Golf in England

No fewer than 6 courses have hosted the Open Championship in England, and access to all of them makes England an extraordinary place to visit. With over fifteen championship heathland courses within an hour of Heathrow Airport, it really is a golfer’s paradise. There are also the breathtakingly beautiful golf courses in and around Liverpool.

North West Coast England

Royal Birkdale

Established in 1889, the course moved to Birkdale hills and opened in 1897. Designed by George Lowe, the course has hosted the Open championship ten times. The Ryder Cup was played here in 1965 and 1969. With demanding small par 3s and attractive par 5s with risks and rewards, many consider this course to be one of the best in England.

Royal lytham & St Annes

The club has hosted the Open Championship eleven times as well as two Ryder Cups. It has also hosted the Walker Cup, the Curtis Cup, the Senior British Open and the Women’s Open Championship. The club opened in 1886 after relocating. George Lowe designed the layout, and the course opened in 1896. Harry Colt later modified the course. This classic course has 174 well-positioned bunkers and is a tough test with its firm, swift greens, making it a pleasure to play.

South Port and Ainsdale

Originally established in 1907 and designed by George Lowe, the course underwent slight alterations in 1924 by five-time Open Champion James Braid. Measuring just over 6,800 yards from the back tees, it has hosted two Ryder Cups in the 1930s. Featuring several blind drives and greens set on raised plateaux, accuracy is essential for success.

Hillside

The club was founded in 1911, but it acquired additional land in the 1960s, leading to the design of a new course by Fred W. Hawtree. The back nine is particularly remarkable, winding its way through towering dunes, often compared to Ballybunion. From the elevated 11th tee, players are treated to panoramic views of multiple holes, as well as glimpses of Royal Birkdale and Southport & Ainsdale. A truly majestic course, it stands proudly in the shadow of its renowned neighbour.

Royal Liverpool (Hoylake)

Founded in 1869, Royal Liverpool is the second oldest links course in England. Host to thirteen Open championships and designed by George Morris, the course is certainly exposed to the elements. The course is relatively flat and subtle, but there are plenty of well-placed bunkers to catch a missed shot. With a length of over 7,300 yards, it is a real monster that has yet to be tamed. (remove the ‘sent from my iPhone’ bit).

Featured Tour

Radisson RED Liverpool

The Dixie Dean Hotel Liverpool

Titanic Hotel Liverpool

Accommodation

London, Surrey and Berkshire

St George’s Hill Golf Club

Another gem designed by Harry Colt, this course was established in 1913. Elevated tees and blind drives demand precise driving accuracy. With undulating fairways, false fronts, and sloping greens, St George’s Hill presents a formidable challenge. This superb heathland course, adorned with heather-lined bunkers and Scots pines, offers a visually stunning and rewarding golfing experience

The Berkshire

Founded in 1928, both courses were designed by Herbert Fowler, offering 36 holes of authentic heathland golf set within Swinley Forest. The ‘Red’ course is unique, featuring an even mix of six par-5s, six par-4s, and six par-3s, providing a challenging layout with heather-lined fairways. The ‘Blue’ course is slightly less demanding but still presents a tough start and a challenging final five holes. Together, the Red and Blue courses promise a fantastic day of golf.

Sunningdale Golf Club

Arguably the finest 36 holes of golf in Europe, this venue boasts two exceptional courses. The Old Course, built in 1901 by Willie Park Jr., has hosted numerous major championships, including the Men’s Senior British Open and the Women’s Championship. The New Course, designed by Harry Colt in 1923, offers a more demanding challenge, with breathtaking views across the heathland. Its small, raised greens and heather-lined fairways make it a true test of skill, suited only for the bold.

Westhill golf Club

Part of Surrey’s renowned heathland ‘Trinity of W,’ this course was established in 1910, designed by Open Champions Jack White and Willie Park Jr. The layout was overseen by Cuthbert Burchart, a Scottish professional and West Hill’s first pro. With heather-lined fairways and fast, undulating greens, this course offers a fantastic challenge where accurate driving is essential.

