The Berkshire (Fowler)

[Paul_Turner]

The Berkshire courses don't get much discussion here.  So here's a couple of good pics of par 3s on the Red course.  Both very fine holes, although I actually like the 10th best.


2nd


16th

Thanks RT and NAF for the pics.

[David_Tepper]

I played both Berkshire courses in 1985. I can't remember which is the Red and which is the Blue, but I do recall that one of the courses did start with a pretty tough par-3.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

The Blue Course starts with a 217-yard par 3 with a treacherous carry over a big dip to the green.  The Blue tends to get overlooked, but there are some cracking holes on it, not least the 452-yard 16th with a tough carry over bunkers and a stream to an elevated green.  The Red Course is the one they describe as 'all fives and threes', with six each par 3s, 4s and 5s.  They also often describe the pair of courses as the perfect combination to play either side of lunch.  A lovely place!

[NAF]

Well that is me teeing it up on #2 (RED) in the first pick.  A delightful cheeky little par 3 that I reckon was an 8 iron (they wouldnt let us play the tips).

The Berkshire has perhaps the most heather I have seen of any course on the heath.  You get a quick introduction to it on the first hole which along with the 17th are the best of the par 5s.  The other four par 5s could easily be converted to long tough par 4s for a par of 68 and putting the Red in the class of Rye and West Sussex for courses where meeting par would be a challenge.  Most of the par 5s at the Berkshire Red are about 470-480 yards and when hard and fast as it was last week are easy to reach in 2.  #17 bends left to right and at about 520 yards is the longest of them.  A correctly placed faded drive with the terrain will roll partially downhill as well and leaves a short iron.  Of course in the winter time these courses play totally different.

The 2nd hole par 3 on the red is special because of the bunkering shapes on the right side.  As my amigo Russell Talley said, this is "old world" style bunkering at its best.  You don't see that style often, even on the heath.

The 10th hole is probably the best of the par 3s on the Red as it is over a vale to a green with a sharp drop off into the heather on the right. It was tough to take good pictures as the sun was directly into us.  The hole plays about 200 yards and it is almost full carry at that.

What is cool about the 16th which Paul posted is the knob like green setting and the bunkering on the left side of the hole and the one short.  It actually is a tricky shot and is 221 yards from the tips. Something tells me it plays into the prevailing wind.

Probably the best bunkering I've seen on a par 3 on the heath (other than the 8th at St. George's Hill) is the 13th on the Blue.  I have not downloaded my pic there.  It has a lacey/jagged quality that is sublime.

Overall, I think the Berkshire a very pleasant place to play everyday.  One must be careful even with the attackable par 5s because of the prominence of the heather which inhibits recovery shots and the par 3s which can claim their share of bogeys.  That being said, with your game on the Berkshire could let you go low but if you are a smigen off shoot worse than your handicap.

[Paul_Turner]

NAF

I'd like to see a pic of the 13th Blue.  That's the bunker that was debated to death last year- some thought it was like the new bunkers at Merion.

[NAF]

Paul,

The bunkering on #13 is not "puffy" in the least. I'll get the pic to you and on this thread after I download it this weekend.

[RT]

This a highly recommended place to play in the summer for 36/day.  The courses are complimentary, like Sunningdale's 36, and you will find as much heather as any heathland course in Surrey (and Berkshire!).  Great routings and rhythm to the courses.

RT

[Paul_Turner]

A couple more pics.  I can't emphasise enough how beautiful these courses are.


The super shortish par 4 11th.  A hole that requires thought.


Close up of the bunkers at the 2nd (I think).  A great appeal of heathland golf is the turf and sandy soil.  The sand in the bunkers is simply the natural, heath, soil.  Plus NAF worrying about his score after 2 holes  

[NAF]

Paul,

I believe reading Jim Finegan that the 11th at the Berkshire is known as the QE2 hole as it is as long as the ship.  He also recants that it has been driven by Greg Norman and Tom Watson in a match.

Yes, I was worrying about my score after the 2nd hole (which I parred) but after a trip through the heather on #1 gave me a double!

You look at the card at the Berkshire and think wow, I can really attack but you can't because of the abundance of heather present.  Fowler's bunkering style is also mesmerizing like a siren calling to you to put your ball in them.  Who says the look doesnt matter?

[mark chalfant]

Paul,Noel, and  RT,
Thanks for the cool photos...

two and eleven look amazing.

the  earthy colors on the thirsty  fairways make me guess that

"Bark - shire "   is fun to play  !

[Paul_Turner]

Mark/NAF

Yep it's Bark.  No logic in English pronounciation!  

A couple more pics:


The par 3 we all love, 10th Red.



THAT bunker on 13th Blue.  Why the trees next to the green?  For safety from shots on 7th Red?

[Tommy_Naccarato]

If you remember, this is where many participants proved that Pat nor Reeses Jones don't have a clue to what a GREAT bunker should really look like!

(That should get things going a bit! Care to questimate how many posts and/or how long this thread will take to implode?)

[Tommy_Naccarato]

NAF, What the Hell do you know about heathland golf?

RT, take over from here!

[NAF]

Tommy, i know the following about heathland golf after oh, 25 rounds or so  

1) The bunkering isnt PUFFY
2) The look is perfect and affects shot values with the heather and bunker shaping as it makes you nervous
3) It is the finest inland golf in the world (with exception to PV and to the Sandbelt)
4) The Berkshire has the most heather of all the heath courses
5) Swinley Forest and West Sussex are my favorite courses
6) You could never go tired playing heathland golf all year round especially in the summer when it is hard and fast
7) Hmmn, is there a course in South Jersey that espouses these tenets?

[RT]

Think it would be interesting to bring back up the old pics of this particular hole, no. 13 Blue.  My first try at the language

[Patrick_Mucci]

Tommy Naccarato,

What you and others didn't understand is that the determination of "great" as in bunkers, is the bunkers strategic value, not its window dressing, or schmaltz appeal  

Didn't I see bunkers that looked like some of the ones pictured above off of Ardmore Ave ?