England Golf Courses — The Complete Guide

England is one of the great golfing nations. The R&A counted 2,213 golf courses in England at the end of 2020, more than the rest of the UK combined. The range of terrain is just as striking. For example, you can play links on the Lancashire coast, heathland in Surrey, parkland in the Midlands and moorland in Yorkshire.

This guide gives an overview of the main regions, the types of course you will find and the venues that shaped the game. It is a starting point, so each section links to a more detailed guide. You can also browse every course we list in England by county.

The scale of English golf

Golf spread quickly across England in the late Victorian era. By the early twentieth century, most large towns had at least one club. Today, courses run from Cornwall to Northumberland and from Norfolk to Cumbria.

Variety is England’s great strength. While Scotland is best known for links, England offers every style. That includes championship links, heathland, parkland, downland, moorland and many council courses. Our guide to how many golf courses there are in the UK explains how the totals are counted. If you want low-cost golf, see our pay and play guide and our guide to municipal golf courses.

London and the south-east

The area within reach of London holds a famous cluster of courses. In particular, the sandy soils of Surrey and Berkshire are ideal for golf. They drain fast, so the turf stays firm after rain, while heather, pine and birch frame the holes.

Our guide to golf courses in Surrey covers that heathland belt in detail. Sunningdale, Walton Heath and Wentworth are the best-known names. For golfers based in the capital, our page on golf courses near London covers every price point.

Kent and Essex add plenty more. Our Kent golf guide covers the Sandwich links and the Weald’s parkland. Meanwhile, our Essex golf guide covers the county’s parkland clubs north-east of London. To the south-west, our Hampshire golf guide covers heath, downland and Solent courses. Around the Thames Valley and the commuter belt, the directory lists golf courses near Reading and golf courses near Milton Keynes. On the Kent side, see golf courses near Canterbury, and on the south coast, golf courses near Bournemouth.

England’s Open Championship links

England has fewer links than Scotland, yet it has some of the most famous. Four English courses are on today’s Open rota.

Royal St George’s, Sandwich

Royal St George’s sits among the dunes of Sandwich Bay in Kent. It has hosted the Open 15 times, most recently in 2021. The course is tough and traditional, and visitor tee times are in high demand.

Royal Birkdale, Southport

Royal Birkdale threads between tall sand dunes on the Sefton coast. It has hosted the Open 11 times, from 1954 to 2026. The dunes frame each fairway, so many players call it a fair test.

Royal Lytham & St Annes

Lytham is an unusual links, since houses and a railway surround it rather than open dunes. Even so, it plays like a true seaside course. It has hosted the Open 11 times, most recently in 2012.

Royal Liverpool, Hoylake

Hoylake sits on the Wirral and looks flat. However, its out-of-bounds lines and subtle greens make it very strategic. It has hosted 13 Opens, most recently in 2023.

Our guide to championship golf courses explains how to book each of these venues.

The Midlands

The Midlands is parkland country. Tree-lined clubs surround most towns, and many welcome visitors. The Belfry, near Sutton Coldfield, hosted the Ryder Cup four times, more than any other venue.

Our page on golf courses near Birmingham is a good start for the region, with holes and contact details. Close by, the directory also lists golf courses near Wolverhampton, golf courses near Coventry and golf courses near Stoke-on-Trent. Further east, see golf courses near Lincoln and golf courses near Peterborough.

The north-west

The north-west has England’s richest links coast, from the Wirral to Southport and Lytham. Inland, Greater Manchester has plenty of parkland and moorland golf. Our page on golf courses near Manchester covers the area. For the Lancashire side, the directory lists golf courses near Preston.

Yorkshire and the north-east

Yorkshire is England’s largest county, so its golf is varied. Around Leeds, Alwoodley and Moortown are Alister MacKenzie designs. Moortown hosted the 1929 Ryder Cup, the first played in Great Britain. Further east, Ganton hosted the 1949 Ryder Cup. Our Yorkshire golf guide covers the county, and the directory lists golf courses near York. For the east and west of the county, see golf courses near Hull and golf courses near Bradford. For Teesside, see golf courses near Middlesbrough.

Further north, Northumberland has quiet links along a castle-lined coast. Our page on golf courses near Newcastle covers that region.

The south-west

The south-west mixes clifftop golf, true links and moorland. Royal North Devon, at Westward Ho!, was founded in 1864, which makes it the oldest course in England. Saunton sits beside the largest sand dune system in England. In Cornwall, St Enodoc and Trevose are the big names. Inland, the directory lists golf courses near Bath, golf courses near Swindon, golf courses near Cheltenham and golf courses near Gloucester.

Our guides to golf courses in Devon and golf courses in Cornwall cover both counties in depth.

East Anglia

Norfolk’s coast has fine links, such as Royal West Norfolk at Brancaster, which opened in 1892. At high tide, parts of it can be cut off by the sea. Inland, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire have heathland and parkland clubs. Our guide to coastal golf covers the Norfolk links. For Suffolk, the directory lists golf courses near Ipswich.

Types of course in England

England has every main type of course. In short:

• Links on the coast, with firm turf and wind
• Heathland on sandy inland soil, especially in Surrey and Berkshire
• Parkland on old estates, with trees and softer turf
• Moorland on high open ground in the north
• Downland on the chalk hills of the south

Our guide to golf course types explains each in more depth.

Planning golf in England

Most English clubs take visitors, although many set days or ask for a handicap. Our guide to golf courses open to visitors explains what to expect. If you are new to golf, start with our guide to golf courses for beginners.

For a trip with friends, our UK golf breaks guide helps you plan travel and tee times. Wherever you start, England has a course to suit your game.

For golfers looking at a second-hand electric trolley, we have a buying guide.