40 best golf courses in the UK for an unforgettable round

The United Kingdom contains one of the world’s greatest concentrations of historic and architecturally important golf courses. Ancient links, Open Championship venues, Surrey heathlands, rugged Welsh layouts and dune-lined courses in Northern Ireland all offer very different interpretations of the game.

The most famous names are not always the easiest to play. Some clubs welcome visitors throughout the season, while others restrict outside tee times to certain days, require recognised handicaps or operate ballots and advance application systems. Green fees also vary significantly between championship venues and less commercial clubs.

This guide brings together 40 of the best golf courses in the UK. It is not intended as a definitive ranking. Instead, it highlights courses that stand out for their design, setting, history, challenge and overall golfing experience across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Best golf courses to play in Scotland

1. Play the Old Course at St Andrews

Website

Operating hours:

• Tee times operate seasonally
• Access is available through advance booking, daily ballot and selected packages
• The course is traditionally closed on most Sundays

Price: ££££

The Old Course is the most historically significant golf course in the world and remains the defining experience for many visiting golfers.

Its famous features include the Swilcan Bridge, Hell Bunker, the Road Hole and enormous double greens. Yet the course’s real character comes from its width, angles and the freedom to choose different routes depending on wind and pin position.

Playing it requires planning, flexibility and a valid handicap. A guaranteed tee time can be difficult to secure, but the daily ballot gives independent golfers another route onto the course.

Pro tip:

Stay in St Andrews for several nights and enter the ballot on multiple days rather than building an entire trip around one attempt.

2. Experience the Ailsa Course at Turnberry

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available by advance reservation
• Seasonal maintenance and tournament closures may apply
• Practice and resort facilities use separate schedules

Price: ££££

The Ailsa Course combines championship history with one of the most dramatic coastal settings in British golf.

The route moves across exposed linksland beneath the Turnberry lighthouse, with views towards Ailsa Craig and the Isle of Arran. Its coastal holes are the visual highlight, but the full course demands accurate driving, controlled approaches and a strong response to changing wind.

Modern redesign work has strengthened the sea-facing stretch and created a more memorable sequence around the lighthouse.

Pro tip:

Choose a tee time that leaves daylight for photographs and avoid judging the weather solely from conditions inland.

3. Take on Carnoustie Championship Course

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times operate throughout much of the year
• Advance booking is strongly recommended
• Course access may change around championships and maintenance

Price: ££££

Carnoustie is one of the most demanding and respected championship links courses in the UK.

The course is relatively flat and visually understated compared with some coastal rivals, but its bunkering, burns and strategic demands punish weak decisions. The closing stretch, including the difficult 16th, 17th and 18th holes, has shaped some of golf’s most memorable championship finishes.

It is a fairer course than its intimidating reputation suggests, provided players accept the wind and choose conservative targets.

Pro tip:

Play from a suitable set of tees. The course is much more enjoyable when distance does not turn every approach into a survival exercise.

4. Play Muirfield

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor golf is normally available on selected weekdays
• Advance application and handicap evidence are required
• Lunch and second-round arrangements may be offered on specific days

Price: ££££

Muirfield is regarded as one of the purest and most balanced tests of links golf.

Its two loops move in opposite directions, ensuring that the wind changes character throughout the round. Fairways are clearly defined, bunkers are exacting and the greens demand precise placement rather than simple power.

The course has hosted numerous Open Championships and is admired for rewarding controlled, thoughtful golf. Visitor access is more formal than at many resort venues, but the traditional full-day experience is part of its appeal.

Pro tip:

Read the visitor requirements carefully and allow time for the club’s traditional lunch and pace of play.

5. Walk the fairways of Royal Dornoch

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available seasonally
• Advance booking is recommended well before summer
• Handicap restrictions may apply

Price: ££££

Royal Dornoch’s Championship Course is one of Scotland’s most admired links despite never hosting The Open.

Raised, plateau-like greens, natural contours and subtle strategic choices define the layout. The course runs beside the Dornoch Firth with long coastal views, but it is the quality of the approach shots and short-game challenge that golfers tend to remember.

