The Berkshire Blue
The quieter of the two great heathland courses at The Berkshire, the Blue is a Herbert Fowler design from 1928, a par 71 of 6,366 yards cut through Crown Estate heather, Scots pine and rhododendron at Ascot. Tighter from the tee than its celebrated sister the Red, it opens with one of the most demanding par 3s in England.
Photo: The Berkshire Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
The Berkshire is one of the finest 36 hole heathland clubs in the world, and the Blue is its underrated half. Laid out by Herbert Fowler in 1928 on 372 acres of Crown Estate heathland near Ascot, it shares the same glorious raw material as the more famous Red Course: springy turf, towering Scots pine, swathes of heather and great banks of rhododendron that turn the place purple and crimson in early summer.
Where the Red is celebrated for its unusual symmetry of six par 3s, six par 4s and six par 5s, the Blue is the tighter, more exacting test from the tee, a par 71 of 6,366 yards that asks for precise driving and a confident long iron. It begins with a statement, a par 3 of well over 200 yards played across a valley of heather, and rarely lets the pressure off. For a discerning golfer planning a Surrey and Berkshire heathland tour, the Blue is the round that proves the club is far more than one famous course.
The Berkshire Blue at a glance
- Opened
- 1928
- Designer
- Herbert Fowler
- Type
- Heathland
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- 6,366 yds
- Green fee
- Premium, indicative
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from The Berkshire Golf Club and leading course databases. The Blue Course plays to par 71 of 6,366 yards across Crown Estate heathland. The Berkshire is a private members club that welcomes visitors by prior arrangement; green fees sit at premium Surrey and Berkshire heathland levels. Fees are indicative for 2026 and change by season; always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Blue throws down a challenge from the very first swing. The opening hole is a par 3 of well over 200 yards from the back, played across a valley of heather to a green set into the rising ground, a brutal start that asks for a flushed long iron or fairway wood before you have found your rhythm. It sets the tone for a course that prizes ball striking above all.
From there the routing winds through stands of Scots pine and birch, the fairways framed by heather that punishes the wayward and rhododendron that blazes with color in June. The Blue is consistently described as the tighter of the two courses off the tee, so position and shape matter more than raw distance, and the heathland turf runs fast enough that a controlled approach is rewarded and a hot one is not.
The closing stretch keeps the test alive, led by a long par 4 at the 16th that runs from right to left, down across a ditch and up to a raised green, the kind of hole where a par feels like a birdie. There is no obvious weak link, and the Blue sends most visitors back to the clubhouse convinced they have played one of the best heathland courses in the country.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club that welcomes visitors by prior arrangement, generally Monday to Friday and after midday at weekends and bank holidays; book through the golf office |
| Green fee | Premium Surrey and Berkshire heathland rate; indicative for 2026 and not cheap, with seasonal variation, confirm directly |
| Booking | Arrange tee times in advance through the club office or have your trip planner secure them; weekday slots are easier than weekends |
| On the day | Walking heathland course; recognised golf clothing required, no denim and no golf shoes in the clubhouse; caddies and buggies by arrangement |
| Getting there | Ascot, Berkshire, about an hour southwest of central London and close to Heathrow, in the heart of the Surrey and Berkshire heathland belt |
| Best months | May to September for firm, fast heathland turf and the rhododendron in flower; the course drains well and plays year round |
Access and fee guidance verified June 2026; visitor rates and tee time policy change by season, so always confirm directly with the club before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The Berkshire sits in prosperous commuter country with no shortage of comfortable bases. Ascot, Windsor and Sunningdale all offer fine hotels and country inns within a short drive, several of them used to looking after travelling golfers, and Windsor adds a memorable evening or two away from the course.
Because the heathland belt is so compact, this is ideal country for a multi course stay. Build a few nights around The Berkshire and you can pair the Blue and the Red with Swinley Forest, Sunningdale and Wentworth, a cluster of world class courses within twenty minutes of one another.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near The Berkshire Blue.
Build a heathland golf trip to The Berkshire
We arrange the tee times on the Blue and the Red, pair them with Swinley Forest, Sunningdale and Wentworth, and book the stay around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Berkshire Blue questions
Who designed the Berkshire Blue Course and when did it open?
The Blue Course at The Berkshire was designed by Herbert Fowler and opened in 1928. It is a par 71 of 6,366 yards laid out across Crown Estate heathland near Ascot.
How is the Blue Course different from the Red?
The Red is famous for its unusual make up of six par 3s, six par 4s and six par 5s, while the Blue is a more conventional par 71 and is widely considered the tighter, more demanding driving course of the two. Both share the same superb heathland setting.
What is the signature hole on the Blue Course?
The opening 1st is the standout, a par 3 of well over 200 yards played across a valley of heather to a raised green, one of the toughest starts in English golf. The long 16th, running right to left down over a ditch, is its closing counterpart.
Can visitors play The Berkshire?
Yes. The Berkshire is a private members club that welcomes visitors by prior arrangement, generally Monday to Friday and after midday at weekends and bank holidays. Green fees are premium and indicative for 2026, so always confirm directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.