The West’s new 777 bent grass greens have been open for six months and sad to see the number of unrepaired pitch marks which have scarred many. Fixing pitch marks is obviously not within the remit of some golfers today. Or raking bunkers. The West’s new greenside bunkers are terrific by the way, attractively shaped and mostly substantial. I didn’t visit any fairway bunkers, but there are only a handful. A feature of playing the West is their absence, and the quality of the design means they are probably not needed. So many good holes here, and I’m amused when golfers describe the West as an “easy” layout. Yes, perhaps in comparison to the East Course, but I found it easy to make bogeys. Part of the problem may have been the surprising slowness of the greens. They didn’t look freshly cut. I’m told they are being protected as they settle in, yet moderately extra pace would make them more fun and interesting.