30 Dream Golf Courses That You Have to Play

It's surely time to start planning where you're going to play golf in 2025. We all have courses that we'd love to experience and destinations that we'd relish discovering, and thinking of these is enough to get us all dreaming.

Having recently shared 32 Bucket List Golf Courses That You Must Play, we revisit this subject and present even more venues that members of the Golfshake Community have described as being special or a round that they had longed for.

You might be surprised to see some of these layouts featured, but that is a testament to their quality and the variety of opinions that exist among everyday, passionate golfers.

Whether it be in the UK & Ireland, Continental Europe, or further afield, there should be somewhere here for you!

Enville Golf Club

Location: Stourbridge, Staffordshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.86

Review Comment: "A very challenging course which is really well laid out with natural features, a tough challenge Welcoming staff with very good facilities."

The Belfry

Location: Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.84

Review Comment: "Incredible course. Absolutely loved playing this course. The whole course is expertly taken care of, the greens were immaculate as were the bunkers. Playing the 10th hole was also absolutely incredible, I almost drove the green, that would have been the highlight of the day, but sadly I just missed it."

London Golf Club

Location: Ash, Kent

Golfshake Rating: 4.82

Review Comment: "Was lucky enough to play the Heritage Course and I've got to say it was an absolute pleasure to play. Good mixture of holes and difficulty to test all level of golfers. Every hole is memorable and was lucky to catch it on a day that wasn't raining, which made the day even better. All staff from starter to women in car park hut were lovely and couldn't make us feel anymore welcome if they tried!"

Pebble Beach Golf Links

Location: Monterey, California

Golfshake Rating: 4.81

Review Comment: "Quality from beginning to end. One of the world's top courses and it lived up to its reputation. Course was magnificent, facilities and service top class."

Aguilon Golf

Location: Pilar de Jaravia, Almeria

Golfshake Rating: 4.80

Review Comment: "Beautiful golf course in a beautiful location, views to die for in any direction on every hole. Course in great condition, the fairways especially. Definitely worth the visit."

New Forest Golf Club

Location: Tyrrellspass, County Westmeath

Golfshake Rating: 4.80

Review Comment: "Nice course in a friendly environment. This is a real gem. We really enjoyed playing here on a Friday morning. The manager and his pro were really welcoming. The course was most enjoyable and the golf was good enough given the weather conditions."

Shiskine Golf & Tennis Club

Location: Blackwaterfoot, Isle of Arran

Golfshake Rating: 4.76

Review Comment: "Simply 12 holes of unadulterated joy. How links golf should be. Not a dull hole on the course. Fabulous blind shots, great mix of holes, just get to Arran and play this place. Great little pro shop and clubhouse. All positives."

Rockliffe Hall Golf Club

Location: Darlington, County Durham

Golfshake Rating: 4.75

Review Comment: "A genuinely excellent golf course with fantastic green complexes, aesthetics and conditioning. The hotel is also outstanding, great golf break."

Wallasey Golf Club

Location: Wallasey, Merseyside

Golfshake Rating: 4.75

Review Comment: "Played Wallasey two weeks ago. Wonderfully presented and a credit to the green staff. The walkways from green to tee are the best I’ve ever come across. Fairways and greens were top notch. Definitely need to club up on the shorter par 4s with elevated greens. Can’t think of a better conditioned course that I’ve played. Absolute treat."

Slieve Russell Hotel Golf & Country Club

Location: Ballyconnell, County Cavan

Golfshake Rating: 4.75

Review Comment: "The scenery is beautiful, the greens are fair, and the challenge is just perfect. I had a great time here and I would definitely recommend it to others."

Club de Golf Alcanada

Location: Port d'Alcudia, Mallorca

Golfshake Rating: 4.71

Review Comment: "Alcanada offers exceptional golf with breathtaking vistas, impeccable course condition and welcoming staff. Highly recommended."

Isle of Purbeck Golf Club

Location: Swanage, Dorset

Golfshake Rating: 4.70

Review Comment: "What a place, the course can kill you if wayward, but the views are stunning and you have to play here once at least in your life. Very friendly."

Fulford Golf Club

Location: York, North Yorkshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.69

Review Comment: "I recently played a round of golf at this course and I was very impressed. The layout was great, and the course was well kept. It was a challenging course, steeped in history and the presentation was great. The greens were in excellent condition, and the hospitality was great. The quality of the course was outstanding throughout; great fairways, bunkers and greens. Everything was immaculately kept and the staff were extremely friendly."

Tandridge Golf Club

Location: Oxted, Surrey

Golfshake Rating: 4.68

Review Comment: "Great course in superb condition given the dry weather we've had this year. Greens were like velvet. Wonderful views and challenging holes, highly recommend."

Churston Golf Club

Location: Brixham, Devon

Golfshake Rating: 4.66

Review Comment: "For many years I have wanted to play this course, for sentimental reasons more than anything. It was a treat, was paired with a couple of members who were very friendly and the course knowledge was very helpful. A superb day and it didn't disappoint me at all."

