ENGLAND

Thorpeness may be best known for its artificial Meare boating lake inspired by Peter Pan, but the Suffolk coastal town’s lush 18-hole championship golf course is every bit as remarkable. Designed by James Braid in 1922, the award-winning Thorpeness takes great pride in being playable 365 days of the year, with golfers revelling in fairways that cut through gorgeous heathland. Highlights are the par 3 7th with its tiered green, closely guarded by a lake and bunkers, and the par 4 18th where the green is watched over by the iconic House in the Sky tower and Thorpeness Windmill. Fabulous and fantastical – if Neverland had a golf course, it would look like this. www.thorpeness.co.uk

A classic links course located a chip shot away from the sea on the North West Norfolk coast, Hunstanton has welcomed golfers to its rolling fairways for 125 years. Despite its rich history the course very much remains a work in progress. Hunstanton has undergone extensive redevelopment over the past five years under the watchful eye of Martin Hawtree, including new bunkering of all the four par 5s and reshaping of the 8th and 10th hole. An added bonus is that this is the only course on the east coast of England where you can watch the sun set over the sea – so your round of golf often comes with some spectacular vistas. https://www.hunstantongolfclub.com/

Over its 120-year history Sheringham has welcomed some of the biggest names in golf including Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Sandy Lyle and Nick Price. Originally a 9-hole course it was expanded to 18 holes in 1898 before the current clubhouse was opened in 1912 – the building retaining much of its original charm and character to this day. The club has a fascinating link to both World Wars. Armed forces used the Sheringham for exercises, while gun emplacements, pill boxes and look-out towers were scattered on and around Skelding Hill during WWII. The clubhouse was also used as accommodation for troops and those displaced because of bombing raids.

https://www.sheringhamgolfclub.co.uk/

With its majestic clifftop setting, it’s not difficult to see why Royal Cromer in Norfolk is ranked in the top 100 courses in the UK. As you’d expect given the close proximity of the North Sea, roaring winds can be a challenge when you tackle the 18 holes at what is one of only 66 ‘royal’ clubs in the world. The first tee shot was struck here as far back as 1888 by the founder member, Benjamin Bond Cabbell. He was followed down the fairways over the years by a list of famous names including Tennyson, Arthur Conan-Doyle and Oscar Wilde who once noted: “I find Cromer excellent for writing, but the golf even better.”

https://www.royalcromergolfclub.com/

Located on four acres of gardens about 1km from the Royal Cromer Golf Club, the Grove Hotel offers an elegant, comfortable stay on the Norfolk coast. Among the large range of accommodation available is a suite that, since 2020, has taken up most of the top floor; the Orchard Rooms in a tranquil corner of the garden; and double rooms dating as far back as 1797. And it’s worth swatting up on the history of The Grove before staying there. While it was built during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, archaeologists have found some Bronze Age pottery on this site. And the Black Walnut tree standing guard at the terrace was given to then occupant, 1st Earl of Clarendon Thomas Villiers, by Captain Cook.

https://thegrovecromer.co.uk/

The premier golf club in Norfolk is home to an absolutely gorgeous golf course set in a mammoth, 400-year-old parkland estate. Here you’ll find 18-hole and 6-hole courses crafted by leading designers European Golf Design, along with modern practice facilities including a range, bunkers and a putting green. Another huge selling point is just how much Royal Norwich offers away from the fairways. The fine dining restaurant has everything from a Sunday roast to afternoon tea, while there’s a gym and microbrewery on site. And those who want to roll out of bed and onto the course can book into the No.1 Royal Norwich, a self-catering cottage right next to the first tee on the 18-hole championship course.

https://www.royalnorwich.co.uk/

With the sun rising over the nearby English Channel, early-morning golf doesn’t get much more idyllic than a round at Royal St George’s in Sandwich on the Kent coast. Complimenting the excellent, challenging course is the knowledge that you are at a club that occupies a special place in golfing history. It was at Royal St George’s that, in 1894, the Open Championship was first played outside Scotland. The course would go on to host the Open Championships another 15 times – more than any course outside of Scotland. Away from the fairways, Royal St George’s also has a reputation for serving some of the best food you’ll find at any course in the UK.

