500 Highly Recommended Golf Courses You Must Play in 2024

The golf season is finally here and it's time to start planning what courses you are going to play and which resorts you should consider experiencing this summer and beyond.

We are excited to reveal to you now the 487 layouts that have received 'Highly Recommended' status and the 125 venues that can boast a 'Service Excellence' standard that has been determined by reviews submitted into the Golfshake Course Section throughout 2023.

What this effectively means is that everyday golfers have positively felt that the experiences offered by these particular destinations matched or surpassed their expectations and that they would recommend it to others.

Golf courses that have been awarded the 'Highly Recommended' standard required at least seven independent reviews and a Highly Recommended rating greater than 90% during 2023. Reflecting even more consistent quality, those venues that have attained 'Service Excellence' status have enjoyed this achievement for the last four years consecutively, making these absolute must-plays for any golfer.

We're sure that you're keen to play somewhere new this year and the below lists offer a great place to look for inspiration as they showcase a diverse range of places, including championship layouts to hidden gems that offer fabulous value for money, meaning that there is something for everyone in 2024.

Highly Recommended

(Woodhall Spa)

This year's 'Highly Recommended' ranking presents a diverse range of courses from links to heathland, in addition to a series of non-UK hotspots that should prove intriguing for those among you who enjoy travelling, including The Montgomerie Maxx Royal, Gloria Golf Resort, Dom Pedro Old Course, and Quinta do Lago South. 

UK golf courses that you'll see in the list include Dundonald Links, Burnham Beeches Golf Club, Prestatyn Golf Club, Trevose Golf Club, Saunton Golf Club, Stoke by Nayland Golf Club, St Andrews Links, Conwy Golf Club, Old Thorns Golf Club, Woodhall Spa Golf Club, and Gullane Golf Club.

As noted above, to achieve this status, these courses required a minimum of seven unique ratings from the previous year, with over 90% of them stating that they would recommend the experience to someone else.

This achievement represents the quality of service that a venue provides, from the hospitality to facilities and standard of the golf course, with 487 receiving this accolade for the coming season.

View 2023 Highly Recommended List

Service Excellence

(Forest of Arden)

Taking things even further, those venues featured in the 'Service Excellence' list include a variety of well-known courses, resort venues, hidden gems and popular locations, such as; West Berkshire Golf Club, St Mellion, The Shire London, Royal Cromer Golf Club, Enville Golf Club, Carnoustie Golf Links and Forest of Arden Golf Resort.

How do venues achieve this status? It's calculated by analysing the independent reviews submitted in the Course Section by the Golfshake Community, with the bar having been set even higher for this year. These successful venues recorded at least seven unique ratings entered by golfers during each of the relevant years (2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023), with over 90% of reviewers stating they would recommend the experience to someone else.

The most impressive thing for these qualifying 125 golf courses that have received the accolade for this season is that they have now been 'Highly Recommended' every year since 2020. That consistency is a striking feat and reflects the tremendous service and quality that they offer visiting golfers.

View 2023 Service Excellence List

All of the venues that made these lists receive our congratulations and should be in your mind to play in 2024 and beyond.

Wherever you do visit this season, we'd encourage you to submit reviews on Golfshake, as it might just help that place you loved featuring in these rankings for next year!

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