Southwell Golf Club

The course sits just outside Southwell itself, a proper test of golf that won't have you wrestling with championship-level brutality. Eighteen holes winding through Nottinghamshire countryside, with greens that demand respect but aren't so fiendish that a mid-range golfer goes home in tears. The layout has character - trees frame several fairways, and there's enough elevation change to keep things interesting without your legs hating you by the turn.

Member access tends to be the norm at clubs like this, though day tickets are usually available if you ring ahead - worth checking their website or calling direct before you pitch up. Allow four and a bit hours for a full round, longer if you're playing social golf. Spring and autumn are your best windows; summer can get a bit scorched, winter occasionally waterlogged depending on the season.

It works well within a wider Nottinghamshire break. Southwell Retreat Luxury Glamping is barely a mile and a half away, so you could combine a round with a genuinely comfortable stay - the pods get solid reviews. If you're after golf as part of a proper holiday rather than the sole focus, this fits the bill nicely. The town of Southwell itself has the Minster if you fancy a cultural beat between rounds, and there's enough woodland nearby for walks between golf days.