Walton Heath Golf Club New Course Key Information
The Old course here may rank a little higher than the New, but other than the nuances of the individual hole designs, the New has all the same great strengths as its slightly more senior sibling.
It's a great test of golf that proves you don’t need to trick a course up to make it difficult. As most of the holes are fairly flat, the visual appeal comes from some clever bunkering, an abundance of heather and the fact that you can see many other holes across both courses on open heathland.
REASONS TO PLAY WALTON HEATH (NEW)
- Part of one of the best 36-hole days to savour in the UK
- As stern a test as you want it to be with the back nine capable of stretching to just shy of 4,000 yards!
- A real joy to see across so much of both courses from many points
RANKINGS
UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2025/26 - 64
The two handsomely expansive heathland layouts at Walton Heath are just a few years apart in terms of age, and like many Old/New combos, preference between the two can divide opinion. It is one of just eight clubs to boast more than one course in Golf Monthly's Top 100 Golf Courses UK & Ireland rankings.
As one of the closer Top 100 clubs to my West Sussex home, I've been fortunate enough to play both courses here many times, and just as at Sunningdale, picking your favourite between the Old/New combo is not as easy as you perhaps think it should be given the Old's regular brushes with fame, including the 1981 Ryder Cup..
I've always enjoyed what I consider the sporty start on the New, with a potentially drivable par-4 opener (especially if you can move it right-to-left, which has become more of a struggle for me with the advancing years), followed by the lovely little short par-3 2nd that is likely to only require a wedge or 9-iron.
But just as you’re perhaps thinking that the Old must be the tougher all-round test, you glance at the New’s scorecard and spot that the back nine off the often-tiny ‘purple’ tees is a mere 36 yards short of 4,000 yards! I once, rather foolishly, decided to play from these - an experience that required an awful lot of headcover removal!
That said, while both are packed with challenging and strategic golf, punishing yet attractive bunkering, acres of heather and fast but subtle greens, the New could be said to be blessed with slightly greater character. Whichever your personal favourite is, both feature strongly in any best golf courses in Surrey list.
Herbert Fowler created both heathland beauties, with the first nine holes of the New arriving three years after its older sibling in 1907, before being extended to a full 18 in 1913.
When tour events and the Ryder Cup have visited this corner of Surrey, they have typically played a composite course. There is an element of inland links about Walton Heath, though the ever-present heather is as testing as you’ll encounter anywhere.
And don’t be lulled into a false sense of security by the New’s seemingly straightforward start. Even if you wisely choose to steer clear of those purple tees, a string of testing par 4s after that will keep you on your toes, with the SI-1 5th one of the most challenging. This monster two-shotter works its way from left to right down to a green where the safest approach is from the left.
Walton Heath Old may rank higher than the New, but other than the nuances of the individual hole designs, the New has all the same great strengths as its slightly more senior sibling and a day’s golf on both is one of the UK’s premier 36-hole experiences.
What's new for 2025/26? What our panellists said…
This is a course that blends seamlessly into its environment. It was an absolute joy to play. The New certainly exceeded my expectations. I still remember the wow factor when I got onto the 2nd hole of the Old course as I looked out across the open heathland and the New provides a similar feeling right from the off. The start is gentle and lulls you into a false set of security that is quickly dispelled once you are on the 4th tee, as the course really starts to show its mettle. Fairways were firm and fast so keeping the ball in play after an ‘unfair’ bounce became a challenge as the penal heather sat waiting to grab your ball. The back nine offers little respite so you need to score well right from the off. I liked the random routing of the course as it traversed all corners of the heath.
If I were lucky enough to be a member of Walton Heath, the New is the course I would enjoy playing most on a day-to-day basis. I really like the expansive heathland vistas from practically every hole. It looks like a links course… but inside the M25! The previously weak 1st hole now has two fairway bunkers challenging tee shots down the favourable right-hand side; the green on the 2nd has been extended to offer additional/longer pin placements; and a new section of fairway has been added to the left of the cross bunker on the 3rd, thus providing an alternative to the previous enforced lay-up.
Walton Heath Golf Club location
Contact Walton Heath Golf Club to book
Walton Heath Golf Club New Course scorecard
Best Courses Near Walton Heath New
Best Places To Stay Near Walton Heath
Westleigh, Ashtead - Book now at Booking.com
Westleigh is set in Ashtead, just three or four miles from Walton Heath and 15.5 miles from London. There is free private parking and free WiFi. The quiet rooms offer garden views with some also featuring a seating area. Bathroom facilities are private with free toiletries and a hair dryer.
The Lodge at Kingswood, Epsom - Book now at Booking.com
Situated in the heart of Surrey, The Lodge at Kingswood offers hotel accommodation within the grounds of a championship golf course. The air-conditioned rooms are en suite with rain shower and complimentary toiletries. There is a restaurant, bar and sun terrace in the golf clubhouse.
Walton Heath New Gallery
WALTON HEATH NEW HISTORICAL TOP 100 RANKING UK&I
- 2025/26 - 64
- 2023/24 - 57
- 2021/22 - 54
- 2019/20 - 51
- 2017/18 - 50
- 2015/16 - 49
- 2013/14 - 49
- 2011/12 - 48
- 2009/10 - 42
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Walton Heath host the Ryder Cup?
1981. The matches were originally scheduled to be played at the new Belfry course that year, but construction wasn't completed in time. The Belfry would go on to host the 1985 contest and three more Ryder Cups. The American team for 1981 was one of the strongest ever, if not the strongest - Nicklaus, Watson, Trevino, Crenshaw, Irwin, Miller, Floyd, Kite, Nelson, Pate, Rogers, Lietzke - boasting 36 Majors between them. Europe actually led after the first day and were still very much in it heading into the afternoon foursomes on the second day. But a clean sweep for the States there and a comprehensive 8-4 victory in the singles saw the Americans win 18.5 - 9.5.
Was James Braid the professional at Walton Heath?
He was, for many years. He was the club's first professional for 45 years until 1948, taking on the role full-time when he began to scale back his tournament golf in 1912. Braid won five Open Championships and enjoyed a hugely successful second career as one of our best and most highly regarded golf course designers. At one stage (and there may still be) there was a sign at Walton Heath stating that Braid had made a two on every single one of the club's 36 holes - an extraordinary feat.