Its remote Highland location makes it a destination rather than a convenient addition to a city trip.

Pro tip:

Build Royal Dornoch into a wider Highland itinerary with nearby courses rather than attempting it as a rushed day trip.

6. Play North Berwick West Links

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are offered on selected days
• Advance reservation and handicap evidence may be required
• Seasonal restrictions apply

Price: ££££

North Berwick’s West Links is one of the most inventive and influential courses in golf.

Stone walls, beaches, ridges, deep bunkers and unusual green shapes create holes that have inspired architects around the world. The Redan is the best-known example, but the course contains far more than one famous template.

The routing passes close to the town and shoreline, giving the round a strong sense of place that polished resort courses often lack.

Pro tip:

Accept the unusual bounces and blind features rather than trying to force conventional target golf onto the course.

7. Visit Kingsbarns Golf Links

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times operate during the main season
• Advance reservation is strongly recommended
• The course may close outside its principal operating season

Price: ££££

Kingsbarns is a modern links course that feels convincingly connected to the ancient golfing landscape around St Andrews.

Several holes run directly beside the North Sea, with broad views, strong elevation changes and carefully shaped green complexes. The course is designed as a premium visitor experience, with attentive service and fewer access barriers than many historic private clubs.

Its polished presentation is different from the rougher charm of an old links, but the coastal routing is genuinely exceptional.

Pro tip:

Pair Kingsbarns with one historic links course to experience two very different approaches to Scottish golf.

8. Play the Championship Course at Cabot Highlands

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available by advance booking
• Seasonal opening and maintenance periods apply
• Accommodation packages may include preferred access

Price: ££££

The Championship Course at Cabot Highlands, formerly known as Castle Stuart, is one of Scotland’s leading modern designs.

It occupies elevated ground beside the Moray Firth, with wide fairways, exposed greens and views towards the Black Isle and surrounding mountains. The design encourages bold angles and recovery options rather than relying only on narrow corridors and heavy rough.

Its proximity to Inverness makes it one of the easiest world-class Highland courses to include in a short trip.

Pro tip:

Allow for strong wind on the exposed holes and avoid assuming the generous-looking fairways make the course easy.

9. Play Cruden Bay

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available on selected days
• Advance booking and handicap evidence may be required
• Winter arrangements differ from the main season

Price: £££

Cruden Bay is a dramatic, eccentric links course shaped by towering dunes and natural ground movement.

Blind shots, elevated tees and hidden greens create a sense of discovery that is increasingly rare in modern golf. The course is not always visually logical from the tee, but that uncertainty is central to its charm.

Its strongest holes feel inseparable from the dune landscape rather than imposed upon it.

Pro tip:

Use a course guide or caddie for the first round, particularly on holes where the ideal line is not visible from the tee.

10. Experience Royal Aberdeen’s Balgownie Links

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor golf is available on selected days and times
• Advance booking and handicap evidence are normally required
• Competition days can restrict availability

Price: ££££

Royal Aberdeen is one of Scotland’s oldest clubs and its Balgownie Links provides a stern traditional test.

The outward nine runs through substantial dunes close to the North Sea before the course turns inland. The opening stretch is especially memorable, combining narrow landing areas, elevation changes and exposed coastal conditions.

It has hosted major amateur and professional events while retaining the atmosphere of a historic members’ club.

Pro tip:

Start conservatively. The outward nine can damage a scorecard quickly when the wind is against you.

11. Play Prestwick Golf Club

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available on selected days
• Advance booking and handicap evidence are required
• Traditional lunch and full-day packages may be offered

Price: ££££

Prestwick was the birthplace of The Open Championship and remains one of the most historically important courses in golf.

Its railway boundary, blind shots, deep bunkers and unusual routing reveal how different early links golf was from the modern championship model. Some holes can appear eccentric, but the course rewards imagination and an appreciation of history.

The round is best understood as an experience rather than a test of perfectly standardised architecture.

Pro tip:

Read about the course before playing so the unusual features feel meaningful rather than simply confusing.

12. Discover Machrihanish Golf Club

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are generally available
• Advance reservation is advisable during summer
• Travel times to Kintyre require careful planning

Price: £££

Machrihanish is best known for a spectacular opening tee shot played across a corner of the beach.

