Berkshire golf club membership recommendations?

[Sam2]

In a similar scenario to the guy posting about joining a new club on their own, most of my golfing buddies have moved away in the last year and I'm not playing anywhere near as much golf as I'd like. From that post joining a club looks like what I need to do.

Ideally looking for a club with quite a few members close to my age (20-30s), can anybody recommend clubs in Berkshire (I live Bracknell way) that would be worth trying?

Thanks in advance.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

In a similar scenario to the guy posting about joining a new club on their own, most of my golfing buddies have moved away in the last year and I'm not playing anywhere near as much golf as I'd like. From that post joining a club looks like what I need to do.

Ideally looking for a club with quite a few members close to my age (20-30s), can anybody recommend clubs in Berkshire (I live Bracknell way) that would be worth trying?

Thanks in advance.

More than welcome to come up to Royal Ascot with me for a game and a look around

 

[Hosel Fade]

I'd go along with recommending Royal Ascot, no idea what Mill Ride is like nowadays I know a bunch of people left quite a few years ago after ownership changes. I hear good things about East Berks as a course but I haven't played it myself and also don't know what the membershio makeup is

 

[HomerJSimpson]

You'd need to contact the club for prices as I don't know them for the various categories but some great age break discounts for you too

http://www.royalascotgolfclub.co.uk/membership/membership-costs.html

 

[Parky24]

Used to be a a member of Windlesham that was ok. Im at the Army now maybe a bit far but i know some members from Bracknell. Definately one of the younger membership clubs.

As i pay and play i used to love The Downshire in Bracknell. Maybe they have a membership option.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Used to be a a member of Windlesham that was ok. Im at the Army now maybe a bit far but i know some members from Bracknell. Definately one of the younger membership clubs.

As i pay and play i used to love The Downshire in Bracknell. Maybe they have a membership option.

Two clubs at Downshire Golf Centre (Downshire & Easthampstead) and you need to book a tee time each time. Windlesham still very, very wet in winter despite the millions they've thrown at improving drainage. Another where to my knowledge you have to book a tee time each time whereas you can go out anytime at my club (other than when a comp is on)

 

[Parky24]

Yeah your right Homer it was very muddy in winter at Windlesham and i was never too keen on the tee booking idea. Nice clubhouse though overlooking the course and when i was there the full english was supurb, the food at the Army is its biggest downside

 

[Hosel Fade]

Two clubs at Downshire Golf Centre (Downshire & Easthampstead) and you need to book a tee time each time. Windlesham still very, very wet in winter despite the millions they've thrown at improving drainage. Another where to my knowledge you have to book a tee time each time whereas you can go out anytime at my club (other than when a comp is on)

Pricing structure for intermediates at Windlesham is high as well, think I still have the membership enquiry pack in my emails from when my mate forwarded it to me. Manager was really friendly in the email but the number was highly prohibitive. Not the greatest fan of the course either.

Edit: Its a yearly scale starting off at 870 at 22 yo and reaching 1775 at 30 yo going up in roughly 100 quid increments. On the upside the monthly direct debit doesn't cost extra and you can leave with 3 months notice.

 

[Parky24]

when i was there i bought someones membership for a year. That was 2002 i think. Even the it was £1500

 

[Wilson]

When I was Bracknell based, I was a member at SandMartins, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and I've heard it's improved since the new owners came in.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

When I was Bracknell based, I was a member at SandMartins, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and I've heard it's improved since the new owners came in.

I hope so. HID use to work there for the previous owner (Andrew Hall) and it was run as a society fest, especially in the week and members weren't happy about the lack of playing opportunities. Even at weekends with tee booking in advance mandatory, it was hard to get a time to suit and they packed people on making it a slow experience. If that's changed then that has to be a good thing as there is a lot to like. The course is a bit marmite for some, but I've enjoyed it and they do some decent food and drink

 

[Wilson]

I hope so. HID use to work there for the previous owner (Andrew Hall) and it was run as a society fest, especially in the week and members weren't happy about the lack of playing opportunities. Even at weekends with tee booking in advance mandatory, it was hard to get a time to suit and they packed people on making it a slow experience. If that's changed then that has to be a good thing as there is a lot to like. The course is a bit marmite for some, but I've enjoyed it and they do some decent food and drink

It wasn't like that when I was a member, from 2012-2014, the period you are talking about was before that, and they realised the issues, and made the required changes. I understand that since the new owners have come in, they have reduced the societies even further, and have invested in the course & the driving range.

 

[AlanMills]

Two clubs at Downshire Golf Centre (Downshire & Easthampstead) and you need to book a tee time each time. Windlesham still very, very wet in winter despite the millions they've thrown at improving drainage. Another where to my knowledge you have to book a tee time each time whereas you can go out anytime at my club (other than when a comp is on)

I'm a member of Downshire so can add a little info here. The golf complex is (currently) council owned and run. There are three clubs that play there. Easthamstead ladies, Easthampstead and Downshire. Each club has it's own membership deals for the club but none mean free golf. You still pay the council your green fees each time you play or can get a season ticket from the complex.

if the OP lives in Bracknell he's probably played there. The biggest negative is playing off mats pretty all through GMT in the winter. i.e. clocks go back and you're off mats switching back to grass tees when the clocks go forward again. but the place is relatively cheap and cheerful.

 

[Sam2]

Wow thanks for all of the responses.
Alan as you mentioned - Downshire is a local club to me (was previously Blue Mountain!), but I'd prefer to join a traditional club rather than a council owned course. It doesn't feel like a club with a big community/membership vibe to it if that makes sense?
Fees are also somewhat important to me - so Windlesham and East Berks at under a grand a year (for under 30s) according to your posts are appealing.
Are there any members of East Berks here? Not sure I've played at the course.

Looks like I have many courses to choose from!

 

[Hosel Fade]

Wow thanks for all of the responses.
Alan as you mentioned - Downshire is a local club to me (was previously Blue Mountain!), but I'd prefer to join a traditional club rather than a council owned course. It doesn't feel like a club with a big community/membership vibe to it if that makes sense?
Fees are also somewhat important to me - so Windlesham and East Berks at under a grand a year (for under 30s) according to your posts are appealing.
Are there any members of East Berks here? Not sure I've played at the course.

Looks like I have many courses to choose from!

Windlesham is only under a grand up until age 24, I paid 400 at RAGC up until 23 when I left and it then doubled to 800 until 29 (numbers there might be different now). Still reduced fees up til 35 iirc.