Walton Heath - First Impressions

Had a great day playing Walton Heath's Old and New courses this past week. First, as many know, this place has so much history from the 1981 Ryder Cup to James Braid being the first club pro for almost 50 years, as well as King Edward being the club captain while reigning are all notable and impressive. We played foursomes which is such a foreign concept in the states, but embraced in many places in England. The welcoming clubhouse and staff aside, the courses I wanted to note some impressions.

1. The Old starts with a demanding 235 yard par 3 which can produce some high scores as it gets tight up by the green with the road closing in on the right side. Got to hit a 5 wood flush and hopefully miss short or slightly left to keep it in play.

2. Hole 2 at the Old is also a tough uphill approach which was almost blind with the flag on the back. I hooked my drive into the woods 50 yards left and had to have my partner walk back 100 or so yards to retee. Ugh!

3. The #1 stroke hole is a bear which is hole 4. I used a 5 wood as the driver wasn't cooperating and did find the fairway and avoided the mid line bunker. A long and hard par 4 with a large green which can be 3 jacked for sure.

4. We really enjoyed hole #12 which is a short dogleg to a smallish green (for WH), that requires precision long iron/5 wood off the tee.

5. There are 3 par 5's in a four hole stretch on the back where you can make up some shots. I would prefer to space out scoring opportunities, but this day allowed for several birdies as the winds were pretty docile. If you can stay out of the heather you have a shot at hitting on in 2 or birdie putting at least.

6. My favorite hole was #16. This is a fascinating hole that brings in the last huge tree on the left in play. If you are left side of the fairway after your 2nd shot you are going to have to contend with this tree, or hit a big draw. If you miss, you are welcomed by the very deep bunker right of the green. I love this hole because you have to think from the opening tee shot how you want to approach this green knowing you don't want to be left approaching this green. Loved the strategy and probably the most prominent hole where a tree comes into play while in the fairway.

7. Hole #18 is a tight drive with heather lining the fairway on both sides. You have to hit a straight ball of the tee or face the consequences. Fairly narrow and deep green leaves approach shots needing to be the correct distance as well.

New Course

1. I love the start of this course with a relatively easy 300 yard par 4 to get warmed up. I like a gradual warm up and should be a relatively easy par to get you into the round.

2. The rest of the round consisted of tight fairways as the fairways were hard with more midline bunkers to roll into than the Old. The heather was not as thick as it could have been I was told and thank god for that.

3. Hole 16 is a very long par 5 which gives you 3 chances to find the heather before putting. We did birdie this one which was a miracle putt from 30 feet that hit the flagstick.

4. The New course seemed tighter and with only 1 par 3 on the back you had to hold on for dear life at the closing stretch. Also hole 17 is a drive able par 4 that we won after our opponents went for the green and hit on the 18th tee box.

Walton Heath is open to the public for those that have never been and demands accuracy. You can't score here from the heather which comes into play almost everywhere off the fairway. Not a particularly difficult set of greens IMO as there aren't big undulations, but more subtle breaks with green speeds being not fast, but fair to hold lines. Stern test off the tee, thus I started finding success when I dialed back to my fairway woods for more accuracy. WH I'll be back.

Tough little course that Walton Heath Old.

But quite memorable.

I've only been there once, played a 36-hole day: Old, then lunch, then New. Back before they rearranged the holes.

At the time, I recall enjoying the New every bit as much as the Old. And I liked them both a lot!

When the only criticism I can manage of a golf course is, "Well, I could kind of hear the Motorway on a few holes" then that's a pretty fine course.

They are debating on whether to move their clubhouse across the street and redesign a couple holes to make everything across the street which would be nice.

what do you mean by "foursomes"? ... that alternate shot? ... they require that?

i actually think england has a deeper field of great courses than scotland or anywhere else, and most are open to the public ...

> @tiderider said:

> what do you mean by "foursomes"? ... that alternate shot? ... they require that?

I do not think Walton Heath has two-ball-only days like some other English clubs (I may be mistaken though) but yes, Jeff was talking about alternate shot. A lot of tourist groups play their own ball in the morning round then foursomes after lunch.

Foursomes, properly played, is an exhilarating and fun way to play. Unfortunately, the only way to truly play it is on either a nearly empty course or at a club which sets aside certain days and times for two balls only. You lose all the charm if you're trudging around in a group for 3-1/2 hours following a long chain for fourballs ahead.

Traditional foursomes in England is played with each player walking almost continuously. As one partner tees off the other is already nearing the landing area for the tee shot. While approaches are being hit the players who teed off are heading directly to the green. It's a game that values a brisk, continuous flow rather than ponderous point-to-point-to-point play.

On a course like one of Walton Heath's four players of a decent standard ought to finish a foursomes game is a little over two hours. Maybe 2-1/2 if there are some 10+ handicappers. Which is why it can't really be done right no a day when the prevailing (fourball) pace of play is an hour slower.