Wentworth – East Course

When Harry Colt was engaged in the early part of the 20th century to create the East Course, the first of Wentworth’s three golf courses, his portfolio was already bursting with sublime golf course designs that would stand the test of time and ensure that his fame and reputation would never fade. Courses such as Royal Portrush, Rye, Sunningdale Old, Swinley Forest and St George’s Hill, are to name but a few. All are classic Colt. As much a pleasure to play today as the day they opened.

Wentworth’s East Course sits comfortably in that impressive list. It was the setting for the inaugural Curtis Cup in 1932 and hosted a friendly match in 1926 between two teams from the US and Great Britain & Ireland, the inspiration for the contest we now know as the Ryder Cup.

This intimate layout, with its undulating and springy fairways that zigzag in amongst the woodland setting, calls for accurate driving and precision shot-making into the well-bunkered greens; another classic Colt trademark. Position, not power, is the name of the game here. One of the course’s great strengths is the quality of its five par-3s. They range in length from the inviting 159-yard 12th to the challenging 226-yard 7th, a serious attention grabber.  The typical club golfer will almost certainly see more birdie putts here than on the West. But make no mistake, the East Course has teeth.