Newbury & Crookham Golf Club

Newbury & Crookham Golf Club features an 18 hole course, spread through Berkshire's woodland and heathland. The course provides an interesting and challenging experience for all levels of golfer.

Opened in 1873 as Crookham GC, the current course dates from after World War II, during which it was requisitioned by the Air Ministry and some holes were commandeered as runways for what, ultimately, became the Greenham Common airbase, famed for its women's peace protests in the 1980s.

In 1947 the golf club amalgamated with the younger Newbury District Golf Club, which was established in 1923, and those wartime runways now constitute, in part at least, the first, 14th and 15th fairways. But it is the fifth and seventh holes that SGD is returning to renovate, having been untouched in the earlier work and now requiring improvement in both playing strategy and technical performance.

Swan Golf Designs (SGD) is to redesign two holes at Newbury & Crookham (Nov 2014).

• Course does not have: Bar
• Course has: Buggy Hire
• Course does not have: Driving Range
• Course does not have: Practice Green
• Course does not have: Pro Shop
• Course does not have: Restaurant
• Course does not have: Trolley Hire
• Course has: Dress Code
• Course does not have: Club Hire
• Course has: Handicap

• 4 out of 5 A hidden gem 28 October 2008

  By Guttenbiel

  Most in the area will think of Donnington Grove and Sandford Springs as the flagship courses around Newbury; they'd be wrong. Newbury and Crookham is an excellent course with not a weak shot, let alone hole on the course. it is not long by todays standards, but if you are looking for open spaces go to a range. Tees are first class, greens are quick and true, fairways narrow and lush and the surrounds are mature to the tune of over 100 years. This is a members club, but you can play as a visitor on weekdays and in the afternoon on weekends. A great course.

• 3.5 out of 5 Newbury and Crockham 14 September 2008

  By joe jarlow

  During a 2 week holiday in Newbury, Berkshire (August 2008), I decided to play some local golf courses in the area. Having managed to get my handicap down to 16 in recent months (living and playing in Malaysia) I though playing some new courses in the UK would give me a challenge and test my new handicap. With loads of resources on the Internet on golf courses in the UK it was not hard to find a number of courses within 30 minutes drive of my accommodaton. I ended up playing 8 rounds of golf on 4 courses during the two weeks and managed to pick almost rain free days. I played Sandford Springs (South of Newbury,25mins), Newbury Race Course (East,10mins), Donnington Valley (North,15mins), and Newbury and Crockham (SouthEast,15mins). I visited another course, Donnington Grove, having been highly recommended on the Internet (best in area), however the reception I got was less than inviting. The Pro shop staff were not very encouraging towards a non member and as a result I decided not to play the course. I arrived at each of the courses very early in the morning on weekdays (7.30am) and managed to Tee off easily by 8.00am. Donnington Valley staff were very friendly (particularly the staff opening the bar early) and were neven happy for me to Tee off and pay when I completed the round. Sandford Springs (27 holes): Well kept, nice course, beautiful woods and countryside, friendly staff, some really challanging holes. A bit costly (35GBP) so on a scale of value for money I would choose Donnington Valley and Newbury & Croockham instead. Donnington Valley: A relatively easy front nine apart from a long par 4 6th. Although the short downhill par 4 280yard 10th. is easy, the next 8 holes on the back nine are all very tight, hilly, and wayward tee shots are punished severely. Very friendly staff and well priced at 18GBP. Newbury Race Course: Open and a bit boring just up and down parallel holes. Little or no trees and a straightforward course. The last 6 holes have been squeezed in a bit. However, if windy the course becomes a bit trickier, the and tee shots will suffer if not accurate. Having said that, wayward tee shots just end up on the parallel fairway. Pleasant staff and very cheap (11GBP). Newbury & Crockham – Beautiful picturesque countryside and forested course, tricky couple of par 5’s. Shortish on the back nine. Peasant staff, nice members that I spoke to, and reasonably priced at 25GBP. Difficult to get in to the clubhouse for a drink afterwards due to automatically locking doors requiring members keycard entry only, annoying. Friendliness: SS = 6, DV = 9, NRC = 7, N&C = 7. Picturesque: SS = 8, DV = 7, NRC = 4, N&C = 7. Value for money: SS = 5, DV = 9, NRC = 7, N&C = 8. Overall: SS = 19, DV = 25, NRC = 18, N&C = 22. Overall (0-5): SS = 3 (3.2), DV = 4 (4.2), NRC = (3) 3, N&C = 4 (3.7) Order of play if I visited again: Newbury & Crockham, Donnington Valley, Sandford Springs, Newbury Race Course.