Wentworth Club is a privately owned golf club and health resort in Virginia Water, Surrey on the south western fringes of London, not far from Windsor Castle. The club was founded in 1926.

History
The 19th century house the “Wentworths” (now the club house for the club) was the home for the brother-in-law of the Duke of Wellington. It was purchased in 1850 by exiled Spanish count Ramon Cabrera, who after his death his wife bought up the surrounding lands to make the full Wentworth Estate.

In 1912, builder W.G. Tarrant had started developing St George’s Hill, Weybridge - a development of houses based on minimum one acre plots based around a golf course. In 1922 Tarrant acquired the development rights for the Wentworth Estate, getting H.S. Colt to develop a golf course around “Wentworth” house. Tarrant developed the large houses on the estate to a similar Surrey formula used at St George’s Hill. Development of Wentworth Estate ground to a halt due to the Great Depression in the late 1920s. In 1931 when the banks asked for repayment of a large debenture, Tarrant was forced to declare bankruptcy. The ownership of the land passed to Wentworth Estates Ltd, which came under the control of Sir Lindsay Parkinson & Co Ltd.

Today
Wentworth Club is best known for its associations with professional golf. It has three eighteen hole courses: the famous H.S. Colt-designed West Course from 1926, the earlier yet lesser played East Course which was also designed by H.S. Colt in 1924, the recent Edinburgh Course designed by John Jacobs, and a nine hole par-3 Executive Course. The visitor’s green fee for the West Course for Summer 2006 is £285. A few years earlier, when it was £210, it was the highest in Europe according to the British Golf Industry Association.

The headquarters of the PGA European Tour are located at the club, and each year it hosts the Tour’s BMW PGA Championship and HSBC World Match Play Championship. It was the venue of the 1953 Ryder Cup.

The club is surrounded by and entwined with the Wentworth Estate, one of the most expensive private estates in the London suburbs, which was built at the same time, where many top golfers and other celebrities have homes. One of them is Ernie Els, who became the club’s “world-wide touring professional” in 2005. Over the winter of 2005-06 Els, who is developing a golf course design practice, made alterations to the West Course, lengthening it by 310 yards and adding 30 bunkers.[3]

Wentworth also boasts a Tennis & Health Club. The Wentworth Tennis and Health Club consists of a gymnasium, dance studio, health spa, ozone swimming pool and jacuzzi, crèche facilities, changing rooms, and a café. The extensive facility was completed in 1997 for £9 million by Architects Broadway Malyan[4].

In 2004 the club was purchased by fashion industry entrepreneur Richard Caring for £130 million.

Golf Courses

West Course
Opened: 1926
Architect: H.S. Colt (modernised/refined in 2005 & 2007 by Ernie Els)
Par: 72
Length: 7,308 yards
Course Record: 63, Wayne Riley
Key tournaments: HSBC World Match Play Championship, 1964 – present: BMW PGA Championship, 1984 – present: Ryder Cup, 1953: World Cup 1956
West Course Scorecard

East Course
Opened: 1924
Architect: H.S. Colt
Par: 68
Length: 6,201 yards
Course Record: 62, Doug N Sewell
Key tournaments: inaugural Curtis Cup, 1932; friendly match between US and GB&I (forerunner to Ryder Cup) 1926.
East Course Scorecard

Edinburgh Course
Opened: 1990
Architect: John Jacobs (with Gary Player and Bernard Gallacher)
Par: 72
Length: 7,004 yards
Course Record: 67, Gary Orr
Tournaments held: Wentworth Senior Masters
Edinburgh Course Scorecard

Executive Course (9 Holes)
Par: 27
Length: 1,902 yards