Forest of Arden Arden Course
Donald Steel laid out the Arden Course through the ancient oak woodland of Warwickshire, a long parkland of about 7,213 yards, par 72, that hosted the European Tour English Open and the British Masters through the 1990s. Lakes guard the closing holes and the trees do the rest, a serious resort test a short drive from Birmingham.
Photo: Forest of Arden Hotel & Country Club via Google.
The verdict
The Arden Course is the championship layout at the Forest of Arden, a Marriott resort set in mature Warwickshire parkland between Birmingham and Coventry. Designed by Donald Steel and opened around 1970, it stretches to about 7,213 yards from the tips, plays to a par of 72, and earned its reputation as a tournament venue, hosting the European Tour English Open and the British Masters across the 1990s with a field that included many of the era's best.
What you get is full bodied English parkland golf: broad, tree lined corridors of fairway, deer moving through the woodland, and water arriving with real menace at the long par 4 closing holes. It is not subtle links golf, it is a power test that rewards length and a steady nerve coming home. As a stay and play base within easy reach of the motorway network and Birmingham Airport, it is one of the most convenient serious golf experiences in the Midlands.
Forest of Arden Arden Course at a glance
- Opened
- About 1970
- Designer
- Donald Steel
- Type
- Parkland resort
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,213 yds
- Green fee
- Resort, public
Designer, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the resort and leading course databases: the Arden Course is a Donald Steel parkland of about 7,213 yards, par 72, that hosted European Tour events through the 1990s. Green fees are seasonal and vary by day; recent visitor rates have sat broadly in the three figure range (indicative, 2026). Always confirm the current fee and any stay and play package directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Arden plays as a true parkland test, the holes carved through stands of oak so that position off the tee matters as much as raw length. The fairways are generous in the landing zones but the trees punish anything loose, and the greens are large and receptive, built to hold the long irons a 7,200 yard layout asks you to hit.
The water comes into play most dramatically over the closing stretch, where lakes squeeze the approach to the long par 4s and turn a steady round into a tense finish. This is where tournaments were won and lost, and where the resort golfer feels the bite of a championship setup. Course management, not heroics, is the way home.
Through the middle of the round the routing settles into a rhythm of doglegs and well bunkered par 3s, the kind of holes that reward a player who plots a line and commits. The Arden gives back the most to the golfer who keeps the ball in play, leaves the right angle into the green, and saves the aggression for the moments the card can spare it.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort and visitor play; open to hotel guests and visiting golfers, with stay and play packages the usual route |
| Green fee | Seasonal green fees vary by day; recent visitor rates broadly in the three figure range (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book through the resort golf shop or a UK golf travel specialist; weekend and peak season tee times go early |
| On the day | Buggies are widely used given the length; the parkland walks well in dry conditions and a dress code applies |
| Getting there | Meriden, between Birmingham and Coventry, a few minutes from the M42 and M6 and close to Birmingham Airport |
| Best months | May to September for the firmest turf and longest days; the parkland can play soft in winter |
Access and fees verified June 2026 from the resort and golf travel sources; rates and package terms change by season, so always confirm directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The obvious base is the Forest of Arden hotel itself, which puts the first tee, a second course and a spa within the grounds and makes a stay and play weekend effortless. Beyond the resort, Birmingham and the wider West Midlands offer a deep range of hotels, dining and easy transport for a golf trip built around the area.
The location is the quiet trump card: with the motorway network and Birmingham Airport on the doorstep, the Arden pairs naturally with the other championship parklands and heathlands of central England for a multi course Midlands tour.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Forest of Arden Arden Course.
Build a Midlands golf trip
We book the Arden Course tee times, pair them with the best parklands and heathlands within an easy drive, and sort the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Forest of Arden Arden Course questions
Who designed the Forest of Arden Arden Course and when did it open?
The Arden Course was designed by Donald Steel and opened around 1970 as the championship layout at the Forest of Arden resort in Warwickshire.
What is the par and length of the Arden Course?
The Arden Course is a par 72 of about 7,213 yards from the back tees, a long mature parkland routed through oak woodland with water on the closing holes.
Has the Forest of Arden hosted professional tournaments?
Yes. The Arden Course hosted European Tour events through the 1990s, including the English Open and the British Masters.
Can visitors play the Forest of Arden?
Yes. The Arden Course is a resort layout open to hotel guests and visiting golfers, with stay and play packages the usual route. Confirm green fees and tee times directly before booking.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening era, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.