Golf Course Scouting Report: Wentworth Club (West)

The BMW PGA Championship, a Rolex Series event on the DP World Tour, has arrived. Rory McIlroy and other elite players will descend on the West Course at Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, Surrey, to compete for this prestigious title. Wentworth is an elegant heathland course with an aura of tradition; in fact, this English club is considered the "Birthplace of the Ryder Cup" as it hosted the 1926 International Match which eventually developed into the massive patriotic competition we revere today.

Designed by legendary architect Harry Colt in the early 1920s and redesigned by Ernie Els and Greg Letsche throughout the early 2000s, Wentworth blends modern styles with Golden-Era architecture and provides a solid test. This beautifully manicured tree-lined layout will demand accuracy above all for any player with designs on winning the BMW PGA Championship.

Overall: 7.30 - Wentworth Club is an aesthetically pleasing golf course that rewards precision ball-striking and boasts outstanding par threes.

Memorable Holes: 6.5

Wentworth isn't full of holes golfers will remember for the rest of their lives, but it's not totally without flare. The 400-yard par-four eighth stands out as golfers must hit a narrow, sloped fairway before approaching a green guarded tightly front and left by a glassy pond. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the highly unique par-five 12th; this 520-yard birdie hole has players hitting over several short pine trees that stand directly between the tee box and the fairway. The trees are short enough and far enough from the tee that they shouldn't cause a problem, and they certainly won't be in play for the professionals this week; nevertheless, I have to imagine that pulling driver and ripping a 120-mile-per-hour swing pointed directly at four or five trees is an extremely strange feeling.

Interest: 7.5

There are numerous holes at Wentworth that provide shot-making intrigue, particularly the shorter par fours. For example, the 396-yard seventh requires golfers to take less than driver off the tee to stay short of a burn that runs through the fairway. The subsequent approach to the green is tricky because the putting surface is elevated and slopes strongly from right to left; players will have to take on two deep bunkers on the right side to account for the roll to the left once the ball lands on the green. Such deep bunkering is a regular occurrence at Wentworth, and these bunkers are placed well to create headaches like those found at the seventh.

Par Threes: 8.5

As I discuss on my podcast, Linksworms, Harry Colt's legacy is defined by exceptional par threes; there are four of them at Wentworth. The second hole is only 154 yards but has a shallow green surrounded by cavernous bunkers and a towering tree short and right; shots coming up short in the green's entryway may miss the bunkers and instead roll 15 feet down a tightly-mown slope. The 203-yard fifth is another Colt staple as bunkers surround a green that slopes from front left to back right; due to the subtle uphill slope from tee to green, the bottom of the flagstick is often unseen. The 184-yard 10th is unique due to the narrow "s"-shaped green: The back-right section is guarded by more trees, and the tiny front-left portion lies just past an infuriating bunker. The final par three in this great quartet is the uphill 174-yard 14th which sports a green divided into three tiers: front, back, and right. Good luck putting across this mountain range.

Difficulty: 6.5

This golf course punishes inaccuracy but gives players scoring opportunities if they execute shots. Success here often involves knowing where not to miss; however, there are a few long par fours that pose a serious challenge. The 470-yard 13th is an uncomfortable dogleg left with an elusive fairway that slopes from left to right. The 491-yard 15th is likely the hardest hole on the course due to its length, tight green, and the narrow creek that hugs the right side of the fairway. The par fives, although interesting, are very short; nevertheless, Wentworth is to be treated with respect as a wrong miss can put a crooked number on the scorecard.

Finish: 7.5

Wentworth's closing stretch provides unique opportunity because it finishes with back-to-back par fives. Preceding those is a 383-yard par four which plays uphill to a shallow green. This 16th is fairly lackluster without any defining features outside of its status as a birdie opportunity. The par-five 17th, on the other hand, is entirely distinct. This 610-yard dogleg left is completely without bunkers; players must take on the tree line and out of bounds that run tight to a narrow fairway that slopes left to right. The downhill second shot gives players a chance to reach the small green in two, but doing so usually requires some type of draw with the ball below the players' feet. The 523-yard par-five 18th is a dogleg right and a classic finishing hole. Players can decide how much of the dogleg to cut off on the tee shot to set up a mid to long-iron approach. A narrow water hazard cuts across the fairway and closely guards the front and left portions of the green. This hole provides opportunity for drama as a tremendous birdie or potentially eagle opportunity.

For the criteria used to determine these ratings, please click here.