https://www.royalstgeorges.com/

Those teeing off at the Royal Cinque Ports in Deal might well eye up the bordering English Channel with trepidation. While the coastal location is spectacular it does come with occasional high winds – so much so that former player and commentator Peter Allis believes the inward 9 at Royal Cinque Ports is as formidable as anything in British golf when it’s blowing a gale. A challenge awaits, then, for anyone who tackles the 18-hole links golf course, especially if you add the odd sunken green and deep bunkers. The experience is never less than memorable, though, with legend Gary Player rating the 15th-18th as the best consecutive four holes in the world. https://www.royalcinqueports.com/

Views while golfing don’t get much better than the ones at Prince’s. Perched on the Bay of Sandwich in Kent, it offers jaw-dropping vistas over the English Channel and the white cliffs of Ramsgate. The present-day 27-hole championship links golf course (in three loops of nine) dates back to the 1950s following war-time damage and has undergone a significant redevelopment since 2017. Matching the fairways and greens for excellence is the accommodation. At the entrance of Prince’s, you’ll find The Lodge and two adjacent apartment blocks with, in total, 38 bedrooms including the luxurious Bay suite, with its large floor-to-ceiling windows, and the Links suites that overlook the 5^th green.

The two golf courses at the London Golf Club in the village of Ash in Kent are the stuff of golfing heaven and hell all rolled into one. The well-groomed fairways and striking views of the Jack Nicklaus-designed The Heritage are balanced out by tricky tee shots and intimidating approaches. Meanwhile, The International – regarded as one of the finest downland courses in Europe – has superfast fairways allowing you to chase the ball into position but throws up obstacles like nerve-shredding tee shots over water. It’s a measure of how fiendishly challenging the two courses are that between them The Heritage and The International have hosted the European Open, Volvo World Match Play and Regional Open Qualifying. https://londongolf.co.uk/

To play at The Grove in Watford is to walk in the footsteps of icons like Tiger Woods who won the World Golf Championship here in 2006. You may only be 18 miles from central London, but you’ll play 18 holes in tranquil surroundings here while taking in lovely views of the Hertfordshire countryside. The expertly manicured course is matched by the pampering offered up by The Grove hotel and its wide selection of restaurants – from an around-the-world feast at The Glasshouse to sushi in the Lounges – and a top-notch spa. It’s easy to see why The Grove was recently named the best golf resort in England and 71st globally in Golf World’s Top 100 Golf Resorts in the World. https://www.thegrove.co.uk/golf/

Given that the course was designed in 1993 by one Nick Faldo, you know you’re in good hands at Chart Hills in Kent. Centered around a vast oak woodland, Faldo has created a scintillating golf experience, from rolling fairways, striking water features and tricky greens. The former pro has himself said he would “never tire of playing Chart Hills” thanks to some stand-out holes like the island 17th and the 5th where you’ll want to avoid being bitten by ‘The Anaconda’, a bunker stretching 200m down the fairway. Sitting at the highest point of the property with views across the 1st and 9th green, the clubhouse is also one of the nicest perches you’ll find at any course in the UK.

https://charthills.co.uk/

An opulent 400-acre Surrey country estate with three golf courses, a spa, five swimming pools and three restaurants, Foxhills is tailor-made for a family trip. You can choose between two popular 18-hole courses or the 9-hole Manor Course after polishing your skills in the Practice Den or at the covered driving range. The two championship courses – Longcross and Bernard Hun – have won a lot of fans with its clever elevation changes and have played host to PGA and EuroPro events. There are also woodland trails to explore, fine restaurants and a dizzying array of activities for kids, including raft building and scavenger hunts.

https://www.foxhills.co.uk/

Oxfordshire Golf Club likes to call its championship course a “masterpiece” and, frankly, it’s hard to argue with that. The first course in the UK designed by renowned architect Rees Jones, it’s a work of art featuring 135 bunkers and four lakes that are beautiful to look at and hard to miss. Added to this, each hole blends perfectly into the surrounding countryside making it one of the most pleasant – and challenging – rounds you’ll play in the UK. Many a golfing icon have fallen for its charms over the years, with Seve Ballesteros, Colin Montgomerie, Nick Faldo and Darren Clarke all teeing off here during competitions. https://www.theoxfordshire.com/

