More information about Swinley Forest Golf Club. A number of appealing approach shots result, some are aerial and others running, dependent upon the hole’s location for the day. The clubhouse and membership are both first class and full of history. 6 is a good par 4 with plenty of width, and offers a lovely view of the uphill 7th and Colt's genius heather ridge, that looks like cross bunkers off the tee and plays tricks on your mind. H.S. wrote Courtney, “yet under the original rule 4 she could not even set foot in Running Deer is a good course. We will make no bones about it, we’re very fond of Swinley Swinley Forest, Ascot | Private | Harry Colt | 6,431 yard | Avg Par 3: 196 yardage was only a little over 6,000 yards a decade or so ago, the par of 68 made Where the rhododendrons once were though look scruffy, open dirt and roots sticking out everywhere, it just takes a wet those holes to see these peripheral areas so untidy. Interestingly enough, many of the consensus world’s top courses have no tournaments and/or actively promote not having outside events. Wednesday 21st April 2021 Seniors Open Day Gents 2-Person Team Members: £17.50 | Visitors: £17.50 Perhaps I should reconsider Swinley Forest versus Rye Old? One of my favourite stretch of holes came early from 2-5. Was this review helpful? say: “The inescapable impression is that the place fell asleep many years ago The green is shaped similar to a redan. Swinley is as far removed from tournament golf as any club in the world could be and is all the better for it. Although the Why was Swinley Forest Colt’s favorite (or ‘least bad’) course? This was a very, very special golf course and one that will live with me forever. ENQUIRE NOW. For only 367 yards this hole is absolutely genius. Swinley offers genius routing, excellent elevation changes from tee to green, exceptional bunkering and a wonderful sense of peace and tranquillity. There is a bunker on the left of the fairway for those taking too bold of a line in an attempt to shorten the hole. The green is set against a bank, which in May becomes a violet wall of rhododendrons. I have been fortunate to play here... Mountain Brook Club is almost a century old and is a Donald Ross design that several ot... My first visit to Streamsong took place a few years ago coinciding with the annual PGA... One can only have imagined what Rye was like after its opening. There is something about Swinley Forest similar to Brancaster, an unpretentiousness with none of the glamour of its near neighbours, Sunningdale and Wentworth.. My only criticism is the recent changes on 17 has made the hole worse, visually and strategically. The green slopes right to left with the heather very close particularly in the back. In short Swinley Forest is a golf club you must play. The entire left side of the fairway is bordered by heather. Sixth and Seventh holes, 425 and 400 yards, respectively; Sunningdale Golf Club, The New Course pg.II. It's good for the ego to start your round feeling like a stud. It was designed by Harry Colt while he was Secretary at Sunningdale and opened in 1909. The Redan fourth may well be the best of the bunch. Yet because of its length, the hole remains within the capability of all golfers. It requires careful thought to record a low score, but my recommendation is to just enjoy the golf course for its beauty, variety, and connection to nature. The site/position of the Uh. The reason it is held in such high regard by Tom Doak and others alike, is that Swinley doesn't try and be something it's not. The green is slightly elevated and is out in the open. One thing that caught me by surprise was just how good the green complexes were. Once you have hit the tee shot and walk 100 yards down the fairway the world opens up again as the eighteenth and first hole provide some breathing room. Swinley Special – One Hundred Years of Harry Colt’s ‘Least Bad Course’. Without knowing what it was like before, it also seems that Ponts restoration work has bedded in very nicely. Provide your own Swinley Forest Golf Club Rating & Review: Use the comment box below to provide your own review of the golf club. The club was and still is a bastion of the English upper classes and is one of the most exclusive clubs anywhere in the country. The first green is almost more dirt than grass. The last two holes take full advantage of the terrain. Swinley Forest Golf Club is a relatively short course by todays standards and we decided to play for the back tees. 15 is one of my favourite par 5s in the world, wonderfully bunkered again, to an elevated green with an evil false front. One cannot go long over the green as the rhododendron bushes frame the entire back side of the green. One of the holes that he used it on to great effect was the 7th, placed on the side of a hill that runs from left to right, creating a very effective hazard that makes the approach shot semi-blind or blind from an uneven lie! The summer swathes of purple heather and firm fairways that Understatement. “Another theory why Lord Derby was disenchanted with The short, one-shot holes are simply See other reviews from Alex. My only criticism would be that they were surprisingly slow - although this was largely as they had not been cut in the last day during a period of heavy rain. One of my playing partners remarked it was the best use of elevation changes of any course he had ever played, and I think this sums up one of Swinley's best merits perfectly. This hole is a lot of fun. The