The 10 Best Golf Courses in England to Play in 2027
The 10 Best Golf Courses in England to Play in 2027
Direct Answer
England's golf runs from windswept Open-rota links on the northwest coast to heathland masterpieces in the Surrey pines, offering remarkable variety. Our Best Overall pick is Royal Birkdale in Southport, an Open Championship venue where a 2027 visitor round runs about £300.
The Best Value play is Saunton (East Course) in Devon at roughly £135, a links of genuine championship quality at a fraction of the marquee fees. This list is for golfers exploring England's best courses, with fees spanning roughly £135 to £400. Every course below is a real, currently-operating club ranked on design pedigree, conditioning, championship history, and overall experience.
1. Royal Birkdale 🏆 BEST OVERALL
On Lancashire's coast in Southport, Royal Birkdale has hosted The Open 10 times, including 2017 (Jordan Spieth), and is widely regarded as the fairest of England's championship links. Visitor green fees run about £300 for 2027.
Fairways thread through flat valleys between towering dunes, so good shots get fair bounces while wayward ones are punished. The course is also a frequent host of the Women's Open and the Ryder Cup (1965, 1969), and the modernist white Art Deco clubhouse is one of the most recognizable in golf.
It plays around 7,150 yards off the championship tees, with the par-3 12th consistently rated among the finest short holes in England.
Birkdale ranks #1 for combining genuine Open pedigree, honest design, and excellent conditioning — England's finest all-around course. Its position on the Lancashire coast near Southport places it within easy reach of Hoylake and Royal Lytham, making it the anchor of a superb three-course northwest-England links circuit.
2. Royal St George's (Sandwich)
In Kent, Royal St George's is the only Open venue in southeast England and has hosted 15 Opens, including 2021 (Collin Morikawa). Visitor green fees run about £295 for 2027.
Famous for huge, rumpled dunes, blind shots, and the deepest bunker in championship golf on the par-4 4th, it's a quirky old-school links that rewards bold, creative play. Ian Fleming, a member, set a *Goldfinger* scene here. Royal St George's ranks for its long Open history and its untamed, characterful links design unlike anything else in the south.
Set on the Kent coast near Sandwich, it forms a superb three-course links cluster with neighboring Royal Cinque Ports (Deal) and Prince's, both former or qualifying Open venues, making the area an ideal southeast-England golf base within easy reach of London by road or rail.
3. Sunningdale (Old Course)
In the Surrey heathland west of London, Sunningdale's Old Course is the archetypal English inland course — heather, gorse, pines, and silver birch over sandy soil. Designed by Willie Park Jr. and refined by Harry Colt, it's a perennial top-three England ranking. Visitor green fees run about £375 for 2027.
Bobby Jones shot a "perfect 66" here in 1926 Open qualifying. The course flows naturally with no weak holes, and the famous oak by the 18th green is a landmark. Sunningdale ranks for its peerless heathland design and its place at the heart of England's golden-age inland golf.
4. Royal Liverpool (Hoylake)
On the Wirral Peninsula, Royal Liverpool — known as Hoylake — has hosted 13 Opens, including 2006 (Tiger Woods) and 2023 (Brian Harman). Visitor green fees run about £295 for 2027.
One of England's oldest links (founded 1869), it's flatter and more exposed than dune courses, defended by internal out-of-bounds and fierce wind. A new short par-3 17th was added for the 2023 Open. Hoylake ranks for its deep championship history and its status as one of the cradles of English and amateur golf.
5. Wentworth (West Course)
In Surrey, Wentworth's West Course is the home of the DP World Tour's flagship BMW PGA Championship and the European Tour headquarters. Designed by Harry Colt and modernized by Ernie Els, it's a parkland test through exclusive estate grounds. Visitor green fees run about £400 for 2027, the priciest here.
The long par-5 18th is a famous, reachable-but-risky finishing hole that decides tournaments. Tree-lined and immaculately conditioned, Wentworth offers a chance to play a course pros tackle every May. It ranks for its tour pedigree, conditioning, and prestigious parkland design near London.
6. Saunton (East Course) 💎 BEST VALUE
On the North Devon coast, Saunton's East Course is a classic links winding through the Braunton Burrows dunes, regularly ranked among England's top 20 courses. Visitor green fees run about £135 for 2027 — exceptional value for a links of this caliber.
A Herbert Fowler design, it's a stern, traditional test that has hosted English Amateur championships and Open final qualifying. Its remote southwest location keeps fees and crowds down, and the club's West Course provides an excellent companion round, so a Devon golf trip can pair two quality links in one day.
The vast, dune-backed Braunton Burrows behind the course is a UNESCO biosphere reserve, adding to the wild, natural feel of the round. Saunton ranks as the Best Value pick — genuine championship links golf for roughly a third the price of the marquee venues.
7. Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin Course)
In Lincolnshire, the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa is England's premier inland heathland course outside Surrey, owned by England Golf (the national governing body). Famous for its enormous, deep bunkers, it's a brutal but beautiful test. Visitor green fees run about £165 for 2027.
