The Golf Courses You MUST Play This Winter

When you're lucky to have one of those crisp, sunny days, then playing golf during winter can hold many appeals, especially when you're visiting a memorable, rewarding course.

Helping you to find a worthy experience for the time of year, you may have seen our recent features The Golf Courses You SHOULD Play This Winter and Bargain Golf Courses You Must Play This Winter.

But for some additional inspiration, we can reveal 20 MORE venues that weren't included in those previous articles. Studying the thousands of winter reviews submitted into the Golfshake Course Section, here is another group of acclaimed courses that will have you putting on the thermals and embarking on something special.

If you want to make this a thrilling winter season - then playing any of these would be a highlight!

Hayling Golf Club

Region: South of England

Golfshake Rating: 4.40

Winter Golf Rating: 4.83

Review Comment: "Best course I have ever played. A real test and in fantastic condition."

Royal Liverpool Golf Club

Region: North of England

Golfshake Rating: 4.91

Winter Golf Rating: 4.82

Review Comment: "Outstanding course well deserved of championship status. Despite quite heavy rain the course remained in good condition and the drainage is excellent. Well recommended during autumn and winter."

Hankley Common Golf Club

Region: South East of England

Golfshake Rating: 4.77

Winter Golf Rating: 4.82

Review Comment: "Lots of brilliant rival courses in this part of the world but more than holds its own. A must play. Twilight rate is great value too."

Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club

Region: North of England

Golfshake Rating: 4.68

Winter Golf Rating: 4.82

Review Comment: "A challenging links in great condition. Is a tough but fair test requiring you to keep it straight off the tee and out of the heather as well as numerous bunkers. Greens were quick and true but with subtle borrows."

Thorpe Hall Golf Club

Region: East of England

Golfshake Rating: 4.64

Winter Golf Rating: 4.82

Review Comment: "Loved this course. Long enough to use the driver but tight enough to be really challenging. Some amazing holes, big drivers can drive a few greens (hitting 300 to 330 yards). Greens quick and challenging but true."

Royal Birkdale Golf Club

Region: North of England

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Winter Golf Rating: 4.81

Review Comment: "From the warmest of welcomes when you enter the clubhouse, to the extremely helpful starter, to following in the footsteps of golfing legends, through to playing an absolutely superb golf course, this was an outstanding experience."

Worplesdon Golf Club

Region: South East of England

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Winter Golf Rating: 4.81

Review Comment: "Wonderful day here. A real classic. A tough test but fair and in wonderful condition."

Lundin Golf Club

Region: Scotland

Golfshake Rating: 4.94

Winter Golf Rating: 4.80

Review Comment: "Spectacular views from the elevated tee boxes. Lightning fast greens and true running fairways. Tight in places, but you’re rewarded for accurate aggressive play. Love it. Best. Course. Ever."

Saunton Golf Club

Region: South West of England

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Winter Golf Rating: 4.79

Review Comment: "What an absolutely stunning course. Thankfully played it in clear conditions without a breath of wind and even then there was pressure on every shot to keep it on the short stuff. The biggest test of my very average game that I have had yet. I can see how it got its 12th place in the top 100 UK courses."

Tandridge Golf Club

Region: South East of England

Golfshake Rating: 4.80

Winter Golf Rating: 4.79

Review Comment: "Lush, classic parkland course with many memorable holes. Outstanding views with challenging golf in the rolling countryside."

Portstewart Golf Club

Region: Northern Ireland

Golfshake Rating: 4.51

Winter Golf Rating: 4.79

Review Comment: "Great course in a brilliant setting. Very playable links golf with a few short par 4s making you challenge yourself."

Blackwell Golf Club

Region: West Midlands

Golfshake Rating: 4.81

Winter Golf Rating: 4.78

Review Comment: "First time playing here and I was not disappointed one bit. The whole course literally has it all. Great mix of holes. Par 3s as good as you can find. Bunkers are literally everywhere and so so good. Greens as pure as I’ve putted on. If you love golf you’ll love playing here."

Sherwood Forest Golf Club

Region: East Midlands

Golfshake Rating: 4.56

Winter Golf Rating: 4.78

Review Comment: "Sherwood Forest is a great course, in sublime condition. A tough course to score well on as it's very easy to roll into the long grass and heather, but a good challenge."

Moor Hall Golf Club

Region: West Midlands

Golfshake Rating: 4.39

Winter Golf Rating: 4.78

Review Comment: "Course is very well looked after. It is tree lined most of the way around making it very much a straight hitters course. Enjoyed playing here and would recommend."

Beaconsfield Golf Club

Region: South of England

Golfshake Rating: 4.84

Winter Golf Rating: 4.77

Review Comment: "The heathland course is in superb condition and benefits from virtually all year play with good drainage and elevated site. Tees to suit all handicaps."

Dundonald Links

Region: Scotland

Golfshake Rating: 4.40

Winter Golf Rating: 4.76

Review Comment: "What a beautiful course, in fantastic condition. Was a bucket list to play and didn't disappoint. Fantastic course and will be amazing when all the work around the venue is completed."

Turnberry

Region: Scotland

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Winter Golf Rating: 4.75

Review Comment: "First time playing both Ailsa and King Robert The Bruce courses since the refurbishment and both courses are out of this world. Overnight stay in lodges and breakfast in hotel were also first class."

Prestwick Golf Club

Region: Scotland

Golfshake Rating: 4.83

Winter Golf Rating: 4.75

Review Comment: "This was such a great course. We were made to feel very welcome, the course was superb, such an interesting layout and in great condition."

Fulford Golf Club

Region: North of England

Golfshake Rating: 4.73

Winter Golf Rating: 4.75

Review Comment: "First time playing Fulford, very impressed. Great setup, friendly welcome in clubhouse, pro shop, great breakfast. Good practice facilities. Course in great shape, quite tight in places. Greens true. Easy walk around."

St Andrews Links

Region: Scotland

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Winter Golf Rating: 4.74

Review Comment: "Another unreal experience at the Home of Golf! We had weather you can only dream of, the course was in excellent condition and the rough was above Open Championship level according to our caddie which made it even more challenging!"

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