The rest of the course is equally compelling, with natural dunes, firm turf and a sense of isolation on the Kintyre Peninsula. It feels less commercial than many headline Scottish venues and provides a more intimate traditional links experience.

The journey is long, but that remoteness is central to the course’s character.

Pro tip:

Stay on Kintyre and combine the course with Machrihanish Dunes rather than driving in and out on the same day.

13. Play Gullane No. 1

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available on selected days
• Advance booking and handicap restrictions may apply
• Three courses operate from the club

Price: £££

Gullane No. 1 climbs over Gullane Hill and provides some of the finest panoramic views in East Lothian.

The firm links turf, strong bunkering and constant wind changes create a course that is strategically demanding without feeling excessively punishing. Its elevated position gives views across the Firth of Forth and towards neighbouring golf country.

The club’s three-course setup also makes Gullane useful for groups seeking more than one round.

Pro tip:

Do not rush the climb. The elevated holes are exposed, and controlling trajectory matters more than chasing distance.

14. Explore Machrihanish Dunes

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available during the principal season
• Advance booking is recommended
• Walking conditions can be physically demanding

Price: £££

Machrihanish Dunes is a modern course built through a protected natural dune landscape.

The routing follows existing contours with minimal reshaping, producing irregular stances, blind approaches and a wild character very different from a manicured resort layout. The course rewards creativity and patience, particularly when coastal wind exaggerates every slope.

It is visually striking but physically demanding, with significant walks between some greens and tees.

Pro tip:

Use a trolley or caddie where available and choose tees that allow you to enjoy the terrain rather than battle it.

Best golf courses to play in England

15. Play Royal Birkdale

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor golf is available on selected days
• Advance booking and handicap evidence are required
• Availability changes around major events

Price: ££££

Royal Birkdale is one of England’s most celebrated Open Championship venues.

Fairways run through large dunes that provide definition, shelter and excellent spectator viewpoints. Unlike some links where blind shots dominate, much of the challenge is visible from the tee, making the course demanding but understandable.

Its bunkering, wind and firm greens create a complete championship test without sacrificing visual character.

Pro tip:

Choose a calm scoring strategy from the beginning. Birkdale rewards position far more reliably than aggressive recovery attempts.

16. Experience Sunningdale Old Course

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor golf is offered on selected weekdays
• Advance reservations and handicap evidence are required
• Access may include 18-hole or 36-hole arrangements

Price: ££££

Sunningdale Old is one of Britain’s most admired heathland courses.

Heather, pine, sandy ground and elegant green complexes create a landscape that feels both natural and carefully composed. The course is playable in many conditions and rewards thoughtful placement rather than simple length.

Together with the New Course, it forms one of the strongest 36-hole venues in inland golf.

Pro tip:

Consider a 36-hole day only if your fitness and pace allow time to appreciate both courses properly.

17. Play Sunningdale New Course

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor golf is available on selected weekdays
• Advance booking and handicap evidence are required
• Access is subject to club competitions and maintenance

Price: ££££

Sunningdale New is generally considered the sterner and more rugged companion to the Old Course.

Harry Colt’s design uses stronger elevation changes, sharper bunkering and demanding approaches through heathland terrain. The course feels more severe from the tee, but its strategic options become clearer with experience.

Debate over which Sunningdale course is better is part of the appeal; they are distinct enough to justify playing both.

Pro tip:

Do not assume the New is simply a longer version of the Old. It demands a more disciplined approach from the tee.

18. Play Royal St George’s

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available on selected weekdays
• Advance booking and handicap evidence are required
• Championship preparations can affect access

Price: ££££

Royal St George’s is one of England’s most historic and demanding links courses.

The fairways move through high dunes with awkward slopes, deep bunkers and uneven lies. Its character can feel severe, especially in strong wind, but the course rewards players who accept uncertainty and control their ball flight.

The venue has hosted The Open repeatedly and remains a defining example of championship golf on the Kent coast.

Pro tip:

Keep the ball below the wind and aim for broad sections of fairway rather than attacking every ideal angle.

