Despite the best intentions of everyone involved, golf fans and golf course nerds will never stand on common ground as far as the 18th hole on the West Course at Wentworth is concerned.
£3 million was spent to revamp the entire golf course in 2010, with a brook added to the front of the 18th green, creating a water hazard and an elevated putting surface. This was the work of Ernie Els’ design team, overseen by the ex-Wentworth owner Richard Caring.
During the 2010 tournament, Els was openly hurt by the criticism of the golf course changes, with the 8th and 17th greens also being daggered. These holes became extremely tricky for tour professionals to score on, let alone club members.
More millions were pumped in to return the course towards its original design in 2017, which was worked on by Ernie Els design and European Golf Designs. 29 bunkers were removed, and every green was stripped of the old turf and reseeded.
The 18th hole is just over 500 yards. It is a dogleg right, which asks players to hit their tee shots over the trees on the corner. There are fairway bunkers visible off the tee, and bunkers further up the hole, which don’t really come into play.
While the professional stars can conquer it in two shots with relative ease, it’s more of a struggle for members and visitors. Does it just descend into a case of driver, wedge, wedge?
We’ve given you a small guide to how and why the course and the 18th hole appear as it does today, but what does NCG’s team make of it? Dan Murphy and Matt Chivers throw in their two-pence…
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