The prestigious Walton Heath Golf Club is host to this year’s AIG Women’s Open. A venue peppered with a rich history and steeped in tradition especially when it comes to women’s golf. With esteemed club President Jill Thornhill, winner of the 1983 Women’s Amateur Championships and the 1985 AIG Women’s Open Smyth Salver, the club has plenty to shout about. Walton Heath hosted the Ryder Cup back in 1981 and has played a part in many grand tournaments. This year will see one of the biggest and most groundbreaking yet.
The layout at the AIG Women’s Open will be a mixture of some of the best holes from both the Old and New courses. Players will compete on the Old Course until the 12th, then they will sample the New Course for 2 holes (12 & 13) before returning to the Old.
Come August the fescue grass will have grown, adding yet more framing and extra bite to what is already a challenge course. Add into the mix hardening ground conditions and potential for a stiff breeze and we are in for one heck of a treat.
With wind up and heather everywhere I got a real taste of what the best players in the world will experience, so let’s take a look at the nitty gritty and get a feel for what awaits the players as they come up the final stretch.
16th Hole – Par 5, 510 yards
The beginning of the end of the beautiful Old Course at Walton Heath… it really can be the end of a good card for some. The 16th is a challenging risk or reward par-5 which resembles a corridor of heather with substantial bunkers down the right. For some this will be the last real birdie opportunity, as a carefully positioned drive means a chance of hitting the green in two.
16th hole 3rd shot into the green avoiding the deepest bunker in Surrey
(Image credit: Howard Boylan)
For many of the best female players, the bunkers down the right-hand side are in range, but those who bomb their drives 290yds will find a safe place past these. The second half of the hole dog legs considerably left up to a raised green. Those going for broke run the risk of ending up in what has to be the deepest bunker in Surrey.
A challenge for even the most talented sand players in the field. The vast…
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