Oxley Park Golf Club

The 18-hole course at Oxley Park sits just outside Brewood in Staffordshire, and it's the kind of place where you can lose an entire morning without thinking about it. Open rolling fairways with proper woodland edging give it character - nothing flash, just honest golf. The design rewards placement over distance, which suits the majority of players fine.

Membership-heavy club, so day visitors need to check ahead or come with a member. Green fees aren't cheap but not outrageous either for a Midlands course of this standard. Allow four hours for a round, maybe three and a half if you're quick.

This works best for golfers who actually want to play rather than those looking for a clubhouse experience. The course itself is the point. Serious handicappers will appreciate the layout; casual players will find it fair enough if the rough doesn't catch them out. Not a destination on its own, but if you're holidaying at Oakland Holiday Park just five miles away, it's worth a phone call to see if they can squeeze you in for a round. Couples where one golfs and one doesn't might struggle - the club facilities are functional rather than exciting, so the non-golfer could have a dull afternoon.

Best played mid-week when it's less crowded. Weekends book solid with members.