Woburn vs The Belfry
Two of the great English Midlands golf destinations, an easy drive apart but worlds apart in feel. Woburn brings three high class courses on sandy heath among the pines, a purer, more refined day. The Belfry brings four time Ryder Cup theatre, a full resort and the most famous closing holes in British golf. Here is the honest head to head, with our verdict up front.
Photograph: Woburn Golf Club, via Google
The verdict
For the quality and variety of the golf, Woburn wins. In the Bedfordshire countryside it offers three genuinely good courses, the Duke's and Duchess by Charles Lawrie and the newer Marquess by European Golf Design, all cut through stands of pine and silver birch on free draining sandy heath. The turf is firm, the trees frame every hole and the golf is natural, strategic and beautifully maintained, a long time host of the British Masters and the Women's British Open. It feels like a proper golf club rather than a resort, and for a group that has come for the round itself it is the more satisfying day.
The Belfry is the more famous destination and the better all round resort, and for many groups that is the point. In Warwickshire near Sutton Coldfield, it is the only venue to have hosted the Ryder Cup four times, and the Brabazon course lets you play the same drivable par 4 tenth and the island green eighteenth that decided those matches. The golf is good rather than great, parkland and water with real theatre at the finish, but it comes with a large hotel, spa, restaurants and a famous bar, the full society and buddies package under one roof. Pick Woburn for the best golf and a refined day, The Belfry for the occasion, the Ryder Cup history and the all in one resort.
Head to head
| Woburn | The Belfry | |
|---|---|---|
| The courses | Three courses: the Duke's, the Duchess and the Marquess, all 18 holes | Three courses: the Brabazon, the PGA National and the Derby, all 18 holes |
| Designers | Charles Lawrie (Duke's 1976, Duchess 1978); Ross McMurray, European Golf Design (Marquess 2000) | Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss (Brabazon 1977, PGA National), reworked for the Ryder Cup |
| Setting and style | Tree lined courses on sandy heath among pine and silver birch in Bedfordshire | Parkland and water in the Warwickshire countryside, with a large resort at its heart |
| Tournament pedigree | Long time host of the British Masters and the Women's British Open; Ian Poulter's home club | Four time Ryder Cup host (1985, 1989, 1993, 2002), more than any other venue |
| Signature golf | Firm, strategic heathland golf and three contrasting layouts to play over a stay | The drivable par 4 tenth and the island green par 4 eighteenth of the Brabazon |
| Resort and lodging | A traditional members club; lodging arranged nearby rather than on site | Large on site hotel, spa, restaurants and the famous Bel Air bar, a full resort |
| Best season | Roughly May to October for the firmest turf, though the sandy ground plays well year round | Roughly May to October; parkland plays softer and wetter in the winter months |
| Who it suits | Keen golfers who want the best golf, variety and a refined club day | Societies and buddies wanting Ryder Cup history and an all in one resort with nightlife |
Course facts and hosting history verified June 2026; green fees and packages move with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Who should pick which
Pick Woburn if
You have come for the golf itself. Woburn gives a group three genuinely good, contrasting courses on the kind of firm, tree lined heathland that English golf does best, the natural strategy of the Duke's, the variety of the Duchess and the modern test of the Marquess. It is quieter and more refined than a big resort, a real club with tournament history and a strong day's golf at its core. For keen players who will happily play thirty six holes and judge the trip on the quality of the rounds, it is the better choice.
Pick The Belfry if
You want the occasion and the full package. The Belfry is built for societies and buddies trips, with the famous Ryder Cup holes of the Brabazon, a large hotel and spa, several restaurants and a lively bar, everything in one place and easy to organize for a group. The golf is enjoyable rather than world class, but the chance to stand on the tenth tee and take on the same shot the professionals did, then celebrate it back at the hotel, is the appeal. For a memorable group weekend with nightlife built in, it wins.
Plan your Midlands golf trip
Woburn, The Belfry or both over a long weekend. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge builds the tee times, the lodging and the routing, and costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Woburn vs The Belfry questions
Is Woburn or The Belfry better?
For the quality and variety of the golf, Woburn is better: three high class tree lined courses, the Duke's, the Duchess and the Marquess, laid out on sandy heath among pine and silver birch in Bedfordshire, a purer and more natural test. The Belfry is the more famous destination and the better all round resort, a four time Ryder Cup venue in Warwickshire with a hotel, spa and nightlife and the famous drivable tenth and island green eighteenth of the Brabazon. Pick Woburn for the golf, The Belfry for the occasion and the Ryder Cup theatre.
How many Ryder Cups has The Belfry hosted?
Four, more than any other venue in the world: 1985, 1989, 1993 and 2002, all on the Brabazon course. Europe's 1985 win and Paul McGinley's winning putt on the eighteenth in 2002 are among the most famous moments in Ryder Cup history, and playing the same holes is the core of The Belfry's appeal.
Who designed the courses at Woburn and The Belfry?
Woburn's Duke's and Duchess courses were designed by Charles Lawrie and opened in 1976 and 1978, with the Marquess added in 2000 by European Golf Design's Ross McMurray with Peter Alliss, Clive Clark and Alex Hay. The Belfry's Brabazon and PGA National were designed by Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss, the Brabazon opening in 1977 and reworked over the years for the Ryder Cup.
Are Woburn and The Belfry far apart?
No. Woburn sits in Bedfordshire and The Belfry near Sutton Coldfield in Warwickshire, both in the English Midlands and roughly an hour to ninety minutes apart by car, easily reached from Birmingham, Luton or the M1 and M6. A society or buddies trip can comfortably combine the two over a long weekend. Always confirm tee times and fees directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and hosting history verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.