The Berkshire

Overview

Founded in 1928, The Berkshire Golf Club is home to two Herbert Fowler designed courses, both of which are widely regarded as amongst the best in the British Isles. The Berkshire is a traditional Members’ Club but warmly welcomes Connoisseur Golf clients all year round to enjoy the beauty of its pine and heather lined courses, and to face the subtle challenges of Fowler’s superb design. The two courses, Red and Blue, were both laid out on 372 acres of stunning Crown Estate heathland in 1928 by Herbert Fowler, who also designed Walton Heath, and Cruden Bay. Among the great course architects of the era, he had a special talent for designing courses of great natural beauty which blend into their landscape and surroundings. The Berkshire courses are considered by some to be the finest examples of his follow-the–land style. A tribute to his skill is that very few, and only minor alterations have been made to his original design. He had the perfect natural materials, with heather, trees, slopes and streams, and his talent has meant that nature and man have combined to fashion two courses which are both highly picturesque and offer an exacting, but fair challenge to golfers of all levels. The Club has always had a special affinity with Amateur Golf, and it has hosted many major Amateur events over the years including The English Amateur Championship and The British Seniors Open Championship. The Club also hosts two important Amateur events annually, The Astor Salver for Ladies, which was first played in 1951, and The Berkshire Trophy for Gentlemen which started in 1946. Past winners of The Berkshire Trophy include Michael Bonallack, Peter Oosterhuis, Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle, Eddie Pepperell and Ross Fisher.