England Golf Courses — The Complete Guide

England is one of the great golfing nations of the world. It has more golf courses than almost any other country, a tradition stretching back into the nineteenth century, and a diversity of terrain that produces every style of course imaginable — from the wind-lashed links of the Lancashire coast to the manicured parkland estates of the Home Counties, from the sandy heathland of Surrey to the rugged moorland of Yorkshire. Whether you are a visiting golfer from abroad or a domestic player looking to expand your horizons, England’s golfing landscape is rich enough to occupy a lifetime of exploration.

This guide is intended as a starting point: an overview of the main regions, the types of courses you will encounter, the venues that have shaped the game’s history, and the practical information you need to plan your next round or golf break. Explore all England golf courses in our directory.

The Scale of English Golf

England is the largest of the four home nations and by some margin the one with the most courses. The game became embedded in English sporting culture during the late Victorian era, and by the early twentieth century almost every town of consequence had at least one golf club. Today, the network of clubs spans from the far south-west of Cornwall to the Northumberland coast, and from the links of East Anglia to the Cumbrian hills.

The variety is one of England’s greatest golfing assets. Unlike Scotland, which is justifiably celebrated for its links heritage but has fewer parkland alternatives, England offers the full spectrum: championship links, world-class heathland, historic parkland, downland, moorland, and a broad range of pay-and-play municipal facilities that make the game accessible to everyone. Find pay-and-play options near you or explore municipal courses if you are looking for accessible, affordable golf.

The South East and Surrey Heathland

The area within an hour of London — stretching across Surrey, Berkshire, and into Hampshire — contains a concentration of outstanding golf courses unmatched anywhere in England. The sandy, free-draining soils of the Surrey and Berkshire heathland are exceptional for golf: they produce firm, fast-running conditions even after rain, and the combination of heather, pine trees, and silver birch creates a setting of real beauty.

Surrey golf courses deserve their own detailed treatment — this is genuinely one of the great golfing landscapes in the world. Sunningdale, Walton Heath, Wentworth, Hankley Common, The Berkshire, and Worplesdon are among the finest courses in England, and the proximity to London means they attract strong international interest. Green fees reflect the demand: expect to pay considerably more here than elsewhere in England, but the quality justifies it.

For golfers based in or near London, our guide to golf courses near London covers the best options across all price points, from Tube-accessible municipals to exclusive heathland clubs.

The Links Coast — England’s Championship Venues

England’s links courses may be fewer in number than Scotland’s, but they include some of the most celebrated venues in world golf. The Open Championship has been played at English links throughout its history, and the courses that have hosted it carry a prestige and atmosphere that few golfing experiences can match.

Royal St George’s, Sandwich

Widely regarded as the finest links course in England and one of the great championship tests anywhere in the world, Royal St George’s occupies a stretch of Kent coastline near Sandwich that feels timeless and remote despite its proximity to the Channel ports. The course is demanding, unpredictable, and deeply traditional. Visitor access is available but restricted, and demand is high.

Royal Birkdale, Southport

On the Lancashire coast, Royal Birkdale is the Open Championship venue most often cited by players as the fairest and best-organised of all. The course threads through towering sand dunes that shelter the fairways from the worst of the wind, creating a playing corridor that is visually distinctive and uniquely dramatic. The clubhouse — a 1930s Art Deco building — adds to Birkdale’s sense of occasion. Visitor tee times are available on weekdays.

Royal Lytham & St Annes

Royal Lytham is an unusual links in that it is essentially landlocked: surrounded by houses and railway lines rather than open dunes, it nevertheless plays with all the character and difficulty of a true seaside links. The course has produced some of the most dramatic moments in Open Championship history, and the red-brick clubhouse is one of the most imposing in England.

Parkland Golf — England’s Historic Estates

England’s parkland courses are among its most celebrated golfing assets — grand, beautifully maintained layouts set within historic estates that combine outstanding golf with exceptional scenery.

Wentworth Club, Virginia Water

Wentworth is perhaps the most recognisable golf venue in England for those who follow the sport on television. The West Course — home to the BMW PGA Championship for decades — is a long, demanding parkland layout with a mature tree canopy that creates a tunnel of green in summer. The club also operates the East Course and the Edinburgh Course, designed by John Jacobs. Green fees are among the highest in England, and member restrictions apply throughout the week, but tee times are available and the experience is exceptional.

The Belfry, Warwickshire

Few venues in English golf carry the cultural weight of The Belfry. Four Ryder Cups have been staged here — more than any other venue — and the Brabazon Course, with its dramatic closing stretch around the lakes, has provided many of the most memorable moments in the history of the match. The Belfry is fully accessible to visitors and operates as a resort hotel, making it an excellent choice for a golf break. More on parkland golf.

