Many golf courses occupy some remarkable pieces of land, whether they are laid out across the seaside, dropped into the mountains, or situated on other elevated spots that offer panoramic views of the surrounding area.
There are numerous qualities that make up a memorable venue to experience. It can be the challenge and architectural intrigue of the holes themselves, the rich history of a place, the quality of its conditioning, or the hospitality that it presents, but another thing that has enhanced many a course is the scenery that you can behold from particular tees, greens and fairways.
While not directly part of the design itself, these backdrops are often spectacular, and the placing of certain vantage points is deliberate to take full advantage of the wider landscape to allow golfers the full opportunity to consume these extraordinary visuals as they play.
That can make any golf course - even an otherwise comparatively average one - truly unforgettable.
We wanted to uncover layouts that are championed for their scenery, so we asked the Golfshake Community on Golfshake and received literally hundreds of recommendations.
You may have recently noted that we specifically covered Rothesay Golf Club on the Isle of Bute in Scotland - perhaps the most scenic golf course you haven't heard of before - and now we have more destinations that were referenced by numerous everyday golfers.
We have chosen to stick solely to the UK and Ireland, which rules out the likes of Pebble Beach, Pinnacle Point, Banff Springs, Leopard Creek, Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers. You can't forget Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland too.
And we also decided to focus less on the absolute biggest names, which is why you don't see Cruden Bay, Old Head, Royal Dornoch, Kingsbarns, Gleneagles, Nefyn, Turnberry and Royal County Down featured below. Each of those, naturally, qualify as being wonderfully scenic and were often promoted by respondents.
But here are 38 other golf courses that have absolutely incredible views - some of which you may not know much about.
Durness Golf Club
Location: Durness, Highlands
Golfshake Rating: 3.8
Review Comment: "Excellent. Fab little course with great scenery. Teeing off over the Atlantic on the ninth/eighteenth hole was great fun. Little clubhouse was spotless."
The Glen, North Berwick
Location: North Berwick, East Lothian
Golfshake Rating: 4.7
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."
Braid Hills Golf Course
Location: Braid Hills, Edinburgh
Golfshake Rating: 3.7
Review Comment: "Stunning views over Edinburgh to East Lothian, Fife and the Firth of Forth AND the greens were in immaculate condition for the end of September."
Ardglass Golf Club
Location: Ardglass, County Down
Golfshake Rating: 4.2
Review Comment: "Ardglass was a great experience. The pro shop was very welcoming and helpful, caddies are available if you want one but we didn't find it necessary after purchasing the course guide. The course is typical links, punishing if you are not straight, the odd unlucky bounce and lost ball if you are too wide. Every aspect of the course was in excellent condition."
Bamburgh Castle Golf Club
Location: Bamburgh, Northumberland
Golfshake Rating: 4.4
Review Comment: "Mindblowing views. Don't be deterred by the short yardages. Wonderful course in excellent condition. Buggies recommended to save yourself to challenge this very strategic venue. Cannot wait to play it again."
Traigh Golf Club
Location: Arisaig, Highlands
Golfshake Rating: 4.4
Review Comment: "A stunning setting and challenging 9-hole course with an amazing backdrop. Greens are a little small but interesting. Well set-up course, very quiet."
Kington Golf Club
Location: Kington, Herefordshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.5
Review Comment: "Stunning. Just love playing here. Course was in fabulous condition and the greens were so good and fast. The little additions they’ve made for their centenary year make an always enjoyable experience that bit better. Friendly greeting in the pro shop and the food as always was top notch. Cant wait to return for an open in about six weeks. 100% worth a visit."
Isle of Purbeck Golf Club
Location: Swanage, Dorset
Golfshake Rating: 4.9
Review Comment: "Beautiful, testing course. 10/10 views, great clubhouse, very exposed so be ready for wind. But a pleasure to play, will definitely return."
Pitlochry Golf Club
Location: Pitlochry, Perth & Kinross
Golfshake Rating: 4.5
Review Comment: "Excellent greens. As always a lovely course with great views, course was in great condition."
Windermere Golf Club
Location: Windermere, Cumbria
Golfshake Rating: 4.6
Review Comment: "Friendly welcome in the clubhouse, great breakfast. Friendly welcome in pro shop. Decent practice facilities. Course in great condition, lush fairways, greens mint. Course is very up and down, with a few blind holes. Not always driver off the tee and course management important. No bunkers but not needed as many other hazards to negotiate. The views are stunning as well. All in all a nice course to play."
