Walton Heath Golf Club: New Course Review, Green Fees, Tee Times and Key Info

The New eases you in with a short par-4, delightful par-3 combo, before a beautiful and, at times, challenging heathland examination

Walton Heath New 5th and 6th holes
Looking down on the 5th and 6th holes on the New course at Walton Heath
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Top 100 Courses UK & Ireland 2023/24

(Image credit: Future)

Walton Heath Golf Club New Course Key Information

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Header Cell - Column 0 Header Cell - Column 1
AddressDeans Lane, Walton-on-the-Hill, Tadworth, Surrey, KT20 7TP.
Phone Number+44 (0)1737 812060
Websitewaltonheath.com
Emailreception@waltonheath.com
Green Fees£240-£265 (18 holes), £355-£395 (36 holes, where available)
Visitor TimesMon to Fri from 9.30am, weekends and Bank Holidays from midday
ParMen: 72 purple, white, green & red, 70 blue; Ladies: 74 red, 70 blue
Slope RatingMen: 131 purple, 125 white, 119 green, 117 red, 106 blue; Ladies: 132 red, 120 blue
Opened1907
Designed byHerbert Fowler
Golf Monthly Verdict

Walton Heath New Course pictured on a sunny day

(Image credit: Getty Images)

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 2023/24 - 57

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 Courses in the UK and Ireland rankings

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! Either way, both feature strongly in any best golf courses in Surrey list.

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. That character is in evidence from a bright start that consists of a potentially drivable par 4 and a delightful wedge par 3 playing gently downhill.

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.

Walton Heath New Course

The pretty little par-3 2nd hole (Photo: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

What The Top 100 Panel Said

Matt Weavers UK&I Top 100 panel
Matt Weavers

Looping in and around the Old course you get exactly the same sense of space and openness - that is, mile upon mile of expansive vistas with nothing (other than the sound of the M25) to interrupt the exceptional golfing view. 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.

Russ Groombridge UK&I Top 100 panel
Russ Groombridge

Walton Heath New is a lovely experience. From the moment you pull off the road and head into the clubhouse, with all the memorabilia you know that you are somewhere famous and special. The course is strong, if not in the same league as the Old, but lacks the variation, signature hole and wow factor of some of the higher-rated golf courses.

Walton Heath Golf Club location

Walton Heath Golf Club New Course Green Fees

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Row 0 - Cell 0 18 holes36 holes
April to November 2023 - Mon-Thurs£240£355
April to November 2023 - Fri-Sun£265£395
Winter 2023/2024TBCTBC

Contact Walton Heath Golf Club to book

Walton Heath Golf Club New Course scorecard

Walton Heath Golf Club New Course scorecard

(Image credit: Walton Heath Golf Club)

Best Courses Near Walton Heath New

WALTON HEATH (OLD)

<a href="https://www.golfmonthly.com/courses/top-100-courses/walton-heath-golf-club-old-course-review-60514" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"">WALTON HEATH (OLD)
One of the great English heathland courses, the Old was opened in 1904 with a match between the great triumvirate of Taylor, Vardon and Braid. Braid was already the club’s professional and continued to hold that position up to his death in 1950. Designed by Herbert Fowler, it’s a sandy and firm track protected by heather, an eclectic selection of trees and the notorious, swirling winds.

TANDRIDGE

<a href="https://www.golfmonthly.com/courses/top-100-courses/tandridge-golf-club-course-review-84794" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"">TANDRIDGE
A solid test from start to finish with recent work greatly enhancing both strategy and aesthetics.This Harry Colt beauty is deservedly back in Golf Monthly's UK&I Top 100 on account of excellent further progress under the guidance of architect Tim Lobb, and the course hitting peak condition in recent summers. The testing down-and-up par-4 14th is perhaps the pick of several standout holes.


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

  • 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.

Jeremy Ellwood
Contributing Editor

Jeremy Ellwood has worked in the golf industry since 1993 and for Golf Monthly since 2002 when he started out as equipment editor. He is now a freelance journalist writing mainly for Golf Monthly. He is an expert on the Rules of Golf having qualified through an R&A course to become a golf referee. He is a senior panelist for Golf Monthly's Top 100 UK & Ireland Course Rankings and has played all of the Top 100 plus 91 of the Next 100, making him well-qualified when it comes to assessing and comparing our premier golf courses. He has now played 1,000 golf courses worldwide in 35 countries, from the humblest of nine-holers in the Scottish Highlands to the very grandest of international golf resorts. He reached the 1,000 mark on his 60th birthday in October 2023 on Vale do Lobo's Ocean course. Put him on a links course anywhere and he will be blissfully content.

Jezz can be contacted via Twitter - @JezzEllwoodGolf


Jeremy is currently playing...

Driver: Ping G425 LST 10.5˚ (draw setting), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange 55 S shaft

3 wood: Ping G425 Max 15˚ (set to flat +1), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange 65 S shaft

Hybrid: Ping G425 17˚, Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Orange 80 S shaft

Irons 3-PW: Ping i525, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts

Wedges: Ping Glide 4.0 50˚ and 54˚, 12˚ bounce, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts

Putter: Ping Fetch 2021 model, 33in shaft (set flat 2)

Ball: Varies but mostly now TaylorMade Tour Response