Paul Casey believes golf courses should be given same status as listed buildings

Three-time major winner and local resident Ernie Els has masterminded extensive alterations meaning few of the 18 holes remain untouched on the leafy layout on the outskirts of London.

"I suggested to (R&A chief executive) Peter Dawson yesterday maybe we should introduce some kind of scheme along the lines of that which we have with historic buildings in this country," said Casey on the eve of the European Tour's flagship event.

"(For instance) Ernie's beautiful house by the 16th hole with the thatched roof and the (superb) plaster work. He owns it but that doesn't give him the right to paint it pink and put a tin roof on it.

"When you're an owner of a Grade II listed building it's much like you're the caretaker for the next generation.

"Similarly, if you're the owner of a golf course does it give you the right to make the changes you want? "Is that in the best interests of that particular course or for golf in general?"

The Briton went on to suggest the rule-making R&A could play a role in protecting venues.

"I think we need to keep courses in as good a condition as we can, but maybe owners need to go through a procedure to make sure these changes are in line," said the 32-year-old world No 8.

"Maybe that's something that would have to go through the R&A, along the lines of listing golf courses."

Casey said the West Course, which now has a reduced par of 71 rather than 72, would represent a completely different test in the event this week.

"It's a course where I'm not sure my local knowledge means much any more," said the Englishman, who has a house at nearby Esher.

"I think it's going to be a very difficult challenge. I think the scores are going to be higher.

"I'm not getting emotional about what I think about the changes. For me this is just like a new venue and I'm trying to figure out a way to get around in the fewest possible shots."

Casey said the last thing he wanted was to criticise Els's changes.

"This was Ernie's vision of what he thought a modern West Course should look like and I'm not going to blast him or even praise him," said the Englishman.

"I'm just going to sit on the fence right now and worry about trying to get round in this tournament. I do have an opinion but this isn't the time or place to go into that."

Els has admitted he's more nervous returning to the course on which he has had more success than any other as a result of the most recent changes.

After changes added 310 yards and 30 bunkers prior to the 2006 BMW PGA Championship, the latest modifications have altered all 18 greens.

"I was quite anxious to get out there," said the 40-year-old South African, a seven-time winner of the World Match Play at Wentworth.

"Obviously you're not going to please everybody.

"You're going to have questions all over the place and it's very easy to criticise something.

"I'm in the hot-seat. I'm the guy the guys can fire at, can throw their arrows at and if guys don't like it you can listen to what they don't like.

"But this is our fifth major over here in Europe and it needs to have a bit of teeth.

"Players will have a little bit of a shock for a while, but they will find a way to score around here.

"When you master this course now I think you'll have a lot of confidence going forward and not be intimidated by any course.

"The most talk will probably be about 18.

"We wanted a little bit of drama – with the old green everybody was putting for eagle and it was basically a bit of a soft par-5."