Heathland Golf in the UK — The Complete Guide

Picture a heathland course on an autumn morning. The heather glows purple, the air smells of pine and the fairway runs firm under your feet. That is heathland golf at its best, and it is one of the joys of the British game.

Heathland is one of Britain’s most distinctive kinds of golf. Most of the famous courses were built between the 1890s and the 1930s. Many have changed little since then. This guide explains what heathland is, how it plays and where to find the best courses.

What is heathland golf?

Heathland is a type of landscape, not just open countryside. It forms on sandy, acidic soil that drains fast. Heather, gorse, bracken, pine and silver birch thrive there, while lush grass does not.

For golf, that ground is close to ideal. Since the sand drains so well, heathland courses play firm and fast in almost any season. In addition, winter golf on heathland is often far better than on clay.

How heathland differs from parkland

Parkland sits on heavier, richer soil, with mature broadleaf trees lining the fairways. Its turf is softer, so high shots stop quickly. Our guide to the best parkland golf courses covers that style.

Heathland, by contrast, is more open. Pine and birch frame the holes, while heather lines the fairways. The ball runs further, so you must think about where it will finish, not just where it lands.

How heathland differs from links

Links courses sit on sandy coastal ground beside the sea. Heathland sits inland, often far from the coast. However, both share firm, fast turf. As a result, heathland often suits golfers who love the running game of links. Our guide to golf course types compares all the main styles.

The golden age

The cluster of heathland courses near London is no accident. In the late Victorian era, new railways opened up the Surrey and Berkshire heaths to London golfers. Meanwhile, great designers such as Willie Park Jr., Herbert Fowler and Harry Colt were at work. The courses they built still set the standard for inland golf.

The Surrey and Berkshire heathland belt

The best-known cluster of heathland golf lies south-west of London. It runs across Surrey, Berkshire and into north Hampshire. Our guide to golf courses in Surrey covers the county club by club, and our page on golf courses near London shows how to reach them.

Sunningdale

Sunningdale sits on the Surrey and Berkshire border. Willie Park Jr. designed the Old Course, which opened in 1901. Harry Colt designed the New Course, which opened in 1923. The club has hosted the Walker Cup, the Women’s British Open and the Senior Open. In short, it is the benchmark for heathland golf.

Walton Heath

Walton Heath sits on high, open heath near Tadworth. Herbert Fowler designed both courses, and the Old opened in 1904. Several prime ministers, including Lloyd George and Winston Churchill, were members. The club hosted the 1981 Ryder Cup and the 2023 AIG Women’s Open.

Wentworth

Wentworth, at Virginia Water, has three main courses. The West, a Harry Colt design, hosts the BMW PGA Championship. However, changes over the years have given the West a more manicured feel than the purest heathland courses.

Swinley Forest

Swinley Forest, near Ascot, was laid out by Harry Colt in 1909. He called it his “least bad course”. It is a private club, so visitor tee times are rare.

Hankley Common

Hankley Common sits on open common land near Farnham. The club opened in 1897 with nine holes, and it grew to eighteen in 1922. The course feels wild and natural, with heather everywhere.

The Berkshire, Worplesdon and Hindhead

The Berkshire, near Ascot, has two courses, the Red and the Blue. Worplesdon, near Woking, and Hindhead, in the Surrey Hills, add more fine heathland. All three take visitors on set days.

You can browse every course we list in England to find more heathland clubs by county.

Hampshire heathland

The heathland belt runs on into north Hampshire. Clubs there are less famous than their Surrey neighbours. Even so, they offer fine golf, often at lower prices. Our Hampshire golf guide covers the county’s heath, downland and Solent courses. The directory also lists golf courses near Southampton.

Kent and the south-east

Kent has a little heathland too, alongside its famous links and Weald parkland. Our Kent golf guide covers the county.

Notts Golf Club, Hollinwell

Notts Golf Club, known as Hollinwell, is a fine heathland course in Nottinghamshire. Willie Park Jr. laid out the first course after the club moved there in 1901. It shows that great heathland golf is not limited to the south-east. The directory lists golf courses near Nottingham.

Heathland in the north

Further north, the heathland style blends into moorland. For example, Ganton, near Scarborough, has gorse and sandy soil, and it hosted the 1949 Ryder Cup. Our Yorkshire golf guide covers it.

How to play heathland golf

Plan for the run. The ball runs a long way on firm turf, so take less club off the tee when the fairway narrows.

Stay out of the heather. Heather grabs the club, so a short chip back to the fairway is often the best choice.

Use the ground. Low running shots work well into many heathland greens. In particular, they are useful on breezy days.

Watch the bunkers. Heathland bunkers are often deep and natural. So play to the safe side of the green.

Visiting the famous heathland clubs

Many of the best heathland clubs are private. Still, most sell visitor tee times on set days. Book well ahead, and check each club’s visitor rules and dress code. Our guide to championship golf courses explains how to approach the big names.

Green fees at the top heathland clubs are among the highest in England. However, smaller clubs cost much less. Since prices change each year, check each club’s own website before you book.

Plan a heathland golf trip

A good two-day trip might pair Walton Heath with Hankley Common, or Sunningdale with The Berkshire. Wherever you play, you will see why golfers love this landscape.

On the kit side, our guides to winter kit and golf shoes for wet courses may help.