For those unfamiliar with the three W’s, these consist of the three finest quality neighbouring golf courses in Surrey – Woking, Worplesdon and West Hill. All three courses were established long over 100 years ago, with Woking being the oldest in 1893, followed by Worplesdon in 1908, and finally West Hill in 1909.
Choosing a favourite among these courses is highly subjective, as each has its own character and charm that justify its position within the Top 100 courses in Great Britain. What is possible is to choose the favourite holes, so Golf Today, after much consultation and deliberation, has created our eclectic best 18, combining the best holes from each course to make a dream W!
Ensuring each hole correlates to the order of the course, we have defined our choices and rationale and welcome the ‘alternative great W debate’.
Hole 1 – West Hill – Par 4 – 393 yards
The first hole at West Hill presents a stern challenge for the first shot of the day and gives the golfer options of how brave, or aggressive they are feeling that day. A well-struck long iron will leave a similar distance for the approach, but for those willing to risk removing a headcover early and negotiating the heather and pines on either side of the fairway and the possibility of running into the burn running across the centre of the fairway, a short iron or wedge gives a far more likely chance of an early look at birdie from a downhill approach. The green slopes severely from front to back, so anything past the pin will leave a treacherous nerve jangler early in the round!
Hole 2 – Woking – Par 3 – 221 yards
The par 3 second at Woking has recently undergone some major changes, including the removal of a huge oak tree on the left of the green. This has enabled the regeneration heather which surrounds the left side of the hole and enhances the visual appeal of this spectacular par 3. The 200-yard tee shot requires commitment, as anything to the right is going to be a major challenge to recover from. A two-tiered green with multiple pin options makes this a tricky test and a hard-fought par early on in the round.
Hole 3 – West Hill – Par 4 – 458 yards
We were torn between all three courses for our choice of the 3rd hole, as the third at each is architecturally and strategically brilliant. Our choice is West Hill as there is drama and danger from the tee box to the green, and, even when on the putting surface, only half the challenge is complete. The tee shot is incredibly demanding, with the prevailing wind forcing the drive left, toward the train tracks and OB. Depending on the time of year and the wind direction, the approach can range from a short iron to a full 3 wood, fired into a green curving from right to left. With lateral water hazards running along the left side of the green, finding yourself beneath the hole for an uphill putt takes plucky precision.
Hole 4 – Woking – Par 4 – 352 yards
Another hard choice here, but, given this hole is the alleged origin of the cross-bunker, it rightfully earns its inclusion within the best 18. With the train track running down the entire right side of the fairway, the centrally placed bunker creates multiple choices on the tee shot, with an option to take a direct route to the green and bring the OB in to play off the tee or choose the safer option on the left, making for a far harder approach, often requiring a shot over the greenside bunker.
Hole 5 – Worplesdon – Par 4 – 405 Yards
The fifth at Worplesdon is a clear winner for us. The tee shot gives the golfer many options from mid-iron to driver and everything in between. A confident golfer will drive their ball between the fairway bunker on the left and the encroaching heather on the right, leaving a wedge to the green. For those more conservative, there is still ample risk as the angled fairway requires precision to avoid the sand and the heather and leave a longer approach to a two-tiered green.
Hole 6 – Woking – Par 4 – 419 Yards
Woking’s hardest hole is also one of its prettiest, as the elevated teeing ground gives the perfect vista of the danger that lies in wait. A long drive is required, to the generous fairway that pinches in with bunkers at the landing zone.
The approach requires accuracy to avoid the greenside bunkers on either side of the putting surface, and distance control to carry the wee burn running across the front of the green. This is truly an exceptional hole and well deserving of the stroke index 1.
Hole 7 – Worplesdon – Par 3 – 185 Yards
A tough choice, with all three courses having a par 3 for the 7th hole. All three contenders are excellent short holes with plenty of danger and will certainly have created many moments of drama over the years. The winning choice was chosen as it has so much to offer for a 1 shot approach, with such a premium on distance control. An uphill tee shot, measuring 185 yards from the back tee to a two-tier green. When the flag is placed on the back tier, only the purest mid-long iron can find and hold the putting surface and offer a chance for a birdie.
Hole 8 – Woking – Par 4 – 445 Yards
A very tough choice for the 8th hole, with all courses providing exceptional strategic contenders, all of which make the most of the natural routing and elevation changes of the terrain. The 8th at West Hill is a delight in the eye of the beholder from the tee, with everything laid out in front of you, allowing the player to plan the strategy from tee to green. The fairway bunkering could not be better placed, as a trio of cross bunkers cuts across the fairy from the right-hand side.
However, what visual appeal of the tee shot at Worplesdon might lack is more than made up for with the approach. With the option off the tee to take on the 240-yard carry of the central bunker and leave little more than a pitch to the green, or play safe to the right of it, the approach to the green which is split on two levels is delightfully tempting. Nonetheless, our choice for this hole is Woking, due to the difficulty of this beautiful and memorable hole. The demanding tee shot over heather crosses a stream which meanders diagonally from left to right. Taking the safer route to the left of the fairway will leave a very long second, slightly uphill, over a cluster of bunkers protecting green. A drive on the right-hand side will find that the stream runs increasingly into play. The large slightly convex sloping green has many deceptive borrows and will rarely leave a chance for an easy birdie.