19. Play Royal Lytham & St Annes

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor golf is available on selected days
• Advance booking and handicap evidence are required
• Club and championship events restrict some dates

Price: ££££

Royal Lytham is unusual among major links because it now sits inland from the sea and is bordered by railway lines and housing.

Its identity comes from exceptionally strong bunkering, compact strategic holes and constant pressure on approach shots. The course does not rely on dramatic ocean views; its reputation rests on the quality and severity of the golf.

It has produced some of The Open’s most memorable finishes.

Pro tip:

Study bunker positions before choosing clubs. Avoiding the wrong side of the fairway matters more than hitting maximum distance.

20. Experience Royal Liverpool at Hoylake

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available on selected days
• Advance booking and handicap evidence are required
• Major events and maintenance may restrict play

Price: ££££

Royal Liverpool appears relatively flat and open, but its strategic difficulty becomes clearer during the round.

Internal out-of-bounds areas, subtle fairway shapes and exposed wind place a premium on disciplined driving. The course has hosted many Open Championships and rewards players who can control trajectory and resist unnecessary risk.

Its understated appearance can lead first-time visitors to underestimate the challenge.

Pro tip:

Treat the internal boundaries with respect and choose conservative lines when the wind increases.

21. Play Woodhall Spa Hotchkin Course

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available by advance reservation
• Seasonal packages may include both club courses
• Handicap evidence may be requested

Price: £££

The Hotchkin Course is one of England’s most distinctive inland layouts.

Heather, pine and exceptionally deep bunkers create a severe but memorable challenge on sandy Lincolnshire ground. The course rewards accurate placement and disciplined recovery decisions, particularly when a missed green leaves a difficult bunker shot.

Woodhall Spa’s quieter setting makes it feel like a genuine golf destination rather than a course added to a wider city trip.

Pro tip:

Take more club away from deep bunker faces and accept that sideways recovery is sometimes the correct decision.

22. Play Walton Heath Old Course

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor golf is available on selected days
• Advance booking and handicap evidence may be required
• Tournament and member schedules affect access

Price: ££££

Walton Heath Old is a broad, strategic heathland course shaped by heather, wind and carefully positioned bunkers.

Its open appearance differs from the tree-lined image many golfers associate with Surrey, and the course can feel almost links-like in firm conditions. Strong players are challenged by angles and hazards rather than narrow corridors alone.

The club has significant championship history and hosted the 2023 AIG Women’s Open.

Pro tip:

Use the width intelligently. The safest side of a fairway does not always provide the easiest approach.

23. Play Ganton Golf Club

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available on selected days
• Advance booking and handicap evidence are normally required
• Competition dates may restrict access

Price: £££

Ganton is one of England’s great inland championship courses.

The sandy ground, firm turf, gorse and extensive bunkering create a layout that combines links characteristics with heathland strategy. It has hosted the Ryder Cup, Walker Cup and Curtis Cup, a rare distinction that reflects the quality of the test.

The course is less visually glamorous than some coastal venues, but its architecture becomes increasingly impressive during play.

Pro tip:

Prioritise position over distance. Ganton’s hazards are designed to punish the wrong angle rather than only poor contact.

24. Play St Enodoc Church Course

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available seasonally
• Advance booking is strongly recommended
• Handicap restrictions may apply

Price: £££

St Enodoc’s Church Course combines spectacular views with one of England’s most characterful links layouts.

The course overlooks the Camel Estuary and includes the enormous Himalaya bunker, undulating fairways and the historic church that gives the course its name. Its routing is playful and scenic without losing strategic substance.

Cornwall’s seasonal traffic makes the journey part of the planning challenge.

Pro tip:

Stay nearby and book an early tee time to avoid combining peak traffic with a long, pressured round.

25. Play Saunton East Course

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available on selected days
• Advance booking and handicap evidence may be required
• Two courses operate from the club

Price: £££

Saunton East is one of England’s strongest links courses outside the Open rota.

The layout runs through substantial dunes beside Braunton Burrows, with firm turf, clearly defined holes and a demanding closing stretch. It provides a championship-standard test in a less formal setting than several internationally famous clubs.

