The Drift Golf Club Review – Is it Worth a Society Day in 2025?

Planning your next society day in Surrey and wondering if The Drift is a good fit?
This is a course with character — tree-lined, peaceful, and with one of the best practice set-ups in the county. But it also comes with a few things worth knowing before you lock in that tee sheet.

Here’s the full breakdown, from layout and conditions to society-day suitability.

The Drift: Course Overview

Location: East Horsley, Surrey (easy reach for London & South East groups)
Style: Woodland / parkland hybrid

Length: ~6,400 yards (par-73 from whites)

Vibe: Quiet, premium feel without being stuffy

Who it suits: Mid-handicappers, groups who enjoy “proper golf” challenge, organisers who want solid facilities

What We Liked

Brilliant practice facilities – full range, short game area, putting green; great warm-up for societies.
Tree-lined and strategic – rewards good ball placement, keeps better players engaged all day.

Relaxed yet polished clubhouse – great 19th hole setting for food, drinks, and post-round banter.

Feels like a “day out” course – more character than a generic parkland loop.

Very society-friendly – groups of 8+ fit naturally into the flow of play.

Things to Know Before You Book

Conditions vary seasonally – in wet weather the course can play heavy; winter rounds can feel softer underfoot.

Tighter layout than it first appears – beginners should pick shorter tees or take an iron off the tee to keep confidence up (and ball count!).

Pace can slow at busy times – try mid-week or early tee times for the best speed of play.

Is The Drift Good for Society Days?

Yes — very much so.

For friendly group golf or small-to-mid sized societies, The Drift hits a lovely sweet spot between playability, facilities, and atmosphere. The driving range lets everyone warm up, the layout encourages post-round storytelling, and the clubhouse is a natural social anchor afterwards.

If your group enjoys “challenging courses” rather than big wide fairways, this is a great pick.

Th Drift caters for groups, ranging from 8 to 100+ players six days a week, excluding Saturdays.

Society organiser tip:

Use ParUp to set up your event, confirm players, and run a live leaderboard — it stops the scorecard scramble at the end and makes the whole day feel smoother and more engaging.
→ https://parup.golf/golf-society/

Final Verdict

Book early for weekends: Popular with societies and casual players, so pace of play can slow at peak times.
Fairway conditions: Generally strong, though dry spells can leave a few brown patches—normal for many UK parkland courses.
Challenge factor: Water and narrow drives keep you honest. Course management is key – some players should opt for irons off the tee for safety!

Our Verdict for Golf Societies

8/10 for society days
Book it in decent weather, arrive early for the range, enjoy a drink afterwards and your group will have a cracking day. It’s a “golf-first” experience with the right balance of challenge and enjoyment.

Planning a Society Day Here? Make It Effortless

Instead of juggling spreadsheets and WhatsApp threads, you can:

✅ Create your event in advance so everyone has the details
✅ Track RSVPs and who has and hasn’t paid
✅ Use digital scorecards and forget the paper and scribbled scores
✅ Show live leaderboards to fuel the excitement and competitiveness
✅ Save all your rounds for post-match bragging rights

And all inside one free app!

👉 Download ParUp Golf and organise your day the easy way: https://parup.golf

FAQs

Is The Drift beginner-friendly?
Mostly, yes. Tree-lined holes can punish those of us who have a tendency to slice or hook the ball off the fairways.
Do they allow golf societies and group bookings?
Yes — it’s a strong venue for societies and small group outings. Just call in advance for catering or tee time blocks.
Is it worth the green fee?
In good conditions, definitely. Especially just off-season rates.

About the ParUp Golf app

ParUp Golf is the ultimate free golf app for society golfing. Find and join a local golf society or golf group near you. Alternatively, you can also just use the platform to host and facilitate your existing golf society events, whilst enjoying a range of features including a digital golf scorecard and live leaderboards. Check out the full range of features on the ParUp Golf app by clicking here. The latest version of the app can be downloaded on both iPhone and Android mobile devices.

We have lots of new features coming very soon to the app, but are also constantly looking to improve the current offering, so if you have any feedback or suggestions, we’d love to hear from you – please email us at info@parup.golf