Bearwood Lakes
Bearwood Lakes is one of the most private and most admired modern courses in England, a Martin Hawtree parkland from 1996 set in deep Berkshire woodland west of London. A par 72 of roughly 6,850 yards, it threads between tall pines and around a chain of lakes, immaculate and secluded, a members club that rarely opens its gates to the outside world.
Photo: Bearwood Lakes via Google, by Bearwood Lakes.
The verdict
Bearwood Lakes is the kind of course you hear about long before you ever stand on its first tee. Opened in 1996 to a Martin Hawtree design, it arrived as one of the best new parkland courses in the United Kingdom and has spent the years since cultivating an aura of exclusivity that few clubs in the country can match. It is private in the truest sense, a sanctuary of pine, birch and water tucked away near Wokingham, and getting on is the hard part.
What you find inside is a beautifully natural layout that feels as if it has been there far longer than it has. A par 72 of around 6,850 yards, it moves through mature woodland and around a string of lakes that press in on tee shots and approaches alike. The conditioning is famously immaculate, the routing quiet and considered, and the whole place carries a calm that belies how close it sits to the bustle of the Thames Valley and the M4.
Bearwood Lakes at a glance
- Opened
- 1996
- Design
- Martin Hawtree
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- ~6,850 yds
- Access
- Private
Designer, opening year and par verified June 2026 from Bearwood Lakes Golf Club and leading course databases. Opened 1996 to a Martin Hawtree design, it is a par 72 of roughly 6,850 yards. Bearwood Lakes is a private members club with very limited outside access; there is no general visitor green fee, so always confirm any play directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Water is the recurring theme. Several of the best holes are framed by the lakes that give the club its name, and they demand committed, well shaped shots rather than safe ones. The closing stretch in particular asks real questions, with approaches that must carry to greens guarded by the edge of the water, and a misjudged club can turn a good round into a costly one in a single swing.
Away from the lakes, the course winds through stands of tall pine and silver birch, the corridors generous enough to be fair but tight enough to punish a wayward driver. The bunkering is natural and well placed, the greens subtle and beautifully kept, and the sense of seclusion total, with rarely another fairway in view as you play.
It is a course that rewards thought and shotmaking over brute power, and it does so in surroundings of real beauty. That combination of strategic interest, gorgeous conditioning and complete privacy is exactly why Bearwood Lakes sits so high in the affections of those lucky enough to play it.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A private members club; play for non members is very limited and generally only as the guest of a member, so a visit must be arranged well in advance |
| Green fee | No general visitor green fee is published; any guest play is arranged privately, so confirm the current terms directly before planning a round |
| Booking | Arrange through a member or directly with the club; spontaneous visitor tee times are not part of how Bearwood Lakes operates |
| On the day | Smart golf dress on course and in the clubhouse; the course walks comfortably over gently moving parkland with buggies available |
| Getting there | At Sindlesham near Wokingham in Berkshire, a short drive from the M4 and easy reach of Reading, Heathrow and west London |
| Best months | At its finest from late spring through early autumn, when the parkland turf and greens are at their best |
Access details verified June 2026; this is a highly private club and policy can change, so always confirm directly with the club or your trip planner before planning a visit.
Where to stay nearby
Bearwood Lakes sits in the heart of Berkshire's golfing country, so a base around Wokingham, Reading or Ascot puts you within easy reach of some of the finest heathland in the world as well as good hotels and restaurants for the evenings.
It pairs naturally with the great Surrey and Berkshire heaths, so a trip built around a rare round here can take in the classic sandbelt courses west of London for a memorable few days of inland golf.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Bearwood Lakes.
Build a Berkshire golf trip
We arrange tee times across the great heathland of Berkshire and Surrey and build the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Bearwood Lakes questions
Who designed Bearwood Lakes and when did it open?
Bearwood Lakes was designed by Martin Hawtree and opened in 1996. It was quickly recognized as one of the finest new parkland courses in the United Kingdom and remains a private members club near Wokingham in Berkshire.
What is the par and length of Bearwood Lakes?
Bearwood Lakes plays as a par 72 of roughly 6,850 yards, routed through mature woodland and around a series of lakes that come into play on several holes.
Can visitors play Bearwood Lakes Golf Club?
Bearwood Lakes is a private members club and access for non members is very limited, generally only as the guest of a member. There is no general visitor green fee, so any play must be arranged in advance through a member or the club.
What makes Bearwood Lakes special?
Bearwood Lakes is prized for its seclusion, its immaculate conditioning and the quiet drama of holes that thread between tall pines and over water, all just west of London yet feeling completely removed from it.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year and par verified June 2026; access details verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.