The neighbouring West Course makes Saunton an excellent 36-hole destination.

Pro tip:

Allow time for both courses over two days rather than forcing 36 holes into difficult coastal weather.

26. Experience Swinley Forest

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor access is limited and generally requires prior arrangement
• Club policies may restrict outside play
• Handicap and introduction requirements can apply

Price: ££££

Swinley Forest is a compact heathland course admired for the quality of its architecture rather than championship length.

Harry Colt used elevation, heather, bunkering and subtle green sites to create a course that feels complete without excessive distance. It is often described as one of England’s most enjoyable rounds, but access is more restricted than at commercial visitor venues.

The understated clubhouse and private atmosphere are part of its traditional identity.

Pro tip:

Confirm access arrangements well in advance and do not plan a trip around assumed visitor availability.

27. Play Burnham & Berrow Championship Course

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available on selected days
• Advance booking and handicap evidence may be required
• Weather can affect winter conditions

Price: £££

Burnham & Berrow is a rugged championship links on the Somerset coast.

Tall dunes, firm surfaces and exposed wind create a demanding course with a strong traditional character. The routing offers fewer sea views than some famous links, but its architecture and natural terrain make it one of England’s most respected golfing tests.

It is particularly rewarding for players who appreciate strategic golf rather than resort presentation.

Pro tip:

Expect uneven lies and shifting wind. A low, controlled ball flight is more useful than chasing perfect yardages.

28. Play Hillside Golf Club

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available on selected days
• Advance booking is recommended
• Competition schedules can restrict access

Price: £££

Hillside sits beside Royal Birkdale and contains one of the strongest back nines in English golf.

The course begins on flatter linksland before moving into larger dunes, where elevated tees and dramatic green sites transform the character of the round. It has hosted significant professional and amateur events and is often included in Southport golf itineraries.

Its location makes it easy to combine with several other elite links courses.

Pro tip:

Save energy and concentration for the second nine, where the terrain and shot demands become considerably stronger.

Best golf courses to play in Wales

29. Play Royal Porthcawl

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available on selected days
• Advance booking and handicap evidence are required
• Major championship dates may restrict access

Price: ££££

Royal Porthcawl is widely regarded as the leading golf course in Wales.

The course occupies open coastal ground with views across the Bristol Channel, and almost every hole is exposed to the wind. There are few protective dunes, so the challenge comes from angles, firm turf and the need to control flight across open terrain.

It has hosted major amateur and senior championships and provides a complete links test from beginning to end.

Pro tip:

Check the wind forecast and choose tees that keep approach shots realistic throughout the round.

30. Play Royal St David’s

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available throughout much of the year
• Advance booking is recommended
• Competition days can limit access

Price: £££

Royal St David’s sits beneath Harlech Castle between dunes and the mountains of Eryri.

The course is not exceptionally long, but narrow fairways, strong bunkering and small targets create a serious challenge. Its setting is among the most distinctive in British golf, combining medieval history, coast and mountain scenery.

The final holes are especially demanding when the prevailing wind strengthens.

Pro tip:

Combine the round with Harlech Castle, but leave enough time to enjoy both without rushing.

31. Play Pennard Golf Club

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available by reservation
• Seasonal competitions may restrict access
• The course is exposed to coastal weather

Price: £££

Pennard is often described as a links in the sky because it occupies elevated common land above the Gower coast.

The course passes ruins, grazing land and limestone terrain with views towards Three Cliffs Bay. Its bounces can be unpredictable and the ground is less conventionally manicured than a resort course, but that individuality is central to the experience.

Pennard feels inseparable from the wider landscape.

Pro tip:

Accept the natural lies and shared common-land character rather than expecting perfectly uniform conditions.

32. Play Aberdovey Golf Club

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are generally available
• Advance reservation is recommended
• Rail access is available close to the club

Price: £££

Aberdovey is a traditional links course set between dunes, railway and the Dyfi estuary.

Its relatively flat routing allows the natural ground, bunkering and coastal wind to determine the challenge. The course has strong historical connections with early golf architecture and retains an unpretentious, authentic atmosphere.

