Bulwell Forest Golf Club

The sprawl of fairways and rough stretches out across Bulwell Forest with the kind of understated charm you'd expect from a course that's been here since the 1920s. It's a proper parkland layout - trees framing the holes, bunkers in all the awkward places, greens that demand respect rather than flash. You'll walk it rather than ride, and on a decent day the course moves at a good pace without feeling rushed.

This is squarely for golfers who know what they're doing. Membership-based clubs like this aren't for casual hitters looking for a laugh - the handicap requirements are there for a reason, and visitors need to arrange things properly beforehand. The course sits just north of Nottingham itself, so it's accessible without being right in the city's lap. Worth checking their website for visitor rates and whether you can tag along with a member.

If golf's your thing and you're staying at Fairview Farm Log Cabins - about six miles away - this makes a sensible morning or afternoon activity without having to venture far. The cabins themselves are well-reviewed, so you could easily base a proper golfing weekend around the area. Just don't show up expecting to pitch and putt. This is the real thing.