The Forest of Arden July 2026

A championship venue with genuine European Tour pedigree, glorious Warwickshire sunshine, a hole in one on the Charity Hole worth a luxury golf trip, curious deer eyeballing the field on the back nine, and a top three all tied on 47 points — the Arden Course served up a properly memorable day of Golf Pairs action.

Course Highlights

The Forest of Arden Golf Resort is one of the UK's premier golf destinations, set within the beautiful Warwickshire countryside near Birmingham. Home to two outstanding 18-hole courses — including today's venue, the Championship Arden Course, which has hosted several European Tour events over the years:

• English Open — 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, then again in 2000, 2001, and 2002
• British Masters — 1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, and 2005

A proper championship layout, and one that always delivers whenever we visit.

Weather Conditions

Thanks to a more integrated irrigation system around the course, the fairways were slightly greener and lusher than courses we've visited over the past few weeks — but still not quite enough to escape that same burnt feel, with hard bounces and crazy roll on the big drives. Firm and fast summer conditions once again, though with just enough moisture to keep things visually pleasing.

And as per most experiences at the Forest of Arden, the deer were in fine form — eyeballing the majority of golfers on the back 9, wondering why they were playing from the bushes and not the fairway. Never quite gets old.

Memorable Moments

The moment of the day — and quite possibly the moment of the year — came on the Charity Hole 15th (170-yard par-3).

Mr Nigel Wagg paid his £10 to go into the Charity Challenge, stepped up with his 5-iron, flushed it... and seconds later, the ball disappeared down the hole.

A hole in one.

That little £10 has now become:

• A luxury golf trip for two
• A brand new Motocaddy trolley
• Free entry into 25 events on the Golf Pairs schedule

Congratulations Nigel — a genuinely unforgettable moment, and quite possibly the best return on a £10 investment in the sport this year. And a reminder to everyone else — it's surely worth a go next time.

Tournament Highlights

For those who are regulars at the Arden, they know that even though the course poses many a bunker and water hazard to contend with, it does offer the opportunity to go low and post a great score — and today's leaderboard proved it. Not only did three pairs finish tied at 47 points at the top, but the whole day produced some seriously competitive scoring.

Winners

The top of the WHS leaderboard couldn't have been closer — three pairs on 47 points, with 1st and 2nd separated on best back 9.

Huge congratulations to Conor Brennan and Matthew Reed, who took the top spot with a superb 47 points — sealed with a stunning BB9 of 24. And they made it a proper double, also taking Best Gross with a brilliant 41 points.

Just edged out into the runners-up spot were Paul Pickering and George Clemons with 47 points (BB9 of 23) — a fantastic effort and desperately unlucky on countback.

Rounding out the top three were Steven Williams and Karl Edwards with another 47 points — the top three separated only by countback tiebreakers. Genuinely elite scoring.

Full top three:

• 1st — Conor Brennan & Matthew Reed — 47 points (BB9 of 24)
• 2nd — Paul Pickering & George Clemons — 47 points (BB9 of 23)
• 3rd — Steven Williams & Karl Edwards — 47 points

Best Gross — Conor Brennan & Matthew Reed — 41 points

On the Course

Plenty of action away from the main leaderboard too:

• Men's Longest Drive (12th) — Kynan Stubbs
• Ladies' Longest Drive (12th) — Emma Duckworth
• Nearest the Pin (8th) — Jordan William

And of course, the standout of the day out on the course — Nigel Wagg's hole in one on the Charity Hole 15th.

A fabulous day spent in the glorious Midlands sunshine — and one that will be remembered for a long time to come thanks to Nigel's ace on the Charity Hole. Thanks to everyone who played, to the Forest of Arden for hosting us so well, and huge congratulations once again to Conor and Matthew on a properly dominant WHS + Gross double.

Leaderboard can be found here.

See you at the next event!