Top 10 Golf Courses in Warwickshire 2015
Warwickshire Best in County rankings updated
Think “Warwickshire” and you might also think “Castle” (as in Brinklow Castle, Kenilworth Castle or Warwick Castle) or maybe “Canal” (like the Coventry Canal, Grand Union Canal or Oxford Canal) but associating “Golf” with Shakespeare’s county is maybe stretching things a little too far for even the most committed of golfers.
If you enquire about “Sports and Activities” on the official tourist website for the region it may well try to direct you towards a ten pin bowling centre, an ice skating rink or an indoor go-karting track but we think the sporting options within the region should stretch a little further than that.
In fact, with more than fifty golf clubs spread out around the county, there’s quite a wide range of places where you can tee it up if you’re in the area and looking for a game. To that end, we’ve identified what we reckon are the best tracks in the vicinity, allowing us to maintain a list of the Top 10 courses in Warwickshire.
The top three places in our recently updated county chart remain the same for the third edition in a row. Holding on to the number 1 slot is the Brabazon course at The Belfry, where the course is just one of three that are available to play at an impressive 54-hole resort. A four-time Ryder Cup venue, the layout certainly splits opinion with our reviewers - “a good challenge for all golfers” and “one of the great theatres of golf” versus “the condition was appalling” and “everything was tatty and tired” - but we think it’s worth playing for its historical golfing connotations alone.
Close behind at number 2, the Arden course at Forest of Arden is another iconic track in the world of professional golf, hosting both the British Masters (five times between 1997 and 2005) and English Open (on seven occasions between 1993 and 2002) when it was at one time a regular European Tour stop. Designed by Donald Steel, the course is a modern layout that offers a significant challenge, even from the forward tees.
Occupying 3rd position in our newly updated chart, the course at Copt Heath is a wonderful old track designed in 1907 by the two Harrys – Vardon and Colt – where the use of sand, water and trees as intimidating hazards makes this one of the most demanding courses in the region. Since 1981, honorary member Peter McEvoy has hosted a prestigious annual competition for elite under-18 junior male golfers and previous winners have included Lee Westwood and Justin Rose.
At number 4, rising four places, we have Sutton Coldfield, an Alister MacKenzie-designed heathland track that’s unusually characterised by consecutive par fives at holes 5, 6 and 7. Immediately behind this course at number 5 (a climb of two places) comes Coventry, where the original 18-hole Harry Vardon layout was modified by Fred Hawtree in 1972 then by his son Martin Hawtree in the early 1990s, when he upgraded all the bunkers.
A couple of Harry Colt-designed courses make first time appearances in our chart and they are Ladbrook Park at number 6 and Olton at number 8. The third and final new entry occupies the number 9 position and it’s Moor Hall, a J.H. Taylor and Fred Hawtree collaboration from 1932 which is laid out in mature parkland, with an especially testing final five-hole stretch.
We’d like to thank everybody in this region who contributed to our re-ranking process. To view more details of the courses in our Warwickshire Top 10 rankings, click this link. If you’ve played extensively across this region and would like to help us with the next edition of the chart then please drop Editor-in-Chief Keith Baxter an email at keith@top100golfcourses.com. We don’t claim to publish definitive golf course rankings but we do think they’re the most informed.
