Post by paddyjk19 on Apr 9, 2020 11:46:38 GMT
West Hill GC, Surrey, UK (L)
West Hill is truly one of Surrey's oldest gems. Consistently featured in the top 100 golf course listings, this stunning heathland course, designed in 1907, is lined with towering Scots pines. The brook of Brookwood meanders its way through the course, coming into play on six different holes.
Strategic play is required from every tee, making the course play considerably longer than its 6,380 yards. The greens have some of the most challenging natural undulations you will ever play and contribute to the wonderful test of golf at West Hill.
The course design is attributed to Cuthbert Butchart who became the first professional before the course was built. It has remained largely unaltered in layout but much work has gone into improving the quality of the fabric and the presentation. The watering system for the greens and tees was installed in 1981 and this has now been augmented by full state of the art fairway watering. A bunker refurbishing programme was started in 1999 and all 18 holes have reprofiled bunkers with improved drainage and carefully selected sand. Tee renovation has provided an outstanding aspect for each hole even before a shot is played. Here one can appreciate the great trees, usually far enough from the fairway, with heather intervening to provide a colourful ribbon around the semi rough.
Initial tee shots, particularly the drives, must be carefully directed to the right place to set up a chance of hitting the correct part of the green if one wishes to avoid all thought of a three putt on subtly undulating surfaces. Whilst the white tees will test the skills and patience of the very best golfers, there is much satisfaction to be obtained from playing the friendlier front tees.
For anyone wishing to spend a day playing golf on a mature, well designed and scenic course with the ultimate prize of a good score, West Hill must come into the reckoning. The seeming shortage of length is compensated by having five par three holes, all challenging for distance and accuracy.
Course Guide
Hole 1
A tricky opener which requires a straight tee shot to avoid the encroaching pines. Long hitters note that this tee shot plays shorter than the yardage suggests - hit the ball more than 230 yards and the down slope steepens towards the ditch! The green slopes from back to front so aim to position your ball short of the flag for an easier uphill putt.
Hole 2
The brave may thread their tee shot between the two bunkers and have a short iron in for their second - the more conservative approach though is to take a club from the tee to get you 220 yards out and favouring the left half of the fairway. Then the accurate second should be faded in from the left side ensuring you are short rather than long as there is a steep fall off at the back and right side of the green.
Hole 3
A testing hole that requires a good tee shot just left of centre to take advantage of the down slope if you are to get home in two - for those not getting a good tee shot away this is better played as a three shotter. Playing the approach, believe the yardage as there is dead ground short of the stream and keep in mind that anything pitching short of the green will bounce left towards the stream. It is tempting to play a lot further right for safety but if you stay right of the green the chip and putt to get down in two is very difficult - try and finish left and past the pin for the best chance of recording a par here.
Hole 4
A tough par three that requires a well struck tee shot to make the putting surface. Check the wind direction as you may forget you are into the prevailing wind from this sheltered position. As well as sloping from right to left this green slopes from back to front and again it is better to be short and left of the pin rather than past it if you are to avoid a lightning putt and make par or better.
Hole 5
Long hitters can get home in two here with a good drive just right of centre to allow for the contours taking the ball left and then threading the second just inside the well positioned bunker on the right guarding the entrance to the green. If you are short of out of position from the tee, beware the band of heather which crosses the fairway on the far side of the hill. The green slopes away from you so do not worry about going past the pin as this avoids the tricky ‘downhiller'.
Hole 6
A tough test and the drive is just one of the exacting shots required - the blind tee shot should be played up the centre or just favouring the left side. With the drive negotiated the second must be played too with skill, ideally being played just left of the pin. This green has a very steep slope from back right to front left and getting the clubbing wrong and going past the pin will make it very difficult to get down in two - so err to be short rather than long, take two putts and congratulate yourself on making a par.
Hole 7
A short hole where the ball must be carried onto the putting surface as it is well protected at the front. This green is more subtle but generally slopes from back right to front left. Beware missing the green on the same side as the flag as the uphill bank on the right and the downhill bank on the left will make an up and down extremely difficult.
Hole 8
A beautifully designed hole which requires a positional tee shot past the bunker on the left and for longer hitters short of the bunkers on the right. The second is to a raised green where you cannot see the base of the pin - and as this green slopes steeply from back left to front right - you must weigh up whether you should play just short of the pin which can bring the steep faced greenside bunkers into play but leaves as easier putt or take an extra club and maybe go past and leave a much more testing putt.
