Winged Foot (East) - 17 points
What is the best 36 holes on one golf property? Royal Melbourne has a claim, Barnbougle and Bandon are right up there and Sunningdale too. But Winged Foot would have to be part of any such discussion. The West course (ranked 27th in the Ultimate top 100 Courses in the World) is the one you will be most familiar with. It has hosted the US Open five times and is seen as one of the true classic courses. However, if you are in Winged Foot and get a chance to play the East (ranked 78th) you should jump at it.
The locals will tell you that the members play the East and the guests play the West. Both courses were designed by the great Golden Age architect A.W. Tillinghast and you will see many of the characteristics of the West course here.
You will be struck as you play either course at Winged Foot by the distinctiveness on the green complexes. Pretty much every green slopes from back to front - sometimes dramatically - with plenty of trouble around the fronts,, false fronts and bunkers galore. However, take enough club to clear the trouble and you will be met with a scarily fast downhill putt.
The course is fairly forgiving off the tee. Over recent years many trees have been cut down and you have to be pretty wayward off the tee to bring them into play. However they frame the holes beautifully and give real definition to the course. If you do hit the rough you should find your ball pretty easily and forward progress isn’t too hard to achieve. But when you get to the greens you will really need your A game with you.
There is no water on the West but the par five 4th on the East requires a drive over water before the hole sweeps around to the right in majestic fashion. The par 3s on the East are at least the equal of the West. The 6th (‘Trouble’) is one of the best par 3s you will play - 190 yards through a narrow neck to a back left pin for me and as I managed to put it to 20 feet in front of the Head Pro it was hard to wipe the smile off my face. I even managed to hole the four footer for par!
The front ten holes go out, you’ve guessed it, to the East of the property and return to the clubhouse. The last 8 holes are set between the front and back 9s of the West.
The quality continues, with the par 17th being maybe the most memorable - 200 yards to a green with no bunkers but an elevated rectangle of a green awaiting, where precision is key.
The course doesn’t hit the heights of the West but if you were a member here that would be just fine as it gives you a chance to try out many of the shots you will need on the West without fear of getting too beaten up.
BOOKING THE COURSE
The scorecard for the East Course at Winged Foot
Well, this is a hard one. We actually only ended up playing here because we had a bit of a nightmare elsewhere and had a generous host. It is a high-end course which isn't particularly accessible. However, if you are really set on it then my advice would be to look out for charity auctions - New Yorkers are a benevolent lot and there are a few opportunities a year. Failing that, I would suggest writing a letter. Not sending an email, a tweet or calling, but an old fashioned letter. The worst they can do is say no and I suspect if you show a passion for golf there's a chance that you may be accommodated at one of the most respected courses in the United States.
TOUR TIPS
The range at Winged Foot is fairly understated, but it’s worth a visit if only to hit a few of the Winged Foot branded ProV1s
Play here is usually only with a member but if you start early enough there should be no problem getting a round on both the East and the West. You can’t book a tee time and it’s a first-come-first-served roll up on the 1st tee at both. Caddies are mandatory, and pretty essential when it comes to reading these greens.
This really feels like an old-school members’ club. The locker rooms are reminiscent of those in a 1950s boarding school, there are idiosyncrasies like the burnt toast served before lunch and the ginger biscuits with peanut butter after 9 holes. The clubhouse is adorned with memorabilia from days gone by and you won’t have to wait long before hearing stories from the past.
I would also do a shout out to the pro shop here. I think it may be the best anywhere in the world. The stock is huge and really well sourced. That combined with the very cool Winged Foot logo means you will find it hard to leave without getting the credit card out!
