Course recommendations - Midlands/North

Hi all,

I work in education and, with the summer holidays looming, am looking to arrange our annual away day.  We normaly play 36 holes in one day with a bit of lunch in between.

Can anyone suggest any suitable courses?  Ideally it would be within 1.5 hours of Derbyshire, with nice food and two 18 hole courses, either onsite or two different ones very close together.  We had thought about heading towards the coast, but any suggestions considered and welcomed.

James.

Head towards the coast and play real golf, James.

Thanks John, I certainly agree - especially as one of the party has never played "real" golf, as you put it.

Have just found this on the web: http://www.golfcoastpassport.co.uk/ seems like a decent deal. 

Still looking though.

James,

Would definitely recommend the passport. Have played Flamborough Head recently in a comp organised by Paul Cook and would have no hesitation in playing there again if got the chance, An excellent test of golf on a true links. The other courses look rather good also.

We paid somewhere between £45 - £50 for the day. Cob/coffee on arrival Fish and Chips at lunchtime and 36 holes of golf.

Do give it a go

Martin

Played Bridlington Links and Filey back in May and they are good courses James.  Both are perched on cliff tops so if the wind blows (which it usually does) pack plenty of balls!

As a non-coast option I can recommend Forest Pines nr Scunthorpe - Excellent 3 x 9 hole loops carved into a forest.   Pretty tight in places though.

Or if you want something closer to home then perhaps Breadsall Priory nr Derby - 2 nice and pretty different 18 hole courses.

I'd go with Martin on recommending Flamborough, great little course, very friendly and spectacular when you get up the top on the cliffs - really good fish and chips too.  Looked at the passport thing and it looked pretty good value, hole up in a decent seaside B & B and you'd be sorted.

Breadsall is OK, the courses are good and the rest of the facilities seem top notch, but along with the rest of the big corporates you'll spend a fortune on food and drink when you aren't on the course.  Mind you, if you go there give me a shout, I'm only 5 mins up the road!

Forest of Arden was pretty decent last time I went, but it was few years ago - usual 2 course big hotel complex. 

If you fancy an in land location I would suggest Hawkstone Park in Shropshire.  I have played their many a time and its wonderful.  There are two 18 hole courses on site with a 12 hole Par 3 course, driving range and ample practice areas. 

Have a look,

http://www.principal-hayley.com/venues-and-hotels/hawkstone-park/leisure-and-activities/the-follies

James,

In the West Mids I would suggest the following: -

The Warwickshire (2 x 18 holes) -> http://www.theclubcompany.com/clubs/Warwickshire/golf-36-hole.html#jumpToContent

Forest of Arden (2 x 18 holes but could be expensive) -> http://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/cvtgs-forest-of-arden-a-marriott-hotel-and-country-club/

Patshull Park (1 x 18 holes but it's good) -> http://www.patshull-park.co.uk/index.php?contentid=1

The Belfry (3 x 18 holes and will be expensive) -> http://www.thebelfry.co.uk/

Cleobury Mortimer (3 x 9 holes, 3 very different loops, as many holes as you want on a Monday for £15, great, cheap food) -> http://www.cleoburygolfclub.com/index.lasso?pg=8b5a54b3c826b85d&-session=ldcms:4E2008E31175519BEBjliuYA038F

Thanks for all you replies guys, the research is underway!

I'm really tempted by the passport to the 4 Yorkshire courses for £64, it just depends on whether we can arrange with our better halves enough time away!

Forest of Arden has a deal on at the moment where you can play both courses with bacon rolls on arrival and a £10 lunch voucher for £69, which doesn't seem too bad a deal.

Thanks again.

That's a good deal at Forest of Arden and I'd consider that for myself (they wanted £99 to do that last year cos I was considering it for a comp).  The Aylesford is the easier course and whilst holes 14 through 17 are a bit 'flag in a field', the rest are pretty good.  Never played the Arden but heard good things, although the herds of deer grazing on the fairways can present a bit of an unusual hazard!

Would agree with Chris & either Forest of Arden or Cleobury Mortimer.