As one of the world’s most highly regarded golf clubs, every England golf vacation deserves a stop at Walton Heath Golf Club. There is no finer day out in Surrey than playing the Old and New courses here, with both legendary golfing and political history on the cards.
The club has also played host to championships including the Ryder Cup and European Open. The best-known player across the heathland was none other than Winston Churchill, who frequented the club with a variety of other political friends and adversaries from 1910 until his passing in 1965.
Like The Berkshire, Walton Heath is blessed with two superb Herbert Fowler designs, giving it a deserving place in the World Top 100 Course lists. The Old course from 1903 is the longer route, stretching to 7,331 yards with smaller green targets.
Influenced by the links of Scotland, it requires a repertoire of shots that serve link players admirably, in order to score well. The New course plays over the same linksland and is a tad shorter at 7,199 yards from the tips. While it’s named the ‘new’ course, this 18-hole course only opened ten years after the Old course.
Having been built before the car became a necessary appendage, there are two holes from each course (1st and 18th) on the side of the road with the clubhouse and the remaining 32 holes are played across what now has become a very busy thoroughfare. The club is currently reviewing options that would relocate the clubhouse and the four holes to join the rest of the routing and avoid the potential danger of vehicular accidents.
Interestingly, while Walton Heath is the only club in England golf to have had a reigning monarch as captain, King Edward VIII in 1935, he never bestowed the Royal Charter.
The club also has a prominent place in golf history with the first pro having been James Braid, winner of five Open Championships and renowned golf architect, from 1904 until his death in 1950. Hence the allure of Walton that one never grows tired of playing there or perhaps it’s the legendary lunch that keeps them coming back.
Among prestigious tournaments the Club has played host to; it is used as a frequent qualifier for The Open Championship, has hosted a Ryder Cup, the Senior Open, multiple European Opens, the British Masters, and hosted the Women’s Open in 2023, to great success.
The 1981 Ryder Cup was especially memorable in the 18 ½ – 9 ½ routing of the GB&I squad holding Sir Nick Faldo to only one point. Not surprising considering the U.S. Squad had 36 major wins among players that included Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and Larry Nelson.
The challenging heathland courses, like Walton Heath’s Old and New, that make up the best of London golf, are as bucket list-worthy as any championship links in Scotland and Ireland. Their addition will make any England golf tour a memorable one. It should be noted that, like many prestigious private clubs in Britain, Walton Heath is a two-ball club with foursomes (alternate shot) the preferred format of members and usually one course a weekday is designated as such.
Walton Heath’s Old Course represents Herbert Fowler’s original 1903 vision for heathland golf at its finest. Measuring 7,331 yards from the championship tees, this demanding layout requires both precision and strategic thinking across every hole. The course’s defining characteristic is its relentless heather, which borders fairways and punishes wayward shots with a severity that rivals any Scottish links.
What makes the Old Course particularly challenging is the small, undulating greens that demand accurate approach shots, even a well-struck tee shot means little if you can’t find the putting surface. The layout’s routing takes players across natural heathland terrain, where elevation changes create blind shots and deceptive distances.
Many holes require golfers to shape their shots around the natural contours, rewarding those who can work the ball both ways. The Old Course has earned its reputation as one of England’s most respected tests of golf, having hosted numerous professional tournaments and consistently ranking among the world’s elite courses.
Despite its name, the New Course at Walton Heath golf club has been testing golfers since 1913, making it over a century old. At 7,199 yards, this Herbert Fowler design may be slightly shorter than its older sibling, but it offers an equally compelling challenge across the same stunning heathland.
The New Course features wider fairways in places, but this doesn’t make it any less demanding, the strategic bunkering and ever-present heather ensure that course management remains paramount.
Where the New Course differs most is in its green complexes, which tend to be more receptive to running approach shots, allowing skilled players to use the ground game more effectively. The routing showcases different angles and perspectives across the property, meaning that even after playing both courses, golfers experience distinct challenges and memorable holes. Professional tournaments have regularly utilized the New Course alongside the Old, testament to its championship credentials.
The combination of both courses at Walton Heath golf course provides visitors with 36 holes of world-class heathland golf without any repetition in character or challenge.
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
This is widely regarded as one of the finest walks in golf, where every hole is framed by a deep sense of history and character, creating an experience that’s as memorable for its heritage as it is for its golfing challenge.
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.
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Walton Heath Golf Club; Walton Heath Old & New
Walton Heath Golf Club, Deans Lane, Walton on the Hill, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 7TP, United Kingdom
1903 (club founded; Old Course opened 1904; New Course extended to 18 holes in 1913)
Private members’ club with visitor and society days; opening hours and tee times depend on season and events – check club / Premier Golf.
Old Course – 18 holes on classic heathland; par 72; championship yardage around 7,406+ yards from back tees. Designed by Herbert Fowler and opened 1904; long, strategic layout with heather-framed fairways and fast greens. New Course – 18 holes; heathland; par 72; around 7,199 yards from championship tees (c. 7,175 yards on WHS cards). Also designed by Herbert Fowler, opened as nine holes in 1907 and extended to 18 in 1913. Both courses have multiple tee options, with course ratings in the mid-70s and slopes reflective of championship-level difficulty.
Spacious clubhouse with bar, dining, lounges and Ryder Cup memorabilia; locker rooms and showers; full practice facilities including range and short-game areas; caddies and trolleys; pro shop; close to London and major road/rail links with numerous nearby hotels.
Old Course has featured in World Top 100 lists for decades and hosted the Ryder Cup, Senior Open and many elite events; both courses appear in GB&I Top 100 rankings and are seen as quintessential heathland tests.
The Berkshire; Sunningdale; Swinley Forest; St George’s Hill; Wentworth; Royal Wimbledon.
Yes, the club offers a practice ground, a short game and chipping area opposite the 1st tee of the Old Course, and practice nets adjacent to the putting green.
Yes, the Pro Shop provides pull trolleys for hire and offers a selection of branded items for purchase. Club hire is available but must be booked in advance.
Walton Heath has hosted prestigious tournaments, including the 1981 Ryder Cup, the British Masters (2018), and multiple European Opens. It is also a regular venue for U.S. Open Qualifying and the Walton Heath Trophy, and it hosted the AIG Women’s Open in 2023.
Yes, visitors are welcome to play at Walton Heath. Tee times are available Monday to Friday from 9:30 am, and on weekends and Bank Holidays from midday (11:00 am during winter). It’s advisable to book in advance to secure a tee time.
Walton Heath Golf Club has two 18-hole championship courses—the Old Course, opened in 1904, and the New Course, which was expanded to 18 holes in 1913.
Both courses present significant challenges, but the Old Course is often regarded as the more demanding due to its length and the strategic placement of heather and bunkers.
While an official handicap is not required, visitors are expected to be competent golfers.
You can book a golf tour that includes Walton Heath with Premier Golf and we recommend including this course on any tour of London & South East England.
