Top 50 stay and play venues

#1

The Belfry

West Midlands

Legendary Ryder Cup venue with three 18-hole courses, including the mighty Brabazon layout, fantastic practice facilities and hotel which has recently undergone a major impressive refurbishment.

#2

The Mere

Cheshire

Home of a quality undulating James Braid parkland layout overlooked by a modern hotel with a sumptuous spa. You can warm-up in style on the novel driving range by hitting floating balls into a lake!

#3

Breadsall Priory

Derbyshire

Classy Marriott venue and country club boasting two splendid contrasting courses (the Priory & Moorland).

#4

Prince’s

Kent

This historic links has staged an Open Championship and offers 27 holes of quality seaside golf nextdoor to Royal St George’s along with splendid accommodation within The Lodge.

#5

Hawkstone Park

Shropshire

Offers 36 holes of excellent golf on the Hawkstone and Championship courses plus excellent on-site accommodation, a terrific clubhouse and a testing short course.

#6

Forest of Arden

Warwickshire

Another top Marriott venue which has been good enough to stage the British Masters on its superstar Arden layout, backed-up by the more friendly Aylesford layout.

#7

Luton Hoo

Bedfordshire

Classy, historic venue with a luxury hotel close to both the airport and M1 motorway, outstanding amenities and a challenging parkland course even if it is bunkerless!

#8

Dorset G&CC

Dorset

Home of 27 holes of golf (Lakeland, Parkland & Woodland nines) and some of the best accommodation options, including luxury lodges, in the south of England.

#9

Tudor Park

Kent

The county is best known for its top links courses but Tudor Park – another popular Marriott venue – is a fine parkland track with a good variety of holes.

#10

Old Thorns

Hampshire

The course was designed by Voice of Golf Peter Alliss on quite steeply undulating forest land while off-course you can take advantage of luxury accommodation including family rooms, Penthouse apartments and the quirky Beams Suite.

#11

Heythrop Park

Oxfordshire

Refreshing modern Tom Mackenzie parkland layout with a fine array of holes plotted within an historic estate and featuring two hotels offering a total of 350-plus rooms.

#12

Bowood

Wiltshire

Dave Thomas-designed parkland masterpiece, brilliant Bowood simply oozes class from every nook and cranny and is overlooked by a smart modern hotel with superb facilities.

#13

Manor House

Wiltshire

Magical rollercoaster of a parkland track plotted amidst 365 stunning acres of breathtaking Cotswold countryside and a short drive away from exquisite Manor House accommodation.

#14

Selsdon Park

Surrey

Smart Croydon hotel with a gently rolling parkland layout crafted by the legendary J.H. Taylor who used all his repertoire of design skills to engineer a fine test for the ‘thinking’ golfer.

#15

Carlyon Bay

Cornwall

Smashing Brend family hotel just outside St Austell and like the golf course is spectacularly perched high on the cliffs overlooking the sea.

#16

Dartmouth G&CC

Devon

Challenging undulating parkland layout which boasts a terrific set of short holes including a thrilling par-3 finale over a water-filled valley plus splendid on-site accommodation and all round facilities.

#17

Stapleford Park

Leicestershire

Surrounded by 500 acres of Capability Brown landscaped grounds, this Donald Steel course meanders its way around the estate which comprises a luxury mansion house hotel, spa and leisure activities.

#18

Oulton Hall

West Yorkshire

A class act just outside Leeds and the home of a five star hotel with superb facilities and 27 holes of fine Dave Thomas parkland golf.

#19

Hollins Hall

West Yorkshire

You’ll find this top Marriott venue at Shipley near Bradford and the modern European Golf design moorland track has a good variety of holes and is well worth playing.

#20

Trevose

Cornwall

This superb links is even tastier than the tastiest of Cornish pasties. It’s a Harry Colt classic and is ably supported by various accommodation options featuring lodges, flats and apartments.

#21

Point at Polzeath

Cornwall

Has gone up a notch or two both on and off the course – since new owners took over the reins. Should further benefit from the recent opening of seven magnificent new on-site apartments.

#22

St Mellion

Cornwall

The pride and flagship venue of Crown Golf, St Mellion is arguably the best resort in the south west and with two 18-hole courses, including the legendary Nicklaus, on site it’s a golfing paradise.

#23

Slaley Hall

Northumberland

Has been the leading north east venue for a number of years and as well as offering a luxury hotel, golfers can check out the superb but contrasting Hunting and Priestman courses.

#24

Rudding Park

North Yorkshire

This venue just outside Harrogate goes from strength to strength: it not only provides splendid accommodation but a quality Hawtree parkland layout, a fun six holer and excellent practice facilities.

#25

Springs Hotel

Oxfordshire

The hotel and mature par-72 course designed by former Ryder Cup captain Brian Huggett sit in an area of outstanding natural beauty, 133 acres of parkland bordered by the river Thames.

