Best Parkland Golf Courses in the UK

Parkland golf is the dominant style of inland golf in the United Kingdom. While links courses on the coastline take most of the international headlines, the majority of golf played by UK club members every week takes place on parkland courses — tree-lined, inland layouts built on softer ground, with manicured fairways and receptive greens. According to England Golf’s 2023 course data, well over 1,400 of England’s approximately 1,850 golf courses could be broadly classified as parkland or heathland inland courses. Scotland and Wales add hundreds more. This guide covers what parkland golf means, how it differs from links golf, and where to find the finest parkland courses across England, Scotland, and Wales — from world-famous venues such as Wentworth and Sunningdale to underrated gems that deserve far wider attention.

What Is Parkland Golf?

The term “parkland” describes inland golf courses built on or through grounds that resemble a private park: tree-lined fairways, well-watered turf, flowerbeds, ornamental lakes, and soft underfoot conditions. The contrast with links golf — open, coastal, windswept — is stark.

Parkland courses tend to share several characteristics:

Tree-lined fairways — mature specimen trees define holes and frame approach shots
Softer turf — rainfall and clay or loam soils create lush, slower-running fairways
Aerial approach game — soft greens hold approach shots, rewarding high-ball players and iron control
Defined fairways — the landing zones are more clearly bounded than on open links land
Lower wind effect — trees shelter courses significantly; wind plays a smaller role than on links

The playing style parkland demands is therefore different from links golf. Shot-making in the air is paramount. Bump-and-run approaches — the bread and butter of links play — are less effective when soft greens are surrounded by rough. Players who excel at hitting greens in regulation tend to fare better on parkland courses.

Parkland vs Heathland — What Is the Difference?

The UK’s top inland courses are often described as either “parkland” or “heathland.” The distinction matters and is frequently confused.

Heathland courses are built on sandy, free-draining soil covered with heather, gorse, bracken, and silver birch. The ground conditions are firmer than parkland — the ball runs more, resembling links in that respect. Surrey, Berkshire, and the east Midlands have the richest concentration of heathland courses. Courses like Sunningdale, Walton Heath, and Wentworth sit in this heathland zone.

Parkland courses are built on heavier soils — clay, silt, loam — with a richer variety of trees and lusher turf. They play softer and slower underfoot. The lush, established parkland courses of the Yorkshire Dales, Hertfordshire, and the Welsh valleys are typical examples.

In practice, both types are grouped loosely under the “parkland” umbrella when discussed informally. This guide follows that convention while noting the distinction where relevant.

The Best Parkland Golf Courses in England

England’s finest inland courses are concentrated in two broad clusters: Surrey and Berkshire (heathland), and the home counties broadly. The quality on offer in Surrey alone would rank among the best inland golf regions in the world.

Wentworth Club (Surrey)

Wentworth is the most famous inland golf complex in England and one of the most recognisable golf venues in the world. The West Course at Wentworth — home to the BMW PGA Championship — stretches to over 7,200 yards from the back tees and winds through mature woodland on the Surrey/Berkshire border. Designed by Harry Colt in 1924 and later modified by John Jacobs and Ernie Els, the West Course is demanding, beautiful, and consistently listed among Europe’s top 20 courses.

Wentworth is a private members’ club, but corporate and group visitor packages are available. Visitor green fees are among the most expensive in England — typically £350 to £500 per round depending on the course and package. The East and Edinburgh courses offer slightly more accessible visitor options within the same complex.

Sunningdale Golf Club (Berkshire)

Sunningdale is widely regarded as one of England’s two or three greatest courses. The Old Course, opened in 1901 and designed by Willie Park Jr. with later improvements by Harry Colt, is a heathland masterpiece on sandy soil through silver birch and pine. The New Course (1923, also Harry Colt) is barely less impressive. Sunningdale hosted the 2023 AIG Women’s Open and the 2024 Amundi Evian Championship qualifying — a measure of its standing.

Visitor access is available but restricted and must be arranged through the club directly. Visitor green fees are approximately £250 to £350 for the Old Course. The experience — the quality of the turf, the design, the clubhouse — is among the finest in British golf.

