The Caversham

The Eyston Course brings a genuine inland links feel to the Reading area. Expect firm turf, strong drainage and a rugged look that is very different from the softer parkland courses many golfers will know in this part of the country. McBroom built it to USGA standards, which gives the greens a consistency and pace that holds up across every season. The course plays well in conditions that would turn softer venues into a slog, and that year-round reliability is one of its biggest practical advantages.

The layout measures between 5,519 and 7,265 yards across eight different configurations, achieved through a clever system of combination tees that blend holes from different coloured tee positions. It is an unusual and genuinely useful solution, giving the course real flexibility for groups of mixed ability. From the back tees, this is a course that tests the best. From the forward tees, it still asks the right questions and stays enjoyable for higher handicaps.

McBroom's design philosophy is evident throughout. The bunkering is considered rather than excessive, placed to frame lines and create genuine decisions rather than simply to punish. There is a short game area built around one of the former greens from the old layout, complete with a riveted bunker that prepares you for the links conditions you will encounter out on the course. A 300-yard driving range sits beyond the first green and gives you plenty of room to loosen up before your round.

Hosting Clutch Pro Tour and England Golf events is a strong sign of the course's quality. The Caversham has moved quickly from new opening to credible competitive venue, and that trajectory says a great deal about what McBroom has created here.

Named after the club's founder Jack Eyston, the course carries a sense of purpose that goes beyond the design brief. This is a layout that rewards repeat visits. You will leave with a clearer picture of where the shots need to go, and that is exactly the kind of course that keeps golfers coming back.

The View bar and restaurant is a real plus for golf days and society visits. The terrace looks out over the course and the South Oxfordshire countryside, making it an easy place to settle in after the round for drinks, lunch or a group meal. The south-west facing aspect means you get the best of the afternoon light, and on a clear day it is genuinely hard to leave.

Practice facilities are another strong point at The Caversham. There is a 300-yard driving range, a short game area, a putting green and a GC Quad simulator studio that covers coaching, Mizuno club fitting and pre-round warm-up sessions indoors. For golfers who like to arrive early and prepare properly, the club gives you everything you need before you step onto the first tee.

The Golf Fitness Suite is a dedicated gym built around the physical demands of golf, covering strength, mobility and conditioning work that translates directly to performance on the course. It is a thoughtful addition and one that sets The Caversham apart from clubs where the off-course offering stops at the bar.

The putting and short game green on the eastern side of the clubhouse offers a useful warm-up option with a view out over the first hole and the 18th green. A six-hole academy course is also planned for the coming years, which will add another dimension for newer golfers and juniors working their way into the game.