Location: Sunningdale, Berkshire, England | Ranking: #50
Type: Heathland | Designer: Willie Park Jr.
Editor’s Note: Sunningdale’s Old Course is one of the landmark English heathland layouts. Willie Park Jr.’s routing moves through heather, pine and sandy ground, while its partnership with the New Course makes Sunningdale a particularly strong 36-hole destination.
Contact & Planning
- Website: sunningdalegolfclub.co.uk. Confirm current visitor days, green fees, handicap requirements and 36-hole arrangements directly with the club.
- Access: Sunningdale sits within the wider Berkshire/Surrey golf belt; journey times from London airports vary with traffic.
Course Character
Heather, mature trees, sandy ground and strategic bunkering create the Old Course’s distinctive heathland character. The course rewards placement and thoughtful approach angles rather than relying only on length.
Key Notes & 19th Hole
- Bobby Jones: Jones’s celebrated play at Sunningdale in 1926 remains part of the club’s history, but the course should be appreciated for its architecture rather than embellished claims about a single round.
- 36-hole destination: pairing the Old with Harry Colt’s New Course is the defining Sunningdale itinerary, subject to current visitor availability.
- Stay · Play · Recover: Berkshire and Surrey provide strong hotel and spa options; confirm golf access separately rather than relying on a generic Expedia CTA.
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