The Best Golf Courses in Surrey

For all the merits of golf in the UK, the southern English county of Surrey stands alone as a rare pocket of golfing nirvana, located conveniently just outside the confines of greater London.

Many things combine to make Surrey such a special place to play golf. It boasts some of England's oldest and most historic clubs, for one, many of which are situated on a unique pocket of sandy soil known as the Surrey sandbelt. This, combined with the area's abundant natural heathland, makes for some of the finest inalnd golf to be had anywhere in the world.

Another factor setting Surrey apart is its sheer density of incredible courses. Roughly the size of the Greater London area, it boasts over 100 established golf clubs: the most of any county in the UK, and the most Top 100 courses in Britain and Ireland to boot. As such, there are various pockets here where some of the very best courses in the world are often very near neighbours.

No English golfer worth their salt can call themselves so until they've sampled Surrey's delights, while Surrey is also a vital addition to any English golf itinerary for visitors from afar. Here, we round up the essential Surrey courses we think should be on any golfer's bucket list.

Sunningdale (Old & New Course)

Location: Sunningdale, Berkshire

Green fees (weekday): £450 (£800 for both)

The most talismanic course in Surrey isn't actually technically in Surrey. Sunningdale sits just over the border in Berkshire, however as part of the Surrey Golf Union, most critics and rankings experts count the course as part of the Surrey region. 

Generally the first and last word in any conversation about the county's courses, the Old and the New Course stand clear as the county's best courses, and form the best 36-hole stretch of golf anywhere in the UK.  The Old, which was designed by Willie Park Jr in 1900, is slightly favoured ahead of the New, a Harry Colt design that was opened 23 years later. To shine a light on some other courses, we’ll take Sunningdale as a single entry. 

Expect an absolute heathland classic on the Surrey/Berkshire sand belt with holes that play no part with one another, a halfway hut that is as well known as most courses and a history and clubhouse that is like no other. 

If you want a great day out without paying the green fee, go and wander round the Sunningdale Foursomes, which takes place on the course every March and has a star-studded roster of pro and celebrity golfers.

Visit Sunningdale

St George's Hill

Location: Weybridge, north Surrey

Green fees (weekday): £450 (£800 for both)

Aside from Sunningdale, there’s a good argument to be had that St George's Hill is as good as it gets for inland courses in the UK. Another Harry Colt classic that might not be quite as well known as others in the area but, if you have played here, then you’ll have a genuine appreciation for it.

There are three nines here with the Red and Blue making an 18 widely cited as among the 10 best in England. Expect a more undulating challenge than some of its Heathland neighbours, with nary a weak hole here and an endless challenge of meticulous routing, bunkering, condition and putting surfaces. 

Visit St George's Hill

Walton Heath

Location: Tadworth, north Surrey

Green fees (weekday): £165-£350 (£400-£495 for 36 holes)

Another club with a pair of courses that we'll take as a single entry, Walton Heath is, from a tournament standpoint, perhaps Surrey's most storied club. Both its Old and New courses are Herbert Fowler designs, the former being the the only course in the county to have hosted the Ryder Cup outside of Wentworth. Then the Americans boasted a host of Hall of Famers, maybe the best to ever leave the country, as they romped to victory.

The Old remains the pick of the two, however these days a composite course is used for major events – in 2023 it held the Women’s Open where Charley Hull threatened to break her major duck before Lilia Vu ran away with the title. Walton Heath is also a celebrated stop on the Senior Open rota – a collection of clubs that runs The Open roster very close. It last hosted in 2011 when Mark Calcavecchia prevailed.

Walton Heath stands alone from other Surrey Heathland courses thanks to its open, bouncy nature, with many going so far as to call it an inland links.

Visit Walton Heath

Hankley Common

Location: Farnham, south west Surrey

Green fees (weekday): £220

The fabulously undulating Hankley Common is one of Surrey's most unique heathland experiences, with its many ups, downs and craters giving the impression playing on the moon though with heather, supreme bunkering, mint turf and more fun. The course sits on an enormous property of 800+ acres but the course itself is far less substantial so there is a big emphasis on sticking to the short stuff.

Again, this is a succession of incredible holes, all framed by the heather, and part of the thrill is to aim at a fairway bunker and try to move the ball back into the fairway.

Hankley staged the Brabazon Trophy in 2025 and it has gone up another level thanks to the efforts of Open architects Mackenzie & Ebert. Great par 3s, brilliant all round.

Visit Hankley Common

Wentworth

Location: Virginia Water, Surrey

Green fees (weekday): POA

As the home of the European Tour, the BMW PGA Championship and the birthplace of the Ryder Cup, Wentworth needs no introduction. But we'll give it one anyway. 

The West Course is the most televised course in Britain, although the club's other two courses (East and Edinburgh) are both well worth a visit in their own right. Harry Colt designed the East and West courses, while John Jacobs was helped by Bernard Gallacher and Gary Player in creating the Edinburgh.

The West Course is the reason Wentworth features inside Surrey’s top 10. It may be the showpiece, but a chance to play at any of Wentworth's gems should not be turned down, with the East and Edinburgh courses which are similarly brilliant though not on the same level.

