Wentworth East
The first course Harry Colt laid out at Wentworth, the East opened in 1924, a year before the celebrated West. A compact heathland par 68 of around 6,201 yards through pine, birch and heather, it is historic ground: the 1926 match between Great Britain and the United States that helped found the Ryder Cup was played here, as was the first Curtis Cup in 1932.
Photo: Mark Ren via Google.
The verdict
Wentworth's West Course, the Burma Road, takes the spotlight and the BMW PGA Championship, but the East is the older soul of the place and, for many members, the better walk. Harry Colt drew it first, opening it in 1924, a year before the West, on the same sandy, pine clad heathland on the Surrey and Berkshire border. At a shade over 6,200 yards and a par of 68 it is short by modern standards, and all the better for it: this is a course about angles, shaping and the second shot, not raw length.
It is also one of the genuinely historic patches of ground in the game. In 1926 the East staged an informal match between Great Britain and the United States that helped lay the foundations of the Ryder Cup, and in 1932 it hosted the inaugural Curtis Cup. The Women's British Open came here in 1980. Colt's set of par 3s is the highlight, and the gently flowing topography through silver birch and heather makes for one of the most charming members' rounds in the Surrey heathland belt.
Wentworth East Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1924
- Designer
- Harry Colt
- Type
- Heathland
- Par
- 68
- Length
- Around 6,201 yds
- Access
- Private members
Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026 from Wentworth Club and leading course databases; the East Course was Harry Colt's first design at Wentworth, opened in 1924, a heathland par 68 of around 6,201 yards. Wentworth is a private members' club. Any guest fees vary and we do not quote our own pricing, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The East is classic Colt heathland: tree lined corridors of pine, silver birch and heather, gently flowing land, and bunkering and green complexes that do the defending where length cannot. At under 6,300 yards it never overpowers, but it asks constant questions of position and angle, and the premium is on shaping the ball into the right portion of the fairway to open up each green.
Colt's par 3s are the calling card, a set of short holes routed to use the natural fall of the ground and the framing of the trees, and they give the round its rhythm and its best photographs. The green complexes are subtle and firm, rewarding the player who studies the slope, and the heather punishes anything that strays from the short grass.
History sits lightly on the course but it is everywhere underfoot. This is the ground where, in 1926, a Great Britain side met a United States team in a match that helped give rise to the Ryder Cup, and where the first Curtis Cup was contested in 1932. Many Wentworth members will tell you the East, not the longer West, is the finer test of pure shotmaking, and a quiet morning round here is one of the most rewarding in Surrey golf.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members' club; play is as a member's guest or through approved corporate and society days, not as an unaccompanied visitor |
| Green fee | Guest fees are set by the club and vary by season and day; Wentworth does not offer open public green fees, so confirm arrangements directly |
| Booking | Arrange through a member, an approved corporate or society day, or a specialist operator with Wentworth access; book well ahead |
| On the day | Walkable heathland; caddies and buggies available, an exceptional clubhouse and practice facility on site. Strict smart golf dress |
| Getting there | Virginia Water, Surrey, just off the A30, around 45 minutes from central London and close to Heathrow |
| Best months | April to October for the driest heathland turf and best presentation; the course plays year round on free draining sandy soil |
Access and fee guidance verified June 2026; Wentworth is a private members' club and arrangements vary, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Wentworth sits in the leafy belt of Virginia Water and Sunningdale, with country house hotels, the spa resorts around Ascot and easy access to London. It is an area built for a refined golf few days, close to the airport yet thoroughly rural in feel, with some of the best heathland golf in the world within a short drive.
For a Surrey and Berkshire heathland trip, pair Wentworth with Sunningdale's Old and New, St George's Hill, Swinley Forest and the Berkshire, a cluster of Colt and Fowler classics on the same sandy soil. Base yourself around Ascot or Sunningdale and you can reach all of them inside half an hour.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Virginia Water, Sunningdale and Ascot.
Build a Surrey heathland golf trip
We arrange access to the great Surrey and Berkshire heathland courses, pair Wentworth with Sunningdale, St George's Hill and the Berkshire, sort the country house hotels and cost it to the head. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge handles the rest, with no obligation.
Wentworth East Course questions
Who designed the Wentworth East Course and when did it open?
The East Course was the first course Harry Colt designed at Wentworth, opening in 1924, a year before his more famous West Course. It is laid out on the sandy heathland of Virginia Water, on the Surrey and Berkshire border, through corridors of pine, silver birch and heather.
What is the par and length of Wentworth East?
Wentworth East plays as a heathland par 68 of around 6,201 yards. It is short by modern standards but is prized for its Colt bunkering, its subtle green complexes and especially its set of par 3s. Many members regard it as the finer test of shotmaking than the longer West Course.
Why is the Wentworth East Course historically important?
In 1926 the East Course staged an informal match between Great Britain and the United States that helped lay the foundations of the Ryder Cup, and in 1932 it hosted the inaugural Curtis Cup. The Women's British Open was also played here in 1980, making it one of the most historically significant pieces of heathland golf in England.
Can visitors play Wentworth East?
Wentworth is a private members' club, so the East Course is not open to unaccompanied visitors. Play is generally as a member's guest, or through approved corporate and society days, or via a specialist operator with Wentworth access. Guest fees are set by the club and vary by season and day, so always confirm arrangements directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026; access and fee guidance verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.