The village setting and direct rail access make it particularly attractive for a slower Welsh golf trip.

Pro tip:

Travel by train where practical and allow time to explore Aberdyfi after the round.

33. Play Nefyn Golf Club

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available seasonally
• Advance booking is recommended
• Clifftop conditions can change quickly

Price: £££

Nefyn offers one of the most spectacular coastal golf experiences in the UK.

The course occupies a headland on the Llŷn Peninsula, with several holes running above beaches and the Irish Sea. Its famous peninsula section provides extraordinary views, although the complete layout should be appreciated for more than photographs alone.

Wind, cliffs and exposed ground make club selection difficult even in apparently calm weather.

Pro tip:

Keep a safe distance from cliff edges and treat the peninsula holes strategically rather than chasing heroic carries.

34. Play the Twenty Ten Course at Celtic Manor

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times and golf packages are available
• Advance booking is recommended
• Course maintenance and corporate events may affect access

Price: ££££

The Twenty Ten Course was created specifically to host the 2010 Ryder Cup.

Unlike Wales’s traditional links courses, it is a modern parkland layout with significant water hazards, large greens and tournament-scale infrastructure. The closing holes are designed for match-play drama and remain closely associated with Europe’s famous Ryder Cup victory.

It provides a polished resort experience rather than a rugged historic one.

Pro tip:

Use the appropriate tees and avoid attacking water-guarded pins simply because the course is associated with professional match play.

Best golf courses to play in Northern Ireland

35. Play Royal County Down Championship Course

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available on selected days
• Advance booking and handicap evidence are required
• Access is limited around championships and member events

Price: ££££

Royal County Down is frequently placed among the finest golf courses in the world.

The course runs through enormous dunes beneath the Mourne Mountains, with narrow fairways, heather, blind drives and small greens. Its visual drama is matched by strategic difficulty, particularly when the wind moves across the bay.

The Championship Course is demanding and can overwhelm players who attack constantly, but the experience remains memorable regardless of score.

Pro tip:

Use a caddie where possible. Several ideal lines are difficult to identify from the tee on a first visit.

36. Play Royal Portrush Dunluce Links

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available on selected days
• Advance booking and handicap evidence are required
• Open Championship preparations can restrict availability

Price: ££££

Royal Portrush’s Dunluce Links is one of the great championship courses of the Causeway Coast.

The routing moves through deep dunes with views towards the Atlantic, the Skerries and the ruins of Dunluce Castle. The modern seventh and eighth holes strengthened the course before The Open returned in 2019.

It offers a demanding but visually coherent test, with fewer extreme blind shots than some historic links.

Pro tip:

Book accommodation early when planning a summer round, as Portrush becomes extremely busy during major events and holidays.

37. Play Portstewart Strand Course

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available by advance reservation
• Competition and event schedules affect access
• Seasonal restrictions may apply

Price: £££

Portstewart’s Strand Course begins with one of the most dramatic stretches in Irish golf.

The opening holes run through towering dunes above the River Bann and Atlantic coast before the course moves onto more open ground. The contrast gives the round two distinct personalities.

Portstewart is often combined with Royal Portrush, but it deserves attention as a major course in its own right.

Pro tip:

Do not spend all your concentration on the spectacular opening holes; the flatter inward section still demands disciplined golf.

38. Play Ardglass Golf Club

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are generally available
• Advance booking is recommended
• Coastal weather can alter playing conditions quickly

Price: £££

Ardglass provides a dramatic clifftop links experience around a historic coastal village.

Several opening holes play immediately beside rocky inlets and the Irish Sea, creating a thrilling start. The course then moves through more traditional linksland before returning towards the clubhouse, parts of which are incorporated into a medieval castle.

Its character is less polished than a major resort, but far more distinctive than many expensive modern courses.

Pro tip:

Keep the ball in play during the exposed opening stretch and take time to explore the historic clubhouse.

39. Play Castlerock Mussenden Course

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available by reservation
• Competition dates may restrict access
• Rail service connects the village with nearby towns

Price: £££

Castlerock’s Mussenden Course is a traditional links between dunes, railway and the River Bann.

