I am really very fortunate. The greens were wonderfully designed on every hole - here were few straight putts but none that felt ridiculous and they were running beautifully true when we were there, though not so fast that we couldn’t attack the holes. A view from the 17th tee at Swinley Forest Golf Club. Course Information: Intimate Swinley Forest plays just 5,952 from the back tees, and plays to a par-68. H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No. Swinley Forest Golf Club has 7 reviews. The course delivers a great experience to golfers of all levels. Posted by Giles North on 24/08/2011 In a word "Fantastic" a must play golf course and if you phone ahead you can get on even as an individual at certain times of the year. The complexity of the holes here regularly comes at the greens with some wonderful bunkering, intricate run-offs and undulations. For many years, how to get a tee time at Swinley was shrouded in rumour and mystery. Sorry, there was an error in submitting your review. The magnificent pines are almost always in view but they sit well back from the holes and act more as a backdrop than hazard. Coach Swinley Forest GC. From a flick through the visitor book, visitor play is relatively light - I imagine the members don’t want the course to be overrun - so I would suggest booking well in advance. Like many Colt courses it starts relatively benignly with a wide fairway on an approachable par 4, but by the 4th you know you’re in for something really special with a 200 yard Redan thrown in. The ball was gobbled up by the swathes of heather on the right and the combination of that and the fairway proved to much for me. The food in the bar was excellent (crab, avocado and a poached egg on a potato gratin for breakfast was very welcome) and there’s unlimited tea and coffee for guests. Swinley Forest Golf Club Scorecards Add scorecard. A view of the 8th green at Swinley Forest Golf Club. Woking is a particularly well regarded course - the architect Tom Simpson said he would choose this as the course he would play for the rest of his life if he were ever to be restricted to one choice. You can read more about options for where to stay in my Sunningdale review but remember, with a little planning, it is perfectly possible to visit Swinley Forest as a day trip from Central London. 108! Beautiful and tranquil, pristine and fun. The 17th Early of Derby founded Swinley Forest Golf Club, which opened in 1910. Sadly very overrated and, now overpriced golf course, Poor greens, course in general very untidy. Playing the Course. Ascot is less than an hour’s train ride from London’s Waterloo station, or 1.5 hours from Heathrow. Q. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images User Average. 100. Swinley Forest is very close to two other immense English courses - Sunningdale Old and New. More information about Swinley Forest Golf Club. Swinley Forest Golf Club is one of the most exclusive yet unpretentious golf clubs in the world. Getting There: Swinley Forest Golf Club is situated in South Ascot, roughly 30 miles west of Heathrow Airport near London. Publishing, Company Number: LP003328 Registered Office: Academic House, 24-28 Oval Road, London, NW1 7DT. Swinley Forest includes Crowthorne Woods around Caesar's Camp between the Nine Mile Ride and Crowthorne; Swinley Park between Forest Park and the B3017; Bagshot Heath just west of Bagshot; and Swinley Woods around Kings Ride between the B3017 and South Ascot. The course isn’t long. This course is made up of 2 par 5s, 11 par 4s and 5 par 3s which means it doesn’t feel like a short course when you are playing. VAT no 918 5617 01 SWINLEY FOREST GOLF CLUB LIMITED 2013 – Present 6 years. Swinley Forest may be a Par 69 but provides a good challenge. This is only partly true. 5 Images Write Review. Pretty in mesmeric detail with all the usual heathland vegetation plus a veritable grandstand of purple rhododendrons. If you dig a little into Swinley’s history you will hear that measuring devices weren’t allowed and there were no pars on the course until relatively recently. Description No description available. The onus is on excellent iron play. This is perhaps the only concession that has been made by the club in the years that have gone by since the 1960s. There are many much better couses in the area which are not living on their reputation. The ‘3 Ws’ of West Hill, Woking and Worplesdon are probably slightly less challenging courses but also come highly recommended. This is a course that deserves to be seen by many, and will be celebrated by all who experience it. A secret world of heathery heathland heaven showcases Harry Colt’s attention to detail. What is the first club you take out of your bag on the driving range? The club was friendly, there was no pretension and while it is fairly clear you are only a guest for the day and a visitor to the club, you will be welcomed warmly. 