Walton Heath Old - photos from June 06

[Craig Disher]

I had the pleasure of spending a day with Brent Hutto and Tony Muldoon at Walton Heath last June. It was the first time I'd been there since the tree removal project and if there is ever a need to make a case for taking out hundreds of trees, WH is one of the best candidates I've seen.

We were fortunate to play the courses following a short dry spell that followed a wet, cool spring and early summer. The conditions were perfect.


The approach to the short par 5 2nd. A good drive would be at the bottom of the hill leaving less than 200 yards to the green.


Brent extricating himself from an inverted bunker


The 5th, my favorite on the Old


The 5th green from the left side



The par 3 7th


Another terrific hole, the 10th, taken from just off the left side of the fairway


The par 3 11th, about 180 yds


Left bunker at the 11th which somehow captured my ball.


Approach to the par 4 12th

[Josh Smith]

Craig,

     Great photos, thank you for showing them.  

     What, no cartpaths?   Duhhhhhhhhhh!

[Brent Hutto]

Craig,

Thanks for posting the pictures. That was a great day we had, my first time on a Heathlands course. Thanks also for not taking a picture of my next shot from the other side of that "inverted bunker".

My favorite hole on the Old is definitely the tenth. The photo you posted captures a lot of it but the entire thing from tee to green it is just a wonderful challenge. Frankly, even after a couple of good shorter holes on the front nine (not to short sell the second which is very scenic and nice to play) I was not all that impressed with Walton Heath Old until we arrived at the tenth tee. For eight holes it could have been any fairly well routed course plus some excellent firm turf. But from the tenth on it was obvious we were playing a world class course.

As I've noted in an earlier posting, I think the New is the superior routing and for anything other than an event for elite players it may be the better course. One thing is certain, a day ticket with rounds at both courses (divided by a three course lunch of course) is great fun and a bargain at, what was it, 95 pounds?

[Tony_Muldoon]

Was it only last month? Thanks for the pictures Craig it was a delight to meet Brent and you.

My first impressions of playing Walton Heath are similar to the ones I had after playing Woodall.

Compared to the other Heathland courses I’ve played it has to be them most ‘muscular’.  It feels big, 36 holes aren’t in the least bit cramped and some of the views are open are open and truly heath like – which can’t be said for all of the surrey courses.

However it is surprisingly flat and the predominant impression is of large flat greens.  I wonder if large greens hide more undulation than you think? I don’t remember us making any significantly long putts.  I get the feeling it’s a place you have to play a few times to properly appreciate. Why is the old held in such high regard, when I too preferred the new – it has more variety and funk.

Brent is right about the value for money. It’s also worth mentioning the clubhouse, where everything is arranged around a ‘quad’ – with the putting green in the middle. Howl lovely to be a member and to stop off on the way home and take a glass of Pimms and a little putting practice.  The Scottish pro is one of the friendliest I’ve encountered.

Talking the jet lagged Brent into trying the roll mops as a starter seemed to keep him going through the afternoon.  A great days golfing on a course that I’ve still to make my mind up about.

Richard Pennell says somewhere he has the composite routing for the Ryder Cup held there in 1971.  (I read in the booklet they were giving out that they had to get an act of parliament to close the heath for 5 days prior to the event. Can you imagine today’s event with only 5 days preparation?).  Over to you Richard.

[James Edwards]

Craig,

I believe the last picture is the 2nd hole of the New Course isnt it?  The 17th on the Old is higher up to the left and half ringed with a frontal bunker.. One of the signature holes on the golf course.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Craig,

I believe the last picture is the 2nd hole of the New Course isnt it?  The 17th on the Old is higher up to the left and half ringed with a frontal bunker.. One of the signature holes on the golf course.

James he's going to hate you, but it would explain the red flag.  Very sharp I just thought it looked different in a photo.

Craig this is a photo from the US open qualifying playoff, looking back down the second.  Right in the centre, down the hill is Gary Wolstenholme who is a short hitting top amatuer.  The pro's were                      starting behind us and finishing well on the up slope.




PS for anyone who's not played with him, Craig has an enviably tidy short game

[RT]

Gotta love Husqvarna.  Those trees right of 11 are gone, what great appeal this has made to this hole.

[Brent Hutto]

RT,

Didn't that stand of trees also run over behind the tenth green? That's one of the beauty spots of the course, the vantage that you get playing the tenth green and then walking over and playing the tee shot on eleven (I think that's the spot I'm remembering, I've seen a lot of spectacular golf courses since that morning).

[James Edwards]

Tony,
thanks but i kinda knew it but didnt want to sound overly correctionalistic?? great word ive just made up ..I dont think Craig knows where I live fortunately...  

[Richard Pennell]

Hi Tony and Brett (and everyone else of course)

I found the composite list - I think it was Mark Rowlinson who sent me this:
Walton Heath composite

1. 2nd Old
2. 4th Old played from a tee behind 3rd green Old as a par 5
3. 5th Old
4. 6th Old
5. 7th Old
6. 8th Old
7. 9th Old
8. 10th Old
9. 11th Old
10. 12th Old
11. 13th Old
12. 12th New
13. 13th New
14. 14th Old played as a par 4
15. 15th Old
16. 16th Old played as a par 4
17. 17th Old
18. 18th New

Interesting that they played 16th Old as a par-4, I'd like to know whether it was from the back tees. As we saw in the U.S. Open qualifier, it takes a couple of pretty big blows to get up there if the wind is up, and you wouldn't want to miss right, with that huge bunker awaiting.
Also I like 18 on the New better as a finishing hole - even today with the length these guys drive the ball the ridge across that green makes a rear hole location pretty tough.

[RT]

Brent,

I'll have to rely on my playing group of the day, Paul Turner, Darren Kilfara, and the enigmatic Jim Reilly to chime in and jog my memory on the extent of trees running towards ten green.  I was in a fog after hitting a career drive on 10 right side and then totally blowing up the rest of the hole.  But do remember those copse of trees right of the 11th green.

Again let's pray for Husqvarna.

[Craig Disher]

James,
You are absolutely correct - I took the picture down but will repost it when I upload the pictures from the New. I remember walking across the tee and not taking a picture of the Old 17th since the group ahead of us was still on the green. I was sure I'd remember to take the photo when we played the New but of course I forgot.

[James Edwards]

Craig,
I knew, that you knew, that you had not posted the right picture - Its not often you get a chance to catch out Mr Disher   with a photo record analysis.  

That being said, keep up the good work - always look forward to yours and Pauls archives as they for me present valuable pictorial reference for in house discussions.