More Wentworth musings.

[Imurg]

My first time at Wentworth yesterday. I've only ever seen it via the TV and in pictures. One thing that struck me was how different many of the holes looked in the flesh compared to the TV view. The 5th, 8th, 10th, 11th, 13th, 15th and 16th holes were almost alien to me, yet I've spent days in front of the box watching these holes down the years. I was also struck by the terrain changes. Like Augusta, the TV just doesn't convey the slopes. Standing at the 14th tee, it looks like you'll need a Sherpa and Oxygen to get to the green!
Now the Clubhouse looks like Castle on TV and although it's impressive it didn't quite live up to expectations from the outside..
Did quite a bit of club watching... it was interesting to see so many Titleist AP2's in the Pro bags. Plenty of Pings a few Cally's and Mizuno but not as many TaylorMade as I expected.
I was also aware of the amount of time some players took to play a shot. Several instances of taking ages to line up a putt or chip only to produce a result that, frankly, I'd have been disappointed with.
All in all a very enjoyable day although we didn't get to see much of the tented village. It wasn't open when we arrived, we spent the whole day watching, the West course isn't an "out and back, out and back" course, it's one big loop. Nothing was going to move us from the Grandstand once we were in and by the time the Tournament was over, the bulk of the Tented Village had closed or was closing.
Going to try and go back next year as it's a quality day out.

 

[Smiffy]

I haven't been yet, but my mate says practice day is the best as the players are much more relaxed.
Plan to go next year

 

[MashieNiblick]

Nice post Imurg. I think being at a big golf event really does give a different insight compared to watching on TV.

Went on Friday for what was my 4th visit to Wentworth overall and my first since Els's changes.

Whatever you think of the changes the course looked magnificent. The setting is superb and it is beautifully maintained without looking overly artificial.

Agree with Imurg that TV doesn't convey the changes in elevation. Some of the approaches to elevated greens guarded with huge bunkers are simply terrifying.

Also the greens slope far more than you see on TV and you can see why so many putts slip by the hole. They put the pins in some really tricky places. Often it looked like they had woefully under hit a chip or putt only for the ball to run well past the hole.

Given that, I suppose it's understandable that the players sometimes took ages over their shots round the green visualising and getting the feel for the shot. But it's also easy to see why rounds take so long and you do sometimes feel tempted to say "get on with it man!"

Another thing I noticed was how often players took hybrids off the tee. The penalty for missing the fairway or even being out of position can be extreme so accuracy and placement is far more important than sheer distance.

The crowds were huge towards the end of Friday and sitting in the grandstand at 18 and seeing if players are going to go for it makes for a terrific finish for the spectators. As Imurg said in another post far more do, and do so successfully, than you'd think from the TV coverage.

Would I be happy to play there every day? You bet. Would my handicap still be 12? No way. 36 points off 24 would be a great result.

By the way Imurg, unless you are into expensive BMWs (I'm not), daft putting games (albeit with a Scotty Cameron and a ProV1) and overpriced merchandise (£8 for a pitchmark repairer) you didn't miss much in the tented village.

 

[CrapHacker]

And I took SWMBO shopping to get a dress



Jealous?

Too right

 

[Ethan]

The tented village is not up to much, so no great shame to miss that. I think the Friday is the best day to go, not as busy as the weekend, but players playing to make the cut and early contenders identified. I like to walk a few holes, including some time at the popular 6th green/7th tee/11th green/12th tee intersection, and then see some players teeing off the first.

Seeing professional golf on TV doesn't really convey the trajectory and flight these guys get with their shots. Luke Donald may be a shortish hitter by pro standards, but he can still get it out there in an impressive fashion.

 

[Karl102]

top post! enjoyd it! Never been to any big named event! thanks

 

[Mick47]

top post! enjoyd it! Never been to any big named event! thanks

+1 Thanks

 

[chrisd]

I haven't been yet, but my mate says practice day is the best as the players are much more relaxed.
Plan to go next year

I always go to the Wednesday practice day as the crowds are vey much smaller and the players are more relaxed. Some years there is no Pro Am and groups of players go out together in 4's and, just like when we have a practice, they often hit several balls and spend time chipping and putting where they know the pin placements will be during the week.I am not into autographs but they are usually pretty obliging and I will never forget Seve, a few years back, chatting to two young schoolboys - he was lovely!

