The UK is fortunate to be home to a collection of the greatest golf courses anywhere in the world. With such a wide and varied landscape, it has always meant that the serious golfer can expect to experience everything from the wilds of the sea to ancient woodlands on the greens and tees. All of which can be achieved within a relatively short distance of each other, making golfing trips an enticing and popular event in the social calendar.
Although it may often be the windswept links courses of coastal Scotland that grab the golfing headlines, the courses of south England are the beating heart of the sport’s community. And in the Royal County of Berkshire, the hills, valleys and heaths provide a wonderful vista for several excellent courses to thrive. The towns that make up this area west of the Thames have long been residence to families looking for a slice of rural life close to the city of London. As a result, the facilities in the golf clubs that were created have evolved into some of the finest inland golf course amenities one could possibly wish for.
Sunningdale
This club at Ridgemont Road in Sunningdale offers two courses that are both over a century old, with classic heathland terrain amongst the pines. The Old Course was designed in 1900 by Willie Park Jr, who wanted to impose ‘links-style’ journeys for an inland course with large, varied greens, elevated tees and heather-lined fairways all on show. A New Course that appeared in 1923 represented a different, more strategic approach that perhaps makes more of the views on offer with fewer trees and less scope for brute strength on drives and on the fairways.
The design heritage of both courses is outstanding. A two-course set-up encourages even the most professional members to find a challenge in the variety and complexity that is out there. And Sunningdale’s status as a major event host consistently keeps it in the top rankings for UK & Ireland courses. This means that access is limited, particularly in the peak season between April and October, and obtaining a game as a visitor can be a lengthy and complicated process to get through. Once you do have that elusive tee time, then you are ensured a traditional, if somewhat tricky, day, with the accepted wisdom being to try the New Course first. Sunningdale is 36 holes of great golf, guaranteed.
The Berkshire Golf Club
One of the greatest aspects of UK golf is in the history that the locations stand upon. The Berkshire Golf Club in Ascot is definitely well represented in this regard, founded in 1928 on heathland that was once Queen Anne’s own royal hunting ground. The Red Course and Blue Course here are both designed by architect Herbert Fowler, who went on to shape much of the 20th-century style for UK and US courses. For the Red Course, one can expect some dramatic elevation changes across a challenging stretch of par 3s, 4s and 5s with unforgiving pine bunkers that are not for the faint-hearted. An even tougher test is available on the Blue Course that foregoes the scenery ever so slightly after the stunning first hole that rises to the green over beautiful heather.
As one would expect, the standard at The Berkshire Golf Club is high. The playing credentials of potential members must therefore be commensurate with the level of prestige and expected ability in order to be properly considered. Waiting lists and nominations can prove to be a lengthy process but it is fair to say the outcome is well worth the effort. World-class courses, unique layouts and a pleasing balance of exclusivity and hospitality make The Berkshire Golf Club a pleasure to be a part of.
Swinley Forest Golf Club
If there indeed was a golden age of golf architects, then the trio of Alister Mackenzie, Charles Alison and Harry Colt were responsible for most of it. The Swinley Forest Golf Club in Ascot is an example of Colt’s meticulous and playful skill in designing a course that has rhythm, grace and power, all on display in equal measure. His signature small, but perfectly formed, greens rest sympathetically on the landscape that surrounds them and the undulating heathland is a joy of gentle elevation. Ever modest, Colt himself referred to Swinley Forest Golf Club as ‘my least bad course’, which is among the highest praise possible.
Interestingly, the club was originally intended to be a Ladies' Club for the socialites of early 20th-century London but soon became an exclusive location for all of Edwardian high society. There is an element of this philosophy that remains with Swinley Forest Golf Club too, with no tournaments and limited visitor play adding to a rather secretive allure. Membership is therefore strictly by invitation only, with a process of nomination and seconded required and no publicly available route to enquire for prospective golfers. Overall, this is a place that upholds the highest standards of the game and demands the same from the people who play here.
East Berkshire Golf Club
The great Edwardian boom for the game of golf resulted in clubs and courses cropping up all over the country. Many of these may not have had the regal origins of land and patronage that the more famous examples benefitted from, but they served an equally important purpose in the development of the game. In the modern day, that idea still remains true with places such as East Berkshire Golf Club demonstrating a more accessible membership and community without compromising excellent and exacting standards. Designed by Peter Paxton and opened in 1903, the classic Berkshire heathland, sandy soil and pine woods provide the foundations for firm fairways and consistent greens here. The overall 69 par for the course may at first suggest a gentler challenge but a morning amongst the tight driving lines and compact targets will soon dispel that notion.
East Berkshire Golf Club is a place to celebrate the game for all abilities without the membership restrictions of nearby clubs. A warm and welcoming atmosphere for visiting players makes it the ideal place for intermediate level, to consistently play and improve with fantastic facilities to support them.
The critical aspect that all of these golf courses share is their clear commitment and love for the game. They may each have their individual ways of protecting, developing and continuing their legacy, but on every fairway and every green, you are guaranteed a fantastic round. If at all possible, taking the time to visit and enjoy a day at each course is the very best way to find the perfect fit for you, your game and the overall ambitions that are driving your own golf journey.
