The Best 10 Golf Courses In England

Golf is a widely popular sport in England, and the country boasts a thriving golf ecosystem.

There are over 2,000 golf courses in England, ranging from traditional parkland courses to links courses located near the coast. Additionally, there are approximately 1,900 golf clubs across the country that offer memberships to golfers of all skill levels. Many of these clubs also provide coaching and training facilities and host social events and competitions.

England has produced several top professional golfers such as Justin Rose, Paul Casey, and Tommy Fleetwood, who have achieved international success. The country also hosts several major golf events, including the British Open, the Women's British Open, and the British Masters.

England also has a significant market for golf equipment and apparel, with many major retailers and brands operating in the country.

England is a popular destination for golf tourism, with visitors traveling to play on the country's famous courses and experience the local golf culture. Some popular golf tourism destinations in England include the Scottish coast, the English countryside, and the city of London.

Royal Lytham and St Annes Golf Club - Lancashire, England

The Royal Lytham and St Annes Golf Club is a historic golf club located in Lytham St Annes, a town in Lancashire, northwest England. The club was founded in 1886 and has hosted numerous prestigious golf events, including the Open Championship 11 times. The course is a challenging links layout, with deep bunkers and undulating greens that require precision and strategy. It is widely regarded as one of the best courses in the country and a favorite among professional golfers.

In addition to hosting major golf events, the club also provides facilities for members and visitors, including a clubhouse with fine dining options, pro shop, and practice areas. The club has a strong commitment to sustainability and has implemented various measures to protect the natural environment around the course.

The Royal Lytham and St Annes Golf Club has been recognized as one of the top golf clubs in England and is a popular destination for golf tourism. The club has also been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, including being ranked among the top 100 golf courses in the world by Golf Digest and being named Golf Club of the Year by Golf World magazine in 2015.

Woodhall Spa Golf Club - Lincolnshire, England

Woodhall Spa Golf Club is a highly regarded golf club located in the heart of Lincolnshire, England. The club has two 18-hole courses: the Hotchkin Course and the Bracken Course. The Hotchkin Course is the more famous of the two, and is widely regarded as one of the best inland courses in the country. It has been the venue for numerous prestigious golf events, including the English Amateur Championship and the Curtis Cup.

Woodhall Spa Golf Club has been recognized as one of the top golf clubs in England and is a popular destination for golf tourism. The club has also been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, including being named Golf Club of the Year by England Golf in 2017 and being ranked among the top 100 golf courses in the world by Golf Digest.

Royal Liverpool Golf Club - Hoylake, England

The Royal Liverpool Golf Club is a historic golf club located in Hoylake, a town on the Wirral Peninsula in northwest England. The club was founded in 1869 and has a rich history in the sport of golf, having hosted numerous prestigious golf events, including the Open Championship 12 times. The most recent Open Championship held at the club was in 2014, won by Rory McIlroy.

The course is a classic links layout, with undulating fairways, deep bunkers, and fast greens. It is widely regarded as one of the best courses in the country and a challenging test for golfers of all skill levels.

The club has a vibrant membership community and also welcomes visitors from all over the world. It provides a range of facilities and services, including a clubhouse with fine dining options, a pro shop, practice areas, and coaching services. The club has also invested in sustainability initiatives, including a solar-powered irrigation system and the protection of native wildlife habitats on the course.

The club has also been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, including being ranked among the top 100 golf courses in the world by Golf Digest and being named Golf Club of the Year by England Golf in 2020.

The Belfry - Warwickshire, England

The Belfry is a world-renowned golf resort located in Wishaw, a village in Warwickshire, England. The resort features three championship golf courses, including the Brabazon Course, which has hosted the Ryder Cup on four occasions. The course is a challenging parkland layout, with tight fairways, water hazards, and large greens that require precision and strategy.

Apart from its exceptional championship golf courses, The Belfry provides a wide array of guest facilities and services, such as lavish accommodation, rejuvenating spa treatments, and a variety of dining options. The resort is dedicated to environmental sustainability and has taken several steps to minimize its carbon footprint and preserve the natural surroundings of the course.

The Belfry has been recognized as one of the top golf resorts in England and is a popular destination for avid golfers. The resort has also been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, including being named England's Leading Conference Hotel and England's Leading Golf Resort at the World Travel Awards in 2020, and being named Best Golf Hotel in the UK by Today's Golfer magazine in 2019.

Royal St. George's Golf Club - Sandwich, England

Royal St. George's Golf Club is a private golf club located in Sandwich, Kent, England. The club features a championship golf course, which is one of the finest links courses in the world.

