The Berkshire Red Course
Hidden in the pine and heather of the Surrey and Berkshire heathland belt near Ascot, the Red is the senior of Herbert Fowler's two courses at The Berkshire and one of the most charming inland rounds in England. Opened in 1928, it breaks every convention with a quirky, beloved routing of six par 3s, six par 4s and six par 5s. Here is the verdict, the facts, the holes and how to get on.
Photograph: The Berkshire Golf Club, via Google.
The verdict
The Berkshire Red is heathland golf at its most seductive. Herbert Fowler routed it through a glorious tract of pine, silver birch and heather in 1928, and the holes thread between the trees in near total seclusion, each one a private corridor of fairway, sand and purple heather. It is not long by modern standards, but it does not need to be: the strategy, the elevation changes and the heroic carries over heather make it a thinking golfer's delight.
What sets the Red apart is its singular makeup, six par 3s, six par 4s and six par 5s, an unorthodox balance that gives the round a rhythm found nowhere else. Paired with its sister Blue course and the welcoming clubhouse, it makes The Berkshire one of the great heathland days out, in the same exalted company as nearby Sunningdale, Swinley Forest and Wentworth, and an essential stop on any tour of England's inland gems.
The Berkshire Red Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1928
- Designer
- Herbert Fowler
- Type
- Heathland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 6,452 yds
- Green fee
- Around £265
Designer, opening, par and yardage verified June 2026. The Red Course was laid out by Herbert Fowler and opened in 1928. It plays par 72 over around 6,452 yards from the back tees in its distinctive configuration of six par 3s, six par 4s and six par 5s. The indicative 2025 visitor green fee is around 265 pounds for 18 holes Monday to Friday in the main season, with 36 hole rates available; fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Red rewards the golfer who can shape a tee shot and commit to a carry. The six par 3s are the soul of the course, a varied and demanding set that ranges from delicate short irons to long, exacting tests across heather and sand, and they are routinely cited among the finest collections of short holes on any heathland course. None feels like a breather; every one asks a precise question.
The par 5s give the bold golfer a chance to attack, several reachable or near reachable in two, but Fowler's bunkering and the encroaching heather punish the greedy line. The par 4s in between are the connective tissue, tree lined and strategic, where placement off the tee opens the green and a wayward drive leaves a recovery from the trees or the heather.
Played firm in late summer, the Red is a joy: fast running fairways, true greens and that incomparable heathland setting of pine, birch and purple heather. It is a course to savour rather than conquer, and most visitors leave already planning a return to play it alongside the Blue.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A members club that welcomes visitors Monday to Friday, and after midday at weekends and on bank holidays by prior arrangement; a handicap is required |
| Green fee | An indicative 265 pounds for 18 holes Monday to Friday in the 2025 main season, with 36 hole and twilight options |
| Booking | Book ahead through the golf office; visitor tee times are limited and the heathland season from spring to autumn fills quickly |
| On the day | A walking course with caddies by arrangement, a fine traditional clubhouse and the option to pair the Red with the Blue |
| Getting there | Near Ascot in Berkshire, close to the M3 and M25 and around an hour from central London and Heathrow |
| Best months | Late spring to early autumn for firm turf and heather in full colour, with quieter, better value rounds in the shoulder months |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the club; they change without notice and visitor days are limited, so always confirm directly before booking with The Berkshire or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The Berkshire sits in the heart of the Ascot heathland, an easy drive from a full range of country house hotels and golf bases around Ascot, Sunningdale and Windsor, with central London and Heathrow within reach for fly in golfers.
For a heathland tour, base yourself in the area and pair the Red with Sunningdale, Swinley Forest, Wentworth and Walton Heath, one of the densest concentrations of great inland golf anywhere in the world, all within a short drive.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Ascot and the Surrey heathland belt.
Play the great English heathland
We secure scarce Berkshire visitor times and pair the Red with Sunningdale, Swinley Forest, Wentworth and Walton Heath, with a country house base near Ascot. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Berkshire Red Course questions
Who designed The Berkshire Red Course and when did it open?
The Red Course was designed by Herbert Fowler and opened in 1928, the senior of his two courses at The Berkshire. It runs through classic Surrey and Berkshire heathland of pine, birch and heather near Ascot and is regarded as one of the finest inland courses in England.
What is the par and yardage of the Berkshire Red?
The Red plays as a par 72 of around 6,452 yards from the back tees. It is famous for its unusual makeup of six par 3s, six par 4s and six par 5s, a balance unique among the great heathland courses that gives the round a distinctive rhythm.
How much does it cost to play the Berkshire Red Course?
The indicative 2025 visitor green fee is around 265 pounds for 18 holes Monday to Friday in the main season, with 36 hole and twilight rates available. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm current rates and available days directly before booking.
Can visitors play The Berkshire?
Yes. The Berkshire welcomes visitors Monday to Friday, and after midday at weekends and on bank holidays by prior arrangement. A handicap is required and tee times are limited, so book well ahead through the golf office.
How does the Red compare to the Blue Course at The Berkshire?
Both are Herbert Fowler heathland designs and most visitors play them together. The Red is the senior course, known for its quirky six and six and six par configuration and its outstanding par 3s; the Blue is a touch longer and more conventional. The two make one of the best heathland days in England.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening date, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.