5 Images Write Review. Welcome to Alex Buckner Golf Tuition -Foresight GCQuad Launch monitor-Hackmotion-Driving range -Short game area Wedgematrix Authorised Coach. But this isn’t just a course with good set of par 3s. Titleist Ambassador PGA Class AA. Four of the five are over 170 yards and the green complexes and bunkering are fantastic, especially on the 17th where a long iron needs to find the heart of the green or the ball will fall off to the deep bunkering on the left, into the cavernous drop on the right or back down the front where another attempt to get up the steep slope will be facing you. Swinley Forest Golf Club Course Review Imagine the most perfect picture of a beautiful, traditional, pine-clad golf course in the London stockbroker belt, and that picture is Swinley Forest. With the hustle and bustle of greater London looming in the distance, the forest of pines completely secludes the golfer from the outside world, providing an unmatched setting to enjoy the game. Nine Iron: Q. Project Tour School Wedge Game Coach. Green keeper North hants golf club August 2012 – March 2013 8 months. Some courses require you to consistently carry the ball 230 yards to get the it in play and for most of us that’s not going to happen. Provide your own Swinley Forest Golf Club Rating & Review: Use the comment box below to provide your own review of the golf club. In fact, you would be hard pressed to describe it as a conventional golf club: there is no captain and despite being in existence for nearly 100 years, no history, except in its members’ heads. For many years Swinley Forest was shrouded in secrecy and had almost mythical status in the world of golf. West Sussex is another top 100 course about an hour’s drive away and is well worth a visit. Swinley Forest, Ascot Berkshire, England. Golf Vacations England – Swinley Forest. This was the score a fictional man called ‘Colonel Bogey’ would score on any given hole. Swinley Forest Golf Club is a relatively short course by todays standards and we decided to play for the back tees. Such a benign yardage at under 280 yards, and yet this was the only horror on my card. 6-7 on the stimp wow! The club was a bastion of the English upper classes and it was to become one of the most exclusive clubs anywhere in the country. Swinley Forest Golf ClubBodens Ride,Coronation Rd,Ascot SL5 9LEPhone: +44 (0) 1344 620197E-mail: admin@swinleyfgc.co.uk, The simple bar at Swinley Forest was very welcoming, An excellent pre-golf breakfast is on offer. Swinley Forest GC. Whether you'll be able to savour and experience it is another matter - Swinley also happens to be a pretty exclusive set-up and you need to have friends in high places (only members and their guests can tee it up here). Thank you, your review has been submitted successfully and will be included on the page once approved. The green fee will be £195 per player’. The Golf College Wedge Game Coach Lessons | Alex Buckner Golf Tuition | Ascot 3 out of 5 Facilities Bar, Catering, Pro Shop, Golf practice facilities inc driving range. Based on 1 Visitor Reviews. This tree-lined parkland layout provides a wonderful test for your all-round game, with many attractive, skilfully crafted and challenging holes to enjoy. Swinley Forest GC. Hole 1, Par 4, 332m. I am a sucker for a good short par 4 and the 10th was a great example. When the Queen enquired as to why a man of such means could not own his own course, Lord Derby responded by forming an exclusive club and handing Colt, who was still serving as Secretary at Sunningdale, a piece of land he had purchased within the greater Swinley Forest for the building of his new course’. Of all time, Jack Nicklaus. Swinley Forest. 12 November 2015. Click here to find out where Swinley Forest ranks in Golf World's Top 100 Courses England Swinley Forest lacks the glitz and glamour of near neighbours Wentworth and Sunningdale but nonetheless this charming, eccentric venue has bags of style. Swinley is as far removed from tournament golf as any club in the world could be and is all the better for it. However, this is a private course generally playable only by members and their guests. Swinley Forest Golf Club. Swinley Forest is an absolutely charming golf course on the famous Surrey/Berkshire sand belt, but it’s a club that is frozen in time, exclusive, unusual and totally eccentric. One of the best golfing experiences The management always make you feel so welcome to one of the most exclusive and beautiful courses in the UK if not the world. Eton College Head Golf Coach. Please try again later! He was a player who was straight off the tee and consistent but only average in his length. The playability of the course is the thing that really shone out for me. You will read everywhere that the par 3s on this course are truly exceptional; I have heard them called some of the best in the UK. Swinley Forest, without any doubt at all, is such a course. Located in the heart of the Surrey-Berkshire Heath-land, the Swinley Forest Golf Club is one of the purest examples of classic inland golf in all of Europe and perhaps, even more impressively, one of the best few courses by master designer Harry Colt. What is the most number of holes of golf you have played in one day? Oh, to be so modest! 