Mapledurham,
Reading, Berkshire RG4 7UT
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Joe Templer (PGA, Head Golf Professional)The Course:
18 holes. Open heathland. Gently undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Woodland & open heathland.
Designer:
Original design at this location by David Williams (2000); redesigned by Canadian architect Thomas "Tom" McBroom (2020).
The now closed Reading GC course at Emmer Green was originally designed by James Braid (1910), modified by Harry Colt (1913), and later revamped by Philip Mackenzie Ross (1930s).
51.489848
-1.005296
2 mi NW of Caversham / 3 mi NW of Reading.
The Caversham "Home of Reading Golf Club": embarking on a new future in 2021, the long-established Reading Golf Club moved from its Emmer Green home to a new location in nearby Caversham. The move involved merging with the much newer Caversham Heath Golf Club, and a revamp of the Caversham Heath course into a top-quality modern design by acclaimed Canadian-architect Tom McBroom.
This well-maintained, roaming, big-dimension layout opens with an attractive uphill short par-4. Here you'll be introduced to the layout's relatively open heathland terrain, plentiful eye-browed bunkering, and generously sloping greens. Beyond the generally good-width fairways occasional stretches of gorse reinforce the heathland feel, although there's a conspicuous absence of heather itself. Gentle climbs at the 1st and 3rd holes, are followed by nothing more strenuous than gentle elevation changes ... an easy course to walk.
Water hazards are few, but be mindful of the approach to the curvaceous double-green of the par-5 7th and par-3 15th. Both holes are defended by the same threatening pond. Water also threatens at the par-3 8th. Around the often large and abundantly sloping greens, lies an attractive array of mounding, bunkering, slick run-offs, and the occasional above-mentioned water.
The Caversham's quiet natural environment plays home to a wonderful array of wildlife, not least an abundance of red kites, pheasants, herons, and occasional deer (as the club crest suggests).
Pick of the holes: the left-to-right doglegging 5th is an excellent exemplar for McBroom's design skills and the naturalness of the overall layout. This handsome par-5 falls gently downhill towards a well bunker-defended green, framed by a view of Reading town and the rolling Berkshire countryside beyond.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance.
Players generally walk this course. Golf carts available for hire (book in advance).
Good
The Caversham, through various mergers and closures, can trace its history back to the original Reading GC (est. 1898). In 1910 the original club, which played at Tilehurst, was joined in the Reading area by a second club, the Caversham & South Oxfordshire GC. The members of the latter played on a James Braid course located at Emmer Green.
By 1918 the Reading GC and its Tilehurst course had effectively ceased to operate. Meanwhile the Caversham & South Oxfordshire GC forged on, having acquired many of the members and trophies from the defunct Reading GC. Caversham & South Oxfordshire was renamed as Reading & South Oxfordshire GC in 1928, and then Reading GC from 1939.
Caversham Heath Golf Club, a new course for the Reading area opened for play in 2000. In 2020 it merged with Reading GC, whose course at Emmer Green was sold for housing development.
The combined clubs, Reading and Caversham Heath, agreed on a new name, The Caversham "Home of Reading Golf Club". They also agreed that Canadian course architect Tom McBroom should redesign the Caversham Heath course into a top-quality modern layout (to be known as the Eynston course, after Caversham Heath's founder Jack Eynston).
Reading GC was the home course of two very accomplished golfers. Michael King (b.1950) played on the GB&I Walker Cup team in 1969 and 1973, then, as a professional, in the European Ryder Cup team in 1979. He was a European Tour player for many years, recording his only win in 1979. Another player whose golf skills were honed at Reading GC was Shelley McKevitt-Batt. She won the England Girls Championship in 1997, and played for GB&I in the 2004 Curtis Cup .
Women’s (British) Open: the last women’s major championship of the season is hosted by Royal Porthcawl GC. It’s the first time this fabulous seaside links course has hosted the event (July 31-Aug 3).
Walker Cup: the 50th playing of this prestigious men’s amateur event sees the GB&I go head-to-head against the defending USA team at Cypress Point Club, California (Sept 6-7). After that, all eyes turn to Bethpage State Park on Long Island, NY, where the American and defending European professional teams engage in the 45th Ryder Cup (Sept 27-29).
Lottie Woad: 21-year-old Woad burst onto the professional scene in July, with wins in the Women’s Irish Open (as an amateur) and three weeks later in the Women’s Scottish Open (as a professional). She nearly picked-up a major championship, placing third in The Evian in the same month.
Pádraig Harrington: the ever-likeable Irishman added the (British) Senior Open Championship title to his stellar array of tournament successes. His win came on Sunningdale’s spectacular Old Course. Harrington had already bagged the U.S. Senior Open title in June this year.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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