Wentworth (West Course)

Teeing off in front of the famous castellated Wentworth clubhouse is a daunting prospect. Ahead lays a terrific golf course, but one that is sadly a shadow of its former self. Over the years the golf course has become longer, tougher and about half as much fun as it used to be.

Originally designed by Harry Colt in 1926 it has suffered at the hands of numerous club captains and most recently Ernie Els. The nuance of the course has gone with the addition of numerous bunkers, tees and reshaped fairways. The greens at Wentworth have notoriously slow and bumpy and that is about the only thing that has remained consistent over the years.

Numerous individual and corporate owners have come and gone. Almost all of them have lost money at this British institution that has been the host of hundreds of pro tournaments including the PGA Championship and the original World Match Play Championship.

Back to that tee shot and an unusual drive over the main entrance club into the club. (As a side note there are actually several clubs locally where a drive is required over the main road into the club, including St. Georges Hill and Camberley Heath). As you drive into the club make sure to look left or you could end up with someone’s worm burner through the passenger’s window. The first hole used to be a gentle par 5, but has now been designated as a ridiculously tough par 4. The second shot for most players will be a 3 wood or hybrid over a valley to a green designed to repel all but the best shot into the left rough.

The second, a shortish par 3 is a classic. Playing over the same valley as the first you look at a green on the same level bordered by deep bunkers and an old oak tree on the right hand side that catches a lot of shots aimed at the back right pin.

The front nine meanders through pine trees and heather and expensive houses. This is the so-called stockbroker belt about 20 miles from downtown London and to live on Wentworth Estate is confirmation that you have officially made it!

The back nine features 3 par 5s. The twelfth is a throwback to another era and requires a tee shot over 6 tall pine trees directly in front of the tee. That’s right, unless you can thread the needle from 200 yards you need to hit a hit draw to carry the trees – they don’t build them like that any more. Not too long ago, players were rewarded following a good tee shot to run in a long shot onto the green. Not anymore – an awful creek has been created taking the ground ball out of play and the fun out of the hole. Only the elite players can now go for the green in two.

Thirteen is still a great hole – a beast of a par 4 with purple heather waiting to grab those who try and cut off too much of the dogleg left. On the right is a bunker to catch those playing too safe. The green is guarded on the right by a heather covered bank and with a severe slope in the front of the green this is a hard earned par.

The finish at Wentworth West is very unusual. It has two par 5s, both of which provide birdie opportunities. 17 requires a high draw and 18 a slight fade. The OB fence on 17 grabs many balls and tournaments have been won and lost here with an eagle or a triple.

Here are three courses at Wentworth, West, East and Edinburgh. The former two are worth playing. In fact, the poor cousin of the West, The East Course is a great deal more fun than the West. The Edinburgh, designed by Gary Player is a travesty. A great piece of property which had massive potential, this is not Mr. Player’s finest moment. Don’t waste a moment playing it – go 10 miles down the road and play any of these that will not only save you money, but you will play original classic heath land golf – Worplesdon, West Hill, New Zealand, Woking, Sunningdale, Berkshire or Swinley Forest.

Update

Not content with ruining the 12^th, the powers that be at the Club have now set about the 18^th with another small creek (with railway ties) right in front of the 18^th green – What are they thinking?