At Wentworth Golf Club, you can hear it before you see it.
It’s in the quiet crunch of tyres on gravel, in the sigh of breeze through old chestnut trees, in the click of spikes on the stone steps of the clubhouse. Wentworth drips with exclusivity, but it remains wonderfully unspoken. Instead, it waits. And when Wentworth does reveal its hand, it does so slowly—like a caddie peeling back the towel on a perfectly polished blade.
Tucked away behind gates and centuries of affluence in Virgina Water, Surrey, Wentworth sits in that curious space between sport and society. It might not be the friendliest course you’ll ever play. It’s certainly not the loudest. But it may be the most immaculately self-assured. There is no need for reinvention here. Just ritual. Routine. And reverence.
You arrive at Wentworth knowing it will be reassuringly expensive, knowing it may be your only visit, knowing full well you might be just a little out of place—and yet none of that matters by the time your tee is in the ground. Because what happens next, whether it’s the round of a lifetime or not, takes place on turf so rich with history it almost feels unfair to leave a divot.
This is where the European Tour found its soul. Where the BMW PGA became more than just a tournament. Where famous names like Ballesteros, Faldo, Montgomerie and Els became synonymous with the wider public rather than just a leaderboard. And where celebrities, CEOs and the occasional curious outsider all brush shoulders under the same impossibly English sky.
But Wentworth is not a museum. It lives. It breathes. The West Course remains the headline act—more refined after its recent facelift but just as capable of biting back. The East is pure Colt: timeless, clever, slightly mischievous. The Edinburgh is bold and modern, its own beast entirely. Three courses, one identity: unmistakably Wentworth.
This is golf at its most grown-up. Controlled. Considered. Cultivated. And that’s exactly what makes it special. For those lucky enough to walk these fairways—whether once in a lifetime or once a week—Wentworth offers something very few clubs still can: silence, ceremony, and the sense that you’re part of something that matters.
The History of Wentworth Golf Club
Wentworth’s origins are rooted in both aristocracy and ambition. Once part of the estate owned by the brother-in-law of the Duke of Wellington, its transformation into one of the most iconic golf clubs in the world began in 1922, when builder W.G. Tarrant enlisted Harry Colt to create something truly unique on the wooded Surrey heathland.
Colt’s first masterpiece, the East Course, opened in 1924. The now-famous West Course followed shortly after, evolving over the years to become the tournament-grade layout it is today. The club’s international profile soared when the West Course became the spiritual home of the European Tour and the stage for the BMW PGA Championship.
Wentworth remained firmly in the spotlight through the decades. The introduction of the Edinburgh Course in 1990 added a third act to the club’s story, and Reignwood Group’s acquisition in 2014 ushered in a £20 million investment era—refining the courses and reshaping the membership model.
Today, Wentworth Golf Club is both steeped in tradition and evolving for the future. It remains one of the most exclusive and historic clubs in the world—and the closest thing British golf has to a private members’ sanctuary on par with America’s finest.
Wentworth: Ryder Cup Birthplace
Long before there were miracles at Medinah or glory at Gleneagles there was Wentworth. These days the Ryder Cup has became a global sporting spectacle, but all of that success can be traced back to Wentworth – because it was here —in the drawing rooms and corridors of this most English of clubs – that the Ryder Cup was born.
The year was 1926, and the occasion was an informal match between British and American professionals staged at Wentworth on the eve of that year’s Open Championship. The idea, as it happened, was simple enough: a friendly competition between the best from either side of the Atlantic. But something about the atmosphere—about the symmetry of team play and international rivalry—caught fire. A seed had been planted.
Among those present was Samuel Ryder, a wealthy English businessman and golf enthusiast. He was so taken with the format that he offered to sponsor a formal version of the event. The following year, the first official Ryder Cup was played at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts, and a golfing tradition was born. The trophy still bears Ryder’s name. But the spark? That was Wentworth’s.
To this day, Wentworth holds that legacy close. While the tournament has since moved on, the club remains proud of its foundational role. It was here—amid the rhododendrons and rumpled fairways—that golf’s greatest spectacle began. And if you listen carefully from the terrace on a quiet afternoon, you might just hear the echoes of that first handshake between captains.
Wentworth is many things: a championship venue, a playground for the elite, a sanctuary for serious golfers. But it is also the birthplace of one of the most enduring rivalries in sport. And that, in itself, is worth remembering every time you tee it up here.
Wentworth and The World Match Play
Before the FedEx Cup. Before LIV. Before golf turned fully global and turbo-charged, there was a tournament that captured the game’s most primal instinct—man versus man. That tournament was the World Match Play Championship, and for over 40 years, it belonged to Wentworth.
