Founded by a Woman
West Hill has an unusual origin story. In 1909, Mrs Marguerite Lubbock – a keen golfer frustrated by the fact that ladies could not become members at other local Surrey clubs – decided to found her own. J.B. Walker of the London Necropolis Company made the land available near Brookwood, and Cuthbert Butchart, a Scottish professional from Carnoustie, designed the course. Jack White and Willie Park Jr also contributed, and James Braid provided input in a documented 1911 letter. The course opened for play on 9 July 1910.
Sir Guy Campbell later made refinements that have largely been preserved. The result is 18 holes of par-69 golf over approximately 6,400 yards, with eleven par 4s, two par 5s, and five par 3s. Brookwood brook affects play on six holes, adding a strategic dimension that the other Two Ws lack.
Father and Son Foursomes
The Father and Son Foursomes was introduced in 1929 by Major Geoffrey Lubbock (Mrs Lubbock's son). Initially restricted to Surrey clubs, it opened nationally in 1931 and is now held each July, attracting amateur pairings from across Britain and beyond. The trophy is presented in memory of Major Lubbock. The event gives the club a distinctive character – generational, family-oriented, and deeply traditional.
The Course Today
West Hill sits between pine, heather, and silver birch on the same sandy subsoil as its neighbours. The conditioning is excellent, regularly ranked among the finest in Surrey. A major tree management programme in 2016 removed over 2,000 trees, and a heather regeneration programme initiated in 2017 has restored the course's open heathland character.
Ranked 93rd in Great Britain and Ireland, West Hill offers a quieter, less pressured experience than Sunningdale or Wentworth. The club values its traditions and its independence. Bernard Darwin wrote a comprehensive course guide in 1939, and much of what he described is still recognisable today.