Sitting atop the challenging heathland of Surrey and its surrounding sand belt, Sunningdale Golf Club is a must-play on your England golf vacation. Offering two brilliant courses, The Old and The New, Sunningdale lures golfers from the linkslands of the coasts to this unique environment.
With two championship designs and high-profile members, Sunningdale oozes class and sophistication without being stuffy. Even the halfway house uses real china to serve its famous bacon baps and roast chicken sandwiches.
Open during the main golf season, Sunningdale provides a perfect place to play, unwind, and socialize. On a pleasant summer’s evening, there is no better place to enjoy a glass of claret than on the terrace, the epitome of London golf clubs. Sunningdale is a much-loved club by golfers all around the world, sitting among the world’s top 100 courses.
Sir Michael Bonallack, former secretary of the R&A and England’s most decorated amateur, said of the club, “all that one would hope to find in the ideal golf club is in abundance at Sunningdale”.
The original Old Course was laid out by Scotsman Willie Park, Jr. Himself an excellent putter, the Old Course features fabulous large undulating green complexes. Blessed with dramatic elevation changes that he fully took advantage of, he also added visually intimidating features such as cross bunkers and ditches.
Having stood the test of time the Old Course is still consistently rated in Great Britain & Ireland’s Top 10 as the highest non-links design in England golf ratings.
When Harry Colt became the first full-time Secretary at Sunningdale for the princely annual sum of £150 he enhanced Park’s design before embarking on his original mark – The New Course in 1923.
The distinctive narrow winding fairways are lined with the beautiful, but treacherous purple heather that define the heathland courses. Usually scoring higher for members than the Old, The New is more rugged with less bunkering.
Leading to the early success of Sunningdale Golf Club was the invitation of M. Owens to join. Mr. Owens was then the GM of the railway which at the time did not stop at Sunningdale, on the way to Ascot. After accepting and becoming an important member, the train began a regular stop at the Sunningdale station.
The Club has played host to many prestigious competitions and legendary golfers, none more so than Bobby Jones in the qualifier for the 1926 Open at Royal Lytham that he won.
In the first round of 36 holes, he scored 66 in what was to become known as “the Perfect Round.” It consisted of an equal number of shots and putts. The next day he scored an equally impressive 68 and proclaimed, “I wish I could take this course home with me.”
The Sunningdale Foursomes in early March signals the start of the golf season and has become one of the most difficult tournaments to gain entry to being oversubscribed each year. To qualify the team members must have the following handicaps or lower – men pros +1, women pros 2, Men amateurs 0, women amateurs 3.
The Club allows visitors to play Monday-Thursday. Be sure and allow time in your England golf tour for the full Sunningdale experience – 36 holes, lunch, a post-round libation in the 19th hole or on the terrace, and a shopping spree in one of golf’s best-appointed pro shops.
Sunningdale Golf Club stands at the heart of the world’s greatest concentration of heathland golf, making it the perfect centrepiece for an unforgettable multi-day journey.
Set within England’s famed Sand Belt – a geological treasure stretching through Surrey and Berkshire just southwest of London – it shares the same sand and clay that shaped other masterpieces such as Walton Heath, Swinley Forest, St George’s Hill and The Berkshire.
Nowhere else in the world offers such a remarkable cluster of inland courses: world-ranked, within easy reach of one another, and each a shining example of heathland golf at its very best.
Few halfway houses in golf are as iconic as Sunningdale’s. Nestled at the crossroads where the Old and New Courses meet, this modest hut has become as much a part of the club’s lore as Bobby Jones’s perfect round or the great oak by the 18th green.
Its location is no accident. When Harry Colt designed the New Course in 1923, he cleverly routed the outward nine to pass the very same spot where Willie Park Jr.’s Old Course already turned for home. The result is a unique junction: after the 9th hole on both courses, golfers converge on the same halfway house.
For those tackling 36 holes in a day – and at Sunningdale you absolutely should – it means two visits. Each one offers a chance to recharge before taking on the demanding back nines.
Few experiences in golf rival a traditional post-round Pimm’s on the patio, especially in a setting widely considered among the most magical in the game. Be sure to have your camera ready at the 15th hole as well, where one of the finest views in England provides the perfect finishing touch to an unforgettable day.
Just a short distance from London, Pennyhill Park stands out as the ideal base for a South England golf tour. The property is pure luxury—highlighted by its world-class spa, widely regarded as one of the finest in the UK, and a Michelin-starred restaurant that elevates the entire experience.
Combine the fantastic heathland courses near London and the challenging links of southeast England on a week-long South East England golf tour. Include the famous sights of London during your stay.
7 nights accommodation and 6 rounds of golf
Prices starting from $7,855 per golfer
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Sunningdale Golf Club; Sunningdale Old & New
Sunningdale Golf Club, Ridgemount Road, Sunningdale, Berkshire SL5 9RR, United Kingdom
1900 (club founded; Old Course opened 1901, New Course 1923)
Private members’ club with limited visitor and society days; gates, clubhouse and tee times operate to club schedule – confirm in advance via club or Premier Golf.
Old Course – 18 holes; heathland; par 70; 6,627 yards from back tees; course rating around 72. Designed by Willie Park Jr., opened 1901, with heather-lined fairways and subtle greens. New Course – 18 holes; heathland; par 70; 6,729 yards from back tees; rating around 73. Designed by Harry Colt, opened 1923, generally regarded as a slightly sterner test with bolder contouring.
Famed clubhouse with dining rooms, bar, verandah and locker facilities; full practice ground, multiple short-game areas and putting greens; caddies, forecaddies and trolleys; extensive pro shop; nearby premium hotels around Sunningdale, Ascot and Windsor.
Both Old and New regularly appear in the World and GB&I Top 100 rankings; host of elite events including the Senior Open, Women’s British Open, Walker Cup, European Open and Sunningdale Foursomes.
Swinley Forest; The Berkshire; Walton Heath; Wentworth; Royal Ascot; Foxhills.
As of the 2025 season, the green fee for 18 holes on the Old Course is £395 per person. For those wishing to play both the Old and New Courses on the same day, the combined fee is £700 per person.
Yes, Sunningdale Golf Club welcomes visitors from Monday to Thursday, excluding Bank Holidays. The club is closed to visitors from 18th July to 31st August 2025.
Both the Old and New Courses at Sunningdale are highly esteemed, each offering a unique and challenging experience. The Old Course is celebrated for its traditional heathland layout. The New Course presents a slightly more rugged terrain. Preference between the two often depends on individual taste, and many golfers appreciate playing both to fully experience what Sunningdale has to offer.
Sunningdale Golf Club boasts two 18-hole courses: the Old Course and the New Course. Both are renowned for their exceptional design and playability.
Yes, visitors are required to hold a current valid handicap index with a maximum of 18.4 for men and 24.4 for ladies.
Yes, Premier Golf Sunningdale Golf Club is included ss part of our South East England Golf Tour, allowing you to experience both the Old and New Courses. We also offer customisable golf packages that can include Sunningdale.
Yes, both the Old and New Courses at Sunningdale are challenging, with tight fairways, heather, and undulating terrain demanding accuracy and strategic play.
