West Berkshire - Berkshire - England

Gem England - Best in Area
West Berkshire Golf Club,
Chaddleworth,
Newbury,
Berkshire,
RG20 7DU,
England

  • +44 (0) 1488 638574

  • Richard Curtis

  • Robin Stagg

  • Paul Simpson

West Berkshire is a relative youngster in the scheme of things. The club was founded in 1975 and Robin Stagg a relatively unknown architect designed the course and laid it out on the Berkshire Downs.

The course is of parkland cum downland style and it’s long too, stretching out some 7,000 yards from the championship tees. Although it’s built on clay, the USGA construction of greens and tees ensure that the course is playable all year round. It’s also groomed to a high standard and receives many accolades from members and visitors alike. With four tee positions to choose from, the course has been designed and constructed to a level of excellence that will test and reward golfers whatever their standard.

Already, West Berkshire is proving to be a favourite and is widely acclaimed as one of the best up-and-coming new courses in England. The course starts stiffly and the par five 5th is one of the longest holes in the region, measuring a whopping 627 yards. In fact, all the par fives are true three shotters and the average par five yardage from the back tees is 568 yards and the yardage only drops down to around 513 yards off the friendly yellows.

The course is now benefiting from tree planting some 20 years ago, which is starting to define the holes by adding maturity. West Berkshire is an easy and pleasant walk and the clubhouse offers a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, which is very popular with visiting societies.

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Reviews for West Berkshire

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Description: The West Berkshire Golf Club is a monster, measuring more than 7,000 yards from the back tees. The tips are not for the faint hearted. Rating: 4.2 out of 10 Reviews: 9
TaylorMade
Tim Elliott

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.

July 19, 2021
5 / 10
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Tony White
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.
July 30, 2015
6 / 10
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3 people found this review helpful
Paul Patel
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.
June 19, 2014
4 / 10
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Tony White
April 27, 2016
Not sure what happened with the staff on the day you were there, but rest assured the catering and bar staff are amongst the friendliest you could wish to meet, and the food is always fresh and excellent.
Carl Tushingham
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.
January 04, 2012
1 / 10
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Sam
December 10, 2012
Feel this review is a little harsh. Whilst the tees are a little scruffy, the greens are always in great condition (even at this time of the year) as is the rest of the course. Its a tough course that will not suit the majority of people, but its has some fantastic holes! the 10th is one of the toughest holes you will ever play, whilst 17 and 18 are very picturesque and challenging. a top 100 course, absolutely not, but worth a visit for the money - yes
Prof Googleknocker
June 06, 2014
I agree, the review is a bit harsh. West Berks is a peaceful round of golf, with no roads or houses nearby, Red Kites are common place and don't forget you might glimpse the Berskhire Moggie, an escaped big cat that lives in the area and devours anyone who wears their cap in the clubhouse. Maybe it is'nt in the top league of Berkshire courses but it is designed pretty well and will test the best of golfers while not punishing the higher handicapper, even though it stretches to over 7,000 yds, when you consider that the par 5's measure 627, 595, 578 and 565, this means the par 4's are not so long. Very friendly and greens very good.
Paul Simpson
January 26, 2022

Must be commenting on the wrong course as West Berks don’t use mats !!
Markbarney
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.
June 09, 2011
2 / 10
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Tony White
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.
April 19, 2011
6 / 10
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Young P
April 22, 2011
I agree about the 13th being changed to a par 4, although not the 9th. However, as for "par 73 courses disappeared in the 1980s" - I played the remodelled Wentworth West yesterday and guess what? It's a par 73.
Raindog
February 27, 2013
Well Young P, not all of us play off the ladies tees at Wentworth. The 9th dog legs at round about 350 yards off the back tee, which then presents the 280 yard drive with a 2nd shot over the 17th green and 18th tee, this is not a good thing, moving the tee up would eliminate this, but on the other hand the present tee shot is the best on the course, the 9th off the back tees is right up there with the toughest tee shots in golf, but still presents an awkward, dangerous 2nd shot. This course is moving forward,just very slowly.
Young P
March 01, 2013
Well Raindog, that’s the debating equivalent of following a bad shot with a stupid one. I don’t know if you’ve played beyond Berkshire but there are a number of par 73 courses out there – Woodhall Spa, Ganton, Donegal, Enniscrone and, yes, Wentworth West (off even the medal and championship markers, although of course the pros play it as a par 72) to name just a few in the Top 100 alone. I thought it was actually a good point you made about the dangers of the second shot on 9 at West Berks. But then you described the tee shot on that hole as “right up there with the toughest tee shots in golf”, so I can safely assume it was only a momentary outbreak of sanity.
Raindog
March 04, 2013
Young P, you've obviously seen me play, it goes bad, stupid, desperate, 3 putt.
Alastair Price
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.
July 02, 2009
6 / 10
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Ian
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.
March 14, 2007
4 / 10
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Paul Nash
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.
November 20, 2004
4 / 10
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