Walton Heath vs St George's Hill
Two of the greatest heathland courses in the world sit 25 minutes apart in Surrey. One is a 36 hole Ryder Cup veteran on a vast open heath; the other is Harry Colt's most beautiful creation, threaded through pines and rhododendrons on a private estate. Here is how they compare, and which one your trip should be built around.
Photo: Walton Heath Golf Club via Google.
The verdict, up front
Play both if you possibly can; they are different answers to the same heathland question. If we could play only one, we would take St George's Hill for the sheer beauty and wit of Colt's design, hole after hole tumbling through heather, sand and pine on land that seems made for golf. It is shorter, more intimate and more fun for the mid handicapper.
Walton Heath's Old Course is the sterner statement: Herbert Fowler's vast, windswept heath, a par 72 stretching past 7,300 yards from the tips, host of the 1981 Ryder Cup and the 2023 AIG Women's Open. It is the better tournament test, the club has a second Fowler course to double the day, and the lunch is one of golf's great institutions. Big hitters and history lovers should build around Walton Heath.
Head to head
| Walton Heath | St George's Hill | |
|---|---|---|
| The golf | Old Course, Herbert Fowler, 1904; par 72, about 7,331 yards from the championship tees; plus the New Course for a 36 hole day | Harry Colt, 1913; 27 holes on the estate, with the Red and Blue nines forming the famous par 70 of about 6,500 yards |
| Setting | Huge, open, exposed heathland on the North Downs near Tadworth; heather everywhere and wind a real factor | Rolling private estate at Weybridge: pines, silver birch, rhododendrons and some of the best green sites in England |
| Pedigree | 1981 Ryder Cup, five European Opens, US Open qualifying, 2023 AIG Women's Open; James Braid was the club professional for 45 years | Widely held to be Colt's masterpiece; a regular in the world top 100 and the template for golf and real estate development worldwide |
| Green fee | Around £350 for the Old Course (2026, indicative); composite and 36 hole rates available on application | Around £300 (2026, indicative); groups of 15 or fewer |
| Access | Visitors Monday to Friday generally from 9.30am, weekend afternoons possible; book well ahead | Visitors April to mid December on weekdays by arrangement; book months out for summer |
| Getting there | About 45 minutes from central London and 30 from Heathrow or Gatwick | About 40 minutes from central London, 20 from Heathrow; both work from one Surrey base |
| Who it suits | Strong players, history lovers, 36 hole appetites and anyone building a championship heathland itinerary | Architecture pilgrims, photographers and golfers who rate beauty and fun over raw length |
Fees and access verified June 2026 from the clubs' published visitor information and the National Club Golfer summer 2026 green fee survey. Both clubs adjust rates by season and day, so always confirm directly before booking.
Who should pick which
Pick Walton Heath if your group wants the full championship day: 36 holes across the Old and New, the famous carvery lunch in between, and the knowledge that you are walking fairways that decided a Ryder Cup. The Old's heather framed approaches and its brutal closing run reward the player who drives it well and can flight the ball under the wind that sweeps the open heath.
Pick St George's Hill if you care most about how golf land can look and play. Colt moved famously little earth here, and holes like the plunging short 8th and the drive over the valley at the 1st are among the most photographed inland views in Britain. At about 6,500 yards it asks for placement and touch rather than power, and most visitors come off the 18th already plotting the return.
The smart play is a two or three day Surrey swing from one base, adding Sunningdale, Swinley Forest or the Berkshire around them. Our Surrey and Berkshire heathland guide maps the whole belt, and our best courses in Surrey ranking puts both clubs in context.
Play them both
We build Surrey heathland itineraries around Walton Heath and St George's Hill tee times, with the right club pairings, lunches and a London or Surrey base. Tell us when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Prefer to book tee times only? Check live tee time availability across Surrey.
Walton Heath vs St George's Hill questions
Which is better, Walton Heath or St George's Hill?
Walton Heath is the bigger, sterner championship test with 36 holes and a Ryder Cup pedigree; St George's Hill is the prettier, more intimate Harry Colt masterpiece. For pure beauty and fun we lean St George's Hill; for scale and tournament history Walton Heath wins. The honest answer for a Surrey heathland trip is to play both.
How much are green fees at Walton Heath and St George's Hill?
Indicative 2026 visitor fees are around £350 on the Old Course at Walton Heath and around £300 at St George's Hill, both for advance bookings in the main season. Rates vary by day and season, so always confirm directly before booking.
Can visitors play both courses on one trip?
Yes. Both clubs welcome visiting golfers on weekdays with advance booking: Walton Heath generally from 9.30am Monday to Friday with weekend afternoons possible, and St George's Hill in groups of 15 or fewer from April to mid December. They are about 25 minutes apart, so a two day Surrey heathland swing is easy to build.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designers, dates, yardages and indicative 2026 green fees verified June 2026 against the clubs and the National Club Golfer summer 2026 survey. Last reviewed June 2026.