West Surrey

West Surrey is where you think it is, and exactly what you would think it would be – a glorious parkland course designed by two greats of the game.

JH Taylor – a five-time winner of the Open Championship – designed the course, with the great Herbert Fowler laying it down just south of Milford.

Following extensions and remodelling, the course pushes towards 6,500 yards, and remains a great test. The view from the 18th tee on a clear day is almost worth the green fee on its own.

Visit the West Surrey website here.

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The history of the West Surrey Golf Club dates back to shortly before the First World War. 1910 saw the founding of the golf club by landowner and businessman John Eastwood.

The initial design of the golf course was by five-time Open Champion JH Taylor. Herbert Fowler then laid out the course, much to the same design as Taylor had intended.

Following the turn of the millennium, an extensive project was implemented to improve the drainage and watering, bringing the greens to a USGA standard. The course was also extended at the same time.

There have been some famous members at West Surrey throughout its history. The Wethereds, famous for four-time Ladies Amateur Champion Joyce, and 1923 Amateur Champion Roger, were all members.

As you would expect from a venue in the heart of Surrey, it is a great inland venue. Tree-lined fairways, heather, sand and tricky putting surfaces all come into play throughout a round, with every aspect of your game being tested. As mentioned above, the course has been extended over recent years, and it now measures in excess of 6,400 yards from the tips. The length comes in the first nine, so if you can keep your card together to the turn, you have a chance of posting a good score at West Surrey.

It is not the longest opening hole, but the 1st at West Surrey plays slightly uphill and the green has a treacherous false front if your approach doesn’t make it all the way to the heart of the surface. A par is a good score to get you on your way. The 2nd is the shortest hole on the course at 155 yards, However, playing uphill, it might be a club more than you first think. Three bunkers all sit short, so aim for the middle of the green for the best chance at par, or even birdie. The 3rd is the longest par 4 on the property at almost 480 yards. Some will have to play this as a par 5, simply due to the distance. Add in a narrow fairway with three traps, and two more bunkers either side of a long putting surface, and you have a very tricky prospect early on.

The 4th is also a long par 4, at 430 yards. Another narrow hole, the green is slightly raised compared to the level of the fairway, so any approach that is being run up needs some juice on it to find the dance floor. The second of the par 3s comes at the 5th – a 163-yard hole that features a large green. Like the 2nd, it plays uphill, so take an extra club.6 then takes you back down the hill, and as the first of three par 5s at West Surrey. It is 530 yards from the tips, and even downhill, this will be a three-shotter for most. It has a narrow fairway, so again, accuracy is vital off the tee. The 7th is the Stroke Index 1, as this tricky run continues in the middle of the front nine. 445 yards from the tips, and playing with a slight turn from left to right, par will see you gaining a shot on the field here.

At 355 yards, the 8th will feel like a walk in the park compared to the last few par 4s you have played. The fairway is generous, and although it plays slightly uphill, the green is well within the reach of an attacking shot – just make sure your approach travels far enough, thanks to the large horseshoe-shaped bunker that runs around the front of the green. The front nine closes with the shortest of the three par 5s. The 9th is only 485 yards, but features a split fairway thanks to a large hollow around the 300-yard mark. A definite birdie chance!

The first of the two short holes on the back side comes at 10. It is 180 yards and played to a large green. Two bunkers sit front right, so make sure your tee shot gets to the middle of the surface. The only par 4 to hit the 400-yard mark on the closing nine at West Surrey comes early on. The 11th requires two solid shots to get home. Manage that, and it is a good par on the card. 12 is the last of the par 3s, and the only one that does not play slightly uphill. It is 165 yards, and has three bunkers protecting the green.

13 is a scoring opportunity, providing you can avoid the two bunkers that are in the middle of the fairway. At just 329 yards, driver might not necessarily be the right play. If you can avoid those two fairway bunkers, the flag is attackable. The recently remodelled 14th comes next, and it plays round to the right. Aim down the left side at the two fairway bunkers, but make sure you stay short of them. From there, you have the best view of this two-tiered green. Work out the distance and find the right portion of the surface. Accuracy is the key down 15. It is not the longest hole at just 330 yards, but the fairway is very narrow. The green is the longest on the property, so like on 14, work out the distance depending on whether it is a front, middle or back flag.

The left fairway bunker is the aiming point down 16 – another hole that bends slightly round to the left. Another two bunkers are by the green, including the large trap on the right side. Again, the green is two-tiered, front and back. The 17th is a great penultimate hole. It is 390 yards, but thanks to the severely uphill approach, it plays more like 410. The fairway is short and small, and you really need to be on the right side of it to have the best chance at finding the green, perched atop the hill. It is a par 5 to finish at West Surrey, and it is a tee box that provides the best view on the course, with the Hog’s Back in view in the distance, over the clubhouse. 520 yards, but playing downhill, this is a par 5 that is in reach for some. Two large bunkers, including one winding its way around the right side of the green, are in play for the final approach of the day.

Where is West Surrey located?

It might not surprise you to know that the West Surrey Golf Club is on the western side of the county of Surrey. It is just south of the village of Milford, and around a mile from the A3 – which runs from the centre of London, southwest towards Portsmouth and through Surrey. Guildford is less than ten miles away, while the centre of London is only 40 miles to the northeast of West Surrey GC.

Milford Station is less than a mile from the golf club, with regular train services running between Portsmouth and London Waterloo, akin to the A3. International visitors will be best placed landing at either London Heathrow or London Gatwick – the country’s two busiest airports. Both are within 35 miles of West Surrey.

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

The area that West Surrey finds itself in is a great spot for golf. Hankley Common and Hindhead are within 10 miles, while Liphook, Blackmoor and the ‘3 W’s’ of West Hill, Worplesdon and Woking are all within 20 miles.

What golf facilities does West Surrey offer?

As well as the stunning 18-hole layout, West Surrey is also blessed to have a full-length driving range, along with two practice greens for both putting and chipping, to allow members and guests alike to get prepared for what is to come.

What are the green fees at West Surrey?

The price of a green fee at West Surrey 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 West Surrey, visit their website here.