The pro am's are not so great as there is obviously only one pro per group but if you know your way round you can get to see a lot of the best player in a day.

I always spend quite a lot of time watching the guys on the range. This year I went on Monday as it was the Seve Pro Am and I watched Louis Oosthuisen and Darren Clarke being fitted up for clubs on the range. It was also quite funny when the Pro am'ers arrived on the range and were suddenly hitting next to the top players - you can imagine the different swings going on. At one time Jiminez was giving on of the amateurs a lesson on grip and posture and was photographing the positions on the guys camera phone so he would remember.

Another bonus is that parking and entry on the Wednesday has always been free, thus leaving more cash to spend with the two ladies on the Yum Yums burger wagon!


Chris

 

[sev112]

Didnt get there this year, but what always amazed me was the amount of tops, duff, shanks, fats and thins that top professional golfers hit. Plus numerous puts that dont even have a hope oe getting within a couple of feet of teh hole Grownig up with golf on TV you would never see it, but wander round a pro event and you see them all with surprising frequency

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Didn't go this year but I also tend to go on the practice day and usually spend a lot of time in the morning watching the guys on the practice ground and putting green before going out in late morning to see some action. The tented village isn't great and is pretty expensive as you'd expect. It is a lot hillier in places than you think and is a bit a of a squeeze and so a bit tricky in places to see everything and certainly isn't spectator friendly but it is worth a visit if you get the chance

 

[Golfmmad]

Sorry Homer, but I can't agree that Wentworth isn't spectator friendly. Unless you're following the leaders on the closing days there is plenty of room, you can watch from either side of the fairways, around all the greens, and they even provide free grandstands for all to watch from. With the one at the 18th green being a fabulous spot to view from.

Yes the tented village is expensive but what BMW provide as a temporary village is more than adequate. Let's remember we're all there to predominately watch the golf.

I think there's quite a good balance in terms of what they provide for spectators and for their own showcasing of cars/products.

I quite like the catering outlets around the 6th.7th holes.
Again, expensive but pretty good quality food, fast and efficient service, and all areas kept very clean and tidy.

For me, the whole place is spot on.

Golfmmad.

 

[bozza]

I went for the first time on sunday and have to say the course is stunning and some of the houses that are on it!

We got there just before 8am and watched the first couple of groups go down the 1st then moved onto the 2nd and did the same there and kept doing that as it was quiet till we got to the 7th green where we got an amazing spot next to the green right at the front and pin high. Spent a good hour or so there watching a few groups coming through and having to dodge a wayward ball or two.

Followed Kaymer down the 8th and 9th, got to stand right behinde the 9th tee to watch Kaymer tee off. Why he wants to change his natural fade is beyond me! I would kill to be able to hit a nice controlled fade like he did off the 9th.

Grabbed some food and waited for westwood to come through and followed him from the 11th onwards. Tried to get to the 18th green before the last 2 groups came through but couldn't get anywhere near or see a thing so watched it on the big screen next to the 1st tee.

Deffintley going to go next year.

Would love to play the course but i could never bring myself to pay £350 for a round of golf no matter how good the course is!

 

[bozza]

I quite like the catering outlets around the 6th.7th holes.
Again, expensive but pretty good quality food, fast and efficient service, and all areas kept very clean and tidy.



Golfmmad.

Agree with you here, the food was expensive, which i expected and i was really suprised at how clean the place was. I can't recall seeing any litter about at all, which is something considering the amount of people there.

 

[rob2]

As per most other comments I would agree that it was very well run but everything was well overpriced. A Kit Kat and a bottle of water = £5. Fair enough wanting to make a quick buck but that really is taking the mick.

Especially when you eat as much as I do .......

Rob