Cotswold Hills Golf Club
A mature, demanding parkland course at Ullenwood above Cheltenham, with elevated views, firm ground and enough strategic depth to justify building a Cotswolds trip around it.
Course photograph: Cotswold Hills Golf Club, Ullenwood. Image: Cotswold Hills Golf Club.
Strategic parkland above Cheltenham
Cotswold Hills sits on elevated ground at Ullenwood, where the exposed position, rolling terrain and mature parkland setting give the round a stronger championship feel than many of the more relaxed visitor courses in the region.
The course is most rewarding when played with restraint. Position from the tee matters, uneven lies are part of the challenge and the better approach is often to leave the next shot in the right place rather than simply chase distance.
That makes Cotswold Hills particularly suitable as the serious anchor round in a Cheltenham-based itinerary, with Cleeve Hill providing a very different exposed common-land contrast and Lilley Brook offering a more traditional local-club experience.
Key playing notes
- Wind and elevation can change effective yardages quickly, especially on exposed holes.
- Firm ground rewards position and sensible landing areas rather than flag-hunting on every approach.
- The back nine carries much of the course’s strongest strategic character.
- The elevated setting is a major part of the experience, particularly on clear days across Gloucestershire.
- Use this as the championship-style round in a Cheltenham cluster with Cleeve Hill, Lilley Brook and Brickhampton Court.
A genuine club environment
Cotswold Hills works because the experience still feels like a proper members’ club while remaining relevant to visiting golfers. It is a good choice for players who want a serious round without needing a resort stay around the course itself.
Best for
Low- and mid-handicap golfers, architecture-led trips, Cheltenham weekends and visitors who want a stronger conventional parkland test.
Pair it with
Cleeve Hill for exposed historic golf, Lilley Brook for traditional Cheltenham club golf, or Brickhampton Court for a more relaxed mixed-ability round.
Base the trip around Cheltenham
Ellenborough Park and The Greenway Hotel & Spa are the natural recovery-led bases for a Cotswold Hills round, while Cheltenham itself gives the group enough dining and non-golf options to support a two- or three-night break.
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