Ranking golf courses is a tricky business. Many publications rely on a team of keen experts and reviewers to draw up a list, while at Golfshake, we defer that to the ratings and opinions of the everyday golfers who use our platform, but who is better to judge the qualities of golf courses than those who design them for a living? read more ...

The Algarve is a paradise for golfers who are drawn by the attractive climate and the many superb courses and venues that can be experienced - and Quinta do Lago is arguably the jewel in that crown. read more ...

Golfshake's Derek Clements has found a new favourite golf course in Norfolk. Swaffham Golf Club is an absolute gem, an 18-hole course designed for the purist that will be enjoyed by players of all standards. read more ...

When thinking of golf courses that you want to play this year, you could look at the familiar, glossy rankings and see all the usual names laid out in front of you, or you could seek the opinion of other keen golfers just like yourself. read more ...

The golf industry in the UK & Ireland saw a record high for visitor revenue in 2024, with business growth agency, The Revenue Club, reporting from over 200 clubs to reveal that the average venue generated £170,462 in casual green fee income during the year, an 11% increase on the previous 12 months. read more ...

Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club is one of the finest courses in Suffolk and is a hugely popular winter venue, but its qualities will only become further enhanced as work has started on the building of a new state-of-the-art new golf clubhouse and five luxury villas. read more ...

Rockliffe Hall is a five-star luxury retreat featuring a historic hotel, spa, three restaurants and a Championship golf course. The course is playing host to events of increasing significance as a result of its high quality design and immaculate presentation. Golfshake sent Ambassador Rob Treanor on a short break to discover this gem of the North East. read more ...

With 2025 upon us, now is the perfect time to plan playing some new golf courses and some special trips to some of the most popular and highly recommended golf courses rated by golfers just like you. read more ...

What makes a great golf course? It is a difficult question to answer and if you asked 100 golfers that question the chances are that you would get 100 different answers. Golfshake's Derek Clements shares his thoughts and describes some of his favourites. read more ...

What makes a great golf course? It is a difficult question to answer and if you asked 100 golfers that question the chances are that you would get 100 different answers. Golfshake's Derek Clements shares his thoughts and describes some of his favourites. read more ...

It's been rewarding to see many members of the Golfshake Community tick off some truly special venues during the past 12 months. If you are searching for inspiration, these are the golf courses that you really should have played in 2024, so why not make that a reality in the New Year! read more ...

Situated on the North Norfolk coastline, Royal West Norfolk Golf Club - or Brancaster as it is often fondly referred to - is a outstanding traditional links course in every sense. And Golfshake Ambassador Matt Holbrook couldn't wait to play this true jewel of English golf. read more ...

The reputation of Costa Navarino has been gradually evolving, but it went to another level in 2024, which has become a landmark year for the venue as it secured a range of coveted global accolades. read more ...

When you reflect on your past year playing golf, the quality of the courses you visited will be among your instant thoughts. Did you uncover a true gem or finally tick off that dream layout that you had long been desperate to experience? Here are the places that our team managed to visit throughout 2024, all of which you should consider playing yourself. read more ...

Vilamoura is a highly popular destination in the central Algarve and will soon have even more to offer regular holiday golfers, with upgrades to its courses going on with more to come. Golfshake's Travel Editor Andy Waple recently visited the area and describes what you need to know. read more ...

The well-known Victoria course in Vilamoura, Portugal, is to reopen next year as the centre piece of a private members only club under the Els Club banner. read more ...

When golfers start talking about the golf of their dreams, iconic courses come to mind, often links, but when you move inland, it doesn't get better than the heathland layouts of Surrey and Berkshire, as Kevin Diss found out during a recent visit. read more ...

If you are considering a proper golf vacation and you want to follow in the shadow of giants, then Scotland should be right at the very top of your list. In case you need convincing, here are some of the courses that you need to play. read more ...

If you are looking for ideal courses to play during the winter months, you will likely be searching for those places that remain in superb condition, retain something resembling a full layout, and offer some excellent deals. read more ...

Earlier this season, the Golfshake Team visited the stunning Quinta do Lago Resort in the Algarve region of Portugal to sample everything that the resort had to offer - including its many restaurants and bars. Ryan Rastall provides a full overview of the many great dining options to discover. read more ...

Part of the Details - Hospitality, Sports & Leisure group, the newly rebranded PGA Aroeira Lisboa is becoming an even stronger destination for golfers following fresh investment and developments. Golfshake Ambassador Andy Picken describes them for us. read more ...

Quinta do Lago is undeniably one of Europe's greatest golf resorts, as we discovered during a visit earlier this year, but its offering is only going to become more impressive into the future following its acquisition of Conrad Algarve. read more ...

Have you stayed at The Grove? Well, if you have, then you have experienced England's newly crowned Best Golf Hotel, following the World Golf Awards in Madeira, Spain, last month. read more ...

