Wentworth - Visitors

[matt71]

Hi everyone
can anyone answer a quick question please?

I believe you can only play Wentworth now if you are invited by a member but are you allowed to have a look around at the clubhouse and course ?

Me and the wife are playing sunningdale (50 birthday present treat for her) and while we are down that part of the world thought it would be nice to have a nosey around

However I expect the security will just turn me car around and escort us of the place ?

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Be surprised if you can just walk in
Best wait till the BMW PGA and go on pro am day, you won’t get into the clubhouse, but you can walk the course and it’s normally pretty cheap ?

 

[Golfnut1957]

I've mentioned this before. I played there a good few years ago, a finance company my son did business with had a corporate deal with them and he managed to get us a round on the Edinburgh course, which for me was a totally forgettable experience.

However, before going out we had a silver service breakfast in the dinning room. A walk through the front door and then down the corridor where clubs donated by past champions of the PGA are displayed. This alone was worth the trip, obviously the names on that wall are legendary.

The breakfast was fine but even better than that was sitting in the sun on the balcony after the round having a few beers. In contrast to the course it was an unforgettable experience.

 

[Captainron]

It’s a private estate and golf course. You won’t get past the gate.

 

[sunshine]

I live in a massive house on the wentworth estate, backing on to the west course. I pay for security guards to patrol the estate to keep riff raff like you out. If I see you nosing around I’ll tell my butler to set the dogs on you. Thanks

 

[davidy233]

When I was a kid in the late sixties we used to go for walks on Wentworth - My dad was in the army and based at what is now Longcross Studios - we used to go to meet him from work and walk through the camp, over the bridge at Longcross railway station and wander through the wooded bits of the course. Sadly I had no idea what golf was back then.

 

[chrisd]

Mrs D paid £225 for a birthday round on the West which I'd walked round several times for various tournaments there. It was one of the highlights of my golfing memories and I can still remember the shots on most of the holes. I think Sunningdale and possibly Gleneagles were at least as good but I really loved the West!

 

[Ethan]

The West is a very good course, but not in my view in the same league as Sunningdale, and the changes about 10 years ago, the water at the 18th, for example, were very out of character and rather vulgar. The then owner was obsessed by Sawgrass and wanted to change the natural flow of Wentworth into something that looked articifical and tacky, presumably. He looked a bit like he has some unnatural work done on himself, if I remember clearly. I had never seen the problem with a reachable par-5 for the 18th, and even Ernie Els, who was the face of the work, seemed to be a bit unconvinced.

The Edinburgh was a nice course, in my opinion, with some fine holes and a slightly different feel to the West.

Then the subsequent owners decided to clear out al the older members by massively hiking the subscription, and they succeeded and have now gone fully private. I won't miss them, to be honest, and will be satisfied with getting a quick look of the 9th on the west and a short dogleg on the Edinburgh when passing on the Waterloo train.

 

[matt71]

I live in a massive house on the wentworth estate, backing on to the west course. I pay for security guards to patrol the estate to keep riff raff like you out. If I see you nosing around I’ll tell my butler to set the dogs on you. Thanks

Ha ha superb

 

[PhilTheFragger]

 

[Deleted member 18588]

The West is a very good course, but not in my view in the same league as Sunningdale, and the changes about 10 years ago, the water at the 18th, for example, were very out of character and rather vulgar. The then owner was obsessed by Sawgrass and wanted to change the natural flow of Wentworth into something that looked articifical and tacky, presumably. He looked a bit like he has some unnatural work done on himself, if I remember clearly. I had never seen the problem with a reachable par-5 for the 18th, and even Ernie Els, who was the face of the work, seemed to be a bit unconvinced.

The Edinburgh was a nice course, in my opinion, with some fine holes and a slightly different feel to the West.

Then the subsequent owners decided to clear out al the older members by massively hiking the subscription, and they succeeded and have now gone fully private. I won't miss them, to be honest, and will be satisfied with getting a quick look of the 9th on the west and a short dogleg on the Edinburgh when passing on the Waterloo train.

I agree with your regarding the West having been fortunate enough to have played it both "before and after".

Couldn't really see what some of the improvements (?) were intended to achieve, particularly 18th. Although I did think the new 8th was a better hole.

East would possibly be my choice to play these days, not that I am likely to get the chance.

Enjoyed the Edinburgh although I did think it was more Woburn than Wentworth.

 

[PNWokingham]

When I was a kid in the late sixties we used to go for walks on Wentworth - My dad was in the army and based at what is now Longcross Studios - we used to go to meet him from work and walk through the camp, over the bridge at Longcross railway station and wander through the wooded bits of the course. Sadly I had no idea what golf was back then.

Longcross studios has now been turned into a housing estate - not quite Wentowth level but plenty will likely have a 7 figure price tag!

The old clubhouse had some charm and the main bar a good vibe, but i have heard they have spent millions and it now feels like a glorified 5-star hotel lobby and verr lacking in golf vibe

 

[tugglesf239]

Played the Edinburgh

Thought that it was a cracker considering it is possibly the lesser of the three.

Clubhouse was lovely and the Scran was out of this world.

 

[sunshine]

Played the Edinburgh

Thought that it was a cracker considering it is possibly the lesser of the three.

Clubhouse was lovely and the Scran was out of this world.

Who is Scran?

 

[MarkT]

Not sure you’ll get on the property. People always talk about the members preferring the East and personally think the changes to the West are terrible, particularly 18, but still an amazing experience to play it having been to so many PGAs in the 80s.
Thought the Edinburgh was OK, always quite fancied playing the little Par 3.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

It's the proper word for what pongos mistakenly refer to as scoff ?

You might have to explain what a pongo is ??

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

You might have to explain what a pongo is ??

I think I know but only as it was a description of a certain sort of serviceman used in the closing chapter in the novel I’ve finished reading this morning. If it is the same thing then Nevil Shute spelled it ‘pongoes’

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Not sure you’ll get on the property. People always talk about the members preferring the East and personally think the changes to the West are terrible, particularly 18, but still an amazing experience to play it having been to so many PGAs in the 80s.
Thought the Edinburgh was OK, always quite fancied playing the little Par 3.

Like a few of such tracks it's a good fun experience.

 

[GuyInLyon]

Looks to be trouble at mill...

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/mar/02/wentworth-golf-club-reignwood-yan-bin

 

[chrisd]

Looks to be trouble at mill...

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/mar/02/wentworth-golf-club-reignwood-yan-bin

Thanks for that very interesting link ?