In the golf-rich heathland near London, the Sunningdale Golf Club reigns supreme.
Sunningdale is home to a wealth of history and tradition, not to mention a pair of the best inland golf courses on the globe.
If you are counting down to a visit during a golf trip to England, here is your complete guide to Sunningdale Golf Club.
Sunningdale Golf Club History
Sunningdale Golf Club was formed in 1899 when 100 golfers chipped in £100 a piece to lease property in the Berkshire countryside from St. John’s College at Cambridge.
The club tapped two-time Open champion Willie Park, Jr. to craft its new course through the heathland.
But it was the club’s choice of Harry Colt as its first Secretary that would forge the future of Sunningdale Golf Club.
Harry Colt was chosen out of a pool of over 400 applicants, and spent the next dozen or so years shaping Sunningdale into the preeminent golf club near London.
Colt would eventually leave the club to pursue his career as golf course architect full-time, leaving his mark at Muirfield, Royal County Down, and countless others along the way.
In 1926, the club lured Colt back to design what would be known as the New Course at Sunningdale.
As part of its esteemed history, Sunningdale has hosted the Walker Cup, the British Masters, and the Senior Open Championship.
It was a visit from Bobby Jones, however, that best exemplifies the rich history at Sunningdale.
During qualifying for The Open Championship in 1926, Bobby Jones carded what many have called “the perfect round” at Sunningdale Golf Club.
Jones fired a flawless round of 66, consisting of 33 on each side, and nothing but 3s and 4s on the scorecard.
Bobby Jones would go on to win The Open at Royal Lytham, and of his round at Sunningdale remarked “I wish I could take this course home with me.”
Sunningdale Old Course
Architect – Willie Park, Jr.
Date Opened – 1901
Par 70 – 6318 Yards (Medal Tee)
The Old Course at Sunningdale is heathland golf at its finest.
Although Sunningdale is dozens of miles from the ocean, the tranquil stroll through the pines of the countryside features the fast and firm conditions often found on seaside links courses.
When it debuted at the turn of the last century, the Sunningdale Old Course was considered an exceptionally long layout.
The par-4s are, in a word, exceptional. They range from short, risk-reward opportunities to borderline par-5s.
And then there’s the heather, which is both abundant and punishing. Miss a fairway or green, and there’s a good chance you’ll long for the rough back home.
By modern standards, Sunningdale Old would never fall into the long category, but the par-70 layout has managed to stand the test of time.
So much so, Sunningdale Old is consistently the highest ranked course in England on the GOLF Top 100 courses in the world list.
Notable Holes
5th Hole
The 5th hole is a perfect illustration of the quality of par-4s found at Sunningdale Old.
Firm conditions in the summer usually require longer hitters to lay back short of the pond.
Once in the fairway, however, the task is only beginning. The green is quite small and heavily protected.
Par here is no easy task. Neither is walking the beam that crosses the pond. Ask your caddie if they’ve done it.
10th Hole
The 10th hole at Sunningdale is one of the most photographed vistas in English golf and is likely to offer your most memorable shot of the day.
After savoring the view from the elevated tee, you’ll need to navigate the heather and assorted bunkers for a reasonable chance at par.
If you’re successful, all that remains is a mid-iron to the green and a deceptive putting surface.
After stopping at the well-stocked halfway house, you’ll want to pause to savor the view back up one of the best holes in England.
18th Hole
When it comes to stern finishing holes, the 18th at Sunningdale Old is as good as they come.
The fairway is a much narrower target than you’d probably like to see on the tee. Not to mention the array of bunkers and heather that may tighten the swing even further.
With the clubhouse and famous oak tree standing as a backdrop, the green is set at an angle and is also well guarded.
If you happen to find one of the right-hand greenside bunkers, it may come with an interesting story…
In 1940, a bomb dropped by the German Luftwaffe made a crater adjacent the 18th green.
After careful consideration, the club decided that the new “bunker” actually improved the hole and it has remained ever since.
Sunningdale New Course
Architect – Harry ColtDate Opened – 1923
Par 70 – 6444 Yards (Medal Tee)
Throughout his career as a golf course architect, Harry Colt signed his name to many outstanding courses in the London heathland.
The list includes Swinley Forest and St. George’s Hill, both currently ranked on the GOLF Top 100 in the world list.
In 1923, the former Club Secretary returned to his beloved Sunningdale Golf Club to design a second course.
The task of designing a course equal to the original at Sunningdale was one that few would envy, yet most agree that Colt succeeded.
Although the Sunningdale New Course has many similarities with the Old, the course stands as its own exceptional test.
The fairways on the New are more generous than the Old, however the carries to safety are much further.
But the price for an errant swing is likely to be the same across both courses: a difficult to impossible play from the notorious heather.
Perhaps the best sign that Colt succeeded in his unenviable task: Sunningdale New is also ranked on the GOLF Top 100 golf courses in the world list.
Notable Holes
5th Hole
The 5th hole at Sunningdale New is arguably the one of the best holes ever designed by Harry Colt.
The par-3 plays across a field of heather and a deep bunker to a green set against a sea of pines.
If you find the green, you’ll still need to navigate the two-tiered green to record your par.
Miss the green, and a nervous up and down awaits.
10th Hole
The 10th hole at Sunningdale New is another outstanding par-3 that will test everything you have in the bag.
The hole requires a carry of at least 200 yards to a green that is guarded by bunkers on all sides.
Par on this hole is a reason to celebrate. Thankfully, the halfway house for the New is right behind the green.
Additional Highlights at Sunningdale
Carvery Lunch
Sunningdale Golf Club is home to one of the best 36-hole days in the game.
Although we generally advise playing the Old and New on separate days, if you plan to tackle them both at once, you’ll have plenty of fortification for the second round.
Simply put, the carvery lunch at Sunningdale is legendary.
After donning your coat and tie, nearly every form of protein is at your disposal, plus an array of delicious sides.
If you washed it down with claret or a gin & tonic, that second round may be a little hard to muster.
Not to worry, we know just the place to retire for the day…
Clubhouse Terrace
The Clubhouse at Sunningdale Golf Club is simply iconic.
No visit to the club is complete without at least a little time on the clubhouse terrace, enjoying the tranquility as the golfers finish nearby.
Take our advice: Order the Pimm’s & Lemonade.
Swinley Forest
If you’re planning a round at Sunningdale Golf Club, you may be wondering where else you should play in the London heathland.
While there are many courses near Sunningdale that are worthy of play, one rises above them all…
While he was serving as Club Secretary at Sunningdale, Harry Colt designed the course for nearby Swinley Forest.
The ever modest Colt would go on to describe it as the “least bad” course of his design career.
Swinley Forest beats to its own drum.
For most of its existence, things like Club Captains, handicaps, competitions, and even scorecards were completely shunned.
At Swinley Forest, it’s just about golf. And that, as it turns out, is very good.
Our free guide includes over 30 pages of valuable insight, plus links to nearly 50 additional resources, on Golf and the Good Life in England.
For more insight on planning your golf trip to England, visit the pages below, read our England golf trip reviews, or have a look through our Yardage Book, where you’ll find answers to many of our most frequently asked questions.
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