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Best Golf Courses in England

Best Golf Courses in England

Looking to play the best golf courses in England? GolfReviewsGuide.com picks out the top courses to play in England.

Whether you are planning a golfing holiday in England or looking for new courses to try, some of the world’s most renowned venues should come under consideration.

England boasts numerous great golf courses, many of which are of historical significance, including Open Championship host courses as well as Ryder Cup venues.

Among England’s best golf courses, private courses are common but that doesn’t always mean that they are strictly off limits to the public. Check with the golf course’s online booking for accessibility, even for courses that are considered “private.”

Below is our list of the best golf courses in England.

Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club

Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club

Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club is a historic course in England, one that was founded in 1892.

A par-71 venue, the private course plays at 7,245 yards for total length.

Located in the town of Deal in the County of Kent, Henry Hunter was the original designer with James Braid performing an update in 1919. Furthermore, there was a restoration in 1946 by Sir Guy Campbell and Henry Cotton.

The venue has hosted prestigious tournaments in the distant past. The Open Championship was held there in both 1909 and 1920. In more modern times, “Deal,” as it is often referred to, hosted the 2013 Amateur Championship. The course is also the home of the annual championship for public schools.

The course has accolades from star golfers and the general public alike. Gary Player, a three-time Open Champion, claimed that he considered “the last four holes at Deal to be without doubt, the finest four consecutive holes on any course in the world.”

Royal St George’s Golf Club

Royal St George's

Royal St George’s Golf Club is located in Sandwich, Kent. It gets referred to as Sandwich as well as by its actual name.

The course, which is a par-70 with total length of 7,204 yards, is a private venue that often hosts the Open Championship. The venue has only hosted the Amateur Championship 14 times to date.

Laidlaw Purves designed the course with many approach shots that were either blind or partially blind. Greg Norman and Jack Nicklaus are two famous golfers who have claimed victories at this venue.

The course is the jewel in an area of England noted for golf courses. Any golfer in the Dover or Canterbury area that has an appetite for either historic or prestigious courses should consider this private venue as part of their golf vacation.

Royal St George’s is also accessible from France with ferry connections between continental Europe and Dover in the area. Furthermore, the Eurotunnel is not far from the English course.

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Royal Birkdale Golf Club

Royal Birkdale

Royal Birkdale Golf Club is another Open Championship venue and is situated in the northwest and is part of England’s Golf Coast.

It was established in 1889, making it one of the many historic golf courses that can be found in England and the United Kingdom.

The course, which is accessible to amateurs, is a par-70 venue at a length of 7,156 yards. Frederick G. Hawtree and J.H. Taylor were the original designers, the latter of which is often mentioned as one of the most astute golfers of his day.

Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Mark O’Meara, and Jordan Spieth have claimed Open victories at this venue and it is also a significant host for women’s golf having hosted the Women’s Open.

Prince’s Golf Club

Prince's Golf Club

Prince’s Golf Club is another located in Sandwich, Kent, and is a golfing venue that was established in 1906.

It is a facility that is currently made up of three separate nine-hole golf courses, The Shore, The Dunes, and The Himalayas. Each nine-hole course is about 3600 yards in length.

Each of the three courses is a par-36 affair, meaning that regardless of the 18 holes you choose combine, par will be 72.

Charles Hutchings was the original designer and in its heyday, the course hosted the 1932 Open Championship.

Considered a private course, there are nonetheless booking options available for those interested in exploring their options to play here.

The course is located in an area of England well known to golfing enthusiasts with both the Royal St George’s Golf Club and the Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club in the area.

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The Belfry

The Belfry

The Belfry offers something a little different than the links type courses included in this list, but there is not less shortage of appeal to playing here.

Located in Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands, The Belfry is one of the best courses in Birmingham and make our shortlist.

Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss designed the Brabazon Course at the The Belfry Hotel and Resort, a course that opened in 1977. The course has been noted as a popular host for the Ryder Cup over the years.

The Belfry resort, which has 319 rooms including many with golf course views, has been noted for its elegance and comfort in addition to being a great golfing venue.

READ: Full review of The Belfry