1 Night, 2 Rounds
Set in 10,000 acres of glorious Warwickshire countryside, the Forest of Arden is one of the Midlands' flagship golf resorts, combining two championship courses by Donald Steel with a 4-star hotel and spa. The headline layout is the Arden Course, a three-time host of the European Senior Masters and a proper test of accuracy and course management. Its sister, the Aylesford, offers a contrasting but equally rewarding round. Despite being less than 30 minutes from Birmingham city centre and 10 minutes from the NEC and Birmingham Airport, the resort feels properly rural, with mature woodland, open parkland and a sense of space that's rare this close to a major city.
Off the course you've got the full 4-star set-up: spacious rooms, solid service and enough on-site facilities that you can actually switch off between rounds. The Cedarwood Spa is a standout feature, while the Fairway Bar & Grill serves quality food in a relaxed setting. Whether you're here for a quick overnight or a longer stay, the Forest of Arden strikes a smart balance between serious golf and proper downtime.
Who is this for?
Golfers who want an easy Midlands escape with two strong courses, a proper hotel and spa, and no faff getting there.
Who is it best for?
Groups and societies who want 36 holes with a bit of variety, couples who like the golf-and-spa combo, and mid-to-low handicappers who'll appreciate the Arden's tighter test.
* Where applicable, the relevant promotions will be applied during the booking process. T&Cs may apply.
1 Night, 1 Round
1 Night, 2 Rounds
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
2 Nights, 2 Rounds
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
3 Nights, 4 Rounds
The Championship Arden Course at the Forest of Arden Golf Club is one of the country's most established tournament layouts, having hosted the cream of the European Tour for the British Masters from 1997-1999 and in 2003, and the English Open between 1993-1997, from 2000-2002 and again in 2020 where the event changed its name to the Hero Open.
Scoring was often good during these professional events with low scoring totals achieved by Ian Woosnam (1993) and Per-Ulrik Johansson (1997) with 4-round scores of -19. Champions at Forest of Arden also include Colin Montgomerie (1994) and Darren Clarke (2000 & 2002) and Sam Horsfield in 2020 with an overall score of -18.
This is indicative of the quality of the course, which has some truly distinctive holes, especially the 18th, an exacting par-3. The layout suits golfers of all abilities and when stretched to its fullest, the Arden will measure 7,213 yards, demanding the absolute best in striking in order to score well. Should you manage to find the green in regulation, the outstanding putting surfaces will give you a good chance to convert. With the quality of the course it is easy to see why so many enjoy golf breaks at The Forest of Arden each year.
| Par | 72 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Donald Steel |
| Opened for play | 1992 |
| Previously hosted | British Masters (1997-98, 2003-05) |
| Championship | 7,213 yards | SSS 73 |
|---|---|---|
| White | 6,707 yards | SSS 73 |
| Yellow | 6,451 yards | SSS 71 |
| Red | 5,654 yards | SSS 72 |
The Aylesford Resort Course at the Forest of Arden Golf Club is considerably shorter than its prestigious neighbour, but the expert attention of the greenkeepers ensures that it remains in equally immaculate condition. The Aylesford may be less than 6,000 yards, but underestimate it at your peril, as there are penalties to be paid for the wayward. This charming little course adds good variety to the Forest of Arden's repertoire, and emphasises the quality of a golf break at the resort.
| Par | 69 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Donald Steel |
| Opened for play | 1992 |
| White | 5,809 yards | SSS 68 |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | 5,579 yards | SSS 69 |
| Red | 5,068 yards | SSS 69 |
In addition, the Forest of Arden Golf Club is home to a first class golf academy, where visitors can seek the guidance of one of the resident PGA professionals.
Alongside the two golf courses there is a 16 bay floodlit driving range with an extensive short game and bunker area including a separate putting green.
The Forest of Arden's 214-room hotel sits at the heart of the resort, offering the kind of space, comfort and service you'd expect from a 4-star property. Rooms are contemporary in style, tastefully furnished and genuinely spacious, making them ideal for golfers who want to unwind properly after 36 holes. The hotel's location, surrounded by countryside yet within easy reach of Birmingham, the NEC and the airport, makes it a practical choice for groups flying in or driving from across the UK.
