West Berkshire - Berkshire - England

We played West Berkshire on the hottest day of the year so far and it was in excellent condition. Construction of the course started in 1974 on former farmland with a clay base, so it could perhaps get very wet in the winter or in heavy rain conditions. But in high summer, in the middle of a dry spell, the fairways ran well, the bunkers were tidy and not too numerous and the greens a pleasure to putt on. The welcome at this thriving Members’ Club was pleasant, they clearly take a pride in their golf course and surrounds.

The course is more downland than parkland, and the plentiful trees are now well established. They form the main line of defence, along with the golf course’s above average length, even if the fairways are of generous width.

It is the variety of the holes which impresses most, with the par five 5th a favourite. It measures a small matter of 580 yards from the yellow tee boxes, and after a tight drive with water on the left opens up into a glorious downhill romp. Two other long holes also inspire, the dogleg at 16 to a beautiful green and a grand final hole of 400 yards down a slope to a generous green protected by a pond on the right. Splendour indeed as it finishes in front of the club house.

All 4 par3s are good, even if of much the same length. They are well protected by bunkers and are designed to make the most of the natural contours around the greens. Some of the par4s are perhaps a bit bland, but this should not detract from an interesting and challenging layout.

We much enjoyed the playing experience at West Berkshire, and my playing partner will long recall his day here, for he played a memorable round of golf.

The course is in particularly good condition this season, with the greens very fast. It probably wouldn't make the top 200, but it certainly is value for money. It has got everything from drivable par 4's to 627 yards par 5's, four very good par 3's, with the 17th good enough to grace any top course, and the 18th a very challenging 450 yard par 4. I play here half a dozen times a year and always enjoy it and look forward to returning, so really, I dont think you can level any serious criticism against West Berks , it what it is, a very nice visitors club, where I think you get slightly more than you paid for, rare these days......Keep up the great work West Berks.

Played here on Wednesday 18th June. Lovely sunny day. Course in good condition despite the greens being spiked. The pro was very welcoming and friendly, but the catering and bar staff were not. Ordering food and a drink felt like you were putting them out!! Potential but won't be rushing back because of the attitude.

How this course has made it on to the rankings is totally beyond me. It is an average course at best with no real stand out holes. There are many many better courses than this in the area let alone the country that don't make it anywhere near this site. First time I have had to strongly disagree with a course being in the rankings lists on this website. Terrible layout to the course, the worst teeing areas I have played off, when they weren't on mats, poor greens at best, fairways were the only positive. When the rankings are re done this must surely make an exit from the top 200.

Very disappointed with this course, expected a lot better how it is ranked as the 7th best course in Berkshire is very strange. The tees were in very very poor condition and hard to find a level area to tee off, fairways were ok greens and bunkers were not good. Apart from the distance of the course it has nothing going for it very plain and very average, Would not visit again.

Although they try very hard at West Berks, the course is always in good condition, they are making mistakes with the design of the course. Thay keep putting bunkers in the wrong places and mounds which look out of place and unnatural. The routing of the holes could be changed to make a more balanced round.The 9th should be the 1st then follow to the 16th and make the 5th the 9th, then 6,7,8,1,2,3,4,17,18. Then they could have the halfway hut by the clubhouse and have the 1st and 10th tees by the clubhouse. With perfect design this could be a great test of golf and is most definitely a sleeping giant. The 9th and 13th should be changed into par 4's as well, par 73 course's disappeared in the 1980's. Just leave 13 as it is, it is already a modern day par length par 4 and move the tee forward on the 9th to make it 485 yards par 4, then it will be a proper golf hole instead of dog legging in the wrong place and being a danger for the 18th tee and 17th green areas. Good luck West Berks get it right and you will reap the rewards.

Played this course on 1st July 2009, Course was in excellent condition running hard & fast, the greens were very good and quite fast. The course has a few good holes notably the monster 5th, 15th & 16th. Overall well worth a visit.

A very ordinary course and not one that should really challenge any official ranking list. Many gems on this site offer a much better golfing experience. That said the staff were extremely welcoming and very friendly.

Of the courses that I know in this list, this one is out of its depth being included in the top 250. It is a nice-to-play course but that is about as far as you could go. Nearby Caversham Heath in Reading is far superior, so is East Berks in Crowthorne. Thers is also no way that anyone in their right mind could rank it above King's Lynn. Don't take the negativity too hard. This is a decent, slightly above average course, good value for money and friendly, but it is not particularly memorable or outstanding in any way.