Swinley Forest

[Qwerty]

Has anyone had the pleasure of playing it?

I've just been reading about the club and it was described as being "frozen in time" apparently they have only just got round to allocating par figures to the holes and only recently printed scorecards.
There's obviously no website, and competitions are few and far between.

It all seems a bit of a waste of a fantastic course to me.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Yes, I had the pleasure of a day out there 4 years ago. It really is stepping back in time, hardly anyone else there all day. Lunch was out of this world, course was in pristine condition Very good course but not quite up with Sunningdale or Berkshire Red.

 

[richart]

Played it a few times, lovely course usually in immaculate condition. One of my favourites but just got too expensive. I know it was once voted years back in the top 10 most exclusive clubs in the world by one of the golf magazines.

 

[Qwerty]

Is it true that up until recently there was no par for the holes, if so what did you do.
I presume if there was also no scorecard you would not know the yardages.
I know in Theory we should be able to just knock it round and enjoy the course and maybe guess the par for each hole, but if I was paying a huge green fee I'm not sure I'd be happy doing this.

 

[Imurg]

I played in a club match against Swinley Forest Artisans about 13-14 years ago.
Fantastic place, although we didn't get to go in the Clubhouse, just the Artisans "Quarters"!
Lovely course, I parred the first - they had cards then - and thought "this ain't so bad" - and then it bit me bit time!

Heard some great stories from the Artisans.
My favourite was about an Indian Princess, now well into her 90's, who flew over from India once a week in her Private Jet, got picked up at the Airport in a Limo and taken to Swinley Forest, had Lunch with her friends, played 9 holes - on the putting green - got back in the Limo, back to the Airport and back home.....

I hope its a true one...

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Imurg

no idea if that is true or not but having seen the place it is the sort of thing I can imagine to be true

 

[richart]

I heard that Jimmy Tarbuck was black balled when he applied for membership.

Always had cards when I played there. Some of the best par 3's I have played any where, and a very difficult par 68.

They didn't used to have membership fees, just divided up the costs of running the club between the members.

 

[Qwerty]

I heard that Jimmy Tarbuck was black balled when he applied for membership.

I'm beginning to like the sound of this place :thup:

 

[Foxholer]

I've played it quite often over the last few years. My club has a couple of days booked annually and a couple of groups I'm with are on the Society list.

Not quite 'frozen in time' but a nostalgic view of what Golf was all about at the beginning of the 20th Century. Not sure about having no scorecards - always have since I've been there - but heard that when the R&A said they need stroke indexes for the holes, they simply used the ones from The Old Course! Also heard that the owner of the house that overlooks the 18th used to keep a Gorilla in the garden!

Great course - and lunch (best cheese, fruit and stodgy pudds) - with probably the best set of Par 3s I've played. Harry Colt described it as his 'least bad' course design.

Has been updated from a completely private members course. They have 1 Society every week day which basically pays for the upkeep! Members have free use at weekends and can roll up to the 10th during the week and simply enjoy the majestic simplicity of the place!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Been lucky enough to play it quite a lot as some of the Ascot members have connections with members there (mostly but not entirely artisans) and also in club matches. It does have an atmosphere all of its own. Not my favourite course when you comare it to the Berkshire just down the road or Sunningdale but it has to be on most peoples "play" list. Always had cards whenever I've been there