How many golf courses are in the UK?
The R&A counted 3,101 golf courses in the UK at the end of 2020. However, GeoGolf Course currently lists 1,300 (listed on GeoGolf, checked 11 October 2026).
UK golf courses by nation
The middle column is an external figure from The R&A, Golf Around the World 2021 (year-end 2020). The last column counts the courses listed on GeoGolf Course, because we read it live from our database.
| Nation | R&A count (external, year-end 2020) | Listed on GeoGolf (live count) |
|---|---|---|
| England | 2,213 | 690 |
| Scotland | 594 | 429 |
| Wales | 181 | 96 |
| Northern Ireland | 113 | 77 |
| Isle of Wight | Not used | 8 |
| UK total | 3,101 | 1,300 |
The R&A total is the sum of its four nation figures. Listed on GeoGolf, checked 11 October 2026. GeoGolf also lists 10 courses in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. However, they are Crown Dependencies, outside the UK, so the UK row leaves them out.
Why the R&A total and our list differ
The R&A counted facilities across the whole UK at the end of 2020, using National Golf Foundation data. Meanwhile, GeoGolf Course counts the courses in its own directory today.
Our directory includes a course only when we can confirm that it is trading. It is therefore smaller than a national count, and it is still growing. However, the numbers come from different years and different methods. Treat them as two separate answers rather than subtracting one from the other.
England has the biggest share on both counts. Its 2,213 courses make up about 71% of the R&A’s UK total, while Scotland’s 594 make up about 19%.
UK listed courses by number of holes
We show a hole count only when we have confirmed it from the club’s own website. As a result, 817 of the 1,300 courses listed in the UK have no hole count yet, although they still count in the total.
| Holes | Courses listed on GeoGolf |
|---|---|
| 18 holes | 415 |
| 9 holes | 54 |
| 12 holes | 2 |
| 27 holes | 12 |
| Hole count not yet confirmed | 817 |
Explore the numbers
- How many golf courses are in England?
- How many golf courses are in Scotland?
- How many golf courses are in Wales?
- How many golf courses are in Northern Ireland?
- How many 9-hole golf courses are in the UK?
- How many golf courses are in each UK county?
- How many UK golf courses have closed?
- Read our article on how many golf courses there are in the UK, with the club-versus-course caveat.
- Browse every listed course by region
- Golf courses near London, near Glasgow and near Cardiff
Method and sources
- External figure. The R&A counts come from The R&A, Golf Around the World 2021 (year-end 2020), which uses National Golf Foundation facility data at the end of 2020. We replace the figures when the R&A publishes a newer nation-by-nation count.
- Listed on GeoGolf. These are live counts from the GeoGolf database, read when the page loads and dated 11 October 2026. A course is counted only if it is approved, released and not recorded as closed. A fact that failed our checks is hidden and never counted.
- Hole counts. A course has a hole count only when we have confirmed it from the club’s own website. A missing hole count is shown as not yet confirmed.
- Two kinds of number, never mixed. External figures and listed counts come from different years and methods, so we label each and do not add or subtract them.
- Open data. Download the listed courses as CSV or JSON. Data licence: attribution required, free to use (research, apps, AI training/citation). Attribute as "GeoGolf Course (https://geogolfcourse.co.uk)" and link back to the source page when practical.
Golf courses in the UK: common questions
How many golf courses are in the UK?
The R&A counted 3,101 golf courses in the UK at the end of 2020. However, GeoGolf Course currently lists 1,300 (listed on GeoGolf, checked 11 October 2026).
Which UK nation has the most golf courses?
England has the most. The R&A counted 2,213 golf courses in England at the end of 2020, about 71% of its UK total. Meanwhile, England also has the most courses on GeoGolf, with 690 (listed on GeoGolf, checked 11 October 2026).
How many golf courses does GeoGolf list in the UK?
GeoGolf Course lists 1,300 golf courses in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Wight (listed on GeoGolf, checked 11 October 2026). It also lists 10 in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. However, those islands sit outside the UK, so they stay out of the UK figure.
Why is the UK total from 2020?
The R&A's Golf Around the World 2021 is the latest edition with a UK course count that we could verify. Its facility data run to the end of 2020, so the figure carries that year. We will switch to a newer count as soon as the R&A publishes one, since this page exists to show the latest figure.
Does the UK golf course total include Ireland?
No. The R&A figure covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. However, the Republic of Ireland sits outside it.