Top 50 places to stay & play - No.4 The Grove

No.4 The Grove, Hertfordshire (2008 position 6)

Rooms & Suites: 227 Price: From £300 Courses: 1 W: thegrove.co.uk Best for: Luxury, Couples, Families, Small Groups

Given the seeming intransigence of Tim Finchem and his friends, it seems likely that The Grove may forever remain the only English course to host a WGC event. Tiger Woods triumphed at a canter that week in 2006, no doubt aided by, what are commonly regarded as, some of the finest putting surfaces around. The Kyle Phillips design plays over open-feeling terrain, with changes in elevation, well-placed water hazards and even the Grand Union canal at times. It is always immaculate and a pleasure to play. The grade II listed Grove mansion, once the home of the Earls of Clarendon, now houses 26 of The Grove's beautifully furnished rooms, with the remaining 201 in the West Wing. The Sequoia Spa provides the ultimate in indulgence, while outside there's a 300-acre estate to explore on foot or bike along tracks and trails. At the end of the day 70 chefs are on hand to tickle your taste buds whether in the three AA Rosette Colette's restaurant, the Glasshouse overlooking the gardens, or the Stables, where golfers tend to congregate post-round. The Grove hails itself "London's country estate" - a fitting description.