Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel

4 Golfshake Golf Course Rating 99 reviews

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Course Information

Thorpeness Golf Club, Suffolk is a top 100 championship 18 hole, par 70 (6510 yard). Designed by James Braid in 1922 it is one of the best examples of coastal heathland golf courses.

18 holes | Par 70 | 6311 yards | Private | Heathland

Address: Lakeside Avenue, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, IP16 4NH United Kingdom

Tel: 01728 454926

Golf Pro: Christine Langford | Tel: 01728454926

Website: https://www.thorpeness.co.uk

Golf Club Facilities

Click the following link to find out what facilities are available at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel and read frequently asked questions.

Price Guide: £££££

Residential stay and play packages available
Winter rates apply in line with BST
Book ad pay on line for day green fees
Buggies, Electric Trolleys and Pull Trolleys available.

Midweek Guide: From £40.00 per round *

Weekend Guide: From £40.00 per round *

Societies Accepted to Play
Society Deals Available
Voucher Deals Available
7 Day Membership Available

* Any prices shown are guide prices, please confirm with the course prior to booking.

Course	Tee	Par	SSS	Yards
Thorpeness	Blue	70	72 [134]	6471
Thorpeness	White	70	72 [133]	6311
Thorpeness	Yellow	70	70 [130]	6062
Thorpeness	red	74	74 [134]	5490
Thorpeness	Red	74	74 [134]	5458

Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel Reviews

GOLFSHAKE RATING

Golfshake Golf Course Rating

AVERAGE RATING 4.1
(based on 99 reviews)

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

RECOMMENDATIONS

91%

would play again or recommend

Golfshake Review

4.1

The Course

3.8

Course Conditions

3.9

Value For Money

3.2

Pace of Play

3.9

Facilities & Service

4.3

Hospitality

3.4

Practice Facilities

Food & Drink

What the club says: The legendary James Braid laid out the 18 hole, 6,281 yard heathland course in 1922, yet the quality of his design is as evident today as then, and continues to offer endless variety and extraordinary challenges to golfers at all levels. The Sunday Telegraph Golfing Guide has been moved to describe the classic terrain as "reminiscent of the inland glories of Sunningdale and Woodhall Spa" - and that is high praise indeed! The golf course is playable year round thanks to the sandy subsoil, no temporary greens or tees!

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Reviews for Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel

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The golf courses reviews are the personal opinions of members of Golfshake who completed a review after playing the course. These opinions do not necessarily represent the views of Golfshake.com

Ali Crew Bournemouth rated 1 out of 5

Reviewed Apr 7 2025

TERRIBLE!!

Not sure how this is rated so highly. Was recently on a golf trip playing some other highly rated courses in the area and this is more a municipal than anything else. Tees awful, fairways, okay, greens……more like fairways! Simply not worth the effort of going to play. Management need to have a look at themselves, this is very poor quality! Hotel was okay though. In short, just keep driving down the A12….no need to go and play this one.

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Alistair Crew/Bournemouth rated 5 out of 5

Reviewed Apr 5 2025

Very poor! Avoid

Recently on a golf trip with some friends and we played all the respected courses in the area, Aldebory, Woodbridge, Purdis Heath etc on a weeks golf trip. We were advised to stay and play at Thorpeness and although the hotel was okay but not the best value the course was simply awful. Not sure what the business MO is here but clear the course manager and or Director of Golf aren’t cutting the mustard here. I would rate this no better than a municipal course and the money they are charging is staggering. Staff are friendly but I guess that’s the bare minimum these days. Greens were fairways, fairways were non existent and the tees, well….if you can call them tees! Best way to play this place is to avoid it. Please don’t waste your money or time.

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Colin D rated 3.5 out of 5

Reviewed Dec 3 2024

Beware the bunkers

Having played this course last year, an opportunity arose and was able to play the course again, fairways were in very good condition considering it was the beginning of December, nice and soft going under foot due to the heathland. Tee areas very well managed, not an artificial mat in site, well sign posted between holes, halfway tea hut, unfortunately was not open at 2.45pm, porta loos at the 7th green, male and female, but unfortunately no water to flush or wash your hands, must be used an awful lot in a week so would really need servicing more than once a week, it might be ,I don't know, if it is it is not enough. My only complaint as it was last time I played is the total lack of sand depth, love the fact there are a lot of bunkers, makes you focus on your shots, it looks like the bunkers have ample sand in them until you take a shot, all you end up taking is a club full of mud and any sand has long gone, depth of sand seems to be 1cm ,looks good but awful to try and get out of, better taking a penalty stroke ????

