Tewkesbury Park Stay & Play Feature

A dilemma many golfers face is balancing the urge to play the great game with the competing demands of spending time with partners and/or children. Recently welcoming a newborn to the world, Golfshake Ambassador Rob Treanor took the family to Tewkesbury Park to see if the hotel’s modern facilities could keep everyone happy.

Intro

The changes seen in the golf industry in recent years share a parallel with how public houses were forced to adapt in the early noughties. Pubs which succeeded during this period of rationalisation either diversified to expand their offering into good food or were excellent standalone watering holes. These changes made them more accessible to the wider family, where once the offering was targeted primarily at the working man. One of the driving factors affecting the golf industry at present is the perceived lack of time in our modern lives. As a relatively time intensive activity, golf has to compete with a much broader range of other leisure activities. To be successful therefore, golf courses either need to diversify to provide a wider, more inclusive offering, or be the very best at what they do.

Enter Tewkesbury Park, a venue which has adopted a hybrid model by investing significantly in its non-golf offering, whilst simultaneously improving and extolling the virtues of its highly rated Deerpark Course. The family owned venue has benefitted from a £9m investment in recent years, which has seen upgrades to its 93 bedrooms, an overhaul of the hotel’s shared areas and facilities as well as updates on and around the course.

Facilities

The grand entrance hall is the hub of the hotel, housing the dog friendly piano bar, warm and cosy fireplace and plenty of snugs to settle down in after a hearty day of activities. The recent renovation work is easy to see in the classic, smart décor where warm tartan patterns add flair to the comforting softer tones. As an indication of the hotel’s quality; Tewkesbury Park recently featured in the Sunday Times’ list of Top 100 British Hotels!

Beyond golf, a well equipped spa boasts a good sized family friendly swimming pool, steam room and a decadent outdoor hot tub and jacuzzi. This space is ideal for unwinding the muscles or for seeking some gentle relaxation. For a real treat, the hotel also offers a comprehensive range of spa treatments using decadent Natural Spa Factory products which are free from SLS and parabens, making them perfect for connoisseurs of nourishing skincare products.

During our stay, my partner enjoyed a massage whilst I held the fort entertaining the baby. As someone who has had a massage on average once a month for the past few years, it was a momentous statement to say that this was one of the best treatments she had ever experienced! This sharing of parental responsibilities was a great way for us both to enjoy a bit of indulgent alone time, before reconvening as a family revived and refreshed.

Accommodation

Intelligently, all rooms at Tewkesbury Park face the glorious views to the rear of the hotel which feature the golf course in the near ground and the beautiful Gloucestershire hills in the distance. The hotel achieves a timeless look, owing to the classic styling of the décor and general ambience of the venue. A touch of flair is added via the inclusion of focal furnishings such as the attractive tartan patterned chairs which are present throughout the hotel.

As for room options, the entry level “Just Right” standard are impressively stylish and more than adequate to keep guests feeling right at home for a long weekend. “Touch of Class” rooms offer more space, a Nespresso machine and most have French doors which leads to a patio looking out towards the lovely views. For a real treat opt for one of the hotel’s “Historic Suites” which have space for a chaise lounge, dressing room and freestanding baths with a luxurious mirror TV! Interconnected neighbouring doors provide an ideal setup for families to stay close by during their stay whilst also offering a little privacy overnight.

Golf

The Deerpark enjoys an excellent reputation which has been further enhanced by work to upgrade the course in recent years as well as significant investment into new equipment to keep the conditioning at the highest level. The par 72 parkland course is also now a PGA tournament venue and will host PGA events from 2020. Add into the mix a new head greenkeeper, bunker refurb and enhancements from agronomist John Clarkin (who has prepared courses for previous Ryder Cups, US Opens and Solheim Cups) and it is easy to see why the course’s reputation has strengthened significantly in recent years.

The parkland layout weaves up, down and across the high ground which the hotel sits proudly on top of. Mature trees present an array of strategic challenges, forcing the golfer to play for the correct positions. In particular the par threes are excellent, with the signature 5^th playing over a pretty pond and the daunting 10^th which starts at the top of the hill with views over the surrounding Cotswolds and Malverns all the way down to a green slightly shielded by pretty trademark trees.

A full review of the course can be read HERE

As well as the acclaimed 18 hole course, the par three Acorn course is an ideal location for those beginning to learn or simply for a less formal game. This inclusive setup allows children to enjoy playing at their own pace, which is an ideal way to learn about the great game.

Food

A brand new menu was introduced in September 2019 containing dishes of exceptional quality. Eating out is much about enjoying unusual ingredients, taste combinations and a level of cooking which is difficult for most to attain at home. The superb dinner menu catered superbly for the vegetarian in our family and was amongst the best food we had on our ten day trip to the South West. It was genuinely outstanding!

The excellent breakfast is served in the bright and airy Mint restaurant. Provenance is taken seriously as evidenced by the label informing that the sausages were from a farm barely a stone’s throw away from the hotel!

Summary

Much like the way the offering in Britain’s pubs has changed, in order to modernise and adapt, golf facilities need to offer a range of activities in order to be attractive. Tewkesbury Park has done just that, diversifying its offering to encompass an array of child and family friendly options capable of keeping everyone happy.

The provision of comfortable seating areas, garden games on the lawn and even the superfast WiFi demonstrate how the hotel has invested in facilities to ensure all age groups have an enjoyable and relaxing time. With close proximity to the medieval town of Tewkesbury allowing for more adventurous exploration, there is much to do to suit your mood be that relaxing or invigorating.

This modern venue caters superbly for families big or small. Superb golf, outstanding food and array of family friendly facilities provide an opportunity for everyone to have their kind of fun on a trip to Tewkesbury Park.

For more information and to plan a stay visit: www.tewkesburypark.co.uk