Forest of Arden Hotel
Maxstoke Lane, Meriden,
Coventry, West Midlands CV7 7HR
Tel : +44 (0)1676 522335 Fax : +44 (0)1676 523711

Ged Cairns wrote on: Sep 30, 2001

Played the Arden course yesterday (30/10/01) and although late October when the weather can be a little inclement, we were blessed with dry and warm conditions. The course was very well presented and in great condition, especially the green's, with hardly any additional pitch marks to repair.
Noticeable holes on the front nine are the dogleg 4th with water potentially coming into play at the green side and the 9th. Driving immediately over water through a relatively tight lane of trees and bushes then up to an elevated tee.
A nice halfway house serving drinks and snacks before attempting the back nine, The presentation and layout of the back nine doesn't get much better in my opinion and I have played several top courses including the Brabazon at the Belfry 2 weeks ago.
Plenty of traps to be aware of though for those wayward shots: water, bracken, sand, deer and geese. Yes deer and geese especially on the superb 12th hole. The par 3, 202 yards 18th is actually more awesome from the tee to green than the other way round, playing over a very noticeable cavern of water and trees and a beautiful back drop of the hotel and golf reception. But when you walk around the obstruction, it soon becomes apparent that it is very reachable hole and the obstruction isn't that difficult to clear with a good whack. Don't worry if you are off line, there is plenty of unobstructed grass to land on.
Overall the course is quite forgiving and once you have played it you know what to avoid (apart from the obvious) as some drives are blind. I mention this because I will definitely be back.

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Richard Humphrey wrote on: Sep 30, 2000

Last weekend (14-15/10/00) the Fantasy line up of Cook, Corlett, Dodd, Flatt, Froome, Hemsworth, Humphrey, Knott, Mcconnell and Moss did battle on the Arden course in one of their (now famous) Ryder Cup style golf weekends. The course was in magnificent condition especially for the time of year and provided a wonderful venue for a superb cut and thrust matchplay event.
I would argue that the front nine far from being 'like a well constructed municipal as the previous review (off the Wrist) suggests, is a good test of golf even if it is not as good as the back nine - which are as good a set of nine holes as you'll find on our green and pleasant land.
The 18th hole provides the perfect 'cometh the moment' hole for any matches that go 'down to the wire', indeed Mcconnell and Moss showed that (as Rudyard Kipling might have said) 'If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew, to serve their turn long after they are gone. ..and hit a long iron, when there's nothing in you except the will, which says Hold On!
If you can hit the unforgiving tee shot, with frayed nerves and fingers numb..Yours is the world and everything in it.. and - which is more - you'll be a man..my Son!
To cut a long story short we had an incredible weekend which the course, the hotel, the more than sufficient chef, even a priceless trip to the 19th in the shape of the Bel Air night-club at the Belfry (where there is plenty of mutton dressed up as mutton, let me assure you!!) all contributed to. If you play one course next year play the Forest of Arden.
Trust me you'll thank me for it!

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M Dunton wrote on: Feb 29, 2000

While a passable members course on the back nine, I was somewhat embarrassed
to think that Europe's finest had trodden this piece of turf. This is definitely testament to the power of money, there can be no other reason than Marriots buying power for the European tour to return to here time after time. There must be 100's of venues more deserving of having themselves showcased in this way.
The course was undergoing very major work in preparation for the English open, which obviously reduced the playability of the course, but there also seemed to be deeper and more worrying problems with the layout. For a very dry and warm March, the course was very wet in places, causing very muddy conditions. Grass growth was poor and patchy and some of the greens were being relayed.
The course is essentially two nines, a newer (we assumed) front nine and a more mature back nine. The front nine is like a municipal with well constructed greens. The 2nd hole stands out as being sandwiched in, and I would be interested how the
professionals play the 8th without getting hit by drives from the 2nd, as the tee is directly in line. The 4th is a good hole, and the 7th is interesting, but the 9th is too hard for anyone except single figure handicappers.
The back nine is much more satisfactory, mainly because of the space around the holes and the maturity of the parkland that they are set in. Both par 5s (11th and 17th) are good holes, although too similar. The par 3 18th is tough, but not necessarily that great a hole.
The course should really be judged when at it's best in the early Summer, but on a warm and wet day in late March this was just about worth the value for a
day (it's on one of those 2 for 1 schemes), but I would have felt robbed at any higher pric. Richard Wrist 27/3/00

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Frank Griffiths wrote on: Oct 31, 1999

I played the Arden Course on Saturday 30 October 99, as part of a charity day organised by Wayne Canning. The course was excellent. I found the back nine a little easier than the front. The 18th was better than it looks on TV.
Also, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Peter Shilton (a childhood favourite of mine) also made a nice change. Saving my pennies in order to play there again.
Regards.

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