Wentworth Club Ltd

WENTWORTH WEST COURSE I had the fortune to be able to play at Wentworth on the West Course - The BMW PGA Matchplay course with my two sons and a close friend. From the moment we turned into Wentworth Drive, we knew that we were somewhere very special. The entrance and car parking is clearly marked and we had no problem parking the car, locating The Golf Academy or all of the other facilities. We wandered over to the Club House and Pro Shop and everyone that we saw, both staff and members or visitors were courteous, polite and we exchanged the good old British Greeting of Good Morning. Upon arriving at the Clubhouse Entrance, concierge staff spoke to us to direct us to where we needed to go. The Pro Shop is as good as you will get anywhere and again the staff went out of their way to take us to reception to book us in. There was none of this ’ Just through there mate and find the reception desk on the left’. Everything is 100 percent professional. Back outside we were stood on the entrance when Tom Godwin The Golf Academy Manager and Club PGA Professional arrived with no other than Anton du Beke ( Dancer and 6 handicapper) in a buggy having just completed their golf round. I have to say that four country lads were immediately star struck but in fairness Anton spoke to us in passing. I met Tom when I had my TaylorMade Performance Lab MAT-T fitting in the TaylorMade Performance Lab the month earlier and we struck up a friendship and we had a brief chat. We then went over to the Range, The Short Practice Area and Putting Green before our T off time. At every part of this, a member of staff spoke to us and directed us to the various facilities. Now it was time to T off and we met with the Starter with a South African accent - apologies I did not notice his name - who made us feel very welcome, gave us our Scorecards, Pin Position cards for that day and invited us to take Pencils, Tees, Ball Markers and a Engraved Pitch Repair Lifter. All very nice mementos. He then gave us advice on where to play our first shot and how the ball should run out if we took his advice. There was light hearted banter between us all and this really helped to settle the nerves as with all First Tees at Major Golf Courses there is always an audience. We all teed off, our ball going into the distance more or less in the correct direction and our Wentworth Experience had began. The course is magnificent, and memories of certain holes that you have seen on the Tele come flooding back. The bunkers are enormous, relative to the general sized course bunkers on home courses, and with their very petal shape design stand large and proud to capture your errant shot. When you are in them they look bigger again, as you are stood so low down, however the ball generally will settle at the bottom and this gives you a chance to play a recovery shot. There are also little ditches to catch you out and these are unplayable as they are to narrow and deep to play a shot, so you have no choice but to take a drop shot under penalty. If you played the course regularly of course you would know where these were and adjust your shot accordingly. On many of the holes I said to my playing partners - ‘Just look back’ - as you sometimes don’t really see the contours of the land that you have walked and the sights were amazing. The ground contours were much larger than you would have expected. At the halfway house, after 8, the reception from the staff was warm, friendly and again with some light banter. The greens have considerable swathes and although they were good, true and quite fast they were not too lighting fast for us mere mortals. Luckily for us, our home course always has fast greens around 11- 12 Stimp readings so this was not a problem… only the green contours were!!! For me there was 2 Signature holes, 8 and 18 and I was pleased to Par 8 and Bogey 18. Hole 16 is stroke index 1, which I hit the flagstick with my chipped third shot only to then go 4 feet past!! All good memories. Any Complaints… About the course… None. However the Course Marshall came to us as we were leaving hole 5 to ask us to speed up because there was a two ball on a Buggy approaching us from behind, But we were a four ball walking and carrying.. They should catch us up!!! …. And if they did, we would let them through. However, they never did catch us and we stayed in front of them and never once did they get to their balls before we moved off. He could have been a bit more tactful with his words. Personally ….Only that you can not take it all in and savour the moment in one round. You really need to play it twice. Time taken - 5hours exactly, but it is 6716 yards off the yellows and the course is not easy to play and score to your handicap. You do need to give each shot due consideration. Course card gives a guide of 4hours 20. Would I Play the West Course again??? Given the opportunity - Definitely. It is not cheap for the average golfer but like other major venues it is a experience to play and remember. Now to the 19th - The Clubhouse - Changing Rooms, Showers etc were perfect with towels provided. We then had lunch on the terrace outside The Burma Bar. Beer - London prices but the meals were very well priced. 2 Fish and Chips and 2 Chicken burgers with Portabello Mushrooms, Gorganzola cheese and fries + 4 pints for £ 60. Superb quality, presentation and Value for Money. Then came our final bit of Star Gazing. As we were eating, a drinks party was going on at the adjoining terrace. My youngest spotted Sir Nick Faldo with his wife strolling past and when we left the clubhouse, the assembled party of about 60 guests included Tom Watson, Berhard Langer, Fred Couples, Gary Player, Mark O’ Meara, to name just a few. It was a who’s who of golfing greats and legions. We did not play as well as we could of on the day and that was partly down to the strength and quality of the course. That did not detract from the fact that we had A Wonderful Day and a Wonderful Experience. None of us had any complaints whatsoever. Finally, at the beginning of this review I mentioned the PGA Club Pro Tom Godwin, who fitted me with a set of TaylorMade RSi1 clubs the previous month. I can not recommend Tom Godwin highly enough plus The TaylorMade Performance Lab with MAT-T technology. If you are thinking of changing your clubs or need a Golf Professional to give you lessons then give Tom Godwin a ring on 01344-846306. This is a true review and not a sales promotion. Brian Capp Hereford July 2015

