Walton Heath (Old) – located in Walton-on-the-Hill atop the scenic South Downs – secured 13th place on the list, overcoming stiff competition to rank among the top 20 courses in England.
Founded in 1903, the historic Old Course boasts a rich heritage, having hosted the Ryder Cup in 1981 as well as numerous significant international events, cementing its status as one of the UK's premier golf courses.
“Pause for a minute in the middle of the great expanse of heathland common on which the Walton Heath Old Course stands, and it’s hard to believe that exactly 20 miles due north are the neon lights and tourist-thronged thoroughfares of Piccadilly Circus,” says Dan Murphy, editor of NCG Top 100s.
“Although the incessant drone of London’s relentless traffic can be heard around the turn of the Old Course for a few holes, in another sense, you could hardly feel further away from the rat race.”
According to the panel of golfers and journalists who compiled the Top 100 list, the Old Course remains the gold standard of heathland golf.
The magazine highlights the stupendous views across the vast common, describing the course as a “golfing nirvana” lying in glorious solitude, remarkably situated in the midst of one of the world’s most populous metropolitan areas.
Surrey was well represented overall in the Top 100 list, with no fewer than seven other courses from the region breaking into the top 50.
St George’s Hill, nestled within an affluent residential community in Weybridge, Surrey, ranked 16th, while Hankley Common - a historic club founded more than 125 years ago - placed 21st on the list.
Other Surrey courses to make the list included: Woking Golf Club (28th), Walton Heath (New) (32nd), Worplesdon (35th), West Hill Golf Course (40th) and Hindheath Golf Course (50th).
“You won't find any links courses in the English county of Surrey, but that does not detract from the quality of layouts that there are. With heathland beauties galore, it can easily be argued that Surrey is the best region when it comes to golf in the entire country,” claim National Club Golfer.
For more information on Walton Heath (Old), and to view the other courses in the region that made the NCG Top 100 England List, visit: https://www.nationalclubgolfer.com/top100/golfcourse/surrey