Walton Heath was founded in 1904 and is considered one of the great achievements of Herbert Fowler. It is situated just 20 minutes from Gatwick Airport hard along the busy M25 Motorway. The Club was popular amongst Parliamentarians, with Winston Churchill and Lloyd George some of its’ most prominent members. An amazing fact is that in the Club’s 100 years it has had only 3 professionals. James Braid was in residence for over 45 years; his workshop has now been converted into a museum in his honor. He was followed for 27 years by Harry Bunson, whose handmade wooden clubs were played by such luminaries as Norman, Langer, Faldo and Ballesteros. He was followed in 1977 by Ken Macpherson; the Club could have no finer ambassador. On my one visit Ken went out of his way to chat with me and make me feel welcome; he was even privy to the fact that many of us had traveled from the US to play at Painswick with his good friend Tom Doak. The courses occupy true heath land, at 600 feet above sea level it is exposed to the ever present wind. The turf may be the firmest of all the inland courses and although the perimeter of the course is heavily wooded, the use of only a few specimen trees on the interior allows the heather, gorse and bracken to flourish. The course has been obviously lengthened from the original green tees at 6361 yards. Golfers wishing to test their games from the 7063 yard tips will find they have to walk backwards a time or two from the previous greensite.
Here’s a shot of the Clubhouse looking back from the putting green.
The putting green with its’ island of Rhododendrons. I can just imagine the joy of putting for a pint with Peter Alliss here.
The first hole is a par 3 of 235 yards; its’ green slopes away from the golfer, giving everyone a chance to run a ball on with a wood. Better players will need to flight their long iron perfectly to hold the green.
The golfer must now cross the road and the wonder of the open heath spreads before him. The second a 458 yard par 4 is a fabulous hole which requires a long second from a hanging downhill lie.
The 3rd is a tempting short par 4 at 289 yards, but trouble awaits any loose shots off the tee.
The 4th is a 441 yard par 4 generally played into the prevailing breeze.
The dogleg par 4 5th is a standout at 437 yards. The fairway drops of 140 yards from the green, which is boldly contoured; much more so than any other on the course
Here’s a shot that tries in vain to capture the wave like action of the green
Another stout par 4 going out is the 6th at 440 yards.
The 7th is a study in simplicity. At 183 yards a single bunker guards the right, where the prevailing wind is coming from. The golfer must fashion a great shot to hold the ball near any right hand pin.
The first of the par 5’s is the 8th at 494 yards. The green is cleverly contoured and the back right position is tough to get close to.
The par 4 9th at 400 yards turns back towards the Clubhouse and was modified by the construction of the M25. The trees guarding the corner of the dogleg are the only ones that are actually in play on the course.
The 10th measures 442 yards; don’t play to safely away from the perimeter on the left or you’ll end up in this heather filled rough.
The fine short 11th at 198 yards.
The 12th is a clever short par 4 whose dogleg must be cut if the player chooses driver off the tee on this 396 yarder.
Here’s what the golfer faces after a perfect tee shot
The par 5 13th calls for a 260 yard carry over the far bunker to open up the hole which measures 548 yards.
The ideal tee shot will leave you here, the danger now is not whether you’ll reach the green, but keeping your long second from bounding through to the back, as the terrain falls away from the golfer.
Back to back par 5’s; the 14th is a stunning hole at 569 yards, miss the heather and and flanking bunkers and the ball runs forever down this fairway with the breeze.
Here’s the second shot in, again keeping the ball from running through he green is paramount.
The par 4 15th measures 426 yards; note the cross bunker 30 yards from the front of the green.
The last of the par 5’s is a brilliant half par hole. At 510 yards the golfer must first thread his drive through a fairway which narrows at the 320 mark.
The daunting second must avoid the gapping bunker that eats into the right front of the green.
Here’s a bunker that surely Tommy would love!
The par 3 17th measures 193 yards. Notice how the specimen trees beautify the surroundings, without interfering with play.
The tee shot on the home hole measuring 404 yards.
The final shot of the day must clear the cross bunker 50 yards short of the green. The hedge shields the busy road just behind the green.
Next week we'll visit the New Course.