For years it was the home of the World Match Play which Seve Ballesteros won five times (and Ernie Els seven) but it is the BMW PGA how most of us know Wentworth these days. The championship has been coming here since 1984 and we’ve all seen the course develop and change over the years, particularly its iconic closing hole.

We could all name at least five holes at Wentworth, a personal favourite would be the 12th though more for the tee shot over the two huge pines as opposed to the approach.

It still remains a fantastic test of championship golf and the tournament has a feel of its own – though given its standing and recent policy change to make access strictly limited to members and their guests, the chances of you and I getting on there for a game seem fairly limited.

Visit Wentworth

Woking

Location: Woking, central Surrey

Green fees (weekday): £200

There is always a good discussion about what the order should be of Surrey's famed three Ws; Woking, West Hill and Worplesdon. The other two, we'll come on to shortly.  

Having played Woking just the once, I would have it as the best and it always scores well in architectural circles. Woking is the oldest of the three, dating back to 1903, and it was designed by Tom Dunn. It's a cracking start with the chance to drive the opening hole and Tim Lobb has been instrumental in making the changes in recent years, particularly at 16 which is now played over a pond.

Before this comes back-to-back par 5s and the closing hole, with the veranda nestling just beyond the green, adds to a fitting conclusion.

Bernard Darwin said this of Woking: "I can only end as I began by asserting that there is no more delightful course whereon to play golf."

Play comes in two-balls here and you'll be expected be done in around three hours.

Visit Woking

Worplesdon

Location: Woking, central Surrey

Green fees (weekday): £220

Not long by modern-day standards which is a huge compliment. Instead you will be negotiating yourself between the mature trees, restored heathland and 80 or so bunkers.

The course is strong throughout with probably the more memorable holes coming on the back nine. That begins with a par 3 played over water, which is as out of character as it is pretty, and then comes a fantastic par 5 that can be reached in two, thanks to the springy and rolling fairways.

The short holes are excellent, with the 13th recently tweaked by Lobb & Partners, probably the best of the lot.

You would find it very hard to not enjoy the Worplesdon experience, it exudes charm and tranquility and, while it's far from straightforward, it shouldn't beat you up too much. And, if it does, you'll have had a great time doing it.

Visit Worplesdon

West Hill

Location: Woking, central Surrey

Green fees (weekday): £190

We talk a lot about Harry Colt in Surrey golfing circles, far less so about Cuthbert Butchart. He was a club maker from Carnoustie and he was also the designer and first professional at West Hill. This is the youngest of the three Ws, it was laid out in 1910, and it came about as ladies were not allowed to become members at other local clubs.

So a Mrs Marguerite Lubbock founded West Hill and got Butchart to piece together 18 holes.

West Hill, home of the famous Father and Son Foursomes Tournament, has a par of 69, with five short holes that are a feature of the course, and just two par 5s. The best par 3 is maybe the 15th which Henry Cotton, a former course-record holder here, was a big fan of.

This might be the easiest on the eye of three Ws but all are sensationally good and worth the visit.

Visit West Hill

New Zealand

Location: Addlestone, north Surrey

Green fees (weekday): By arrangement with the Secretary

Surrey's most quirkily-named course and one of its most private, Bernard Darwin described New Zealand as 'sui generis' which nicely translates as 'in a class of its own'.

He goes on to say: "It does not compete with other courses but it sets its own standard and lives up to it. If anyone wants to play a friendly game, uncrowded and unseen, to have a good lunch in pleasant company, and get home early to London, there is no place like New Zealand."

You don't suppose much has changed here. It's not much over 6,000 yards, has a par of 68 and things are on a smaller scale than, say, Swinley Forest. It's maybe not on that level but it's a beautiful heathland which runs between the trees.

There's also a great clubhouse to be enjoyed where a sign reads that 'the playing of 3-ball, 4-ball and greensome matches at weekends is deplored. Few matches engage in this form of Golf Masochism but those who do are reminded of their status on the course, which throughout the week is NIL'.

So be warned, and play in twos.

Visit New Zealand

The Addington

Location: Croydon, north east Surrey

Green fees (weekday): £155

The Addington was always good but, in recent times, it's become very special. This is a JF Abercromby and Harry Colt layout, the man behind the design of Worplesdon, and it opened in 1914.

There were 36 holes here originally but the New is now a housing estate but we still have the Old and this begins with a par 3. Clayton, DeVries & Pont have taken the course back to its origins with a huge tree removal project, heather regeneration and the greens extended to how they once were.

“It's almost like a Rembrandt found in an attic," explains Frank Pont. "You need to take four layers of varnish off, just clean it up and bring back what's there. But the whole painting is still there.”

Having played this 20 years apart it's fairly astonishing what's been achieved here and it's well worth a look at the many before and after photos to understand the benefit of the tree project.

The Shard, Canary Wharf and the Gherkin all linger on the horizon, although the beautiful surroundings make it easy to forget that central London is under ten miles away.

Visit The Addington