Representative image Photo: Mertbiol · CC0
Swinley Forest Golf Club
Ascot, Berkshire, United Kingdom
18 Holes · GBP 135–220 · Heathland
— About
About Swinley Forest Golf Club
Swinley Forest Golf Club is an 18-hole heathland course near Ascot in Berkshire, laid out among pine woods and heather on Crown Estate land. Harry Colt designed it on gently undulating ground, and the greens have undulation as well.
- The card has two par 5s, 11 par 4s and five par 3s.
- Azaleas and rhododendrons grow among the pines and heather.
- The 3rd and the 11th are short par 4s that can be driven.
- Colt called Swinley his "least bad course", yet it still appears in Britain and Ireland top 100 rankings.
History of Swinley Forest Golf Club
Edward George Villiers, the 17th Earl of Derby, founded the club in 1909 and had Harry Colt lay out the course. He recruited members from aristocratic circles, and the club is described as one of the most private in the United Kingdom.
Signature holes at Swinley Forest Golf Club
The 4th is a Redan-style par 3 played uphill to a green set on a shelf, with a bunker front left. The 12th is a long par 4 of 455 yards whose sloping green sits among rhododendrons.
When to play Swinley Forest Golf Club
Visitors are accepted on weekdays throughout the year, and the green fee drops in winter. Azaleas and rhododendrons add to the setting in season.
Playing Swinley Forest Golf Club: tips
Swinley Forest is a private members' club, and visitors are limited. A small number of guests and societies are welcomed on weekdays by prior arrangement, so contact the club office by phone on 01344 620197 or by email and book well ahead.
Visit Swinley Forest Golf Club
Coronation Road, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 9LE
Ascot, Berkshire, United Kingdom
— FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Swinley Forest Golf Club
How much does a visitor round cost?
The green fee is about 220 pounds in summer and about 135 pounds in winter.
Why did Lord Derby found the club?
He was held up by a slow group at Sunningdale, and the club was founded afterwards.
How long is Swinley Forest?
A little over 6,000 yards by most accounts, short by modern standards, yet the course plays longer than the number suggests.