Dom Pedro Old Course

Location: Vilamoura, Algarve

Golfshake Rating: 4.61

Review Comment: "This is an excellent course in pristine condition. The layout is beautiful, with some parts evoking Augusta. It is a real challenge and the scenery is lovely. The clubhouse is also in great condition. I really enjoyed playing here and would definitely recommend it."

Nefyn & District Golf Club

Location: Pwllheli, Gwynedd

Golfshake Rating: 4.61

Review Comment: "Nefyn is a fabulous golf course in amazing condition. The views are unbelievable and the course is playing so well at the moment. If you get a chance I recommend that you get down there and taste the course. They have done some great work at the clubhouse also and sitting outside in the sunshine was an unforgettable experience."

West Surrey Golf Club

Location: Godalming, Surrey

Golfshake Rating: 4.61

Review Comment: "What a superb course! Nice wide fairways for mid handicap golfers, superb greens and excellent facilities. I have played many courses over 30 years of golf and this is in my top ten."

The Rolls of Monmouth Golf Club

Location: Monmouth, Gwent

Golfshake Rating: 4.59

Review Comment: "Great course, very friendly staff and members, tricky greens, many with false fronts, well worth a visit."

Anfi Tauro Golf

Location: Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

Golfshake Rating: 4.56

Review Comment: "Great course. An absolute must visit if you’re in Gran Canaria, awesome views of the mountains and ocean. Can tell it’s well looked after."

Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club

Location: Port Saeed, Dubai

Golfshake Rating: 4.55

Review Comment: "Another bucket list day. Very lucky to play this course and what a treat. Every bit as good as I'd hoped it would be and amazing quality."

Kilspindie Golf Club

Location: Aberlady, East Lothian

Golfshake Rating: 4.55

Review Comment: "Kilspindie is a diamond in a gem-studded line of courses on the East Lothian coast. Me and my sons and son in law have an annual trip to the Scottish Open, preceded by two rounds for ourselves. We played Gullane 3 in the rain on Tuesday, but Kilspindie the next day was fabulous and not just because it stayed dry. A friendly welcome in the pro shop and the bar, followed by a superbly conditioned course with stunning views of the Firth of Forth. Greens, fairways, bunkers and even rough are all in mint condition. We will definitely be back next year. Highly recommended."

The Astbury

Location: Bridgnorth, Shropshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.54

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."

Appleby Golf Club

Location: Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria

Golfshake Rating: 4.52

Review Comment: "Appleby is a utterly stunning moorland course, this is golf in its purest form, no bells and whistles. This course is a test and has a stunning signature blind par 3 "Bell Hole". The 5th is a knee knocker with an elevated fairway over what feels like a gorse canyon. Although no par 5s there are long par 4 holes to test the best drivers of the ball, course was in excellent condition, wind can appear out of nowhere to add additional fun. There are sheep meandering everywhere with the greens fenced off to prevent them being damaged. For me, this made it more enjoyable as it added some interesting additional obstacles. The fences are no bother, only the grumpiest of golfer would moan about them. The clubhouse is great, staff and members super friendly and chatty. Excellent bacon sandwich can be had pre round and a good coffee. There is even a full size snooker table you can play if the weather turned and you retired to the clubhouse for a tipple. I have now played at 72 golf courses in the UK and Appleby is by far my favourite. Without a shadow of a doubt one of the best golf courses in the UK."

Dartmouth Golf & Country Club

Location: Blackawton, Devon

Golfshake Rating: 4.51

Review Comment: "I absolutely loved this course! No two holes are the same. The par 3s are some of the best I have played. I'm already looking forward to going back in September!"

New Zealand Golf Club

Location: Addlestone, Surrey

Golfshake Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "Best kept secret! Beautiful course that we are lucky to play every year with our society. Always in great condition and fantastic layout although the heather can ruin your round! Not a long course but very well laid out and requires thought. Staff are fantastic and very welcoming."

Northamptonshire County Golf Club

Location: Northampton, Northamptonshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.50

Review Comment: "Great course! Played twice in two days, a very enjoyable experience in all aspects."

Coombe Hill Golf Club

Location: Kingston, Surrey

Golfshake Rating: 4.48

Review Comment: "Coombe Hill is a private members club and it's like Fort Knox getting in and out. But once you make it across the threshold you are faced with an old-style test of guile and touch. A really interesting layout with a great mix of short and long par 4s, reachable par 5s and a great collection of par 3 holes. Strategy is needed off the tee but there is enough room to get the driver out if you want. The green complexes are the real defence. There is barely a flat putt on the course and with fairly quick greens, putting was a real challenge."

Monte Rei Golf & Country Club

Location: Sitio Do Pocinho, Algarve

Golfshake Rating: 4.47

Review Comment: "Outstanding and tough test. Every hole was different and isolated from other holes."

Formby Ladies Golf Club

Location: Formby, Merseyside

Golfshake Rating: 4.46

Review Comment: "Outstanding course. The gentleman's course is one of the very best, and this is a slightly shorter version of that. I couldn't recommend it enough. If you love links golf, you'll love here."

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