Aldeburgh Golf Club review

Review Updated in April 2026

Making changes to a well established, long standing golf course such as Aldeburgh Golf Club in Suffolk, is a very risky and challenging thing to do. Especially when you consider that golf at Aldeburgh dates way back to 1884, and in fact, it's known to be England's second oldest heathland course. Another claim is that Aldeburgh is the thirteenth oldest course in the world that still sits on its original ground. 

The championship heathland layout is renowned for being the toughest course in Suffolk, with a combination of gorse and heather-lined fairways, challenging bunkering, and some of the slickest greens you'll experience. 

Over the past year, the layout at Aldeburgh, and in particular the front 9, has undergone some major changes to what was a par 68 with no par 5s. Aldeburgh represented a unique challenge with 12 of its 14 par 4s previously measuring over 400 yards off the back tees with the course standing at over 6,600 yards. 

However, this has changed dramatically, with the venue now offering two par 5s, one on each 9, as well as a superb shorter par 4 and overall, with the changes, the course has increased its par from 68 to 70 and is now close to 7,000 yards from the Blue Championships tees. 

The course record here remained level par until 1984 when John Lloyd fired an impressive three-under 65 in the special medal to celebrate the club's centenary. 

The stunning Edwardian clubhouse was opened in 1911 and you can feel the history throughout, in particular the old wooden beams and lockers within the changing rooms. 

Aldeburgh has been the venue for many important events, including the English Ladies Championship in 2003, the Oxford v Cambridge University match in 2007 and 2021, the English South-East County Champions in 2009, and the English Senior Amateur Championship in 2012.

Most recently Aldeburgh also played host to The R&A's Jacques Leglise Trophy in 2019, which was won by The Continent of Europe team, and the 2018 England Golf County Finals in 2018.

Pre-Round Thoughts

Upon arrival at Aldeburgh, you immediately sense the history and quality of the course and venue. The large tall flagpole that accompanies a lot of historical courses that are located close to the sea is visible from the road as you approach and sits just next to the putting green besides the 1st tee. 

In fact, it may go unnoticed as you enter the car park because so much is instantly visible. Putting green, 1st tee and 1st hole, the grand clubhouse and pro shop, 10th tee, the old artisan clubhouse and the chipping green. 

The pro shop is cute and petite, but is well stocked with everything needed, The professional, Keith Preston, is actually the club's longest serving head professional having taken up the position in 1986 

There is a practice ground available, as well as two practice nets hidden just to the right of the car park and all other warm-up facilities are maintained to the same quality as the course itself providing a great experience before play. 

Front 9 Overview

I will go into some further detail as we go, but just as an overview of the changes on the front 9. 

The 1st is unchanged, the old 2nd and 3rd holes have been removed, but the new 2nd hole features part of the fairway and the green that was the old 3rd. 

The par 3 4th hole, the signature hole, is now the 3rd hole and remains unchanged. 

Whilst the layout of the old 5th and 6th remain the same, they are now the 4th and 5th holes - although a couple of new tee boxes on the 4th add a bit of extra length. 

What was the long par 4 7th hole down the hill has been turned into a long par 3 - from the same tee boxes - and is now the 6th hole. 

The 7th and 8th holes are both completely new. The 7th is the first of the two par 5s and the 8th is a cracking short par 4, which is easily reachable with a prevailing wind. 

Whilst the 9th is unchanged in layout, there are two new tee boxes for the white and blue tees, adding more length and sitting at more of an angle to the fairway to the right of the existing tees. 

Given the general length of most holes at Aldeburgh, the opener may be considered somewhat 'gentle' at just a shade under 400 yards from the middle tees. 

As the fairway falls away from the tee box, the views across some of the course from this point are sublime and you will be forgiven for almost forgetting about the test in front, which comes in the form of fairway bunkers either side that absolutely need to be avoided in order to find the putting surface that falls from back to front. Leaving an uphill put on these testing greens will be an early advantage. 

Now this is one of only three holes on the front 9 that haven’t been changed in some shape or form. 

The new 2nd hole is a dogleg from left to right with a couple of bunkers on the corner to carry for the longer hitters. The tee box is new (close to where the old 8th tee used to be) and the green on the 2nd hole is the green that used to be the old 3rd hole - hidden from sight at the summit of a hill, with the hole playing uphill slightly.

The signature 3rd hole (previously the 4th) is perhaps one that many people that are familiar with Aldeburgh will have seen or heard about. Ironically, the shortest hole on the course by some 30/40 yards, this stunning par 3 is one of the standout holes in the whole of East Anglia. 

The middle tee card will read 117 yards - but this will vary largely depending on where the pin is placed on the day. 

The green - almost shaped like a jelly bean - is protected by a sleepered 'U' shaped bunker running all the way around the front. The tiny portion of green back right can play host to a devilish pin (I do have personal experience) with a hidden bunker sitting just behind the green. Any shot to the middle of this green will be the safest place. An excellent short par 3 and one that will be remembered. 

Another excellent but difficult par 4 greets you at the new 5th hole (previously the 6th). A long straight shot will be needed to get a sight of the green as the hole doglegs from right to left on approach. Whilst the green is a fairly big target, the bunkers down the right hand side will need to be avoided, but it's also a great viewpoint looking back down the hole from behind the green with some stunning scenes of the estuary in the distance. Pure delight on any given day. 

