Wentworth Looking More Like The Belfry Every Year

Douglas Lowe on the transformation (or is it transmogrification?) of H.S. Colt's finishing hole, accompanied by a disturbing image (a model, I hope?). Thanks to reader Stephen for this.

Chris Kennedy, the course manager, said the impetus came from owner Richard Caring and it took a great deal of persuading before he, fellow-Scot Bernard Gallacher, the former Ryder Cup player and captain who was professional there for 20 years, and Ernie Els, the course architect, were convinced it was the right thing to do.

"We thought that having a big water feature on a finishing hole just wasn’t right for Surrey but Mr Caring was adamant. He said that every championship course he had seen on television, whether it is Paris, Valderrama or any of these places, water is in the frame. So we had a good look at it,” said Kennedy.

Well those are certainly places you look to for architectural inspiration!