Walton Heath Golf Club (Surrey)

Walton Heath sits on true Surrey heathland with more heather in play than almost any other course in England. The Old Course has hosted the Ryder Cup (1981) and numerous European Tour events. Herbert Fowler designed both the Old and New courses at Walton Heath, and they remain remarkably faithful to his original intent.

Visitor access is available to non-members, particularly on weekdays. Green fees for the Old Course are approximately £175 to £225. The New Course is similarly priced. Walton Heath’s combination of design purity, excellent conditioning, and heathland character place it in the very top tier of English inland golf.

Woburn Golf Club (Buckinghamshire)

Woburn is a different type of parkland — true woodland golf through mature Scots pine and birch, with holes carved through forest on the Woburn Abbey estate. The Duke’s Course and Duchess’s Course are both of exceptional quality and have hosted the Dunlop Masters, the British Masters, and the Ladies’ British Open.

The Duke’s Course stretches to 6,944 yards and is one of the most visually striking courses in England. Visitor play is available — green fees for non-members are approximately £150 to £200 depending on season.

Stoke Park (Buckinghamshire)

Stoke Park has one of the most distinguished histories in English golf. The estate was used as a filming location for the James Bond film Goldfinger (1964) and the original layout dates to 1908. It has been extensively renovated and the current 27-hole layout is among the most luxurious inland golf experiences in the country.

Visitor green fees at Stoke Park start at approximately £100 to £150, with the estate offering a broader luxury resort experience around the golf.

Moor Park Golf Club (Hertfordshire)

Moor Park occupies the grounds of Moor Park mansion — an 18th-century Palladian estate — northwest of London. Two courses (the High Course and West Course) wind through parkland trees in classic English style. The club has hosted Ryder Cup matches and numerous professional events.

Visitor days are available in limited form. Green fees for the High Course are approximately £150 to £175.

Alwoodley Golf Club (Yorkshire)

Alwoodley is the finest parkland/heathland course in Yorkshire and arguably in the north of England. Designed by Alister MacKenzie (who later designed Augusta National and Cypress Point) in 1907, the course has barely needed updating. MacKenzie called Alwoodley the finest course he had ever seen at the time of its opening. Visitor access is available on weekdays; green fees are approximately £100 to £130 per round.

Formby Golf Club (Merseyside)

While Formby is sometimes categorised as a links due to its coastal location and sandy soil, it is more accurately a heathland course among pinewoods by the sea. The combination of coastal proximity and mature woodland makes it unique. Formby has hosted the Amateur Championship multiple times and consistently ranks among England’s top 20 courses. Visitor green fees are approximately £100 to £150.

The Best Parkland Golf Courses in Scotland

Browse Scotland golf courses →

Scotland’s international reputation centres on links golf, but the country has excellent parkland courses — particularly in the central belt and along river valleys.

Gleneagles (Perthshire)

Gleneagles is Scotland’s most famous inland golf destination. Three courses — the King’s, Queen’s, and PGA Centenary — wind through moorland and parkland in the Perthshire hills. The PGA Centenary Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup. The King’s Course, designed by James Braid in 1919, is the sentimental favourite: a moorland masterpiece with long views across Strathearn.

Gleneagles is a five-star hotel and resort. Day visitor green fees vary by season but range from approximately £175 to £300 for the King’s Course, with resort packages available for hotel guests.

Loch Lomond Golf Club (Argyll and Bute)

Loch Lomond is one of Scotland’s most beautiful parkland courses — a private members’ club with restricted visitor access. The course sits on the shores of Loch Lomond, with holes running along the waterfront and through mature woodland. It has hosted the Scottish Open for many years. Limited visitor play is available through arranged corporate packages.

Blairgowrie Golf Club (Perthshire)

Blairgowrie (known locally as “Rosemount” after its most famous course) is a deeply traditional Scottish inland club with 45 holes across three courses. The Rosemount Course — James Braid and Dr Alister MacKenzie design, 1934 — is consistently ranked among Scotland’s best inland layouts. Green fees for visitors are approximately £85 to £120 depending on season.

Ladybank Golf Club (Fife)

Ladybank is a heathland course in Fife — pine and heather, fast-draining soil — that has been used as an Open Championship qualifying course. Tom Watson practiced here before winning the 1984 Open at St Andrews. Visitor green fees are approximately £55 to £75, making it exceptional value for a course of its quality.