The new 7th hole is now the first of two par 5s moving slightly from right to left, Just 517 yards from the white tee it offers a great chance to get a shot back on the course, as long as you are able to get up near the well protected green that slopes slightly from back to front. 

The drivable par 4 8th hole is the second of the two completely new holes. With a long deep sleepered bunker running up the left hand side, but at a nice angle meaning most players will be able to hit over it at some point. The green is again well protected by a plethora of bunkers, and those having a go at the green from the tee will need to be aware that there are some steep run offs that may land you in a spot of bother, making it a proper risk reward hole. 

The 9th hole is a fitting finish to a fantastic front nine. From a raised tee box, the entire hole sits in full view in front of you and the clubhouse in the distance. 

Plenty of bunkers to be avoided - both left and right here. In particular one that almost shapes like a love heart. Quite ironic really, because finding any of these may in fact leave you heartbroken and a certain 5 will be on the cards. 

Back 9 Overview

The back half really comes to life at the 11th. 437 yards from the middle tees, bunkers galore all the way down the fairway and playing into a green that sits slightly below the fairway, but is not visible due to another bunker running along the front of the surface. This green is akin to the inside of a bowl, meaning a downhill putt is most likely - of course, depending on the pin position on the day. 

12, the shortest par 4 on the back 9 at 349 yards from the white tee, may require just a long iron off the tee to find the fairway - but another hole where a large looming bunker along the front is protecting the green. 

The 13th plays from a raised tee box down to the fairway and moves slightly from right to left as you play. The large bunkers on the left hand corner get you thinking from the tee. 

Depending on the wind, playing a 5 or 6 iron to the heart of the fairway and short of those bunkers may be the smartest choice - but it will leave you a tougher second shot into the green. 

The braver souls may decide to take on the corner with a driver, but as the hole moves to the left, anything leaking right (for us righties) may run out of fairway and into a spot of bother. 

A very well thought out hole. 

At 200 yards, the 15th plays host to the longest of the par 3s. Again, very well protected by a plethora of bunkers, finding the putting surface is vital to make a par here, especially given that a lot of shots up the left or right of the green may feed towards the middle. 

The 16th hole is the only hole on the back 9 to see any real changes - previously a par 4, now another reachable par 5. The layout of the hole is the same, but a couple of new tee boxes for the whites and blues means all the other tees have been pushed back a bit to make it a great birdie chance - the white tee still measuring under 500 yards.

The 18th is a fantastic finishing hole, fitting of any championship course. Quite often playing into a wind, as in the majority of places at Aldeburgh, avoiding the number of bunkers up both sides of the fairway will leave a mid to long iron to a long but narrow green with more bunkers and large mounds leaving you hoping on luck with anything that isn't heading towards the centre of the green. 

Hole Highlights

The biggest part of the test of Aldeburgh comes from the fact that the tee shots on most, if not all, of the holes can be very punishing if not fairway bound. In a lot of places, you really feel like hitting longer irons from the tee. Keeping the ball in play is absolutely vital if you want any kind of half decent score. The issue with this, is then leaving yourself a lot of mid to long iron approach shots into greens that, when the course is dry, can be very firm and fast rendering them difficult to hold.

If you think you are able to do this, then the next issue you may face - and I am speaking from experience here - is that hitting lots of long iron shots into greens can become quite demanding and is almost a test of your golf endurance as well as ability. 

The course can become very dry and fiery and I have witnessed the greens at Aldeburgh being so slick there is almost a glassy shine to them. It's tough from tee to green, start to finish. 

I played in an open competition last year at Aldeburgh and whilst I shot 14-over, the score was actually worth seven-over for handicap that round - just to give you an idea of how tough it is. It's worth mentioning that this hasn't put me off entering again this year!

Post-Round Thoughts

As mentioned above, Aldeburgh is an extremely testing golf course, but one that can and should be experienced and enjoyed by golfers of all ages and abilities. While steeped in tradition, the club are also showing their forward thinking side by introducing a selection of tee boxes to play from, meaning there is an option for everyone. 

In fact, there are five different sets of tees rated for both men and women before you get back to the Whites and Blue - which are usually reserved for the larger competitions. 

Even though you play 14 par 4s, I never found that two holes are the same and it's not very often I play a course and think there isn't a weak hole. Which is what I find with Aldeburgh. 

It's worth noting that Aldeburgh is a two ball or foursomes golf course. Meaning rounds are expected to take no longer than three hours. Whilst I think there may be room to work some three or four balls onto the course to be more suitable to visiting groups, there is something I really like about this from a pace of play standpoint. 

The food and drink on offer is great and can be enjoyed in the comfort of the bar area, or indeed if the weather permits, sat out on the terrace overlooking parts of the course. 

After, if you felt you needed some more golf, you could always head over the road to the more relaxed nine-hole River Course, which is another feather in the Aldeburgh cap. A great little par 32 layout at under 2,000 yards. 

Overall Rating - 10

Course (Conditions) - 10

Course (Hole Variety/Layout) - 10

Course (Green Condition) - 10

Course (Challenge/Difficulty) - 10

Club Facilities & Clubhouse - 9

Practice Facilities - 9

Friendliness/Hospitality - 9

Pace of Play - 10

Value For Money - 9