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Frilford Heath (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.frilfordheath.co.uk" target="_blank">Frilford Heath</a>, nr Abingdon</h2>



<p>This three-course club near Abingdon has had a lot of time to perfect its golf offering &#8211; it&#8217;s been around for over 110 years! The Red, Green and Blue courses mean you have a whopping 54 holes to choose from (plenty of space for social distancing), and the club is now accepting membership enquires for April 2022. If you&#8217;ve been dithering about taking the plunge, now is the time. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The Oxfordshire (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.theoxfordshire.com" target="_blank">The Oxfordshire</a>, Thame</h2>



<p>Those who love a challenge should enjoy the expansive course at The Oxfordshire, which is a popular spot for professional tournaments. Less traditionally British than others on this list, the course has been designed in an American style (plenty of bunkers and man-made lakes) &#8211; so if it&#8217;s a sunny day, you can pop on your sunnies and pretend you&#8217;re in Florida. Open to members and non-members, with a maximum of four players. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.tadmartongolf.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Tadmarton Heath (opens in a new tab)">Tadmarton Heath</a>, nr Banbury</h2>



<p>Tadmarton has long been popular with golfers after a speedy-but-sweet course, and is one of the top picks in the north of the county. Membership is currently full and people wanting to join are being added to a waiting list. However, visitors are now welcome following lockdown lifting and advance tee times can be booked online. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="http://www.studleywoodgolfclub.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Studley Wood Golf Club (opens in a new tab)">Studley Wood Golf Club</a>, nr Oxford </h2>



<p>A hidden gem of a course, you&#8217;d never know Studley Wood is just five miles from the city centre, thanks to the 177 acres of rolling countryside and mature woodland. The club&#8217;s 18-hole course was designed by architect Simon Gidman, who has names like Galgorm Castle and Centurion Club under his belt, so you know you&#8217;re in for a treat. Visitors are welcome and you can book tee times online up to four days in advance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">GOLFING &#8211; BUCKINGHAMSHIRE </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="720" height="367" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Stoke-Park-golf-course-720x367.jpg" alt="Stoke Park Golf" class="wp-image-105459" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Stoke-Park-golf-course-720x367.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Stoke-Park-golf-course-300x153.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Stoke-Park-golf-course-150x77.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Stoke-Park-golf-course-900x459.jpg 900w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Stoke-Park-golf-course.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.stokepark.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Stoke Park (opens in a new tab)">Stoke Park</a>, Stoke Poges</h2>



<p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Stoke Park (opens in a new tab)" href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/stoke-park/" target="_blank">Stoke Park</a> (above) is being prepared for a full multi-million pound refurb so afternoon teas are on hold but in the meantime we&#8217;ll just have to enjoy its tip-top 27-hole golf course instead. After all, it&#8217;s not often you get to play the same course as 007 (Stoke Park was the location for the golf game in <em>Goldfinger</em>). Bonus: the grass and clay tennis courts are open to bookings two weeks in advance. Available to members only. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Oakland Park Golf Club (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.oaklandparkgolf.co.uk" target="_blank">Oakland Park Golf Club</a>, Chalfont St Giles</h2>



<p>Hidden away in the leafy village of Chalfont St Giles, Oakland Park makes the most of its Chiltern parkland location with an 18-hole course that twists and turns. All levels are welcome here &#8211; there&#8217;s enough variety to interest pros while not being too intimidating for beginners. Open to members and visitors. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Woburn Golf Club (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.woburngolf.co.uk" target="_blank">Woburn Golf Club</a>, Milton Keynes</h2>



<p>Woburn is best known for hosting the British Masters for 20 years, and its three courses regularly rank in the top 100 golf courses in the world. It&#8217;s open to visitors and members, but if you&#8217;re umm-ing and ahh-ing about whether to sign up, it&#8217;s worth noting that members get discounts at Woburn Safari Park,&nbsp;Woburn Abbey and Gardens&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The Woburn Hotel (opens in a new tab)" href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/woburn-hotel/" target="_blank">The Woburn Hotel</a> too. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.wexhamparkgolfcentre.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Wexham Park Golf Club (opens in a new tab)">Wexham Park Golf Club</a>, Slough</h2>



<p>Straddling the Bucks and Berks border, Wexham has an 18-hole Blue course and a 9-hole Green course to choose from, both of which are currently open to members and visitors. If you&#8217;re a newbie and want to sharpen up your swing, 1 to 1 golf lessons are also being offered (appropriately socially-distanced, of course). </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.wycombeheightsgc.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Wycombe Heights Golf Club (opens in a new tab)">Wycombe Heights Golf Club</a>, High Wycombe</h2>



<p>What better way to take advantage of the chalky hills of the Chilterns than to pop a couple of golf courses down? Wycombe Height boasts a main course and a short course, both of which are 18 holes, and golf aficionados will be pleased to note that the main course was designed by former Ryder Cup captain John Jacobs.&nbsp;Both are currently open to members and visitors. </p>


Where to play tennis (and golf) in Bucks & Oxon

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