Berkshire (Red & Blue) and Blairgowrie

[John_Conley]

What can anyone tell me about either of these?  I believe Berkshire is in England and am pretty certain Blairgowrie is in Scotland.  I seem to remember a pretty good thread about the two courses at Berkshire, but a search through the GCA archives didn't yield much.  Entirely possible I wasn't using that properly.

Also, if anyone has the link to the current Golf World Top 100 in the U.K., I'd love to see it.  I printed it out once but can't seem to find.

(If memory serves, Blairgowrie hosted the British Senior Amateur a few years ago.)

Berkshire RED and BLUE.

[John_Conley]

Just finished a little search on Golfcourse.com and saw both Berkshire courses were designed by Herbert Fowler (Eastward Ho!, Cruden Bay) in 1928.

I seem to remember reading that on another thread, but that's the one I can't seem to access via search.

[Stan Dodd]

John
Blairgowerie is considered by some ( who have not played Gleneagles) to be the finest inland course in Scotland.  There are 45 holes.  The Rosemont is the better of the two layouts  though the Wee Course may be the best (9 holes).  I personally feel it is overpriced.  Tree lined, wide fairways, well maintained and greens could use more interest.  But , there is no bad course in Scotland.
Cheers
Stan Dodd

[RT (Guest)]

Berkshire Red & Blue are the very near kissing cousins of Swinley Forest GC, near South Ascot.  Red Course features the 6-6-6 par format.  Some superb holes, particularly the par-3's.  Blue Course a sporty challenge, starting with a longish par-3 where you chose to go for the green and risk a bogey, or open your lungs a bit, lay-up short to a fairway of wide berth, and make a par!  A fine 36-hole summers day of golf in the greater Swinley Forest heathlands.

[Mike_Sweeney]

John,

Via an email from Paul Turner, however my favorite Carne is not even on the list

TOP 100+ GOLF COURSES, Year 2000
      
      
1      Muirfield
2      Royal County Down
3      Turnberry
4      Royal Birkdale
5      St Andrews
6      Ballybunion Old
7      Royal Portrush
8      Carnoustie
9      Portmarnock
10      Royal Dornoch
11      Loch Lomond
12      Sunningdale Old
13      Ganton
14      Royal St George's
15      Woodhall Spa
16      Wentworth
17      Royal Liverpool
18      Royal Troon
19      Royal Lytham & St Annes
20      Walton Heath
21      Waterville
22      Gleneagles (King's)
23      Saunton (East)
24      Royal Porthcawl
25      Co Louth
26      Royal Aberdeen
27      Royal St David's
28      Notts
29      Co Sligo
30      Swinley Forest
31      Lahinch
32      Mount Juliet
33      The European
34      Prestwick
35      Cruden Bay
36      Berkshire Red
37      Nairn
38      Sunningdale New
39      Hunstanton
40      Royal Cinque Ports
41      Blairgowrie
42      Berkshire (Blue)
43      Formby
44      Hillside (White)
45      Alwoodley
46      West Sussex
47      St George's Hill
48      Port Stewart
49      Royal West Norfolk
50      Royal Worlington
51      Litttle Aston
52      St Enodoc
53      Lindrick
54      Western Gailes
55      Machrihanish
56      Gullane No1
57      Killarney Kileen
58      Hankley Common
59      Rye
60      Burnham & Berrow
61      Wentworth (East)
62      Woburn
63      St Andrews New
64      North Berwick
65      Worplesdon
66      Royal Ashdown Forest
67      Isle of Purbeck
68      The Wisley (Garden /Mill)
69      Gleneagles (Queens)
70      Parkstone
71      New Zealand
72      East Sussex National
73      Woking
74      Royal Dublin
75      Aldeburgh
76      Southerness
77      Chart Hills
78      The Island
79      Killarney Mahony's Point
80      Moortown
81      Seaton Carew
82      Liphook
83      Royal North Devon
84      West Lancs
85      Skibo Castle
86      The Machrie
87      Siloth on Solway
88      Ferndown (Old)
89      Aberdovey
90      Ballyliffen (Glashedy)
91      The Belfry
92      Donegal
93      Murcar
94      Trevose
95      Hayling
96      Druid's Glen
97      K- Club
98      The Oxfordshire
99      Castletown
100      Southport & Ainsdale
101      Enniscrone
102      Ladybank
103      Ballybunion (Cashen)
104      Saunton (West)
105      Crail (Balcome)
106      Glasgow Gailes
107      Ashburnham
108      Woburn (Duchess)
109      Shishkine
110      The Buckinghamshire
111      The Roxburghe
112      Tralee
113      Brancepeth Castle
114      Littlestone
115      Ashridge
116      The London Club
117      Forest of Arden
118      La Moye
119      Slaley Hall
120      St Mellion
121      Hanbury Manor
122      Boat of Garten

[David_Tepper]

I played both courses at Berkshire in 1985. Together, they make for a great day of golf. One of the courses (the Red, I think) starts with a par-3. The Berkshire and Swinley Forest are the western edge of a band of the sand-based, heathland courses that run from south of London (starting around Walton Heath) in an arc going west and slightly north. This band of courses includes Sunningdale, Wentworth, St. George's Hill, New Zeland, etc. Great golfing country!    

[John_Conley]

Guys, thanks for the help!

[Paul_Turner]

Both are very fine courses.  The Red is perhaps a bit more consistent in quality with several great par 3s, the Blue has a wonderful inward 9.

Two of my favourite heathland pics:


13th Blue


4th Red

[John_Conley]

Is the composite course called the Purple?

[allysmith]

John,

Blairgowrie is in Perthshire in Scotland about 30 miles from GlenEagles.

Blairgowrie G.C. comprises two Championship Courses which were used in the 70s on the European Tour.

The courses are similar in style to GlenEagles, and having played all the courses, Blairgowrie is the pick of the two.

The Rosemount course is the easier of the two and winds its way through mature pine lined fairways where one can see Deer, Grouse, Squirels, Pheasent etc. etc. Of a summer evening it is the most stuning course I have ever visited.

The Landsdowne is a longer set up but similar in style.
The Club do an amazing summer deal of a round on each course, breakfast lunch and dinner for £85. I thoroughly recommend it.

The Pro is Charles Dernie, a former European Tour Pro and current European and Ryder Cup Referee.

His shop is well stocked and the welcome warming

[John_Conley]

Ally:

Thanks for the information on Blairgowrie.