The Berkshire (Red)

The Berkshire (Red)

The Berkshire (Red) Golf Club

The Berkshire (Red) | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Courses

The Berkshire is a stunning golfing venue, that is home to 36 holes of glorious heathland golf. The Red is one of those two amazing lay-outs at the club.
 
Herbert Fowler was the man behind both courses, which were designed in 1928. Fowler's repertoire also includes both courses at Walton Heath, along with Saunton and Cruden Bay.

The Berkshire is also the home to The Blue Course. The two courses are named Red and Blue after the red and blue armies who used this land for manoeuvres prior to the First World War.


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A Brief History of The Berkshire (Red) Golf Club

Both courses at The Berkshire were laid out by Herbert Fowler at the same time, across a 372 acreage plot of Crown Estate heathland. 1928 was the founding of the golf club.

Fowler's idea of keeping the natural surroundings are shown with the two lay-outs he created at The Berkshire. The Red Course features plenty of trees, heather and gorse, all of which is gorgeous to look at, and gets in the way of your ball every now and then!
  
The English Amateur Championship, British Seniors Open Championship, English Ladies’ Close Amateur Championship, English Senior Ladies’ Matchplay Championship, Women’s Home Internationals and the Vagliano Trophy have all been played at the venue.
 
The Club also hosts two amateur events annually, the Astor Salver for ladies and the Berkshire Trophy. Past winners of the latter include Sir Nick Faldo, Sir Michael Bonallack, Peter Oosterhuis, Sandy Lyle, Eddie Pepperell and Ross Fisher. The Berkshire also played host to the finals of the Rose Ladies Series in 2020.

The Berkshire (Red) Golf Club Review | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Courses

The Red Course was unique for some time as the only golf course in Britain to be configured with six par-3s, six par-4s and six-par 5s, Only in 2007, when The Shire opened with the same configuration, did The Red at The Berkshire lose that tag.

The Red starts with a 510 yard par-5, and a test of driving ability right from the off. The shortest hole on the course follows, with the 2nd only measuring 145 yards. However, it plays slightly uphill so a club more is needed. The 4th is the opening par-4 on the course, and it is also the hardest hole on The Red.

Two more par-3s follow in the next three holes, while the 6th is a short par-4 that presents a very good birdie opportunity with a good drive over the corner of the treeline. The front nine ends with another par-5, and the first that is less than 500 yards.

The 10th on The Red is a smaller version of 'Calamity Corner' at Royal Portrush, with a drop-off into no man's land for anything short or right of the green. 11 and 12 are short par-4s, with the 13th being a par-5 of less than 500 yards. The trio of scoring opportunities are followed by the 433 yard par-4 14th, where that good work could well be undone.

The Red Course has a very unique ending, though, as it finishes par-5, par-3, par-5, par-3. There are scoring opportunities, both good and bad, in the final four holes on The Red. 15 is a short par-5, while 17 is the longest hole on the course at almost 560 yards long. 16 is the longest par-3 on the course, at more than 215 yards long, while the Red finishes with another par-3. The 18th is only 168 yards from the back tees, but plays significantly uphill and can trick golfers.

What are the green fees at The Berkshire?

From November 1st 2022 until April 16th 2023, the cost to play 18 holes of either course at the Berkshire was £145 on weekdays and £200 on the weekend. From the 17th April - 31st October 2023, the cost to play 18 holes on either course is £220 on weekdays and £300 at the weekend.

Where is The Berkshire located?

The Berkshire Golf Club is situated in the village of Ascot, which is in the eastern part of Berkshire, not far from London. The nearest train station to The Berkshire Golf Club is Ascot railway station. 

It's well-connected to the larger railway network in the region, including regular services to London Waterloo and other destinations. Upon arriving at Ascot station, you can arrange for transportation to the golf club, which is just a short distance away.


Visit The Berkshire's website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.