22 Fun Courses to Play in Summer

By: Golfshake Editor | Mon 25 Jul 2022

Continuing our Summer series on where to play golf this year, we have taken a look at some of the courses that stand out as being fun to play. Maybe a little quirky, maybe providing a unique challenge but the types of courses that stay long in the memory for visiting golfers.

To compile this list of 22 courses we have once again analysed the data from 1000s of Golfshake golf course reviews and picked out courses identified by mid to low handicap golfers that presented a fair challenge but at the same time were fun to play. The courses listed provide a range of price points and a variety of locations around the UK.

Let us know how many you have played or if there are other courses that should have made this list for providing a fun but fair challenge and a course worth visiting.

Alresford Golf Club

Great Parkland Course

Region: Hampshire

Price Range: ££££

Golfshake Rating: 4.1

Review Comment: "Played for first time and was very impressed with the quality and layout of the course which provides a challenge to all parts of your game. The clubhouse has recently been refurbshed and has a modern and functional layout with several sets of bifold doorsopening onto the patio which overlooks the 18th green. "

Bearsted Golf Club

Burstead Golf Course

Region: Kent

Price Range: ££££

Golfshake Rating: 4.3

Review Comment: "Hadn't played here in ages. Course in excellent condition. Loads of variety to it and has the slightly odd quirk or starting and ending with a Par 3. Greens were decent if a little firm. Rolled well though. Excellent food in clubhouse post round and made to feel very welcome as a society. Look forward to heading back."

Burntisland Golf House Club

Quirky Fun Course

Region: Fife

Price Range: £££££

Golfshake Rating: 4.1

Review Comment: "Burntisland is a fantastic course to play. Firstly, the views around the course are incredible. Lots of very interesting holes, some quirky par 3s, make it a challenge. Well worth a visit."

Crosland Heath Golf Club

Fantastic golfing experience, greens immaculate

Region: West Yorkshire

Price Range: £££££

Golfshake Rating: 4.6

Review Comment: "The layout is quirky and therefore you have to manage your way around carefully avoiding ravines, heather, gorse and various water hazards. The greens were immaculate and I would say are amongst the best we have played anywhere. The par three's are all interesting and beware missing any of the greens on those and the fairways on other holes. For me the holes to enjoy most are holes 1, 3, 9, 10, 16, 18. Try this course out, you will not be disappointed."

Dewsbury District Golf Club

Unique challenge

Region: West Yorkshire

Price Range: £££

Golfshake Rating: 4.4

Review Comment: "It was a great test of golf ability, greens were excellent with some amazing views and memorable holes all the way round."

Dumbarnie Links

Stunning

Region: Fife

Price Range: £££££

Golfshake Rating: 4.3

Review Comment: "The layout at Dumbarnie is quite simplay fantastic. The different tee boxes allows you to be able to have a real fun round of golf. With some drivable par 4's and some cracking par 3's, length wise - the course could be as hard as you want it to be. Some of the views are superb and the way the holes sit in the dunes is such clever design."

Goring and Streatley Golf Club

A true test of your game

Region: Berkshire

Price Range: £££££

Golfshake Rating: 4.4

Review Comment: "I always enjoy a visit to Goring & Streetley and the greens are always in top condition and challenging without being quirky. If you find hilly courses difficult to walk then not for you or perhaps hire a buggy. Welcome and food was excellent."

Helsby Golf Club

Region: Cheshire

Price Range: £££

Golfshake Rating: 4.3

Review Comment: "Excellent course in fabulous nick, the fairways are a dream to hit off, when you find them! And the greens are true and sometines difficult to read, which for me is a good thing. will defo return."

Kinross Golf Course

Better Every Time!

Region: Fife

Price Range: £££££

Golfshake Rating: 5.0

Review Comment: "Finally played Kinross (Montgomery) for the first time this year after it being recommended by various friends. It didn't disappoint, what a brilliant golf course. The layout itself is challenging but fair, nothing too quirky or tricked up, just some really strong golf holes. It was in superb condition, in fact I've yet to play a course this year with greens in better shape. We got a lovely welcome from the gentleman in the Professional Shop and he was very helpful giving us some advice about the water holes."

Northamptonshire County Golf Club

Fantastic course must visit

Region: Northamptonshire

Price Range: £££££

Golfshake Rating: 4.6

Review Comment: "I played the course just after Open Qualifying and was told the course has never been in better condition. They weren't wrong, it was quite honestly faultless - reminded me of Hollinwell in places and all the best courses in Surrey - In that condition, this course walks into the top 50 in England."

