Take a look at the best courses on offer in Leicestershire and Rutland.
The Best Golf Courses In Leicestershire
Situated right at the heart of England, Leicestershire borders seven other counties and has a multitude of golf courses on offer for you to try. A mixture of parkland and heathland mostly, do not be surprised to see a fox or two on your travels with the county believed to be the founder of fox hunting. From Luffenham Heath to Rothley Park, take a look at our list of the best courses in the county below.
It should also be acknowledged that we have included golf courses from Rutland too given its size and proximity to Leicestershire.
Related: Golf Monthly’s UK&I Top 100 Courses
The Best Golf Courses In Leicestershire
Luffenham Heath
Luffenham Heath’s 17th
Set in an area of Special Scientific Interest, Luffenham Heath is set in the small county of Rutland and what excellent holes the early par-4s are, a trio of doglegs moving first left to right and then right to left on the 3rd. The 4th plunges down dramatically to a green that then slopes deceptively away. The 7th is perhaps the visual star, thanks to a gorgeous uphill approach to a long, well-bunkered green, while the short par-4 8th could tempt anyone with a soft draw in the locker.
The par-3 12th and 17th stood out on the back nine, while the downhill, downwind par-5 finale gives you one last chance at birdie.
Interestingly, despite being a traditional members club, there was weekend availability for visitors at certain times and although it cost £65, they always have plenty of takers, proving if the product is good enough, people will pay.
Longcliffe
Travelling through the ancient trees of Charnwood Forest, Longcliffe is one of the most attractive courses in the East Midlands. Just outside Loughborough, its a heathland track with gorse and heather a factor on a number of holes. It’s a challenging and relatively lengthy layout with a number of testing holes, some tough par 4s in particular. The straightaway 7th and the dogleg 12th both measure over 450 yards and are treated as virtual par 5s by many of the members.
The Leicestershire
The par four 1st hole at The Leicestershire Golf Club (Getty Images)
Originally laid out in 1889, The Leicestershire has had numerous changes made to it through the years with architects James Braid, Charles MacKenzie and C.K. Cotton all leaving their marks. But it is not just in terms of design that the course has famous sons, with legendary amateur Gary Wolstenholme frequenting several honours boards in the clubhouse.
Shifting to the course, The Leicestershire’s long 5th is apparently regarded as one of the best par 4s in the county, playing up and round to the right, with the testing 6th then hugging it all the way back down to a green set beyond a stream.
The greens are always excellent although straying above the hole causes unnecessary suffering. All in all, a thorough test of your golfing skill.
Stapleford Park
Laid out in a 500-acre park, across terrain originally landscaped by Capability Brown, Stapleford Park new Melton Mowbray is a fabulous course – peaceful and scenic, carved and challenging. Designed by Donald Steel, the track is in two nine-hole loops that flow serenely over the rolling parkland, past water hazards and ancient trees to large greens. The River Eye meanders through the course and comes into play on four holes.
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Willesley Park
In the heart of the Leicestershire countryside close to Ashby de la Zouche, the course at Willesley Park dates from 1921 when James Braid set out 18 holes. Braid’s design was expanded in 1926 and the course has remained relatively unchanged since then. Part parkland, part heathland, Willesley Part winds across land that was once part of Willesley Estate.
Rothley Park
Founded in 1911, this tree-lined track was designed by James Braid and its opening was celebrated with an exhibition match between Braid and his rival Harry Vardon. An England golf championship course, Rothley has a number of interesting holes that provide birdie chances such as the short 5th and 8th.
But the tree-lined nature of most of the fairways, coupled with out of bounds on occasion, make Rothley a tough course indeed; the most difficult of which is the par-4 ninth hole. Measuring at a whopping 457 yards off the tips, the fairway is narrow and the approach is a difficult one too with the green falling away on three sides.
One final point worth mentioning, be wary of fellow golfers when playing the fourth and 13th holes as they share a green!
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