Routenburn Golf Club
Location: Largs, Ayrshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.3
Review Comment: "In lovely condition, and not too busy. The course offers a decent challenge with some quite challenging holes. Whilst walking round there are some fantastic views, overlooking Largs, the local area and the sea. The members and pro are all welcoming and friendly."
St Enodoc Golf Club
Location: Rock, Cornwall
Golfshake Rating: 4.9
Review Comment: "This golf course is fantastic! The scenery is beautiful, the course is well-maintained. It's a links golf course, so the quality is great and the views are incredible. The course is challenging but fair and the location is great too. Overall, this is an amazing course and I had a great time playing here."
Gourock Golf Club
Location: Gourock, Inverclyde
Golfshake Rating: 4.5
Review Comment: "My first visit to Gourock Golf Club, but it will not be my last. What an excellent course layout. From the minute we arrived, staff were great. Course was in very good condition, a bit hilly, so if you struggle in any way with your walking, book a buggy. Some great holes, some very challenging holes, but overall a great place to play golf. The food and service were exceptional, please do use the clubhouse facilities, excellent. Views around the course and from the clubhouse are out of this world. All in all, a great day."
Shiskine Golf & Tennis Club
Location: Blackwaterfoot, Isle of Arran
Golfshake Rating: 4.4
Review Comment: "Top 100 course worldwide, quirky, friendly and in excellent condition at a very reasonable price. Stunning location and views."
Tralee Golf Club
Location: Tralee, County Kerry
Golfshake Rating: 4.9
Review Comment: "This is a wonderful links course which is surrounded by the beautiful Tralee Bay and its many little islands. It is a difficult course, particularly the back 9. Take a buggy if you can and if you’ve thought the first 9 are energy sapping, you’ve seen nothing yet. Greens are in great nick."
Castle Course, St Andrews
Location: St Andrews, Fife
Golfshake Rating: 4.9
Review Comment: "The Castle Course is not a traditional St Andrews links but boy is it exhilarating. Yes, there are a few holes which feel the same, but the semi-blind tee shots, rollercoaster greens and North Sea backdrop make this a thrill a minute golf course. You need to use your course guide well to pick lines and yardages off the tee. You barely get a flat stance even on the greens but everything about the Castle Course is challenging, exciting and throught provoking. Standout holes include all the par 5 holes, the par 3 17th over the cliffs and par 4 6th hole. If you go to St Andrews, make sure you pay the Castle Course a visit."
Sheringham Golf Club
Location: Sheringham, Norfolk
Golfshake Rating: 4.5
Review Comment: "Fabulous. Definitely one of my favourite tracks. Starts off fairly ordinary then you go over the hill and boom! The most fabulous views and holes. Pray that the wind is down because it can cause havoc. This is rated as a top 100 club for a good reason. In addition to which the staff are so friendly and the food is top notch."
Cape Cornwall Club
Location: St Just, Cornwall
Golfshake Rating: 3.9
Review Comment: "Great links course. Not too busy. Fun and challenging. Fantastic location and scenery."
Cabot Highlands
Location: Inverness, Highlands
Golfshake Rating: 5.0
Review Comment: "Top five favourite course. Excellent practice facilities. Amazing views. Course in excellent condition. Layout is amazing, you feel like you are the only ones on the course."
Aberdour Golf Club
Location: Aberdour, Fife
Golfshake Rating: 4.4
Review Comment: "Aberdour is a lovely course situated by the sea. Not a traditional links, but plays like one. Some stunning scenery, and great holes. A well laid out golf course, absolutely incredible start with two fantastic par 3s."
Cruit Island Golf Club
Location: Cruit Island Lower, County Donegal
Golfshake Rating: 4.5
Review Comment: "Playing Cruit Island is a wonderful golfing experience. It all starts with the drive out to the club where the scenery is just breathtaking. Scenery from some of the holes is mind blowing. A mixture of beautiful par 3s and 4s on the front nine with a number of changes to tees once you start out on the back 9 of this wonderful 9 hole course. This should be on everyone's visit to the North West and my only advice to all is to make sure you allow enough time to enjoy it."
Spey Valley Golf Course
Location: Aviemore, Highlands
Golfshake Rating: 4.6
Review Comment: "Very nice course with wonderful scenery, really recommend it and will play again."
Seaford Head Golf Club
Location: Seaford, East Sussex
Golfshake Rating: 4.2
Review Comment: The start is a bit tricky if you don't know where you are going, but the course was in good condition with splendid views, especially on the back 9 and closing holes."
