Wentworth - Visitors

USER1999

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Thanks for that very interesting link ?

I read that the other day, and thought it a pointless article, that really hasn't got an editorial position. It has a few snidey digs at golf in general, and a few woe is me from the members, is a bit anti Chinese business man, but just randomly wanders without purpose, and dribbles out at the end. Pathetic journalism.
 

IanM

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Mate of mine was a member...late 90s early 2000s I used to play there regularly. We'd play which ever was the "Members' course that day. I am sure the charge was about £50 or similar, but I wasn't allowed to pay often! Playing the West as a 2 ball with hardly anyone else on it was a real treat. His favourite was the Edinburgh though, some super holes on it. The service and facilities in the Clubhouse were as good as it gets.

Lost touch with him when I went to work in France around 2008, I am not sure if he retained his membership or not. You used to be able to drive in and park without comment, not sure about now! Seems less likely.

If you are playing for a milestone birthday, I'd pick a day at Sunningdale over Wentworth anyway! :) I would also suggest a very polite email to the Sec at Swinley Forest seeing if they have any openings... they are rare, but you never know!
 
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I go to Wentworth most years for the PGA, unless it's changed very recently you are able to drive onto the estate and up to the clubhouse with no issues.
 

Green Bay Hacker

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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 ?

We played Sunningdale on the Finch Tour 3 or 4 years ago and came down the day before and decided to give Wentworth a visit. We followed the satnav and it didn't take us through the front gates on the main road but sent us down a side road through some woods. We came up at the back of the complex and just parked up. It was throwing it down and there weren't many people around so we just walked in through the front door. Went straight in the pro shop and bought a few things. When I came to pay the girl asked me the name on the account but I said I was paying by card. She then asked if the 2 of us were members and when we said no she said then we shouldn't be in there but as we were already in it was ok and we could buy the stuff we wanted.

Incidentally, it is the only UK golf course that I have been to that has on open air swimming pool within a few yards of the course.
 

SammmeBee

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Mate of mine was a member...late 90s early 2000s I used to play there regularly. We'd play which ever was the "Members' course that day. I am sure the charge was about £50 or similar, but I wasn't allowed to pay often! Playing the West as a 2 ball with hardly anyone else on it was a real treat. His favourite was the Edinburgh though, some super holes on it. The service and facilities in the Clubhouse were as good as it gets.

Lost touch with him when I went to work in France around 2008, I am not sure if he retained his membership or not. You used to be able to drive in and park without comment, not sure about now! Seems less likely.

If you are playing for a milestone birthday, I'd pick a day at Sunningdale over Wentworth anyway! :) I would also suggest a very polite email to the Sec at Swinley Forest seeing if they have any openings... they are rare, but you never know!

What was his name?
 

Golfnut1957

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We played Sunningdale on the Finch Tour 3 or 4 years ago and came down the day before and decided to give Wentworth a visit. We followed the satnav and it didn't take us through the front gates on the main road but sent us down a side road through some woods. We came up at the back of the complex and just parked up. It was throwing it down and there weren't many people around so we just walked in through the front door. Went straight in the pro shop and bought a few things. When I came to pay the girl asked me the name on the account but I said I was paying by card. She then asked if the 2 of us were members and when we said no she said then we shouldn't be in there but as we were already in it was ok and we could buy the stuff we wanted.

Incidentally, it is the only UK golf course that I have been to that has on open air swimming pool within a few yards of the course.
Nothing to do with Wentworth but a similar story.

My mate took his wife to Southport for a couple of nights away and told her on the way home that they should pop in to Royal Birkdale for a coffee. They parked up and he managed to follow three lady members in through the front door, thus averting the need to confront anyone on the way in.

He took a seat by the window overlooking the 18th and went to the bar for two coffees. The nice lady behind the bar enquired as to whether or not he was a member and upon determining that he wasn't she had them escorted out. His wife had no idea at all that they shouldn't be there and was fuming.

He has no shame, but I get great pleasure from reminding her occasionally.
 

birdyhunter

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A few years ago, at a local auction, a mate bid for a 4-ball at Wentworth.. he won with £180 and we all thought great.. until we found out it was a round on the Edinburgh... oh dear.

