The Golf Courses You Must Play This Summer

By: Golfshake Editor | Wed 26 May 2021

The weather hasn't always suggested it, but it's about time for summer golf! Long days, light evenings, the (potential) sunshine, it's a frustratingly short period of the season but one that we all should take full advantage of.

Finding different courses to play can make it an especially memorable period of the year, but where do you visit, which venues are essential to experience?

Well, to uncover some gems, we have turned it over to the thousands who make up the Golfshake Community, those keen golfers who rate and review destinations on a wide range of criteria within the Golfshake Course Section.

Isolating those reviews submitted during the months of June, July and August of last year, we are delighted to reveal 25 Golf Courses You Must Play This Summer - all of them Highly Recommended.

These have rated positively for this narrow window on the calendar, so they must be doing something right and certainly stand out as places to consider visiting this summer.

Enjoy - and look out for more regional focused feature articles to come!

Lundin Golf Club

Region: Scotland

Golfshake Rating: 4.96

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "Spectacular views from the elevated tee boxes. Lightning fast greens and true running fairways. Tight in places, but you’re rewarded for accurate, aggressive play. Love it. Best. Course. Ever."

Felixtowe Ferry Golf Club

Region: East of England

Golfshake Rating: 4.58

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "Absolutely stunning true links course. Absolute bargain at £50. I’ve played a lot of links golf and this is up there with some of the best. Very welcoming as well. Would highly recommend."

Crondon Park Golf Club

Region: East of England

Golfshake Rating: 4.54

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "Great course - much better than I thought and one of the best in Essex. Lots of great holes for all handicaps. Greens were great."

Northamptonshire County Golf Club

Region: East Midlands

Golfshake Rating: 4.60

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "First time playing Northamptonshire County and very impressed. A good challenge to all, with a great variety of holes and plenty of strategically placed bunkers. Given recent dry spell the course was in fantastic condition. Fairways firm with plenty of run and the tricky greens still in really top condition. Definitely recommend."

Rushcliffe Golf Club

Region: East Midlands

Golfshake Rating: 4.54

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "Played this course as a one off on a visit to the area. Great response over the phone to setting up a tee time for a single player. In spite of a deluge just prior to my round found the course to be in excellent condition. With great variety in the design of the course and an afternoon well spent."

Burford Golf Club

Region: South of England

Golfshake Rating: 4.45

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "Burford is a well kept and well looked after course. The facilities in the clubhouse are excellent and the food very good. We found the club very welcoming and we all enjoyed playing there. Fairways and greens were in excellent condition."

Rockliffe Hall Golf Club

Region: North of England

Golfshake Rating: 4.62

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "Course was in lovely condition. The greens were all very interesting and varied rolling very truly. The tee boxes are cleverly positioned so as to make it an encouraging round. Above all the staff were brilliant. The hospitality was special and helped create an enjoyable experience."

Wheatley Golf Club

Region: North of England

Golfshake Rating: 4.59

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "Since coming back from lockdown, this is the best condition course I've played on. The fringes and green were superb and as always the rest of the course was in great condition. Definitely one of the better courses in the Doncaster area."

Bellingham Golf Club

Region: North of England

Golfshake Rating: 4.47

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "As ever, one of the most beautiful courses in Northumberland, and a great place to play golf."

Brookdale Golf Club

Region: North of England

Golfshake Rating: 4.45

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "Quite a short course but full of excellent holes. First time playing here and loved the course and amazing views. You have to think your way around and hit the ball straight. Will definitely return."

Routenburn Golf Club

Region: Scotland

Golfshake Rating: 4.41

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "I was a golf professional for 23 years and now have returned to an amateur. I play Routenburn regularly and all I can say is it is a cracking test of golf, with all various golf shots required. I love the course and would urge people to play this course."

Hickleton Golf Club

Region: North of England

Golfshake Rating: 4.37

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "A fair course that provides challenge but isn't too harsh for many wayward shots. Some lovely views up and down the valleys as well. An absolute must."

Redditch Golf Club

Region: West Midlands

Golfshake Rating: 4.33

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "The course was in very good condition, the greens were excellent, very true and fast. It was the first time I had played here, but will definitely come back."

Enville Golf Club

Region: West Midlands

Golfshake Rating: 4.90

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 4.93

Review Comment: "The course was in great condition, greens quick and true, aprons manicured. The course is wonderfully designed, in particular the back nine, all the holes were stunning."

St Enodoc Golf Club

Region: South West of England

Golfshake Rating: 4.89

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 4.91

Review Comment: "Wow. This place is mysterious, with so many memorable holes. The golf course really makes you think. The back middle stretch (11,12,13) is a little lackluster compared to the other amazing holes, but doesn't really detract from a special experience. If you're coming this way for a golf trip, this is the course you can't miss."

Tyneside Golf Club

Region: North of England

Golfshake Rating: 4.77

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 4.89

Review Comment: "Beautiful little course in fantastic condition too - would highly recommend. Greens in great nick too!"

The Nottinghamshire Golf & Country Club

Region: East Midlands

Golfshake Rating: 4.26

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 4.88

Review Comment: "The Nottinghamshire is a really great golfing venue that has really matured nicely over the last few years, lots of great holes."

Goswick Links (Berwick) Golf Club

Region: North of England

Golfshake Rating: 4.77

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 4.88

Review Comment: "Amazing value for money. Course was in immaculate condition across all tee boxes, fairways, bunkers and greens. Wind was brutal. Rough in punishing (keep it on the fairway or semi otherwise forget about it). Highly recommend a visit to anyone in the area."

Mendip Spring Golf Club

Region: South West of England

Golfshake Rating: 4.60

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 4.88

Review Comment: "An excellent course with plenty of different challenges. Enjoyable for all levels of golfers. Greens were in perfect condition along with the fairways. Would 100% play this course again."

Pleasington Golf Club

Region: North of England

Golfshake Rating: 4.23

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "Lovely course with challenging holes. Some great tee boxes and stunning views. Course knowledge is key!"

Worplesdon Golf Club

Region: South East of England

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 4.86

Review Comment: "Absolutely amazing course, not pretentious at all. All staff very welcoming and course a great challenge for every level of golfer."

Dunbar Golf Club

Region: Scotland

Golfshake Rating: 4.72

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 4.86

Review Comment: "This course is one of the best I have played in Scotland. A real challenge and probably the truest greens you will find outside of the major venues. I can't wait to play it again."

Worksop Golf Club

Region: East Midlands

Golfshake Rating: 4.49

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 4.86

Review Comment: "The course is well maintained with exceptionally good quick and generous greens and a nice varied layout offering an excellent golfing challenge for all golfers. All holes are unique offering lots of variety with a few risk and reward holes also thrown in."

Royal Cromer Golf Club

Region: East of England

Golfshake Rating: 4.40

2020 Summer Golf Rating: 4.86

Review Comment: "Very enjoyable day. Course in excellent condition and weather extremely good to us. Highly recommend the course and everyone very friendly and welcoming."