Swinley Forest Golf Club

The story of Swinley Forest begins in equally unconventional fashion. In 1909, Lord Derby found himself tardy for a meeting with His Majesty, King Edward VII, due to a rash of slow play at Sunningdale. The King responded by offering Lord Derby a prudent suggestion: Build a new course on a piece of the Crown Estate in the nearby Berkshire Heathland. Soon Harry Colt, then the Club Secretary at nearby Sunningdale, was commissioned to carve a course through the dense thicket of pines and heather. The result being what Colt would later describe as the “least bad” course of his career. High praise from a man who was seldom, if ever, guilty of puffery.

When Colt commenced his work at Swinley Forest, he started by first identifying the site of the five par-3s, then completing the puzzle of the rest of the course around them. The London heathland is home to a wealth of incredible short holes, but none can hold a candle to the collection found at Swinley Forest. In addition, the challenging par-4s will pose a formidable test, especially if an erratic tee ball leads to frequent visits to the gnarly heather. But it’s the terrific green complexes which may pose the greatest threat to the scorecard, thanks to a variety of false fronts, severe run-offs, and tricky putting surfaces.

Of all the unforgettable features of Swinley Forest, visitors on London golf trips often cite the abundance of solitude as its finest quality. 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.

When paired with Colt’s “least bad” masterpiece, and the one of a kind atmosphere of the club, it’s no wonder why Swinley Forest is beloved by nearly all of those privileged to pass through its unconventional gates.