Once a year, something happens on the Wentworth Estate that is genuinely difficult to put into words.
The gates open. The world arrives. And for one extraordinary week, the quiet roads and tree-lined fairways of Virginia Water become the centre of European golf. Helicopters circle overhead. The galleries fill with tens of thousands of spectators. The Wentworth Club hums with an energy that those who experience it for the first time rarely forget.
This is the BMW PGA Championship. And it happens right here, on the doorstep of one of the most sought-after addresses in the country.
If you have ever wondered what it would feel like to live somewhere like this, September is your answer. Browse our properties for sale on the Wentworth Estate and properties for sale in Virginia Water, or call us on 01344 843000 or email us and we will be delighted to show you around.
The tournament
The 2026 BMW PGA Championship takes place from 15 to 20 September at the Wentworth Club. Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald and Viktor Hovland have both confirmed their places in what promises to be an exceptional international field.
The week begins with a practice day on Tuesday, followed by the Celebrity Pro-Am on Wednesday, this year featuring Sir Andy Murray, Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard. The championship itself gets underway on Thursday. And the evenings bring something else entirely, with The Kooks performing on Saturday and Ella Eyre on Sunday. It is a festival as much as it is a golf tournament.
The West Course: where legends are made
Known as the Burma Road, the West Course was designed by the great Harry Colt in the 1920s and stretches to over 7,200 yards through stands of mature oak, birch and pine. The closing 18th, a long par five with a lake guarding the green, has produced some of the most memorable moments in European golf.
The roll call of champions here is extraordinary. Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie have each won three times. Seve Ballesteros, Rory McIlroy, Danny Willett, Tyrrell Hatton, Billy Horschel and Shane Lowry have all lifted the trophy on this course. Last year, Alex Noren claimed the title in a dramatic play-off after a thrilling final round.
A club that helped shape the game
Wentworth’s story begins in 1922 when Harry Colt was commissioned to design the courses around a grand country house on the Virginia Water estate. Within just a few years, the club had staged the forerunner to the Ryder Cup in 1926, hosted the Ryder Cup itself in 1953 and become home to the World Match Play Championship from 1964 to 2007, won seven times by Ernie Els. The DP World Tour’s headquarters remain here to this day.
What championship week feels like from the inside
For those who live in Virginia Water and on the Wentworth Estate, the BMW PGA Championship is not simply an event to attend. It is something you are part of.
The village takes on a different character during tournament week. There is an energy in the air that is hard to define but impossible to miss. Local restaurants buzz with golfers, spectators and celebrities. And for those whose gardens back onto the course, the distant sound of applause drifting through the trees on a warm September afternoon is one of those details that people mention again and again when you ask them what they love most about living here.
It is also a week that has a habit of converting visitors into buyers. People arrive to watch the golf and leave wondering how they might arrange to never leave. We see it every year.
Why people never want to leave
Virginia Water’s character did not happen by accident. The lake was created in 1753, the largest man-made lake in the country at the time, with George IV entertaining guests by royal barge on its waters. Beside it stand the extraordinary Leptis Magna ruins, ancient Roman columns brought from Libya by George IV and placed lakeside as an ornamental feature. Windsor Great Park stretches to the north. Chobham Common lies to the south. And the Wentworth Estate became the first in the UK to be protected by an Act of Parliament in 1964, preserving its character for generations.
The village is well served with restaurants, cafes and independent shops, with world class fine dining at The Waterside Inn at Bray and Coworth Park Hotel nearby. For families, the schooling in the surrounding area is exceptional. ACS Egham International School is in nearby Egham and TASIS is in Thorpe, with Royal favourite prep school Lambrook School and local star Hall Grove School also close by. The wider area offers an outstanding range of public schools including Eton College, St Mary’s Ascot and Wellington College. London is less than 45 minutes by train from Virginia Water station and Heathrow is around twenty minutes by car.
Come for the golf. Stay forever.
If you have been thinking about a move to Virginia Water or the Wentworth Estate, there is no better time to visit than during the BMW PGA Championship. Walk the fairways. Soak up the atmosphere. Have dinner in the village. And then call us.
At Barton Wyatt, we have been here for three generations with the forth generation learning the ropes. We know every road, every address and every reason why people choose to make Virginia Water their home. Call us on 01344 843000 or email us and we will take it from there.
About Barton Wyatt
Barton Wyatt has been a trusted name in Virginia Water since 1965. Based right here in the village, we understand the lifestyle, the schools, the streets and what draws people to choose this area above all others.
Whether you are buying, selling or letting, now is an excellent time to have a conversation. Call us on 01344 843000 or email us to arrange a free valuation and find out what your home could achieve this autumn.
GET IN TOUCH
If you are thinking of moving in or out of the area, take a look at our catalogue of properties for sale in Virginia Water and the surrounding areas. If you’d like to speak to someone about properties to let in Virginia Water, a member of our expert team would be happy to help. You can call us on 01344 843000 or email us. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay updated.
