Best golf courses in Surrey

Ranked as the 2nd best golf course in England Location: Sunningdale, Berkshire | Designer: Willie Park Jr. (refined by Harry Colt) | Par: 70 | Founded: 1901

Why play it: The Old Course at Sunningdale is a masterpiece of inland heathland golf, elegant, timeless, and immaculately presented. Located on the border between Berkshire and Surrey, it was designed by Willie Park Jr. and later refined by Harry Colt. It’s often hailed as the quintessential English course, with towering pines, sweeping heather, and beautifully contoured fairways that feel more natural than manufactured.

Sunningdale Old is revered not just for its design, but for its atmosphere, relaxed yet refined. It has hosted major amateur and professional events and remains a favourite of purists, pros, and architecture enthusiasts alike.

Highlight: The par-4 10th is often cited as one of the best holes in the UK. A gently downhill dogleg framed by towering pines, it invites an aggressive tee shot but punishes anything offline.

Key features:

• Timeless design combining strategy, beauty, and subtle challenge
• Iconic halfway hut beside the 10th tee, a rite of passage for all who play
• Exceptional conditioning year-round and a strong sense of tradition
• Revered for its walkability and charm, notable for having no water hazards
• A previous host of the Senior Open Championship, Ladies British Open, The Walker Cup, and the European Open

Travel tips: Tick off two major bucket-list courses in a single trip with the New Course also on-site. Make sure to book in advance as tee times are limited and in high demand.

Ranked as the 3rd best golf course in England Location: Sunningdale, Berkshire | Designer: Harry Colt | Par: 70 | Founded: 1923

Why play it: Often overshadowed by its more famous sibling, the New Course at Sunningdale is every bit as compelling, more rugged, more demanding, and arguably more dramatic. Designed by legendary architect Harry Colt, the New offers a sterner test than the Old, with tighter driving corridors, deeper bunkering, and more pronounced undulation throughout.

Set on the same glorious heathland property, it shares the pine trees, purple heather, and fast-running turf that make Sunningdale so special, but delivers a bolder, more muscular take on inland golf. The New Course rewards boldness and shot-making precision, and it’s a favourite among low-handicap players and tournament organisers alike.

Highlight: The par-4 6th is a standout, both visually striking and strategically demanding. A sloping fairway framed by heather and trees leads to a raised green guarded by deep bunkers and subtle run-offs. Precision off the tee is essential, and the approach requires both accuracy and imagination.

Key features:

• Colt-designed heathland layout that plays longer and tougher than the Old
• Strategically placed bunkers, sloping greens, and bold elevation changes
• Majestic setting with sweeping views, towering pines, and vibrant heather
• Plays host to elite amateur and professional events, including Final Open Qualifying

Bonus fact: 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.

Ranked as the 5th best golf course in England Location: Ascot, Berkshire | Designer: Harry Colt | Par: 68 | Founded: 1909

Why play it: Swinley Forest is often described as golf’s best-kept secret, a place of quiet elegance, timeless design, and unspoiled natural beauty. Situated in Berkshire but just a stone’s throw from the legendary Surrey heathland belt (including Sunningdale, Walton Heath, and St. George’s Hill), it shares the same majestic landscape of pine trees, heather, and sandy soil.

Designed by the great Harry Colt, Swinley Forest is a study in restraint and natural elegance. The routing flows seamlessly through a landscape of gentle elevation changes and wooded corridors, with clever bunkering and subtly contoured greens placing a premium on thoughtful shot-making. Though a par 68, it offers plenty of challenge, demanding accuracy, imagination, and finesse from tee to green.

The golf at Swinley is quiet, pure, and untouched by modern excess. No scorecards, no competitions, no distractions, just the rhythm of the game in a truly special setting.

Highlight: The par-4 5th is a quintessential Swinley hole, graceful, strategic, and perfectly in tune with its surroundings. A right-to-left dogleg with a heather-lined fairway and a beautifully sited green, it rewards both smart play and creativity.