The golf course at Royal St. George's Golf Club has hosted numerous high-profile events, including the Open Championship on 15 occasions, most recently in 2021. It is known for its challenging course layout, undulating fairways, and deep bunkers, which provide a true test of golfing skill.

Royal St. George's Golf Club is committed to promoting the game of golf and offers a range of services and facilities for golfers of all ages and abilities. It is also actively involved in supporting local charities and community initiatives, and has a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.

Over the years, Royal St. George's Golf Club has won numerous awards and accolades, including being named “Best Golf Club in England” by Golf World in 2016. The club is also a member of the prestigious Open Championship rota, which recognizes the finest golfing venues in the world.

Sunningdale Golf Club - Berkshire, England

Sunningdale Golf Club is a private golf club located in Sunningdale, Berkshire, England. The club features two championship courses, the Old Course and the New Course, both of which are highly regarded in the golfing world.

The Old Course at Sunningdale Golf Club has hosted numerous high-profile events over the years, including the British Masters, the Walker Cup, and the Senior Open Championship. It is known for its challenging course layout, stunning natural beauty, and warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Over the years, Sunningdale Golf Club has won numerous awards and accolades, including being named “Best Golf Club in England” by Golf World in 2018. The club is also a member of the prestigious Alister MacKenzie Society, which honors the work of the famous golf course architect.

Royal Birkdale Golf Club - Southport, England

Royal Birkdale Golf Club is a private golf club located in Southport, Merseyside, England. The club was founded in 1889 and features an 18-hole championship course, which is widely regarded as one of the best links courses in the world.

The course has hosted many prestigious events, including the Open Championship on ten occasions, most recently in 2017. It has also hosted the Ryder Cup, the Walker Cup, and the Women's British Open.

Royal Birkdale is renowned for its challenging course design, breathtaking natural scenery, and inviting ambiance.

Royal Birkdale has received numerous awards and recognition throughout the years, with Golf World naming it the “Best Golf Club in England” in 2019. Additionally, the club actively supports local charities and community initiatives, and is dedicated to promoting environmental sustainability.

Wentworth Golf Club - Surrey, England

Wentworth Golf Club is a private golf club located in Virginia Water, Surrey, England. The club features three championship courses, the West Course, the East Course, and the Edinburgh Course, as well as a range of practice facilities.

The West Course at Wentworth Golf Club is one of the most prestigious and iconic golf courses in the world, having hosted numerous high-profile events, including the PGA Championship, the World Match Play Championship, and the BMW PGA Championship. It is known for its beautiful parkland setting, challenging course layout, and immaculately maintained greens and fairways.

Over the years, Wentworth Golf Club has won numerous awards and accolades, including being named “Best Golf Club in England” by Golf World in 2020. The club is also a member of the exclusive European Tour Destinations network, which recognizes the finest golfing venues in Europe.

Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club - Kent, England

The Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club is a prestigious golf club located in Deal, a town on the Kent coast in southeast England. The club was founded in 1892 and has a rich history in the sport of golf, having hosted numerous prestigious golf events, including the Open Championship twice, most recently in 1920.

The course is a classic links layout, with deep bunkers, fast greens, and unpredictable winds that make it a challenging and exciting test of golf.

The Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club is widely acknowledged as one of the leading golf clubs in England and attracts many visitors interested in golf. The club has received several awards and accolades, including a spot among Golf Digest's top 100 golf courses worldwide, and the Golf Club of the Year title by England Golf in 2016.

Saunton Golf Club - Devon, England

Founded in 1897, Saunton Golf Club is a prestigious golf club located on the coast of North Devon, in southwest England. The club has two championship courses: the East Course and the West Course.

The East Course, designed by the renowned architect Herbert Fowler, has become the top golf course in the West Country. The East Course has hosted numerous championships, including Frank Pennink's triumph at the 1937 English Amateur and the 2019 R&A Boys Amateur, as well as several other competitions over the years.

Although the West Course shares many features with the East Course, it has its unique qualities and boasts no easy holes. Playing the West Course requires strategic and precise ball placement off the tee to access the greens with your approach shot. The greens are challenging but equitable if you select the appropriate line to approach with your ball. The recent modifications to the West Course have significantly enhanced its presentation and design, bringing it on par with the East Course.

Saunton Golf Club has received several awards and accolades, such as a place among Golf Digest's top 100 golf courses worldwide, and Today's Golfer magazine's Best Golf Course title in the Southwest in 2019.