The Blue at The Berkshire is allegedly the club's lesser course, but it still presents a great three hours of golf.
Perhaps it does possess a few of the weakest holes on the property (3 and 8 come to mind) but just the same I'd venture to say 6, 9, 11, 12, 13 and 16 are the equal of anything on The Red.
It certainly feels like a tougher test, though both tracks are rated at 70 (against a par of 72 on the Red and 71 on the Blue).
Most people I have spoken to who know the courses well actually prefer the Blue. Tom Doak, in the Confidential Guide, gave both courses a 6. Pretty high praise when you consider their surroundings.
1st - Par 3 - 217yds
And for your first shot after a long lunch you get to hit a fairway wood over a sea of heather to a green tucked in the corner of the property. Enjoy!
2nd - Par 4 - 340yds
Downhill, the green is driveable from the slightly forward members' tees, but the front-to-back slope needs consideration should you leave yourself with a tricky half wedge.
3rd - Par 5 - 475yds
One of the lesser holes, in my view, and not just because I chose this hole to hit the longest cold top in the history of golf (love those F&F conditions!!). Doglegs gently right to a largely unthreatening green.
4th - Par 3 - 153yds
Felt to me like a typical heathland par three, though I struggle to immediately recall many exactly like it. A good use of some flat land, however, with vicious front bunkers guarding a relatively sedate green.
5th - Par 4 - 330yds
Another that can very much be reached from the members' tees, but angle and consideration of the second shot are key, with the green so strongly angled to the right and the front guarded to the left by sand.
6th - Par 5 - 476yds
Doglegs to the left around a snaking creek that makes a nuisance of itself on the second shot.
7th - Par 4 - 364yds
Guarded on the inside of the dogleg - turning left - with a mound of rough, the challenge is to drive to within shsort iron territory so the imposing front bunkers can be less of a factor in the approach.
8th - Par 4 - 404yds
Long. Flat. Narrow. Say no more. Actually, I'll say a little more: The green is subtle in how much it heaves, but what gets you there is quite uninspiring.
9th - Par 4 - 310yds
All the short par fours might be geeting to feel a bit much by now were they not all quality golf holes. This one slips up the hill to a green that is likely to be sat above your eye line when you play your approach, with a narrow neck to accept the flushed tee shot, but you have to earn it.
10th - Par 3 - 199yds
Long enough that the downhill nature of the shot doesn't remove the option to run it once it pitches, and a smart little tilt of the green to have you wondering on the tee just how close to the pin you dare aiming.
11th - Par 5 - 477yds
A contender for best long hole on the property. The drive bends right, before a hook second to get close to or on the severly sloping green, with a "Z" shaped creek to carry.
12th- Par 4 - 355yds
The green is amazing and I am shattered I didn't get a pic. The back tierd is a good 4ft lower than the front, making a well-weighted approach essential.
13th - Par 3 - 154yds
Reminded me of a few of the one-shotters at Royal Wimbledon. A great hole to climb a gentle ridge, with an interestingly-shaped green.
14th - Par 4 - 363yds
The blind drive to a narrow fairways carries most of the drama, making way for a straight-forward second.
15th - Par 4 - 406yds
A great second shot to this long plateau green after a tempting downhill, dogleg left tee shot
16th - Par 4 - Never played it, but this green reminded me of 18 at Winged Foot West. The approach up the slope to a grand-looking green is one of the most memorable shots on the course.
17th - Par 4 - 378yds
A slightly innocuous hole, but not without challenge.
18th - Par 4 - 203yds
A far superior cloing hole to that on the Red, downhill drive, then an uphill approach to a green with bunkers two sides.
That's it. Short and sweet. I know the more encyclopaedic tours show every shot and demonstrate the course's merits a bit better, but I think this way you get the taste without ruining the surprise.