Wentworth Golf Club (West Course)

From Championship No. 2 to Burma Road

The West Course at Wentworth Golf Club was designed by Harry Colt in 1927 as the Championship No. 2 Course. Its later nickname, "Burma Road", dates from the Second World War, when the course was left overgrown to deter enemy aircraft and German prisoners later helped clear the ground.

Colt routed the holes through heather and mature trees on gently undulating Surrey land. The challenge builds through long par fours, elevated approaches, and greens where position matters as much as distance. DP World Tour analysis identifies accuracy from the tee and strong iron play as key demands, with heavy penalties for missing fairways or greens.

The course staged the 1953 Ryder Cup and became closely tied to elite professional golf. Its modern identity also reflects major work led by Ernie Els, followed by a 2016 redevelopment with European Golf Design. That project reshaped five greens, reduced bunker numbers, and installed SubAir systems throughout.

The finish remains its clearest piece of theatre. At the par-five 18th, the second shot must account for water short and left of the green, while the clubhouse rises beyond the putting surface.