Llanymynech Golf Club
Location: Llanymynech Hill, English-Welsh Border
Golfshake Rating: 4.5
Review Comment: "Great value and location. People we met there were great, the views and the layout excellent."
Pennard Golf Club
Location: Southgate, Swansea
Golfshake Rating: 4.9
Review Comment: "Outstanding scenery, tough course, great design and lovely clubhouse and facilities."
Ilfracombe Golf Club
Location: Ilfracombe, Devon
Golfshake Rating: 4.2
Review Comment: "The views are amazing from every hole and so was the condition of the course. Tees, fairways, approaches and greens all in tip top condition."
West Cornwall Golf Club
Location: Lelant, Cornwall
Golfshake Rating: 3.9
Review Comment: "The crumpled fairways through 3, 4 and 8 are stunning, add to that the views across to St Ives and Gwithian and it’s just breathtaking."
Stranraer Golf Club
Location: Stranraer, Dumfries & Galloway
Golfshake Rating: 4.5
Review Comment: "Absolutely stunning course, a really challenging course, the 5th is a monster of a hole, overall a really, really good course, plenty of grass on the fairways, lush greens and very tidy with exceptional views."
Thurlestone Golf Club
Location: Thurlestone, Devon
Golfshake Rating: 4.6
Review Comment: "Lovely links course with world class views and helpful staff."
Howth Golf Club
Location: Sutton North, Dublin
Golfshake Rating: 4.4
Review Comment: "The course was in fantastic condition and is a great test of golf with many natural features and terrific views over the Irish coast. Hilly and each hole interesting. Will certainly be back to play again sometime in the future."
Millport Golf Club
Location: Millport, Isle of Cumbrae
Golfshake Rating: 3.7
Review Comment: "Take a 10 minute ferry from Largs and you'll find the course at the topside of the town of Millport. First impressions are impressive, continue halfway round and WOW, views to die for. Course in fabulous condition. Greens run true and although not long, a test for all abilities."
Edzell Golf Club
Location: Edzell, Angus
Golfshake Rating: 4.5
Review Comment: "Nice little course in the foothills of the Cairngorms. Very hospitable and great condition."
Porthmadog Golf Club
Location: Porthmadog, Gwynedd
Golfshake Rating: 3.9
Review Comment: "Front nine is heathland with water coming into play on some holes. Fairways were scorched and very hard with hardly a blade of grass in sight leading to some interesting bounces. The back nine was proper links with severe undulation, very tight lies, blind shots, run-offs and lots of bunkers. Without a course planner it was often difficult to know what a good line was going to be off the tee, but there were some outstanding views and the greens were fast and true."
Welshpool Golf Club
Location: Welshpool, Powys
Golfshake Rating: 4.4
Review Comment: "What an absolute gem. Panoramic views that are unmatched. Greens, swift and undulating that are small and easy to miss. The course is not long and gives ample opportunities to score, BUT it is a course where most holes offer risk and reward, whether it be boldness off the tee or attacking the flag. The stunning 12th hole is the most difficult in the county. A par here is a great result. Welshpool is a must play for any golfer."
Crail Golfing Society
Location: Crail, Fife
Golfshake Rating: 4.4
Review Comment: "The course has great views, always in good condition."
Ballater Golf Club
Location: Ballater, Aberdeenshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.5
Review Comment: "It was a treat to play on some green grass having experienced a very dry summer with permanent brown fairways further south. As always, the course was in great condition and the greens were exceptional. The staff were friendly and helpful. The course has a number of memorable holes in a perfect setting. It is well worth a visit."
Hopeman Golf Club
Location: Hopeman, Moray
Golfshake Rating: 4.8
Review Comment: "The 12th is an amazing hole as well as being a challenge, from memory there is a 116 feet drop from the tee to the green 130 yards away with a sea of gorse in between. Quite daunting when you first see it but the view is breathtaking."
Freshwater Bay Golf Club
Location: Freshwater, Isle of Wight
Golfshake Rating: 3.9
Review Comment: "Great golf course. Amazing views and very friendly staff. Nice and quiet too. I would recommend this to anyone visiting the Isle of Wight."
If you are someone who appreciates golf courses that can provide stunning scenery during a round, then you really ought to add some of these jewels in the UK and Ireland to your must play lists.
These are places that, in many instances, offer visuals that will simply take your breath away.
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