The Best Golf Courses You Won't Know About
By: Kieran Clark | Thu 26 Jun 2025
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Having recently surveyed golfers on their playing habits, we know that experiencing different courses is an ambition that most of you share each season.
That said, rising green fees have made that a potentially expensive endeavour if you want to play the most iconic layouts, but what about those venues that perhaps don't share the level of recognition enjoyed by the household names?
Featuring tens of thousands of reviews submitted by the everyday members of the Golfshake Community, our Course Section and Course Rankings are determined by regular golfers for the benefit of others.
Our updated Alternative Top 100 features those locations that you probably won't see included on many other published ranking lists, but they offer a standard and quality that sits alongside those more celebrated institutions.
And if you wish to see even more of them, please click here.
However, now it's time for you to meet some of The Best Golf Courses You Won't Know About!
Make this a memorable golfing summer by visiting one of these places!
Enville Golf Club
Location: Stourbridge, Staffordshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.81
Green Fees: From £110
Review Comment: "A very challenging course which is really well laid out with natural features, a tough challenge. Welcoming staff with very good facilities."
Royal Cromer Golf Club
Location: Cromer, Norfolk
Golfshake Rating: 4.78
Green Fees: From £100
Review Comment: "We thought the course was in superb condition despite very dry weather. The tees and greens were immaculate. Clearly a very caring greenkeeper. Fairways were very well maintained. Many interesting holes, especially the lighthouse hole. Changes of elevation good and a mix of rough for wayward shots. The location and views on a fine day are stunning."
Kedleston Park Golf Club
Location: Derby, Derbyshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.74
Green Fees: From £120
Review Comment: "Regional Open qualifying venue. Immaculately maintained parkland course set in the grounds of a leading Derbyshire stately home. Greens are simply excellent. JSF Morrison and James Braid design of superb quality. One of the best golf courses in the East Midlands. Range and practice facilities are superb as is the clubhouse."
Glen Golf Club
Location: North Berwick, East Lothian
Golfshake Rating: 4.73
Green Fees: From £70
Review Comment: "A cracking good golf club which is a challenge if the wind is breezy. Greens are great to play on. The clubhouse has views to die for. Excellent food and service."
Heysham Golf Club
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire
Golfshake Rating: 4.73
Green Fees: From £48
Review Comment: "The course was in superb condition, the fairways were a joy to play off and the greens rolled superbly. We had a meal at the club, fresh and plentiful home cooked food. We will definitely come back."
Abbeydale Golf Club
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.72
Green Fees: From £80
Review Comment: "Course, clubhouse and pro shop excellently presented. Visually a treat and great varied holes in excellent condition, particularly if you consider the winter/spring that we have had. Suitable for any level of handicap."
Alnmouth Golf Club
Location: Alnmouth, Northumberland
Golfshake Rating: 4.72
Green Fees: From £45
Review Comment: "Alnmouth, or Foxton as it's also known, is a beautiful course, with fabulous views of the Northumberland coast. It's hard, the front nine has some very long par 4s, but it's very fair and a course you won't forget. Always in great condition, and always great to play."
Woodbridge Golf Club
Location: Woodbridge, Suffolk
Golfshake Rating: 4.71
Green Fees: From £55
Review Comment: "Simply one of the best courses I've played. Excellent coffee in the clubhouse prior to teeing off. Once on the course, I couldn't get enough of the place. Has some stunning views across the course, changes in elevation, sensible bunkering and decent greens. I would imagine it's stunning when the heather and rhododendrons are fully out."
Tandridge Golf Club
Location: Oxted, Surrey
Golfshake Rating: 4.71
Green Fees: From £112
Review Comment: "Played on a hot summer day. Course was in great condition, greens were fast but true. Hospitality was very welcoming and food was excellent. Good practice putting green."
Wrekin Golf Club
Location: Telford, Shropshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.70
Green Fees: From £60
Review Comment: "A stunning course set against the backdrop of the Wrekin near Telford. A very challenging course both in terms of play and physically. We hired a buggy which took the strain. Not played here for a few years, but it's just as tough. Enjoyable but well worth getting to the clubhouse. Great bar, friendly staff. Would recommend!"