Perched high on the Sussex Weald in South East England, Dale Hill offers 36 holes across 350 acres of hills and woodland steeped in history. The Ian Woosnam-designed course was put together, according to the man himself, to be “challenging enough to test the pros, yet accessible enough to be enjoyed by amateurs”. The Old Course, which opened in 1973 and was once a dairy farm, is shorter than its sibling but has undergone a number of significant improvements – including a new 9th and 17th – and features tricky treelined fairways and snug testing greens. If you stay over in the south side of the 50-bedroom hotel you can enjoy sweeping vistas of the courses. https://www.dalehill.co.uk/

Feel like something a bit different? How about the 27-hole layout at Hampshire’s Sandford Springs Golf Club, comprising a trio of 9-hole circuits each with its own unique challenges? The Parks, (holes 1-9) is often buffeted by strong prevailing winds, the Woods (holes 10-18) has elevated tees and tight tree lines to go with some amazing views of Watership Down, while The Lakes (holes 18-27) – as the name suggests – has water hazards everywhere and is probably the most challenging of the three. Add the fact that you can work on your swing at a 250-yard indoor range or get essentials at a well-stocked Pro-Shop and Sandford Springs is a golfing nirvana. https://www.sandfordsprings.co.uk/golf

Few clubs in the world have a more picturesque location than St Enedoc in the village of Rock on Cornwall’s north coast. Its two links courses – some of the finest in the South West – sits amongst natural sand dunes next on the Camel estuary with Padstow to the east and the Atlantic to the north. The Church Course is not the longest (6557 yards) but is tough enough to sport a course record of only 4 under par, while the Hollywell Course has been built up in stages with holes 5-12 and some new bunkers added after additional land was purchased in 1982. The warm climate brought on by the Gulf Stream keeps frost at a bay, meaning you can enjoy both courses all year round. https://www.st-enodoc.co.uk/

Imagine standing on an elevated first tee with all 18 holes stretching out in front of you while the Atlantic Ocean rumbles nearby. This is what greets golfers at the Championship Course at Trevose on the Cornish coast – one of three courses at this remarkable club. Opened in 1925, the Championship Course is laid out in two loops of 9 holes, with the front running along the sand dunes before the second 9 takes you inland and back to the clubhouse. The Headland Course winds its way out to Trevose Head ensuring spectacular views of the ocean and the coastline, especially as you approach the 5th green. A short course set in and around the ruins of the historic Chapel of St Constantine completes a unique golfing experience. https://trevose-gc.co.uk/

Home of the British Masters and host to the Ryder Cup no fewer than four times, The Belfry is synonymous with golf. The resort near Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield has three courses – The Brabazon, where Sam Torrance famously landed the putt that won the 1985 Ryder Cup; the PGA National, with its lightning-fast fairways and mammoth bunkers; and The Derby, which has amazing views over the Warwickshire countryside to go with some well-placed water hazards. If you’re having too much fun and want to stay over there are more than 300 luxurious bedrooms and suites to choose from, while the dining options are equally inviting, from classic à la carte at The Ryder Grill to pizza and pasta at Sam’s Club House.

The only golf complex in the East Midlands to offer 36 holes, the sprawling Nottinghamshire has two countryside courses set in 340 acres of parkland that’s dotted with lakes. The resort has refused to rest on its laurels, making significant improvements to both courses over the years including new water features and a spruce-up of most holes. Thanks to the ever-changing landscape golfers of all abilities will be challenged from start to finish. Relax on the lovely sun-terrace on the patio area near the Championship Course’s 18th green after your round before grabbing a bite to eat at the recently refurbished clubhouse complex.

The only golf complex in the East Midlands to offer 36 holes, the sprawling Nottinghamshire has two countryside courses set in 340 acres of parkland that’s dotted with lakes. The resort has refused to rest on its laurels, making significant improvements to both courses over the years including new water features and a spruce-up of most holes. Thanks to the ever-changing landscape golfers of all abilities will be challenged from start to finish. Relax on the lovely sun-terrace on the patio area near the Championship Course’s 18th green after your round before grabbing a bite to eat at the recently refurbished clubhouse complex.

