Burford Golf Club
7.4/10
7.6/10
8.4/10
8.6/10
8.4/10
8.0/10
The Course
Burford is a market town that most people drive through on their way somewhere else — and in doing so, miss one of the Cotswolds’ most rewarding golf experiences. The club was founded in 1936 on undulating Oxfordshire parkland on the southern edge of the town, and the layout has aged with the kind of grace that only decades of careful management can produce. The fairways are lined by mature trees that are genuinely in play; the greens, small and well-bunkered, demand precision on the approach.
The course plays to a par of 71 and stretches to just over 6,000 yards — not long by modern standards, but the design makes every yard count. There are no weak holes at Burford; each presents a clear problem and rewards the player who solves it correctly. The mid-section of the round, from the 7th to the 13th, is particularly engaging — a sequence of contrasting holes that changes direction repeatedly and exposes players to whatever wind is available.
What makes Burford particularly suitable as part of a Golf & Spa Break itinerary is its location. The town itself is among the most beautiful in England — a medieval street descending steeply to the River Windrush, lined with antique shops, galleries, excellent restaurants and a choice of characterful hotels. A round at Burford Golf Club followed by lunch and an afternoon in the town, with a night at a nearby Cotswold hotel, is a genuinely civilised way to spend a day.
The Clubhouse & Welcome
Burford is the kind of golf club that makes you feel welcome from the moment you arrive. The atmosphere is friendly, the staff knowledgeable and the catering honest and well-prepared. The clubhouse has the comfortable, unpretentious character of a club that has been quietly successful for many decades without needing to announce itself. Visitors are made to feel at home rather than tolerated.
- Burford town is unmissable — arrive an hour early or stay for lunch after the round; the High Street alone justifies the trip
- The mature trees come into play on most holes — accuracy off the tee is more valuable than length here
- Greens are small and well-defended — work out the pin position before selecting your approach club
- The course drains well and plays year-round in reasonable condition
- Combine with The Bay Tree Hotel in Burford town for a complete Golf & Spa Break package
- Excellent as part of a two-course day — pair Burford with Naunton Downs or Cirencester for a full Cotswolds golf day
The Bay Tree Hotel, Burford
A 16th-century stone manor house in the heart of Burford town — spa treatments, excellent dining and rooms of real character, all within walking distance of the golf club and the town’s antique shops and galleries. An excellent base for a partner who wants more from a Cotswolds break than watching golf.