Rockliffe Hall Golf Club
Location: Darlington, County Durham
Golfshake Rating: 4.69
Green Fees: From £100
Review Comment: "Beautiful course, very challenging for a high handicapper like me but great fun too. The greens were immaculate and the facilities and staff made for a great all round experience."
Stoneham Golf Club
Location: Southampton, Hampshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.66
Green Fees: From £116
Review Comment: "The course is pretty much at its best, a delight to play and the sun was shining which is always a bonus."
Strathmore Golf Centre
Location: Alyth, Perth & Kinross
Golfshake Rating: 4.65
Green Fees: From £70
Review Comment: "Every hole is interesting and designed to make you think. Course condition has been remarkably consistent over the years. The greens this year were the truest and quickest of the 25+ courses I played. Always a friendly welcome and a fine day out."
Rhuddlan Golf Club
Location: Rhuddlan, Clwyd
Golfshake Rating: 4.64
Green Fees: From £30
Review Comment: "This course is a lovely place to play. Great greens and a nice layout. Not too many holes that are similar."
Kirkby Lonsdale Golf Club
Location: Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria
Golfshake Rating: 4.63
Green Fees: From £50
Review Comment: "We were greeted by the lovely Carol on the tee box who made us very welcome. The course was in fantastic condition, beautifully manicured, with fast lush greens. The food in the clubhouse was exceptional and the staff, first rate."
Windermere Golf Club
Location: Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria
Golfshake Rating: 4.63
Green Fees: From £60
Review Comment: "Even though it's short, this course is really challenging because of the hills. But it's worth it because the scenery is so beautiful. You won't be disappointed!"
Lancaster Golf Club
Location: Lancaster, Lancashire
Golfshake Rating: 4.63
Green Fees: From £60
Review Comment: "It is a good challenge for a mid handicapper. The course was in excellent condition and the green fees were very reasonable. The clubhouse had a very unique feel to it and really added to the experience."
The Manor House Golf Club
Location: Castle Combe, Wiltshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.62
Green Fees: From £95
Review Comment: "The course is in amazing condition, the greens were the best I have played on all year, rich in colour, smooth and fast. The best course around by miles."
Goring & Streatley Golf Club
Location: Streatley-on-Thames, Berkshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.62
Green Fees: From £53
Review Comment: "Glorious as ever. It's always enjoyable to play this course which is always in the best condition it can be in for the time of year. Some changes to bunkering since my last visit but the work looks to be carried out to a high standard. Greens were fast and true. Great welcome by all the staff and members and excellent food after our round."
Alresford Golf Club
Location: Alresford, Hampshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.62
Green Fees: From £45
Review Comment: "First visit, very impressed all round. Well maintained course and super service and hospitality."
Burghill Valley Golf Club
Location: Hereford, Herefordshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.62
Green Fees: From £35
Review Comment: "A lovely course to play with some challenging holes. Nice friendly atmosphere."
Sickleholme Golf Club
Location: Bamford, Derbyshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.61
Green Fees: From £25
Review Comment: "First time visit and thoroughly enjoyed the course. Very undulating but fair. Course was in great condition, the greens, tees, fairways and bunkers all in good order. The members were friendly and welcoming. Nice clubhouse and reasonable prices for food and drink. Will return!"
Wallasey Golf Club
Location: Wallasey, Merseyside
Golfshake Rating: 4.61
Green Fees: From £165
Review Comment: "Wonderfully presented and a credit to the green staff. The walkways from green to tee are the best I’ve ever come across. Fairways and greens were top notch. Definitely need to club up on the shorter par 4s with elevated greens. Can’t think of a better conditioned course that I’ve played. Absolute treat."
Cuddington Golf Club
Location: Banstead, Surrey
Golfshake Rating: 4.61
Green Fees: From £80
Review Comment: "I have driven passed this course for many years but never played it, was always told how good a track it was and it did not disappoint. It still had remnants of recent maintenance work but the teeing areas and the fringes of the greens was well manicured and in general the course looked in excellent condition given the time of the year."
Downfield Golf Club
Location: Dundee, Tayside
Golfshake Rating: 4.60
Green Fees: From £95
Review Comment: "Extremely enjoyable course with some blind holes that are very interesting off the tee. Placing is very important off the tee for these holes, otherwise you get cut out from the green for your second. A couple of beautiful scenic holes that do the course justice as the best in Dundee. Loved it and will deffo be back again next time I am up in Dundee."
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