The Ernie Els-branded alterations to Wentworth have created as many problems as they've fixed

PLAYED WENTWORTH last week. On the eve of the BMW PGA Championship that will conclude later today – and, for once living down to the stereotypical worldview of the freeloading golf writer, your humble correspondent toured the remodelled 'Burma Road' alongside two fellow hack(er)s and Ryder Cup player Graeme McDowell.

• A hole from hell: The 18th at Wentworth, ostensibly designed by Ernie Els. Photograph: Warren Little/Getty

Actually, in view of the often radical and deeply controversial work that bears the signature of three-time major champion Ernie Els, it is time for Wentworth to break out a new nickname. Long gone is Harry Colt's design, to be replaced by what in places is so pseudo-American it might as well be called 'I-95' or, on days when the sun shines, 'Route 66'. Come to think of it, the 'TPC at Virginia Water' works pretty well, too. Only the absence of a completely inappropriate fountain in the pond short of the 18th green revealed that we were not actually in Florida.

Which is not to say all of Els' handiwork is bad or misguided or without architectural merit – far from it. While such a dramatic transformation of such an iconic venue was never going to find favour with every critic, much of what the big South African has done can safely be filed under the heading 'improvements'. Whisper it, but the course in its former incarnation was in many ways overrated. For this observer at least, it was not much more than a generally uninteresting and overlong slog that too often was all but unplayable for the average golfer. It certainly wasn't much fun. Give me nearby Sunningdale or the Berkshire any day.

Trouble is, where the 'new' course is bad it is very, very bad, to the point that it will come as no surprise to me if, within three years or so, further changes are implemented to soften what are some very sharp edges indeed. I refer to the green complex at the 8th hole, the 12th green, the pit/bunker back and left of the 16th green, the steep drop-off right of the 17th green (surely the worst famous hole in golf) and the already much-photographed finishing hole. To describe each as 'penal' barely does justice to the severity of the penalties involved in even the narrowest of misses. While golf was never meant to be a fair game, the punishment has to fit the crime a little more than it does in the above examples.

In defence of Els, his views on what would be appropriate changes – to the 8th and 18th holes especially – were overruled by Wentworth's owner, one Richard Caring. The multi-millionaire somehow imagined that he knew more about golf and course architecture than a man who has won two US Opens and an Open. And the results of that delusion are there for all of us to see.

Still, while there has been much headshaking, there has also been humour in the ways some players have shown their disapproval without actually saying so out loud. Some took refuge in the old standby for situations where speaking one's mind/the truth inevitably leads to financial penalties emanating from the European Tour brass: they lied. But first prize for inventiveness goes to defending champion Paul Casey. He clearly does not care for the Els alterations – any of them – and so embarked on a Walter Mitty-like campaign to introduce a scheme whereby storied courses like Wentworth could be legally protected.

"If you own a Grade II-listed building, it is like you are the caretaker for the next generation," claimed the 32-year-old Englishman. "Ernie has a beautiful house here which overlooks the 16th green. It has a thatched roof and plasterwork, but that does not give him the right to paint it pink and put a tin roof on it."

Other players spoke out using more explicit language, on condition of anonymity. Even before the tournament started, one of those declared the 12th green "unhittable".

"I'm going to practise chipping from short of the ridge at the front of the green (which slopes from front-to-back on the other side of said ridge) and from over the back. Those are the only two places I can hit my hybrid approach to a 490-yard par-4." It should also be noted that this same player made a double bogey there on Thursday. Either he was right all along or he talked himself into trouble. Take your pick.

Then there is the already much-maligned finishing hole, with its serpentine burn/pond/creek that meanders up the right of the fairway, crosses in front of the green then makes its way all the way up the left side. The green is tiny, with deep bunkers back and right. And the fairway, at just about driving distance, slopes sharply downward. All in all, a man tempted to go for the green in two is faced with just about every disincentive one can think of.

"They have tried to make it a risk-reward hole but the risk is far too great for the reward you might not get anyway," said world No 3 Lee Westwood, voicing the opinion of many. "It is retrievable, but if you are going to spend a lot of money on course changes it would be nice to get them right first time round."

Indeed, day one of a tournament featuring the cream of European golf passed with only one closing eagle made, by Marc Warren. There is even a caveat to that miserable statistic. The Scot arrived on the 18th tee already six over par and had clearly reached the no-pressure 'who cares?' stage where he was going for the green no matter what, his score already largely ruined. In contrast, for most of the field, the 538-yard hole was little more than a 90-yard par-3: two uneventful shots followed by a pitch – the vast majority of which were played safely wide of the flag and water.

"I feel very sorry for the viewing public because they want to see us go for the green in two," sighed Ross Fisher, who grew up playing the 'old' Wentworth. "It must be really disappointing."

Worst of all, however, and by a distance is the 8th green. Early on Wednesday morning I watched as McDowell struck an exquisite approach to the narrow, heavily canted green. The ball landed safely on the putting surface, checked, before trickling slowly down into the pond that borders the green's front and left sides. It was, to say the least, more than a little silly, especially as there was no sensible strategic alternative to the way McDowell played the 391-yard hole.

Significantly, one day after the Irishman's ball disappeared into the depths, the 8th tee was moved up 15 yards so that decent tee-shots could finish within lob wedge distance of the green. Even then, the first day average for the hole was exactly four. In other words, from about no more than, say, 75 yards, 156 professional golfers needed an average of three shots to finish the hole. Clearly, something was – and is – amiss. One can only hope it all gets fixed soon.