New Zealand Golf Club
Laid out in 1895 on the Surrey heath near Woking and later refined by Tom Simpson, the New Zealand Golf Club is one of England's most private and most charming heathland courses. A short par 70 of about 6,200 yards through heather and pine, it is a course few outsiders ever see.
Photo: Mark Howson via Google.
The verdict
The New Zealand Golf Club is one of the genuine secrets of the Surrey heathland belt. Founded in 1895 and named for a long gone clubhouse rather than the country, it was laid out across classic heath and pine country near Woking and later refined by the great architect Tom Simpson in the 1920s. It remains intensely private, with a small membership and very limited visitor access, which has preserved both the course and its quiet character.
It is not long, and it does not need to be. The charm lies in the way the holes thread through heather, silver birch and Scots pine on free draining sandy soil, the same soil that makes the famous Surrey heathland courses run firm and fast. For the lucky few who get on, it is a glimpse of golden age architecture kept almost exactly as it was intended.
New Zealand Golf Club at a glance
- Founded
- 1895
- Designer
- Tom Simpson revisions
- Type
- Heathland
- Par
- 70
- Yardage
- About 6,200 yds
- Green fee
- Private (by invitation)
Founding year verified June 2026 from leading course databases; the club was established in 1895 on the Surrey heath, with the routing later refined by Tom Simpson in the 1920s. Sources record it as a par 70 of about 6,200 yards (some cards list par 68 and a little under 6,100). The New Zealand Golf Club is an exceptionally private members club; visitor access is very limited and generally by invitation or member introduction (indicative, 2026). Always confirm access directly before planning a visit.
The holes worth the trip
New Zealand is heathland golf in miniature, a tight, intimate routing where heather crowds the fairways and stands of Scots pine and silver birch frame nearly every shot. The free draining sandy soil keeps the turf firm and the ball running, so position off the tee matters far more than raw distance.
Tom Simpson's hand shows in the strategic bunkering and the angles into greens that reward the player who takes on the brave line and punishes the one who bails out. The greens are small and subtly contoured, in keeping with the golden age character that the club has been careful to protect.
There is no weak stretch and no padding, just a sequence of clever, varied holes that ask different questions on a compact piece of ground. It is the antithesis of modern championship golf, and for admirers of classic design that is precisely the appeal.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Exceptionally private members club; visitor access is very limited and generally by invitation or member introduction |
| Green fee | No published public green fee; any guest rate is arranged privately through the club (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Realistically requires a member connection or a specialist who can arrange access; plan well ahead |
| On the day | Walking on classic heathland turf; a small, traditional clubhouse and a quiet, members first atmosphere |
| Getting there | Woodham near Woking in Surrey, about 45 minutes southwest of central London |
| Best months | April to October for the firmest heathland conditions, though the sandy soil drains well year round |
Access verified June 2026; the club is private and policies change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit through the club or your trip planner.
Where to stay nearby
Visiting golfers usually base themselves around Woking, Weybridge or the wider Surrey heathland belt, an area thick with good hotels and within easy reach of London. From here the cluster of great Surrey courses is all within a short drive.
The New Zealand Golf Club pairs naturally with the other heathland classics nearby, so a trip here is best built as part of a Surrey and Berkshire heathland tour rather than a single round. London is close enough for a city base if evenings out matter.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near the New Zealand Golf Club.
Build a Surrey heathland golf trip
We arrange access where we can and pair it with the best of the Surrey and Berkshire heathland, securing the lodging and shaping the days around your group. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
New Zealand Golf Club questions
When was the New Zealand Golf Club founded and who shaped the course?
The New Zealand Golf Club was founded in 1895 on the Surrey heath near Woking, with the course later refined by the architect Tom Simpson in the 1920s.
What is the par and length of the New Zealand Golf Club?
The New Zealand Golf Club is a short par 70 of about 6,200 yards, a classic heathland layout where placement matters far more than length.
Can visitors play the New Zealand Golf Club?
Only with difficulty. It is an exceptionally private members club with very limited visitor access, generally by invitation or member introduction, so plan well ahead and confirm directly.
Why is it called the New Zealand Golf Club?
The club takes its name from a long gone New Zealand hut or clubhouse that once stood nearby, not from the country, and it sits on the Surrey heath near Woking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Founding year, par and yardage verified June 2026; access details verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.