The Best Parkland Golf Courses in Wales

Browse Wales golf courses →

Wales’s parkland golf is concentrated in the south, particularly in the Vale of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire. The mixture of river valley settings and woodland makes Welsh parkland genuinely distinctive.

Vale of Glamorgan Golf Club (South Wales)

The Vale of Glamorgan Golf Club near Cardiff has two courses — the Wales National and the Lake — and regularly hosts European Tour events, including the Wales Open. The Wales National Course is a high-quality modern parkland layout, well conditioned and genuinely challenging. Visitor green fees are approximately £60 to £90.

Celtic Manor Resort (Newport)

Celtic Manor needs little introduction — it hosted the 2010 Ryder Cup on the Twenty Ten Course and the 2021 ISPS Handa Wales Open. The resort offers four courses in total, including the historic Roman Road course and the newer Montgomerie course. Visitor access to the resort’s courses ranges from approximately £60 to £130 depending on course and season.

Southerndown Golf Club (Bridgend)

Southerndown is one of Wales’s finest downland/heathland courses, sitting on clifftop land above the Vale of Glamorgan with views of the Bristol Channel. It has hosted the Brabazon Trophy and numerous Welsh national events. Visitor green fees are approximately £60 to £80, representing excellent value for a course of this quality.

The Best Counties for Parkland Golf in England

If you are planning a parkland golf trip and are not yet sure which region to focus on, these counties offer the strongest concentration of quality inland courses:

Surrey — the world’s finest concentration of heathland golf, including Sunningdale, Wentworth, Walton Heath, Hankley Common, Hindhead, and The Berkshire
Berkshire — neighbouring Surrey, with excellent heathland courses including Sunningdale (which straddles the county border), The Berkshire, and Swinley Forest
Buckinghamshire — Woburn, Stoke Park, and several excellent private members’ clubs
Hertfordshire — Moor Park, Batchwood, and a cluster of well-regarded parkland clubs
Yorkshire — Alwoodley, Moortown, Sandmoor, and Ganton (technically moorland) represent the north’s finest inland golf

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between parkland and links golf?

Links golf is coastal, played on sandy, fast-draining ground, with firm fairways and unpredictable wind. Parkland golf is inland, with tree-lined fairways, softer turf, and a playing style that rewards aerial approach shots. The UK has approximately 250 genuine links courses and well over 1,400 parkland/heathland courses.

What is heathland golf?

Heathland golf is a sub-type of inland golf, played on sandy, free-draining soil covered with heather, gorse, and silver birch. It combines the firm conditions of a links with the wooded surroundings of parkland. Surrey and Berkshire have the UK’s finest heathland golf, including Sunningdale and Walton Heath.

Can visitors play at Wentworth Golf Club?

Yes, but access is limited and expensive. Wentworth is a private members’ club, but visitor packages — typically through corporate or group bookings — are available. Contact the club directly for current visitor access and pricing. Visitor green fees are typically £350 or above for the West Course.

What is the best parkland golf course in Scotland?

Gleneagles (Perthshire) is the most famous Scottish inland course and regularly cited as among Europe’s best. The King’s Course (James Braid, 1919) and the PGA Centenary Course (Jack Nicklaus, 2014 Ryder Cup) are both outstanding. Blairgowrie and Loch Lomond are other contenders.

Are parkland courses suitable for beginners?

Yes — the defined fairways, softer turf, and predictable conditions on most parkland courses make them more forgiving than links golf for beginners. High shots that land softly are rewarded. Wind — often the primary challenge on links — is less of a factor.

What is the difference between parkland and meadowland golf courses?

“Meadowland” is a term sometimes used for less wooded inland courses built on flat, open farmland. They lack the tree cover of traditional parkland courses and sometimes resemble agricultural land more than a private estate. The distinction is informal but generally understood: parkland implies mature trees and a landscaped feel; meadowland is more open.

Which English county has the best parkland golf?

Surrey, for quality concentration. Sunningdale, Wentworth, Walton Heath, Hankley Common, Swinley Forest, The Berkshire, West Surrey, Hindhead, and Worplesdon are all within the county or immediately adjacent to it. No other county comes close in terms of the density of top-quality inland golf.

Explore parkland and inland golf courses across England, from Surrey’s heathland classics to the Yorkshire Dales. Browse golf courses in England →