50 Golf Courses You Need to Think About Playing This Year

The new golf season is here and it's time to make the absolute most of these exciting months ahead and play as often as you can. 

We certainly love to visit and experience as many different courses as we can during a year - and you might feel exactly the same. That's why we consult the reviews submitted by everyday members of the Golfshake Community to see which venues they recommend above the rest.

Bringing together a varied group of destinations from across Great Britain, we have more courses that are suggested for you, including a range of hidden gems alongside more prominent locations, all of which rate highly for their conditioning and the quality of their layout, making them undeniably memorable and rewarding to play.

Just where are you heading to first?

Stock Brook Manor Golf Club

Location: Billericay, Essex

Golfshake Rating: 4.22

2024 Condition Rating: 4.59

Review Comment: "Course was in very good condition, no hold up in play, three 9 hole courses to choose from. This place offers more than just golf, with a gym, pool, tennis, and lovely clubhouse."

Drift Golf Club

Location: Leatherhead, Surrey

Golfshake Rating: 4.09

2024 Condition Rating: 4.59

Review Comment: "The Drift golf course has a dynamic and exciting course layout. I particularly liked the long par 3 in the back nine, which was challenging, but luckily I made a par there."

Leasowe Golf Club

Location: Wirral, Merseyside

Golfshake Rating: 4.10

2024 Condition Rating: 4.59

Review Comment: "This was a very nice links course with good facilities and very nice kept greens, the group had a great day out."

Cleveland Golf Club

Location: Redcar, North Yorkshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.50

2024 Condition Rating: 4.58

Review Comment: "Cleveland is a fantastic course and a great test of anyone’s game. Rough is penal if you stray too far wide. Areas between fairways when off line at least offered the opportunity to find your ball. Greens excellent ran fast and true. Very friendly members and staff."

Sharpley Golf Centre

Location: Seaham, County Durham

Golfshake Rating: 4.42

2024 Condition Rating: 4.58

Review Comment: "Keeps getting better as it gets older! Great course, interesting greens and a great day out!"

Dunstanburgh Castle Golf Club

Location: Alnwick, Northumberland

Golfshake Rating: 4.41

2024 Condition Rating: 4.58

Review Comment: "Exceptional links course at reasonable cost in beautiful surroundings with welcoming staff."

Selby Golf Club

Location: Selby, North Yorkshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.12

2024 Condition Rating: 4.58

Review Comment: "A very windy but dry day. The course was in great condition, greens were bumpy but still good for the time of year. A nice course and enjoyable day."

Rugby Golf Club

Location: Rugby, Warwickshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.02

2024 Condition Rating: 4.58

Review Comment: "Nice course in very good condition for the time of year. Well worth a visit. Very reasonably priced green fees."

Mill Hill Golf Club

Location: London, Greater London

Golfshake Rating: 4.05

2024 Condition Rating: 4.58

Review Comment: "It was in excellent condition, and the pace of play could not be faulted. The drainage in place is doing its job, the course was firm everywhere and the greens were immaculate. Hospitable welcome from the club pro in the shop, and a relaxing bar to unwind and count the shots that were left on the course. I would highly recommend Mill Hill golf course as a place to visit and play."

Kidderminster Golf Club

Location: Kidderminster, Worcestershire

Golfshake Rating: 4.46

2024 Condition Rating: 4.57

Review Comment: "Kidderminster made me and my guest feel very welcome. Considering the awful weather we’ve had I thought the course was in good condition. No hesitation in recommending and hope to play again soon."

Braintree Golf Club

Location: Braintree, Essex

Golfshake Rating: 4.29

2024 Condition Rating: 4.57

Review Comment: "This course is set in the most beautiful parkland, it's in fantastic condition and a great challenge for all levels of golfer, the hospitality is superb, the pro was a delight to talk to and the food excellent. Would highly recommend."

Flackwell Heath Golf Club

Location: Flackwell Heath, Buckinghamshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.00

2024 Condition Rating: 4.57

Review Comment: "While on the first tee it hammered down and there was a strong wind. However, the course was in excellent condition, there were a couple of bunkers with water in otherwise it played extremely well. The greens were in lovely condition and rolled truly. The fairways were lovely as well. It is a tricky course and requires sensible shot making and it is quite difficult to work out distances just by eye. A really enjoyable course and the clubhouse was excellent. The welcome good, and the food and drink lovely."

Vale Resort

Location: Hensol, Mid Glamorgan

Golfshake Rating: 4.15

2024 Condition Rating: 4.57

Review Comment: "Good challenging course with some tough holes but also achievable holes. Would 100% play here again."

Essendon Country Club 

Location: Hatfield, Hertfordshire

Golfshake Rating: 3.93

2024 Condition Rating: 4.57

Review Comment: "Played the Old Course. Picturesque course with a good mixture of open fairways and challenging ones. The course was immaculately maintained with interesting greens."