Founded in 1964 by Mark McCormack of IMG fame, the event was tailor-made for television: elite players, one-on-one, over four days, with the West Course as both stage and antagonist. This wasn’t just about who could go lowest—it was about who could survive. The winner didn’t just beat the field; they beat every man they faced.
Gary Player won the inaugural title and would go on to claim the trophy five times, earning it near-synonymity with his name. Ballesteros brought flair and fire to Wentworth in the 1980s, while Ernie Els practically laid claim to the place in the ’90s and 2000s, winning a record seven titles. These were not just victories—they were statements.
The match play format amplified the drama. Every hole was its own contest. Momentum mattered more than total score. And when the wind shifted across the 18th at Wentworth, careers turned with it. It was theatre—strategic, psychological, often brutal. And it turned the club into a true global venue, watched from Tokyo to Toledo.
Though the tournament evolved—and eventually moved away from Wentworth in 2009—it left a deep mark. For a generation of fans and players, the words “World Match Play” and “Wentworth” were almost interchangeable. And the ghosts of those legendary duels still linger in the trees that frame the fairways today.
The Courses at Wentworth Golf Club
The West Course
If Wentworth golf has a crown jewel, it is the West Course. Host of the BMW PGA and revered across Europe, this Colt-Els collaboration is as intimidating as it is beautiful. Framed by pine, oak, and rhododendron, it weaves through the Surrey woodland with authority.
The par-5 4th is a classic risk-reward hole; the par-3 10th is deceptive and brutally beautiful. The finishing hole, the 18th, with its wraparound water and amphitheatre setting, is one of the most dramatic in tournament golf. It is a course that reveals itself slowly—and punishes the impatient.
Wentworth: Evolution of West Course
It’s easy to think of Wentworth as frozen in time—untouched by the modern game, wrapped forever in the misty prestige of its past. But that would be to miss the quiet revolution that has taken place here over the last two decades. Nowhere is that more evident than on the West Course.
By the early 2000s, the West—while still iconic—had begun to feel a little behind the curve. Technology had outpaced many of its subtleties. The rough was thick, but the strategy was thinning. And so the club turned to a man who knew the layout intimately, not just as a professional but as a resident: Ernie Els.
Els, a four-time major winner and long-time Wentworth estate resident, spearheaded a multi-million-pound redesign beginning in 2005, and later again in 2016, under new ownership by the Reignwood Group. His aim wasn’t to reinvent the West, but to restore its bite. Greens were rebuilt and reshaped to USGA standards. Bunkers were deepened, refined, and repositioned. New tee boxes stretched the course beyond 7,300 yards.
The changes were met with mixed reactions at first. Some members and purists mourned the loss of Harry Colt’s original subtleties. But over time, the new West Course found its voice—modern, muscular, but still unmistakably Wentworth. The bunkering is now beautifully framed. The greens are slick and sloping, demanding absolute precision. And the finishing holes, particularly 17 and 18, remain as dramatic as ever—if not more so.
Beyond the layout, the transformation extended to club facilities, infrastructure, and even membership structure. A significant investment reshaped Wentworth into a more exclusive, internationally focused retreat—fewer members, higher fees, and a renewed focus on elite experience.
Today, the West is a course that stands shoulder to shoulder with the best in Europe. It may have changed. It may have modernised. But it hasn’t lost its mystique. If anything, it’s grown into it.
The East Course
The original. The purist’s choice. The East Course is shorter, more subtle, and full of clever angles. Renovated to restore Colt’s original vision, it now offers a quieter, more cerebral alternative to the West. It’s the course members return to time and again.
The Edinburgh Course
Often overlooked, the Edinburgh Course is newer, bolder, and built for modern play. It’s a tournament-style layout with open vistas and a more forgiving setup. Particularly popular in winter months, it completes Wentworth’s impressive trio with its own muscular identity.
Wentworth Golf Famous Members and Celebrity Ties
Wentworth’s guest list reads like a Vanity Fair party—Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, Ernie Els, Andriy Shevchenko, Kevin Pietersen, Harry Kane, Cliff Richard, Elton John and the late Michael Parkinson have all called the club home. Many live on the estate. Others simply pass through for golf and business.
But beyond the celebrity, Wentworth is serious about discretion. It’s where European Tour pros like Francesco Molinari and Luke Donald fine-tuned their games, and where business leaders find sanctuary in a setting that respects privacy above all.
The Guest Experience at Wentworth
As a guest at Wentworth Golf Club, you are stepping into a world of pristine surfaces, subtle service, and quiet excellence. Everything is immaculate—down to the locker room layout and the shine on the door handles. Tee times are rare, and by invitation. You’ll be asked to dress accordingly—this is not the place for untucked shirts or mobile phones on the practice putting green. The pace is unhurried, the atmosphere hushed. Caddies are available and recommended, especially on the West.