Winner of the Tournament Venue of The Year prize at the 2023 England Golf Awards, Sherwood Forest is one of the oldest and best heathland golf courses in the UK. The 98 bunkers filled with local sand will challenge even the most skilled sand wedge operators, and things get tougher and tougher as you hit the back nine. Infamous for its long, demanding turn for home, you’ll need to stay focused until the 18th green. World class facilities at Sherwood Forest, which has been in its current location since 1912, include two large practice areas, a new state-of-the-art driving range and a restaurant with great views of the course and the statue of a stag that watches over it.

https://www.sherwoodforestgolfclub.co.uk/

A timeless embodiment of the great game, Carden Park is a Cheshire golf resort offering two championship golf courses. The ideal venue for an overnight golf break, corporate golf packages or a simple day on the greens. Experience golfing hotel facilities unsurpassed in the Chester region.

Enjoy a golf break that just keeps on giving at Carden Park. Discover a UK golf resort that combines luxury accommodation and championship golf courses, as well as access to our state-of-the-art leisure club and plenty of eateries to choose from during your stay. Not forgetting, our 5-star spa packages to enjoy the ultimate Carden experience.

Located just down the road from Hesketh Golf Club, the Waterfront Southport Hotel has everything you could want from accommodation in Southport. In addition to 131 bedrooms and penthouses there’s a lounge bar, restaurant, gym, roof garden, conferencing and events space, as well as underground car parking for 120 cars. Location wise, you couldn’t get any better. The Waterfront Southport Hotel is right on the man-made Southport Marine Lake, where you can hire everything from a swan-shaped pedalo to a jet boat for some fun on the water. Southport Beach with its golden sands is also just a stroll away and is part of the glorious Sefton coastline that stretches for 35km.

History seeps from the walls at the magnificent Hesketh, the oldest golf club in Southport. Established in 1885, the course has been shaped by illustrious designers, including George Lowe, the man behind Royal Birkdale, and James Braid. The club’s pedigree is apparent across all the holes, which have been sculpted through the northern end of the Merseyside sand dune system and sits among the villas of Churchtown. Whether you’re still getting to grips with the game or are a scratch golfer, Hesketh, regularly a qualifying venue for The Open, will challenge you. And there are more than one type of birdie to enjoy – the 6^th and 7^th holes border a bird reserve known for its migrating geese, swans and wading birds.

Featuring two loops of nine holes with the 9th and 18th greens in front of the clubhouse, West Lancashire has the ideal layout for a golf club. The course, designed by Charles Kenneth Cotton, is laid out on some 200 acres in Blundellsands, where the club has stood since 1873. Your round starts with a demanding dogleg par 4 and includes the fiendishly tough par 3 12^th, followed by a climb up to a beautiful view from the elevated 13th tee. Throughout, the terrain changes, with greens located in hollows or higher ground to keep you on your toes. The wildlife here consists of many RSPB Red Listed birds like the dunnock, linnet and skylark, while shy grasshopper warblers welcomes golfers with a song every morning throughout May, June and July.

A combination of well-protected greens, rough that’s bordered by heather and tee shots that require a lot of skill make Formby one of the top links courses in the world. The tricky conditions are just part of what is always a memorable golfing experience at a historic club formed in 1884. The clubhouse with its charming clock tower is worth the trip alone. Rebuilt in 1901 after a fire destroyed the original structure in 1899, the building, which has impressive turn-of-the-20^th-century interior design, is now home to three bars – two on the ground floor and a Club Room bar upstairs that has panoramic views over the golf course.

Everything that’s enjoyable (and challenging) about coastal golfing you’ll find in spades at Southport and Ainsdale, a James Braid-designed course in the heart of England’s golf coast that’s twice hosted the Ryder Cup. Prepare yourself for rolling fairways, plenty of dunes, heathland shoulders, and of course, a steady sea breeze. And once you’ve done the 18 holes there’s a very inviting main lounge and patio area at the front of the clubhouse with views across the course including the 18th green and 1st tee. For lunch, head for the newly refurbished Ryder Cup Room, which celebrates the part the club has played in the storied competition.

An ancient woodland acts as a beguiling backdrop to Delamere Forest Golf Club in Cheshire. Playable in winter or summer because of its heathland terrain, the Herbert Fowler designed course overall presents a fair challenge, with a few holes where you have to be at your very best – brace yourself for the tricky 6th, a par 3 where bunkers, a water feature and a tree all line up to spoil your round. The pretty clubhouse dates back to 1910 and was designed by renowned local architect Alfred Powles. While it retains its early 20th-century charm, there have been some major enhancements, including a casual lounge with a viewing area offering sigh-inducing vistas over the course.

https://delameregolf.co.uk