Jim McCann
Editor
Top 100 Golf Courses
England's West Midlands is a region spread across five distinct counties, this landlocked stretch of England is home to some of the finest inland golf in the country. Across all six county rankings combined, more than 60 courses are listed, offering visiting golfers an embarrassment of choice stretching from the Welsh border hills of Herefordshire to the Ryder Cup stages of Warwickshire. The region punches well above its weight architecturally. Harry Colt, Herbert Fowler, Tom Simpson, James Braid and Alister MacKenzie all left their mark here, and Robin Hiseman's modern masterpiece at JCB Golf & Country Club has given the West Midlands a course capable of competing at the very top of the national rankings. With six separate county charts — Birmingham, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire — this update marks the most comprehensive assessment of West Midlands golf ever undertaken. Best West Midlands Golf Courses: County Rankings At A Glance Birmingham Birmingham's golfing credentials are often underestimated, yet the city and its immediate surrounds hold some of the best heathland and parkland layouts in the English Midlands. Sutton Coldfield Golf Club leads the way — a MacKenzie-attributed heathland layout from 1919. Edgbaston follows, Harry Colt's 1936 parkland design routed through a compact site around the imposing Georgian Edgbaston Hall. Copt Heath in Solihull completes the podium, a well-regarded parkland test combining quality turf conditions with understated design. Moor Hall and Sandwell Park round out the top five, the former a parkland in a mature setting and the latter a characterful heathland layout that has quietly maintained its reputation as one of the Birmingham area's most reliable tests. 🏆 Herefordshire – Top 3 Herefordshire is the most remote of the five West Midlands counties, tucked up against the Welsh border, and its golf reflects the landscape: dramatic, exposed and unlike anything else in the region. Kington Golf Club heads the county ranking as England's highest golf course. Designed by C.K. Hutchison in the mid-1920s on Bradnor Hill with no bunkers and rambunctious terrain, it offers panoramic views of the Brecon Beacons, Black Mountains, Shropshire Hills and Malvern Hills. It has developed a serious cult following among well-travelled golfers who appreciate quirky, strategic layouts. The Ross-on-Wye Golf Club sits second, set in rolling countryside near the River Wye, while The Herefordshire Golf Club completes a top three that rewards those willing to venture west. 🏆 Shropshire – Top 5 Shropshire's five best courses span the county from the Welsh border at Llanymynech to the rolling terrain around Hawkstone, offering variety in abundance. Llanymynech is a genuinely unique layout that straddles the England-Wales border. A hilltop test extending to just over 6,000 yards that provides one of the most distinctive rounds available anywhere in the Midlands. Oswestry sits second, a James Braid design from the late 1920s laid out across the grounds of Aston Hall. Church Stretton has risen to third, a high-climbing, view-rich layout in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Shifnal and Hawkstone Park Golf Club (Hawkstone) complete the five, with Hawkstone in particular set within one of the most dramatic and atmospheric estates in the English Midlands. 🏆 Staffordshire – Top 5 Staffordshire is the strongest single county in the West Midlands, home to approximately 50 golf clubs and a top five that mixes heathland heritage with modern ambition. Beau Desert Golf Club leads — Herbert Fowler's heathland design near Hednesford, described by Bernard Darwin as having echoes of Gleneagles about it, a "Beautiful Wilderness" in name and in character that remains the quintessential Staffordshire heathland experience. Little Aston Golf Club follows, a Harry Colt parkland masterpiece set in 176 acres of mature grounds north of Birmingham, originally laid out by Harry Vardon in 1908 and subsequently reworked by Colt into one of the finest parkland courses in England. JCB Golf & Country Club sits third. Robin Hiseman's design for European Golf Design opened in 2018 and immediately rewrote the expectations for what a modern inland course could achieve. The fourth and fifth positions belong to the two layouts at Enville Golf Club. The Highgate and the Lodge courses continue to impress with its understated quality across both courses. 