The story: 25 miles south of central London, on a chalk-and-sand plateau, Walton Heath is golf’s quietest cathedral. Herbert Fowler — an amateur — designed the Old Course in 1904. The list of championships hosted reads like a fever dream: the 1981 Ryder Cup, five European Opens, the 2011 Senior Open, the 2023 AIG Women’s Open (won by Lilia Vu on a composite of the Old and New).
“The first really fine inland golf course designed from start to finish by an amateur golfer.”— Tom Simpson, on Walton Heath
The test today: Heather and gorse line the corridors. Greens are small, often elevated, and demand a Scottish-style ground game. For 2026 Final Qualifying, the USGA is expected to use a composite layout drawing the strongest 18 from the Old and New, similar to the 2023 Women’s Open setup. The wind off the heathland defines the day; even on a calm morning, gorse takes errant shots permanently.
Designer: Herbert Fowler (1904) Style: Heathland Format: 36 holes, walking Major history: 1981 Ryder Cup, 2023 AIG Women’s Open