Walton Heath Golf Club – Walton-on-the-Hill, England
Earlier this year I had the opportunity to travel to England and play multiple golf courses in the London vicinity. Before the trip, I spent several hours researching all the courses within a close proximity to London and fortunately there are several world class courses to choose from. My final itinerary in order of play included; Sunningdale Golf Club, Swinley Forest Golf Club, and Walton Heath. While each golf club offered its own unique experience looking back several months ago upon my trip, Walton Heath is the experience that still burns in my memory. Nowhere in England did I feel more at home than at Walton Heath. The staff at the club were so accommodating and friendly that I felt as if I was a member of the royal family. Simply put, Walton Heath is a golf club you would cherish being a member of, from the club’s rich history and the quality of the 36 holes of championship golf it doesn’t get much better than Walton Heath Golf Club.
Considered to be the world’s first pro shop, James Braid’s workshop is still standing at Walton Heath
With a pedigree like Walton Heath you might expect the place to be a bit stuffy but things couldn’t be further from the truth. The history of Walton Heath is intertwined with probably the most legendary golfer you’ve never heard of, James Braid. Outside of Tom Morris, most American golfers aren’t familiar with the history of England’s best golfers. I am here to tell you James Braid made a huge impact on the game in more ways than one. In fact, James Braid was the original Walton Heath golf professional, and opened what is considered to be the world’s first pro shop at Walton Heath in 1922. That original pro shop/workshop was where Braid would produce golf clubs is still standing and has since been turned into a museum. When I arrived, the workshop was closed but the staff was more than happy to open it up and provide me with a tour.
Beyond the legend of James Braid, which you’ll notice is still alive and well at the club, Walton Heath is well known for hosting the 1981 Ryder Cup. That Ryder Cup was special for America, it was perhaps the best American team ever assembled and one of the most dominate. You see several reminders of the Ryder Cup in the locker room, but outside of Walton Heath the rest of England has tried to forget as the Americans drubbed them 18 ½ to 9 ½.
During my visit to the club I had only planned to play the old course, I didn’t arrive at the club until almost one ’o clock. The old course which opened in 1904 has such a rich history; including being the favorite course of King Edward VIII. In fact, Walton Heath is the only club to have the honor of having a reigning monarch as club caption, King Edward VIII. As you walk the course you’ll literally be walking in the footsteps of a king. You will notice many of the holes on both the old and new courses run next to each other and if you’re not careful you could end up playing a hole on the wrong course. Walking the golf course in England is the standard and often makes the experience that much more enjoyable, at Walton Heath that is definitely the case. The old course starts off with a par 3 that’s disconnected from the rest of the 36 holes on the property, after playing the straight forward par 3 you’ll walk across the highway to a golf oasis.
The Old Course is a special treat with a rolling layout outlined by heather grass and picturesque bunkers
As you cross the road and start the walk to the 2nd tee box you quickly realize that you’re in for a special treat with a rolling layout outlined by heather grass and picturesque bunkers. Looking back on the Old Course it couldn’t have been more enjoyable, the course layout was amazing featuring a mix of great holes that included a drivable par 4, demanding par 5s, and memorable par 3s. Best of all, the course provided an ideal mix of challenge and playability. Like any course, you can always find trouble, but the Old Course provides a layout that allows you to recover from a bad shot and score effectively with good shots. The pace of play was outstanding, I was there in the middle of the afternoon on a weekday as it’s to be expected but because I was hitting the ball straight I finished the 18 holes in just over 3 hours, not bad considering I was walking the course. In fact, I had finished up so quickly that after a quick snack, I decided to play the New Course.
A look down the 18th of the New Course
I traveled to Walton Heath to play the Old Course, but I’m glad I stayed to play the New Course. The New Course is a proper 18; you will walk across the highway to the first tee and begin weaving in and out of holes on the Old Course. After a gentle start the New Course really grows teeth, the heather grasses come into play and the holes get harder as the round progresses. In fact, the back nine is over 700 yards longer and a par 37. The highlight of the New Course is the finishing hole, often regarded as one of the finest at Walton Heath, requiring an accurate tee shot over a shallow valley of gorse flanked by pine trees. The fairway doglegs slightly to the left and the second shot is played over a cross bunker to a green with a distinctive mid-tier. The 18th was a great finish to an amazing day golfing.
Walton Heath Golf Club 4.5 Stars out of 5
To be honest my experience at Walton Heath was the highlight of my trip to London. I’ve never been so far away from home, yet felt so at home. Often overlooked, Walton Heath shouldn’t play 2nd fiddle to any golf club in England. In fact, the composite course known as the “Championship Course” which hosted the 1981 Ryder Cup and multiple European Opens is perhaps one of the best layouts in the world. The composite course embraces 15 holes from the Old and three from the New, beginning with the Old’s second and then fourth thru thirteen. From there the 12th and 13th of the New were taken in; then back to the Old until a final switch to the New’s fabulous 18th. The Championship Course experience can only be had by playing both the Old and New Courses at Walton Heath. I highly recommend spending an entire day at Walton Heath playing all 36. Make sure to take a tour of James Braid’s workshop and soak in the experience of Walton Heath, be on the lookout for James Braid’s Cap a tribute to the great golfer that had a “2” on every hole at the golf club. The bottom line, if you’re in the London area don’t hesitate to book a tee time at Walton Heath, you won’t be disappointed and no golf club in England will treat you as good as Walton Heath.
For more information on how to visit and play golf at Walton Heath please visit their visitor information page.