The Golf

Two magnificent courses carved out of the heather and gorse of Walton Heath. Both courses (Old & New) were designed by Herbert Fowler who was related by marriage to the founder, Sir Henry Cosmo Bonsor. The Old Course was opened for play in 1904. "It was a stroke of genius on the part of Mr Herbert Fowler to see with his prophetic eye a noble golf course on the expanse of Walton Heath", wrote Bernard Darwin. "It was in August 1902, that Mr Fowler had begun his survey. In April 1904 James Braid moved to Walton Heath from Romford and in May the course was opened with a due flourish of trumpets," wrote Darwin in the Biography of James Braid. James Braid, five times Open Champion, remained the Walton Heath club professional until 1950.