20 Memorable Golf Courses to Play in 2025
By: Kieran Clark | Thu 06 Mar 2025
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Like most golfers, we have started planning which courses we hope to play this year. You may consult ranking lists or even choose a place that you've long had dreams of visiting, but we prefer to open our minds and listen to the recommendations of others.
The Golfshake Course Section is packed with many thousands of reviews and ratings that give us insights into the venues that most impressed everyday golfers. Most of all, we're looking for somewhere memorable, a layout and location that will permanently reside in our minds.
Picking out more courses in the UK & Ireland that were described as bucket list, dream or special by reviewers, here are some wonderful destinations that once played, won't be forgotten.
If you're in search of a hidden gem or two - you might just find it here!
Edgbaston Golf Club
Location: Birmingham, West Midlands
Golfshake Rating: 4.24
Review Comment: "Always an absolute joy to play here. The whole place is delightful with very friendly staff. The course was in the best condition I have ever seen with the greens in particular fine fettle. Still played like a drain!"
Painswick Golf Club
Location: Painswick, Gloucestershire
Golfshake Rating: 4.16
Review Comment: "After a number of days of unrelenting rain, a fine day was forecast. Out we go and we found a perfect course with fairways running well and greens to match the best."
Lincoln Golf Club
Location: Torksey, Lincolnshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.41
Review Comment: "The course was in very good condition, new alterations making you think. Very good welcome from the pro shop and bar on arrival. The practice facilities are very good. Well worth a visit."
Gosfield Lake Golf Club
Location: Halstead, Essex
Golfshake Rating: 4.16
Review Comment: "Excellent course. Been meaning to play it for years. Really enjoyed the layout. Has some great challenges due to some very well positioned trees!"
The Vale Resort
Location: Hensol, Mid Glamorgan
Golfshake Rating: 4.15
Review Comment: "Great resort with two courses that are well worth playing, courses are in the best condition of any UK resort I have played."
Weald of Kent Golf Club
Location: Headcorn, Kent
Golfshake Rating: 4.12
Review Comment: "Good course, lots of challenges with the water hazards. Course was well drained after so much rain."
Selby Golf Club
Location: Selby, North Yorkshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.12
Review Comment: "A very windy but dry day. The course was in great condition, greens were bumpy but still good for the time of year. A nice course and enjoyable day."
Newcastle West Golf Club
Location: Rathgonan, County Limerick
Golfshake Rating: 4.10
Review Comment: "Was in beautiful condition. And an interesting course. Further, they had an excellent restaurant on site - so great for lunch pre-playing or dinner after."
New Forest Golf Club
Location: Lyndhurst, Hampshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.08
Review Comment: "Friendly people, well maintained greens, great surroundings and views, good wildlife, with free roaming horses. What more do you want from a day out, playing golf in New Forest and being out in the fresh air."
Drift Golf Club
Location: Leatherhead, Surrey
Golfshake Rating: 4.08
Review Comment: "An extremely happy, professional, and welcoming team in the pro shop, on the course, and in the clubhouse. It's obvious the staff and members are proud and passionate about their course and want to share its success with anyone who is lucky enough to play. It's a real hidden gem and well worth a visit."
Montrose Golf Links
Location: Montrose, Angus
Golfshake Rating: 4.07
Review Comment: "First time playing this wonderful links course. Was very impressed with the magnificent setting giving fabulous sea, town and country views while challenging your golfing ability over difficult bunkers, sea grass and some intimidating greens."
West Midlands Golf Club
Location: Solihull, West Midlands
Golfshake Rating: 4.07
Review Comment: "Long course but stay straight and it’s a lot easier. Must play in summer time when you have got roll on the ball."
Boat of Garten Golf Club
Location: Boat of Garten, Highlands
Golfshake Rating: 4.07
Review Comment: "First time playing Boat of Garten and so glad I did. Friendly welcome all round, was playing in an open competition which was so well run. Good practice facilities. Course quite challenging in the way of a few blind tee shots and a few ups and downs to negotiate resulting in a good walk around but not too strenuous. Some great looking holes with fabulous views of surrounding mountains. Course in great condition, greens rolled well if a little difficult to read. Nice looking and friendly clubhouse, all in all a great place to have a round of golf."
Dungannon Golf Club
Location: Dungannon, County Tyrone
Golfshake Rating: 4.07
Review Comment: "A good test of golf with many mature trees lining the generous fairways. The greens were in great shape. Many were large in size and had a variety of contours and climbs with a number of two tier greens present too. Many of the greens were well protected with sand traps or ponds so accurate iron play was a necessity. The fabulous 9th hole typified this, (Darren Clarke signature hole), it was a real wee gem and worth the visit alone."
Bromsgrove Golf Centre
Location: Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
Golfshake Rating: 4.06
Review Comment: "Great day, course in very good condition considering the weather that we have been having. Staff are friendly and helpful, practice facilities are very good as well."
Colne Valley Golf Club
Location: Colchester, Essex
Golfshake Rating: 4.06
Review Comment: "First time playing here and definitely not the last. The course was in great condition and has a lot of lovely but challenging holes."
Frinton Golf Club
Location: Frinton-on-Sea, Essex
Golfshake Rating: 4.06
Review Comment: "The wind off the North Sea and a lot of wild grassland make this quite a challenging course to play. Greens were fast and in good shape."
Redlibbets Golf & Country Club
Location: Sevenoaks, Kent
Golfshake Rating: 4.05
Review Comment: "In good condition. Greens quick and true. Good to see that the course is standing up well after the bad conditions of the past month. I wish I could say the same about my short game! Tees were ok and bunkers were raked and very playable. Rough had been cut and so defined fairways and green edges were in evidence."
East Sussex National Golf Club
Location: Uckfield, East Sussex
Golfshake Rating: 4.04
Review Comment: "Fabulous course and venue in picturesque surroundings. Great hotel and food. Friendly helpful staff."
Royal Eastbourne Golf Club
Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex
Golfshake Rating: 4.04
Review Comment: "Played in lovely weather. Has some challenging holes with blind shots, so some sort of idea of line is essential, very punishing rough, so keeping to the fairway is key. All in all a lovely way to spend an afternoon."
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