Key features:

• Colt-designed heathland layout with a focus on strategy over distance
• Glorious natural setting: firm fairways, purple heather, and towering pines
• Calm, unhurried atmosphere with no tee times or competitions
• Ideal for golfers seeking a pure, immersive playing experience
• Perfectly located for those touring nearby Surrey classics

Travel tips: With so many top golf courses nearby, why not take advantage of one of our fully customisable UK golf tours? Speak to your Golf Travel Expert to craft the perfect itinerary.

Ranked as the 9th best golf course in England Location: Weybridge | Designer: Harry Colt | Par: 70 | Founded: 1913

Why play it: St George’s Hill is often described as one of the most beautiful inland courses in the world, and it’s easy to see why. Carved through a rolling estate of pine and birch, with vivid swathes of heather and red-brick architecture straight out of an Edwardian painting, it’s pure golfing theatre. Designed by Harry Colt at the height of his powers, the course blends strategy, artistry, and natural flow in a way that few others can match.

The original 27-hole layout (Red, Blue, and Green nines) is a masterclass in Colt’s routing genius, with the Red and Blue nines typically forming the championship 18. Each hole feels isolated and intimate, with dramatic elevation changes, sweeping views, and challenging green complexes that reward smart play over brute strength.

Highlight: The par-3 8th on the Red Nine is widely regarded as St George’s Hill’s signature moment. Set across a dramatic heathland valley, this picturesque one-shotter demands a precise carry over heather to a raised green framed by tall pines and deep bunkers. The sloping green and swirling winds add to the challenge, making club selection critical.

Key features:

• Iconic Colt design with strategic bunkering, heather-lined fairways, and natural elevation
• Stunning property with some of the finest visual framing in golf
• Impeccable presentation and conditioning year-round

Bonus fact: In 2023, the Renaissance Golf Design firm, headed by Brian Schneider, was appointed to produce a new masterplan for all twenty-seven holes at the club.

Ranked as the 4th best golf course in Surrey by Top 100 Golf courses Location: Tadworth | Designer: Herbert Fowler | Par: 72 | Founded: 1903

Why play it: Walton Heath Old Course is a grand stage of English golf, majestic, historic, and unapologetically tough. Designed by Herbert Fowler and laid out across open heathland with sweeping views and wide fairways framed by gorse and heather, the Old has a rugged, natural charm that has stood the test of time.

Despite its challenge, the Old is also generous: fairways are wide, the turf is firm, and the routing flows beautifully across gently undulating land. There’s a sense of scale and openness here that sets it apart from the tighter, tree-lined heathlands nearby. A walk around Walton Heath feels like a walk through golf history, indeed, this is where James Braid served as the club’s first professional for over four decades.

Highlight: The 3rd Hole is a long, straight test over open heath. Strategic bunkers down the left tempt a bold line, while the subtly raised green requires a thoughtful approach. A beautiful par-4 hole that reveals Fowler’s minimalist genius.

Key features:

• Classic Herbert Fowler design known for its bold bunkering and intelligent routing
• Expansive heathland setting with firm fairways and wide playing corridors
• Site of the 1981 Ryder Cup, previous host of the British Masters, and regular Final Qualifying for The Open
• Historic clubhouse steeped in tradition and frequented by legends of the game

Travel tips: Walton Heath is just 20 miles south of London, making it easily accessible by car or train. The club also features a strong second course, the New,which pairs perfectly for a 36-hole day. We recommend booking in advance, especially in the summer months.

Ranked as the 11th best golf course in Surrey by Top 100 Golf courses Location: Croydon | Designer: J.F. Abercromby | Par: 71 | Founded: 1913

Why play it: The Addington is one of the most dramatic and characterful inland courses in the UK, a bold, eccentric classic that delivers constant surprises. Designed by J.F. Abercromby, who also created Worplesdon and Coombe Hill, The Addington offers an unforgettable blend of architectural flair and raw natural beauty.

