Heritage
"A journey through a thousand years of British history, carved into the Berkshire countryside."
Ancient Roots
Billingbear Park is not just a golf course; it is a sacred landscape. From royal hunting grounds to the seat of the powerful Neville family, every fairway tells a story of royalty, literature, and architectural evolution.
The Domesday Book
The history of Billingbear begins with the Domesday Book. Mentioned as part of the royal lands of King William the Conqueror, the park served as a significant portion of the Windsor forest, used for royal recreation and forestry for centuries.
The Neville Lineage
Henry Neville, a descendant of the powerful Earls of Westmorland and Warwick, built the original Billingbear House. For generations, the Nevilles were courtiers to the Tudor and Stuart monarchs, hosting royalty within these very grounds.
The Shakespeare Mystery
"It is widely whispered amongst local historians that William Shakespeare may have composed parts of 'The Merry Wives of Windsor' while enjoying the hospitality of the Nevilles at Billingbear."
— Oral Tradition of Berkshire
The Modern Masterpiece
In 1989, the landscape underwent its most significant transformation. Renowned golf architect Martin Hawtree was commissioned to design a course that respected the ancient oaks and natural undulations of the park. The result was the Old Course—a strategic masterpiece that feels as if it has been here as long as the trees themselves.
Walk the fairways of history
Experience a thousand years of heritage with every swing.