Wentworth (East)

The West is a world famous golf course, needs no introduction and naturally receives the most plaudits whilst the East is often singled out for high praise too. Despite its billing as the third course at Wentworth the Edinburgh still ranks as one of the finest layouts in the county and I’m told is preferred by many of the members. An opportunity to play any of the three should not be refused.

The East at Wentworth is almost certainly the most fun and scoreable of the three on the estate. Many also argue it is the architecturally superior of the trio.

It is a Harry Colt creation from the 1920s and is a par 68 layout with a top yardage of just 6,201. As you would expect plenty of shotmaking is required and although placement from the tee is often essential there is usually a choice to be made on most shots in how they can be played, be it conservatively or with a more aggressive nature.

There are a string of shortish and enjoyable two-shotters, a good balance of sterner holes and a thrilling collection of five par-threes with just the lone par-five.

My personal favourite holes are the heroic 3rd, where you must carry four diagonal bunkers with your drive on a hole that shapes to the right, the cool fifth where the raised green has a huge dip in the middle of it, the 11th and 13th – two tenacious par-fours where a fade from the tee is required before the holes turn back to the left and the mighty 18th which sits proudly under the iconic Wentworth clubhouse and has a series of bunkers that must be carried on the approach.

Make no mistake, there is lots of very good golf to be played on the East course.

The turf is excellent and whilst for the most part there is a wooded-parkland feel to the course there are more heathland moments too, especially towards the end of the round. The 14th tee is a lovely spot to appreciate the immense beauty of the property which for the most part is played through corridors of seclusion.

As you would expect form a Colt design there is plenty of strategy required in order to successfully plot your way around the course. There are a number of courageous carries, albeit some of them are now largely redundant thanks to modern technology, and whilst there is generally plenty of width tree encroachment has narrowed up the course in places over the years.

Glimpses of the West and Edinburgh can be seen throughout the round which covers more than 200 acres but you are never quite sure where you are on the estate due to the twisting nature of the routing.

The East is a course that will not beat you up (too much!) and allows for a quick 18. Although it may stay out of the spotlight to a certain there is no denying this is a fine golf course and if an opportunity arises to play here it should be grasped with both hands.

Read the review of Wentworth (Edinburgh) here.