⛳ 🏨Five golf resorts that are more than par for the course
Whether it is the ‘Rory’ effect, fine Spring weather, or a combination of things, golf participation rates are booming. More and more people are picking up a set of clubs and heading out onto the course. Playing options are increasing with flexible club memberships, and there is also the chance to combine your favourite outdoor pastime with a holiday - whether it is a few days abroad or a short break at home.
There are many golf resorts around Britain offering overnight stays with a round or two of golf and meals thrown in - here are five to consider for all pockets and abilities.
The Gleneagles Hotel
This is probably a bucket list trip for many, but if you are a decent golfer and feeling a bit flush, why not indulge your passion with a trip to stunning Perthshire. Scotland is the home of golf and this jewel in the crown luxury five-star resort has 205 bedrooms and 28 suites, 10 restaurants and bars.
But the stars of the show are its three championship golf courses, one of which has played host to both the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup - allowing you to walk in the footsteps of giants.
The King’s Course is an ‘inland links’ designed by James Braid. Running to 6,471 yards from the white markers, this par 71 enchantingly wends its way through the lush countryside.
The Queen’s course is a par 68 heathland track stretching to 5,965 yards along the north and west of the estate. The Gleneagles website reckons it ‘is a course that’s easy to fall in love with’.
And then there is the Jack Nicklaus-designed PGA Centenary Course, which offers a stiff challenge throughout its 6,815 yards. Golfers need to ‘keep their wits about them’ on this par 72 championship course
There is also a nine-hole ‘Wee Course’ as well as excellent practice facilities and a welcoming clubhouse.
Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort
Heading south of the border, Slaley Hall, near Hexham in Northumberland, always proves popular on the golf break lists. The resort includes an Elemis spa and health club, three dining venues, two golf courses, and is dog friendly.
Of its two courses, the Hunting Course is nicknamed the Augusta of the North and has played host to high-profile events. At 6,530 yards and with a challenging par of 72, the Hunting can ‘catch out the unwary’ with its sweeping fairways, tall trees, streams, and lakes’.
Slaley Hall’s Priestman Course, is another par 72 at 6,273 yards, but is more suitable for all levels. A moorland track that follows the natural contours of the Northumberland countryside, the Priestman also offers views across the Tyne Valley.
Slaley Hall also has a driving range, pro shop, and the Claret Jug bar for a post-round drink. It offers a variety of golf break deals and golf insurance is required.
The Belfry Hotel & Resort
Tracking down to the Midlands, and only 10 miles from Birmingham city centre, The Belfry is another Mecca for golf fans.
Home to the British Masters and a four-time Ryder Cup host, the resort hotel offers a selection of single and king rooms, family rooms, and three types of suites. There are spa facilities, three restaurants and a bar, and the resort is dog friendly. There are also three superb courses from which to choose.
The Brabazon, designed by Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss, is a Ryder Cup landmark. Stretching 7,255 yards with a par of 72, the course’s ‘precision-cut fairways, strategic bunkering, shimmering lakes and fast, undulating greens, makes this a challenge fit for the greats; past, present, and future’.
The PGA National is for golfers who like to strategise their way around a course. This is a links-style par 72, reaching 6,921 yards with countless bunkers, that requires precision and skill.
The third course is The Derby, a parkland layout which was the first course at The Belfry and is suitable for all levels. At 6,099 yards, this par 70 offers plenty of risk and reward options.
Barnham Broom
Travelling east, north Norfolk has stunning coastal courses, but an inland golf resort close to the vibrant cathedral city of Norwich offers good value for money. The hotel at Barnham Broom includes 46 rooms comprising standard and superior sizes, as well as three suites.
If you are looking for something a bit different, you could also check out the resort’s timeshare lodges as well as its spa and fitness club. Formal dinners are served in the Brasserie, while the sports bar offers a more relaxed and informal setting for dining, including a takeaway brick oven-cooked pizza.
Of Barnham Broom’s two golf courses, the Valley, a 6,555 yards par 72 designed by Frank Pennink and opened in 1977, provides a natural landscape with water features and regularly appears on the Norfolk Open rota.
By contrast, the 6,088 yards Hill Course is a par 69 more suitable for golfers of all abilities due to its wider fairways. Opened in 1989 and with stunning views, the layout has strategically placed bunkers, and can pose a real test when the wind blows.
The resort also has good practice facilities and a golf shop.
Foxhills Country Club - Golf Club and Resort
A short drive from Woking and its rail links, and close to the M25, the 400-acre Foxhills estate is nestled in leafy Surrey. The resort has 66 bedrooms and suites, three golf courses, a spa, five swimming pools, racquet sports and three restaurants.
Of its golf courses, the par 72 Longcross runs to 6,463 yards and is known for its Scots pine, beech and silver birch. It is a parkland course requiring precision due to tree-lined fairways funneling the view past strategically-placed bunkers.
The par 68 Bernard Hunt course is named after the Ryder Cup great and former Foxhills pro. At 6,864 yards, and more forgiving off the tee, it is arguably more suited to higher handicappers.
Then there is the nine-hole Manor course, a fun par 3 designed by Hunt which is great for all levels, whether experienced or just starting out.
