The Berkshire Golf Club
Ascot, Berkshire. Two Herbert Fowler heathland courses, the Red and the Blue, on former royal hunting ground with a proud amateur tradition.
The Berkshire Golf Club is home to two of England’s best-known heathland courses, the Red and the Blue, laid out by Herbert Fowler and opened in 1928 on land once used for royal hunting near Ascot. Around 35 miles west of central London, it is a private club with a strong amateur tradition, having hosted the English Amateur Championship, the British Seniors Open and the Women’s Home Internationals. Its annual Berkshire Trophy, first played in 1946, counts Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle and Michael Bonallack among its past winners.
The Red is a par 72 of about 6,450 yards, a heathland test of heather-lined fairways, elevated tees, fairway-crossing ditches and fast, subtly sloping greens. It has six par threes, six par fours and six par fives, and the 10th is an intimidating par three over a heather bank. The Blue is a shorter course of about 6,350 yards, wooded and undulating among heather, rhododendrons and Scots pines, and it opens with a demanding par three of over 200 yards.
The Berkshire welcomes visitors by prior arrangement, and both courses can be played. Golf Tours London can build rounds here into a bespoke itinerary and organise transport from your hotel. The club also has a driving range and a halfway hut for refreshment.
It sits close to Sunningdale and Swinley Forest, and within easy reach of hotels such as the Royal Berkshire, Macdonald Berystede and Coworth Park.