The course is less internationally famous than Royal Portrush or Royal County Down, but its firm turf, natural contours and strong par threes create an excellent round. It is a valuable addition to a Causeway Coast itinerary and often provides a quieter atmosphere.

The nearby Mussenden Temple and coast add further interest to the journey.

Pro tip:

Include Castlerock as a full part of the trip rather than treating it only as a backup tee time.

40. Play Malone Golf Club

Website

Operating hours:

• Visitor tee times are available on selected days
• Advance booking is recommended
• Club competitions may affect availability

Price: £££

Malone is one of Northern Ireland’s leading parkland clubs and offers a valuable contrast to the region’s famous links.

The course occupies mature estate grounds around Ballydrain Lake, with tree-lined holes, water hazards and a historic clubhouse setting. Its 27-hole layout allows different combinations and makes the club suitable for groups or repeat play.

The Belfast location also makes it easier to include in a short city-based visit.

Pro tip:

Use Malone as a contrasting inland round between coastal links days, particularly when the wind forecast is severe.

How to plan a golf trip around the UK

The best UK golf trips are organised by region rather than by attempting to combine famous names from opposite ends of the country. St Andrews and East Lothian, Ayrshire, the Highlands, England’s north-west coast, the Surrey and Berkshire heathlands, South Wales and Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast all contain several strong courses within a manageable area.

Begin by checking visitor access rather than assuming every course operates like a public resort. Prestigious members’ clubs may accept visitors only on particular weekdays, request an official handicap certificate or require full payment well in advance. Policies, dress codes and cancellation terms should be confirmed directly with the club before booking travel.

Green fees at headline venues can be substantial. A stronger itinerary often combines one or two internationally famous courses with excellent neighbouring clubs that offer a more relaxed atmosphere and lower visitor rates. Playing only the most expensive names does not necessarily produce the most enjoyable trip.

Weather is part of British golf, particularly on exposed links. Pack waterproof clothing, layers, a warm hat and more gloves than you expect to need. Strong wind can make a course play dramatically longer, so choose tees based on the conditions rather than pride.

Travel distances can also be deceptive. Rural Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish roads are slower than major motorways, while summer traffic around Cornwall, Fife and coastal resorts can add significant time. Avoid scheduling a long drive immediately before a premium tee time.

Caddies are especially valuable on courses with blind shots, hidden hazards or unfamiliar lines. Royal County Down, North Berwick, Cruden Bay and the Old Course all become easier to understand with local guidance, although availability should be reserved early.

The most memorable golf trips leave room for the places surrounding the courses. Walk through St Andrews, visit Harlech Castle, explore the Causeway Coast or spend an evening in North Berwick rather than driving directly from clubhouse to clubhouse. The landscape, history and local communities are part of what makes golf in the UK distinctive.

Related guides

Things to Do

25 best whisky distilleries in the UK to visit

Discover 25 of the best whisky distilleries in the UK to visit, from historic Scotch whisky icons and island producers to leading distilleries in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Updated 28 June 2026

Things to Do

20 best food festivals in the UK

Discover 20 of the best food festivals in the UK, from major city showcases and chef demonstrations to regional celebrations of seafood, cider, cheese and local produce.

Updated 23 June 2026

Things to Do

20 best historic houses in the UK to visit

Explore 20 of the best historic houses in the UK, from grand Baroque palaces and Elizabethan halls to royal retreats and richly furnished country estates.

Updated 22 June 2026

Things to Do

20 best Roman sites in the UK to visit

Explore 20 of the best Roman sites in the UK, from Hadrian's Wall and the baths of Aquae Sulis to villas, legionary fortresses, frontier forts and buried cities.

Updated 17 June 2026

Things to Do

25 best UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the UK

Explore 25 of the best UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the UK, from Stonehenge and Edinburgh to the Giant's Causeway, Hadrian's Wall and the Flow Country.

Updated 14 June 2026

Things to Do

20 best afternoon teas in the UK

Discover 20 of the best afternoon teas in the UK, from grand London hotels and historic tearooms to elegant country estates and regional favourites.

Updated 11 June 2026