Wentworth Club

The West Course at Wentworth Club stands as one of Harry Colt's most celebrated designs, opened in 1926 on heathland terrain in Surrey's commuter belt west of London. Colt routed the course through mature woodland dominated by pine, oak, and birch, creating corridors that demand accuracy while offering the sandy, free-draining soil characteristic of England's inland heathland belt. The property's gently rolling topography and natural vegetation give the course a secluded, parkland-heathland character distinct from the more open Surrey courses at Sunningdale and Walton Heath. The West Course gained international prominence as the longtime host of the European Tour's PGA Championship (now the BMW PGA Championship), which has been played here since 1984. This annual May event has featured victories by major champions and established the course as one of European professional golf's most familiar venues. The par-three fourteenth and the long par-five seventeenth are among the holes regularly featured in tournament coverage, with the latter often proving decisive in championship outcomes. In 2010, Ernie Els undertook a significant redesign that lengthened the course to over 7,300 yards and reshaped bunkers and greens to challenge modern professional play. The renovation sparked debate among members and observers about balancing championship requirements with playability for club members. Wentworth operates as a private members' club with three courses total, and the West Course remains the flagship layout and the club's most recognized asset in British golf.