Best Golf Courses Near Birmingham

The Midlands gets a rougher deal in golf journalism than it deserves. Conversations about great English golf tend to gravitate towards the Surrey heathland, the Lancashire links, and the Lincolnshire coast — and in doing so they skip over a region that has produced two of the most important venues in the modern game. The Belfry hosted the Ryder Cup four times. Forest of Arden hosted it once. Between them, those two venues have delivered some of the most dramatic moments in the sport’s recent history, and both are available to visiting green-fee golfers.

Beyond the famous names, Birmingham and its surrounding counties — Worcestershire, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire — offer a broad spread of parkland, heathland, and woodland golf that caters to every level and budget. Green fees span from £15 at council-run courses to £130 at the Brabazon. The variety is the point.

The Famous Venues — Ryder Cup History and Visitor Access

The Belfry

The Belfry at Sutton Coldfield is the most famous golf venue in the Midlands and arguably the most commercially significant golf resort in England. The Brabazon Course — designed by Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss and opened in 1977 — hosted the Ryder Cup in 1985, 1989, 1993, and 2002. The 1985 match, when Europe won the Ryder Cup for the first time in 28 years, was played here. The 10th and 18th holes, both involving the lake that bisects the back nine, are among the most photographed in English golf.

The great advantage of The Belfry is that it is entirely visitor-friendly. Unlike a traditional private members’ club, it is a resort operation, which means green-fee bookings are the foundation of the business rather than a concession to outsiders. You can book a tee time on the Brabazon Course directly through the resort website.

Green fees on the Brabazon typically range from around £80 on quieter weekdays to £130 or more at weekends and in peak season. The PGA National Course and the Derby Course are both available at lower green fees and are worth playing if you’re staying overnight.

The Belfry is located just north of the A446 between Lichfield and Coventry, about 12 miles north-east of Birmingham city centre. There is no practical train access; a car or taxi from Birmingham city centre is the realistic option.

Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel and Country Club

Forest of Arden near Meriden hosted the Benson & Hedges International Open on the European Tour for several years and the 2002 Ryder Cup team presentations were held here, though the match itself was at The Belfry. The Arden Course is a challenging woodland-and-parkland layout that plays considerably harder than it appears — tree-lined fairways punish wayward drives severely, and the greens are demanding.

Like The Belfry, Forest of Arden operates as a resort hotel, making visitor access straightforward. Green fees on the Arden Course are typically in the £70–£110 range. The Aylesford Course is also available at lower green fees. The location — between Birmingham and Coventry on the A45 — makes it easily accessible from either city.

Sutton Coldfield — Heathland North of the City

The area around Sutton Coldfield, north of Birmingham, contains some of the finest golf in the Midlands. The heathland terrain — sandy soil, pine trees, heather in places — is reminiscent of the Surrey courses, though without the same international reputation.

Sutton Coldfield Golf Club is the eldest statesman of the area, founded in 1889 and playing through the Royal Town’s parkland with some heathland character. It’s a well-established members’ club with visitor access on weekdays and a welcoming atmosphere. Green fees are typically in the £50–£70 range.

Little Aston Golf Club at Streetly is the most highly regarded private club in the Midlands. Founded in 1908 and designed by Harry Vardon, it plays through sandy heathland with a feel that genuinely recalls the Surrey belt. It consistently appears in lists of the best inland courses in England. Access is by member introduction or through organised visitor days — check the club’s website for current arrangements. Green fees reflect the quality.

Moor Hall Golf Club at Sutton Coldfield occupies parkland grounds adjacent to Moor Hall Hotel and offers visitor tee times on weekdays. The course is shorter than Little Aston or Sutton Coldfield but is immaculately maintained and offers a pleasant, well-structured round. Green fees are moderate.

Worcestershire — West of the City

Head south-west from Birmingham on the A456 or M5 and within 30–40 minutes you’re in the gentler countryside of north Worcestershire, where several solid clubs offer parkland golf with a markedly different atmosphere to the Sutton Coldfield area.

Wharton Park Golf and Country Club near Bewdley is one of the more ambitious parkland developments in the West Midlands region. Set in undulating grounds above the River Severn, the course offers good variety and solid maintenance. It’s operated as a resort with visitor access; green fees are in the mid-range.

