HEATHLAND HEAVEN
A regular visitor and unashamed fan for almost four decades, Rob Smith returned to The Berkshire to see how this excellent club is retaining its past while safeguarding its future
My relationship with The Berkshire goes back almost 40 years to the time when I helped to run a work-based society. So boundlessly keen were we during the ‘80s golf boom that we arranged a day out almost every month. More often than not we would play 36 holes, and we loved ticking new courses off the list. Despite this, we would return to The Berkshire every year. The reasons were simple and are just as valid today. It is home to two sublime courses that are packed with variety, and which are endless fun no matter how you play.
Stepping back
The Berkshire is situated in an area that is blessed with exceptional heathland golf. Close neighbours include Sunningdale, Wentworth and Swinley
Forest. Both of its gently undulating courses were designed in 1928 by Herbert Fowler, and they run over a surprisingly expansive plot of land that was formerly a royal hunting forest. Many of the trees had been cleared a few years previously to help with ship building in the Great War, so the topography was very much heathland in nature.
Over almost a century, the club has nurtured an enduring relationship with the amateur game, hosting many important tournaments including the English Amateur. It is also home to the
Astor Salver for ladies, and The Berkshire Trophy has produced champions like Nick Faldo and Eddie Pepperell. More recently on the professional side, it was co-host last summer to the Grand Final of the Rose Ladies Series.
The Blue and the Red
Oddly, neither course starts with a par 4 and neither is long in today’s big-hitting world, with each hovering around 6,400 yards from the white tees. While there is plenty of space to lengthen, why would you when there is challenge enough from the tidal heather, frequent doglegs and superb bunkering? As for which of the two is better, this is a debate that’s all about personal preference.
In the Golf Monthly Top 100, the Red course edges the way at 43 and it is certainly the more unusual of the two. Despite its vintage, it is home to that rare configuration of six of each par. Indeed, only at 11 and 12 do you play the same par consecutively, and this constant variety is more than matched by the design characteristics of the individual holes. Each of the par 5s is
reachable by budding Dechambeaus and the two-shotters are short to medium, so its greatest defence perhaps comes at the par 3s. This is especially the case at the glorious 10th, which is played over a valley carpeted in heather, and at the imperious 16th.
The Blue course is 57 in the Top 100 and has a more conventional layout with three par 5s, two of them relatively early in the round, and four short holes. The real test comes with the excellent quintet of par 4s that concludes the round. Each asks different questions,
with the 16th being an examination paper on its own as it works its way right to left and then down and up over a magnetic ditch to a raised green.
Light and air
Even before visiting in October, I could still mentally picture every hole. The thing that struck me most, before hitting a ball, was the amount of light! Tree clearance has been an ongoing project and remains so, with the obvious win-win result of more light and air getting to the playing surfaces at the same time as opening up long-lost views and tantalising glimpses of other parts of the courses.
Standing on the 1st tee of the Blue, you can now see some way down the 2nd. And what is that way over on the right, beyond the practice green and bunker complex? Well it’s the 18th green, until not long ago completely screened by pine! What some people might in places term radical clearance work has achieved terrific results. Not that long ago, compounded by drought conditions, many of the fairways were struggling for growth. Now, aided by further work from STRI that has complemented the tree removal, the soil composition has changed dramatically, leading to a far healthier state of affairs.
The management of woodland and heather really started about ten years ago, but in a softly-softly way in order to let members experience the benefit to the playing surfaces. The club also grew back swathes of heather that had been lost to grass and rhododendron ingression. In 2018, as they accelerated the woodland programme, the club approached tree specialist John Nicholson to advise in more depth. Over the same period, the heather regeneration has been extremely successful on both courses.
With regard to the greens, there has been an ongoing programme of scarifying, hollow coring, deep tining and heavy sand top-dressing. This has reduced organic matter levels and improved firmness, drainage and the overall health of the greens.
Ian Morrison, courses manager, believes the courses were “choking”. “We started to let them breathe! I feel we are in a great position to move forward and adapt further to the modern game and high expectations of our members and guests, while also respecting history and heritage. It is fantastic to see a real heathland look and feel returning to The Berkshire.”
Design for the future
The club has recently appointed Martin Ebert as its course architect and his first task will be to review historical information at the club, search for aerial photography and visit the Kew Garden
... and how it looks now
archives. The aim is to fully understand the original design philosophy and how the courses have evolved. This will be combined with the detailed course assessments already prepared in order to formulate a set of draft proposals.
Along with partner Tom Mackenzie, Ebert has an exemplary track record with regard to design and upgrade, with his work on the Ailsa course at Trump Turnberry the major reason for its pole position in the Top 100. According to Ebert, “The topography for both courses is spectacular and the mixture of heather and pine, along with the beautiful bunkering, makes both courses tremendously attractive. The fact they were designed by Herbert Fowler makes the commission even more inspiring.”
Behind the scenes
Michael Newland took over as club secretary in 2018 and is using the latest technologies and statistics to drive visitor revenue and make the best use of its assets. Recent changes off the course have included an excellent new website, a greater use of social media and a fully integrated tee booking system for members and visitors. There are new silver/short and black/long tees to cater for all ages and abilities, while the attention to detail on conditioning and appearance means that both courses look, and play, better than ever.
Stepping forward
According to committee member Jonathan Douglas, “2020 has been a year of taking nothing for granted and embracing change. Here at The Berkshire, we have done just that. We are currently finalising a strategic plan for the club to see us through to our
“We’re in a great position to move forward and adapt to the modern game while respecting history and heritage”
centenary in 2028. Should we maintain our momentum, I have no doubt that we will realise everything we have set out to achieve... and more.”
As someone who is more than spoiled in terms of playing the very best courses, I never tire of any of the wonderful array of golf on offer at The Berkshire. The recent tree clearances, the opening up of vistas and the smartening up of peripheral areas are paying huge dividends. I have never seen the whole set-up looking better, and both the recent and the pending changes look set to keep it right up high, along with the very best in the UK&I!
Lewes
Downland golf is a delight in the winter, and the views from Lewes in the free-draining chalky East Sussex hills are fabulous throughout the year. The narrow entrance road up from the town is in stark contrast to the generous fairways that await, and although the course is naturally undulating, it is never too hilly or demanding. This course is full of interest regardless of its glorious, lofty setting.
GF: round: £32.50wd, £37.50we