Enrie Els has unveiled the changes and refinements to the famed West Course at Wentworth Club, implemented to meet the demands of both the amateur and professional golfers of today.
Els, Wentworth Club’s Touring Professional, who lives on the estate and has won six World Match Play title over the West Course, was given the task of updating Harry Colt’s masterpiece. Working with Courses Manager Chris Kennedy and his team, Els has further toughened the examination paper whilst maintaining the traditions first laid down by Colt in the 1920s.
The changes will first be seen in tournament play when the West Course hosts the BMW Championship – the Players' Flagship, from May 25-28, and then later in the season during the HSBC World Match Play Championship from September 14-17.
When George Tarrant purchased the Wentworth Estate in 1920 he had a dream and he was not interested in compromise. Tarrant and the legendary course designer Harry Colt set their sights on a masterpiece. It is to their eternal credit, that successive owners of Wentworth have stayed true to that dream.
In 2005 when Richard Caring acquired the Club, he believed he had a responsibility to continue this tradition.
Caring, Chairman Wentworth Club, said: “Harry Colt did an amazing job when designing this course, but with golfers hitting the ball much further, I knew that some refinement was necessary. I wanted to work with people who share the same passion for the course that I have.
“I didn’t have to look far, Ernie Els, the Club’s Touring Professional, was the obvious choice. Ernie loves the course, is a Member of the Club and has made his home here. I believe that with Courses Manager, Chris Kennedy, he has done a great job, one that Harry Colt would be proud of.”
Els said: “It was a real honour for me to be involved in this project. Richard Caring was 100 percent behind the idea from the outset and he shared our enthusiasm for what we were trying to achieve. Working with Chris Kennedy and his team was a rewarding experience; they’ve got a real passion for their work and thanks to their efforts I think we’ve succeeded in what we set out to do when I first sat down and discussed the plans of basically updating and refining this classic Harry Colt design so it remains a true test for the best players in the world and yet still fun for the typical amateur who comes here to enjoy the Wentworth experience.”
George O’Grady, Executive Director of The European Tour, said: “The BMW Championship is deservedly recognised as the Players’ Flagship Event on The European Tour International Schedule, as we look forward to its reputation being further enhanced by the inspirational changes suggested by Ernie Els.
“We congratulate Richard Caring, not only for his astuteness in bringing Ernie on board, but also for his swiftness in authorising the changes implemented by Julian Small, Chris Kennedy and the team at Wentworth Club.”
Clickhere for Ernie Els’s Hole-by-Hole guideand let one of the world’s great champions take you through the changes he has implemented.
