The Best 10 Golf Courses In United Kingdom

Golf is a popular sport in the United Kingdom, with a well-established ecosystem that includes professional tours, amateur organizations, golf courses, and equipment manufacturers.

Professional golf in the UK is primarily governed by the PGA European Tour, which hosts several events in the UK, including the prestigious Open Championship, one of golf's four major championships. The European Tour also oversees several smaller tournaments throughout the year, including the British Masters and the Scottish Open.

In addition to the European Tour, the UK is home to several other professional golf tours, including the Ladies European Tour, the Challenge Tour, and the Staysure Tour for senior golfers.

The governing body for golf in the UK is England Golf, which oversees the sport in England. Other governing bodies include Scottish Golf, Wales Golf, and the Golf Union of Ireland. These organizations organize tournaments and events for amateur golfers of all ages and skill levels.

There are over 2,500 golf courses in the UK, ranging from small, local courses to championship-level courses. Some of the most famous golf courses in the world are located in the UK, including St. Andrews and Muirfield.

Royal Portrush Golf Club - County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Royal Portrush Golf Club is a private golf club located in Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1888 and features two 18-hole courses, the Dunluce Links Course and the Valley Links.

The Dunluce Links Course is the club's championship course and is widely regarded as one of the best links courses in the world. It has hosted many prestigious events, including the Open Championship in 1951 and again in 2019, making it one of only 10 courses outside of Scotland to have hosted the championship.

Royal Portrush is known for its stunning coastal location, challenging courses, and warm and welcoming atmosphere. The club is committed to promoting the game of golf and offers a range of services and facilities for golfers of all ages and abilities.

Over the years, Royal Portrush has won numerous awards and accolades, including being named “Best Golf Course in the World” by Golf.com in 2019. The club is also actively involved in supporting local charities and community initiatives, and has a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.

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.

St. Andrews Links - Fife, Scotland

St. Andrews Links is a group of seven public golf courses located in St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland. The courses are owned and operated by the St. Andrews Links Trust, a charitable organization that aims to preserve and maintain the courses for future generations to enjoy.

The most famous of the courses is the Old Course, which is widely regarded as the “home of golf” and has hosted the Open Championship 29 times, more than any other course. The other six courses include the New Course, Jubilee Course, Eden Course, Strathtyrum Course, Balgove Course, and Castle Course, each with their own unique characteristics and challenges.

St. Andrews Links also offers a variety of golfing services and facilities, including a golf academy, a club fitting center, a practice center, and multiple pro shops. Visitors from all over the world come to St. Andrews Links to play golf, take in the history and culture of the game, and experience the stunning Scottish landscape.

St. Andrews Links has won numerous awards and accolades, including being named “World's Best Golf Course” at the World Golf Awards in 2018. It remains one of the most iconic and beloved golf destinations in the world.

Royal County Down Golf Club - Newcastle, Northern Ireland

Royal County Down Golf Club is a private golf club located in Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is situated in a stunning location on the eastern coast of Northern Ireland, with views of the Irish Sea and the Mountains of Mourne.

The club was founded in 1889 and has since established a reputation as one of the finest golf clubs in the world. The club features two 18-hole courses, the Championship Course and the Annesley Links Course. The Championship Course is widely regarded as one of the most challenging and scenic golf courses in the world, with the ninth hole often cited as one of the best holes in golf.

Royal County Down has hosted many prestigious golf events over the years, including the Walker Cup in 2007 and the Irish Open in 2015. The club has also been consistently ranked among the top golf courses in the world by publications such as Golf Digest and Golf World, and was ranked as the number one golf course outside of the United States by Golf Digest in 2016.

The club is known for its traditional and welcoming atmosphere, and its commitment to preserving the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. It remains a popular destination for golfers from around the world who come to play on its world-class courses and experience the stunning scenery of Northern Ireland.

Muirfield - East Lothian, Scotland

Muirfield is a private golf club located in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland. The club was founded in 1744 and has since established a reputation as one of the most exclusive and prestigious golf clubs in the world.

Muirfield features an 18-hole championship course, which is widely regarded as one of the best links courses in the world. The course has hosted numerous high-profile events over the years, including 16 Open Championships, most recently in 2013. The club has also hosted the Walker Cup, the Curtis Cup, and the Ryder Cup.

Muirfield is known for its traditional and exclusive atmosphere, and its commitment to preserving the history and heritage of the game of golf. The club has a strict membership policy but visitors are welcome to play the course on certain days of the week.

Over the years, Muirfield has been consistently ranked among the top golf courses in the world by publications such as Golf Digest and Golf World. In 2021, it was ranked as the fourth best course outside of the United States by Golf Digest.

The club has also been involved in numerous philanthropic efforts, including supporting local charities and promoting junior golf programs.

Turnberry Golf Club - South Ayrshire, Scotland

Turnberry Golf Club is a private golf club located in South Ayrshire, Scotland. The club features two championship courses, the Ailsa Course and the King Robert the Bruce Course, both of which are widely regarded as some of the best links courses in the world.

The Ailsa Course has hosted numerous high-profile events over the years, including the Open Championship on four occasions, most recently in 2009. It is known for its stunning coastal location, challenging course layout, and warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Turnberry Golf Club is also home to the luxurious Trump Turnberry Resort, which offers a range of accommodations, dining options, and leisure facilities for guests. The resort has won numerous awards and accolades, including being named “Best Hotel in Scotland” by the Scottish Hotel Awards in 2019.

The club is committed to promoting the game of golf and offers a range of services and facilities for golfers of all ages and abilities.

Carnoustie Golf Links - Angus, Scotland

Carnoustie Golf Links is a public golf complex located in Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland. The complex features three championship courses, the Championship Course, the Burnside Course, and the Buddon Links Course, as well as a range of practice facilities.

The Championship Course is one of the most challenging links courses in the world, and has hosted numerous high-profile events, including the Open Championship on eight occasions, most recently in 2018. It is known for its deep bunkers, narrow fairways, and unpredictable weather conditions, which provide a true test of golfing skill.

Carnoustie Golf Links is committed to promoting the game of golf and offers a range of services and facilities for golfers of all ages and abilities. It also hosts a range of events and tournaments throughout the year, including the annual Carnoustie Golf Week.

The Championship Course was voted The Best Golf Course in the World in 2019 and Best Scottish Golf Course over £100 in 2018. Carnoustie Golf Links was also voted Scotland's Best Golf Experience, Best Clubhouse and Best Catering in 2019, as well as Environmental Golf Course of The Year in 2018.

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.

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 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.