🏆 Warwickshire – Top 3 Warwickshire's ranking is dominated by two names that need no introduction, but the county's depth beyond those headline acts makes it a destination with more to offer than first glance suggests. The Belfry (Brabazon) leads — the Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss design that hosted the Ryder Cup on four occasions between 1985 and 2002, an astonishing transformation of unremarkable farmland defined by its aquatic drama, particularly at the famous 10th and the emotionally charged 18th. Forest of Arden (Arden) follows, a mature and impressively maintained parkland test that holds its own comfortably in Warwickshire's strongest company, while Ladbrook Park completes the top three, a well-regarded parkland layout that has held its position across multiple ranking cycles. 🏆 Worcestershire – Top 3 Worcestershire's leading courses are set in some of the most pleasant countryside in the Midlands, with Blackwell Golf Club having maintained its county supremacy throughout the entire history of these rankings. Herbert Fowler and Tom Simpson's 1923 design is the enduring jewel of Worcestershire golf. Set across a compact 102-acre estate near Bromsgrove, renowned above all for its par-three holes and is undergoing a long-term restoration programme under Frank Pont's guidance. Kings Norton Golf Club (Red & Blue) sits second. The Worcestershire Golf Club completes the top three, a traditional club set in the shadow of the Malvern Hills. What the Rankings Tell Us A Region Defined by Golden Age Architecture The West Midlands' best golf courses are disproportionately the product of Golden Age designers. Harry Colt's fingerprints are on Little Aston, Edgbaston, Whittington Heath and Trentham. Herbert Fowler shaped both Beau Desert and Blackwell. Tom Simpson co-designed Blackwell. James Braid designed Oswestry. Alister MacKenzie reshaped Sutton Coldfield. Staffordshire's Dominance With Beau Desert, Little Aston and JCB all holding places in the national rankings, Staffordshire contributes more to those standings than any other West Midlands county. The arrival of JCB in 2018 gave Staffordshire a genuine top-tier modern course to sit alongside its established heathland classics, and the county's depth across 14 ranked layouts is unmatched in the region. The Heathland-Parkland Balance The West Midlands offers a compelling mix of course typologies. The heathland courses of Staffordshire provide fast, firm conditions more associated with Surrey or Berkshire than the English Midlands. The parkland offerings of Warwickshire and Worcestershire deliver a different pleasure entirely. The quirky upland character of Kington and Llanymynech adds yet another dimension, making the region one of the more varied golfing destinations in England. JCB's National Impact When Robin Hiseman's design for JCB opened in 2019, it immediately entered the conversation about the finest modern inland courses in Britain. A Decade of Rankings: 2017–2023 2017 – An Inaugural Regional Top 10 Published in June 2017, the inaugural West Midlands regional ranking featured 10 courses across five counties. Little Aston led the ranking, with Beau Desert at two and the Brabazon at The Belfry at three. Blackwell held fourth, followed by Enville Highgate at five. Whittington Heath and Sutton Coldfield appeared at six and seven, with Kington, Edgbaston and Trentham completing the first-ever West Midlands regional Top 10. 2019 – JCB Arrives, Reshapes Staffordshire The 2019 update, published in October, expanded the West Midlands listings to 50 courses across the five counties. The headline news was the immediate impact of JCB Golf & Country Club, which had opened the previous year and went straight in at number one in Staffordshire. Herefordshire remained stable, with Kington holding firm at the top. In Shropshire, Llanymynech retained its county lead. Warwickshire saw little movement in its top positions, with the Brabazon unchanged at number one. Worcestershire remained anchored by Blackwell, with restoration work at the club noted as ongoing. 2023 – Expansion to 65 Courses, New Voices Emerge The third update, released in September 2023, added 15 further courses to bring the West Midlands total to 65 ranked layouts. New panel members identified previously overlooked courses across all five counties. JCB retained its number one position in Staffordshire, while Oswestry climbed to the top of the Shropshire rankings for the first time, displacing Llanymynech. Planning Your West Midlands Golf Trip The West Midlands works particularly well as a flexible touring destination, with most of the leading courses within comfortable driving distance of each other. A Birmingham base puts you within reach of Sutton Coldfield, Little Aston, Beau Desert and Whittington Heath within 30 minutes, and Blackwell and Edgbaston in roughly the same time in the opposite direction. For golfers focused on the best architecture the region can offer, a combination of Beau Desert, Little Aston and Blackwell covers three of the