After the round, expect crisp white linen in the dining room, a superb wine list, and seasonal British cooking. You may pass a celebrity in the corridor or a Ryder Cup veteran polishing off an espresso on the terrace. No one makes a fuss.
It is, simply put, golf at its most refined.
Wentworth’s Clubhouse Reimagined
In the lead-up to the 2018 Ryder Cup, Wentworth quietly unveiled the results of a £13 million renovation to its iconic 1920s clubhouse. The goal was not to rewrite history, but to polish it—preserving the soul of the building while elevating every touchpoint for a new generation of members. The refurbishment, led by interior design firm Thorp Design, focused on sophistication without ostentation. Rich materials were used throughout: Italian marble underfoot, bronze-clad columns rising from the floor, soft lighting reflecting off stained-glass mirrors. Every detail was considered, every space reimagined—but always with a nod to the club’s timeless character.
The locker rooms are now more akin to a boutique spa, complete with saunas, steam rooms, and custom cabinetry. The Club Lounge invites lingering, its deep leather chairs and mirrored walls offering a retreat from the rhythm of the course. And the Dining Room, once formal to a fault, now blends old-world service with new-world warmth—its mirrored ceiling and muted palette the backdrop to one of the finest post-round dining experiences in British golf.
Perhaps the most meaningful addition is the Hall of Fame, a curated gallery of Wentworth’s rich history. Photographs, memorabilia, and Ryder Cup artefacts line the walls—telling the story not just of the club, but of the game itself. It’s a place to reflect on the figures who shaped Wentworth’s past, and the legends still being made on its fairways.
The result is a clubhouse that feels simultaneously familiar and refreshed. A place where members still feel at home, and first-time visitors feel instantly underdressed. At Wentworth, standards have always been high. Now, they are simply exquisite.
Hotels Near Wentworth Golf Club
If you’re visiting from out of town, the surrounding area offers several luxury accommodation options:
- Coworth Park – A five-star country house hotel in Ascot, beloved by players during the BMW PGA.
- Great Fosters – A stunning Tudor estate with immaculate grounds.
- The Runnymede on Thames – Ideal for those wanting riverside views and modern comforts within 15 minutes’ drive.
- The Wentworth Estate – For the truly fortunate, private rentals and residences may be available during tournament week.
Wentworth Golf: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are Wentworth Golf Club green fees for non-members?
Wentworth is a private club, and green fees are not generally available to the public. Access is typically by member invitation or corporate event. However, on rare occasions during quiet winter months or via exclusive packages, green fees have ranged from £350 to £500 per round on the West Course.
How much does Wentworth Golf Club membership cost?
As of the latest reports, Wentworth Golf Club membership fees include a £125,000+ joining fee and annual dues of approximately £16,000. These figures vary by membership category and are subject to change.
Who are some famous members of Wentworth Golf Club?
Wentworth has a long list of celebrity and professional members, including Michael Douglas, Ernie Els, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Harry Kane, and many more from business and sport.
What is the Wentworth West Course like?
The Wentworth West Course is the club’s flagship layout and a regular host of the BMW PGA Championship. Designed by Harry Colt and later refined by Ernie Els, it is known for its tournament pedigree, strategic challenge, and iconic closing stretch.
Wentworth West Course scorecard
Is the East Course at Wentworth worth playing?
Absolutely. The Wentworth East Course is a beautifully restored Harry Colt design with a strategic, traditional feel. It’s a favourite among members and widely considered one of the finest ‘second’ courses in the UK.
Wentworth Golf Club scorecard
What are Wentworth Golf Club reviews like?
Wentworth Golf Club reviews are overwhelmingly positive, especially from those invited to play the West Course. Praise focuses on course conditions, the exclusivity of the experience, and the historic setting. The most common critique is the high cost of membership.
What is the Wentworth Pro-Am?
The Wentworth Pro-Am takes place during the BMW PGA Championship week and pairs celebrities and amateurs with European Tour professionals. It’s one of the most high-profile pro-am events in world golf, regularly drawing A-listers from music, film, sport, and business.
Membership at Wentworth Golf Club
Membership at Wentworth is one of the most sought-after in the UK—and among the most expensive. Wentworth golf club membership fees are rumoured to exceed £125,000 joining fee, with annual subs over £16,000. And that’s before any food and beverage minimums.
There is a strict vetting process. Corporate and international memberships are available, but limited. The club has tightened its exclusivity in recent years, with a push toward fewer members and a more curated experience.
For those who make it through, the reward is access to all three courses, top-class practice facilities, and entry into a global club network that goes far beyond golf.
