JCB Golf & Country Club, Rocester, UK

Key Facts

• The JCB has already hosted two LIV Golf events, and it's already locked in for a return in 2026.

• Designed by renowned architect Robin Hiseman, the course opened for play in 2018 and made Golf Monthly’s list of 10 Most Exclusive Golf Clubs in the UK.

• The course is built in the grounds of Woodseat Hall, an old stately home, and you can see relics of the old estate on several holes, notably a 17th-century farmhouse.

• Fans will find all kinds of stunning features around the course, including an island green on the par-3 17th.

• Tickets are available now, and you can find them here.

Full Story

Some venues are made to host world-class golf. And the JCB Golf and Country Club is certainly one of them.

Designed by renowned architect Robin Hiseman and driven by Lord Bamford, chairman of the JCB construction empire, this is a course that’s championship by design. Practically every hole is a signature, but if you twisted our arm, we’d probably say the island green is our favorite.

It’s a perfect LIV Golf venue too, with ample room for concerts, DJ booths and our famous Fan Village, all in the grounds of Woodseat Hall, a stunning country estate which dates back nearly 300 years. Honestly, it couldn’t be better if we’d built it ourselves.

What happened before we got here?

Well, the story really starts back in 1760, when an English aristocrat called Thomas Banbrigge built Woodseat Hall on the ground where the course now sits. If you’ve seen any of those olde English period dramas, you know the show: lots of lords and ladies swanking around, with servants at their beck and call.

But no-one could quite keep up with the cost of Woodseat Hall. Eventually, the estate fell into ruin in the 1940s, a crumbling reminder of its former glory. Thankfully, someone had a plan.

Lord Bamford, chairman of construction giant JCB, wanted to build a golf course with two main aims: to thrill JCB’s staff and corporate guests, and host the world’s best players. In Woodseat Hall, Bamford had a site big enough to match his ambitions, right around the corner from the JCB headquarters.

Bamford engaged Hiseman to oversee the build, and his design team weaved all the JCB’s ancient features into the design. An ancient canal was restored on the 3rd hole, while the two returning nines were sculpted around the ruins of the hall itself. An even older building, the Mince Pie Hall farmhouse, stands like a watchtower on the 16th.

Elsewhere, fans will love the tee on 1, nestled in between the trees, and the island green on 17. The 18th, a long uphill sweeper as fiercely guarded as a Medieval castle, is as tough as any finisher you'll find in European golf.

What's happened since we arrived?

We've been to the JCB twice already. And both visits have produced the goods.

In 2024, Jon Rahm beat his close friend Tyrrell Hatton to the individual prize, after a battle that went right down to the 18th hole. It was Rahm's first solo victory in LIV Golf, setting him on the way to his Individual Championship triumph.

In 2025, Joaco Niemann looked to be cruising to victory - until Bubba Watson began his Sunday charge. The two-time Masters champion produced four birdies and two eagles in a thrilling stretch, but Niemann held his nerve  to win by three strokes.

Both the 2024 and the 2025 team races were dominated by Rahm's Legion XIII, and the men in black and pink will be going for a hat-trick next time we come.

How does it play?

This isn’t a ‘break 60’ course. It’s too long, and the challenges are too varied. But it should play fair; think your way around the course and you’ve got a chance.

Who does it favor?

As always with British courses, the weather will play a crucial role. 

If the wind gets up, those longer holes become treacherous and the more strategic players have an advantage. If it stays sunny and dry, the big hitters will fancy the generous fairways. 

The 2024 stats are particularly fascinating. Of the players who finished top 10 on the overall leaderboard, only three finished top 10 of the driving stats and two finished top 10 in putting. By contrast, six of the top 10 also finished top 10 in Birdies, while seven of the top 10 also finished 10 top for hitting greens in regulation.

The point of all this? That consistency is crucial at the JCB. It’s not about hitting bombs or a red-hot putter. It’s about finding a way to get the job done on every hole. 

Who can I be there in 2026?

We're glad you asked! Tickets are available now, alllowing you to choose between the thrill of a Grounds Pass, following the players round the course, or a swanky experience in hospitality. Want to grab your spot now? Here's the link.