West Hill

Few courses in the Surrey heathland belt carry quite the quiet authority of West Hill. Laid out in 1909 and designed by Willie Park Jr. — with later refinements attributed to Cuthbert Okell and Jack Pennink — it occupies a stretch of classic inland heath that rivals its more celebrated neighbours, Woking and Worplesdon, while somehow maintaining a lower public profile. The sandy subsoil drains almost immediately after rain, the heather and silver birch frame nearly every hole, and the turf stays firm and fast through much of the year. It is a private members' club in the truest sense: unhurried, well-maintained, and quietly proud.

The par of 69 suits the land rather than any marketing ambition. West Hill is a thinking player's course, where placement off the tee matters far more than power, and where the subtleties of heathland lies and run-out fairways reward those who play within themselves.

Surrey's golden triangle of inland heath — Wentworth aside — doesn't get more authentic than this corner of Woking. For anyone serious about understanding what English heathland golf actually means, West Hill belongs on the itinerary.