The Downshire Golf Complex

Played Downshire on a lovely spring afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was busy (2 competitions squeezed in) and the round was almost 5 hours but then it IS a decent pay and play course and, for £15-25 ( twilight round on a weekend), a bargain. This course does tend to get a bit boggy in places during the winter months but they have protected the tee boxes this year - it's all winter mats which isn't great but a necessary evil. Although not long - 6000 yards off the yellows - the course is still a challenge. The greens were in great condition (and I seemed to spend FAR too long putting) and the course in general was in good nick. Several of the holes have ditches running across, which makes you lay up. The stand out hole is the 7th (140 yards over a pond, avoiding the overhanging branches) which always seems to play tougher than it should ! There is a range, decent pro-shop and putting green. I would definitely go back.

Played this course just yesterday for the first time... for a municipal course, I found the greens in very good condition, very receptive.. I found only one green in poor condition.. the par 3 7th.. the rest were good... as a high handicapper, I found this a good course to learn on with fairly wide fairways, and nice big greens.... I doubt if I'd play this course in the winter since it looks like it may get a bit soggy in the winter (I may be wrong though)..... will definitely play this course again in the next couple of months. Well worth a visit

I have played this course a few times now in the last two years or so and have to confirm it as one of my favourites. I'm not a very good golfer, but found Downshire to offer me a good blend of challenge and enjoyment. Agree with some of the other comments about the rough being a bit nasty! It's not the toughest, but my favourite hole is definitely the par 3 over the lake. This has a high tee position, so wind comes into it somewhat. And of course when you play like I do, that lake is a real psychological tester (translation - "ball magnet"). Play this course. You'll be glad you did.

Played the Downshire on the 08/05/2007 with a society,I had heard lots of good things about this course, And I agree now with what I have heard , that this is a great little course. Well set out,not the longest track but a nice length for the average golfer,Nice T's,fairways,and greens,really friendly staff,nice food,shop and practice area. The only negative comment i can make is that the rough was brutal,to much for the average golfer but apart from this, a great day. Will be back soon cheers.......What a friendly course..no airs and graces a real pleasure to play. Course was in smashing condition greens nice and true. All of the staff that we spoke to were great.

I played the Downshire on the 3rd August 2006 on the twilight rate of £13. I would recommend this course to anyone looking to play in the area. The first hole is a little bland, but after this I didn't play a bad hole. The par 3's are among the best on any course I've played - short but if you don't hit the green there's trouble everywhere. All the greens are excellent. The only downside, unsurprisingly with the price and standard of the course, is the number of people on the course and speed of play - I could only stay for 9 holes, but would definitely play again.

Teed off Sunday at 0624 and had a very pleasant round. Course in good nick and looking well in early spring. Tee boxes a bit scruffy. Greens very slow but ran true and will get quicker as the ground dries out and they cut them shorter. For a muni you can't fault it for quality, ease of tee booking and challenge. Only gripe came on 10th tee as a 'established' sunday morning back nine comp had begun to tee off. Very respectful on letting you through. But as you know never easy playing through. Should have been warned by either club house or marshall to dampen frustration and slowed round down.

I have only played this course once but when I did it was a very big challenge! The course is very well managed and maintained, the greens and tee-off areas are well kept. Almost every par 4/5 is a dog-leg to the left or right and the par 3's are very short. Overall this course is a very good course for a beginner/mid handicapper.

I Played downshire a number of years ago and thought it was a good pay & play course then, it is far more mature now and keeps you thinking on most of the holes. If you are straight off the tee you should have an enjoyable game, if however you wander into the rough you will probably drop a shot if not lose a ball. most of the greens are in good condition, not so sure about the quality of the sand in some of the bunkers(but then you shouldn't be in them anyway). I look forwards to playing it again soon.

