How to Plan a Golf Tour in Berkshire and Surrey

Despite lying less than an hour’s drive from the capital city of London, the counties of Berkshire and Surrey offer not only spectacular scenery but also some of the best golfing opportunities you’ll find anywhere in the country. The rolling hills of the British countryside nestle world famous courses that play host to the some of the biggest professional golf tournaments.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Book or plan your transport to the area. It’s undoubtedly easiest to drive to your destination, particularly as you’ll need to take your own clubs, but it’s also possible to arrive in the counties via train at one of the major towns in the area, including Reading in Berkshire and Guildford and Woking in Surrey.

2. Decide which golf courses you want to play on during the length of your tour. There are plenty of leading courses in the area, but Sunningdale, Wentworth and Foxhills are probably three of the best.

3. Research the golf courses you’ve chosen, including prices and waiting lists. No golf trip to the region is complete without a game at one of the major clubs, but they can be very expensive and may only allow non-members to play on certain days. Major courses also get booked up very quickly, especially during the peak summer months from July through September, so book well in advance.

4. Check the golf club’s calendar to see if there are any professional tournaments or course maintenance taking place during your proposed visit which will prevent you from using the course. Wentworth Club, for example, hosts three major tournaments throughout the year: the World Play Championship, the PGA Championship and the Senior Masters.

5. There are also plenty of smaller and cheaper clubs in the area. For example, Surrey Golf Club’s Green Fees are approximately £40 a day compared to Sunningdale’s £100 to £170 charge!

6. Choose which hotels you plan to stay in. If your idea is to visit many different golf courses in the region during the tour, then book a different hotel for each night of your stay. Premium hotels in Berkshire and Surrey will charge about £125 per night (including breakfast) based on two adults sharing a room, although obviously there will be much cheaper but less luxurious options available.

7. Book a tour with a Golf Tours package operator if you don’t want the hassle of organising everything yourself. You should expect to pay around £400 for two to three nights hotel stay (including dinner and breakfast) and golf at two to three courses.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult dedicated golfing magazines like Golf Monthly and Today’s Golfer for current reviews of golf clubs and courses in the area.
• If you’re planning a relatively short tour, choose courses that are close to each other to avoid spending the majority of your holiday travelling.