JCB Golf & Country Club
The JCB Golf & Country Club is one of the most talked about new courses in Britain. Built on reclaimed quarry and farmland owned by the Bamford family of digger fame, it opened in 2018 to a Robin Hiseman design and to immaculate, championship grade conditioning. At 7,433 yards it is a muscular modern parkland, crowned by an island green 17th that has quickly become one of England's most photographed holes. It is also strictly private, which only sharpens the curiosity around it.
Photo: JCB Golf and Country Club via Google.
The verdict
JCB is a statement of intent. Robin Hiseman of European Golf Design routed a bold, big scale parkland across lakes and rolling Staffordshire countryside, and the club has poured resources into presentation that rivals anything in the country. Wide, sweeping fairways, large contoured greens and water in play on the closing holes give it a tournament feel, and the conditioning is its signature as much as any single hole.
It suits the golfer who loves modern, manufactured drama and the very best turf, rather than the ancient links or heathland traditions. The catch is access, JCB is a private members club and does not sell public green fees, so a round comes through membership or a member's invitation. For the travelling golfer it is best understood as the headline act in a wider Midlands or Staffordshire trip built around courses you can actually book, with JCB on the wish list should an invitation come.
JCB Golf & Country Club at a glance
- Opened
- 2018
- Design
- Robin Hiseman
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 7,433 yds
- Green fee
- Members and guests
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and golf course archives. JCB Golf & Country Club opened in 2018 to a Robin Hiseman design and plays to a par of 72 over 7,433 yards, with a celebrated island green 17th of 255 yards. JCB is a private members club and does not offer public green fee play, so there is no visitor rate to quote; access is by membership or a member's invitation. Always confirm access directly before planning a visit.
The holes worth the trip
JCB plays on a grand scale. Hiseman used the lakes and the reclaimed contours of the site to create generous landing areas off the tee, then defended the greens with water, bunkering and bold internal movement, so the challenge sits firmly on the approach and around the putting surfaces. It is a course that asks for length and nerve in equal measure from the back tees.
The conditioning is the constant talking point. Fairways and greens are presented to a tournament standard year round, which gives the course a pristine, almost manicured feel that sets it apart from the rugged traditions of British golf. For many visitors that polish is the appeal, a chance to play turf as good as any in the country.
The signature is the 17th, a 255 yard par 3 to an island green set in one of the estate's lakes, brutal from the tips and unforgettable from any tee. It anchors a closing stretch where water is constantly in the eye, and it is the image that has done most to build the club's modern reputation.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A private members club; not open to public green fee play |
| Green fee | Not applicable, members and guests only; no public visitor rate is published |
| Booking | Play is through membership or a member's invitation; the club does not take public tee time bookings |
| On the day | A buggy friendly modern parkland with a five star clubhouse and practice facilities |
| Getting there | Near Rocester in Staffordshire, close to Uttoxeter and around an hour from Birmingham and the East Midlands |
| Best months | May to September for the firmest conditions, though the course is presented to a high standard year round |
Access policy verified June 2026 from the club; JCB does not offer public green fees, so a round requires membership or a member's invitation. Confirm directly before planning a visit. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
There is no resort accommodation tied to public play at JCB, so visitors building a Staffordshire trip generally base themselves around Uttoxeter, the Peak District fringe or the cities of the East Midlands, where hotels and country houses are plentiful.
The wider region offers excellent parkland and moorland golf you can book without membership, and pairs well with the attractions of the Peak District and the Trent valley. Treat JCB as the aspiration on a trip built around courses with open tee sheets.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Uttoxeter and Staffordshire.
A Staffordshire and Midlands golf week
JCB is a private club, but we build Midlands golf trips around the best parkland and moorland courses you can actually book, with comfortable bases and transfers arranged. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
JCB Golf & Country Club questions
Who designed JCB Golf & Country Club?
JCB was designed by Robin Hiseman of European Golf Design and opened in 2018. It was built on reclaimed quarry and farmland in Staffordshire owned by the Bamford family, the founders of the JCB machinery company.
Can the public play JCB Golf & Country Club?
No. JCB is a private members club and does not sell public green fees. A round is only possible through membership or as the guest of a member, which is why no visitor rate is published.
What is the par and length of JCB?
JCB plays to a par of 72 and measures 7,433 yards from the championship tees, making it a long, modern parkland test. Its most famous hole is the 17th, a 255 yard par 3 to an island green.
What is the 17th hole at JCB?
The 17th is a 255 yard par 3 played to an island green set in one of the estate's lakes. It is one of the most photographed modern holes in England and a brutal challenge from the back tee.
How do you get to play JCB?
Because JCB is private with no public green fees, access comes through membership or a member's invitation. Travelling golfers usually build a Staffordshire or Midlands trip around courses with open tee sheets and keep JCB as a wish list round.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; access policy verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.