The Berkshire Red Course

The verdict

The Berkshire is heathland golf at its most beautiful and most companionable. Set on Crown Estate land in the pine and birch country near Ascot, it offers two superb Herbert Fowler courses, the Red and the Blue, and the Red is the one that gives the property its distinctive character. Fowler broke from convention with a routing of six par 3s, six par 4s and six par 5s, a balance found almost nowhere else, and the result is a round of constant variety where no two consecutive holes ask the same question.

The setting is pure Surrey and Berkshire heath: fairways framed by tall pines, heather lining the margins, and firm, free draining turf that runs fast in summer. It is a private members club, but one that welcomes visitors on set days, and a round here is among the most enjoyable inland golf in the south of England. For the traveling golfer building a heathland itinerary around the famous London sandbelt, the Berkshire Red is a must.

The holes worth the trip

What sets the Red apart is its rhythm. Fowler's choice of six holes at each par means the round never settles into a predictable cadence, and a player is forever recalibrating, from a reachable par 5 to a long iron par 3 to a short, strategic two shotter. The par 5s give the bigger hitter a chance to attack, while the collection of par 3s, varied in length and direction, demands clean ball striking and a sure read of the wind through the trees.

The heather and the pines do much of the defending. Fairways are inviting from the tee but the rough is penal, and an errant drive into the heather often costs a full shot to escape. The greens are subtle rather than severe, set naturally into the rolling heath, and they reward an approach flighted to land softly and hold the firm surfaces of a dry summer.

The closing stretch winds back through the tall trees toward the clubhouse, the light filtering through the pines and the heather glowing in late summer. The Berkshire Red rewards the golfer who drives straight, manages distance carefully and enjoys the constant change of pace, and it gives back one of the warmest, most distinctive heathland experiences in England.

Where to stay nearby

Most visiting golfers base themselves around Ascot, Windsor or Sunningdale, all within easy reach of the Berkshire and rich in fine hotels, country inns and dining. The area sits close to Heathrow and central London, making it an easy add to a wider trip or a comfortable base in its own right.

The Berkshire pairs naturally with the great heathland courses of the region for a classic inland itinerary, and from this base a traveler can string together several of the finest courses in the south of England within short drives. It is an ideal anchor for a buddies trip built around heather, pine and traditional members golf.

Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near The Berkshire.