England from the air - 2

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Berkshire, this time.  A couple are not in high-res, but the important ones are.  

Berkshire

Bearwood (1986 – a 9-hole inexpensive course)
RG41 5DB

Bearwood Lakes (1996 – Martin Hawtree design, handsome in a contemporary way.)
http://www.bearwoodlakes.co.uk/
RG41 4SJ

The Berkshire (1928 – Two wonderful Fowler heathland courses, the Red on the north side, the Blue on the south.  GCA favourites.)
SL5 8AY

Billingbear Park (1989 – A par-3 and a par-68 9-hole course, claiming that an earlier course here was the oldest in southern England)
http://www.billingbeargolf.co.uk/
RG40 5SJ

Bird Hills (1985 – a full-length [over 6,000 yards] public course, with a reasonable green fee)
http://www.birdhills.co.uk/
SL6 3ST

Blue Mountain Golf Centre (1993 – another relatively inexpensive public-access course)
www.crown-golf.co.uk
RG42 4EX

Calcot Park (1930 – pretty Colt course, said by many to be the best course in the Reading area)
http://www.calcotpark.com/
RG31 7RN

Castle Royle (1994 -  the aerial shows extensive bunkering – I know no more than that)
http://www.theclubcompany.com/
RG10 9XA

Caversham Heath (2000 – 7,000+ yards, designed by David Williams [who is a member of Conwy – nice chap].  Google is not hi-res, but website gives a course plan)
http://www.cavershamgolf.co.uk/
RG4 7UT

Datchet (1890 – you quite often pass over this flying in or out of Heathrow.  It’s a JH Taylor course, 9 holes, just across the river from Windsor Castle.)
http://www.datchetgolfclub.co.uk/
SL3 9BP

Deanwood Park (1995 – 9-hole pay-and-play)
RG20 8JS

Donnington Valley (1985 – a hotel, wine import business and 6,300-yard golf course)
http://www.donningtonvalley.co.uk/
RG14 3BG

Downshire (1973 – a good-value public facility with a 6,400 yard course)
http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/leisure/leis-leisure-sports-centres/leis-downshire-golf-complex.htm
RG40 3DH

East Berkshire (1903 – a lovely course, designed by one P Paxton.  I remember its having rather more heather than is apparent from the aerial.  Locals reckon it gives The Berkshire a good run for its money)
http://www.club-noticeboard.co.uk/eastberkshire/
RG45 6BD

Goring and Streatley (1895 – A personal favourite, despite a steep hill to be climbed early on.  The holes on top of the downs give fabulous views.  Good web site – lots of photos. Tom Dunne)
http://www.goringgc.org/
RG8 9QA

Hennerton (1992 – originally a 9-hole course designed by Colonel Dion Beard, expanded to 18 holes in 2006 by Gaunt and Marnoch.  Google Earth shows only the original 9-holes.)
http://www.hennertongolfclub.co.uk/
RG10 8LT

Hurst (1979 – 9 hole public course)
RG10 0SQ (scroll down to south west towards lake)

Maidenhead (1896 – designed by Alex Simpson and modified in 1908 by JH Taylor.  Plentiful bunkers and small greens)
http://www.maidenheadgolf.co.uk/
SL6 2PZ

Mapledurham (1992 – another Club Company venture.  The website states that it is in Oxfordshire, although it is listed under Berkshire.  That is irrelevant as berks, Bucks and Oxford are one county according to the EGU.)
http://www.theclubcompany.com/
RG4 7UD (still low res)

Mill Ride (1990 – Donald Steel design near Ascot)
http://www.mill-ride.com/
SL5 8LT

Newbury and Crookham (1873 – charming old course, very handsome, now thankfully quiet since the closing of Greenham Common cruise missile base.  Web site features a course manager’s report)
http://www.newburygolf.co.uk/
RG19 8BZ

Newbury Racecourse (1994 – 6,500-yard course laid out inside and beyond the famous racecourse.)
http://www.newburygolfcentre.co.uk/
RG14 7NZ

