Swinley Forest Golf Club Berkshire

Swinley Forest is a private members’ club located between Sunningdale and Ascot that has charmed, inspired and challenged golfers for over 100 years. Designed by Harry Colt, its layout carves its way through spectacular heathland vistas framed by heather, pine woods, azaleas and rhododendrons. With its combination of 2 par 5s, 11 par 4s and 5 par 3s, Swinley plays deceptively long and its undulating greens deliver an extra test of skill to all comers. Off the back tees, Swinley measures 6431 yards with a par of 69.

A limited number of visitors and societies are warmly welcomed on weekdays throughout the year but only by prior arrangement.

Just about every hole is a picture hole. Alas this is very much a golf course for the members and not at all easy to get onto. If you can make the right connections however, it is worth every penny.

Here is Harry Colt, the legendary golf course designer, at his very best. Only he had the genius, over a century ago, to see what a phenomenal course could be made from the desolate heathland and forest which he found, literally, on his doorstep. He was fortunate that his vision was embraced by the 17th Earl of Derby, an adequate but enthusiastic player, who not only financed the project but brought his close friends and relations, fellow landowners, titans of the Turf and politicians , as founding members. Others came from the City, and it was these initial members who set the tenor of the Club ever since.

Extract from “Swinley Special”, written by Nicholas Courtney