Woking
Woking opened in 1893, the oldest of the great Surrey heathland courses and one of the most influential layouts in the game. A par 70 of roughly 6,600 yards set on sand and heather west of London, it is the course where strategic golf architecture was, in part, invented, and it remains a thinking golfer's delight from the first tee to the last.
Photo: Woking Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Woking matters out of all proportion to its modest length. Founded in 1893 by a small group of London barristers on a stretch of open heath, it was the first of the Surrey sand belt clubs and the place where two of its members, John Low and Stuart Paton, worked out ideas about strategy and hazard that would reshape how courses everywhere were designed.
The original layout came from Tom Dunn, but it is the Low and Paton era that gives Woking its lasting character. Their most famous stroke was to place a pair of bunkers in the very middle of the 4th fairway, on the perfect line to the green, forcing the golfer to choose a side and commit. That idea, the deliberate central hazard, is now woven into the language of golf design, and Woking is where you can still go and play it.
Woking at a glance
- Opened
- 1893
- Design
- Dunn, Low, Paton
- Type
- Heathland
- Par
- 70
- Yardage
- ~6,600 yds
- Green fee
- Visitor rate
Founding year, design history and par verified June 2026 from Woking Golf Club and leading course databases. Woking opened in 1893, originally laid out by Tom Dunn and reshaped by members John Low and Stuart Paton, a par 70 of roughly 6,600 yards. Woking welcomes visiting golfers; green fees vary by season and day (indicative, 2026), so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The 4th is the hole every architecture buff comes to see. The pair of bunkers sitting in the heart of the fairway look almost wrong at first glance, until you realize they sit on the ideal line and that the safe route leaves an awkward angle into the green. It is a small masterpiece of decision making, and it sets the tone for the round.
Around it, Woking asks the same questions again and again. The fairways are not wide, the heather is punishing, and the greens are firm, subtle and full of movement so that the approach is everything. Length is rarely the answer here; position and the courage to flirt with a hazard are. The closing stretch, played back toward the clubhouse across the heath, rewards the golfer who has stayed patient and on the correct side of the fairway all day.
It is also a beautiful and peaceful walk. The Scots pine and silver birch stand tall, the heather glows in late summer, and the railway running alongside several holes is part of the club's long character. Played with neighbors Worplesdon and West Hill, Woking completes the celebrated three Ws of Surrey.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members' club that welcomes visiting golfers and societies on selected weekdays outside member competitions; advance booking through the club is essential |
| Green fee | Indicative visitor green fees in the region of 110 to 175 pounds depending on season and day (2026); always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Reserve ahead through the Woking office; three Ws packages combining Woking, West Hill and Worplesdon are popular with visiting groups |
| On the day | Smart golf dress on course and in the clubhouse; trolleys available; the heathland walk is gentle and dry underfoot |
| Getting there | On the edge of Woking in Surrey, close to the A322 and the A3 and about 35 minutes southwest of London by road or a short ride from Woking station |
| Best months | Heathland plays firm and true much of the year; late summer brings the heather into full color |
Access and fee details verified June 2026; rates change by season and day, so always confirm directly with the club or your trip planner before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Woking sits in the heart of the Surrey sand belt, so most visitors base themselves in Woking or Guildford and build a trip around the cluster of great heathland courses rather than the club alone.
The natural itinerary is the three Ws together, pairing Woking with West Hill and Worplesdon over a day or two, with the polished parkland of The Wisley and the heather of Hindhead close at hand to round out the trip.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Woking.
Build a Surrey golf trip
We arrange tee times at Woking and across the three Ws, pair them with the best of the Surrey heath and parkland, and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Woking questions
When did Woking Golf Club open and who designed it?
Woking opened in 1893, the oldest of the Surrey heathland courses. The original layout was by Tom Dunn, but its lasting character was shaped in the early twentieth century by members John Low and Stuart Paton, pioneers of strategic design.
What is the par and length of Woking?
Woking is a par 70 of roughly 6,600 yards. Its defense lies less in raw length than in firm, complex greens, encroaching heather and famously clever bunkering.
Can visitors play Woking Golf Club?
Yes. Woking is a private members' club that welcomes visiting golfers and societies on selected days outside member competitions; book in advance and confirm the current rate before you travel.
Why is the 4th hole at Woking famous?
Around 1901 John Low and Stuart Paton placed a pair of bunkers in the middle of the 4th fairway, on the ideal line to the green. That deliberate central hazard is regarded as a landmark moment in strategic golf course architecture.
Related
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Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Founding year, design history and par verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.