The Berkshire Golf Club

Qualifying Round 1: Wednesday 2nd June 2010

The Berkshire Golf Club is a Private Members' Club which was founded in 1928 when both Courses were constructed by the Office of Crown Lands on estates once used by Queen Anne for her hunting parties in the 17th/18th century.

"Any golfer who has not visited this marvellous club with its two magnificent courses, the Red and the Blue, has missed one of the great pleasures in golf.
I have always loved both links and heath land golf, and the two Berkshire courses are the finest example of the latter. Sand based fairways and greens are set in a superb arena of pine trees and heather and the design and placement of the bunkers are a tribute to the skill of the golf course architect.
In particular, the par three holes are as good as any to be found, with each having its own character and not like the 250 yard tests that are a feature of contemporary design. However they are just as hard and in some cases, even more punishing to a bad shot.
It is 50 years since I first played these two great courses, but during that time, I have never known the condition of them to be anything but perfect and the same is as relevant today. The putting surfaces being as true as any you will find.
The friendly atmosphere of the clubhouse and the excellent food and well stocked bar complete the experience. All in all, there is no finer place to play golf! " - Sir Michael Bonallack.

In the Club's original handbook of 1930, the famous golf writer Bernard Darwin wrote:-

"The Courses were laid out by Mr Herbert Fowler, and I begin by taking off my hat to him with profound respect. He has laid out many fine courses in his time. He began by raising for himself a lasting monument in the Old Course at Walton Heath, which is still to my thinking unsurpassed as a real golfing battlefield for real golfers. Even so, I think Mr Fowler is a better golfing artist now than when he first exploited his genius on the big stretch of Walton heather. His art has mellowed with experience and has gained something in variety, in subtleness and in picturesqueness. Mr Fowler has made a very fine job if it and has added two courses to the select number of unquestionably first class inland Courses."

The Club has hosted many Amateur events over the years, of note being The English Amateur Championships, The British Seniors Open Championships, the English Ladies' Close Amateur Championships, The English Senior Ladies' Matchplay Championships, the Women's Home Internationals and the Vagliano Trophy played between Great Britain and Ireland versus The Continent of Europe.

In addition to hosting The London Amateur Foursomes every three years, the Club hosts two important Amateur events annually, The Berkshire Trophy for Gentlemen and The Lady Astor Salver for Ladies.

The Berkshire has the unique distinction of having a golf course which has six Par 3s, six Par 4s and six Par 5s - The Red Course. The Banks and Brokers Golf Championship will be played on the fabulous Red Course.

Situated less than 20 miles from Central London and being very close to Heathrow Airport the Club is perfectly situated for visitors from overseas and has strong reciprocal arrangements with many leading clubs in Australia.

For more information and directions please visit: www.theberkshire.co.uk

The Berkshire Golf Club Ltd
Swinley Road
Ascot
Berkshire
SL5 8AY

Woburn Golf Club

Qualifying Round 2: Friday 9th July 2010

Round 2 of the 2010 Banks and Brokers Golf Championship will be played on the famous Duke's Course at Woburn.

A true golfing gem! The Duke's Course was created in one of the finest inland golfing settings in Europe. It was the location for the British Masters for 20 years and from 2008 is home to the Travis Perkins Senior Masters and other top men's and women's professional events.

Designed by Charles Lawrie in 1974, when the late 14th Duke of Bedford decided to bring golf to the Woburn Estate, the 6,983 yard Duke's course sports fairways lined with pine, silver birch and chestnut trees. Heather, bracken and gorse add to the charm of the course as well as providing some of the natural hazards of each hole. The famous third hole, framed by rhododendron bushes, has recently been voted into the 'World's Top 500 Holes' by Golf Magazine.

For more details and directions please visit:www.woburn.co.uk

A detailed history of the Duke's Course can also be found by clicking on the following link: Course Description

Woburn Golf Club
Little Brickhill
Milton Keynes
MK17 9LJ
Tel: (01908) 370756

Doonbeg Golf Course

Grand Final: Sunday 12th and Monday 13th September 2010

The Grand Final of the 2010 Banks and Brokers Golf Championship will be played at the fabulous Doonbeg Golf Course in Co. Clare, Ireland. The top two teams from the Berkshire and Woburn events will qualify to play at Doonbeg in September. The Grand Final package is free of charge and includes return flights, hotel transfers, 2 rounds of golf (one practice round), dinner and 5 star accommodation.

Officially opened in 2002, the Greg Norman designed Doonbeg was immediately designated as Golf Digest's "Best New International Course." Enjoying a breathtaking location matched with distinctive services and facilities, the unique luxury accommodations and close proximity to Shannon Airport make Doonbeg 5 star golf resort in Ireland one of the world's most desirable golf destinations.

Maybe the last true links course to be built in either Ireland or England, Doonbeg golf course in Clare is ideally situated between two of Ireland's other top ranked courses, BallyBunion and Lahinch.

Doonbeg Golf Course officially opened in 2002, and was immediately designated as Golf Digest's "Best New International Course." Enjoying a breathtaking location matched with distinctive services and facilities, the unique luxury accommodations and close proximity to Shannon Airport make Doonbeg 5 star golf resort in Ireland one of the world's most desirable golf destinations.

Maybe the last true links course to be built in either Ireland or England, Doonbeg golf course in Clare is ideally situated between two of Ireland's other top ranked courses, BallyBunion and Lahinch.

Variations in wind speed and direction ensure the course plays differently each and every time. The Par-72 layout features a single loop of nine holes out and nine back, playing 6,885 yards from the back tees. The most natural routing within the existing dunes resulted in an uncommon combination of five par 3s and five par 5s.

Wind direction and speed determines consistent variation in play - for example the average golfer will play from a sand wedge to a 5-iron on the 111 yard 14th. To allow for a range of conditions and abilities most holes feature five or more tee locations.

For more details please visit: www.doonbeggolfclub.com