Many golfers dream of playing on world-famous golf courses, but often think these stunning venues are out of reach. The truth is, the UK is home to some of the most beautiful golf courses in the world, and many of them welcome regular players like you and me. Whether you’re looking for dramatic coastal views, rolling countryside, or historic links, there’s a gorgeous course waiting for your next round.
What Makes a Golf Course Beautiful?
Beautiful golf courses combine natural scenery with clever design. The United Kingdom has nearly 3000 golf courses by the beginning of 2024. This figure includes both 18-hole and 9-hole courses across England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, with England having the most courses. From these thousands of options, the most stunning ones share common features: they work with the natural landscape rather than fighting against it, offer varied challenges, and create memorable holes that stick in your mind long after you’ve finished playing.
The best courses feel like they’ve always been part of the landscape. They use existing hills, valleys, and water features to create interesting shots. This approach makes the game more enjoyable and means the course looks natural and beautiful.
England’s Stunning Coastal Links
Royal Birkdale Golf Club
Royal Birkdale is often called the crown jewel of English golf. The pedigree of Royal Birkdale Golf Club is beyond doubt, having hosted The Open 9 times, the Ryder Cup twice and a multitude of other championships including the Walker Cup and Women’s British Open. What makes this course special is how it sits amongst towering sand dunes, but most holes run through valleys between them, so you’re not constantly hitting blind shots.
The course offers stunning views across the Lancashire coast, and many holes give you different options for how to play them. It’s challenging but fair, making it perfect for golfers who want to test themselves on a championship course.
Royal St George’s Golf Club
Located on the beautiful Kent coast, Royal St George’s is a course of outstanding natural beauty. Nestled in the dunes of the beautiful Kent coast, Royal St George’s Golf Club is a course of outstanding natural beauty and, since it’s establishment in 1887, it has been considered one of the best courses in Britain and indeed the world.
What sets this course apart is its routing. Unlike many links courses that go “9 out and 9 back,” the holes at Royal St George’s point in all directions. This means you face different wind conditions on each hole, keeping you thinking throughout your round.
Formby Golf Club
Formby is another course on our list located in the famous Southport area, as such its natural beauty parallels the likes of Royal Birkdale and other local neighbours. This course offers classic links golf with beautiful views across the Irish Sea. The fairways run through natural sand dunes covered in marram grass, and the course has a wild, natural feel that makes every round feel like an adventure.
England’s Inland Treasures
Sunningdale Golf Club
The Old course at Sunningdale is one of the British Isles’ most aesthetically pleasing inland courses. Arguably, it was the first truly great golf course to be built on the magical Surrey/Berkshire sand-belt. Just an hour from London, Sunningdale offers a perfect escape into beautiful heathland golf.
The course runs through mature pine and birch trees, with purple heather creating a stunning backdrop. The sandy soil means the course drains well and stays in good condition year-round. It’s accessible to visitors and offers a completely different style of golf from the coastal links.
Slaley Hall
Known as the “Augusta of the North,” Slaley Hall’s Hunting course is truly special. Known as the ‘Augusta of the North’ thanks to its undulating greens and rhododendrons in bloom, the Hunting parkland course at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort is a truly special place to play golf in England. The course features beautiful rolling hills, water features, and when the rhododendrons bloom in spring, it creates a spectacular display of colour.
Scotland’s Magnificent Courses
Kingsbarns Golf Links
Kingsbarns Golf Links is set along 1.8 miles of picturesque North Sea coastline, where each hole embraces the sea in a traditional Scottish links golf style. This course is close to St Andrews and offers modern links golf at its finest. Every hole has views of the sea, and the course co-hosts the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The course was built in the 1990s but feels like it’s been there for centuries. It’s a perfect example of how modern golf course design can create something that feels completely natural.
North Berwick West Links
This historic course offers some of the most scenic holes in golf. The 14th hole of the North Berwick West Links is called “perfection”. The course sits right on the coast with views across the Firth of Forth to Edinburgh. Many of the holes are quirky and unique, including some that require you to hit over stone walls – a reminder of golf’s ancient origins.
Wales’ Coastal Wonders
Nefyn & District Golf Club
Famous for its iconic ‘Point,’ a tiny promontory that juts out from the Lleyn Peninsula into the Irish Sea, the Nefyn & District course on the North West Wales coast is a truly stunning place to play golf. This 27-hole course includes some holes played on a narrow headland jutting into the sea.
The Point holes are some of the most dramatic in golf, with the sea on three sides and views across to Ireland on clear days. It’s golf with a real “wow factor” that will leave you speechless.
Making Golf More Enjoyable
Playing these beautiful courses is even better when you can move around easily and enjoy the scenery. Traditional golf buggies can be slow and restrictive, but modern golf scooters offer a better way to experience these stunning venues. They let you hop on and off quickly for shots whilst giving you a smooth ride between holes.
The freedom to move easily around the course means you can fully appreciate the beautiful landscapes these courses offer. You’ll spend less time worrying about getting around and more time enjoying the views and focusing on your game.
Tips for Playing Beautiful Courses
Book in advance: Popular scenic courses fill up quickly, especially during summer months.
Check the weather: Coastal courses can be windy, so bring extra layers and check conditions before you travel.
Take your time: These courses are meant to be enjoyed. Don’t rush – soak in the views and appreciate the design.
Bring a camera: Many courses allow photography, and you’ll want to capture these stunning landscapes.
Play within yourself: Beautiful courses can be challenging. Focus on enjoying the experience rather than shooting your lowest score.
Planning Your Golf Adventure
The best time to visit most UK golf courses is between April and October, when the weather is more predictable and the courses are in peak condition. Many of these venues offer visitor packages that include food and sometimes accommodation.
For links courses, early morning rounds often provide the best conditions, with less wind and fewer crowds. Inland courses like Sunningdale and Slaley Hall are generally more sheltered and can be enjoyed in various weather conditions.
Why Beautiful Golf Courses Matter
Playing on stunning golf courses isn’t just about the challenge – it’s about the complete experience. Setting the stage for golfers to execute difficult, interesting, joyful, and memorable golf shots is the ultimate goal of an architect. Satisfying shot making, or the ‘thrill of accomplishment’ is the soul of the game and a golf course architect’s job is to create the opportunity for this to occur.
Beautiful courses inspire us to play better golf and create memories that last a lifetime. They remind us why we fell in love with the game in the first place. The combination of natural beauty, strategic design, and the challenge of golf creates an experience that’s hard to match in any other sport.
According to the European Institute of Golf Course Architects, great golf course design combines technical knowledge with artistic vision to create courses that work in harmony with the natural landscape. This philosophy is evident in all the courses we’ve discussed – they enhance rather than dominate their surroundings.
Your Next Round Awaits
The UK’s most beautiful golf courses aren’t just for professionals or members of exclusive clubs. Many welcome visitors and offer the chance to play on some of the world’s most stunning golf venues. Whether you choose a dramatic clifftop links course or a peaceful inland venue, you’ll discover that beautiful golf courses offer something special that goes beyond just the score on your card.
Consider adding a GolfRide scooter to your next round on one of these courses. The enhanced mobility and comfort will help you fully appreciate the beautiful landscapes and strategic design that make these venues so special.
Start planning your next golf adventure today. These beautiful courses are waiting to provide you with unforgettable rounds and stunning scenery that will remind you why golf is such a wonderful game.