Orsett Golf Club

Best course in Essex

Region: Essex

Price Range: £££££

Golfshake Rating: 4.2

Review Comment: "I played Orsett golf course in July 2022 and found the course to be in near perfect condition baring in mind the heat that we have been having recently. The course is a real challenge and you really have to make sure you score well before getting to the 14th as it an extremely hard finish from there. Couldn't recommend the course enough."

Pine Ridge Golf Club

Region: Surrey

Price Range: £££££

Golfshake Rating: 4.1

Review Comment: "What a great track, played in May 2022 and I was very impressed. I play off 7 and my friend plays off 27 and it was fun for both of us. Greens were quick and smooth. I would highly recommend a game"

Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club

Quirky, Fun, Excellent

Pyle & Kenfig

Region: Mid Glamorgan

Price Range: £££££

Golfshake Rating: 4.3

Review Comment: "Really enjoyed P&K. Such a warm wlecome and one of the better layouts I have played. Quirky in places and some really cracking holes that you will have to navigate around. Some of the views are quite spectacular too."

Royal Birkdale Golf Club

Just amazing

Region: Meryside

Price Range: £££££

Golfshake Rating: 5.0

Review Comment: "Take extra time to use the practice facilities which a 5 min walk close to the 15th tee. Just great ! and the short game areas I'd die for at my home club to practice chips and bunker play. It was incredible to play the course where the pros play, taking in those nostalgic shots, imagining where Spieth played his recovery to on 13 before he romped home to victory in 2017. The round is full of memories like that. The biggest 'wows' were standing on the par 3 tees like 7, 12 and 14. They are just stunning. Such great fun to play working out where to hit your tee shot to escape the nests of bunkers waiting for an idle shot. Overall a good test of golf."

Royal West Norfolk Golf Club

Traditional Links

Region: Norfolk

Price Range: £££££

Golfshake Rating: 4.9

Review Comment: "Cracking layout. The old fashioned in and out style of links is great fun, especially if the tide is in.The course is quite forgiving from the tee if you are on the right lines, but around the greens and bunkers is where it will catch you out. Condition is fantastic. As expected."

Serlby Park Golf Club

Tight, technical and great fun

Region: South Yorkshire

Price Range: £££

Golfshake Rating: 4.5

Review Comment: "Superb, very quiet, lovely and just a great course."

The Belfry Golf Club

Iconic, historic, say no more

Region: West Midlands

Price Range: £££££

Golfshake Rating: 4.9

Review Comment: "Fantastic set-up and always a great place to play. Price may factor but you get what you pay for. We played the Brabazon and in lovely condition for the time of year. Course is a great challenge for all golfers and fun to play. Facilities are first class you and you will fail to work away unimpressed."

The Golf House Club, Elie

Wow, Wow, Wow.

Region: Fife

Price Range: £££££

Golfshake Rating: 4.5

Review Comment: "Go play here. I promise you wont regret it. Historic, quirky, raw, golf - in particular - links golf is supposed to be just like this. A few shorter par 4s are really fun. Some blind tee shots but very well markered (both middle and edge of fairways) and classic bumps and hollows everywhere.The stretch around the turn is quite simply magestic. The views are stunning and its just one of the best places to play golf. "

The Moffat Golf Club

Superb

Region: Dunfries & Galloway

Price Range: £££

Golfshake Rating: 4.3

Review Comment: "A superb course nestled in the lowlands of Scotland. It's a proper heathland course, with plenty of up's & down's & some absolutely stunning views. Some may not like the blind shots into the greens of some holes, but I thought it added to the fun of it.Look out for the par 3 9th - 120 yards & about 30 feet of climb, take at least two extra clubs.Add to this the superb welcome in the nice clubhouse, which will be even better after it's refurbished. Not the longest course, but one that is a pure pleasure to play on, if just for those superb views."

West Cornwall Golf Club

Fun & Quirky Links

Region: TBC

Price Range: ££££

Golfshake Rating: 4.3

Review Comment: "I found West Cornwall to be fun, quirky, interesting & just a classic links course.The crumpled fairways through 3, 4 & 8 are stunning, add to that the views across to St Ives & Gwithian & it's just breathtaking. You have to pick your way round, avoid the gorse & the thick grass & if you do you'll be rewarded with a great golfing experience. To top all this off the staff & the locals are all very friendly.I's the second time I've played here & hopefully not the last. "

Westgate and Birchington Golf Club

Marvellous with a quirkiness that's totally endearing

Region: Kent

Price Range: £££

Golfshake Rating: 3.9

Review Comment: "Not very long (Par 64) but, if the wind is up, as difficult as any course. 8 par threes ranging from 106 to 225 yards, each throws up it's own problems. The course is played in 4 stages. 1-3, 4 to 14 in over the railway bridge, 15 to 17 (all par threes) then back to the first field to play 18 and get into the wonderfully friendly clubhouse. "