finest Golden Age designs in England. Those willing to venture into Herefordshire for Kington will be rewarded with an experience available nowhere else in England — an upland, bunker-free, links-like test that defies every expectation. The Warwickshire courses at and around The Belfry lend themselves to a resort stay, combining the Brabazon with the PGA National and Forest of Arden, all within easy reach. Shropshire rewards the explorer: Llanymynech's border novelty, Oswestry's Braid pedigree and the drama of Hawkstone Park make for a compelling two or three-day itinerary in the far west of the county. For the complete county-by-county rankings across all West Midlands courses, visit Top100GolfCourses.com. Previous West Midlands ranking articles: 2017 | 2019 | 2023
Dave Thomas architect and former Ryder Cupper dies Belfry designer and former Ryder Cup player Dave Thomas died on Tuesday 27th August 2013 29th August 2013 Tributes have been paid to former Ryder Cup player and renowned course designer Dave Thomas. Thomas, who died on Tuesday aged 79, played in four Ryder Cups and represented Wales 11 times in the World Cup of Golf. He twice finished second in the Open Championship and was elected to the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. "He was a larger-than-life character, a truly great guy," said George O'Grady, the European Tour chief executive. O'Grady, who presented Thomas with honorary life membership of the European Tour earlier this year, paid tribute to his career and his impact on golf. "Dave became a household name in the 1950s and 1960s when he helped to build the game in Britain and all over the world," said O'Grady. "Our condolences are with his partner Carol and Dave's sons Michael and Paul. "Wherever the Tour has travelled, from Britain to the Continent to the rest of the world, we have played on courses designed by Dave. Both as a player and an architect, he leaves a lasting legacy to the game he truly loved." Sandy Jones, chief executive of the Professional Golfers' Association, said: "I am very sad to learn of the passing of Dave Thomas. "He was the proud captain of the PGA in our centenary year of 2001 and everyone would agree he was a legend of the professional game. He was always great company and a kind and gentle man. "I feel a great privilege to have shared many enjoyable times in his company when he would enthrall me with great stories from his life in golf as we enjoyed a glass of red. He will be very sadly missed by me and all who knew him." Thomas turned professional in 1949 when he watched some of the game's great champions, including Fred Daly, Max Faulkner and the legendary Sam Snead, competing in the Ryder Cup at Ganton. He made his debut 10 years later in the contest at Eldorado Country Club and went on to play in three more Ryder Cups, the last in 1967 in Houston where he partnered a young Tony Jacklin in all four fourballs and foursomes, earning two-and-a-half points, before halving his match with Gene Littler in the singles. In 1958 he lost a 36-hole play-off to Australia's Peter Thomson in the Open at Royal Lytham and in the 1966 tournament at Muirfield he finished tied second with Doug Sanders, one stroke behind Jack Nicklaus. After arthritis brought a premature end to his playing career, Thomas became a course designer. He and Peter Alliss - now a BBC commentator - designed The Belfry's famous Brabazon Course which hosted the Ryder Cup in 1985, 1989, 1993 and 2002. Article courtesy of the BBC
Woburn Golf Club is the only club in England with all three of its courses continuously ranked in the Top 100, and all three sit within 15 minutes of Milton Keynes town centre. For any golfer visiting the area, whether for business or leisure, that is an offer that simply does not exist anywhere else in England. ⛳️ Top 3 Golf Courses in Milton Keynes 🥇 Best Golf Course in Milton Keynes — Woburn Golf Club (Marquess) #59 England · #1 Buckinghamshire Access: Visitors Welcome — Weekdays Only Best Time to Visit: Apr–Oct Distance from City Centre: 15 min Set within 200 acres of majestic mature woodland on the Woburn Abbey estate, the Marquess opened in 2000 as the youngest and most expansive of Woburn's three courses. Fairways are wider and more undulating than its siblings, featuring oak, yew, chestnut, rowan and beech rather than dense pine, measuring well over 7,000 yards from the back tees. It has hosted the British Masters four times and the Women's British Open twice, cementing its place as the standout course of one of England's finest golfing venues. 