Played the East course a few weeks ago and have to say the course was a real treat. Whilst it is a fair bit shorter than the others on site, I really enjoyed it. It is only a par 68 but very tricky and tough to score on. My favourite hole was the par-3 7th which is around 200 yards just after the halfway hut (lovely sausage sandwich). Would like to return 5 stars.

I was lucky enough to return here and play the Edinburgh on the ProAm day of the BMW PGA. Obviously there was a huge hustle and bustle around the place although whilst out on the course we hardly saw a sole! The course was in beautiful condition and was a treat to play. For me the most memorable holes were the par 3 5th and the par 5 7th. There is not a bad hole on the course. I would thoroughly recommend a round here if you are lucky enough to get an invite. I look forward to a return trip and a round on the West Course.

I have played all of the courses at Wentworth (including the West since the redesign) and I don't think there is a finer place to play golf in the UK. The West is a very tough course off the back tees but I think it is very well designed. The back nine for me is about as good as golf gets. While the 18th is now very tough, it is a really good risk and reward hole which is what we want to see in tournaments isn't it?! The East is superb, although it is only a par 68 I'd like to see people play to their handicap round it, the 11th hole is about as hard a par-4 as you'll ever experience. The Edinburgh (so called because the Duke of Edinburgh opened it - members call it the South) is a different proposition all together with a more modern take on tree-lined / heathland golf. I never seem to score well on this course and is quite similar to Foxhills in my opinion. I do enjoy it though and would recommend it to all. Wentworth is a fantastic five star experience. Any rating less than this isn't justified.

I was lucky enough to play the East Corse as a members guest recently. I was looking forward to the round for in the run up and the only thing that was a dissappointment was my own golf! This really is a class set up, the course was immaculate with some of the quickest and most undulating greens that I have had the pleasure to play on. There are some spectacular holes the tenth and the seventeenth being the two most memorable, oh and the second where I managed my only par! The facilities are fantastic and the knowledgable staff are very helpfull and welcoming. I just hope that I am invited back.

Being very lucky I got to play the course for free. Played edingburgh a couple of years ago and played the west last week. The place is brilliant, quality cars, great clubhouse, the houses around the course are amazing, the place has history. The Edinburgh last year was a nice course, love all the holes being enclosed by trees, quick greens. We were then looking forward to the West. Bit of pressure on the first tee, hitting over the road, although the starter was great stopping the traffic and having a laugh (made you feel at ease, even though my mate shanked one down the fairway). Overall little disappointed especially the greens, they were not good at all but it is Feb. Any long hitters, being wayward off the tee and say goodbye to your ball in the trees. For the med-high handicapper, avoid the west as its longish and more hilly than expected. I've heard they charge £115 in winter and £285 in summer to play the West, is this true??? and I would of been a bit dissapointed paying over £50. Summer I bet its top notch, but far too dear for golf, have a golf holiday instead!