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Steve E rated 4 out of 5

Reviewed Nov 28 2024

Typical James Braid course with lots of well placed & deep bunkers.
A great winter course as the sand based ground drains well & is always playable.
Course & hotel staff are always polite.
Super value stay & play venue.
Will definitely be back.

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Pete H rated 5 out of 5

Reviewed Nov 27 2024

A winter beauty

2 days & blessed with warm late November sunshine on a wonderful Braid course & with no mud in sight. Running fairways faster than the usual winter greens & playing to the breaks. A minor minor quibble was the recent aereation of the greens so not running to perfection but I’m back here like a shot next chance & the winter hotel deal is a massive draw too. Staff all excellent. Great spacious rooms & a really enjoyable course.

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Peter Difolco rated 1 out of 5

Reviewed Sep 19 2024

The greens and aprons are very good the greens run true but the rest of the course is not maintained. The fairways are non existent lucky to find a bit of grass just shrubby bare patches. Most of tee boxes poor . The bunkers are a challenge because they contain no sand they are filled with a kind of soil loam mixture which requires a different technique to get the ball out . Overall a very challenging course not helped because of lack of fairways

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TW/London rated 4.5 out of 5

Reviewed Aug 29 2024

Played it when most other courses were very wet and here was dry and also challenging.

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A Golfer rated 4.5 out of 5

Reviewed Jun 24 2024

Interesting golf course which really makes you think.

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Stephen P rated 4.5 out of 5

Reviewed Jun 13 2024

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Lee G rated 5 out of 5

Reviewed May 28 2024

Great Course

Great course with load of challenging holes, its an all weather course too.
Clubhouse very good with great staff.

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Jamie P rated 4.5 out of 5

Reviewed Apr 24 2024

Society package fantastic value, course in great condition and a real challenge.

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Angela H rated 5 out of 5

Reviewed Mar 5 2024

The course was in really good condition considering the vast amount of rain fall recently, obviously good drainage.The course is challenging and very enjoyable.
The food and service is top class and the staff are very welcoming.
Highly recommended this golf course and venue.

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Lee R rated 5 out of 5

Reviewed Dec 31 2023

Fantastic winter course

we turned up to Thorpness in awful weather conditions and whilst there was some standing water on the greens early in the round when the rain stopped the course dried superbly. the overnight winter package is great value as well.

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GR. sussex rated 3.5 out of 5

Reviewed Sep 7 2023

Not inspired

Hotel, reception, pro, food, restaurant service, rooms - all excellent.
Bit let down by the course.
Greens very good, but fairways patchy, despite perfect growing conditions in recent months.
Bunkers awful. Nicely positioned but terribly maintained. Wouldn’t play there again.
Very slow.

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Neil S rated 4 out of 5

Reviewed Jun 17 2023

True greens. Prob the best I have played on for some time

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Martin G rated 4.5 out of 5

Reviewed Jun 13 2023

Another fantastic 3 day trip to Thorpeness GC.
Course is in good condition, but very dry & bouncy fairways.
A true test of every part of your game.
Food, drink & staff are all excellent.
Great range of food on the menu, and the meals for very tasty, hearty
& well preaented.
Staff are very welcoming & helpful.

Rooms are a good size & comfortable.

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Robert S rated 5 out of 5

Reviewed Feb 7 2023

Great course.

You can play this course all year round and no Muddy shoes Sandy soil the water drains through. If you don't want mud on your trousers or golf trolley then this is a must play course.

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Paul rated 4.5 out of 5

Reviewed Dec 20 2022

Fantastic Golf Break

Just returned from a 1 night, 2 rounds of golf break and have to say it was an absolute please to play and stay there.
From booking the break with Keely in the office, Barry in the Pro Shop and all the ladies serving in the Bar and Restaurant everybody was extremely helpful, friendly and professional.
Despite the recent thaw the course was in a very playable condition and the holes had much variety with gorse and bunkers proving a great defence.
The breakfasts and evening meal were all great tasting and well presented. All 3 of us loved the 3 Course meal. Compliments to the chef.
Our rooms were a stones throw away from the hotel and were well proportioned.
Thorpeness is a real hidden gem and the staff are a great credit to the Golf Club and Hotel.

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Gary W rated 4 out of 5

Reviewed Jun 29 2022

Interesting and challemging course, generally in good condition.Hotel room, staff & food excellent.