Gullane Golf Club

Location: Gullane, East Lothian

Golfshake Rating: 4.92

2024 Condition Rating: 4.56

Review Comment: "Simply brilliant. Keep coming back here and I never get bored. It's a lovely course, views are amazing and the greens are sublime!"

Retford Golf Club

Location: Retford, Nottinghamshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.70

2024 Condition Rating: 4.56

Review Comment: "Excellent day. Friendly staff, good food and course in great condition for the time of year. Greens especially good."

Camberley Heath Golf Club

Location: Camberley, Surrey

Golfshake Rating: 4.50

2024 Condition Rating: 4.56

Review Comment: "Very friendly welcome, course is well laid out and you need to plot your way around. In very good condition and a real mix of holes to challenge all golfers."

West Essex Golf Club

Location: Chingford, Greater London

Golfshake Rating: 4.30

2024 Condition Rating: 4.56

Review Comment: "Course in very good condition and some of the greens were very firm. Friendly members and staff in pro shop and bar. Would definitely recommend if looking for an option in North London - tests all of your game but maybe not one for the hooker/slicer."

Toot Hill Golf Club

Location: Ongar, Essex

Golfshake Rating: 4.13

2024 Condition Rating: 4.56

Review Comment: "Toot Hill is one of the finest courses in Essex. It's challenging, spectacular and clever. Pretty countryside and great views and quiet. Slightly spoilt today by poor weather at the start but overall a special outing for us."

Ingrebourne Links Golf Complex

Location: Rainham, Essex

Golfshake Rating: 4.29

2024 Condition Rating: 4.56

Review Comment: "Lovely course. Tough and long off the whites especially as every hole seemed to be into the wind. Driver was used on every tee except par 3s."

Forest Hills Golf Club

Location: Coleford, Gloucestershire

Golfshake Rating: 4.52

2024 Condition Rating: 4.56

Review Comment: "Great club and staff and food. Course challenging, with trees coming into play on most holes. Greens great and fairways dry after recent rain."

Aylesbury Vale Golf Club

Location: Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.28

2024 Condition Rating: 4.56

Review Comment: "Aylesbury Vale is currently in fantastic condition, after a really tough winter and spring the course has recovered exceptionally well, fairways and greens are amazing."

Pike Fold Golf Club

Location: Bury, Greater Manchester

Golfshake Rating: 4.16

2024 Condition Rating: 4.56

Review Comment: "Very good greens, good course layout. A lot of ground works have been done recently, especially on the water features, can't wait to see the course in summer."

Stamford Golf Club

Location: Stalybridge, Cheshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.60

2024 Condition Rating: 4.55

Review Comment: "Hidden gem! Great course in excellent condition and a very welcoming atmosphere!"

The Warwickshire Golf Club

Location: Warwick, Warwickshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.31

2024 Condition Rating: 4.55

Review Comment: "36 holes on offer, option to eat in the golf clubhouse including your evening meal, the rooms are spacious and welcoming. There is a shuttle service taking you from the hotel to the courses."

The Cambridgeshire Golf Course

Location: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.14

2024 Condition Rating: 4.55

Review Comment: "Good place. Not too expensive. Course in good condition. Played well."

Purley Downs Golf Club

Location: South Croydon, Greater London

Golfshake Rating: 4.55

2024 Condition Rating: 4.54

Review Comment: "Course in good condition despite recent rain and further heavy rain for a short while during the round. Played and drained well. Greens were the quickest I've been on for a while. Nice bacon roll and coffee pre round on our society day. Clubhouse has been re-done recently and is a nice place to spend time pre and post round. Good facilities all round."

Marriott Worsley Park Golf Club

Location: Manchester, Lancashire

Golfshake Rating: 4.27

2024 Condition Rating: 4.54

Review Comment: "Played here today as part of a company golf day. Course was in excellent condition. Some challenging holes, plus wide fairways and fast greens."

Hart Common Golf Club

Location: Bolton, Lancashire

Golfshake Rating: 4.08

2024 Condition Rating: 4.54

Review Comment: "It's a cracker of a golf course. Well laid out with a good mix of holes you can go for and more strategic challenges. The greens are exceptional. So quick and true."

Woolley Park Golf Club

Location: Wakefield, West Yorkshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.16

2024 Condition Rating: 4.54

Review Comment: "Set in the countryside with great views. Small but friendly clubhouse. Course is in great condition and the greens are amazing if you like ups and downs."

Abergele Golf Club

Location: Abergele, Clwyd

Golfshake Rating: 4.67

2024 Condition Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "Excellent course and in such good condition. Nice and open with great scenery of the castle. Greens were lovely!"

Cotswold Hills Golf Club

Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

Golfshake Rating: 4.49

2024 Condition Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "This is a top quality course and is in great condition considering all the rain we have had, no lying water anywhere and bunkers and greens in great condition too. Course is long and challenging. Pace of play excellent. Great views."

Clacton-on-Sea Golf Club

Location: Clacton, Essex

Golfshake Rating: 4.43

2024 Condition Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "Lovely course in great condition, nothing to dislike from tee box to greens all excellent, clubhouse staff and food excellent too, had an awesome day there."

