Golfers in the home counties are usually the first to acknowledge that they are spoilt for choice, not only in terms of the quality, but also the quantity of courses on their doorstep, so it's not unusual for some excellent courses to have slipped through the net and remained hitherto undiscovered gems.
Donnigton Valley Golf Club near Newbury is just such a course. Set among some absolutely breathtaking Berkshire countryside, and less than an hour's drive from London, it is home to a challenging layout that many visitors instantly fall in love with once they have played it.
Best Hole: 6th 428 yards par 4. Long dog-leg where you'll have to flirt with out of bounds. Approach shot, played to an elevated green, needs to find the right tier.
Green fees: £24 weekdays, £32 weekends
