The best woodland golf courses - The Glenmuir Journal

Take advantage of the changing colours of the autumn leaves with a game at one of these golf courses surrounded by beautiful forests and woodlands…

Gary Lineker enjoys Sunningdale’s autumnal glory. Steve Parsons/PA Archive

As autumn approaches, it’s time to head back out into nature and enjoy the crisp leaves underfoot, the cool fresh air and the changing colours of the trees.

With the UK and Ireland blessed with an array of golf courses set within sprawling forests and woodlands, it can be hard to choose which one to play this season. So we’ve narrowed it down to our favourite woodland golf courses…

Sunningdale (Old), Berkshire

This course was laid out at the end of the 19^th century over Berkshire’s hills, heath and woodland – much of which still survives today. While many of the trees are evergreen, there are plenty of birch and oak trees that turn the same gold colours as the grass that lines the fairways. Add to that the fact that, overall, it’s one of the best courses in the country and it becomes the perfect venue for an autumnal round.

Remedy Oak, Dorset

Although it has only been around since 2006, the 250 acres of mature woodland give it a more lived-in feel. The course is surrounded by a mixture of hardwood trees and mature conifers along with rhododendrons, heather and wild grasses. But the highlight - for tree lovers - is Remedy Oak itself. A massive tree with a girth of more than six metres, it has allegedly been standing since the reign of King Edward VI. Although it’s located a few miles from the course, the woodland on the fairways is enough to keep you happy during the autumn months.

Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire

Though more famous for housing Robin Hood and his merry men, Sherwood Forest has a pretty good golf course as well. The course and surrounding forest are home to some of the Europe’s most important pines, silver birches and oak trees, including Major Oak, the home of its namesake outlaw. The Harry Colt-designed course takes you on a tour of nature’s wonders through heathland and forests - and is a great play anytime of the year.

Loch Lomond Golf Club, Dunbartonshire

With Ben Lomond on one side and the famous Loch on the other, you might be forgiven for missing one of this course’s biggest attractions – the ancient woodland. The course contains two Sites of Special Scientific Interest to protect the 46 different types of trees that grow on the course alone. To say it comes alive with autumn colour is an understatement.

Druids Glen and Druids Heath, County Wicklow

Even in the summer months, these two Irish courses are full of colour thanks to the variety of plant life and woodland on offer. Druids Heath is often referred to as ‘nature’s gift to golf’ thanks to the trees, lakes and heathlands. Though a highly-manicured course, little touches like the 12^th century druid statues and the massive Sycamore Maples add a bit of Irish charm.