Hole 9 – Worplesdon – Par 4 – 383 yards
The ninth at Worplesdon offers a beautiful-looking tee shot, with tall pines shaping the drive on each side of the fairway. The tee shot offers the big hitter a choice of taking on a long carry over the right-hand side, or a 200-yard shot towards the bunker on the left leaving a longer approach.
Hole 10 – West Hill – Par 4 – 424 yards
We chose the tenth at West Hill as it’s tactically brilliant and demands accuracy from the tee and with approach. The positions of the fairway bunkers offer visual appeal, with clumps of heather dotted around the sand traps. A well-placed tee shot down the middle of the fairway increases the chances of par, as anything too far right brings the visual distraction of the fairway cross bunkers and the greenside bunker into play.
Hole 11 – Worplesdon – Par 5 – 527 yards
This 3 shot hole is a feast of heather from the tee. Bunkers loom on the right-hand side of the fairway, with Heather encroaching into view on the left. A good drive sets up a shot to the green in two for the longer hitter, but any lack of commitment or open clubface will inevitably lead to the ball catching the greenside bunker or falling short into the depression right of the green. This is a rare chance for a birdie with two good blows.
Hole 12 – Woking – Par 4 – 416 yards
This is a wonderful driving opportunity with an inviting fairway, although many balls will leak into the encroaching heather with any deviation from the middle of the fairway. The drop in elevation on the approach to the green creates a stunning vista, as the green is surrounded by tall firs on the left and right. As greens go, this three-tier green is possibly the most undulating on the course and missing in the wrong spot can certainly lead to a 3 or even 4 jab.
Hole 13 – Worplesdon – Par 3 – 174 yards
The 13th at Worplesdon could be one of the most beautiful short holes in Surrey. With bunkers surrounding the front of the long, deep treacherous green, there is a huge premium on finding the putting surface, which will only be achieved with a well-struck iron mid-iron for most.
Hole 14 – Woking – Par 5 – 560 yards
Another feast of heather awaits on the 14th at Woking. The tee shot requires precision with minimal right-to-left movement, as many drives disappear into the woods from a steered drive looking to avoid the heather lining the right side of the fairway. Reachable in two, but requiring two almighty blows. When played as a three-shotter, the approach can be intimidating with the clubhouse veranda overlooking the green in close proximity.
Hole 15 – West Hill – Par 3 – 211 yards
A long iron or wood will be required from the tips here, depending on the wind direction. Fraught with danger, a large bunker dominates the entrance on the left of the green with a trio of sand traps on the right. A huge ridge separates the putting surface, creating numerous pin position options, which if wrong-sided makes two-putting a real challenge.
Hole 16 – West Hill – Par 4 – 386 yards
The 16th at West Hill requires a blind downhill tee shot which can vary greatly depending on the time or year and the wind. A ditch runs across the fairway, which can come into play and therefore requires precision off the tee. The braver you are and the closer you come to the ditch, the easier the uphill approach shot will be, as anything short can leave a downhill hanging lie. For the approach, you’ll need to cover a trio of bunkers that cut across the fairway on the right and nestle up to the side of the putting surface. Once on the green, a firm putt may be required, to a green that slopes severely uphill from front to back.
Hole 17 Worplesdon – Par 4 – 385 Yards
A delightful mid-length par four with bunkers lining the right side of the fairway.
The subtle dog leg left means the drive must be kept to the right creating a real challenge to avoid the prominent bunkering. A strong drive leaves a short or mid-iron to a two-tier green. A prominent ridge runs through the centre of the green from right to left, making a back pin over the ridge difficult to hold, even when approaching from the perfect position.
Hole 18 West Hill – Par 4 – 440 yards
Drama, heartbreak, and elation regularly feature on the 18th at West Hill. An inviting but daunting drive awaits, with a bunker in the middle of the fairway, Heather down the right side of the fairway and OB on the left. There is an option for the longer hitter to navigate a slim channel to the right of a fairway bunker, leaving a shorter and more manageable approach, but for most, the second shot will require a shot of up to 200 yards to a slim green. Many matches will have been won and lost and will have been witnessed from the clubhouse veranda, which is just a few paces away from the back edge of the 18th green. A par here is a no mean feat and will secure victory for the majority of matches coming down the last.
Hole 1: West Hill Par 4
Hole 2: Woking Par 3
Hole 3: West Hill Par 4
Hole 4: Woking Par 4
Hole 5: Worplesdon Par 4
Hole 6: Woking Par 4
Hole 7: Worplesdon Par 3
Hole 8: West Hill Par 4
Hole 9: Worplesdon Par 4
Hole 10: West Hill Par 4
Hole 11: Worplesdon Par 5
Hole 12: Woking Par 4
Hole 13: Worplesdon Par 3
Hole 14: Woking Par 5
Hole 15: West Hill Par 3
Hole 16: West Hill Par 4
Hole 17: Worplesdon Par 4
Hole 18: West Hill Par 4
Aggregate Par 70
Aggregate Length 6,784 yards
West Hill 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 16, 18
Woking 2, 4, 6, 12, 14
Worplesdon 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 17
As we openly admit, a preference for these courses and holes is subjective and open to debate. We would love to hear the thoughts and contributions of golfers who have experienced these great courses, so your thoughts and suggestions are welcome at editor@golftoday.co.uk