Hole 9
Clubbing is critical as the green is slightly below the tee. Beyond the green is trouble and at the front, bunkers guard a narrow entrance. The percentage play is to play for the centre of the green wherever the pin is situated and rely on your putter to negotiate the tier if you do not finish on the same level as the pin.
Hole 10
This tough hole requires a good drive ideally just left of centre to keep away from the bunker on the right and keeping short of the one on the left. The second is to a smallish green that slopes from back to front - players tend to under-club on this shot as it is slightly uphill and the bunkers in front of the green tend to foreshorten the distance - do not be fooled - take enough club and you will be rewarded.
Hole 11
An intimidating tee shot but there is fairway beyond the bunkers! - and it only requires a carry of 165 yards to find safety. For long hitters the opposite is true and they must take care not to run out of fairway by going too far. Ideally hit a tee shot of around 230 yards and then you will have an approach to a pin whose base you will not be able to see. Play for the flag, or just left of it and if clubbing is in doubt take more than you think as the undulating green is slightly above your position on the fairway. A par here iis always a good score.
Hole 12
A very well designed short par 4. Long hitters are recommended to go for the green only when the pin is on the bottom tier to avoid the possibility of a 40 yard bunker shot to a very small raised back tier. The percentage shot is to play from the tee at the left hand bunker (or left of it to be really safe) with a club to get you out around 220 yards and then either have a pitch or a pitch and run if the pin is on the back tier. There are more 5's than 3's scored here so give this short par 4 the respect it deserves.
Hole 13
A tees shot that must be accurate as the nearest point of the green is very narrow broadening out towards the back. So pin placements at the back make the green easier to hit than those at the front. The percentage play here is to be a little long rather than short but beware of being too long as the OOB is very close to the back of the green.
Hole 14
A tough hole that requires a drive up the right side of the fairway or the safer alternative a faded drive down the middle - this is to compensate for the fairway having a natural contour that will take your ball to the left on landing. The second is to a green that slopes to the left - again a fade or a shot aimed at the right side of the green will be needed to hit the putting surface which is fairly flat on the right side but slopes steeply to the left on the left half. The distance is deceiving - do not be fooled as an extra club is in order here. Once on the green it is a challenge to take the regulation number of putts and secure your par - if you get one you can congratulate yourself - not many do!
Hole 15
A well struck tee shot is needed to find the green, however your reward is even greater if you find the same side of the green as the pin, avoiding a treacherous putt over the hogs back in the centre. The stroke index (13) does not reflect the degree of difficultly of this beautifully designed hole that presents the type of challenge every golfer will relish.
Hole 16
Play your tee shot down the middle through the avenue of trees - long hitters may not need a driver here as the fairway is downhill to a ditch 270 yards away. The approach shot will be from a hanging lie over a green sloping from back to front and at an angle to you - the ideal shot is a gentle fade, but again clubbing is critical as beyond the left side of the green is a swale that is best avoided. Short and right of the pin leaves the easiest putt but brings the greenside bunkers into play!
Hole 17
A par five to be played with the head rather than the heart. Long hitters, to get home in two, need to drive up the fairway to where the saddle of heather begins - then the second should ideally be fed in from left to right. Regular play should be to play between the two bunkers from the tee and then play a second up the left of the fairway leaving your ball short of the bunker on the right that gathers anything on the right of the fairway.
Hole 18
A fitting finishing hole that requires two good shots to make the three level green. From the tee the middle or just left of the centre is the line, followed by an approach which must avoid the deep bunker guarding the front right of the green and the rhododendron bushes on the left. The green itself presents a further challenge to overcome as it has three tiers and being too bold will leave a very difficult two putts and a flirtation with the OOB which is not too far over the back. Finish with a par and you can reward yourself with that well earned drink in the bar!
Notes from TGC Designer
I've been working on this course for around two years now since Chad brought us the magic of LiDAR, I had started an RCR version prior but I felt I wasn't doing the green slopes justice as they are seriously nuanced and LiDAR just brought them to life - Thanks Chad!
I worked here for 2 years as a teaching professional in the pro shop and it is still without a doubt, my favourite course in the world. It's visually stunning and plays tough despite it's yardage. During the Pro-Am each year we would only see a score of -1 or -2 take the spoils and that was with players like Matt Fitzpatrick and Paul Broadhurst making appearances. This is mostly down the the speed of the greens and strong pin choices - I've replicated these with pin for so crank the speed up and stay below the hole!
I spent a good amount of time getting conditions dialled in for this so stick to DEFAULT weather and time of day plus terrain and firmness.