green sits at an angle to the right and is long, narrow and crowned. Trees await those who either pull or push their first shot too much. Having found the par three holes, Colt then surrounded them with a range of superb par four holes. Tenth hole, 210 yards; On a coursenot much more than6,000 yards, Colt nonetheless figured out how to ask the golfer to hit every club in the bag. Harry Colt gave us a perfect golf course and he did it in 1910. In fact, you would be hard pressed to describe it as a Swinley Forest came into being thanks to Edward George These uninterrupted vistas epitomize the spaciousness of heathland golf and are all but lost on the tree lined courses in the United States. It’s also totally unpretentious, having none of the new money However, make no mistake about it: Swinley couples outstanding golf holes with its first-rate atmosphere. 18 Holes — Scorecard Par Length Slope Rating; Champion 69: 5757yd/ 5252m 113 69 ... Royal Ascot Golf Club Ascot, England. Twelve is a long par 4 at 455 yards and I thought it to be one of the top three holes on the golf course. Swinley Forest GC. Was this review helpful? Once driving beyond the two fairway bunkers positioned left and right there are four other bunkers to consider with three on the left. From the tee shot on the 2nd hole through the 17th hole, the golfer faces one enticing shot after another. Much like Rye Old it has a couple holes that feel out-of-place. The approach shot which must carry the three bunkers fronting the green. In my review of Rye, I placed Rye Old slightly above Swinley Forest as I think Rye Old has the superior holes. Course Information: Intimate Swinley Forest plays just 5,952 from the back tees, and plays to a par-68. Respond to above review However, there are six bunkers, three on the fairway and three fronting the green. and it’s undeniably an attractive course. Examples include National Golf Links of America, Sand Hills, The Golf Club and Cypress Point. Course Name Holes Tee Length Par Rating/SSS Slope; Swinley Forest Golf Club: 18: Was this review helpful? No one to witness. Demonstrating the positive effects of recent tree and rhododendron clearing work. It’s not only one of the most charming courses, in an area blessed with a plethora of wonderful heathland venues, but also one of … 12th double dog leg long par 4 tough to reach unless a long (and precise) hitter. Ascot is less than an hour’s train ride from London’s Waterloo station, or 1.5 hours from Heathrow. The only questionable change is that of the 17th. Only less standing tall and announcing its prestige and more quietly letting those fortunate to enter the gates see the beauty of Swinley. Harry Colt believed it to be his finest course. Despite this, Swinley is an absolute must play and is as good as golf gets. To be alone and playing this beautifully intricate is something I will never forget, and it is unlikely that I will ever experience it again. Sixteen is a mid-length par 4 that is fairly straight but the fairway narrows on the left as the heather pinches in. 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. The playability of the course is the thing that really shone out for me. This hole is very good because it can yield a 3 to the brave, long hitter, as well as triple bogeys to those who get off track. Sunningdale, as women ‘be not allowed to play over the links’.”. The rating should be out of 10 and if you need a little help to score the course, why not refer to the One London Golfer’s rating chart? A course guide was presented to me and a hybrid headcover was purchased. It combines the quality of Sunningdale, with the quietness of Queenwood, and has sprinklings of the best bits from The Berkshire, New Zealand and the 3 Ws. Swinley Forest GC. The starting hole is a simple downhill par 4 of average length. Uh. The club was and still is a bastion of the English upper classes and is one of the most exclusive clubs anywhere in the country. Respond to above review West Sussex … However, the finest example of the pleasures of heathland golf is to be found at Swinley Forest in Ascot. A shame it being the 17th as it’s the last of the par 3s. It’s possible you’d have spotted Major The greens are the real highlight of Swinley- lots of great contouring and fun run off areas. This hole really offers everything one could want despite it being less than 400 yards. See other reviews from Charles Morrison. A hard running shot that chases up onto the green is a delight to watch. Swinley Forest's 6,000 yards packs plenty of challenge, as typified by the uphill 440 yard fifteenth hole. Book your next tournament now. The distance is difficult to gauge, as the golfer is sheltered from the wind by the green and frequently underestimates just how much uphill the shot really is., the proper club may be two more than the golfer first suspects. See other reviews from Peter Handcock. In my opinion, only the area of Carnoustie down to North Berwick, Long Island and the Sandbelt are in the conversation. 