The Most Popular Golf Courses to Play in Devon

Nestled way down in the beautiful South West of the country, Devon has a perfect mix of rolling countryside hills, rugged coastlines and tranquil seaside towns. Whether you seek the adventure of clifftop tee shots, or the calmness of parkland surroundings, Devon’s golf courses deliver on all fronts. Here are some of the most popularly reviewed golf courses in Devon on Golfshake.

Ashbury Golf Club

Golfshake Rating: 4.29

Green Fees: £35

Starting off with a big one, Ashbury is home to five 18-hole courses in total. These are the Kigbeare, Willows, Pines, Beeches and Oakwood. Each course brings a different aspect and challenge, with parkland trees and 18 lakes in play across all the courses - meaning that Ashbury is certain to keep you on your toes.

Review Comment: "Played Pines course, in very good nick and greens quite quick. Fairways had plenty of grass on considering volume of players. Beeches and Kigbeare also great and probably a bit tougher."

Dartmouth Golf & CC

Golfshake Rating: 4.53

Green Fees: £40

Dartmouth is host to 27 holes, making up the 18-hole championship course and the nine hole par 33-course. The championship par 72 course has played host to Western PGA Championship Matchplay events and has been designed to challenge even the most prolific golfers. The nine-hole course offers a much more relaxed challenge; the course however is still maintained to the equally high standards of the championship course.

Review Comment: "Stayed for a three day, three round break. The staff are great, the course has interest and really great design on virtually every hole. Pace of play has been really good. Resort is three stars and a little tired, but the food and spa are pretty good. Genuinely enjoyable stay and well worth the money."

Woodbury Park Golf Club

Golfshake Rating: 4.11

Green Fees: £55

Woodbury has two courses on site, the Oaks and the Acorns. The Oaks offers an 18 hole par 73, 7,314 yards set in stunning parkland with rolling fairways, high standard greens, lakes and mature trees. The Acorns is a short par 32 nine-hole course, designed to offer a much more stress-free challenge, perfect for beginners looking to fine tune their game.

Review Comment: "Great course, recommend staying over as the facilities, food and drink were all of a good standard. I would return again."

Dainton Park Golf Club

Golfshake Rating: 4.39

Green Fees: £60

Set in 125 acres, Dainton Park was designed by acclaimed golf course architect Adrian Stiff, and commissioned in 1993. It has since matured and developed into one of the finest challenges in Devon. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a brand new beginner, Dainton will have an appropriate challenge for you.

Review Comment: "A lovely well kept course with plenty of challenges. Something for every kind of golfer. Great food and drink in the clubhouse too."

Boringdon Park Golf Course

Golfshake Rating: 3.17

Green Fees: £38

The course has been designed to flow with the natural contours of the land, the greens being constructed to USGA specification and strategically placed pot bunkers, St Andrews style double greens, and water features make for an exciting layout and superb panoramic views. The course design has allowed for each hole to have its own character and charm, with water hazards aplenty.

Review Comment: "Fantastic club and courses are a great test, staff excellent, love to play at this course."

Elfordleigh Golf Club

Golfshake Rating: 3.87

Green Fees: £40

Situated just seven miles from the centre of Plymouth, this naturally undulating parkland course is a real treat for any golfer. Planted in 120 acres of scenic park and woodland on the edge of Dartmouth, Elfordleigh is the definition of peace and tranquillity in the English countryside.

Review Comment: "Pretty course, bit hilly towards the end, nice staff."

Fingle Glen Golf Club

Golfshake Rating: 3.60

Green Fees: £35

This 5,600-yard par 69 for men and par 71 for women course offers a sturdy test for golfers of all abilities. With short par-4s and tricky par-3s, this course will provide a good test for your short game.

Review Comment: "Played the course today, was in great condition, greens were amazing and lots of work going on at present but found it a very testing course which needs a lot of thought and plotting your way around not just blasting a driver. The only thing I did find were not many signs from the green to the next tee but soon worked it out."

Saunton Golf Club

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Golfshake Rating: 4.92

Green Fees: £150

The true quality of Saunton Golf Club has been long recognised now, with its regular top reviews and consistent appearances in top 100 golf course surveys. Saunton offers two true links courses, with holes settling in between the natural dunes of the land.

Review Comment: "I had the pleasure of playing both courses last week in the sunshine with hardly any wind. What a glorious experience, the East is probably the tougher but the greens were a bit slow and patchy. The West was a bit easier but the greens were better. Both are a true test of golf and worth the trip."

Warren Golf Club

Golfshake Rating: 3.82

Green Fees: £40

The Warren is a very traditional, links style, par 69 course. Situated on the spit of land at the mouth of Devon’s Exe estuary, the Warren Golf Course provides a challenge to golfers of all abilities. With breathtaking views to make your day memorable, it has 18 of the finest greens in the South West.

Review Comment: "Lovely course challenge and interesting layout particularly approaching the turn, greens impeccable condition."

Bigbury Golf Club

Golfshake Rating: 4.30

Green Fees: £55

This coastal golf course is renowned for its welcoming atmosphere for any visitors. The fairways are wide and the greens fast, but club selection is complicated by sea breezes and by well placed trees and bunkers. There are stunning views in all directions with Dartmoor to the north, out to sea overlooking Burgh Island to the west, and on the eastern flank, Bantham Beach and the winding River Avon.

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."

Royal North Devon Golf Club

Golfshake Rating: 4.84

Green Fees: £100

Founded way back in 1864, Royal North Devon is the oldest golf course in England and Wales. This challenging links course is situated perfectly along the Devonshire coastline. Its exposed position, multitudes of spiky rushes, naturally formed grassy mounds and deep pot bunkers pose a number of questions to every level of golfer. This course truly has stood the test of time, and it is a perfect course for all golfers to experience.

Review Comment: "Always kept in good condition. This links course is an ever-changing challenge depending on wind speed and direction."

Torquay Golf Club

Golfshake Rating: 4.26

Green Fees: £65

Founded in 1909, the course has steadily evolved to present a first-class parkland layout that offers a challenging yet rewarding test of golf in beautiful natural surroundings. Extensive views from the course encompass Lyme Bay in the east across the water to as far afield as Portland Bill, and to the rugged tors of Dartmoor to the west. The tree lined fairways, and high-quality greens present an interesting challenge on each hole. Torquay offers a warm welcome to visitors and societies looking to test your skills.

Review Comment: "A shortish course in very good condition but mustn't be underestimated. Stunning clifftop views around the turn."

Axe Cliff Golf Club

Golfshake Rating: 3.55

Green Fees: £30

Designed by five-time Open champion, James Braid, also well known for some of his spectacular golf course designs. This is one of the oldest courses in the region. With tight fairways and challenging greens, this is a real test of all golfers' abilities.

Review Comment: "Having played Axe Cliff several times, I have always found it to be a great golf challenge. The course is not long, but it is a really good test even for a low handicap player."

Thurlestone Golf Club

Golfshake Rating: 4.54

Green Fees: £40

Situated right on the coast, in an area of outstanding natural beauty, the course is a mix of links and clifftop terrain. The course is well-draining and rarely suffers from frost, so it is rarely closed due to bad weather. The course is one of the most exhilarating with majestic rocky seascapes above the coves where smugglers used to operate. Thurlestone is an experience!

Review Comment: "The course had some great holes and spectacular views of the cliffs and the sea. The setting was absolutely beautiful, and I was able to take in the fantastic views with each shot."

Those are some of our most popular and highly reviewed courses in Devon. Let us know if you have played any of these courses and what you thought of them. Equally, let us know if you think we have missed any off!