You can turn the speed of the greens right up to VERY FAST if you want the challenge, I've play tested all pins extensively to allow you this option.
Last of all, I hope you enjoy your round and I look forward to hearing about your rounds.
Cheers!
Paddy
Strategic play is required from every tee, making the course play considerably longer than its 6,380 yards. The greens have some of the most challenging natural undulations you will ever play and contribute to the wonderful test of golf at West Hill.
The course design is attributed to Cuthbert Butchart who became the first professional before the course was built. It has remained largely unaltered in layout but much work has gone into improving the quality of the fabric and the presentation. The watering system for the greens and tees was installed in 1981 and this has now been augmented by full state of the art fairway watering. A bunker refurbishing programme was started in 1999 and all 18 holes have reprofiled bunkers with improved drainage and carefully selected sand. Tee renovation has provided an outstanding aspect for each hole even before a shot is played. Here one can appreciate the great trees, usually far enough from the fairway, with heather intervening to provide a colourful ribbon around the semi rough.
Initial tee shots, particularly the drives, must be carefully directed to the right place to set up a chance of hitting the correct part of the green if one wishes to avoid all thought of a three putt on subtly undulating surfaces. Whilst the white tees will test the skills and patience of the very best golfers, there is much satisfaction to be obtained from playing the friendlier front tees.
For anyone wishing to spend a day playing golf on a mature, well designed and scenic course with the ultimate prize of a good score, West Hill must come into the reckoning. The seeming shortage of length is compensated by having five par three holes, all challenging for distance and accuracy.
Course Guide
Hole 1
A tricky opener which requires a straight tee shot to avoid the encroaching pines. Long hitters note that this tee shot plays shorter than the yardage suggests - hit the ball more than 230 yards and the down slope steepens towards the ditch! The green slopes from back to front so aim to position your ball short of the flag for an easier uphill putt.
Hole 2
The brave may thread their tee shot between the two bunkers and have a short iron in for their second - the more conservative approach though is to take a club from the tee to get you 220 yards out and favouring the left half of the fairway. Then the accurate second should be faded in from the left side ensuring you are short rather than long as there is a steep fall off at the back and right side of the green.
Hole 3
A testing hole that requires a good tee shot just left of centre to take advantage of the down slope if you are to get home in two - for those not getting a good tee shot away this is better played as a three shotter. Playing the approach, believe the yardage as there is dead ground short of the stream and keep in mind that anything pitching short of the green will bounce left towards the stream. It is tempting to play a lot further right for safety but if you stay right of the green the chip and putt to get down in two is very difficult - try and finish left and past the pin for the best chance of recording a par here.
Hole 4
A tough par three that requires a well struck tee shot to make the putting surface. Check the wind direction as you may forget you are into the prevailing wind from this sheltered position. As well as sloping from right to left this green slopes from back to front and again it is better to be short and left of the pin rather than past it if you are to avoid a lightning putt and make par or better.
Hole 5
Long hitters can get home in two here with a good drive just right of centre to allow for the contours taking the ball left and then threading the second just inside the well positioned bunker on the right guarding the entrance to the green. If you are short of out of position from the tee, beware the band of heather which crosses the fairway on the far side of the hill. The green slopes away from you so do not worry about going past the pin as this avoids the tricky ‘downhiller'.
Hole 6
A tough test and the drive is just one of the exacting shots required - the blind tee shot should be played up the centre or just favouring the left side. With the drive negotiated the second must be played too with skill, ideally being played just left of the pin. This green has a very steep slope from back right to front left and getting the clubbing wrong and going past the pin will make it very difficult to get down in two - so err to be short rather than long, take two putts and congratulate yourself on making a par.
Hole 7
A short hole where the ball must be carried onto the putting surface as it is well protected at the front. This green is more subtle but generally slopes from back right to front left. Beware missing the green on the same side as the flag as the uphill bank on the right and the downhill bank on the left will make an up and down extremely difficult.
Hole 8
A beautifully designed hole which requires a positional tee shot past the bunker on the left and for longer hitters short of the bunkers on the right. The second is to a raised green where you cannot see the base of the pin - and as this green slopes steeply from back left to front right - you must weigh up whether you should play just short of the pin which can bring the steep faced greenside bunkers into play but leaves as easier putt or take an extra club and maybe go past and leave a much more testing putt.
Hole 9
Clubbing is critical as the green is slightly below the tee. Beyond the green is trouble and at the front, bunkers guard a narrow entrance. The percentage play is to play for the centre of the green wherever the pin is situated and rely on your putter to negotiate the tier if you do not finish on the same level as the pin.
