Golfshake: 10 Venues for the Perfect Golf Staycation

Tue 15 September 2020

The Belfry

Any list of the perfect golf staycations worth its salt has to include a mention of The Belfry. Golfers with just a passing interest in Ryder Cup lore will know the attractions of its courses. As well as being the spiritual home of the famous team match play event, the par 72, 7235-yard Brabazon Course is a beautiful but brutal test of golf, and perfect for golfers seeking a rigorous examination of their games (as well as the thrill of teeing up at a Ryder Cup venue!). But there is also the PGA National, and the shorter, less punishing Derby. These are both championship courses, with excellent conditioning, but more manageable and certainly less daunting than the famous Brabazon. Less people know about The Belfry’s sumptuous accommodation facilities. A four-star venue, The Belfry boasts 319 rooms, spanning the elite Brabazon Lodge to Manor House suites. Food is predictably excellent – lite bites can be enjoyed in Sam’s Club House or the Brabazon Bar. The Ryder Grill restaurant offers outstanding full meals. What’s more, Golfbreaks offers one night and rounds on both the PGA National and The Derby from just £119 per head.

Carden Park

Next on the list is Carden Park. This venue isn’t as well-known as some of the others here, but those who know Carden Park will be familiar with its quality, which was also recognised in the 2018 World Golf Awards, where the resort was named ‘England’s Best Golf Hotel’. It’s a sprawling resort, spanning 1,000 acres of estate and offering almost 200 rooms, including sophisticated suites, and a whopping five restaurants and bars. In terms of golf courses, two excellent layouts are offered: the Cheshire and the Nicklaus. These are earmarked by incredibly tight fairways and a surfeit of hazards, so be sure to bring your A game, or at least a full bag of golf balls. A round on each and one-night accommodation can be booked via Golfbreaks, with prices per person beginning at £109.