The Fairway Bar & Grill is the main dining option, serving international cuisine prepared with locally sourced ingredients. It's a proper sit-down restaurant rather than a casual clubhouse setup, and the quality reflects that. Breakfast is a full English or continental spread, while afternoon tea is also available for those who want a more leisurely pace. For something lighter, Zest offers all-day snacks and casual dishes, with an outdoor terrace that's perfect for a post-round drink when the weather plays along. Big screens around the bar areas mean you won't miss the sport, and the atmosphere is relaxed without being overly formal.
The Cedarwood Spa is the pick of the bunch, offering a full menu of treatments including body scrubs, wraps, facials, massages, manicures and pedicures. It's a proper spa rather than a token leisure add-on, making the Forest of Arden a strong choice for mixed groups or couples where one half wants serious golf and the other prefers serious relaxation. The leisure club includes a swimming pool, sauna, steam room and gym, plus outdoor options such as tennis courts, table tennis and croquet. For golfers, that means you can stretch out tired legs, loosen up before a round, or simply switch off completely between tee times.
The combination of two championship courses, quality accommodation and extensive leisure facilities makes the Forest of Arden one of the most complete golf resort experiences in the Midlands. It's particularly well suited to groups who want variety, couples looking for a mix of golf and spa time, and anyone after a convenient but high-quality UK break.
Address: Maxstoke Lane, Meriden, Birmingham, Warwickshire, CV7 7HR
Steve
✓17 Sep 2024
We’ve been here a few times and this year, maybe because we had the weather the quality was outstanding
Graham
✓16 Sep 2024
Bedrooms were good and beds comfortable - bars are very expensive (£4 for a coffee) and the efficiency of the barstaff is pretty poor. Waiting staff were good but a bit more of a smile and a good morning at the restaurant front desk wouldn't have gone amiss.
Michael
✓16 Sep 2024
Have a nice time in the hotel food was good so was the service rooms were comfortable
Colin
✓27 Aug 2024
Very pleasant, comfortable, food quality good
Paul
✓20 Aug 2024
Darren
✓20 Aug 2024
The hotel was very nice, the rooms were clean and comfortable whilst there was a wide selection of good food
John
✓16 Aug 2024
EXCELLENT AS PEVIOUS YEARS. HOWEVER THE FOOD THIS YEAR I WOULD SCORE 4 OUT OF 5.
Phil
✓13 Aug 2024
All round very good but the bars need more staff and to be made bigger
Geoff
✓11 Aug 2024
Very comfortable room - restaurant food excellent.
Kerry
✓8 Aug 2024
Hotel is absolutely fine albeit showing its age a little to be honest room that I was in is crying out for a makeover as far as bathroom was concerned . Bed was very comfy though.
Steve
✓17 Sep 2024
Great course - possibly my favourite outside of the “open courses” As per previous the halfway house would have been better with fresh sandwiches. A number of us ate the hot snacks and all of us threw them in a bin after a couple of bites.
Steve
✓17 Sep 2024
Great first day and a nice introduction before we played the Arden Course. The halfway house wasn’t up to much and maybe a selection of fresh sandwiches would have helped
Graham
✓16 Sep 2024
Good solid course in decent condition.
Graham
✓16 Sep 2024
We played 2 rounds on the Arden course - the first we only managed 15 holes before sunset (after 5 hours) due to the ridiculous slow play in front. We complained after 9 holes as there were no marshals on the course and received a very poor reaction from the pro shop with no acknowledgement of an issue and a promise of a marshal who we never saw on the course. Our group was pretty fed up. The second round was better only in the fact that we teed off earlier so were able to make it round in 6 hours. Again no marshals on the course. Slow play will kill off returning customers - we won't be back.
Michael
✓16 Sep 2024
Was a disgrace there were no Marshalls to keep play moving we teed off at 2pm and it took 3hours 10 mins for 9 holes we had to stop playing after 15 holes as it was dark it’s a long way to come for 15 holes there are golfers playing that can’t hit the ball there should be a handicap limit to play the Arden course as it’s quite hard
Colin
✓27 Aug 2024
First time here, very enjoyable, would enjoy it more second time around , a good test of golf
Colin
✓27 Aug 2024
Enjoyable with a variety of holes
Paul
✓20 Aug 2024
Paul
✓20 Aug 2024
Darren
✓20 Aug 2024
The greens were.in excellent condition but the round was very slow even though the course was relatively short.
