Stay and Play: 12 Great Escapes
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12 Great Escapes… …from £79 to £400 and they’re dotted all over the UK so there’s bound to be one near you!
UNDER£100
DRUMOIG GOLF HOTEL & GC, FIFE
This venue is very much the unsung hero of the Kingdom of Fife, even though it was once the home of the Scottish Golf Union before it moved to the more salubrious surroundings of The Duke’s course just outside St Andrews. Underrated Drumoig sits within 250 acres between the Home of Golf and Dundee, where up-and-coming Scottish Tour player Connor Syme honed his skills (his dad Stuart runs and owns the golf centre).
We stayed at Drumoig for the Dunhill Links and it proved an ideal base. It’s full of surprises and that certainly applies to the par-73 course, which opened in 1996 and is as challenging as they come even in these parts. It’s a splendid undulating parkland – an excellent foil for the nearby links – and needs to be treated with the utmost respect. At least you can fully prepare on 24 covered oodlit driving bays, and a large practice putting green.
The accommodation comprises 29 en-suite rooms with 24 located in lodges just yards away from the clubhouse, where you can enjoy a meal in the bar and a full Scottish brekkie the next morning. The rooms are comfortable and feature freeview TV, tea and co ee and free wi . Six rooms have balconies with wonderful course and countryside views. But the best bit is the value-for-money you get – this summer Drumoig were o ering B&B specials from just £39.50 per person. That’s great value in anybody’s language.
The Deal: One night’s B&B and two rounds, costs £85pp. check other deals…
Contact: 01382 541800 www.drumoiggolfhotel.com
SPROWSTON MANOR, NORFOLK
Norwich Marriott venue and home of a well established parkland course overlooked by a 16th century manor hotel offering four-star accommodation, stunning grounds, spa and 1559 Restaurant and Lounge Bar.
The Deal: Sunday Driver Special; Sunday night dinner, B&B stay (double occupancy) and two rounds, costs £91pp.
Contact: 01603 254296 www.marriottgolf.co.uk
TENBY, PEMBROKESHIRE
A stunning if somewhat quirky links with many memorable holes and views to match, plus great value on-site accommodation in the form of seven three-star dormy rooms with twin beds and including en-suite bathroom and at-screen digital TV.
The deal: To Mar 31; One night (Sun-Thurs) and two rounds, costs £79.50pp.
Contact: 01834 842978 www.tenbygolf.co.uk
DALE HILL, EAST SUSSEX
No.1 attraction at this four-star venue plotted within 350 acres on the East Sussex and Kent border is the highly challenging Woosnam championship layout – designed by the 1991 Masters champion – backed-up by the 18-hole Dale Hill course.
The deal: To Apr 30; One night (Sun-Thurs) and one round, costs £99pp.
Contact: 01580 200112 www.dalehill.co.uk
UNDER £200
SLALEYHALL, NORTHUMBERLAND
Despite the emergence of a rival north-east resorts like Close House and Rockli e Hall, QHotels agship venue Slaley Hall arguably remains the No.1 in the region – certainly among TG readers, who voted it the north’s Best Golf Resort for the third year running in the latest TG Travel Awards. Set in 1,000 acres of moorland and forest, Slaley is still the jewel in the north-east’s golfing crown.
Though nearby Close House recently staged the British Masters it has a long way to catch Slaley Hall, host of 18 European Tour and European Seniors Tour events! Two challenging 18-hole courses – the Hunting and Priestman – combine to make for a great day out or, even better, a cracking short break.
The 7,000-yard, par-72 Hunting, designed by Dave Thomas, has it all – sweeping fairways, streams, lakes, trees and banks of rhododendrons – no wonder it’s been dubbed the ‘Augusta of the north’ – which ank the stroke par-4 9th known as the Sleeping Giant. You also have to contend with well-placed bunkers and tricky greens which combine to make this USGA-spec course a test. The Priestman – designed by Neil Coles – opened in 1999 and is a good all-round test. It is wonderfully maintained and has matured magni cently, sitting on the west side of the estate with panoramic views of the Tyne Valley. The resort offers a variety of accommodation, leisure (spa and fully equipped gym) and adventure facilities and eating options with the latter including ne dining in the main Hadrian’s Brasserie restaurant.