Downshire is a very solid course with some tough holes (the 16th is one I've always struggled on) and some interesting challenges. The rough can be quite unpleasant particularly in the spring/early summer when a bad bounce off the edge of a fairway can lead to a lost ball! The fourth and fifteenth are both challenging holes but there are some very straightforward holes (3rd, 8th, 13th, 14th) that in my opinion don't add to the course at all. The course does not drain well and I have played it when it should have been shut (ankle deep walking/wading up the 18th fairway) and I now avoid it during the winter months. On the plus side the shop is excellent and the bar and clubhouse are both very welcoming and accomodating. In terms of its competition Pine Ridge is probably an easier course (it is certainly less established) but it has far better facilities than Downshire. Contrary to another reviewer it is also one of the finest public courses in Surrey and not Berkshire.

For a public course this was very good, on a number of holes you really have to think. The only downside was the greens. They had been dressed earlier in the week, which meant putts were somtimes thrown off at some very strange angles. I hope to return.

As a regular player at Downshire indeed this is where I got my 20 handicap I felt moved to comment after reading the suggestion that Pine Ridge is a better course! As someone who plays both courses all the time I would comfirm that during the winter months Pine Ridge has the advantage because its stays open and fairly dry but from a course point of view their is little contest .Downshire is a course that presents you with different problems all the time in particular on the front nine and if you go wrong beware because you will neeed to hit good recovery shots .With Pine Ridge its just not the same because almost no matter where you finnish you will still have a shot . The final point I would make is a personal one namely my best score around Pine Ridge is 9 over and around Downshire 14 over so I know which course is the more challenging .

Am a regular player at the Downshire, and agree with almost all the other sentiments. For a public course, this is excellent. The only times you realise this is a public course is when you get behind some players who unfortunately have no idea of etiquette! The lack of marker posts can be an annoyance as well! However the course iteself is excellent, well maintained, and looked after. Look out for the huge carp in the ponds in front of the 6th and 7th green!

i have just had the pleasures of playing a game at the Downshire golf course with my 2 english friends who have been, as you are saying, pesterings me to play here and i am most glad they did. An excellent venue! especially for a council run course, apparently in England this is not always a thing of the good?? But this course could easily be a private club, i had a most enjoyable round although the lack of the posts for distances is a shames, The clubhouse-bar was also very nice, although a shame that the rather attractive fraulein had to inform us of no foods being available at 7pm,,shame.. Nice golf course thoughs, ''i will be back'' to quote an austrian relative!!

Those people who moan about this course must be used to playing some excellent courses! This is a hidden gem!The course itself is not difficult by any stretch of the imagination but is in superb condition considering it is a pay-and-play. The greens are superb and I would recommend it to anyone as a low cost, excellent round of golf. On the downside (there has to be something!) a small investment in some distance markers would be nice as many holes have some missing.

Played this course in late November. Pleasantly surprised - considering it's a pay & play and so takes plenty of hammer, the course was in good condition. Excellent greens for the time of year. Enough challenging holes for a mid-handicapper like me. Some of the par 4s need to be a bit longer and a bit more of a challenge (the 4th & 8th especially) and the 5th needs re-shaping or at least better signing. Tighter fairways and a bit more length needed. Overall, though, well worth the green fee and an enjoyable round.

One of the finest pay and play courses you will come across. The course layout has improved immensly over the years and the greens, despite the traffic, are playing very well. A good mixture of holes are available from the signature Par 3 7th over water to the testing 16th. Off the white tees the 11th becomes an easier Par 5 than it is a Par 4 off the Yellow making it a good birdie opportunity. If you have yet to visit you will not be disappointed Downshire is an excellent course and worth the Green Fee of £15.30 during the week. (Weekends £19.30).

Have played this course on a number of occasions over the years and have never rated it. the 3rd which everyone tells me is a new hole is about 2 yrs old and is in poor condition the 4th has always had g.u.r.to the left of it for as long as i can remember,5th is completely blind with no range or marking rod for your first shot,6 is a nice hole over a ditch but exactly the same as the 10th,the 11th is a small par 3 with no trouble at the back so you can virtually take the water out of play with one more iron.It is virtually impossible to get a decent tee off on a weekend.Avoid it and go to Pine Ridge Camberley for a few quid more its the best pay and play in berkshire.

One of the very best pay and play courses in the country. Superbly maintained, plenty of variety to keep all standards of players interested.

One of the best pay and play courses in the area. I have been playing this one for years, and it gets better every year. The 7th is a great par 3 over a lake, give it a try, you wont be disappointed.