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The Berkshire, along with Walton Heath and Sunningdale is one of very few clubs in the British Isles that can boast two heathland courses in the Top 100. It's been around since since the 1920's and like a fine Port, has mellowed into a wonderful vintage. The Club is set in 470 acres of heathland 9 miles from Windsor Castle and 29 miles from the centre of London. The two 18 holes courses, the Red and the Blue, were designed in 1928 by Herbert Fowler and both courses are especially famed for their glorious lined silky fairways and swathes of rich heather.
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Where armies once trod
The courses were names after the red and blue armies who used the area for manoeuvres before the 1914-1918 war, and have remained relatively unchanged over the years, a testament to Herbert Fowler's design skills, and are renowned for an excellent playing surface all year round. It's also well known for its "Fowler" bunkers which have a natural feel about them with heather growing around the fringes.
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Choose your palette
The two courses are similar in length, the Red slightly longer, measuring 6379 yards to the Blue Course 6260 yards. The Red Course is perhaps the better known due to its unique mix of six Par 3s, six Par 4s and six Par 5s. The short holes are particularly difficult,especially the 16th which is across a big valley to a pulpit green 221 yds away.
The Blue course is more conventional and not quite as undulating as the Red but has a very strong finish of four tough par fours. It also opens up with an exceptionally testing par 3, with the tee directly in front of the clubhouse window, and the green a fragile target resting on a distant plateau.
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Rough & smooth
The Berkshire is especially famed for its glorious tree-lined fairways. There is a splendid mix of mature pines, chestnuts and silver birch and both courses are kept in superb condition. Much of the rough consists of heather ensuring that the wayward hitter has to chip out sideways.
As for its 19th hole, the Club possesses one of the country's finest clubhouses, with a well-earned reputation for its classic roast lunches. Defintely worth a trip in our view next time you're in the London region. |
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Course details: Red - 6379 yards, Blue - 6260 yards. S.S.S. 71
Architect: Herbert Fowler
Address: Swinley Road, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 8AY, England
Nearby courses: Sunningdale, St George's Hill, Wentworth, Walton Heath, West Hill, Worplesdon
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