Ombersley Golf Club near Droitwich is a parkland course that benefits from its location in the Severn valley — the terrain is flatter than the courses further east, which makes it a more relaxed proposition while still offering a full 18-hole challenge. It’s a private club with visitor tee times available on weekdays.

Droitwich Golf and Country Club at Ford Lane is another solid option in the Worcestershire corridor. Droitwich Spa is the nearest town, and the club is set in parkland grounds that take good advantage of the local topography.

Staffordshire — North and East of the City

Beau Desert Golf Club at Hazel Slade near Cannock is the most celebrated course in Staffordshire and one of the genuine hidden gems of Midlands golf. The heathland layout — designed by Herbert Fowler, who also created Walton Heath and The Berkshire — plays through pine trees and heather on sandy soil and is consistently rated among the finest inland courses in England. Visitor access is available on weekdays and the green fees are very reasonable given the quality. If you play one unfamiliar course near Birmingham, make a serious effort to get here.

Lichfield Golf and Country Club near Lichfield offers parkland golf in well-maintained grounds close to the historic cathedral city. It’s operated with visitor access in mind and green fees are in the moderate range. Lichfield itself is well worth a visit — the cathedral is one of the finest in England, and the city centre has good restaurants.

Cannock Park Golf Course is a council-run 18-hole course on the edge of Cannock Chase, the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to the north of Birmingham. It’s affordable, accessible, and set in attractive grounds — an excellent option for visitors on a tight budget or first-time golfers who want an uncomplicated outing. Green fees are typically under £25.

Warwickshire — South and South-East of the City

Stratford-upon-Avon Golf Club is one of those courses that attracts visitors as much for its location as its golf. Playing golf a short distance from Shakespeare’s birthplace, in a parkland setting beside the River Avon, is a genuinely pleasant experience, and the course itself — while not in the same league as Beau Desert or Little Aston — is a well-maintained and enjoyable 18 holes. Visitor tee times are available, and it makes an excellent half-day addition to a trip to the town. Green fees are typically in the £40–£60 range.

Edgbaston Golf Club sits within the city of Birmingham itself, close to the famous cricket ground of the same name. Founded in 1896, it plays through mature parkland with tight tree-lined fairways that demand accuracy. It’s a members’ club with limited visitor access but is worth pursuing if you want to play a traditional private club in the city. The Edgbaston area has good restaurants and hotels.

Solihull — South-East of the City

The Solihull area, between Birmingham and Coventry, has several clubs that serve the prosperous south-eastern suburbs.

Olton Golf Club at Solihull is a mature parkland course founded in 1893, with tight tree-lined fairways and a traditional club atmosphere. Visitor access is available on weekdays. Robin Hood Golf Club at Solihull is similarly well regarded in the area, offering parkland golf in comfortable surroundings with good visitor facilities.

Pay-and-Play and Affordable Golf

Birmingham has a solid network of public-access golf for those who want to play without joining a club or paying premium green fees.

Cocks Moors Woods Golf Course in Kings Heath is one of the best council-run courses in the Midlands. Operated by Birmingham City Council, the course offers 18 holes through woodland terrain at green fees that are typically under £20. It’s accessible by bus from the city centre and is often cited as an example of good-value municipal golf done well. For beginners, visiting tourists, or anyone who wants golf without ceremony, it’s an excellent option.

For more on this category across the UK, our municipal golf courses guide covers what to expect at council-run and public-access venues. And for those new to the game looking for courses with a more relaxed approach to visitors, our beginner golf courses guide is a useful starting point.

Green Fees Overview

The range near Birmingham is one of its genuine strengths:

Council and pay-and-play (Cocks Moors Woods, Cannock Park): £15–£28
Members’ clubs, visitor access (Sutton Coldfield, Stratford-upon-Avon, Ombersley): £40–£75
Quality heathland and parkland (Beau Desert, Moor Hall, Forest of Arden): £70–£110
The Belfry Brabazon Course: £80–£130

Planning a Golf Break

Birmingham’s central location in England makes it a natural base for a multi-day golf trip. The M6, M42, and M5 put you within reach of the Lancashire coast for links golf, the Welsh borders for quieter countryside golf, or the Cotswolds for parkland. Overnight at The Belfry for a resort experience, or use Birmingham city centre as a base for day trips in different directions.

Use our Birmingham golf course finder to search by location and price. The full picture of what’s available across England is at /golfcourse/area/england.

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