West Hill is one of the most charming courses I have had the pleasure of visiting and playing.

While many Americans cross the pond for the famed links of Scotland and Ireland, the heathlands of Surrey have been the one place that has been at the top of my list of overseas destinations. In my first visit to the greater London area, West Hill was easily the star of this trip.

Having to find some last minute tee times for this trip, my round at West Hill was more circumstantial of my schedule rather than a pre-ordained course to visit during planning. Taking the train from central London and the short stroll from the station to the front gate was a new, and very cool aspect of visiting the club. Then walking up to the pro shop to check-in provided an expansive view of the property and the aspects of exactly what I was expecting from a visit to the heathland.

After a warm invitation to join a couple of members instead of playing as a single, the round started with a definite high. The first was a wonderful opener with blind tee-shot needing a long iron or hybrid. The open fronted green also provides a welcoming approach that can be ran up from the front of the green. Another great hole in the second might look simple from the tee, but centerline fairway bunker and canted landing area require a precise shot to find the short grass. 

The third at West Hill takes a step up in difficulty and charm. Another blind teeshot over a berm of heather obscures the landing area and asks commitment of the player to pick a line just off center from where the eyes might lead. The crossing ditch 60 yds from the green front makes another great visual hazard that feels much more in play than it is in reality. The opening stretch then concludes with perhaps the most visually stunning of the great par-3’s in the design. A longer hole measuring around 200yds plays across a lower area to give a most wonderful view from the tee box. A recent heather regeneration effort makes this hole feel incredibly natural and provides a great challenge as well.

One of the best aspects of the of this design is the ebb and flow of holes throughout the routing. You have incredibly visually stunning holes intersected by more mild, but still wonderfully strategic holes that almost accentuate each other. After the buildup of the first four, the fifth, sixth and seventh holes are more subdued, but incredibly engaging to play leading into the beautiful par-4 eighth. Requiring less than driver for the longer hitters, a myriad of fairway bunkers must be navigated to find the short grass. The approach shot to the front pin plays uphill with the cross bunker guarding and obscuring the putting surface. Going long is an option, but a tough downhill chip is the reward for bailing out.