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Paul B rated 3.5 out of 5

Reviewed Jun 18 2022

Slow play. (5 hours +) Fairways patchy, tees poor. Nice layout. Greens looked slower than they were. We stayed for 3 nights. Played the course once. Staff good. Evening meal disappointing (pricey & small portions). The Dolphin pub is good in the village. Curry in Aldeburgh outstanding.

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Paul B rated 3.5 out of 5

Reviewed Jun 17 2022

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Paul W rated 4 out of 5

Reviewed Jun 8 2022

A gem

This is a lovely course that I'd happily go back to over and over. Never boring, a great variety of holes. Great club house and bar. Great service and food.

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Martin G rated 2.5 out of 5

Reviewed Jun 7 2022

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Nathan S rated 4 out of 5

Reviewed Apr 19 2022

We've been very lucky to play this course at least twice a year for the last 10 years or more. The greens always seem to be in good condition along with the fairways and tee boxes. A trivial annoyance but there are always spent tees lying around the tee box.
When we started playing years ago there was lots of high gorse in front of the tees so you were punished if your tee shot didn't make it over. This has now been removed along with other gorse bushes which makes the course less punishing if your shot is errant. There is always some work / little tweaks being done to the course which is nice to see.
This course has great water management and the ground is rarely soggy for long or if at all.
The par 3's are interesting and challenging. The other holes are up and down with doglegs which also adds interest

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Michael H rated 4 out of 5

Reviewed Jan 31 2022

unfortunately came at the time the greens had been punched, they were unplayable. Which was a shame as we drove 2 hours to come and play. Despite that I'd recommend playing, its brutal with any slight misses but a great track.

(Round played: Jan 2022 - Score: 94 Handicap: 11.1)

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Kevin N rated 5 out of 5

Reviewed Dec 17 2021

Great club

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Martin G rated 5 out of 5

Reviewed Nov 19 2021

Fantastic course, must visit

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Ian C rated 5 out of 5

Reviewed Nov 1 2021

As Arnie says - We'll be back!

This was our 5th annual Autumn tour, but a new course for us - and wow - we were not disappointed. What a cracking set up at Thorpeness. The Hotel was top class - as was the food and we thoroughly enjoyed our 3 days stay. As for the course, we loved it. Some easy holes, but others were challenging to say the least. Considering the rain that had fallen overnight before our first round, we were surprised the course was open with all the flooding on the surrounding roads. We should not have worried. The course drains exceptionally well and we played 3 days in completely different conditions, all of which helped make each hole different. Highly recommended and we will be back!

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Robert S rated 4 out of 5

Reviewed Oct 12 2021

Great course.

Very slow play today 2pm , nice greens friendly staff in pro shop, easy walking course, I’m glad I had a buggy to sit down on most of the holes sooo slow,

(Round played: Oct 2021 - Score: 95 Handicap: 12.6)

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Andrew C rated 2 out of 5

Reviewed Sep 27 2021

Overrated course with dated facilities

Poorly designed course despite the generally positive reviews - short, narrow, and monotonously unforgiving off the tee. Absurd over use of gorse bushes and thick vegetation.

“Gorse and water share the disadvantage that it is practically impossible to play out of them and they are a frequent cause of lost balls. It would appear, therefore, that that they should not be used to any great extent as hazards.”
(H S Colt, Essays on Golf-Course Architecture, 1920)

“There should be a complete absence of the annoyance and irritation caused by the necessity of searching for lost balls.”
(Alistair Mackenzie, Golf Architecture, 1920)

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The golf courses reviews are the personal opinions of members of Golfshake who completed a review after playing the course. These opinions do not necessarily represent the views of Golfshake.com

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Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel Frequently Asked Questions

The following information is subject to change and based on the latest updates and checks on Golfshake from the golf club, golf facility or venue.

Is there a driving range at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel?

No, we are unaware of a driving range at this venue.

Is there a golf clubhouse at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel?

Yes there is a golf clubhouse at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel.

Is there a golf pro shop at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel?

Yes there is a golf pro shop which you can access prior to your round of golf or visit to the golf club.

Are there changing facilities at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel?

Yes you can access changing rooms and facilities at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel.

Can you hire buggies at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel?

Buggy hire is available and will be subject to availability. Call prior to your visit to confirm you requirements.

Can you hire golf clubs at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel?

Yes you can hire golf clubs but these will be subject to availability. Contact Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel prior to your visit to confirm your requirements.