The Best Golf Courses in England That Are Not Big Names
By: Kieran Clark | Fri 08 Aug 2025
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We're not sure that hidden gems truly exist in the world of golf anymore - how could they in the age of the internet and social media - but it's undeniably true that England is home to an extraordinary depth of exceptional courses.
Given the sheer number of fantastic layouts dotted across the country, many of them will naturally slip a little under the radar, generally being overshadowed by the biggest and greatest names.
That said, the Golfshake Alternative Top 100, which showcases those venues that don't typically feature in published rankings, but that nonetheless come recommended by the everyday golfers who leave reviews and submit ratings on this website, is a great place to discover these underappreciated jewels.
Hopefully providing you with a touch of inspiration, we're excited to share another list of destinations from our updated rankings, presenting a selection of the best golf courses in England that are not big names.
Where are you playing first?
Burnham Beeches Golf Club
Location: Slough, Buckinghamshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.52
Review Comment: "Great course. Been a while since I've played here, the greens and fairways were in very good condition, the greens were fast and challenging."
St Mellion Resort
Location: Saltash, Cornwall
Golfshake Rating: 4.52
Review Comment: "A really beautifully-designed and maintained course, but a beast of a challenge for high-handicappers like me!"
Blackwell Golf Club
Location: Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
Golfshake Rating: 4.52
Review Comment: "This is a premier course up with the best in the country. The course was in superb condition and the greens something else again. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day and many congratulations to the member, staff and especially the greenkeepers. Highly recommended."
Salisbury & South Wilts Golf Club
Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.52
Review Comment: "Really interesting course, amongst Salisbury horse racing track, providing a challenging but picturesque setting. Some very tough holes, probably leave driver in the bag. Nice greens and conditions overall, even with the inclement weather."
Fulwell Golf Club
Location: Hampton Hill, Greater London
Golfshake Rating: 4.51
Review Comment: "Great course. Superb bar area and staff. Played it in summer, only believe it can be more tricky in winter. Super friendly staff. Great course with lots of challenges but also very fair. Definitely recommend."
North Wilts Golf Club
Location: Devizes, Wiltshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.51
Review Comment: "Played as a visitor on the twilight offer, nice course with variety of holes, nice par 3s challenging 4s and achievable par 5s. Stunning location, with amazing sunset views over Wiltshire countryside."
Houghton-Le-Spring Golf Club
Location: Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne & Wear
Golfshake Rating: 4.51
Review Comment: "Golf course in good condition, well presented greens very good, fairways burnt, dry in places due to recent good weather. Choice of meals excellent."
Halifax Golf Club
Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.51
Review Comment: "Played this morning for the first time and loved it. Lovely moorland style course with fantastic greens. Course is very good condition and dry all the way around. Lovely variety of holes. Really enjoyed it. Views are stunning too."
Moor Park Golf Club
Location: Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.51
Review Comment: "This is one of those courses you're always happy to be able to play. Steeped in heritage and sculpted into the natural beauty of the surroundings it never fails to make you say wow. Add to that the course is spectacular, in amazing condition at all times and a treat to play."
Rotherham Golf Club
Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.51
Review Comment: "Beautiful day, course in magnificent condition and very friendly staff and welcome."
Rowlands Castle Golf Club
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.51
Review Comment: "Lovely tidy course in Hampshire. The greens are particularly tough so makes it a good challenge and there are some pleasing on the eye holes to play. Helps if someone has played before as some holes are blind from the tee and local knowledge important for clubbing and position."
Cleveland Golf Club
Location: Redcar, North Yorkshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.50
Review Comment: "A great challenge in the wind. Not the truest of links formats - but still a proper links challenge. A tough summer but greens incredible, friendly members and very, very quick play."
Maxstoke Park Golf Club
Location: Coleshill, Birmingham
Golfshake Rating: 4.50
Review Comment: "In the hottest day so far it was still an absolute pleasure here. Great facilities, very warm and friendly welcome and a top, top course with greens to die for. Course was in great condition all round and the greens were as good as you’ll find. Food and drink was also great and very well priced. All in all a great day and will definitely return."
Harewood Downs Golf Club
Location: Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.50
Review Comment: "Harewood Downs is currently in fantastic condition, tee boxes are some of the best around, fairways are in really good condition, greens were running very true and reasonably quick. Staff and clubhouse were excellent."
Rushcliffe Golf Club
Location: East Leake, Nottinghamshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.50
Review Comment: "Love this course! Beautiful scenery, great layout and range of holes. Everything was in very good condition."
Bingley St Ives Golf Club
Location: Bingley, West Yorkshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.49
Review Comment: "Try and play Bingley St Ives in one of their opens and this year was better than ever. Food always quality, especially the Full English, course in superb condition, greens mint. Always a challenge. If not played before you have got to give it a go."
Blundells Hill Golf Club
Location: Rainhill, Merseyside
Golfshake Rating: 4.49
Review Comment: "Lovely reasonably priced parkland course. In great condition and great value for money. I'd definitely play again."
Ashridge Golf Club
Location: Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.49
Review Comment: "Fantastic morning at Ashridge. Not the most challenging course, with wide fairways and little water, but in immaculate condition, and with true greens. Staff and members amongst the most friendly I have come across recently."