Hankley Common

Originally established in 1897 as a modest nine-hole course, an additional nine holes were added by James Braid in 1922. In 1936, Harry Colt reimagined the layout, a transformation many credit with elevating it to greatness. Spanning 800 acres, the course exudes a sense of secluded heathland beauty. With tight, heather-lined fairways and small, raised greens, it presents a formidable test of golf. A recent re-bunkering program has further enhanced its appeal, leaving it looking and feeling truly majestic.

Walton Heath

Founded in 1903, this club features two magnificent heathland courses, the Old and the New, both designed by Herbert Fowler. Walton’s first captain was King Edward VIII, and James Braid, a five-time Open Champion, served as the professional here. The courses weave through a landscape of thick heather flanking many fairways. With quick greens and severe run-offs, they offer a stern challenge. The layout has a links-like feel, characterized by tall, wispy grasses, deep pot bunkers, and sweeping views that extend across both courses.

Woking golf Club

Nestled in the Surrey heathland, Woking Golf Club was established in 1893 by Tom Dunn and is the oldest of the heathland courses. It is also home to England’s oldest senior golfing society. Ranked 17th in Golf World’s Top 100 England Courses in 2019, Woking has seen significant investment in recent years, including a brand new fairway watering system and a comprehensive woodland management program. With its timeless charm and stunning layout, Woking offers a step back in time and is undoubtedly worth a visit.

Swinley Forest

Long exclusive to visitors until recent years, this heathland gem opened in 1909 and was designed by Harry Colt during his tenure as Secretary at Sunningdale. A true step back in time, the par-69 course stretches to 6,400 yards from the back tees, offering a challenging test. With false fronts and clever run-offs, precise iron play is essential. A re-bunkering program over the past decade has enhanced its appeal, leaving the course in exceptional condition.

Featured Tour

Coworth Park Berkshire

Fairmont Windsor

Penny Hill park Surrey

St Ermins

Accommodation

South East England

Royal St George’s

Royal St George’s has hosted no fewer than fifteen Open Championships. Founded in 1887 by Dr William Laidlaw Purves, the course is an amazing tight links course weaving its way through tall grass and sand dunes. As King Edward VIII was Captain at the beginning of the 20th century, the course is full of history.

Royal Cinque ports

The course hosted the Open Championship twice in the early 20th century. Royal Cinque Ports, or ‘Deal’ as it is known, is a links out and back course. After the First World War, the course was almost completely destroyed. James Braid restored it and it reopened in 1919. With a tough inward 9, constantly into the prevailing wind, this course is a real challenge and not for the faint-hearted.

Princes Golf Club

The course was opened in 1907 and hosted the Open Championship in 1932. It is a 27-hole course with three 9s, the Shore, the Dunes and the Himalayas. The Himalayas nine was extensively remodelled in 2017 by architect Martin Ebert.

Rye golf Club

Founded in 1894, the course was opened in 1895 and designed by Harry Colt. With 6,500 yards from the back tees, a single par 5 and a par 68, this is a difficult golf course. The par 3s are difficult with small elevated greens and the long 17th makes scoring tricky. The game is usually fast at Rye as only two balls are played. This is a very traditional club – a must-see.

Littlestone golf Club

Littlestone is a hidden gem. It was designed by the same architect as Royal St George’s and has the same quality. The course opened in 1888 and is stunning with the English Channel in the background. It starts with a gentle 295-yard par 4, but make no mistake, this is a tough challenge for golfers. The final holes are really interesting, with the long par 4 16th hole and the elevated green par 3 17th. One of our favourite courses.

Golf in England

North West Coast England

Royal Birkdale

Royal lytham & St Annes

South Port and Ainsdale

Hillside

Royal Liverpool (Hoylake)

Featured Tour

Radisson RED Liverpool

The Dixie Dean Hotel Liverpool

Titanic Hotel Liverpool

Accommodation

London, Surrey and Berkshire

St George’s Hill Golf Club

The Berkshire

Sunningdale Golf Club

Westhill golf Club

Hankley Common

Walton Heath

Woking golf Club

Swinley Forest

Featured Tour

Coworth Park Berkshire

Fairmont Windsor

Penny Hill park Surrey

St Ermins

Accommodation

South East England

Royal St George’s

Royal Cinque ports

Princes Golf Club

Rye golf Club

Littlestone golf Club

Featured Tour

Accommodation

Goss Hall B & B South Coast

Updown farm House South Coast

The Yarrow Hotel. South Coast

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