The finest inland golf in the world, in a cluster you can drive across in twenty minutes. Sunningdale, Walton Heath, Wentworth and Swinley Forest from one base near London, with one concierge to plan it all.
Photograph: Sunningdale Golf Club, Surrey, via Google
A buddies golf trip to England is all about the Surrey and Berkshire heathland, the famous sand belt of pine, heather and silver birch just southwest of London. Nowhere packs so many genuinely great inland courses into so small a space: Sunningdale, Walton Heath, Wentworth, Swinley Forest and The Berkshire all sit within a short drive of one another and of Heathrow, so a group can land in the morning, settle into one comfortable hotel, and play a different world class course every day with barely any time in the car. It suits the fourball ticking off historic clubs, the society that wants serious golf and a proper clubhouse lunch, and the milestone trip that wants the home of the game without the long links transfers. Firm, walkable heathland, classic architecture and a pint in a great old bar at the end of the day.
If your group plays one course here, make it the Old Course at Sunningdale, widely rated the finest heathland course in the country. Build out with the Old Course at Walton Heath, a former Ryder Cup venue, the West Course at Wentworth that hosts the BMW PGA Championship, and the exclusive charms of Swinley Forest and The Berkshire, and you have the best inland golf week in Europe. For a bigger trip, add the Open links of Kent in the southeast or the northwest coast around Birkdale and Lytham.
The headline round and widely rated the finest heathland course in England, a Willie Park Jr classic later refined by Harry Colt, all rolling fairways through heather and pine. The Old and New share one of golf's great clubhouses and the famous halfway hut, the ideal heart of a buddies trip.
A big, bold, open heathland course by Herbert Fowler that hosted the 1981 Ryder Cup and remains a championship test in the wind. Tougher and more exposed than its neighbours, it is a favourite of low handicappers and a fine contrast in a heathland week.
The most famous address in English golf, a Harry Colt course later toughened that hosts the BMW PGA Championship each year. Long, tree lined and dramatic, with a celebrated closing stretch the group will recognise from television, set around a grand estate clubhouse.
Harry Colt's self described best course, a short, secluded gem of perfect par 3s and quiet heathland that members and visitors alike treasure. Hard to access without an introduction, which is exactly why a group remembers the day, and a fine pairing with a round at The Berkshire nearby.
Designers, hosts and history verified June 2026. The marquee heathland courses carry premium green fees and several are private with limited or introduction only access; figures and access change. Always confirm directly before booking.
Fly into Heathrow, a short transfer to a base around Ascot or Sunningdale, and an easy first evening with a warm up and a clubhouse dinner.
Open on the headline heathland round, with the famous halfway hut at the turn, then an afternoon to enjoy the great old clubhouse.
The exposed, championship heathland a short drive away, ideal for a fresh test in the breeze, with a proper lunch between nines.
The tournament course the group knows from television, long and tree lined, with a celebratory dinner to mark the best of the week.
A final morning at the secluded Colt gem, short and perfectly formed, before the quick transfer back to Heathrow to fly out.
Everything sits within a short drive of an Ascot or Sunningdale base, so a car or a driver makes the week effortless and the post round pint easy. Heathrow is roughly thirty minutes away.
| Style | Per person, 2026 | What it usually includes |
|---|---|---|
| Long weekend | From around £1,300 to £2,200 | 3 nights, 3 rounds, quality hotel, breakfast, transfers |
| Classic heathland week | From around £2,200 to £3,500 | 4 nights, 4 rounds including Sunningdale and Wentworth, central base |
| Premium with access | From around £3,500 upward | Best hotels, the exclusive clubs with introductions, private driver |
Indicative third party operator package ranges for the 2026 season, excluding flights, shown to set expectations only. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Always confirm directly before booking.
The heathland plays best from late spring through early autumn, roughly May to September, when the courses run firm and fast and the heather is at its finest, with the longest days for evening golf. The shoulders either side are quieter and softer underfoot, and the famous sand belt drains well, so even a spring or autumn trip rarely loses a round to weather. The challenge is access rather than weather, since several of the great clubs are private and release limited visitor times, and the most exclusive need a member introduction. Book the marquee tee times and any access well ahead, since the prime weekend slots and the BMW PGA week at Wentworth go months in advance. A trip planned early gets the courses in the right order at the right base.
Tell us the group size, the courses you want and roughly when. One concierge secures the access and tee times, costs the whole trip to the head and replies within one working day, with no obligation.
England's trump card for a group is the Surrey and Berkshire heathland, the cluster of world class courses just southwest of London. Sunningdale, Walton Heath, Wentworth, Swinley Forest and The Berkshire sit within a short drive of one another and of Heathrow, so a group can fly in, base in one hotel and play a different top course every day without long transfers. Add the Open links of Kent or the northwest for a bigger trip.
Most heathland trips build around the Old Course at Sunningdale, widely rated the finest heathland course in the country, and the Old Course at Walton Heath, a former Ryder Cup venue. Add the West Course at Wentworth, the home of the BMW PGA Championship, the exclusive Swinley Forest, and a round at The Berkshire, for the best inland golf in England within a tight radius.
The marquee heathland courses carry premium green fees, with the top names running from roughly 200 to 400 pounds per round, and the most exclusive clubs requiring a member introduction. A typical four night, four round group package with quality lodging, breakfast and transfers sits indicatively from around 1,800 pounds per person, rising with hotel standard and the courses chosen. Always confirm directly before booking.
Yes. Several of the great heathland clubs are private with limited visitor access, so the value of a planner is real. Submit a brief and one concierge secures the tee times in the right order, arranges access where an introduction is needed, books a central base and the transfers, then routes it to a vetted operator. You book once and the group just plays.
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