How to Play Sunningdale: Tee Times, Ballots and Booking
Sunningdale is the spiritual home of heathland golf, two revered courses on heather and sand among the pines of the Berkshire and Surrey border. The Old Course by Willie Park Junior and Harry Colt's New Course are private, but visitors are warmly welcomed on set days. The catch is that demand outstrips supply by a wide margin. Here is exactly when you can play, what it costs in 2026, and how to get your name on the diary.
Photo: Sunningdale Golf Club via Google, contributor Mark Glithero.
The short answer
Sunningdale is a members club that takes visitors on weekdays, Monday to Thursday, excluding bank holidays, across roughly May to October, with the club closed to visitors during the peak of summer. There is no public ballot. You book directly with the reservations team and, because the courses are among the most sought after inland rounds in Britain, you book early. At the time of writing the 2026 visitor diary was already full and the 2027 diary opens for bookings from November 2026. Indicative green fees are around 395 pounds for a single round on the Old Course, and near 700 pounds for the both courses in a day ticket. Always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Two practical points shape the day. Every visitor must hold a current handicap index, capped at 18.4 for men and 24.4 for ladies, and produce a handicap certificate at the pro shop. And all visitors play the yellow tees, ladies the red, so the test is fair rather than brutal. Plan around those rules and a Sunningdale visit is one of the great days in English golf.
Sunningdale access and fees, 2026
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visitor days | Monday to Thursday, excluding bank holidays, roughly May to October. Closed to visitors at the peak of summer |
| Old Course green fee | Around 395 pounds for a single round (indicative) |
| Both courses in a day | Around 700 pounds (indicative) |
| Handicap limit | Maximum 18.4 for men, 24.4 for ladies. Handicap certificate required at sign in |
| Tees | Visitors play yellow tees, ladies red. Old Course par 70, New Course par 70 from the yellows |
| How to book | Direct with reservations at [email protected] or by telephone, weekdays in office hours |
| Booking window | 2026 full at the time of writing; 2027 request list opens from November 2026 |
Access rules and green fees verified indicatively in June 2026 from the club's visitor information; they change without notice, so always confirm current rates and availability directly with Sunningdale or your trip planner before booking. Check tee time availability.
How to book, step by step
Sunningdale runs on a request list rather than a ballot, so the route in is simple but the timing is everything. Email the reservations team at [email protected] with your preferred dates, the size of your group and whether you want the Old, the New, or both in a day, and ask to be added to the diary. Do this the moment the relevant season opens. The 2026 visitor calendar filled before most golfers thought to ask, and the 2027 diary opens from November 2026, so the practical advice is to plan a year ahead and request early. Have every player's handicap index to hand, since the cap of 18.4 for men and 24.4 for ladies is firm and a certificate is checked at the pro shop on arrival.
If you can play both courses, do. A both courses in a day ticket is the connoisseur's choice and the fairest way to settle the eternal Old versus New debate, with the Old's strategic genius set against the New's slightly tougher, more exposed challenge. If you can play only one, the Old Course is the pilgrimage, with the famous tree on the eighteenth and a routing that has shaped a century of architects. Either way, allow time before your round for the short game area and the legendary halfway hut.
When to go, and the wider trip
Heathland golf is at its best in late spring and early autumn, when the heather is in colour, the turf runs firm and fast and the courses look their finest. Those are also the most requested weeks, so flexibility on the exact day improves your odds. Sunningdale sits at the heart of the Surrey and Berkshire heathland belt, within a short drive of Wentworth, Walton Heath, St George's Hill and Swinley Forest, which makes it the anchor for one of the best inland golf trips in the world. Build two or three of those around your confirmed Sunningdale day and you have a week that rivals any links run for quality.
Plan a Sunningdale and heathland trip
We request the Sunningdale day, pair it with Wentworth, Walton Heath and the best of the heathland, and handle the stay and the transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Sunningdale access questions
How much does it cost to play Sunningdale in 2026?
Indicative green fees are around 395 pounds for a single round on the Old Course, with a combined ticket to play both the Old and New Courses on the same day near 700 pounds. These are recent season figures, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
When can visitors play Sunningdale?
Sunningdale welcomes visitors Monday to Thursday, excluding bank holidays, from roughly May to October, with a closed window for visitors during the height of summer. Demand is high and seasons book out early. At the time of writing the 2026 visitor diary was full and the 2027 diary opens for bookings from November 2026.
Is there a handicap limit at Sunningdale?
Yes. All players must hold a current valid handicap index, with a maximum of 18.4 for men and 24.4 for ladies, and a handicap certificate must be produced when signing in at the pro shop. Visitors play the Old and New Courses from the yellow tees, and ladies from the red tees.
How do you book a tee time at Sunningdale?
Bookings are made directly with the club's reservations team by email to [email protected] or by telephone, Monday to Friday during office hours. For a future season, ask to join the request list with your dates, group size and preferred course. There is no public ballot; it is a direct request and confirmation process.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Access rules and indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.