Forest Pines

Forest Pines is a wonderful golfing resort, and one that has 27 holes of golf in three loops to treat anyone that visits.

Located in the West Midlands, the golf course was opened in 1996, with the design coming from the brain of John Morgan.

The three loops – the Beeches, Forest and Pines – all have tree-lined fairways, plenty of bunkers and even the odd water hazard to keep you on your toes.

Check out our full piece on the Forest Pines Resort here.

Visit the Forest Pines website here.

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Briggate Lodge was the original building on the land that Forest Pines now encompasses, with the building eventually being brought down.

The Forest Pines Hotel first opened in 1988, before being rebranded as a DoubleTree by Hilton three decades later. Golf first came to Forest Pines in the mid-1990s. PGA Tour player John Morgan was the man to design the course, all 27 holes of it.

Forest Pines has played host to some highly prestigious events over the last few years, including the R&A Boys Home Internationals, the British Blind Open and the PGA Fourball Championships.

The 27-hole layout at Forest Pines is as it suggests, set amongst a stunning backdrop of ancient pine trees. There is also some undulating heathland throughout the course, which is split into three loops of nine. The combined length of the holes here measures over 10,000 yards, and it is split into three loops of nine, with the Beeches, Forest and Pines routes all offering different challenges.

The Beeches is the shortest of the three loops at Forest Pines, weighing in at just over 3,100 yards and playing as a par 71. It starts and finishes with a par 3. The opening hole is 187 yards from the back tees, and played to a small, triangular green that has protection in the form of three greenside bunkers. The 2nd and 3rd are both tricky dog-leg par 4s. The former turns sharply to the right and requires a long enough drive to reach the corner before you then take aim at another green guarded by a trio of bunkers. 3 turns the other way, with a single fairway bunker on the inside corner of the fairway. The green is large, and at only 340 yards, this is a gentle hole. The 4th is the first of two par 5s on the Beeches loop. At only 475 yards from the tips, this is a definite birdie opportunity. Avoid the three fairway bunkers in the landing zone and you could well be in reach of the putting surface.

Avoiding traps on your tee shot is also the key on the par 4 5th. The approach must carry all the way to the green, thanks to a bunker sitting in front of the surface. The 6th is the longest hole on the Beeches, at just over 500 yards. It is a dog-leg to the left, with a good drive reaching the corner. From there, longer hitters might fancy their chances at making it home in two, but the green is guarded by bunkers and overhanging trees. 7 is the shortest hole, coming in at 170 yards. Two large traps guard the putting surface. The 8th is the hardest hole on the loop, a 470-yard par 4. It is a generous fairway which allows you to try and hit driver as far as possible. The green is angled diagonally, with a singular small bunker sitting in front of it. The Beeches ends with another par 3, and the easiest hole on the loop. It is 190 yards, but the only danger comes in the form of a bunker on the left of the green, while there is plenty of space on the right as a bail out.

The Forest loop is actually a loop, running around the extremities of the property. It begins with three holes on the south side, all of which have out of bounds and thick trees on their left. The opener is a par 4 of just shy of 400 yards, but it has a generous fairway to find. The green is protected by a singular bunker front right, but it is a large surface to find. The 2nd is the longest par 4 on the loop, and one of three over 400 yards. The play is down the right side of the fairway, avoiding the large cross bunker and the trees that feature on the left. 3 is the first par 5, a dog-leg left around the trees. Only those that hit a drive reaching the corner will have a chance of going for the green with their second shot. The green is set back from the fairway, with two bunkers behind for added danger.

4 is another sharp dog-leg, but at only 330 yards, it doesn’t require the longest of tee shots for you to find the corner. The 5th is the longest hole on the Forest loop, but at only just a nudge over 500 yards, this is still reachable in two for the big hitters. 6 and 8 are the two short holes on the loop, with the former being 175 yards and played over water to a large triangular green. The 8th green is guarded by a quartet of bunkers, and in between them sits the 400-yard par 4 7th. Playing as another slight dog-leg left, the fairway is narrow, and there is a collection of bunkers on the outside corner of the fairway to be avoided. Another large trap sits in front of the putting surface. The last hole on the Forest loop is also the hardest hole. It is a 408-yard par 4, and although arrow straight, it is incredibly narrow thanks to the thick trees lining both sides of the fairway. If you can find the short grass, the green is also small, and protected by more sand.

Of the three loops, the Pines is the longest, measuring in at more than 3,500 yards. The opening hole is the longest on the loop, coming in at 519 yards. There are two large bunkers in the centre of the fairway, but those will be out of reach for all bar the longest of hitters. The green sits in a corner surrounded by trees and with a bunker on either side to add protection. The 2nd plays longer than its carded yardage thanks to a sharp dog-leg right. Play to the corner with your tee shot and make sure it is long enough so you then have a view of the green. The first par 3 on the Pines loop comes at the 3rd. It is the shortest of the nine holes, but even at 185 yards, it isn’t that short. Three bunkers guard the green. The 4th is a narrow hole, playing as a slight dog-leg right around the trees. Anything right of the fairway may well see you reaching into your bag to get another ball out.

At 382 yards, the 5th is the shortest par 4 on the Pines loop. A solitary bunker on the left of the fairway is the danger of the tee, along with the tree-lined fairways. The green is slightly more in the open air, with one more bunker guarding the surface. Both 6 and 7 feature water hazards. The water comes in to split the fairway on the former, a 488-yard par 5. A good drive will stay short of the water with the second then playing over the trouble, whether that is an attempt at the green, or as a lay up.is a par 3 of 210 yards from the tips, with almost all of that needing to be carried over water. From water to sand, the danger changes on the 8th. No fewer than 11 traps are in play down the 515-yard par 5, including four in the landing zone for your drive, and then six surrounding the putting surface. The last is a lengthy par 4 of more than 450 yards. The fairway is narrow, and there is just a single bunker to avoid. The danger by the green are water and trees. A water hazard sits to the left of the putting surface with the bail out on the 9th green being on the right side.

Where is Forest Pines located?

Forest Pines is located between Brigg, Broughton and Raventhorpe, just off the M180 in Lincolnshire. The town of Scunthorpe is just five miles to the northeast, while both Doncaster and Sheffield are within an hour’s drive from the resort. The venue sits off the junction between the A18 and the A15.

Scunthorpe also houses the nearest train station to Forest Pines, which is also five miles from the resort. Trains from Liverpool, Doncaster and Cleethorpes arrive in Scunthorpe every hour. In terms of air travel, Humberside Airport is the nearest, but there are only a small number of flights each day. Leeds Bradford Airport, East Midlands Airport and Manchester Airport are all within two hours from Forest Pines, with these three all operating many more flights. Manchester is the busiest of the three, and one of the busiest in the country.

Are there any NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?

Forest Pines is somewhat on its own when it comes to venues on the NCG Top 100s: England list. However, the likes of Lindrick, Ganton, Alwoodley, Moortown, Sherwood Forest and the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa are in and around an hour’s drive from Forest Pines.

What golf facilities does Forest Pines offer?

Away from the three nine-hole loops of the golf course, Forest Pines also has a full-length driving range with a sheltered row of tees. There is also a row of grass tees in front of the building to allow golfers to hit from the same turf they will find on the course. There is also a putting green outside the clubhouse.

What are the green fees at Forest Pines?

The price of a green fee at Forest Pines changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

For more information on current green fees at Forest Pines, visit their website here.