Registration is now open for the Walton Heath Trophy, one of the standout events on the UK amateur golf calendar. The 72-hole, World Amateur Golf Ranking-approved championship will be played July 21-23 at Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey, England, across the club’s historic Old and New Courses.
Key tournament information
Dates: July 21-23, 2026
Location: Walton Heath Golf Club, Surrey, England
Courses: Walton Heath Old Course and New Course
Format: 72-hole stroke play
Ranking: World Amateur Golf Ranking approved
Men’s trophy: Michael Lunt Salver
Women’s trophy: Jill Thornhill Rose
Cut: Low 40 and ties in the men’s field; low 20 and ties in the women’s field after 36 holes
A major July stop for elite amateurs
The Walton Heath Trophy, formerly known as the South of England Open Amateur Championship until 2019, continues to strengthen its place as one of the premier amateur events of the summer.
Played over Herbert Fowler’s renowned Old and New Courses, the championship offers a demanding 72-hole test at one of England’s most historic venues. The first two rounds will be split between the New and Old Courses on Tuesday, July 21 and Wednesday, July 22. Players who make the 36-hole cut will return Thursday, July 23 for the final 36 holes, with the morning round on the New Course and the afternoon round on the Old Course.
For AmateurGolf.com readers tracking the summer amateur calendar, Walton Heath offers an important July opportunity for players seeking WAGR points, championship conditions and a venue with deep amateur and professional tournament history.
Women’s championship continues to grow
One of the most significant elements of the Walton Heath Trophy is its continued expansion of the women’s competition.
The women’s championship was launched in 2024 following Walton Heath’s hosting of the 2023 AIG Women’s Open, and it now runs alongside the men’s event. Competitors in both divisions play side by side across the same championship window, a format that gives the event a modern identity while maintaining its long-standing amateur tradition.
The women compete for the Jill Thornhill Rose, named in honor of one of Walton Heath’s most respected figures. Thornhill is a former British Amateur champion, three-time Curtis Cup player and winner of the Smyth Salver at the championship now known as the AIG Women’s Open. She is also the current Walton Heath president.
Walton Heath officials have made clear that the women’s event is not an add-on, but a central part of the championship’s future.
“We are very proud to be driving forward with our women’s event following its launch in 2024,” said Nick Moran, Managing Director at Walton Heath Golf Club. “Jill Thornhill is one of the most respected names in UK amateur golf and we are so excited for the next chapter as the club looks to continue its support of the women’s game.”
Defending champions set the standard
Last year’s Walton Heath Trophy produced two strong champions.
Lewy Hayward of Marlborough captured the Michael Lunt Salver with rounds of 66, 69, 68 and 71, finishing at 14-under-par. On the women’s side, England’s Charlotte Brook won the Jill Thornhill Rose with rounds of 72, 70, 71 and 74 for a 9-under-par total.
The event has been described by players as “a pro event under the banner of amateur golf,” and the quality of the fields has reflected that reputation.
A championship with deep amateur roots
The Michael Lunt Salver carries its own history. It features an Eisenhower Trophy gold medal won by Michael Lunt in 1964 as part of the Great Britain & Ireland team. Lunt, a former Walton Heath captain, was a four-time Walker Cup player, British Amateur champion and later Captain of The R&A.
Past winners of the men’s trophy include Ross McGowan, Gary Wolstenholme and 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett.
The addition of the Jill Thornhill Rose has brought new significance to the event, connecting Walton Heath’s championship future with one of the club’s most influential women’s amateur figures.
Walton Heath’s championship pedigree
Walton Heath has long been one of the UK’s most important tournament venues. The club hosted the European Open throughout the 1970s and 1980s, staged the 1981 Ryder Cup and welcomed the DP World Tour in 2018 for the British Masters, won by Eddie Pepperell.
The club has also played a significant role in women’s golf. Three Women’s Amateur Championships have been contested at Walton Heath, and in 2023 the club hosted the AIG Women’s Open, where Lilia Vu won after a final-round performance that held off Charley Hull.
Walton Heath is also a regular US Open Final Qualifying venue. This year’s qualifier will be held Monday, May 18.
Why it matters
With a proven venue, WAGR approval, strong fields and a growing commitment to staging men’s and women’s amateur competition together, the Walton Heath Trophy continues to build momentum.
For players, it is a chance to test themselves on two of Herbert Fowler’s classic heathland layouts. For the amateur game more broadly, it is another example of a historic championship modernizing its platform and giving the women’s field a more prominent place on the calendar.