Other Outstanding Parklands

England’s parkland golf landscape extends well beyond its headline venues. Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire — home to the English Golf Union — is widely regarded as one of the finest inland courses in the country. Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell) in Nottinghamshire is another consistently highly rated venue. Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire combines historic architecture with fine golf. The list is long and varied.

Yorkshire — Moorland and Championship Golf in the North

Yorkshire is England’s largest county and home to a substantial concentration of high-quality golf. The county covers enormous variation of terrain — from the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales to the flatter Vale of York and the coastline around Scarborough — and this diversity produces a similarly varied golfing landscape.

Ganton Golf Club, near Scarborough, is widely considered one of the finest inland courses in England — a heathland-style layout on sandy soil in an otherwise agricultural landscape that has hosted major championships including the Ryder Cup (1949) and many Walker Cup and Amateur Championship events. Our complete guide to Yorkshire golf covers Ganton, Moortown, Alwoodley, Lindrick, and many others in detail.

For those travelling from the west, our Manchester golf guide covers the Lancashire and Greater Manchester options that sit between the two counties.

The Midlands — England’s Heartland Golf

The Midlands, stretching from Staffordshire and Warwickshire up through Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, offers a wealth of parkland and heathland golf that is sometimes overlooked by visitors focused on the coasts. Beyond The Belfry, venues such as Beau Desert in Staffordshire, Copt Heath in Warwickshire, Lutterworth in Leicestershire, and Kedleston Park in Derbyshire offer strong golf in attractive countryside.

The Midlands also benefits from easy motorway access from virtually every direction, making it an efficient base for a golf trip that draws in courses from multiple counties. Birmingham’s transport links make it particularly well-connected for both domestic and international visitors. Golf courses near Birmingham covers the best options in and around the city.

The South West — Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset

The far south-west of England has a distinct golfing character shaped by its Atlantic-facing coastline and mild climate. Cornwall and Devon in particular offer coastal golf of real beauty, with courses that combine links-style terrain with spectacular cliff and sea views.

St Enodoc Golf Club in Cornwall, set among sand dunes in the Camel Estuary, is one of the most charming and original courses in England — the Himalaya bunker on the sixth hole is one of the most photographed features in British golf. West Cornwall Golf Club at Lelant is another fine example of traditional links golf in a dramatic coastal setting.

Devon offers Royal North Devon at Westward Ho! — the oldest English links still in use, founded in 1864 — alongside a wealth of scenic inland parkland venues. Our guide to golf in Cornwall goes deeper on the south-west’s best options.

Open Championship Venues

England hosts a significant portion of the Open Championship rota — the oldest major in golf, contested annually at links courses around the British Isles. English venues on the current or recent rota include Royal St George’s (Sandwich), Royal Birkdale (Southport), Royal Lytham & St Annes, Royal Liverpool (Hoylake), and Royal Troon’s English equivalent, Muirfield, though the latter is in Scotland.

Playing a round at an Open Championship venue is a bucket-list experience for many golfers, and the majority of English Open venues do offer visitor tee times, though availability and pricing vary considerably.

Municipal and Pay-and-Play Golf in England

England has an extensive network of municipal and pay-and-play courses that make golf accessible to players at all levels and budgets. Local authority courses in major cities — from London’s Richmond Park to Leeds’ Temple Newsam — offer green fees well below the private club norm and generally require no membership or advance booking commitment.

Municipal golf in England is a genuine tradition, and many of these courses are of surprisingly high quality. They are ideal for beginners or casual players who want to enjoy the game without the commitment of club membership or the cost of premium green fees.

Green Fees Across England

England has wide variation in green fee levels depending on region, course quality, and day of the week. As a rough guide:

Municipal and public courses: £15 to £35 for eighteen holes
Mid-range private clubs (visitor access): £35 to £70
Top-tier heathland and parkland clubs: £80 to £200
Premier heathland (Sunningdale, Walton Heath): £150 to £250+
Open Championship venues: £100 to £350+ depending on venue and season

Prices are typically lower on weekdays than at weekends, and many clubs offer twilight rates in the summer months that represent good value for an afternoon round.

Finding the Right Course for You

England’s size and diversity means there is a course for every type of golfer, at every budget level and ability. Whether you are a beginner looking for a relaxed introduction to the game, an established player hunting a bucket-list links experience, or someone planning a full golf break, the English golf landscape has something that fits.

Use our course search and categories section to filter by region, course type, and green fee level. Explore all England courses here.

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