Forest of Arden Golf & Country Club is one of the Midlands’ best-known golf destinations, offering two contrasting 18-hole parkland courses within the peaceful Packington Estate. Its central location makes it an especially convenient choice for a UK golf break, with Birmingham Airport, major motorway routes and Birmingham International railway station all close by.

The main attraction is the Arden Championship Course, a par-72 layout measuring up to 7,213 yards. Framed by mature oak trees and shaped by water hazards, strategic bunkers and thick rough, it asks golfers to combine distance with accurate course management. The front nine provides a demanding parkland test, but the course becomes even more memorable as it moves through the estate’s deer park on the back nine.

Its tournament pedigree adds another layer to the experience. The Arden Course has hosted both the British Masters and English Open, welcoming players such as Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke. The round finishes with its famous par-three 18th, where golfers must carry the ball across water towards a green overlooked by the resort – a dramatic closing hole that can quickly change the scorecard.

The shorter Aylesford Course provides a useful contrast. Playing to a par of 69 at around 5,800 yards, it features narrower fairways, smaller greens and shorter holes that reward accuracy rather than power. It is well suited to mixed-handicap groups, relaxed second rounds and golfers who want a more manageable challenge after tackling the Arden.

Practice facilities include a covered, floodlit driving range, target greens, putting areas and dedicated chipping, pitching and bunker zones. With two courses on site and The Belfry also within easy reach, Forest of Arden is an excellent base for a golf weekend in the West Midlands.