wentworth west. a must play. great challenge needs little description, the course is well known and its good to walk the same fairways as all the legends to compare where you put the ball. very scenic and well presented, but that said, i don't think its as good as woburn, but is one that everyone wants to play. green fees are steep to say the least but off the course facilities are superb and you can't help but be full of trepidation on the first tee. more up and down with hillier fairways than you'd imagine from TV. need to try the other courses now.

played the west course on may 11th 2007.i have not played woburn,sunningdale etc so i can not compare but i would be biased anyway.i love this place,i can not fault it.i have been to watch tournaments here and i knew partly what to expect but to play knowing the history and the players that have played here makes every shot special.its expensive (£170 in may)but the staff,the clubhouse, the course,the area around the course and the facillaties are great.you watch players hit shots and if you manage to hit one any where near as good or maybe better the thrill is brilliant.the fairways were like carpets and the greens were perfect,i could not find any blemish or fault with the greens. although the course is a difficult challenge,if you play the holes with thought and you get your tee shots away well the challenge in front of you is a fair and enjoyable one.i would like to play it again and after seeing some of the other courses i would like to play them as well.playing here was a dream come true for me if you want a complete golfing experiance play it.

I had the pleasure of playing the West Course on Friday 23rd Feb 2007. All members of staff we came int ocontact with were extremely helpful. The caddymaster I chatted with at the end of the round seemed genuinely interested to hear what we thought of the course. I got the feeling he was excited for us when he realised it was our first visit. None of the staff seemed to have that false smile/attitude you sometimes get at upper class establishments. The course itself was a little damp under foot, due to the large ammount of rain we had in Jan/Feb 2007, but from the 1st T to the 18th green is was just sheer golfing pleasure. I was lucky enough to have VIP passes to last years BMW Championship, so playing the course while it was still fresh in my mind from watching the pro's was great. There are not many sports where you can follow the footsteps of some great masters. The course itself wasn't as difficult as I expected, and the yellow T's we were playing off were only about 10-20yds closer to the pin than the Championship ones, apart from 15 & 16. The 1st T shot is quite daunting, as there is not a great view of the fairway landing area. 2nd hole plays longer than it seems. Walking down the dip of the 2nd towards the green, the view of the 3rd to your right is VERY Daunting. It looks a massive par 4, although playing it wasn't as bad as it looked. Other star holes for me were the 7th, another tough blind landing area for your T shot. The 11th, a great R-L dogleg. 14th the long uphill Par 3. And of course 17 & 18 which I managed to get throguh dropping only 1 shot. Would it be worth £115 in the winter or £285 in the summer. Well when I played I didn't get rained on, hit some great T shots and shots into the greens, putted well and didn't end up letting the course chew me up and spit me out. So Winter YES, summer YES (Would you pay £300 to play 90 minutes @ Wembley ?? OF COURSE U WOULD). If you are considering playing it, get down to watch the Pro's play, walk round and soak up the atmosphere, it makes the round much more enjoyable. Start saving and go experience it. It's highly recommended.

Played the West Course on Sunday 27th Aug 2006 and I have to say that it was a fantastic experience. From the moment you arrive and sign in at reception until the moment you leave, the Wentworth experience is something every golfer should try. The sense of history there is incredible, even though the club is only around 80 years old. One look at the famous names that have left clubs on display on the walls of the corridor down to the lounge enhances the feeling of treading in famous footsteps. The West course itself is a tremendous test of golf and at over 6740yds from the yellow tees, is plenty long enough for most. It's a real challenge from the tee as errant shots are invariably swallowed by the mature woods bordering the lush fairways. The course demands accuracy and course management, in order to plot your way around and put together a decent score. I found this out for myself, having only hit five fairways during my round. At least my recovery skills were given a workout!! The greens were in very good condition, though not as quick as I had anticipated, but this is apparently down to the type of grass used which can be vulnerable in hot dry weather. Preparations were under way for the upcoming HSBC World Matchplay, so we played the 18th with the Hospitality Units in place and this gave us an idea of what it looks like walking up the last hole in a big event (minus the crowd of course). I went round in a reasonably satisfactory 6 over my 18 handicap and thoroughly enjoyed the whole day. We also had the benefit of playing the course for free. The made the day great value for money. However, if you asked me if I would pay the £280 green fees, I would say that it's very unlikely, even given the superb condition of the course. Carnoustie and the Old Course at St Andrews are playable at less than half the price and have more history within the game of golf. That said, the West Course is far and away the best course I've played and will take some beating.