Set on high ground just 13 miles from central London, the course tumbles through heather, woodland, ravines, and ridges, offering sweeping views of the city skyline, including glimpses of Canary Wharf and The Shard from elevated tees. It’s known for its thrilling shot values, including long carries over deep gullies, dramatic elevation changes, and beautifully framed holes that ask for both nerve and creativity.

Highlight: The Par 3 13th Hole offers a jaw-dropping shot over a wooded ravine to a cliff-top green. Miss left and you’re in oblivion; miss right and you’ll need a miracle. it's also one of the most iconic and most photographed par 3s in England.

Key features:

• Dramatic terrain with natural ravines, elevated tees, and thrilling shot-making demands
• Panoramic views of London’s skyline from multiple points on the course
• Restored in 2020 to its full golden-age potential, its now climbing global rankings

Bonus fact: Winston Churchill was a frequent visitor, often seen playing impromptu matches at The Addington between sessions at Westminster.

Ranked as the 12th best golf course in Surrey by Top 100 Golf courses Location: Hindhead | Designer: James Braid | Par: 70 | Founded: 1904

Why play it: Hindhead is one of England’s most spectacular inland courses, dramatic, scenic, and full of character. Laid out by five-time Open Champion James Braid, the course winds through a breathtaking mix of heathland and woodland terrain in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

It’s a course of two distinct nines: the front nine dips dramatically into a valley of towering pines and heather-strewn slopes, while the back nine climbs back toward higher ground with broader views and more strategic tests.

Every round at Hindhead is a journey. From elevated tees and plunging fairways to narrow doglegs and artful bunkering, the course challenges you to think your way around. But it's not just the golf that captivates, the natural beauty of the landscape is simply unforgettable.

Highlight: The 2nd hole of this course offers a thrilling drop from an elevated tee into a tree-lined valley. The landing zone is narrow, and the approach uphill to a guarded green is deceptive. One of the best opening stretches in English golf.

Key features:

• Stunning natural setting in the Surrey Hills with dramatic views and contours
• Front nine descends into a scenic valley; back nine climbs to panoramic heights
• Impeccable year-round conditioning and welcoming clubhouse atmosphere

Bonus fact: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, was a founding member and played regularly at Hindhead in the early 20th century. He called this course “a spot where the devil himself would be glad to play golf.”

Ranked as the 13th best golf course in Surrey by Top 100 Golf courses Location: Tadworth | Designer: Herbert Fowler | Par: 72 | Founded: 1907

Why play it: Often living in the shadow of its more famous sibling, the New Course at Walton Heath is far more than just a second course, it’s a world-class heathland layout in its own right. Designed by Herbert Fowler just a few years after the Old, the New shares the same vast, open landscape of gorse, heather, and firm, fast fairways, and offers a slightly more forgiving, but no less rewarding, golfing experience.

The New has hosted major amateur and professional tournaments, including U.S. Open Qualifying, and many regulars consider it just as enjoyable, if not more playable, than the Old. With fewer forced carries and more generous landing areas, it offers strategic interest for players of all levels, while still requiring thoughtful navigation and precise approach play.

Highlight: Long and demanding, the fairway of the Par 4 6th Hole rises gently toward a sloping green flanked by bunkers. Into the wind, it’s a real test of control and distance judgment.

Key features:

• More generous and playable than the Old, but still a true championship test
• Wide fairways, subtle elevation, and firm, fast-running turf
• Shares the same prestigious setting and historic clubhouse as the Old Course
• Regular venue for elite amateur and professional events

Bonus fact: The New Course has served as an Open Championship qualifying venue and was part of the composite layout used for the 1981 Ryder Cup.