It's that time of the year when you've replaced shorts on the golf course with a snood, but that doesn't mean that you should stop playing despite the frequently cold conditions. We know that winter golf can sometimes be a difficult sell, but the key is finding courses that offer the best possible experience. read more ...

When golfers visit and play a golf course, a priority in their mind will be the condition of the place. Everyone appreciates quality tees, fairways, bunkers and greens, which are presented immaculately and leave a positive impression. read more ...

Portugal is home to many incredible golf resorts and venues, so it was quite a moment when Praia D’El Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort was named Portugal’s Best Golf Hotel at the 2024 World Golf Awards, an honour received following a period of large investment into the hotel’s facilities. read more ...

If you've been reading Golfshake for a while, you'll probably be aware that Dundonald Links is among our favourite places, and that opinion was backed up at the 2024 World Golf Awards with the venue being named Scotland’s Best Golf Hotel for the second year in a row. read more ...

What is the best golf course that you haven't played? You probably haven't thought of this place before, as it hasn't been around for long, but it might just be The Dunas Course at Terras da Comporta. read more ...

Halfway houses are a common feature at both historic golf courses and resort venues, and many of them have gone down in legend, but there is a new kid on the block at La Hacienda Links Golf Resort, whose halfway house was named the World's Best at the 2024 World Golf Awards just 15 months after it opened. read more ...

We have been looking at recommendations to see which destinations throughout the UK should be on your list to experience in 2025. From venues with championship history to tranquil and scenic corners of the country that you hadn't considered before, whether it be in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, you have our guarantee that there will be a place to whet your appetite. read more ...

Designed by legendary architect Harry Colt, Edgbaston Golf Club is located in the heart of Birmingham and offers an experience that comes Highly Recommended on Golfshake. Andy Picken recently had the opportunity to see what the hype is all about. read more ...

Last week's Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship was a thriller and the players unanimously praised the condition of the stunning Yas Links golf course. read more ...

Those of you looking to play some iconic bucket list golf courses or be thrilled by fantastic sporting events should take a look at Dubai, the best-known of the United Arab Emirates. read more ...

If you have a dream list of courses that you want to play, you might be put off by their cost throughout the peak months of the season, but in winter, venues typically slash their green fees - often dramatically - making them significantly more affordable to visit. read more ...

Joining Castle Stuart Golf Links near Inverness, the Cabot Collection has confirmed that the Tom Doak designed Old Petty, the much-anticipated new course at the venue, is set to open for preview play at Cabot Highlands on August 1st, 2025. read more ...

It's surely time to start planning where you're going to play golf in 2025. We all have courses that we'd love to experience and destinations that we'd relish discovering, and thinking of these is enough to get us all dreaming. read more ...

Should you consider playing golf in Tunisia? The answer is a resounding yes, as there are ten courses in the country with more planned for construction. Located in North Africa and resting alongside the Mediterranean Sea, the climate here is known for its hot summers and warm winters, meaning that it could be the ideal destination to visit during the cooler months back home. read more ...

Most golfers are dreamers at heart, always hoping that every round and their next shot could be the best they've played. But that's also true of the courses that we visit, as we all have lists in our minds of layouts that we'd love to experience. Have you played any of these bucket list golf courses? read more ...

Now that we're entering the apparent darkness of winter, you might think it's the moment to pack away the golf clubs for a few months, but that would be a mistake, especially when you consider the exceptional value for money breaks that you can book at this time of the year. read more ...

Playing winter golf at home can be rewarding, but there is no denying the temptation to embark on a holiday to warmer and more pleasant surroundings. If you would like to plan an escape from the depths of winter in the UK, then we can share ten offers that you can book right now! read more ...

Aroeira has long been considered among the jewels of golf in Portugal, and the iconic Lisbon venue is embarking on a significant rebrand after been given the new identity of PGA Aroeira Lisboa. read more ...

Not many golfers from the UK venture to South West France, but Golfshake's Travel Editor Andy Waple explains why you should, following his break to the region, where he visited some fine cities, notably Biarritz and Bayonne, and smart towns such as Hosseger, and played three superb golf courses. read more ...

Spain has long been a huge draw with golfers from across Europe and beyond - there are around 400 courses to choose from - with the climate, accessibility and quality of its layouts being attractive to those who want to play immaculately conditioned designs in superb weather. But what are the best regions in the country to experience? read more ...

Mauritius is a true paradise, renowned for its tropical climate, spectacular landscapes, tranquil beaches, beautiful lagoons, and, increasingly, its stunning golf courses. Should you wish to discover it all for yourself, our travel partners Golfbreaks have recommended Trou aux Biches Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa as the perfect starting point. read more ...

If jaw-dropping scenery, excellent accommodation, wonderful locally-sourced food and superb golf facilities are your thing you should be checking out Cowdray Golf Club. Golfshake's Derek Clements reviews the venue for us. read more ...