Parasampia (1991 – originally known as Donnington Grove, but made to change its name, this is a big, long Dave Thomas course)
http://www.donnington-grove.com/
RG14 2LA

Reading (1910 – 12 holes by Braid in 1910 and six further holes in 1911.  Nice course, rolling ground)
http://www.readinggolfclub.com/
RG4 8SG

Royal Ascot (1887 – A new course has been constructed across the road from the race course.  The original course [still visible on Google Earth] lay inside the racecourse)
http://www.royalascotgolfclub.co.uk/
SL5 7LJ

Royal Household (1901 – a private course within the grounds of Windsor Castle, apparently designed by Samuel Mure Ferguson)
For Google Earth simply type Windsor Castle

Sand Martins (1993 – A proprietary club with a 6200-yard course.  The Google Earth aerial is interesting as it shows a course under construction at this postcode, and an existing course over the road – I don’t know which is which!)
http://www.sandmartins.com/
RG40 3RQ

Sonning (1911 – another JH Taylor parkland course, quite tight.  The 6th is quite a renowned par 3 through a gap in the trees.  Beautifully manicured)
http://www.sonning-golf-club.co.uk/
RG4 6GJ

Swinley Forest (1909 – a Colt gem and GCA favourite.  Look how much of the site Colt did not use!)
SL5 9LE

Temple (1909 – Willie Park Junior course that’s been updated by Donald Steel.  I have not seen it since the alterations.  It is a lovely spot, with great views.)
http://www.templegolfclub.co.uk/
SL6 5LH

Theale (An unknown quantity in the countryside)
RG7 5EX

West Berkshire (1975 – a big, long course.  To find it on Google Earth scroll down to the south west)
http://www.thewbgc.co.uk/
RG20 7DU

Winter Hill (1976 – a Charles Lawrie/Donald Steel course.  Hilly site gives fine views of the Thames)
SL6 9RP

Wokefield Park (1998 – almost 7,000 yards of Jonathan Gaunt design.  Bunkering looks adventurous from the air!)
http://www.verve-venues.com/leisure/venues/index.php?venue=23
RG7 3AE

[Paul_Turner]

Thanks Mark, that's useful stuff.  Good to see much higher resolution than multimap.co.uk

Just for interest, Sonning is mostly a Colt course eventhough the club's website credits JH Taylor.  The club lost some land in the 1930s and at least one hole was sacrificed on the opposite side of the road from the clubhouse.   After which, the current 6th was added and the 13th and 14th were redesigned...where the course gets a bit cramped in the aerial.  Perhaps Taylor/Hawtree were involved at this point?  Quite a lot of interesting cross bunkering has been removed and, I think, a significant amount of its character since the land is mild.

I haven't seen or played it, have you?(I have played Calcot Park which is nice)  

[Mark_Guiniven]

Royal Worlington & Newmarket (hi-res)
http://www.royalworlington.co.uk
IP28 8SD

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Hux, Thanks for the Worlington web site, but Worlington is many a mile away from Berkshire....

[Tony_Muldoon]

Mark 'the brother’ (no one has identified where this nomenclature comes from yet) would surely reply to this himself if he didn’t have an imminent problem/opportunity/cash drain/trouble/ all round wonderful event about to happen.
He’s a member of the long tough West Berkshire and has played a no of these.

I can recommend The Downshire as wonderful value for money and a great place to play – if not exactly world class. Temple is below most people’s radar but Richard Pennell (who has never been wrong – so far) rates it very highly and it may be a “true hidden gem”.  Bearwood Lakes. Mnnn. Well to prove John K right; I’ve been comped exactly twice in my life and I find it hard to say anything bad a bout a place where  they let me play for free. It’s very private so if at first you don’t succeed at getting on.....

Swinley speaks for itself but IMNVHOAA on here (and in the Confidential Guide) the Berkshire is the most underrated 36 holes I’ve seen.  The Red is in my top 5 Heathland courses and a days golf here is as near as dammit, to as good as it gets.  

I was previously unaware of East Berkshire so thank you for taking the time.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Tony, as ever, knowledge from those who live in the area and play these places is welcome indeed.  Your contributions are highly valued.  Mark.