Must Play Golf Courses to Experience in The Midlands

By: Golfshake Editor | Wed 03 Mar 2021

The heart of English golf, The Midlands is home to a wide range of iconic courses that are just waiting to be experienced.

On Golfshake, we recently unveiled our special OUTSTANDING VENUE Service Award Winners, those destinations that have been Highly Recommended by the Golfshake Community for each of the past three years.

A total of 198 across the United Kingdom qualified for that accolade, and many of those are located within The Midlands - representing venues that are truly exceptional, reviewed positively by a considerable number of everyday golfers, who would recommend them to someone else - and that could be you!

So, if you live in The Midlands or just fancy making the journey in 2021, these are officially OUTSTANDING!

The Belfry

Location: West Midlands

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 580

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 95%

Review Comment: "Best course I've ever played so far. Challenging but fair. A dream to play on. For every avid golf fan out there you must play this course if you ever get the chance."

Morley Hayes - Manor Course

Location: East Midlands

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 348

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 98.27%

Review Comment: "My favourite course, very tough but fair, good shots are rarely punished by a bad bounce or running off fairways. Excellent practice facilities, the best in the East Midlands by some distance."

Marriott Forest of Arden Golf Club

Location: West Midlands

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 306

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 97.38%

Review Comment: "Both courses in superb condition. The Arden is obviously the jewel here, but don't discount the Aylesford because of that, it's a really good challenge. Tees and greens all kept to a very high standard. Fairways that are close to being carpets."

West Midlands Golf Club

Location: West Midlands

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 295

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 97.62%

Review Comment: "The course was in great condition with very tricky putting greens. The course is a very good test for handicaps and a pleasure to play."

The Warwickshire Golf Club

Location: West Midlands

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 282

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 98.93%

Review Comment: "The complex is a great golf facility, providing a real test of golf set in beautiful surrounds. The overall standard of both courses is of a very high quality."

Ramsdale Park Golf Centre

Location: East Midlands

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 221

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 99.54

Review Comment: "A really great course. Fairways are generous but windy conditions made it trickier. The greens are some of the best I've played on. There are really scenic views but be prepared for hilly walks."

Stonebridge Golf Club

Location: West Midlands

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 200

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 97.50%

Review Comment: "Lovely conditions, and a course in cracking nick. The newly refurbished clubhouse area is excellent."

Marriott Breadsall Priory Golf Club

Location: East Midlands

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 192

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 96.25%

Review Comment: "Breadsall Priory is a great golf venue with two great courses, the Priory is a fantastic course with lots of challenging holes."

Bromsgrove Golf Centre

Location: West Midlands

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 182

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 96.15%

Review Comment: "Course is looking and playing very well, greens can be deceptive when putting. Hit the ball off the fairways and into the trees will almost certainly result in a dropped shot."

Rufford Park Golf & Country Club

Location: East Midlands

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 179

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 99.44%

Review Comment: "Played once a year at a charity function. Always looked forward to it. A couple of challenging par 5s and picturesque par 3s. Rewards accuracy rather than length. You won't forget the 17th!"

Widney Manor Golf Club

Location: West Midlands

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 175

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 98.28%

Review Comment: "Had a really enjoyable round today. Busy but well paced play. Course was in good condition, fairways were well maintained as were the greens. Great value for money too."

Horsley Lodge Golf Club

Location: East Midlands

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 161

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 98.75%

Review Comment: "Lovely golf course with a challenging design and greens in great nick. Friendly staff - made the day special."

Thornbury Golf Centre

Location: West Midlands

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 159

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 99.37%

Review Comment: "Enjoyed a knock around this track. Greens are massive so be prepared for some long putts. Course in good condition and a mixture of holes make for an interesting round."

Lickey Hills Golf Club

Location: West Midlands

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 152

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 94.07%

Review Comment: "A lovely challenging course with some tight holes in a good variety of difficulty. Some hills (obviously) but a course well worth a visit. Good greens in particular."

Forest Pines Spa & Golf Resort

Location: East Midlands

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 149

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 96.64%

Review Comment: "Always in great condition and has the feel of a special course. Greens quite quick especially if you leave yourself a downhiller."

Hawkstone Park Golf Club

Location: West Midlands

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 144

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 96.52%

Review Comment: "Both the Hawkstone and Championship courses are fantastic courses with some really good but difficult holes. I will certainly play the courses again. As a middle handicapper the courses are certainly very fair. A must visit. The hotel and Lyle bar are also excellent."

Windmill Village Golf Club

Location: West Midlands

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 141

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 95.74%

Review Comment: "Greens were beautiful and very fast. The course as a whole were well maintained and in great shape."

The Nottinghamshire Golf & Country Club

Location: East Midlands

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 140

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 97.14%

Review Comment: "The Nottinghamshire is a really great golfing venue that has really matured nicely over the last few years, lots of great holes."

Ombersley Golf Club

Location: West Midlands

Highly Recommended Reviews in 2018/2019/2020: 139

Positive Highly Recommended Rating: 100%

Review Comment: "Course was in really good shape, and greens were firm and tough. Holes are not massive in length but quite a few dog legs and tree lines running adjacent to fairway which makes them play tough."