The Top 100 UK Golf Courses in 2022

By: Golfshake Editor | Mon 12 Sep 2022

Newly updated for this year, the Golfshake Course Section is a valuable resource for those looking for new venues to experience, with the portal showcasing over 280,000 independent reviews that have been submitted by 50,000 keen golfers, which also makes it a useful tool for clubs and destinations to promote themselves before a passionate audience of dedicated players.

As part of enhancements made to the website, visitors and members of the Golfshake Community can now enjoy the benefits of a special Golfshake Top 100 Section.

Different to other publications and magazines who regularly produce "official" Top 100s, Golfshake differs in that our rankings have been solely calculated by the ratings posted by everyday golfers.

These placings aren't definitive, but are instead a way to celebrate a wide variety of Highly Recommended establishments.

Within the section, you will see various regional Top 100s, a national (UK) Top 100, an Overall Top 100, and the Alternative Top 100, a unique list that shines a light on those venues that do not appear in other published rankings but that deserve credit for the service and quality provided to golfers.

Rather than individual courses, it's the venues themselves that are ranked, hence why several multiple-course destinations appear singularly.

Firstly, we are going to present the Golfshake UK Top 100, introducing this ranking by highlighting the Top 25 below.

St George's Hill Golf Club

Location: Surrey

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "A great experience at a top track. Course is stunning, clubhouse is imposing. Staff were all great. If you get a chance to play, take it."

Formby Golf Club

Location: Merseyside

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "Formby is the gem on the Lancashire golf coast; a true escape from reality and the most unique yet challenging test of golf that the area has to offer."

Ganton Golf Club

Location: North Yorkshire

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "Absolutely stunning as a course, never played before but always wanted to, enjoyed the challenge of tight fairways, hundreds of bunkers and great greens."

Royal Birkdale Golf Club

Location: Merseyside

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "Golfing perfection. Place is immaculate and if you ever get the chance to go and play it then you absolutely must."

Western Gailes Golf Club

Location: Ayrshire

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "Absolutely outstanding and a first class test of links golf. Superlatives can't really describe how good this course is."

Royal Portrush Golf Club

Location: County Antrim

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "If you are thinking about paying the green fees. Do it. The weather included 25kph winds and heavy, heavy showers yet all three of our group loved it. We were made to feel really welcome by the staff. The practice facilities were open to all of us at no extra charge and made us feel like pros. The course was incredible."

Swinley Forest Golf Club

Location: Berkshire

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "Lovely course, challenging layout but great fun. Conditions lovely, staff fantastic. Couldn't fault it."

Parkstone Golf Club

Location: Dorest

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "The course is not the longest course but leave the fairways and your scorecard will take a hit. It is in immaculate condition. The tee boxes are perfect and the greens (despite heavy rain nearly closing the course) were quick and true."

Royal Troon Golf Club

Location: Ayrshire

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "Great course in excellent condition. Very tough in the high winds and weather. Look forward to playing again."

Loch Lomond Golf Club

Location: Argyll & Bute

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "This course must be on your list to play at some point. Beautiful surroundings right on the edge of the Loch. Dress warm if there is a breeze as some of the holes are very exposed."

Royal County Down Golf Club

Location: County Down

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "Wonderful golf course which is intimidating throughout but seems to provide an enjoyment factor above many similar 'top' links golf courses. I played in benign conditions and found it to be gettable off my mid-handicap, when straight off the tee. Fairways and greens pristine. The welcome (admittedly alongside a member) was very warm. Would return in a heartbeat."

The Wisley Golf Club

Location: Surrey

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "This is simply the best course I have ever played at. Friendly members, excellent staff, awesome facilities. Great practice ground and the course is superb."

The Renaissance Club

Location: East Lothian

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "The whole experience is fantastic, you get a very warm welcome in the stunning clubhouse. The course is like a hybrid links and was very challenging into the wind."

West Hill Golf Club

Location: Surrey

Golfshake Rating: 4.97

Review Comment: "Lovely place to play golf. The course was beautiful and felt like an honor to play. Greens were sharp and fast and fairways were firm and fair. I will definitely be back."

Kingsbarns Golf Links

Location: Fife

Golfshake Rating: 4.97

Review Comment: "Expensive, but as it was a 60th birthday present well worth it. I would encourage any golfer to play this course at least once, you wont regret it."

Nairn Golf Club

Location: Highlands

Golfshake Rating: 4.97

Review Comment: "This course was a revelation. An absolutely fantastic golf course this would be one of my all time favourite courses ever. The welcome of everyone at this club was superb we were treated brilliantly by pro, bar staff, waiting staff and stater. Cannot recommend this gem of a links course more highly. Some truly memorable holes that I will talk about for a long time."

Southerness Golf Club

Location: Dumfries & Galloway

Golfshake Rating: 4.97

Review Comment: "A classic links course. Very flat, lots of gorse and other impenetrable bushes. Wonderful greens. Great layout. I would say that this is one of the best golf courses I have ever played, and a “must play” for any serious golfer."

Woking Golf Club

Location: Surrey

Golfshake Rating: 4.97

Review Comment: "Stunning course, excellent views with lightning fast tricky greens."

Prestwick Golf Club

Location: Ayrshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.97

Review Comment: "Would highly recommend, would head back in a flash and already planning a return with a friend who would absolutely love everything about this!"

St Andrews Links

Location: Fife

Golfshake Rating: 4.96

Review Comment: "It's The Old Course, St Andrews! What more do I need to say, played it with all the stands and scoreboards up in preparation for The Open. Fantastic place, never gets old."

Royal Liverpool Golf Club

Location: Merseyside

Golfshake Rating: 4.96

Review Comment: "So much history, everything you’d expect from an Open venue."

St Enodoc Golf Club

Location: Cornwall

Golfshake Rating: 4.96

Review Comment: "Sunshine and a gentle breeze made this course incredibly playable and an absolute joy to play (albeit I didn't play great). Friendly atmosphere all round the place, the practice facilities were ideal for warming up your game, the course itself is exceptional."

Silloth-on-Solway Golf Club

Location: Cumbria

Golfshake Rating: 4.96

Review Comment: "An absolute must play golf course. Looked after from start to finish, food, golf, drinks, club pro. Greens, bunkers in top condition for October."

Queenwood Golf Club

Location: Surrey

Golfshake Rating: 4.96

Review Comment: "There's not much to say really about this other than what an amazing place. From the setting, to the service, to the quality of absolutely everything there."