#26

North Shore

Lincolnshire

It’s right on the coast on the outskirts of popular seaside town Skegness and the star attraction is the splendid James Braid links/parkland combination course.

#27

Donnington Valley

Berkshire

Play in style on the mature parkland course with its demanding finale and stay in style in the four star on-site hotel. The impressive clubhouse is a Grade II listed Victorian building.

#28

Wokefield Park

Berkshire

This hugely popular venue just outside Reading is set in 250 acres of countryside but the course is no stroll in the park – there are nine lakes on it!

#29

Thorpeness

Suffolk

Designed by James Braid in the early 1920s, this splendid heathland is both picturesque and challenging and is supported by top value accommodation, including the Braid Lodge.

#30

Ufford Park

Suffolk

Fine and popular venue run and owned by the Aldous family with the maturing gently undulating parkland layout being supported by an on-site hotel with good facilities and a cracking two-tier driving range.

#31

Belton Woods

Lincolnshire

Just off the A1 near Grantham you’ll discover this luxury hotel with two 18-hole courses – ideal for a golfing day out or short break.

#32

Mottram Hall

Cheshire

This venue has benefited big-time from recent extensive improvements both to the on-site hotel and undulating parkland course with its two contrasting nines.

#33

Carden Park

Cheshire

Home of two 18-hole courses including the stunning Nicklaus course with its great variety of holes, the stunning 17th finishing slap bang in front of the striking-looking hotel.

#34

Portal

Cheshire

Great all round Macdonald Hotels venue with excellent on-site accommodation, clubhouse and practice facilities plus two challenging 18-hoel courses (Championship & Premier).

#35

Worsley Park

Manchester

Quality Marriott venue and you’ll be particularly be impressed by the European Golf Design Championship course with its wonderful USGA-spec greens.

#36

Patshull Park

Shropshire

One of the most popular and affordable golfing venues in the region, Patshull boasts a lovely John Jacobs-designed layout which sits within a tranquil 280-acre Capability Brown created estate.

#37

Hellidon Lakes

Northamptonshire

A fresh modern boutique-style hotel with splendid accommodation, great leisure facilities including a swimming pool and 27 holes of parkland golf.

Scotland

#1

Cardrona

Scottish Borders

Cracking Macdonald hotel and facilities surrounded by gorgeous Borders countryside just outside Peebles. The Dave Thomas Championship course is a serious test of golf.

#2

The Roxburghe

Scottish Borders

The pride and joy of the golf-loving Duke of Roxburghe, this is another outstanding rolling Dave Thomas parkland layout overlooked by luxury mansion house accommodation.

#3

Fairmont St Andrews

Fife

A superb resort just outside the Home of Golf, Fairmont St Andrews has everything including a luxury hotel with world-class facilities and clifftop golf courses (Torrance & Kittocks).

#4

The Westerwood

Lanarkshire

One of Scotland’s leading golf hotels boasts a stunning par-72 course designed by Seve Ballesteros and Dave Thomas and featuring several memorable holes.

#5

Gleddoch House

Renfrewshire

This challenging mature parkland/heathland layout weaves around a stunning 360-acres estate, including four star hotel, with stunning Clyde estuary views.

#6

Murrayshall

Perthshire

Offers two contrasting 18-hole courses (Murrayshall & Lynedoch) plotted within 350 plus acres of prestine Perthshire countryside.

#7

Drumoig Hotel & Resort

Fife

A decent base for visiting St Andrews – the Home of Golf – Drumoig is located within 250 acres of wonderful countryside with a 25-bedroom hotel and par-73 course on site.

Ireland

#1

Galgorm Castle

Co. Antrim

This magical venue guarantees you’ll have a great time both on and off the course which is plotted within 220 acres of mature parkland in the grounds of one of Ireland’s historic demesnes.

Wales

#1

Celtic Manor

Newport

The mighty Twenty Ten Ryder Cup doesn’t feature in 2-FORE!-1 but this classy resort’s other two strong layouts – the Roman Road and Montgomerie – do.

#2

St Pierre

Chepstow

Smashing Marriott country club retreat near Chepstow with two outstanding layouts – the highly rated Old Course and the recently renovated Mathern layout.

#3

The Vale

Nr. Cardiff

Tip top resort with two quality contrasting courses, the formidable Wales National and not-so-demanding Lakes, great practice facilities and a classy hotel with top facilities including a sumptuous spa.

#4

Tenby

Pembrokeshire

Created by James Braid with a considerable helping hand from Mother Nature, Tenby is a stunning links with good value on-site accommodation.

#5

Bryn Meadows

Caerphilly

The mature parkland course has been thrilling golfers since the early 1970s and nowadays is backed-up by an on-site four star hotel and excellent leisure and spa facilities.