Golf in the Midlands
Parkland excellence, heathland character and a region that consistently delivers quality without the price premium of Surrey or the pilgrimage distance of Scotland.
The Midlands is not a region that announces itself loudly in golf conversations, which is precisely what makes it worth paying attention to. While Surrey collects the headlines and Scotland attracts the pilgrimages, the counties between Birmingham and the Welsh border have been producing excellent parkland golf for well over a century, at green fees that have not yet caught up with their quality.
The Belfry needs no introduction — the Brabazon Course has hosted more Ryder Cups on home soil than any other venue and remains one of the most characterful resort courses in England. But the Midlands’ real appeal is its depth: Forest of Arden’s championship parkland, The Belfry’s PGA National alongside the Brabazon, and a clutch of respected members’ clubs across Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Staffordshire that reward the visiting golfer who takes the time to explore beyond the obvious.
For the Stay · Play · Recover model, the Midlands offers something the southern counties cannot match: Ragley Hall, Ettington Chase and Mallory Court provide spa hotel options that place quality golf within 30 minutes without the resort pricing of dedicated golf destinations. The Midlands is, in the most useful sense, accessible.
The Courses
The Belfry — Brabazon Course
Stay · Play · Recover
The Brabazon Course is the most famous parkland course in England and the venue of four Ryder Cup matches — 1985, 1989, 1993 and 2002. The closing stretch, from the 10th hole home via the island green 10th and the amphitheatre par-three 17th, is as recognisable as any finish in European golf. Visitor access is excellent through the resort, and the combination of championship golf with full spa, hotel and leisure facilities makes this the most complete Stay · Play · Recover venue in the Midlands.
The Belfry — PGA National Course
The PGA National is the Belfry’s more accessible companion course — shorter and less demanding than the Brabazon, but well-designed and well-maintained. For golfers staying at the resort, a round on the PGA National provides a useful contrast to the Brabazon while offering an additional day’s play at a lower green fee. The two courses together make the Belfry a genuine 36-hole resort proposition.
Forest of Arden — Arden Course
The Arden Course at Forest of Arden is the Midlands’ most underrated championship parkland — a demanding layout through mature woodland that hosted the British Masters and Midlands Open on the European Tour. The water features on the back nine require genuine decision-making on approach shots, and the greens are consistently presented to a standard that reflects the course’s championship heritage. The resort hotel has been refurbished to a quality that makes it a credible Stay · Play · Recover base for the wider Warwickshire golf circuit.
Worcester Golf & Country Club
Worcester Golf & Country Club is a mature, well-respected members’ parkland set within Boughton Park on the eastern edge of Worcester. A century of play has produced a course of real character, where beech and oak corridors demand accuracy rather than length and the proximity of Worcester Cathedral adds an unusual historical dimension to the round. Worcester itself is an outstanding city for the visitor — the Cathedral, the river Severn and the county cricket ground all within easy reach of the club.
Druids Heath Golf Club
Druids Heath is one of the most consistently enjoyable heathland courses in the Midlands — a layout on sandy heathland soil that drains well year-round and provides a quality of turf and condition that many parkland venues cannot match in autumn and winter. The heathland character is genuine rather than manufactured, and the course rewards intelligent positional play over power.
Stay · Play · Recover
The Belfry Hotel & Resort
The definitive Midlands Stay · Play · Recover destination — four-time Ryder Cup venue, full spa, resort hotel and two golf courses on site. The most complete golf and wellness package in the region.
Mallory Court Hotel & Spa
A beautifully restored country house hotel near Leamington Spa with a full spa and serious restaurant — the most elegant recovery base in Warwickshire, within 30 minutes of the Belfry and Forest of Arden.
Practical Information
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best golf course in the Midlands?
The Brabazon Course at The Belfry is the most celebrated — four Ryder Cups and a closing sequence that is as recognisable as any in European golf. For a more intimate experience without the resort pricing, Forest of Arden’s Arden Course is the region’s most underrated championship layout.
Is The Belfry good value for visitors?
The Brabazon Course offers green fees from approximately £85 for visitors — significantly less than comparable Ryder Cup venues in other regions. The resort hotel packages combining accommodation, golf and spa access generally represent better value than purchasing each element separately.
Are there good spa hotels near Midlands golf courses?
The Belfry resort has full spa facilities on site. Mallory Court near Leamington Spa is the most elegant standalone spa hotel in the region, well-positioned for the Warwickshire golf circuit. Forest of Arden’s hotel has been refurbished to a standard that makes it a credible recovery base.
Some accommodation links on this page use Expedia affiliate tracking. We earn a small commission on bookings at no additional cost to you.