Sunningdale is the only venue to have two layouts in the top 30 of our new and updated NCG Top 100s: England list for 2025. Better still, they’re both in the top five.
The venue is home to both the Old Course and the New Course, with the former dating to 1901. The New was added in 1923, and the club has hosted each of the Women’s British Open, the Senior Open Championship and the Curtis Cup in recent years.
RELATED: Check out the new NCG Top 100s: England list
Not just 18, but 36 stunning holes – that’s Sunningdale
When you think about English venues with two great courses, your mind goes to The Berkshire – with its Red and Blue – Walton Heath – with the Old and New – but first and foremost to Sunningdale.
Sunningdale’s history dates back to the early part of the 20th Century, with the Old Course being the work of Willie Park Junior. The New came about two decades later, having been commissioned by the club following the conclusion of World War I.
Of the two courses, the Old is the more enclosed and probably calls for a greater degree of subtlety. The New is more apparent than the Old on first viewing, with its open expanses and a greater proportion of holes in full view from the tee.
A visit to Sunningdale allows you to walk the same fairways as legends. Loren Roberts is one of three winners at the Senior Open Championship at Sunningdale, while the likes of Karen Stupples, Karrie Webb and Jiyai Shin have all lifted the Women’s British Open trophy at the Berkshire venue. Sunningdale has also hosted the British Masters on four occasions, with Peter Thomson – five times a winner of the Claret Jug – being victorious in 1968.
READ MORE – NCG Top 100s: Sunningdale (Old)
READ MORE – NCG Top 100s: Sunningdale (New)
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How does a venue have two layouts in our English top five?
“I have seen it on the telly, but I have never stepped on the property,” Steve Carroll, co-host of the NCG Golf Podcast, stated.
“You have both played it a bunch. You played it in the Sunningdale Foursomes, didn’t you Tom?”
“You’ve never played Sunningdale?” said Tom Irwin, co-host of the NCG Golf Podcast, with some incredulity. “I sometimes wonder what you are doing?”
“It is very quintessentially English, this English list, isn’t it? What an event that is, it is worth saying. I have played in it [Sunningdale Foursomes] three times and it absolutely brilliant.
“I just listened to a podcast that said the whole golfing world were at the PGA Show, but the whole golf world that you want to meet is at the Sunningdale Foursomes as well. It is an absolute who’s who of golfers that week.
“It used to be the ceremonial opening to the professional golfing season. They get a combination of European Tour pros, LET pros and very good amateurs, club pros and have-a-go heroes. The odd dash of YouTube celebrity also appears, but it is a very well done event that takes place over both courses.
“It takes all week and it is everyone’s favourite format of the game – foursomes. They have this unique handicap system that allows amateurs and pros, men and women to compete against each other on a relatively level playing field. Who knew that you could have a handicap system that works?”
Irwin then got into the debate of which course is better between the Old and the New.
“The Old is short by modern standards, as you would find said in any cliched golf review, but it is such a pleasant place to play golf.
“There is something for everyone in terms of scorable holes, challenging holes, lots of elevation change and some of the most picturesque inland holes in the country. The 10th must be one of the most photographed par 4s, it sweeps downhill and then back up to the halfway hut.”
“People argue that the New is the better golf course. That is quite an ‘in-the-know’ thing to say but it does have some weaknesses.
“I am not a big fan of the 1st and the slopey fairway and then when you get out into the middle of the front nine and the start of the back nine where there are shades of Hankley Common in terms of the space there is. It is a much roomier experience than playing the Old, which is more intimate and in the trees.
“It is very hard to pick fault with it. Sometimes, I have a bit of a grumble with the presentation because they like to stripe the fairways which is weird to me on a heathland.
“Again, it is a phenomenally good experience to go there, sit in the clubhouse, look out at the oak tree and watch people tee off the 1st.”
Dan Murphy – chairman of the NCG Top 100s Rankings – added: “The fact is that if you are ever on the property with your golf clubs in your hands, then you are definitely winning in life. As to which course is best, let me say straight away that there is no way that you are sad, no matter which one you’re on.
“I think that people say that the New starts and ends not quite as well with those slopey fairways. The middle stretch of the New is exceptional, and it probably has the best 3 on the property, if not the best par 3 in England, in the shape of the 6th. So there are definitely parts of it that are the best on the property.
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“It is a much longer course, it is the more difficult course, and the more expansive course. I think that the Old is joyous because it is quite manageable for all but a few holes. There are a few shortish par 4s and some gettable par 5s. The style of golf is a little more old-fashioned with a few more blind shots and sharp doglegs.
“I think you have a slightly nicer time on the Old with it being just that bit more manageable, but they are both in our top five so I am picking fault to a quite outrageous degree.”
Listen to the NCG Golf Podcast in full…
Now have your say
Have you been fortunate enough to play at Sunningdale, whether on the Old Course or New Course? If so, what did you make of it? Would you agree with us that it is the best course in the country? Let us know your thoughts with a post on X, formerly Twitter!
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