Forest of Arden Country Club - Arden Course

The layout is quite good the front 9 is more interesting. I would expect better greens for a course charging close to £100. Would play it once but that's about it....

The greens were lost sadly a few months ago but the greenkeepers look to have got them back to near perfection. Rolling brilliantly and smooth. Last time we played they were being seeded and a lot of maintenance being done understandably. Course condition from this dry weather is one of the best around I’ve played. Back 9 is one of the best in the country. Absolutely brilliant! Bunkers are the only thing I’d say lets it down slightly but nothing major.

Ambience, location and design - excellent including sight of deers and wild life. First 9 plays around water feature and last 9 around tough roughways lined by beautiful old trees! Some very challenging holes too to keep the team entertained. Would love to play again. Fortunately, we did not have anybody following us for until 9 holes but tee times were 9 min apart! Pro-shop had good collection and really professional helpful staff.

The problems were 1) awful greens - we had to declare prior to booking regarding discolouration but most green were unevenly cut so really unpredictable bounds/runs 2) bunkers were messy and appeared never raked 3) deers poo on few greens back 9

Course in very good condition from tees and fairways up to the greens, greens aren’t in as bad a condition as I may have thought, only one not good at all which is 18, the rest aren’t bad apart from the front of the 3rd. At £60 it was great value was round in 3 hours and 10 minutes.

This is a European Tour venue the Arden course is fantastic, played yesterday after reading some recent reviews was slightly concerned but no need to be.

The greens visually looked poor when we arrived but after putting on them they were fine. We spoke to a greenkeeper around the 2nd hole who explained they had some issues and explained in depth why there’s some dark patches we was really impressed with the explanation and the measures they are taking.

I read a few reviews saying they don’t care about the condition but that didn’t seem correct they way they work and the passion I could tell they have for the course.

Bunkers are fantastic looks like new sand.

Fairways and tees probably the best Iv played on in a long time, we played belfry Brabazon a few weeks back and the Arden is in superior condition.

Only criticism was lack of marshalling as groups in front were so slow and looking for balls every hole that wouldn’t let us pass and ended up a 5 hour round. All in all a great place to play and will definitely be back.

What a shame! The course could be exceptional but it seems that no one is really caring about the condition.

The greens are a disaster, burnt out and scalped, dried mud patches mean that putting on them is like a bad council course in winter. Then to make it even worse it seems that someone has cut half of the greens on the front 9 without realizing his mower had a leak!! Hard to like a course that doesn’t try and take care of itself.

There are 5 or 6 bunkers that are GUR as they have no sand in them which is a shame because they seem to have redone the ones on the front 9. Looks like they ran out of sand!!

The green surrounds are grim, either bare or deep rough.

The fairways are nice if you can avoid a divot.

Had a great game played at 1pm nice and quiet Course was in good condition but some bunkers out of use . Overall very good would recommend.

Definitely a course of two halves - front nine is parkland winding through mature trees and was in absolutely immaculate condition for that time of year. Fairway definition still intact. The back nine then opens out and weaves through bracken as a heathland feel. Course itself is fun to play and very open off the tee. Could take driver pretty much everywhere apart from a couple of dogleg holes. Good green set ups and greens super true for the time of year and the fairways were in superb condition. The back nine is set within a Deer park with deer roaming throughout which adds to the special feel the back nine has and the 200+ yard par 3 18th hitting over a lake from an elevated tee to a green in front of the pro shop and clubhouse is a fun way to finish. As it’s a hotel and country club the facilities were excellent and the pro shop very friendly.

Buggies almost as expensive as the green fee is disappointing.

Given it’s a hotel the food and beverage are expensive and very poor.

Always feels a bit pricey when compared to similar quality courses close by.

I’ve played this course a few times and it gets better and better. Granted it’s been mostly in sunmer and autumn but you can’t fault the greens, fairways and tees. Brilliant condition!

It’s like playing two different courses which I like. Front 9 is completely different to the front 9. In a way it’s a shame the front 9 isn’t the same as the back 9 but it’s still lovely looking.

Played a few courses and for the money it was good not excellent which I was expecting. Would I play again yes but it needs to be cheaper. Positives were interesting holes and good greens but negatives were bunkers were lacking of sand.

Really let down, not a cheap course and the conditions were terrible, so muddy , balls plugging , greens had been hollowed so the balls kept bobbling and nearly slipped over a few times just walking onto the fairway. Appreciate it’s been raining a lot but surely you could do more with the walk ways

A full review of the course can be found on my YouTube channel

https://youtube.com/@tomwatkissgolf?si=ki0n4hwQnW4VfhXy

Course was in phenomenal condition and surprisingly dry considering the large amount of rain we have had in the last 4 days. Shows how much work they put into course to make it playable. Greens in great condition, fairways tight as anything, especially for winter. A few muddy area but mostly at pinch points which is to be expected.

Well the worth the last minute booking with my home course closed

Considering all the rain in recent days and weeks the tees, fairways and greens were in excellent condition

Parts of the rough were very wet but that is to be expected

Having played allot of courses around the UK, this course was excellent. Really well laid out, and the fairways and greens were in excellent condition.