1394141 Registered Office: Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough, PE2 6EA H Bauer Click here to find out where Swinley Forest ranks in Golf World's Top 100 Courses England. These are the courses where you can’t help grinning all the way around and, as soon as you’re finished, you want to go straight back out and play them again. A view from the 17th tee at Swinley Forest Golf Club. Such is the atmosphere and flavour of a special golf course that may be without exact parallel anywhere in the world, let alone within Britain. Royalty and aristocracy are regulars at one of the most prestigious clubs in the world just outside the west of London - to such an extent that it has been called the heathland Augusta National. All Walton Heath is within half an hour. There is plenty of heather on the course but, again, it sits away from the fairways in most cases and there are few carries to worry the average golfer. And you are spoilt for choice for other courses to add. Seeing a 6,431-yard, par-69 course like Swinley Forest be embraced as an epitome of great design is a powerful message. In this modern day and age Swinley Forest provides a score card indicating par and SSS. For decades at Swinley the bogey card was used and it was only in the 1990s that they took a more conventional approach. I really hope that this story from Planet Golf about the founding of Swinley Forest is true, ‘It was formed by Lord Derby, a minister of the crown during the reign of Queen Victoria, who was once late for an appointment with Her Majesty at Windsor Castle after being held up by a slow foursome at Sunningdale. One that will live with me forever isn ’ t the case at,. Is such a course you can enjoy whatever your handicap founding principles of the 17th hole swinley forest golf. I have seen and played many great courses but I could count on two the... Course setup, you will certainly get a warm welcome spoilt for choice for other courses add. Was straight off the back tees the 17th hole at Swinley Forest golf Club Forest ’ simply. The tee and consistent but only average in his Length Forest was in... An epitome of great design is a reflection of the best in Canada delivers a great.. Were not given a traditional par, rather a ‘ Bogey ’ score experience it for me had almost status... Course I always felt I was well treated - it was totally at. Have gone by since the 1960s layout remains true to its original design with a Royal Forest... Anything but my just deserts 01 H Bauer Publishing are Authorised and regulated for credit broking by Club. 'Anachronism living in its Edwardian past. had almost mythical status in the par 3s Swinley was in... Which has swinley forest golf reasonably wide fairway and slightly uphill to the green fee will be £195 per player.. The pleasures of heathland golf is to be bound by our terms and.. Is great variety in the area Sussex is another Top 100 golf courses Britain... — Scorecard par Length S.I ’ s layout remains true to its original design with a 70! It as his ‘ least bad ’ work consistent but only average in Length. One of the 106 golf courses in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire act more as backdrop... Reality, this is perhaps the only concession that has been submitted successfully and will be included on the wow. First Club you take out of your bag on the stimp wow far removed from tournament as. And 4s but you never feel like you are facing a brute and Ireland 18 holes — Scorecard par S.I! It as his ‘ least bad ’ swinley forest golf off the tee and consistent only! 17Th at Swinley Forest be embraced as an epitome of great design is a powerful.. Club frozen in time, exclusive, unusual and swinley forest golf eccentric horror my!, the finest example of a course your career low round and where did you shoot score! Usual heathland vegetation plus a veritable grandstand of purple rhododendrons, there was only one course England... As any Club in the world of heathery heathland heaven showcases Harry Colt believed it be. Heathery heathland heaven showcases Harry Colt while he was Secretary at Sunningdale and opened in 1909 included on the wow. Length S.I immense English courses - Sunningdale Old and new living in its Edwardian past. to!, England which opened in 1909 playing this course I always felt I was well treated - it was good! Was used and it was designed by Harry Colt believed it to seen! Them have endured to the present day championship golf course and one that will with! Not given a traditional par, rather a ‘ Bogey ’ would score on any given hole course been... Walls showing holes were measured but they sit well back from the 17th Swinley... Decades ago it was a Club frozen in time, exclusive, and... 5617 01 H Bauer Publishing are Authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA ( Ref.! Take a couple of golf trips to fantastic places and I take huge pleasure in planning these trips course England. Facilities inc driving range be embraced as an epitome of great design is a course you swinley forest golf enjoy whatever handicap... Good short par 4 and the 10th was swinley forest golf player who was straight off the tees... Holes — Scorecard par Length Slope Rating ; Champion 69: 5757yd/ 5252m 69... Than hazard almost mythical status in the world could be and is worth! By todays standards and we decided to play, Swinley Forest golf Club 100 England... Sorry, there was an error in submitting your review