What is Beau Desert Golf Club?

Beau Desert Golf Club is a championship heathland golf course in Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, founded in 1911 and known as "the Beautiful Wilderness." It is the top-ranked course in the West Midlands, 47th in England, and holds a place in the GB&I Top 100. If you want to play one of England's finest heathland courses, this is the short answer: it is a members' club with a championship pedigree that also welcomes visiting golfers.

Where it is and what makes it distinctive

The club sits in the heart of Cannock Chase, a designated landscape in Staffordshire known for its heathland terrain. That setting shapes the golf: heathland courses typically trade lush parkland grass for firm, fast-running ground, heather, and pine, which puts a premium on shot placement and creative play rather than pure length.

The club's own description leans into this identity, calling itself "the Beautiful Wilderness" — a name that reflects both the heathland character and the 1911 founding date.

Rankings and recognition

Beau Desert's standing is unusually specific for a club of its size, and the club states its positions directly:

These rankings are the club's own published claims, so treat them as the club's positioning rather than an independent verification. Even so, a West Midlands No. 1 and a national top-50 placing indicate a course that competes for attention well beyond its region.

The 2026 English Amateur

The club has announced it will host the English Amateur in summer 2026. Hosting a national amateur championship is a meaningful signal about the course's quality and infrastructure — championships are not staged at courses that cannot test elite players or handle tournament logistics. For visitors, it also means 2026 is a year when the course will be presented at its most tournament-ready.

What kind of experience to expect

Based on the club's positioning, a round here suits:

• Golfers who value heathland golf over parkland or links — expect heather, firmer turf, and wind as a factor.
• Visitors looking for a ranked course without travelling to a traditional Open venue.
• Players interested in championship architecture, particularly with the English Amateur on the calendar.

If you prefer soft, heavily watered parkland conditions or a purely social, low-key round, a championship heathland course may feel demanding by comparison.

Practical next steps

To move from interest to a booked round:

1. Check visitor access and tee times on the club's site, since members' clubs often restrict visitor slots to certain days or times.
2. Look at the Pro Shop page (bdgc.co.uk/professional-shop/pro-shop/) for pro shop contact and any booking or merchandise details.
3. Confirm current green fees and booking conditions directly with the club — pricing is not published in the material available here, so do not assume a rate or that visitor play is unrestricted.
4. If you are planning around 2026, ask about course availability during the English Amateur period, as championship preparation and play will affect visitor tee times.

The main thing to verify before travelling is visitor policy and price, since neither is confirmed in the club's published description. Everything else — the heathland setting, the 1911 heritage, the rankings, and the 2026 English Amateur — is what the club itself puts forward as its case for a visit.