The sandy subsoil and heather give it a links-like firmness despite its inland setting. The depth of the bunkering — some so deep players need ladders — is legendary. Woodhall Spa ranks for its dramatic hazards, immaculate condition, and its role as the home of English amateur golf.
8. Royal Lytham & St Annes
In Lancashire, Royal Lytham & St Annes has hosted 11 Opens, including 2012 (Ernie Els), and is unusual as an Open links set inland of the sea amid red-brick suburbia. Visitor green fees run about £260 for 2027.
It opens with a rare par-3 and is defended by more than 200 bunkers. Bobby Jones won the 1926 Open here, commemorated on the 17th. Lytham ranks for its dense, strategic bunkering and championship history, offering Open golf at a more attainable fee than the marquee Scottish venues.
9. Walton Heath (Old Course)
In Surrey, Walton Heath's Old Course is a true heathland links-in-disguise that hosted the 2023 AIG Women's Open and the 1981 Ryder Cup. Designed by Herbert Fowler on high, exposed common land, it plays firm and fast like a links. Visitor green fees run about £295 for 2027.
The heather-lined fairways and elevated, wind-swept position make it one of the most natural inland courses in Britain. Walton Heath ranks for its championship pedigree, its firm-and-fast heathland turf, and its standing among the finest courses in southern England.
10. Ganton Golf Club
In North Yorkshire, Ganton is a rare inland course with a true links character, set on sandy soil far from the sea. It hosted the 1949 Ryder Cup and numerous amateur championships, and is consistently ranked among England's top 15 courses. Visitor green fees run about £175 for 2027.
The gorse-lined fairways, firm turf, and deep bunkering give it a coastal feel despite its inland location near Scarborough. Harry Vardon was the club professional here. Ganton rounds out the list as a hidden gem — championship-quality golf with links DNA in a quieter corner of England.
How to Choose
English golf offers a uniquely broad spectrum, and the first decision is whether you want windswept coastal links or the heather-and-pine character of inland heathland. The northwest coast and Kent deliver genuine Open Championship links such as Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool, and Royal St George's, while the Surrey sand belt and Lincolnshire offer the firm, fast heathland classics of Sunningdale, Walton Heath, and Woodhall Spa.
Fees vary widely, from the £400 splurge at Wentworth to the outstanding £135 value at Saunton, so a balanced trip mixes a marquee championship round or two with hidden gems that deliver elite golf at a fraction of the price. Clustering geographically keeps driving down, and booking the famous Open and tour venues early is essential since their limited visitor slots fill fast.
Use these guidelines to plan your English golf itinerary:
- Decide links vs. Heathland. The northwest coast (Birkdale, Hoylake, Lytham) and Kent (Royal St George's) offer Open links; Surrey (Sunningdale, Wentworth, Walton Heath) and Lincolnshire (Woodhall Spa) offer heathland.
- Match fee to budget. Wentworth (£400) and Sunningdale (£375) are splurges; Saunton (£135) and Woodhall Spa (£165) deliver elite golf for far less.
- Cluster by region. The Lancashire coast, the Surrey heath belt, and Kent each pack multiple top courses within short drives.
- Book Open and tour venues early. Royal Birkdale, Royal St George's, and Wentworth fill visitor slots fast for the 2027 season.
- Use the inland gems to balance a links trip. Sunningdale, Woodhall Spa, and Ganton add variety and value to a coast-heavy itinerary.
FAQ
What is the best golf course in England?
Royal Birkdale in Southport is the most consistently top-ranked, an Open Championship venue praised as the fairest of England's championship links. Sunningdale's Old Course leads the inland heathland rankings.
What is the best-value top course in England?
Saunton's East Course in Devon, at about £135, offers genuine championship links golf for roughly a third the price of the marquee venues, making it the standout value. Woodhall Spa at about £165 is another inland bargain.
What's the difference between links and heathland courses?
Links are coastal courses on sandy dunes by the sea (Birkdale, Royal St George's), playing firm and windswept. Heathland courses (Sunningdale, Walton Heath) sit inland on sandy soil with heather and pines but share links-like firmness.
Can visitors play Wentworth and Sunningdale?
Yes, both welcome visitors with advance booking, though access may be restricted on certain days and around tournaments. Wentworth (≈£400) and Sunningdale (≈£375) are premium rounds, so reserve well ahead.
Bottom Line
For the best of English golf, Royal Birkdale at about £300 is the Best Overall — a genuine Open Championship links with honest design and superb conditioning. For incredible value, Saunton's East Course at roughly £135 delivers championship-caliber links golf at a fraction of the marquee price.
Sources
- *Golf Monthly* — Top 100 Golf Courses in England
- The R&A — Open Championship venue history
- *Golf Digest* — World and Britain & Ireland rankings
- *Top 100 Golf Courses* (top100golfcourses.com) — England rankings
- England Golf — Woodhall Spa and national course information
- DP World Tour — BMW PGA Championship (Wentworth) details
- *National Club Golfer* — England course reviews