Coastal Golf in the UK — Britain's Best Seaside Courses

Golf grew up on the coast. The game began on the sandy strip between the sea and the farmland, known as linksland. Wind, salt air and firm turf shaped how golf is still played today. As a result, the UK and Ireland have a rare wealth of seaside courses.

Not all coastal golf is links golf, though. A true links sits on sandy ground left by the sea, with fescue grass, few trees and natural humps and hollows. By contrast, a clifftop course sits on higher ground above the sea. It may have trees and softer turf, while still giving wonderful views. Both are worth playing, and this guide covers the best of each.

For a deeper look at the links style, read our guide to the best links golf courses in the UK. Our guide to golf course types explains how links, clifftop, parkland and heathland courses differ.

Scotland’s great coastal courses

Scotland has more great links golf than anywhere else. The east coast holds the Open venues of Fife and Angus. Meanwhile, the far north offers remote, quiet links where you may share the course with sheep. You can browse every course we list in Scotland.

Turnberry Ailsa Course, South Ayrshire

The Ailsa Course sits on a headland on the Firth of Clyde, facing Ailsa Craig and Arran. It hosted the 1977 Open, when Tom Watson beat Jack Nicklaus by one shot in the “Duel in the Sun”. The Trump Organization has owned the resort since 2014. It is one of the most scenic settings in golf.

Royal Dornoch, Sutherland

Records show golf at Dornoch as early as 1616, although the club itself dates from 1877. Donald Ross grew up here and was the club’s first professional before he left for America. There, he became one of the best-known course designers of all time. Our guide to golf in the Scottish Highlands covers Dornoch and its neighbours, while the directory lists golf courses near Aberdeen for the north-east coast.

Crail Golfing Society, Fife

Crail was founded in 1786, which makes it the seventh oldest golf club in the world. Its Balcomie Links runs along the rocks at Fife Ness, and Old Tom Morris laid it out in the 1890s. The newer Craighead Links is a Gil Hanse design. Since Crail sits close to St Andrews, it fits easily into a Fife golf trip.

Brora, Sutherland

Brora is old-fashioned links golf at its best. The course runs out along the shore and back again, so you face the wind both ways. Sheep and cattle often graze the links, which is why small fences guard the greens. It is a reminder of how golf looked before modern machinery.

Coastal golf in England

England’s coast is long, yet less of it is links land than in Scotland. Still, what there is can be superb. You can browse every course we list in England to find seaside clubs by county.

Royal North Devon, Westward Ho!

Royal North Devon was founded in 1864, which makes it the oldest golf course in England. It sits on Northam Burrows, which is common land. As a result, golfers share the course with sheep, ponies and walkers. Old Tom Morris designed the links, and it still feels wild and natural.

Saunton, North Devon

Saunton sits beside Braunton Burrows, the largest sand dune system in England. The East Course is a proper links, with big dunes and constant Atlantic wind. Our guide to golf courses in Devon covers Saunton and Westward Ho! in more depth. If you are driving from the south coast, see the directory of golf courses near Exeter and golf courses near Plymouth.

Cornwall’s clifftop courses

Cornwall mixes true links with clifftop golf. For instance, Carlyon Bay runs along the cliffs above St Austell Bay, while St Enodoc sits among the dunes of the Camel Estuary. Our guide to golf courses in Cornwall covers both styles.

Royal West Norfolk, Brancaster

Royal West Norfolk opened in 1892 between Brancaster Bay and the salt marshes. At high tide the course can become an island. That makes the timing of your round part of the adventure.

The north-west and north-east coasts

The Lancashire and Merseyside coast holds Royal Birkdale, Royal Lytham and Royal Liverpool. Our page on golf courses near Liverpool covers that stretch. On the other side of the country, Northumberland has quiet links such as Bamburgh Castle. Our page on golf courses near Newcastle is a good start for that coast.

The Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight has its own seaside golf, with downland and cliff views across the Solent and the Channel. Our Isle of Wight golf guide covers each club on the island.

Coastal golf in Wales

Wales has some of the most dramatic seaside golf in Britain. You can browse every course we list in Wales.

Pennard, Gower

Pennard sits high above Three Cliffs Bay on the Gower Peninsula. The ruins of a Norman castle stand beside the course, which gives it a unique setting. For other clubs in the area, see the directory of golf courses near Swansea.

Nefyn & District, Llŷn Peninsula

Nefyn is famous for holes on a narrow headland that runs out into the sea. The views are huge, and the wind is rarely calm. Even so, the club welcomes visitors through the season.

Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire has a quieter mix of links and clifftop golf. Tenby, founded in 1888, is often called the oldest club in Wales, and its links runs through the dunes. Our guide to golf in Pembrokeshire covers it with its neighbours.

Ireland and Northern Ireland

The island of Ireland has some of the wildest links golf in the world. In particular, the west coast feels ancient and natural.

Royal County Down and Royal Portrush

Royal County Down sits under the Mourne Mountains at Newcastle, County Down. Royal Portrush runs along the Causeway Coast, and it hosted the Open in 1951, 2019 and 2025. Our guide to golf in Northern Ireland covers both clubs.

Lahinch, County Clare

Lahinch was founded in 1892, when Old Tom Morris laid out the first links. Alister MacKenzie later reworked the Old Course in 1927. Big dunes frame several holes, while others open straight onto the Atlantic. Our guide to golf in Ireland covers Lahinch and the rest of the west coast.

What makes coastal golf special

The wind changes everything. On a links, the wind is part of the design. Because it changes the length of each hole, a course can play differently every day.

The ground does the work. Firm turf lets the ball run, so low shots often beat high ones. For example, a putter from off the green is a fine choice on many links.

The weather can turn quickly. Pack waterproofs and layers, even in summer. Similarly, allow extra time, since a round in strong wind takes longer.

Whatever your level, a few days on the coast will change how you see the game. Pick a 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.