Walton Heath Golf Club in England will host The Senior Open Championship for the first time from July 21-24, 2011, 30 years after the Surrey venue staged an historic Ryder Cup.

The Senior Open Championship returns to the south of England for only the second time, following the success of the 2009 Championship at Sunningdale where American Loren Roberts beat Mark
McNulty of Ireland and another American, Fred Funk, in an exciting play-off.

In addition to The Ryder Cup, Walton Heath has also hosted the European Open five times and has been the US Open Championship European Qualifying venue since 2005.

Walton Heath’s place in history was sealed in 1981 when it became the first European venue to host a Ryder Cup between a combined European Team – rather than Great Britain and Ireland – and the United States.

Thirteen members of the European and United States Teams from that year played in The 2009 Senior Open Championship and many are expected to return to the course for next year’s Championship, including 2009 European Senior Tour Order of Merit winner Sam Torrance who made his Ryder Cup debut at the venue.

Major Champions Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Sandy Lyle were also part of the European Team, while Tom Watson, runner-up in The 2009 Open Championship and three-time Senior Open Champion, represented the United States in their 18½ - 9½ victory. 

Tom Kite, another member of the 1981 United States Team expected to be part of the field, won the European Open at Walton Heath in 1980, as did Senior Tour Members Andrew Murray (1989) and Mike Harwood (1991), who was crowned the 2009 Senior Tour Rookie of the Year.

As well as producing a number of famous champions and memorable performances over the years - including that of New Zealander Michael Campbell who famously came through US Open Qualifying at Walton Heath in 2005, before going on to beat World Number One Tiger Woods to the title - Walton Heath has boasted some famous members including a reigning monarch, King Edward VIII, and four serving Prime Ministers: Lloyd George, Bonar Law, Arthur Balfour and Winston Churchill. 

David Hill, Director of Championships at The R&A, said on behalf of the Championship: “We are delighted that The Senior Open Championship will return to the south of England in 2011 following the success of the 23rd Championship at nearby Sunningdale, which attracted fantastic crowds.

“Walton Heath is a highly respected golf course and we look forward to welcoming the Club to our rota of courses to host the Championship and working with the members and officials to make it a great success.

“Walton Heath has a proud heritage as a Ryder Cup venue and host of several European Opens and US Open Qualifiers and hopefully the 2011 Senior Open Championship will also create its own piece of history.”

Andrew Brown, Chairman of Walton Heath Golf Club, said: “Walton Heath Golf Club is delighted to be hosting such a prestigious tournament, and looks forward to welcoming back many of the professionals who played in the 1981 Ryder Cup and European Opens held at Walton Heath”