Hole 10
This tough hole requires a good drive ideally just left of centre to keep away from the bunker on the right and keeping short of the one on the left. The second is to a smallish green that slopes from back to front - players tend to under-club on this shot as it is slightly uphill and the bunkers in front of the green tend to foreshorten the distance - do not be fooled - take enough club and you will be rewarded.
Hole 11
An intimidating tee shot but there is fairway beyond the bunkers! - and it only requires a carry of 165 yards to find safety. For long hitters the opposite is true and they must take care not to run out of fairway by going too far. Ideally hit a tee shot of around 230 yards and then you will have an approach to a pin whose base you will not be able to see. Play for the flag, or just left of it and if clubbing is in doubt take more than you think as the undulating green is slightly above your position on the fairway. A par here iis always a good score.
Hole 12
A very well designed short par 4. Long hitters are recommended to go for the green only when the pin is on the bottom tier to avoid the possibility of a 40 yard bunker shot to a very small raised back tier. The percentage shot is to play from the tee at the left hand bunker (or left of it to be really safe) with a club to get you out around 220 yards and then either have a pitch or a pitch and run if the pin is on the back tier. There are more 5's than 3's scored here so give this short par 4 the respect it deserves.
Hole 13
A tees shot that must be accurate as the nearest point of the green is very narrow broadening out towards the back. So pin placements at the back make the green easier to hit than those at the front. The percentage play here is to be a little long rather than short but beware of being too long as the OOB is very close to the back of the green.
Hole 14
A tough hole that requires a drive up the right side of the fairway or the safer alternative a faded drive down the middle - this is to compensate for the fairway having a natural contour that will take your ball to the left on landing. The second is to a green that slopes to the left - again a fade or a shot aimed at the right side of the green will be needed to hit the putting surface which is fairly flat on the right side but slopes steeply to the left on the left half. The distance is deceiving - do not be fooled as an extra club is in order here. Once on the green it is a challenge to take the regulation number of putts and secure your par - if you get one you can congratulate yourself - not many do!
Hole 15
A well struck tee shot is needed to find the green, however your reward is even greater if you find the same side of the green as the pin, avoiding a treacherous putt over the hogs back in the centre. The stroke index (13) does not reflect the degree of difficultly of this beautifully designed hole that presents the type of challenge every golfer will relish.
Hole 16
Play your tee shot down the middle through the avenue of trees - long hitters may not need a driver here as the fairway is downhill to a ditch 270 yards away. The approach shot will be from a hanging lie over a green sloping from back to front and at an angle to you - the ideal shot is a gentle fade, but again clubbing is critical as beyond the left side of the green is a swale that is best avoided. Short and right of the pin leaves the easiest putt but brings the greenside bunkers into play!
Hole 17
A par five to be played with the head rather than the heart. Long hitters, to get home in two, need to drive up the fairway to where the saddle of heather begins - then the second should ideally be fed in from left to right. Regular play should be to play between the two bunkers from the tee and then play a second up the left of the fairway leaving your ball short of the bunker on the right that gathers anything on the right of the fairway.
Hole 18
A fitting finishing hole that requires two good shots to make the three level green. From the tee the middle or just left of the centre is the line, followed by an approach which must avoid the deep bunker guarding the front right of the green and the rhododendron bushes on the left. The green itself presents a further challenge to overcome as it has three tiers and being too bold will leave a very difficult two putts and a flirtation with the OOB which is not too far over the back. Finish with a par and you can reward yourself with that well earned drink in the bar!
Notes from TGC Designer
I've been working on this course for around two years now since Chad brought us the magic of LiDAR, I had started an RCR version prior but I felt I wasn't doing the green slopes justice as they are seriously nuanced and LiDAR just brought them to life - Thanks Chad!
I worked here for 2 years as a teaching professional in the pro shop and it is still without a doubt, my favourite course in the world. It's visually stunning and plays tough despite it's yardage. During the Pro-Am each year we would only see a score of -1 or -2 take the spoils and that was with players like Matt Fitzpatrick and Paul Broadhurst making appearances. This is mostly down the the speed of the greens and strong pin choices - I've replicated these with pin for so crank the speed up and stay below the hole!
I spent a good amount of time getting conditions dialled in for this so stick to DEFAULT weather and time of day plus terrain and firmness.
You can turn the speed of the greens right up to VERY FAST if you want the challenge, I've play tested all pins extensively to allow you this option.
Last of all, I hope you enjoy your round and I look forward to hearing about your rounds.
Cheers!
Paddy
