Donnington Valley Hotel & Golf Course

Donnington Valley is just off the Old Newbury to Oxford road and up the long drive that seems to dissect the course. The car park is small but adequate (although may not be at peak summer times) and the views across rural West Berkshire lift the spirit. A short walk takes you to the Pro Shop that is a good size, warm, well-stocked and staffed by friendly and efficient people who clearly enjoy what they are doing.

It was a good job we invested the princely sum of £4 in the course guide as it turned out to be worth its weight in gold, without it on some holes we might well have been shooting blind. The first was a cunning downhill dog-leg to the left which was only let down by the temporary winter green. This hole set the scene for a great day’s golf.

Donnington Valley is a mix of terrain that never bores with each hole having its own unique identity. There are deceptively short par fours, very long par fives and stunning par threes, all with character and an abundance of dips, hollows, banks, ridges, woodland and water just to make in interesting. Each hole really does require very careful consideration before teeing off to ensure correct club selection and strategy. Despite looking like a sleeping cat this course is in fact a slumbering lion challenging you to try and tame it.

The holes that stand out for this reviewer anyway are the first (nothing like having a ‘tough’ start to wake you up!), the 15th (Big Dipper) which surely must be longer than its recorded length (no?, well it certainly seemed like it!) and the 16th (Lakeside) where you tee off over a range of waterfalls with no real distance to tackle but a huge rise in height.

The course was in great condition given the time of year which is a tribute to the greens staff. Only a few holes were being played on temporary greens and NO temporary tees in sight. The only minor criticism of the maintenance was some of the tee-signs could do with refurbishment and a number of other signs were falling over etc. A small point that doesn’t otherwise detract from the enjoyment the course provides. Oh and there could do with a few more seats by tees for those inevitable long waits that seem so common these days.

Still, we had a great day’s golf and at the bargain price of £15 for 18 holes on a winter promotion… what more can you ask for?