Bearwood Lakes

Overview: Bearwood Lakes is a private parkland course near Wokingham, set within roughly 200 acres of Berkshire countryside. Martin Hawtree’s design moves through woodland and around a series of lakes, using water, elevation and tree lines to create a varied sequence of holes. The course feels established because the estate is mature, but its design is comparatively modern and deliberately shaped around the existing landscape.

History: The Bearwood estate was once part of Windsor Great Park and has a much older royal and woodland history than the golf course itself. Bearwood Lakes opened in 1996, with the new course constructed through heath and woodland around an existing 40-acre lake. The club has since built a reputation for conditioning, seclusion and tournament-quality playing surfaces.

Did You Know? The course’s lakes are not just visual features: they influence the strategy on several holes, including a memorable island-green par three. Gary Player visited the club in 2019 and later described the course’s design in terms of its challenge around the greens and its demanding bunker placement.