The last of the 3 W’s I played in the Summer of 2024 and its another stunning Surrey heathland golf course and one which having completed I can now take part in one of the classic debates. Which of the three w’s is the best? We will return to that question but firstly my comments on the course.

As is the case with many of the heathland course West Hill is stunning with heather in bloom and a kaleidoscope of colour on show from the opening tee shot till you walk off the 18^th. The course like many opens with a couple of gentle par 4’s but be wary with your approaches as the green complexes are wonderful, but when you stand on the third tee you have are not confronted with an outstanding hole of beauty and brutality where only two perfectly executed shots will find the green but they may not hold given the green slopes away.

There are so many good holes at West Hill full of nuanced challenges that seem in keeping with the almost understated brilliance of the course. The course also has great variety with blind shots sometimes to sloping fairway, amazing green complexes and an abundance of heather. What there is not are long forced carried either of the tee or for the approach shot and even if offline you feel as though a recovery is on but it needs near perfect execution to pull it off.

The front 9 is outstanding and there is not a bad hole, and it is difficult to pick out any individual holes as they flow effortlessly and ensure that the whole is much greater than the holes in isolation. The back nine is less consistently brilliant but this is made up for with a number of truly world class holes par 4’s at 11 & 16 and the fantastic par 3 15^th which is framed spectacularly but again similar to the third there is real brutality as missing the green will result in a treacherous chip shot recovery. There are a couple of weaker holes, and I did think the drivable 12^th and par 3 following were the two weakest on the course. I usually love short par 4’s but there was not enough of a risk factor and like the following hole seemed a little compact and out of keeping with the rest of the holes.

Most great course finish with a quality finishing hole and this is the case at West Hill where the 18^th is wonderful long uphill par 4 with cross bunker which should not come into play as they are 80 yards short of the green but not only do the beautifully frame the hole but find the heather with your tee shot and these will be in your thought for your recovery.

Having now played all three of the W’s I find like many others it almost impossible to separate, Woking is the most strategic, Wopelsdon is stunning in conditioning and West Hill probably shades it with the greatest number of outstanding holes. So the choice of the best of the W’s is like the golfing version of your favourite child and for me it is too close to call and like children you should be thankfully for how they have turned out and savour any time you spend on these three golfing masterpieces.