Played the Edinburgh course on 10th March 06 for the second time in 7 months. Although several of the holes had surface water on the fairways, this did little to detract from an excellent days golf. General course condition, for this time of year, was impressive and the greens especially were running fairly true. All I have to do now is win the Euro Lottery and put a bid in for the house currently under construction behind the 17th green! If you've seen it, you'll know exactly what I mean!!

Played the West Course on Sunday in August 2005 a month before the World Matchplay and the same day as the Senior Masters (who were on the Edinburgh). The sense of History and Tradition as you passed into the clubhouse is overwhelming and breakfast with Sam Torrance on the next table is a little intimidating too! The weather was baking but the course was Superb. Having Just seen a japanese guy rifle his tee shot through the practice putting green from the Yellows was not the best preparation especially as we were off the Whites !! At £260 per round you either have to be filthy rich or Lucky! We were very very Lucky !!

Played both the west and the east and both are very enjoyable course. West is slightly more challenging with more memorable holes. However the east is very good with 16 and 17 worthy of special note.

Played the Edinburgh on 19th Feb.Beautiful parkland course with each hole set in its own wood which encroach on both sides of the fairways. The only reason we saw anyone else was because there were no leaves on the trees. Very long with no run on the ball but the challenge was not as stiff as expected. The welcome in the club house could have been warmer with no warning of 2 temp greens and 1 temp tee. Facilities 1st class and a good golf experience.

I have played all the courses at Wentworth a few times over the years. The Edinburgh is my personal favourite. This is heavily tree lined and quite tight with many doglegs. This demands thought and a fair degree of ball control if one is to create a good score. I remember Neil Coles winning their annual seniors tournament a couple of years back with a 3 round score of 10 under and all done just a month before his 65th birthday. He principally did it by shaping his tee shots around the doglegs and staying out of the trees. It just goes to show that it is one of the few courses these days that will yield to precision more than power. The East is the shortest and probably the most traditional of the three with some great holes. The West is of course very overpriced, especially as it is by no means exclusive these days but who can blame them when there is a steady stream of punters more than willing to part with their hard earned to play it. With the rye grass rough, meadow grass greens (albeit excellent ones) and depleted heather, it has lost a great deal of its character over the years but this is somewhat inevitable given the amount of traffic it receives. The bunkering can be good in places but the odd one or two wouldn’t look out of place on a 70’s municipal, the right hand greenside one on the 18th for instance. Still go and play them if you can. Just make sure someone else is picking up the tab.

Wentworth is the most expensive golf course to play in the UK, if you are not lucky enough to get on a corporate day or corporate membership but from the quality of the courses you can see the money is well spent. Despite the numbers who play the West, it is immaculate, fairways as good as most clubs greens and the greens true and fast.Rough is punishing however and the course plays its length for all but the best players. Marshalls and 10 min intervals ensure play is not slow. East is a more traditional heathland course with some spectacular holes. Edinburgh is probably my favorite and usually the quietest (once played a whole round without seeing another group on a sunny July day!).Whole course beautifully tree-lined and so picturesque with not too many houses to make you more jealous. Clubhouse luxurious, great showers and lots of golf memorabilia so you don't forget where you are. Wonderful must PLAY !!

Wentworth is famous for the West Course which is a must to play for any golfer. However the East Course and Edinburgh Course are both extremely challenging and pretty, and frequently less busy than the West which tends to get alot of company and society days. One green fee during the week is actually a day pass to the course, so try and take time to play at least two of the courses!