We had a fantasic time, great couse and spectacular day out.. we even got onto the clubhouse veranda and sat near Ernie having a beer.

However I think that sadly your chances of driving up and looking arond the clubhouse are pretty slim, but good luck.
 

Ethan

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A few years ago, at a local auction, a mate bid for a 4-ball at Wentworth.. he won with £180 and we all thought great.. until we found out it was a round on the Edinburgh... oh dear.

We had a fantasic time, great couse and spectacular day out.. we even got onto the clubhouse veranda and sat near Ernie having a beer.

However I think that sadly your chances of driving up and looking arond the clubhouse are pretty slim, but good luck.


By all accounts if he had had fewer beers at Wentworth, he might have more trophies.
 

matt71

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Cheers for all your replies looks like it’s a no goer . Shame really but there loss as we would have prob’ spent some money :)
 

Smiffy

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Cheers for all your replies looks like it’s a no goer . Shame really but there loss as we would have prob’ spent some money :)

You no doubt would have done.
A packet of crisps at the bar is £4.50.
Pint of bitter £9.75
Not my sort of drum.
I had enough and walked out when the steward had a go at me for trying to belch the alphabet.
 
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jim8flog

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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 -

Long time since I worked there but this is the first time that I found out the 'Tank Factory' has gone. My first main job after leaving school.

To get to work on the train from where I lived was Woking to Weybridge change, Weybridge to Ascot, change, Ascot to Longcross. I always remember the train going past Wentworth and wondering what it was like to play golf.
 

davidy233

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Long time since I worked there but this is the first time that I found out the 'Tank Factory' has gone. My first main job after leaving school.
To get to work on the train from where I lived was Woking to Weybridge change, Weybridge to Ascot, change, Ascot to Longcross. I always remember the train going past Wentworth and wondering what it was like to play golf.
My God - that's a round about route for an 8mile journey - just tried Woking to Longcross by rail on Google maps and it suggested into Clapham Junction then back out to Longcross.

Longcross studios has now been turned into a housing estate - not quite Wentowth level but plenty will likely have a 7 figure price tag!
Is it not just part of the site that's been turned into 'Get the Surrey lifestyle' houses - Studio still appears active according to Internet? - though Google maps shows that the Millennium Flacon that they had parked there has gone.
 

PNWokingham

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My God - that's a round about route for an 8mile journey - just tried Woking to Longcross by rail on Google maps and it suggested into Clapham Junction then back out to Longcross.


Is it not just part of the site that's been turned into 'Get the Surrey lifestyle' houses - Studio still appears active according to Internet? - though Google maps shows that the Millennium Flacon that they had parked there has gone.

Not sure tbh. Going past on the train it does look largely houses but definitely some other stuff left so you could be right
 

jim8flog

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My God - that's a round about route for an 8mile journey - just tried Woking to Longcross by rail on Google maps and it suggested into Clapham Junction then back out to Longcross.


Is it not just part of the site that's been turned into 'Get the Surrey lifestyle' houses - Studio still appears active according to Internet? - though Google maps shows that the Millennium Flacon that they had parked there has gone.

Originally I got the Rail pass for free from the MOD. After about a year of doing it I started to hitch hike in to work instead. If I was stood outside the Wheatsheaf at the right time I used to get picked up by one of two guys everyday. One of them then use to give regular lifts home at finishing time.
 

4LEX

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Ignore all the replies, you can easily drive through the estate, park up and walk through the front door. Theres not a great deal to see though....just some golf clubs past the reception.

Dress smart, act like you belong and no one will question you. If they do, mention a few foriegn names and they'll smile and go away. The West is a great course now and with the history worth playing if you can. Sunningdale Old and New are different level IMO.
 

rosecott

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I've just remembered that I played the Burma Road some 50 years ago. I was asked if I fancied filling in for someone at an annual event run by the RAF Escaping Society. It was very strange as I think I was the only person in a large field of British and American aircrew who had not baled out of an aircraft. I didn't have much to talk about.
 
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