The West is always enjoyable, usually offering consistently good levels of playability and conditioning throughout the year. The heavy rains have impacted the course’s lower areas though: the third and 15th were waterlogged. The West’s strength lies in the good design variety of the par 3s which range from 100 to 185 metres. The short fifth demands precision while the eighth may require a long club. The two most testing holes are the par-4s seventh (stroke 1) and 12th (stroke 2). Each lives up to the stroke index. Significant work is ongoing around the Royal clubhouse, and hopefully will improve the halfway house service. The only course-related drawbacks on the West relate to its current conditioning. The tee boxes are poor by Royal standards (they need levelling) and the greens frustratingly slow and uneven. Reviewers have commented on the inconsistency of the putting surfaces on both East and West courses. Attention to these flaws would improve the overall experience.
