In Volume 1 of The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses, Tom Doak writes that.

“The annual home of the World Match Play Championship since the 1960’s, Wentworth’s West course was dubbed the “Burma Road” for its unrelenting difficulty, and its easy proximity to Heathrow made it the stomping grounds of choice for many of the best European golfers of the last era. Really, it was more proof that all big tournament courses become overrated. A couple of two-tiered greens were really severe – I watched Seve Ballesteros chip from the lower tier of the 7^th green to the upper tier in a match! – and there was also an interesting tee shot over a line of trees at the 15^th hole, but again, is it really a sign of quality when that’s the sort of stuff you remember?

One of those famous residents is Ernie Els, and in recent years Els was asked to redesign the course by the new ownership of the club. The changes have been generally panned so badly that none of us wants to go back and see what’s been done; but if someone tells you Ernie ruined a great course, they thought too much of the old one. The untouched East course is not one of the best courses in Surrey, but it’s the best bet at Wentworth. .”

The East Course received a score of 5 out of 10 from Tom Doak and two of his co-authors.