5 of the best golf courses in England

Art deco clubhouses and sweeping sea views await at England’s finest golf courses…  

Sunningdale (Old), Berkshire
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a club like Sunningdale anywhere else in the world – a par 70 course ranked number one in the Golf World Top 100 in England. A combination of elevated tees and blind shots across a variety of terrain provide an enjoyable challenge for even the most capable golfer. Those feeling particularly confident can see how they size up to Nick Faldo and Shane Lowry, who jointly hold the course record of 62.

Royal Birkdale, Merseyside
Royal Birkdale presents golfers with a series of contrasts. A links course where each hole feels secluded from the rest and where ripple-free fairways are framed by rollercoaster dunes. It’s easy to forget you’re playing on the coast of the Irish Sea as you’re spoiled with views of red-squirrel-filled woodland. The distinctive art deco clubhouse is designed to resemble an ocean liner careering through the club’s trademark dunes, the largest of their kind on the Open roster.

Royal St George’s, Kent
The Garden of England was chosen as the ideal destination to build the ‘St Andrew’s of the South’ back in 1887. Since opening its doors, the course has hosted 14 Open Championships, more than any other club outside of Scotland, and has cemented its position as a world-class venue. Standards remain high across the course and only three Open winners – Bill Rogers, Greg Norman and Ben Curtis – have managed to finish under par after 72 holes.
  


  
Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire
Woodhall Spa is home to England Golf and two magnificent courses; the Hotchkin and the Bracken. The former has undergone a huge overhaul in recent years, as the club removed 10,000 mature trees to rediscover its original heathland aesthetic. Rough edges have been left around bunkers to avoid an overly manicured look and the course supports a wide range of local wildlife thanks to the variety of plant life framing its holes.

St Enodoc, Cornwall
Nestled high on the dunes overlooking the North Cornwall coast, St Enodoc has long enjoyed its position as the south-west’s premier golf course. Enlisting the help of architect Tom Doak in 2016, the club has raced up the course rankings to gain national recognition. Today, golfers of all abilities will find an enjoyable challenge on the Church Course as they soak in views of the 11^th century chapel and dramatic panoramas of the Atlantic Sea.