The Golf Courses You Should Have Played in 2023

We hope that 2023 has represented an enjoyable and successful year of golf for you. Our Golfshake mantra is Play More & Play Better and any season in which you accomplish those goals must go down as a rewarding one!

Hopefully you also managed to tick off a few different courses, perhaps even some for the first time.

But this time of reflection is also an ideal chance to look forward and plan what you hope to achieve during the year ahead.

Studying the Course Section and its many thousands of newly submitted reviews during the past 12 months, we have identified the venues in the UK that most impressed and resonated with the Golfshake Community. 

Each of these places received a minimum of ten reviews this year, can boast a 100% Highly Recommended status from those ratings, in addition to showcasing an average score that would be the envy of many clubs across the country.

These are the golf courses that you really should have played in 2023 - so why not rectify that during the coming year!

Royal Cromer Golf Club

Location: Norfolk

Golfshake Rating: 4.82

Average 2023 Rating: 4.86

Review Comment: "Royal Cromer never fails to deliver. From the first tee to the last it has spectacular views. The course runs effortlessly along the coast. It's easy to follow. The holes are challenging, and the cost is very reasonable."

Wallasey Golf Club

Location: Merseyside

Golfshake Rating: 4.75

Average 2023 Rating: 4.85

Review Comment: "Always immaculately presented, grass pathways from greens to tees, stunning views, Wallasey is a must play course. And the clubhouse hospitality is pretty good too!"

Sapey Golf & Country Club

Location: Worcestershire

Golfshake Rating: 4.72

Average 2023 Rating: 4.82

Review Comment: "A nice mix of challenging different holes and an easy walk. The greens were fantastic! As were the fairways. All in all a very enjoyable course and the food was top notch. We will be returning."

Enville Golf Club

Location: Staffordshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.86

Average 2023 Rating: 4.82

Review Comment: "Excellent course in really good condition. Challenging layout and greens. Nice clubhouse and other facilities. Very friendly staff."

Woburn Golf Club

Location: Buckinghamshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.95

Average 2023 Rating: 4.77

Review Comment: "Stunning tree lined fairways, condition of the course was immaculate. Facilities there are second to none. Pricey, but worth it once in a while."

Gullane Golf Club

Location: East Lothian

Golfshake Rating: 4.92

Average 2023 Rating: 4.70

Review Comment: "An amazing golfing experience. Gullane is one of the very best in the UK. All three courses should be played by everyone."

Bedlingtonshire Golf Club

Location: Northumberland

Golfshake Rating: 4.60

Average 2023 Rating: 4.70

Review Comment: "Course in excellent condition, some tricky pin positions and challenging par 3s. Very friendly staff, easy parking, nice outside seating terrace for food and drinks. Highly recommend."

London Golf Club

Location: Kent

Golfshake Rating: 4.82

Average 2023 Rating: 4.68

Review Comment: "Never played this course before but well worth the experience. Very challenging playing it the first time. Tee boxes, fairways, greens and bunkers were all immaculate. Course layout was fantastic. Jack did a brilliant job designing this. Would love to play it again."

St Mellion

Location: Cornwall

Golfshake Rating: 4.57

Average 2023 Rating: 4.65

Review Comment: "The course was in immaculate condition and proved to be challenging, but in a great way. A lot of thought has gone into the design. The pro shop is well stocked, and the pros are incredibly friendly."

Foxhills Club & Resort

Location: Surrey

Golfshake Rating: 4.33

Average 2023 Rating: 4.64

Review Comment: "The layout was excellent, the staff were friendly, and the facilities were excellent. The greens were in great condition and the course was challenging, yet still enjoyable. The clubhouse and food were great and the starter was very informative. I felt like I was getting a premium experience without the stuffy atmosphere of some of the more well-known courses. Overall experience on the day was excellent and memorable."

Frilford Heath Golf Club

Location: Oxfordshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.56

Average 2023 Rating: 4.61

Review Comment: "Great course, amazing hospitality, friendly pro shop staff are so great. Course is in superb condition, greens especially were amazing. A joy to play."

Pyecombe Golf Club

Location: West Sussex

Golfshake Rating: 4.39

Average 2023 Rating: 4.61

Review Comment: "My favourite of the courses around Brighton. Fabulous views from every hole, and great variation of holes as you go through the round. The greens in particular stand out - far more interesting than most in the area and immaculately kept."

The Manor House Golf Club

Location: Wiltshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.64

Average 2023 Rating: 4.60

Review Comment: "This is a challenging course with most holes being significantly different from one another. The 2nd is beautiful par 3 with an elevated tee and a river surrounding the front and sides of the green. The 12th has a split fairway with the first half elevated then dropping again to the second half but with the green very elevated at the end of this par 5. You will also enjoy the 17th (wait and see). The hotel and pro shop are very welcoming, and the food is great."

Dorset Golf & Country Club

Location: Dorset

Golfshake Rating: 4.12

Average 2023 Rating: 4.60

Review Comment: "This complex is well worth a visit. All three of the nine hole courses are in very good condition."

Aldwickbury Park Golf Club

Location: Hertfordshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.29

Average 2023 Rating: 4.57

Review Comment: "My favourite Hertfordshire course. 18 very different holes in a parkland setting. Challenging at times, especially 12, 13 and 14. Bunkers a bit unpredictable. First 9 down the hill along the bottom and then back up to the clubhouse. Second 9 a bit more up and down. A course I keep coming back to."

The Astbury

Location: Shropshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.54

Average 2023 Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "The Astbury is an amazing course in fantastic condition. It’s the best parkland course I’ve played. The clubhouse and staff are brilliant."

Rufford Park Golf & Country Club

Location: Nottinghamshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.26

Average 2023 Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "One of the best courses in Notts. Some very good varied holes requiring different types of playing tied in with some fantastic feature holes with great views."

Remedy Oak Golf Club

Location: Dorset

Golfshake Rating: 4.92

Average 2023 Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "Excellent course. Great condition, superb greens. Extremely challenging for high handicap golfers but well worth playing."

Whitehill Golf

Location: Hertfordshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.34

Average 2023 Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "Superb in all respects. Lovely course in the quiet Hertfordshire countryside. Excellent staff. Highly recommended."

Dundonald Links

Location: Ayrshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.94

Average 2023 Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "The starter was very pleasant taking time to explain to all snippets of info. The course itself lives up to its reputation, excellent condition from tee to green. Even if your round not the best just admire the views."

Boyce Hill Golf & Country Club

Location: Essex

Golfshake Rating: 4.53

Average 2023 Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "This is a lovely course. The tee boxes are in great condition, fairways were in good form and the greens were true and fast! The practice putting green was immaculate. Showing great signs for the course to come. The course was the best kept course I've played all year and worthy of a visit."

Hallmark Welcombe Hotel Spa & Golf Club

Location: Warwickshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.20

Average 2023 Rating: 4.45

Review Comment: "A lovely course, which was a fair test. Rough was long, which punished the wayward. Was in good condition and is well designed. Some fantastic views around the course."

Chartham Park Golf Club

Location: West Sussex

Golfshake Rating: 4.59

Average 2023 Rating: 4.44

Review Comment: "Course was in great condition, greens were fabulous. A lovely course to play with easy walking, not too hilly just a few slopes. Some very interesting holes. A delight to play."

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