Sunningdale Golf Club (Old Golf Course)

Sunningdale Golf Club’s Old Course is a stunning heathland and among the best golf courses in the world. Golf World Top 100 editor Chris Bertram explains why.

Sunningdale Old was one of the first courses to open away from the coast when it was unveiled in 1901. It has set the standard in inland golf in Britain ever since, and there are few courses worldwide that can touch it.

It is exquisite, charming, playable and enchanting. It is a visual delight. It is better presented than it ever has been and it is one of the game’s great experience.

It is prestigious, too: in addition to the feeling of being somewhere almost naughtily special, it has more tournament-hosting pedigree than you might think, from the European Open to the Women’s Open and the Walker Cup to the Senior Open. 

It is adored by everyone from Tom Watson to Bernhard Langer to Bobby Jones.

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After qualifying for The Open here in 1926 (his 66 included 33 shots and 33 putt and on 10 holes his approach was with a two-iron or wood? Jones said: “I wish I could take this course home with me.”

He will not have been the first and certainly was not the last to think that.

The Old has been mesmerising golfers from the moment it was designed by two-time Open champion Willie Park among a wild expanse of heather, gorse and pines.

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And despite one of the greatest architects the game has seen being secretary of the club, it remains much as Park left it. Harry Colt built the 4th, 7th and 12th greens but otherwise Park’s tendencies are very much win evidence, not least in the use of cross bunkers and ditches to tease and torment. He also preferred adventurous greens and the Old has these more than is possibly widely suggested.

After a pleasing, playable start, the fall away green of the 2nd sets-up a fantastic six-hole stretch that sets the Old apart from many of its heathland counterparts.

While the downhill drive at 10 is rightly revered – the challenge before you is framed nowhere more pleasingly – the 11th and 12th might just be the pick of the back nine.

The Old boasts terrific variety in terrain, shot choices and hole length, the Old is one of the world’s most revered courses.

It was 2nd in our England ranking and 13th in our World list of 2020, one of only a handful inland courses in the top 20.

RELATED: Golf World Top 100 – The Best Golf Courses and Resorts

• Course has: Bar
• Course does not have: Buggy Hire
• Course has: Driving Range
• Course does not have: Practice Green
• Course has: Pro Shop
• Course has: Restaurant
• Course has: Trolley Hire
• Course does not have: Dress Code
• Course has: Club Hire
• Course has: Handicap

• 5 out of 5 Stunning & awesome 01 July 2014

  By Villa8008

  A majestic place to play golf - simply stunning - tradition at it's very best - well worth the green fee...