Golfers’ Bunker

Relaxation: it’s one of the keys to improving your game. And there’s no better place to chill out and work on your technique than on one of the dozens of brilliant golf courses in the Cotswolds, gateway to the West Country.

There are over 2 dozen excellent golf courses just waiting for you to show what you can do, with many courses of Championship standard. If 18 hole courses near Oxford are your thing, start at Brailes, near Banbury, followed up with Chipping Norton, or Wychwood. If you’d rather make Gloucester your base, then start at the historic Cirencester Golf Club before heading off to the Cotswold Hills near Cheltenham. Once you’ve conquered that one, set off for the Gloucester Golf and Country Club at Robinswood Hill, with its varying hill falls and a floodlit driving range. If you like your courses covered in trees for that extra challenge, try out Lilley Brook Golf Club in Cheltenham.

After defeating the challenges at Ross-on-Wye, wend your way to the Players Golf Club at Codrington: long, lean and lovely, before heading on to Kendleshire in the Frome Valley – but only if you like it wet, as water hazards are a feature here. Broadway, Chipping Sodbury and Minchinhampton will all test your mettle as well as your swing.

Broadway, at over 800 feet above sea level, combines natural and man-made hazards for a unique golfing experience. The 19th hole won the 2007 Golf World, Whyte & Mackay best 19th Hole award. At Chipping Sodbury, which has hosted many championships over the years, water hazards are a notable feature, adding that extra edge. Minchinhampton has three excellent courses, all lying on well-drained limestone, offering a great experience all year round, no matter how much of that famous west country rain may fall. If you’d rather just spend a weekend chilling out in one location, try the Manor House Golf Club in Castle Combe, Wiltshire. The tees and greens on the course are lovingly cut by hand, and the River Bybrook burbles by as well. It also has a 17th hole rated as one of the top ten par 3s in the world.

There are so many ways to play this county. Whichever town or city you decide to make your base, there are great golf courses nearby. Alternatively, you could decide to play some of the best water hazards in the county, starting with Broadway, taking in Tewkesbury Park, and ending at Oaksey Park near Malmesbury. Another option is to aim for courses with a combination of holes that are ‘up hill and down dale’, like the Hallmark Hotel near Gloucester. This 18 hole, 72 par course has hosted the West of England PGA Championship and its 18th hole is one of the best in the area.

The Cotswolds don’t disappoint from a culinary viewpoint either. Once you’ve finished your game for the day, try the excellent range of real ales or ciders brewed in the county. For heartier fare, sample a filling beef or lamb stew with traditional cream tea to follow, setting you up nicely for the next green challenge.

It’s a very special place, the south-west of England. You’ll find rolling green hills, open landscapes, quirky and friendly people, excellent pubs, fabulous food: and one or two dozen brilliant golf courses. This chocolate-box pretty region is easy to reach from London, Oxford, Bristol, Birmingham and Wales. Whether it’s an intimate golfing experience you’re looking for, or a world-class challenge, you’ll find a course to suit in this warm and welcoming region.

A guest contribution from Dan from Wish.co.uk - Find out more about the gift experiences they offer.