Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel & Country Club – Arden Course

The Belfry is one of the best-known courses in the Heart of England, but the Forest of Arden’s Arden layout gives it a good run for its money in every sense. The Donald Steel-designed Arden runs through Packington Estate and has a terrific variety of holes and speedy greens. It has a wonderful pedigree having hosted the British Masters three times and provides golf at its best and most demanding, finishing with a breathtaking par-3 over a valley. With a Marriott hotel and another 18-hole layout (Aylesford), it’s a golfing paradise. The two nines are very distinct, the second half playing through the trees… and deer. There’s a potential sting in the tail at both the par-5 17th and the 200-yard par-3 finale over a water-filled valley.

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Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel & Golf and Country Club started life as a nine-holer in 1979 before Donald Steele's highly impressive re-design in 1992. Set in 10,000 acres of Warwickshire parkland, many varieties of wildlife can be found within the boundaries of the golf course. This provides the perfect backdrop to a Championship Golf Course regarded as one of the finest in the country. The Arden Golf Course was designed by Donald Steel in 1970 and redesigned in 1992. The layout of the golf course is a true test of golf designed to make the golfer play a wide range of shots, as some of the best professionals on the European Tour will tell you. A variety of different tee boxes, water hazards, trees, which neatly outline the fairways and thick rough make the Arden Golf Course long and tough but still a very enjoyable test of golf.

• Course has: Bar
• Course has: Buggy Hire
• Course has: Driving Range
• Course has: Practice Green
• Course has: Pro Shop
• Course has: Restaurant
• Course has: Trolley Hire
• Course has: Dress Code
• Course has: Club Hire
• Course does not have: Handicap

• 5 out of 5 A true challenge, even form theYellow Tees 25 September 2015

  By Levers!

  I have played this course from both White and Yellow Tees, in Summer and Winter respectively for several years, and it can provide a challenge all year round. In the last few years year on year improvements to the course layout, a culling of over grown bushes to the left hand side on the first, to fill the player with more confidence, the addition of a formal drainage ditch from side to side on the Par 5 third, whilst not in reach of anything less than a professional tee shot, forces a considered second shot to leave a chance of making the green in regulation. The dog-leg Par 4 fourth, with its enlarged greenside pond remains a daunting second shot in. The new bunkers on the Par 5 seventh, bringing drives with draw into danger . . . and then the more challenging back 9, as you cross over into the deer park, the new trees on the 10th and so on . . ,.

• 4 out of 5 Good challenge with very scenic back 9 06 September 2015

  By Matt B

  The Arden is a lovely looking course with some interesting holes and greens that present a tough challenge. The front 9 is a nice introduction with avoiding the many bunkers the main challenge. Greens are often large but quick and undulating so avoiding the dreaded 3 putt or worse(!) is order of the day. Once you get out into the back 9 you have the added obstacle/distraction of the deer roaming the course. It really is a lovely looking back 9 with a number of greens protected by water before you reach the long signature par 3 18th which can make or break a good round. Definitely a course to try and play when in the area.

• 5 out of 5 Vouchers not accepted 27 August 2015

  By Tony

  Turned up and told vouchers not accepted! Paid £40 to play on Arden course anyway and all staff very helpful. Course was in great condition and a pleasure to play on.

• 5 out of 5 Didnt accept voucher 18 June 2015

  By Tommy

  Did not accept voucher on either course. Paid anyway to play the arden very nice course must be a decent player as it is testing at times. Will be going back soon to play the aylesford course .....................................

• 3 out of 5 Poor condition, over priced 18 August 2011

  By teddy21

  Played here on Monday this week. First thing i would say is that although the greens were in poor condition they had just been spiked and this was made clear when we booked (and we were given a discounted rate to reflect this). However, disappointingly this echoed through the rest of the course with apparently no effort being made to do anything but cut the fairways. Attention to detail was lacking with poor tees, areas outside fairways and greens were scruffy often with no grass or covered in natural debris. The front nine was a little disappointing and it was difficult to see how this was a championship course. However, the second nine was completely different and weaving through the forest with deer roaming free on most holes made for a memorable back nine. The practice facilities were spread out with the 1st tees, Range and the practice putting green all being on different corners of the hotel which meant a lot of walking around pre round. For £40 it was probably worth it for the back nine but i would have been fuming if i had payed £110 to play here

• 4.5 out of 5 Excellent Course, lovely staff 31 October 2009

  By Diane Harding

  I had lessons with one of the pro's at the academy and then played the course. We covered everything from driving, fairways, chipping, bunkers & putting and I have lost 5 shots from my handicap this year. Excellent pro, I played the course several times (Arden) since and love it, even though it is quite long for a Lady Golfer.