🥈 Golf Course in Milton Keynes — Woburn Golf Club (Duke's) #73 England · #2 Buckinghamshire Access: Visitors Welcome — Weekdays Only Best Time to Visit: Apr–Oct Distance from City Centre: 15 min The original Woburn course, opened in 1976, is classical rather than modern in its design. Subtle dog-legs and holes played in magnificent isolation from one another define the layout, with the famous downhill par-three 3rd standing out as one of the most memorable short holes in English parkland golf. It has hosted the Dunlop Masters, the British Masters and the Women's British Open. A must-play. 🥉 #3 Golf Course in Milton Keynes — Woburn Golf Club (Duchess) #100 England · #3 Buckinghamshire Access: Visitors Welcome — Weekdays Only Best Time to Visit: Apr–Oct Distance from City Centre: 15 min The tightest and most intimate of the three Woburn courses, opened in 1979. At 6,651 yards it is the shortest of the three, but towering pine trees make every hole appear exceptionally narrow. Use your driver sparingly on a course where keeping the ball in play is everything, and one many members quietly regard as their personal favourite. 🔁 Can't Play the Top 3? Best Alternative Golf Courses Near Milton Keynes Northamptonshire County Golf Club #96 England · #1 Northamptonshire Access: Contact Club Prior to Visit Best Time to Visit: Year-round Distance from City Centre: 45 min Designed by Harry Colt in 1909 on the borders of the Althorp Estate in Church Brampton, this is a traditional layout that carries a distinctive heathland feel despite its parkland setting. Donald Steel described it as offering a test of inland golf that, of its type, is as good as any. Exceptionally well-drained and playable year-round, it is a genuine hidden gem within easy reach of Milton Keynes. Aspley Guise & Woburn Sands Golf Club #2 Bedfordshire Access: Contact Club Prior to Visit Best Time to Visit: Year-round Distance from City Centre: 10 min Sandy Herd's 1914 parkland design sits just ten minutes from Milton Keynes town centre, making it the most accessible alternative when Woburn is unavailable. Extended from nine to eighteen holes in the 1970s, it is a mature and well-regarded layout that hosted the 2009 County Championships and drains well throughout the year. 📋 More Golf Courses Near Milton Keynes Milton Keynes borders three counties, giving travelling golfers a wide choice of verified courses within 60 minutes of the town centre. In Buckinghamshire: Bedfordshire Golf Club, Buckinghamshire Golf Club. In Bedfordshire: Bedford & County Golf Club, Millbrook Golf Club, South Beds Golf Club. In Northamptonshire, north and east of Milton Keynes: Brampton Heath Golf Centre, Collingtree Park Golf Club, Kettering Golf Club, Kingsthorpe Golf Club, Northampton Golf Club, Staverton Park Hotel & Golf Club, Wellingborough Golf Club and Whittlebury Park. Full rankings and reviews for all courses are available at top100golfcourses.com. ❓ Frequently Asked Questions — Golf in Milton Keynes How many Top 100-ranked golf courses are near Milton Keynes? Three — all at Woburn Golf Club. The Marquess (#59 England), Duke's (#73 England) and Duchess (#100 England) are each independently ranked and all sit within 15 minutes of Milton Keynes town centre. Is Woburn Golf Club open to visitors? Yes, but on weekdays only. All three courses welcome visiting golfers from Monday to Friday throughout the year. Advance booking is required and a handicap certificate is recommended. Woburn is closed to visitors at weekends. What is the best golf course in Milton Keynes? The Marquess at Woburn Golf Club is ranked #59 in England and #1 in Buckinghamshire, making it the highest-ranked course within reach of Milton Keynes. It is the recommended first choice for any travelling golfer visiting the area. ✈️ Getting to Milton Keynes for Golf Milton Keynes Central station sits on the West Coast Main Line with direct services into London Euston from 32 minutes. London Luton Airport (LTN) is the nearest airport at 40km (25 miles) from Milton Keynes town centre, approximately 35 minutes by car to Woburn. London Heathrow (LHR) offers the widest international connections at 70km (43 miles) from Milton Keynes town centre, around 55 minutes by car to Woburn. Car rental is available at both airports and is strongly recommended for reaching Woburn, Northamptonshire County and the wider area. 🌤️ Best Time to Play Golf in Milton Keynes May through September offers the most reliable playing conditions, with temperatures ranging from 15°C (59°F) to 22°C (72°F) and monthly rainfall averaging 50–60mm (2–2.4in). October brings superb autumn colour through Woburn's pine and beech woodland. Northamptonshire County and Aspley Guise drain exceptionally well and are playable through winter. The Woburn courses play best from April onwards. Plan Your Milton Keynes Golf Trip Full rankings, reviews and course details for every course listed on this page are available at top100golfcourses.com.