The Deal: Two nights’ dinner, B&B and a round on the Hunting and Priestman, from £185pp
Contact: 01434 673 350 www.qhotels.co.uk
CARLYON BAY, CORNWALL
Elegant luxury hotel perched on the cli s near St Austell. You’ll love everything about it especially the dramatic cli top/parkland course, the short course in the hotel grounds, the sumptuous rooms, ne dining, spa swimming pool and tennis courts.
The Deal: Jan 2-31; Two nights’ dinner, B&B, one round of golf per day and use of the leisure facilities from £160.
Contact: 01726 812304 www.carlyonbay.com
HAWKSTONE PARK, SHROPSHIRE
A golfing paradise a short drive from Shrewsbury and o ering two contrasting 18-hole layouts (Hawkstone & Championship), a fun short course and striking clubhouse plus splendid on-site accommodation.
The Deal: Two night golf break includes two nights’ B&B and two rounds (Hawkstone & Championship courses), from £159pp Sun-Thurs.
Contact: 01948 841700 www.hawkstoneparkgolf.co.uk
MURRAYSHALL, PERTHSHIRE
It’s in Gleneagles country and is a scaled-down version of the ‘Palace in the Glens’ as it features 41 individually styled bedrooms, including 16 suites, and two contrasting 18-hole courses (Murrayshall & Lynedoch) plotted within 350 acres of pristine countryside.
The Deal: Two nights’ dinner, B&B with three rounds of golf costs from £179pp.
Contact: 01738 551171 www.murrayshall.co.uk
Under £300
LUTONHOO, BEDFORDSHIRE
This luxurious and historic Bedfordshire resort boasts a challenging, contrasting and bunkerless course set among 1,000 acres of protected Capability Brown landscape overlooked by the stunning mansion house. Just off the M1, Mike Smith’s course is a serious but thoroughly enjoyable test (especially if you dislike bunkers!). With four teeing options it can play as long as a 7,107-yard, par 73 from the Championship tees, just as it did in September when playing host to the Challenge Tour’s Bridgestone Challenge.
The inland links-like front-nine is protected by long rough and water. The back-nine is a more traditional parkland, plotted through overhanging oak and beech trees, making you rethink your strategy at the turn. Large, undulating greens feature throughout and are perilously fast in the dry summer months when the breeze blows. Conditioning is also worthy of praise. We played it twice in 2017 and the course was impeccable, even after a heavy rainfall.
The golf is just part of an all-star package on a site that saw former Prime Minister Winston Churchill address a 110,000-strong crowd to thank them for their support during World War II. In modern times it has played host to many Hollywood lm crews, Hugh Grant famously hiding in a wash closet in one of the suites for a scene in the smash hit Four Weddings and a Funeral. The beautiful Mansion House’s accommodation is complemented by The Parkland wing, The Club House and Flower Garden wing, with dining in Adam’s Brasserie or the ne dining Wernher restaurant. Off-course you can relax in the beautifully-appointed spa within the courtyard, re-energise in the state-of- the-art gym, sauna and steam room or stroll around the vast landscaping and walled garden.
The Deal: One night’s dinner, B&B, two rounds, use of spa/leisure, from £135pp (two sharing)
Contact: 01582 698856 www.lutonhoo.co.uk
MAR HALL, GLASGOW
This luxury resort provides ve-star accommodation in an Edwardian mansion with 53 individually-designed rooms, a quality parkland layout and Decleor Spa handily located 10 minutes from Glasgow airport.
The Deal: Two nights’ B&B in a classic twin or double room and two rounds, costs £239pp (Fri & Sat) until Dec 31, subject to availability.
Contact: 0141 812 9999 www.marhall.com
HEVER CASTLE, KENT
Feel like royalty by staying in one of the castle’s 28 luxury bedrooms in the Astor and Anne Boleyn wings and playing the classy championship parkland course comprising the Kings and Queens layouts.
The Deal: Two nights’ B&B in a deluxe double room and 36 holes plus complimentary visit to the Castle and estate gardens, costs £524 per couple.
Contact: 01732 701003 www.hever.co.uk
ST ANDREWS, FIFE
Visit the Home of Golf and play two historical heathland layouts (Ladybank & Scotscraig) and the modern Craighead links at Crail (above), while staying at the popular Ardgowan Hotel in the heart of the Old Toon.
The Deal: Two nights’ B&B and three rounds (Scotscraig, Ladybank & Crail Craighead), costs from £265pp.
Contact: 0800 193 6610 www.yourgolftravel.com