• 3 out of 5 Only An Ok 11 July 2008

  By smokyb3

  Played the Arden course as part of a FREE golf day. But I understand green fees can cost anything up to £120! It certainly isn't worth that much. We played after a lot of rain the day before and although the course had drained it away, it was playing long. But it is not a difficult course. The first 2 holes in particular are a piece of cake. But every hole has very generous fairways but even if you miss them it's not a problem. The greens are large targets to hit and were not in noticeably better condition than most good clubs. Same went for the tees and fairways. Watch out for deer crap on the back nine....it's everywhere! The scenery again is not exactly spectacular. In my opinion it's worth £50 as an absolute max.

• 3 out of 5 Not as expected 18 January 2008

  By Richard Reid

  Nice but not half as good as was expecting for the price

• 4.5 out of 5 Cracking weekend 23 October 2007

  By ianball

  The condition of the Arden course for October was superb. The greens were slippery, the deer were everywhere. Every hole is framed so well that even if you are not playing well you are still smiling. The Aylesford course does suffer in comparison but it is still interesting and in excellent condition. Only two grumbles - course managers on the Arden kept telling us we were going too slow - I'd like to see them play fast on a frosty morning with white balls blending in so well! Also the food and drink were expensive - but good quality. Finally - the 18th is scary!!!

• 4 out of 5 It's OK 28 August 2007

  By floody

  It's OK I played this course in the middle of Aug'07 & I was disappointed with the condition of the Arden course. The fairways weren't as crisp as I thought they should be & they were littered with divots. Saying that it's a nice course that requires you to plot your way around & you can't grab for the driver everytime. I played as part of a society so I didn't pay anywhere near the £110 green fee, if I had I would have been let down.

• 4.5 out of 5 Two great courses 01 July 2007

  By gareth67

  Two great courses, the Aylesford being as well looked after as the Arden, some beautiful views and shaped holes. Well worth playing both courses.

• 5 out of 5 Worth every penny 22 December 2006

  By Anonymous

  As you see the deer on the fairways when you drive in, you know it's going to be a good day and the rest of the experience does not disappoint! The clubhouse is very large but somehow very welcoming, the pro shop staff are friendly, and the perennial starter at the first tee is a great touch to guide you into one of the best rounds of golf that you can have. The first few holes are challenging, and there is little time to settle into it, and before you know it you're at the fantastic, yet very difficult 9th. Keep it straight or you won't be keeping it! The back nine then takes into deer country. Nine holes of more open yet equally majestic golf. Sweeping scenery guides you to the beautifully manicured greens - even in mid-October they are like perfectly laid carpets. If you negotiate the 10-15 then you are greeted by three fantastically designed finishing holes. Par four, par five, and then the par three 18th that everyone comes to play! After the round, the changing rooms are luxurious, although a little small, and the clubhouse interior looks like a hotel restaurant rather than a clubhouse (no surprise though!). So if you want a cosy ale after golf, then this won't satisfy. The prices are also at the top end, but they pale away when you can sit and watch the groups coming in attempt to negotiate their way across the 18th. Not a cheap day out, but certainly worth every penny.

• 4 out of 5 Well worth a visit 30 October 2006

  By Anonymous

  I sneaked in a round at a recent weekend break with the family. I played the course on the "Winter Package" which was £40 for bacon roll and coffee, range token and 18 holes which I thought was great value. The pro shop staff could not have been more helpful and accommodating. The course itself is a cracker, and I would say that the back nine is the better of the two. Buy a strokesaver booklet though as you really need the help with yardages. The deer raoming the course freely is a great site and the finishing hole, a par 3 200 yards over a ravine / water to a raised green is a helluva hole. Take plenty of club ! Food and drink in the clubhouse a little on the pricey side, but it is afterall a Marriott and you get what you pay for. I thoroughly enjoyed my round here and will be organising a boys trip back up there before the winter deal comes to an end as it's usually £75 a round even for hotel guests.

• 4 out of 5 a great golfing day out. 25 September 2006

  By Anonymous

  'you get what you pay for'. This old cliche is certainly appropriate for this superb layout. Expensive it may be but the course was in perfect condition with fast greens and great fairways. The course provides a tough challenge of golf and the facilities are top class. Certainly a course i recommend any serious golfer to play at least once.

• 3.5 out of 5 Worth a look 09 May 2006

  By Anonymous

  Great course and a plus point is that they acceppt 2 for 1 vouchers during restricted times. Well worth a game.

• 4 out of 5 Well worth a visit 01 September 2005

  By Anonymous

  Great course and well worth a visit. Plot your way around for a better score, especially on the risk/reward par 5's.