The Berkshire Golf Club Review: A heathland gem with one of the UK's best 36-hole layouts

Berkshire Golf Club Fact File

• Location: In Ascot, 30 miles from central London and less than four miles from Swinley Forest
• Year Established: 1928
• Par: Blue 71 Red 72
• Length (yards from yellows):  Blue - 6,366 Red 6,139
• Green Fees (weekdays): £265 for 18 holes - £365 for 36 holes
• Signature Hole: Red, the par-3 10th with its incredible vista. Blue, the par-3 1st is certainly the most memorable
• Website: theberkshire.co.uk

You might expect that one of the two courses was here before the other but this isn't the case here. In 2028 The Berkshire will celebrate the centenary of both courses. 

Before it became the site for two of the UK's very best heathland courses this was once the hunting forest of the royals, dating back to the 17th century and Queen Anne. The names, the Red and the Blue, come from a military analogy and Herbert Fowler, already of Walton Heath fame, would lay out the two courses.

The Berkshire is best known for its links with the amateur game. The Astor Salver for Ladies was first played in 1951 and The Berkshire Trophy began life in 1948. Previous winners of the latter include Michael Bonallack (6), Peter Oosterhuis, Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle, Gary Wolstenholme (3), Ross Fisher and Eddie Pepperell.

Two years after the courses opened the esteemed writer Bernard Darwin was full of praise: "He (Fowler) began by raising for himself a lasting monument in the Old Course at Walton Heath, which is still to my thinking unsurpassed as a real golfing battlefield for real golfers.

“Even so, I think Mr Fowler is a better golfing artist now than when he first exploited his genius on the big stretch of Walton heather. His art has mellowed with experience and has gained something in variety, in subtleness and in picturesqueness. Mr Fowler has made a very fine job if it and has added two courses to the select number of unquestionably first-class inland courses."

Berkshire Golf Club Review

The Red will rank higher than the Blue in any ranking but only by 10 or so places and both would sit comfortably inside the top 40 courses in England, which is some statement given the quality of courses on that list.

The headline of the Red is the layout of the scorecard. Here there are six par 5s, six 4s and six 3s which makes it pretty unique in its routing. This course sits on the higher ground and winds through the more undulating terrain and there are no consecutive par 4s which really does feel different.

It kicks off with a par 5 and you are immediately into 18 holes of magical heathland, springy turf and outstanding putting surfaces. The short holes on the Red are genuinely exceptional, vary in length and certainly in appearance. The 7th is semi-blind and one of the many highlights while the 10th, which is a very grand hole on a higher part of the course, is outstanding.

The par 4s are again different and require plenty of strategy while the par 5s are certainly reachable but also leave room for finding the heather. Overall it's a brilliant 18 holes and always stimulating given the quirky nature of the scorecard.

The Blue opens up with a par 3 where you need to produce a shot of around 200 yards to carry what looks like the never-ending heather before things return to the same pace of brilliant strategic fun in among the lower ground. Here the holes aren't quite as polished, though the bar is set very high with the Red, but it remains an outstanding challenge.

The Blue is slightly longer in yardage but it feels like there are a few more chances to score well here – the three par 5s are all very reachable – and things ramp up nicely over the back nine, with the 16th standing out as one of the star attractions. Indeed, given what takes place on the Red, the last five holes are all tough 4s which makes for a strong finish and also adds plenty of gravitas.  

If you were going to play one course then it would certainly be the Red as, very simply, there are just better holes here and it's more interesting. But if you were only to play the Blue then you'd have a great day and you'll love the back nine in particular.

Final Verdict

In my mind, despite the rankings and amateur tournaments of note, not enough people know quite how good The Berkshire is. Ahead of my first visit here in 2020 I knew the name and obviously the nature of the course but, half a dozen holes into the Red, it felt like I'd overlooked it for decades. If you can fit in both courses in a day then it's almost faultless as a venue; the clubhouse is very friendly and the chance to sit outside on the terrace and enjoy the view of the Blue's 1st tee is a genuine treat.

Sir Michael Bonallack, who won here six times to go with his wife Angela's three victories in the Astor Salver, sums up The Berkshire very well.

"Any golfer who has not visited this marvellous club with its two magnificent courses has missed one of the great pleasures in golf. In particular, the par-3 holes are as good as any to be found, with each having its own character and not like the 250-yard tests that are a feature of contemporary design. It is 50 years since I first played these two great courses, but during that time, I have never known the condition of them to be anything but perfect and the same is as relevant today.

"The putting surfaces being as true as any you will find. The friendly atmosphere of the clubhouse and the excellent food and well-stocked bar complete the experience. All in all, there is no finer place to play golf."

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ️️️️️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

For more information, please visit the club's website here