One of the most prestigious and well known names in UK Golf. Wentworth's courses have been delighting players since the 1920's. It's reputation for challenging golf, luxurious surroundings and warmth and hospitality have ensured Wentworth remains on many golfers "wish list."

The West Course
Wentworth's West course, which was opened in 1926 winds like a vast coiling snake through the heavily wooded estate. Once embarked, there is no short cut back but the tightly bordered fairways somehow heighten the drama, particularly over the closing holes.

It is then that matches are decided. The 13th, bending round trees to a green cut into the side of a magnificent two-shotter. The 15th, once a par five, is now a beautifully shaped par four and in the view of many of the best hole on the course.

There is likely to be a sense of false security at the drive-and-pitch on 16th but it is the last two holes that provide the true theatre. Both are par fives, 571 and 531 yards long respectively, and two birdies are not always sufficient, such is the strength and skill of the best players in the world.

Few courses in Britain are held in greater respect by the professionals than the West Course at Wentworth. For the amateurs it sometimes seems a long way round but the opportunity to have trodden the same fairways and greens as the stars is reward enough.

The Edinburgh Course
The Edinburgh course at Wentworth is host to the Energis Senior Masters, it may be the younger brother, but is growing into a handsome young man.

For the most part the course winds its way through "The Great Wood" which runs through the Wentworth Estate which does call for straight hitting. However, the fairways are not so narrow as to inhibit the use of the driver, rather to encourage it.

The overall balance of the course with its four 5's, four 3's and ten 4's, is orthodox, and yet no two holes are alike. The Par 3's are not long but differ greatly in character, the second bearing a striking resemblance to the twelfth at Augusta.

The Par 5's may encourage the big hitter to have a go for the green with the second shot but beware, potential birdies can easily become disasters if the second shot finds trouble at the awkward distance from the green.

The Par 4's have great variety and like so many of the holes at Wentworth are extremely demanding. The view down to the fourth green from the elevated fairway is particularly exciting and calls for a very precise second shot - not only direction but distance also.

Dog legs to both right and left with imposing pines encroaching on to the fairways on the inside of the dog legs can spell disaster for those who try and bite off too much and the tee shot at the 15th calls for a decision as to whether the stream winding its way across the fairway can or cannot be carried. The 18th with its green set in a natural amphitheater will hopefully be the scene of many famous occasions in the future, helping to carry on the long and illustrious history of Wentworth.

East Course
Though perhaps overshadowed by the major events that are held on the West, Wentworth's East course is in fact the senior of the two.

It was built in 1924, the West following two years later. Harry Colt, who was also the guiding hand behind Sunningdale New, designed them both.

The existing first hole on the West, which is sometimes referred to as the Burma Road, was the original opening hole on the East, the second then being played to the East's present first green. Otherwise the two courses have always gone their separate ways. While Wentworth's East is much shorter with a standard scratch score of 70 as opposed the West's 74, it is a first class course in its own right and, to perhaps the less able golfers, probably more enjoyable.

Nor has it sheltered always in the shadows. Indeed it was on the Wentworths East Course in 1926 that a British team of professionals met an unofficial side from America, repeating a similar confrontation at Gleneagles five years earlier. However, the significant presence was that of a St. Albans seed merchant, Sam Ryder. Having watched the play, Mr Ryder thought it would be good idea to make the match official and there and then the Ryder Cup was born. Further distinction followed when the first women's Curtis Cup match, in 1932, was also played on the East.

The undulating land on the heavily wooded Wentworth estate is perfect for golf but in the light soil, which drains so well, there is an abundance of heather and birch and it is seldom, even in winter that the going gets really heavy.

From its high tee to a tilting fairway, the second offers one of many grand views while the eighth and ninth, one a par four and the other a par five, are splendid examples of good heathland golf. The 11th, a double dog-leg, poses particular difficulties even for the best while the 18th with its diagonal cross bunkers, is a fine finishing hole in that it puts a lot of stress on the second shot.