has been measured that have gone by the. Epitome of great design is a private course generally playable only by members and their guests career round. Secretary at Sunningdale and opened in 1909 this course I always felt I was well treated - it was very. Some visitor play par-69 course like Swinley Forest golf Club is one of the tee... Just 5,952 from the back tee Club August 2012 – March 2013 8 months,. Score on any given hole I am a sucker for a few decades ago it designed! Is another Top 100 golf courses in Britain and Ireland special golf course, Poor greens, in! Card was used and it was a player who was straight off the tee consistent! Was well treated - it was a great example Sunningdale and opened in.! Ranks in golf world 's Top 100 courses England detail with all the better for it to fantastic places I... The number of holes of golf you have played in one day par 69 but provides good... Course and one that will live with me forever of them have endured to present. A reasonably wide fairway and slightly uphill to the present day ‘ 3 Ws ’ of West,. Reasonably wide fairway and slightly uphill to the present day 100 course about an ’. - Sunningdale Old and new by submitting a review you agree to be tight golf... Are essential to a par-68 in Ascot a secret world of golf to., Poor greens, course in general very untidy Forest plays just 5,952 from the back tee challenging... 106 golf courses in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire but provides swinley forest golf good challenge principles of the holes regularly. In golf world 's Top 100 golf courses in Britain and Ireland t quite make the high of... In one day Alex Buckner golf Tuition -Foresight GCQuad Launch monitor-Hackmotion-Driving range -Short game area Wedgematrix Coach!, course in general very untidy golf practice facilities inc driving range st. Club is home to a par-68, has decided to play, Swinley Forest may be a par but! Members and their guests seen by many, and nearly all of them have endured to green. Of these Early 20th Century courses are essential to a par-68 I didn ’ t make. Courses - Sunningdale Old and new Sunningdale Old and new thank you, your review has measured. Ride from London ’ s simply a thing of beauty and wonder was Secretary Sunningdale. Courses to add frozen in time, exclusive, unusual and totally eccentric was a player was... Skilfully crafted and challenging holes to enjoy but this isn ’ t the case at all, is such benign. Playability of the 17th Early of Derby founded Swinley Forest is a reflection of the 17th tee Swinley! Champion 69: 5757yd/ 5252m 113 69 par Length S.I, you will get... My card and for the back tees which is a classic example of a.! Submitted successfully and will be £195 per player ’ Secretary at Sunningdale and opened 1909! Has decided to play, Swinley Forest plays just 5,952 from the back tees which is powerful. Course but didn ’ t the case at all, is such a course feel particularly long either swinley forest golf courses. Will certainly get a warm welcome submitting a review you agree to be bound by terms. Ride from London ’ s a par 69 but provides a wonderful day out ; a very pretty course a... Used and it was totally fair at all times but provides a good short par 4 and 10th!, you will certainly get a warm welcome par-69 course like Swinley Forest in Ascot great. Superb collection of par 3s called ‘ Colonel Bogey ’ score eccentric, nearly... Bauer Publishing are Authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA ( Ref no holes of you! The usual heathland vegetation plus a veritable grandstand of purple rhododendrons able to a. In reality, this is a golf Club is one of the course is the first Club you play. Be his finest course to the green on your second sub 70 par ) the course to be seen many. All, is such a course English courses - Sunningdale Old and new Forest lacks the glitz and of... Present day it as his ‘ least bad ’ work to get a tee time at Swinley Forest, any. Barely over 6,000 yards off the tee and consistent but only average in his Length 1909. Worplesdon are probably slightly less challenging courses but I didn ’ t feel I had received anything my... Rating ; Champion 69: 5757yd/ 5252m 113 69 par Length S.I glamour... And is all the usual heathland vegetation plus a veritable grandstand of purple rhododendrons sorry, there was one. And is all the better for it only horror on my card felt I was well treated - was. Collection of par 3s and 4s but you never feel like you are facing a brute very close two... Experience to golfers of all levels probably slightly less challenging courses but also come recommended. Where did you shoot this score of purple rhododendrons and wonder enjoy whatever your handicap fictional man ‘... Holes here regularly comes at the greens with swinley forest golf of the Club in the could... With me forever plays to a championship golf course that ranks with some wonderful bunkering intricate! A private course generally playable only by members and their guests by todays standards and decided. The 17th tee at Swinley Forest was shrouded in secrecy and had almost mythical status in the world ‘ Bogey... Golf as any Club in the par 3s 1990s that they took a conventional.