1 person found this review helpful A lot of the well known rhododendrons have been removed by the looks of the place. It’s a shame I’ve had to have this as a big part of my experience as I arrived at Swinley with so much hope and excitement and it left me deflated. For many years Swinley Forest was shrouded in secrecy and had almost mythical status in the world of golf. See other reviews from Gary Ray. 18 is a lovely closing hole uphill towards the famous clubhouse and patio. Stanley built the clubhouse and commissioned Harry Colt – who was then the The co... Pine Barrens is a course which sits higher than it should here. history. The bar has a calm and tranquil atmosphere where I enjoyed a fantastic breakfast before heading out to the excellent practice facilities. On my first round I took another penalty stroke with a lost ball on the tee shot but on both rounds I could not figure out where to land the ball on the green for a decent putt. scratch golfer but also the high handicapper. See other reviews from Jack Thomson. See other reviews from Mark White. These holes capsulize the appeal of Swinley Forest: they place exact demands on the highest skilled golfer, yet remain enjoyable to those less skilled (please note: Colt’s love of the Old Course at St. Andrews is well documented and it had a great influence on his design career). The founding principles of the club were eccentric, and nearly all of them have endured to the present day. A club butler welcomed my Dad and I on the 18th green, after a scrappy par, and offered us a cold glass of water ON A SILVER PLATTER. The outstanding feat... Little Mill is a very nice 27 hole complex in south NJ. Swinley Forest is a charming golf course set on the famous 12 is a wonderful double dogleg that may be the best hole on the course, although it has now had it's famous rhododendron bush removed for drainage reasons. A very fine example of a half-par hole. Was this review helpful? There are two fairway bunkers on the right that are more of an issue from the back tee. It has three large bunkers but it is possible to land the ball short of the green and run it on. In fact, the authors prefer the course shorter still, with the 15th hole played as a long par four reducing par to 68 and the yardage under 6,000. Shame. An absolute delight. See other reviews from Dan. Lord Stanley mentioned his gripes to King Edward VII, who One of the features that sets Swinley apart is its collection of par three holes. One can try to cut the corner of the dogleg to gain distance for a chance to hit the green in two. to societies and green fee visitors and there’s a tangible optimistic buzz They removed the bunker that was 40 yards short and right of the green on this par 3, which from the tee actually looked green side and made the green look minuscule. Sunningdale New this is not! Much like Sunningdale, it starts a bit slow, and builds up towards a crescendo. outstanding and varied in terms of length and design. Ninth hole, 435 yards; A visually stunning heathland hole, the tee is well above the fairway, which sweeps from right to left. The range consists of a singular shelter hitting out towards ‘in-reach’ pines. However, the quality of all of the holes are good to excellent and offer so many different strategic decisions that the course warrants inclusion in the top 100. In particular, the long ones found at the 6th, 9th, 12th and 15th holes give the course its considerable appeal to low markers. 11th a blind short par 4 which doglegs right tapering in narrowly towards the green with fairway bunkers that will gobble anything off line. It is indeed deserved and provides the golfer with an unmatched solitude from which he can enjoy a game. While playing only two rounds is not a confirmation, I do believe it is indicative that Swinley Forest presents a real challenge regardless of its length due to the wonderful greens. I was able to play it in the summer of 2018 on a beautiful summer’s day with no real wind. 5 Images Write Review. This is a course I highly recommend one play and play it more than once. Sunningdale, The Berkshire, and Walton Heath have an advantage in offering two outstanding golf courses. The course measures a little over 6,000 yards (5,500 m) and was designed by Harry Colt. The staff were all very welcoming and the clubhouse, whilst steeped in history, had more of a relaxed feeling than some other clubs at the top of England’s rankings. I could run through each hole and talk about the amazing layout and where to avoid the punishing heather, the Par 3's were so good! Swinley Forest Golf Club, Ascot England H ighlights One of the most exclusive clubs in England and all of Britain, frequented by many in the diplomatic community and perhaps even THE most posh club in London, the Swinley Forest Golf Club is an absolute joy. The course measures a little over 6,000 yards (5,500 m) and was designed by Harry Colt who described it as his "least bad course." The first is a lovely opener, which is followed by a visually stunning tee shot on 2, blind over heather and bunkers, much like 7 at Sunnindale Old. The whole course was in great shape when I played, with a special shout out to the purity of the greens, which were perfect. Some subtle, some drastic. I liked this hole for the added variety of yet another type of different shot as well as once again the hole is routed to take advantage of the change in terrain. While the back tees are only 6431 yards, Swinley Forest plays much longer despite the shortness of four of the par 4’s. In some ways the course lived to its magic, it was quiet, low key and as many describe, like going back in time. This hole is a mid-length par 4 playing slightly uphill with the tee shot requiring a carry over a ditch cutting diagonally across the fairway. But it is a relatively short course by modern standards and we decided to become “ for! For it deepest green on the front right and is rated the 2! 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