25 Golf Courses You Must Play in England This Year

By: Kieran Clark | Thu 18 Apr 2024

There are over 2,000 golf courses located in England - meaning that you are spoiled for choice throughout the country! Within that there is a diversity that is hard to surpass anywhere else on the planet, making it one of the very best golfing nations in the world.

But how do you separate these places? Well, at Golfshake, we defer to you, the Community of golfers who submit thousands of course reviews each year onto our website, providing us with substance to judge which venues should be on your list to play.

And for this season, we have created a specific MUST PLAY category that brings together the following criteria.

How These Golf Courses Qualified

Based on Reviews From The Last 10 Years
Highly Recommended Rating Over 90%
Highly Recommended Award in Last Three Years
Golfshake Rating Over 4.00

Below you will find 25 destinations that have passed that high bar, which indicates that they certainly have something about them. There is no distinction made between famous layouts and lesser-known jewels, ensuring that the following list covers all price-points and levels of reputation.

It's their quality that unites them!

The Belfry

Location: Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.84

Review Comment: "One of the hardest courses I’ve played, but it's also one of the nicest. Absolutely loved it, will definitely be going back and recommend it to anyone."

Pedham Place Golf Centre

Location: Swanley, Kent

Golfshake Rating: 4.06

Review Comment: "Very good society venue. Good breakfast, friendly staff, course in great condition for time of year, very good practice facilities."

Cranham Golf Course

Location: Upminster, Essex

Golfshake Rating: 4.15

Review Comment: "Cranham has recovered well from the wet winter already. The greens as always were great. The course is fairly short, but there are enough challenges to keep it interesting. Enjoyable!"

Forest of Arden Golf Club

Location: Coventry, Warwickshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.38

Review Comment: "Great course. The Arden was in immaculate condition with brilliant fast greens and challenging holes."

The Warwickshire Golf Club

Location: Warwick, Warwickshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.43

Review Comment: "The Earls is a really lovely mature course. Although wet underfoot, it played really well. Superb challenge."

West Midlands Golf Club

Location: Solihull, West Midlands

Golfshake Rating: 4.07

Review Comment: "Very good course with some challenging features, very beautiful place to play, I would recommend to give it a go."

The Shropshire

Location: Telford, Shropshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.32

Review Comment: "Played Blue/Silver, considering the weather we've had the course is in incredible condition. Greens running very well for winter, and apart from a couple of small soggy patches, fairways pretty firm."

Westerham Golf Club

Location: Westerham, Kent

Golfshake Rating: 4.06

Review Comment: "A very enjoyable course with nice mix of elevations, water, trees. Few bunkers and not very long. Grounds under the trees has been cleared, making it unlikely you will lose a ball. Some lovely views of the North Downs and Kentish countryside."

Woodlands Golf & Country Club

Location: Bristol, Gloucestershire

Golfshake Rating: 4.17

Review Comment: "Loved playing this course, interesting with water hazards and wonderful wildlife. Great service, very friendly staff and a very well run club. Great value for money - I wish more clubs could be like this. Go to the top of the class!"

Ramsdale Park Golf Centre

Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.41

Review Comment: "Greens and fairways in excellent condition, well looked after. Pro shop has great stock and the bar/restaurant is really good. Overall, the course provides a challenge, especially on the back nine."

Weald of Kent Golf Club

Location: Headcorn, Kent

Golfshake Rating: 4.12

Review Comment: "The course is in good condition, greens run true and are fairly quick. Almost every fairway has a ditch running across it. The 9th and 18th holes are a good test and are very scenic. The clubhouse is very good as is the pro shop."

Toot Hill Golf Club

Location: Ongar, Essex

Golfshake Rating: 4.32

Review Comment: "Top course. Brilliant course in excellent condition, nothing not to like, first class, have played this course many times, always excellent in any season."

London Golf Club

Location: Ash, Kent

Golfshake Rating: 4.82

Review Comment: This is an exceptional course and considering recent weather is in very good condition. The greens are superb and will catch out unprepared golfers. Definitely use the practice green first, they are ridiculously fast if you're used to average courses. Brilliant practice facilities and some excellent 'wow' factor holes."

Hart Common Golf Club

Location: Bolton, Lancashire

Golfshake Rating: 4.19

Review Comment: "My friends and I always enjoy playing there. There is ample parking space, all the staff are helpful and friendly, the changing facilities are quite adequate and there is plenty of good food and drink served in the clubhouse. The course itself is well maintained and will test any golfer. And as a bonus, the views into the distance on a clear day are brilliant."

Thornbury Golf Centre

Location: Bristol, Gloucestershire

Golfshake Rating: 4.19

Review Comment: "The course was in great shape - the fairways are wide open and the greens are top class. It's also physically manageable, which is great. The club is always extremely welcoming to visitors and members, and they're always there to help you out.

Three Locks Golf Club

Location: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.24

Review Comment: "Enjoyable day. Playing speed was excellent, course in good condition. Greens were unexpectedly quick for the time of year."

Rufford Park Golf & Country Club

Location: Newark, Nottinghamshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.26

Review Comment: "Great course in excellent condition. Staff were very friendly and welcoming. Would highly recommend and we will definitely be returning."

Horsley Lodge Golf Club

Location: Derby, Derbyshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.53

Review Comment: "Lovely setting, course was in great condition, but as always is very testing. The back four holes are very difficult and it is easy to drop shots. Mid-round my driving went askew!"

Foxhills Club & Resort

Location: Ottershaw, Surrey

Golfshake Rating: 4.33

Review Comment: "Very good course and challenge, especially the new signature holes. Would absolutely recommend."

Longhirst Hall Golf Club

Location: Morpeth, Northumberland

Golfshake Rating: 4.56

Review Comment: "Played here loads as a member and non-member, year-on-year the improvements are great. Courses speak for themselves, greens this summer just beautiful. Wildlife stunning and staff very friendly."

Whitehill Golf Course

Location: Ware, Hertfordshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.34

Review Comment: "Perfect course once again, one of my favorites, cannot complain about anything, great condition, friendly and superb clubhouse."

Aylesbury Vale Golf Club

Location: Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.28

Review Comment: "Fairways are some of the best in the area. Good layout, easy to play, wind and rough will sort you out if off-line. Members are great, best atmosphere at any golf club."

Windmill Village Golf Club

Location: Coventry, Warwickshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.33

Review Comment: "I always enjoy playing this course as there are a variety of different types of holes, from tree-lined, water hazards to fairways sloping in various ways. The course isn`t the longest but can still be a challenge. The greens have always been in good condition when I have played there."

Styrrup Hall Golf & Country Club

Location: Styrrup, South Yorkshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.25

Review Comment: "Really enjoyed it. Course only had a couple of wet areas which is a miracle currently. Always have a good experience at Styrrup. Course in good nick considering recent weather."