Wentworth prepares to celebrate 60th birthday of the PGA European Golf Tour
2014 is a landmark year for the PGA European Golf Tour as it celebrates its 60th year. The Championship was first played back in 1955, coming to the prestigious West Course at Wentworth in Surrey in 1984 and where it has been played exclusively ever since.
· PGA European Tour celebrates its 60th year of first class golf
· 20th – 25th May at the glorious Wentworth Club, in Surrey
· Barton Wyatt say property for all pockets as 2 bed flats priced from £250,000
This first class golfing tournament initially only attracted British golfers however in the 1970’s it began to entice players from all over Europe and quickly escalated into one the top international golf events on the European Tour Calendar.
60 years ago Englishman Ken Bousfield picked up the title of first ever champion, finishing 17 under par and taking home £400 in prize money. Compare that to last year’s winner, 2013 champion Matteo Manassero who scooped a staggering €791,660 and it’s clear to see how this event has grown.
The BMW PGA Championship is six days of high quality entertainment which includes the Official Practice Day, Celebrity Pro-Am, and four rounds of compelling competition from 20th to 25th May.
This year an impressive list of 50 celebrities are already confirmed to take part in the Celebrity Pro-Am including Chris Evans; Olympic medallists Eve Muirhead, Sir Steven Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent; footballers David Ginola, Peter Schmeichel and Jamie Redknapp and rugby stars Chris Robshaw, Ben Foden and Mike Tindall.
For the residents of the exclusive Wentworth Estate this is a week in their lives when everything slows to almost a halt. Getting about on the main island becomes tricky as the roads are full of golf lovers all anxious to wander on the fairways of England’s finest golf course and watch the pros at the top of their game.
Wentworth resident and local business owner James Wyatt has lived in the area most of his life and tells us of the thrills of the PGA week:
“I live on Wentworth and work in Virginia Water so life is not too stressful for me during PGA week. In fact I love the buzz of it. It turns our sleepy village into the centre of the universe for a few days. There are limos, TV crews, dozens of celebs and huge amounts of fun and frivolity, not to mention champagne and strawberries!”
James Wyatt runs the award winning Estate Agency, Barton Wyatt with his brother Rupert. They became the third generation of Wyatts in 1998, the agency and indeed the village has gone from strength to strength over the years.
In June 2013 the Telegraph reported that Virginia Water, famed as the home of Bruce Forsyth and Wentworth golf club, was crowned the most expensive village in the country in a survey that revealed a huge jump in the number of property millionaires across Britain. The Telegraph further stated that “Average values in Virginia Water have climbed 6pc in the past year and in one street, Portnall Rise, homes average £4.3m.”
James Wyatt is more reticent about prices in the area, saying:
“Virginia Water and Wentworth are often painted as the most unbelievably expensive place to live outside London, but we really do cater for all pockets with two bedroom flats for £250,000, detached houses for £600,000. But I am also very happy to sell anyone a new house for £30m!!”
For more information about James Wyatt and his award winning agency, Barton Wyatt, please call 01344 843 000, visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk or follow James on Twitter for the latest news.