Pennant Park Golf Club

Location: Flintshire, Clwyd

Golfshake Rating: 4.53

2024 Condition Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "Great course, which is quite challenging, fantastic views on back 9, lovely and friendly clubhouse, would highly recommend."

Doncaster Golf Club

Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.40

2024 Condition Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "The course was in excellent condition and not a temporary green in sight. The course played very well. The food and service in the clubhouse was fantastic. Very friendly staff throughout the venue. I think we’re going to book again as soon as possible. I’d definitely recommend."

Bolton Golf Club

Location: Bolton, Lancashire

Golfshake Rating: 4.40

2024 Condition Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "Played here on Sunday in a society, we all agreed the course was really nice with some challenging holes, and in lovely condition too. We got round fairly quickly without any holdups. The food we had was really good and the staff really welcoming."

Launceston Golf Club

Location: Launceston, Cornwall

Golfshake Rating: 4.37

2024 Condition Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "The tees, fairways and greens were all in excellent condition. All the holes are different and whilst there are a few hills there is no need for a buggy if you are fit and able. The clubhouse is small but quaint and the staff and food was excellent and the professional was really helpful and friendly. We had a really good round."

The Oxfordshire Golf, Hotel & Spa

Location: Thame, Oxfordshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.37

2024 Condition Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "Course was in very good condition. As usual it was challenging, but enjoyed playing it."

Stowmarket Golf Club

Location: Stowmarket, Suffolk

Golfshake Rating: 4.30

2024 Condition Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "Really enjoyable round on a well established parkland course. Course in good condition with receptive and true greens."

Bigbury Golf Club

Location: Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon

Golfshake Rating: 4.30

2024 Condition Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "The course was great - nice views, wide fairways, and a friendly clubhouse. Really picturesque. Everything was just perfect. Very tight and quirky, with stunning views of the coastline."

Cowdray Park Golf Club

Location: Midhurst, West Sussex

Golfshake Rating: 4.36

2024 Condition Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "Cowdray GC is a wonderful layout. The fairways and tees are superb, the bunkers are well designed and filled with proper sand and the greens are flawless. The clubhouse is warm and inviting, the food is of the highest standard and the staff are friendly. There is no shortage of things to do on site - and there is plenty to do within striking distance."

Kirtlington Golf Club

Location: Kirtlington, Oxfordshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.29

2024 Condition Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "Enjoyed the course. Some tight holes but others that had nice wide fairways. Greens were very green but grass probably longer than usual due to heavy rain in preceding days."

Pryors Hayes Golf Club

Location: Chester, Cheshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.27

2024 Condition Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "Lovely course with not too much long rough. Great condition with maps on each tee, although some of these could do with replacing. Quite long walks between the first three holes, but then it settles down to be a very enjoyable course. And all the staff and locals were very friendly. Will definitely be back."

Worksop Golf Club

Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.40

2024 Condition Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "An excellent course which was in great condition throughout. The greens were immaculate! I couldn't fault the visit and the food and drink were also good value for money. There is a lot of history on display in the clubhouse and we enjoyed viewing this. The green staff need applauding for their good work on the course. Well done everyone, we look forward to returning soon."

Abridge Golf Club

Location: Abridge, Essex

Golfshake Rating: 4.20

2024 Condition Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "Very friendly course - fairways in good condition, now drying out nicely. Greens running incredibly fast despite the maintenance marks on top dressing. Well laid out - a good society venue."

Royal Winchester Golf Club

Location: Winchester, Hampshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.25

2024 Condition Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "I have played the Royal a few times over the years. It was in a very lush and green condition when played this time but it can be hard and fast if dry. Greens were a bit soft and were not rolling as well as they can. It is a challenging course with long par 3 holes and long par 4 holes that typically play into the wind. Great views and a lovely clubhouse."

Mid Herts Golf Club

Location: St Albans, Hertfordshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.21

2024 Condition Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "A reasonable length course, with some tight fairways and a few interesting holes. We fortunately went around with a member, whose knowledge was an advantage and also allowed us guest green fee rates. The clubhouse was inviting, as was the after round drinks on the patio area. The course is set in a quite relaxed secluded setting, with ample rustic parking amongst the trees."

Tylney Park Golf Club

Location: Basingstoke, Hampshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.22

2024 Condition Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "Course has dried out well after the winter. Ball running well but fast greens need careful reading. Varied challenge, well worth a visit this summer."

Flamborough Head Golf Club

Location: Bridlington, East Yorkshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.20

2024 Condition Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "First time playing Flamborough and won't be the last. Good layout with plenty of run off for wayward shots. Very windy on my visit which didn't help, didn't partake in the practice facilities or food and drink. Will definitely be playing here again."

Earlswood Golf Club

Location: Neath, West Glamorgan

Golfshake Rating: 4.19

2024 Condition Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "First trip to Earlswood yesterday and tremendously impressed by the excellent state of the greens and the tricky layout of the fairways, particularly in the back 9. Pity that the weather was poor, but even so, the views were fabulous. Can't wait to play again!"

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