Best Links Golf Courses in the UK — Complete Guide

Britain’s links golf courses are among the most famous in the world. A true links sits on sandy coastal ground between the sea and farmland. That creates firm, fast, wind-battered conditions unlike anything else in golf. Since true linksland is rare, links courses are a big draw for any serious golfer.

Scotland has the most famous links, including the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Royal Dornoch. England’s north-west coast adds Royal Birkdale, Royal Lytham & St Annes and Royal Liverpool. Meanwhile, Wales has Royal Porthcawl and Aberdovey, and Northern Ireland has Royal Portrush and Royal County Down. This guide explains what makes a links special and where to play the best of them.

What makes a links course different?

A links is defined by its land, not its look. Links land is sandy, fast-draining ground beside the sea. True links courses share several traits:

• A coastal setting on sandy, free-draining soil
• Firm, fast fairways that reward the bump-and-run
• Wind that is often the biggest factor in your score
• Few or no trees, so nothing shelters you
• Natural humps and hollows rather than shaped contours
• Pot bunkers with steep, often stacked-turf faces

By contrast, a parkland course is inland and tree-lined, with softer turf that rewards high approach shots. Heathland sits between the two, since it is inland yet firm. Our guide to golf course types and our heathland golf guide explain the differences.

The best links courses in Scotland

Scotland is the heartland of links golf. In particular, the Fife coast, East Lothian, Ayrshire and the Highlands are each packed with fine courses. Our Scotland golf guide covers each region, and you can browse every course we list in Scotland.

Top Scottish links courses:

• The Old Course, St Andrews, which has hosted the Open 30 times
• Carnoustie, a public course that has hosted eight Opens
• Royal Troon, home of the Postage Stamp, with ten Opens to its name
• Muirfield, home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers
• Royal Dornoch, where Donald Ross learned the game
• Turnberry’s Ailsa Course, scene of the 1977 “Duel in the Sun”

You do not need to play the famous names to enjoy Scottish links. For example, Brora, Golspie and Crail offer superb links golf with far less fuss. For East Lothian, see our page on golf courses near Edinburgh. For Ayrshire, read about golf courses near Glasgow. The directory also lists golf courses near Aberdeen.

The best links courses in England

While Scotland leads on numbers, England has some outstanding links. The coast north of Liverpool, from Hoylake to Southport and Lytham, is one of the great golf stretches in the world. Royal Birkdale has hosted the Open 11 times, from 1954 to 2026. You can browse every course we list in England.

Top English links courses:

• Royal Birkdale (Southport), with 11 Open Championships
• Royal Lytham & St Annes (Lancashire), with 11 Open Championships
• Royal Liverpool (Hoylake), with 13 Open Championships
• Royal St George’s (Sandwich, Kent), with 15 Open Championships
• Formby (Merseyside), a private club among dunes and pines
• Royal North Devon (Westward Ho!), the oldest course in England

Our page on golf courses near Liverpool covers the north-west coast, with a local guide and every listed course. For the south-east, read our Kent golf guide. For the south-west, our Devon golf guide covers Saunton and Westward Ho!. Further north, Northumberland has quiet links such as Bamburgh Castle.

Does Wales have good links golf?

Yes. Royal Porthcawl, on the south coast, hosted the 1995 Walker Cup and the Senior Open in 2014, 2017 and 2023. Many golfers rank it as the finest course in Wales. Our page on golf courses near Cardiff covers it with its neighbours.

Aberdovey, in Gwynedd, sits beside the Dyfi estuary. The golf writer Bernard Darwin, a member, wrote about it often. You can browse every course we list in Wales, and our Wales golf guide covers the whole country.

Top Welsh links courses:

• Royal Porthcawl (Glamorgan), host of the 1995 Walker Cup
• Aberdovey (Gwynedd), a classic links on the Dyfi estuary
• Royal St David’s (Harlech), below Harlech Castle
• Tenby (Pembrokeshire), often called the oldest club in Wales
• Nefyn & District (Gwynedd), with holes on a headland over the sea

For the far west, see our Pembrokeshire golf guide. The directory also lists golf courses near Swansea for Gower.

Links golf in Northern Ireland and Ireland

Royal Portrush hosted the Open in 1951, 2019 and 2025. Royal County Down sits under the Mourne Mountains at Newcastle. Our guide to golf in Northern Ireland covers both, while our county-by-county guide lists the rest. Across the border, our guide to golf in Ireland covers the wild links of the west coast.

Seaside golf on the islands

The Isle of Wight has its own seaside golf, with cliffs and downland views. Our Isle of Wight golf guide covers each club. For more clifftop golf, read our guide to coastal golf in the UK.

How do you play well on a links?

Links golf asks for a different approach from parkland golf. In short, the ground is your ally, so use it.

1. Embrace the bump-and-run. A low running shot often beats a high approach on firm turf.
2. Allow for the wind. It affects every shot, including putts on exposed greens.
3. Keep the ball low. In a strong wind, a lower shot is easier to control.
4. Use the slopes. Good links courses are built to use every bounce and roll.
5. Be patient. Accept the odd bad bounce, and play for the target rather than the perfect shot.

Frequently asked questions about links golf

What is the difference between links and links-style golf? A true links sits on natural linksland by the sea. A “links-style” course copies the look inland, with open fairways and pot bunkers. However, it lacks the sandy subsoil and coastal wind of the real thing.

Why is links golf harder than parkland golf? The wind is the main reason, since it affects every shot. In addition, firm ground makes it hard to stop the ball, so you need more creative shots.

Which UK links suits a beginner? Smaller, friendly links with modest green fees are the best start. For example, many Highland and Welsh links welcome visitors and rarely ask for a handicap.

Are links courses expensive? The Open venues are among the most expensive courses in the UK. However, many smaller links cost no more than a good parkland course. Since prices change each year, check each club’s website.

Plan a links golf trip

Ready to play? Our guide to championship golf courses explains how to book the Open venues. Start with one region, check each club’s visitor rules and book ahead for the famous names.

On the kit side, our guides to winter kit and golf shoes for wet courses may help.