Worplesdon

Worplesdon Golf Club was founded in the early 20th Century, with the course being designed by a mixture of J F Abercromby and Willie Park Jr.

Abercromby was the man behind the lay-out of the course, while Park Jr - a two-time winner of the Open Championship (opens in a new tab) - constructed the greens and the bunkers around the course.

To this day, the course remains almost exactly the same as it was set out by these two greats of golf course design. Only new tees to lengthen the course have really altered the way that Worplesdon is played.

Roger and Joyce Wethered are the club's most famous members. Roger lost the Open Championship on a play-off in 1921, while Joyce won the British Ladies Amateur four times, and the English Ladies Amateur on five occasions.

The club is also well-known for the Worplesdon Mixed Foursomes, and event which began more than a century ago, in 1921. NCG's own Jack Backhouse and Hannah Holden were the victors of the title in 2023.

A par 71, 6,500-yard course, Worplesdon features four par 5s and five par 3s. It may seem slightly short from the tips, but there are hazards in all the right places to catch you out, both down the fairways and greenside. 
 The course opens up with three differing par 4s. The 1st is a gentle opener to the round, with the 2nd measuring at more than 400 yards and needing an accurate drive. The 3rd is 380 yards, but also requires a drive down the left side of the fairway to open up the space to see the green. The 4th is the first of those five par 3s and plays significantly longer than it is on the card due to it being uphill. Make sure you take enough club as anything short could roll back down the slope.
 5 is the hardest hole on the front side at Worplesdon, and is a slight dog-leg to the right. A long drive that can carry the heather, at least 270 yards, could see a birdie opportunity. The par 5 6th is reachable in two for the longer hitters at just 485 yards, but the three bunkers at the back of this green come into play as the green slopes from back to front. 7 features a two-tiered green, and at 185 yards, club selection is vital if you are looking to make birdie or par. The front nine closes with two par 4s of around 380 yards, both of which offer the opportunity for birdies and bogeys.
 Worplesdon’s signature hole is the par 3 10th. It measures just 139 yards from the back tees, and is played over water to a green that is guarded by three bunkers, including one at the back. The first par 5 on the back nine is 11, which is a straight away hole, at 527 yards. It can be reachable with two big hits, but a par is a good score. 12 is also a par 5 at 507 yards, and is another that could be found in two. However, the green is guarded by two bunkers, front left and front right, and a heather and gorse bank on the left side of the green.
 The 13th is a 170-yard par 3 with three very different bunkers. The first wraps around the front of the green, with a narrow trap down the right side of the bunker. On the left, there is a daunting pot bunker. Miss that at all costs! It doesn’t get any easier, with 14 being the hardest hole on the course. A 452 yard par 4, a par is a very good score. 
 The closing stretch at Worplesdon begins with 15, which features a ditch down the left side, and again can be reached in two for the longer hitters. The 16th is the last par 3, and has plenty of space on the left. Hit it right, and you’re in trouble, either in the sand or the gorse. 17 has three strategically placed bunkers down the right side. With it being a dog-leg left, they are very much in play. Worplesdon’s lay-out comes to a close with a 438-yard par 4, which has three bunkers down the right side of the green. The clubhouse is in view from the tee as you play back towards it.

David Walker: Wonderfully consistent and immaculately presented Surrey heathland

Joss Powick: The best of the Ws for me. Great views and couldn’t fault condition. Great strategic bunkering too

Mike Robertson: A very good mix of holes. There are quite a few 'half-par' holes, making it a very enjoyable place to play

Read more about our panellists here (opens in a new tab).

Where is Worplesdon Golf Club located?

Worplesdon Golf Club is situated to the southwest of London, just outside the M25. The club is based just outside the town of Woking, with Guildford, Aldershot and Farnborough also in close order. The city centre of England’s capital is 35 miles to the northeast. Along with the M25, the M3 also runs close to Worplesdon, providing good road links for those travelling to and from the capital.

For international travellers coming to the area, London Heathrow Airport is just half an hour away from Worplesdon to the northeast. London Gatwick is another international airport within close reach, just an hour away. Brookwood is the closest train station, with South Western Railway services between London Waterloo and Southampton Central running through on a regular basis.

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?

The other two members of the ‘3 W’s’ – West Hill and Woking – are within just a couple of miles of Worplesdon. The likes of New Zealand, St George’s Hill, Camberley Heath, Swinley Forest and North Hants are all within just ten miles of the venue.

What golf facilities does Worplesdon Golf Club offer?

Although there is not a driving range facility at Worplesdon, there are hitting nets so you can get warmed up. There is also a short game area with a practice bunker, along with a putting green b the clubhouse for those final touches before you take to the course.

What are the green fees at Worplesdon Golf Club?

The price of a green fee at Worplesdon Golf Club changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

For more information on current green fees at Worplesdon, visit their website here (opens in a new tab).

Visit Worplesdon's website here (opens in a new tab).
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