Ranked as the 31st best golf course in Surrey by Top 100 Golf courses Location: Ottershaw | Designer: Fred Hawtree | Par: 72 | Founded: 1975

Why play it: The Longcross Course at Foxhills is one of Surrey’s most respected modern parkland layouts, tree-lined, atmospheric, and superbly maintained. Designed by Fred Hawtree in the 1970s, it offers a classic English woodland feel with a contemporary twist, blending strategic challenge with peaceful surroundings.

The course winds its way through towering Scots pines and silver birches, with tight driving corridors, well-placed bunkers, and slick, contoured greens. It’s a shot-maker’s track where accuracy is rewarded and power must be controlled, ideal for players who relish thoughtful, positional golf.

As part of the award-winning Foxhills Resort, the Longcross is also a perfect choice for those looking to combine top-tier golf with luxury accommodation, spa facilities, and family-friendly amenities.

Highlight: 5th Hole, Par 4: Water left, trees right, and a narrow landing zone make this one of the most demanding tee shots on the course. A well-positioned lay-up leaves a nerve-wracking approach over water.

Key features:

• Mature woodland setting with narrow fairways and tree-lined strategy
• Regular venue for professional and amateur competitions
• Immaculate conditioning and strong year-round presentation
• Part of a full-service resort with dining, spa, and leisure facilities

Bonus fact: The Longcross was named in tribute to the nearby village and the foxhunting traditions of the estate, it now plays host to foxes of the golfing kind.

Best time to visit: The prime golf season in Surrey runs from April to October, with May to September offering the best course conditions, longer daylight hours, and generally warm, pleasant weather. Spring and early autumn are also fantastic for quieter tee times and excellent value.

Where to stay: Surrey offers a mix of luxury golf resorts, countryside hotels, and city stays with quick access to top courses. Some of our top picks include:

• Foxhills Club & Resort – A five-star resort with two championship courses, spa facilities, and upscale dining.
• Coulsdon Manor Hotel & Golf Club – Traditional charm and an on-site course, ideal for a relaxed golf break.
• Hilton Woking – Perfect for urban convenience, close to top heathland courses like Worplesdon and West Hill.
• Macdonald Berystede – A Victorian manor near Ascot offering elegant rooms, a luxury spa, and easy access to top courses like Sunningdale

Booking Tips:

• Book tee times in advance, especially for elite clubs like Sunningdale, Walton Heath, and St George’s Hill.
• Midweek rounds often offer better availability and lower green fees.
• Consider multi-round packages or custom tours for the best value and variety.

Q: When is the best time of year to play golf in Surrey? A: Late spring through early autumn (May–September) is ideal. Courses are in peak condition, and the weather is generally dry and warm.

Q: How accessible is Surrey for golfers? A: Very accessible. Surrey is just 30–60 minutes from central London and major airports like Heathrow and Gatwick, making it ideal for both domestic and international golf travellers.

Q: Are Surrey courses beginner-friendly? A: Yes! While many of Surrey’s top clubs are championship-level, courses like Hindhead, The Addington, and Lingfield Park are very playable for newer golfers, with forward tees and welcoming atmospheres.

Q: Should I book tee times in advance? A: Absolutely, especially at premier clubs like Sunningdale, Walton Heath, and St George’s Hill, which can be in high demand. Some require visitor tee times to be booked weeks (or even months) ahead.

Q: Can I rent golf clubs in Surrey? A: Yes, many clubs offer high-quality rental sets.

Q: What’s the dress code like at Surrey clubs? A: Most top clubs maintain a smart dress code. Collared shirts, tailored trousers or shorts, and golf shoes are standard. Some clubs have specific clubhouse attire rules, check ahead to avoid surprises.

Whether you’re planning a weekend of championship-level golf or a relaxed countryside getaway, Surrey offers the perfect blend of historic charm, exceptional course design, and easy accessibility. With legendary venues, lovely hotels, and a rich golfing tradition, it’s the ideal destination for golfers looking to experience some of the UK’s finest golf.