Studley Wood Golf Club
Location: Oxford, Oxfordshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.49
Review Comment: "The course is very interesting and great fun but what really stood out was the quality of the greens and nearly all of the tees. Considering the dry weather we have had of late, how they have produced the quality here that they have is beyond me and it really just puts you in the right frame of mind to play well and with a smile on your face."
Addington Palace Golf Club
Location: Addington, Surrey
Golfshake Rating: 4.49
Review Comment: "Great condition for the time of the year. The greens ran true, fairways and tee boxes in great shape too. Well done Addington Palace, its the second time I've played here and would love to come back again."
Close House
Location: Newcastle, Tyne & Wear
Golfshake Rating: 4.49
Review Comment: "The Filly is a great course, tough in places with some long holes, but fair, with some short par 4s as well. Well worth the money."
Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club
Location: Felixstowe, Suffolk
Golfshake Rating: 4.49
Review Comment: "Fantastic links course that has been there for a long, long time. It's a thing of beauty from the Martello towers that guard the coastal side of the course to the pure greens and fast firm fairways. Book a round and smile all the way round. The members and staff will make you feel at home and the fish and chips were spectacular. Thank you Felixstowe Ferry GC."
Kington Golf Club
Location: Kington, Herefordshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.49
Review Comment: "Incredible. Excellent value for money, fairways kept short by the sheep, greens some of the best I’ve played. Views, and more views."
Warrington Golf Club
Location: Warrington, Cheshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.48
Review Comment: "Greens like glass, course in great condition, very windy when I played so it was a tough day, would play again."
Leigh Golf Club
Location: Warrington, Cheshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.48
Review Comment: "Class. Beautiful hidden gem of a course, well manicured, excellent greens. Short but tough."
Carlyon Bay Golf Club
Location: Carlyon Bay, Cornwall
Golfshake Rating: 4.48
Review Comment: "Epic golf course with challenging aspects, the quarry hole on the back is one of my favourites, incorporating an old quarry into a hole makes for a awesome hazard and a hard hole."
Crow Nest Park Golf Club
Location: Brighouse, West Yorkshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.48
Review Comment: "The course is mature beyond its years, has great greens and provides a challenge for golfers of every ability. Be it a tight tree lined par 4 or tricky par 3 over water, Crow Nest has it all. Additional benefits are a nice driving range, decent pro shop and well stocked bar. Certainly worth a visit."
Tyneside Golf Club
Location: Ryton, Tyne & Wear
Golfshake Rating: 4.48
Review Comment: "Tyneside is a gem of a course offering challenges to all abilities. The greens are always in superb condition and are consistent in their pace. Although not a long course it demands accuracy off the tee as there are a few blind shots. It has two longish par 5s and four varied par 3s. Each of the par 3s face a different direction which is unusual and a challenge. I would recommend this course without hesitation!"
Bowood Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort
Location: Calne, Wiltshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.48
Review Comment: "A great round, despite the recent weather the course was in superb condition. A very enjoyable round and great pace of play."
Camberley Heath Golf Club
Location: Camberley, Surrey
Golfshake Rating: 4.48
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."
Headingley Golf Club
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.48
Review Comment: "First time playing Headingley for us. We had heard so many great reports about the course, and we were not disappointed. The whole course was immaculately maintained and so well presented. It’s an absolute gem of a course and well worth the trip."
Chartham Park Golf Club
Location: East Grinstead, West Sussex
Golfshake Rating: 4.47
Review Comment: "Great course with some good challenges. Course conditions were very good. Good society venue, enjoyable day."
Wath Golf Club
Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.47
Review Comment: "The clubhouse, pro shop and practice facilities are surprisingly good and your immediate view of the course make you begin to realise how different it is to other courses. The layout is intricate with quite a few crossing over holes and fairways, but once you navigate those this course appeals to anyone who likes a thinking course."
Lee Park Golf Club
Location: Liverpool, Merseyside
Golfshake Rating: 4.47
Review Comment: "Was very impressed with the course, especially the greens. They were quick but ran true. A few quirky holes but on the main a good layout. Well worth the green fee and would defo play again."
Temple Golf Club
Location: Maidenhead, Berkshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.47
Review Comment: "Wonderful character. Extremely varied holes - you could never get bored no matter how many times you play. Clever layout- not a simple up and down challenge."
Hinckley Golf Club
Location: Hinckley, Leicestershire
Golfshake Rating: 4.47
Review Comment: "Very warm from everyone at the club. Course was in immaculate condition and has matured into one of the top courses in Leicestershire. This was followed by an excellent meal. A must play venue."
Dyrham Park Golf & Country Club
Location: Barnet, Hertfordshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.47
Review Comment: "Another great round at Dyrham with the course once again being in A1 condition despite the recent indifferent weather. The fairways were lush and unblemished and both greens and tee boxes immaculate."
Hickleton Golf Club
Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.47
Review Comment: "Been a few years since we last played here. Not disappointed. Still a very high standard of course maintenance. Very challenging course with undulating fairways. Everything in top condition. Made very welcome in the pro shop and bar area afterwards. Would highly recommend and hopefully will be playing it again this year."
Mellor Golf Club
Location: Stockport, Cheshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.47
Review Comment: "I have played here a couple of times and it is absolutely charming. Very well kept, with a design which keeps you on your toes. A good variety of holes. Chances for big hitters do do well if they dare take it on. Beautifully kept and very welcoming. Lovely greens which are quick and true. Members and staff treat you well. It is a must visit and is very affordable."
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