50 Hidden Gem Golf Courses to Play in England
By: Kieran Clark | Fri 09 May 2025
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Hidden gem is a term that has long been used in the world of golf, but in the digital age of the internet and social media, it's fair to argue that such places can't really exist nowadays.
That said, we reckon that some venues still qualify for that status; those courses that offer a spectacular experience that perhaps don't receive wider publicity or acclaim.
Deferring to the reviews submitted by the everyday golfers who make up the Golfshake Community, we have uncovered English golf courses that aren't likely to appear in many published rankings, but which provide quality that visitors would either recommend to others or desire to make a return to themselves.
You might not believe that there are true hidden gem courses in England anymore, but these are probably as close as it gets!
Northampton Golf Club
Location: Northampton, Northamptonshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.31
2024 Condition Rating: 4.50
Review Comment: "Well worth a visit. I've always enjoyed playing here, as I consider the course has more 'memorable' holes than perhaps any other course I've played."
Chiltern Forest Golf Club
Location: Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.09
2024 Condition Rating: 4.50
Review Comment: "What a place! Beautiful course, with amazing views. Really well maintained and great value."
Uttoxeter Golf Club
Location: Uttoxeter, Staffordshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.02
2024 Condition Rating: 4.50
Review Comment: "Great welcome, lovely food. Course in smashing condition despite rain. Greens very smooth, great views from lots of tees. A fee blind tee shots and a couple of very tight fairways. Local knowledge helps."
Bedfordshire Golf Club
Location: Stagsden, Bedfordshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.02
2024 Condition Rating: 4.50
Review Comment: "Course is very enjoyable to play, it's very well looked after and has tricky holes to keep your interest all the way round. First class facility."
Malton & Norton Golf Club
Location: Malton, North Yorkshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.30
2024 Condition Rating: 4.50
Review Comment: "Lovely course. Hidden gem on the Edge of the Wolds. Every hole makes you think, even the ones that the card would suggest are easy!"
Gosfield Lake Golf Club
Location: Halstead, Essex
Golfshake Rating: 4.23
2024 Condition Rating: 4.50
Review Comment: "Perhaps the perfect golf club. Fourth time playing this Sir Henry Cotton designed course in glorious Essex countryside. Lucky enough to enjoy it in fabulous early April sunshine."
Orchardleigh Golf Club
Location: Frome, Somerset
Golfshake Rating: 4.16
2024 Condition Rating: 4.50
Review Comment: "The staff at the course were very helpful and polite. The course was quite challenging as if you went off the fairways you could easily get into trouble with the trees, etc. The views were great and it was a really enjoyable experience playing the course. I would definitely recommend it and very good value for money."
Rudding Park Golf Club
Location: Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.18
2024 Condition Rating: 4.50
Review Comment: "Having played Rudding Park a few times now always look forward to returning. Usual friendly welcome in clubhouse, decent food. Good practice facilities. Course in usual great condition, greens good, rolled well. Fun course to play with some tricky holes like the tight par 4 13th. Long but easy to walk round. Will certainly keep coming back to this wonderful course."
Stoneleigh Deer Park Golf Club
Location: Stoneleigh, Warwickshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.07
2024 Condition Rating: 4.50
Review Comment: "Course was in good condition considering how wet it has been. Greens were true and receptive and there are some excellent holes, especially on the back nine."
Stanmore Golf Club
Location: Stanmore, Greater London
Golfshake Rating: 3.88
2024 Condition Rating: 4.50
Review Comment: "Challenging course in great condition, plays longer than the yardage. Very friendly staff."
Canons Brook Golf Club
Location: Harlow, Essex
Golfshake Rating: 4.20
2024 Condition Rating: 4.50
Review Comment: "First time playing here. Nice layout, good variation of holes and in good condition for the time of year. Reasonably challenging."
Singing Hills Golf Club
Location: Brighton, West Sussex
Golfshake Rating: 4.11
2024 Condition Rating: 4.50
Review Comment: "Always a pleasure to play here. Three nines means you can usually get a tee time even on busy days. Interesting holes on a course just outside of Brighton and Hove just north of the South Downs. Easy walking course in good condition (July). Took me a while to come to terms with the greens which were true running, but faster than I am used to with subtle breaks."
Bromsgrove Golf Centre
Location: Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
Golfshake Rating: 4.28
2024 Condition Rating: 4.50
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."
Pedham Place Golf Centre
Location: Swanley, Kent
Golfshake Rating: 4.15
2024 Condition Rating: 4.50
Review Comment: "Always a good test of golf, holds up all year round. Some difficult holes and needs good course management."
Goodwood Golf Club
Location: Chichester, West Sussex
Golfshake Rating: 4.15
2024 Condition Rating: 4.50
Review Comment: "Stunning course. Well worth a visit. Greens are challenging, true and the course plays long from the equivalent of the white tees."
Matlock Golf Club
Location: Matlock, Derbyshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.16
2024 Condition Rating: 4.50
Review Comment: "Played this course for the first time and found it very enjoyable. Fantastic views from many tees and many different styles of holes making use of most of the clubs in my bag. I'd definitely play it again."
Styrrup Hall Golf & Country Club
Location: Styrrup, South Yorkshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.17
2024 Condition Rating: 4.47
Review Comment: "The course is in really good condition, good pace. Lots of improvement happening to the clubhouse. Just keeps getting better."
Donnington Valley Golf Club
Location: Newbury, Berkshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.03
2024 Condition Rating: 4.47
Review Comment: "Firm favourite. We have now played here quite a few times and love the variety of the front nine versus the back nine."
Puttenham Golf Club
Location: Guildford, Surrey
Golfshake Rating: 4.35
2024 Condition Rating: 4.45
Review Comment: "Had my annual golf day here yesterday, greens were in amazing condition with subtle breaks and a good pace. Course was in great shape and very interesting to navigate - really good mix of holes, challenging but fair!"
The Manor Golf Club, Kingstone
Location: Uttoxeter, Staffordshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.29
2024 Condition Rating: 4.45
Review Comment: "Previous member returning after around 12 years. The course, considering time of year, was in excellent condition. Nice to see how well it has been looked after. Highly recommend."
Barnham Broom Golf Club
Location: Barnham Broom, Norfolk
Golfshake Rating: 4.30
2024 Condition Rating: 4.45
Review Comment: "Very enjoyable round of golf. Accomodation and facilities were also very good. It was a great weekend."
Belton Woods
Location: Grantham, Lincolnshire
Golfshake Rating: 3.99
2024 Condition Rating: 4.45
Review Comment: "Two great championship courses on site in a lovely hotel complex. Both courses fairly similar in terms of traditional parkland but equally enjoyable. If you're looking for a weekend golf stay or two rounds in one day it's a great choice."
Upavon Golf Club
Location: Pewsey, Wiltshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.41
2024 Condition Rating: 4.44
Review Comment: "A brilliant course in exceptional condition set in a stunning landscape. Our favourite course."
Ashbourne Golf Club
Location: Ashbourne, Derbyshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.08
2024 Condition Rating: 4.44
Review Comment: "Played here in brilliant afternoon sunshine on a quiet Monday. Visitor rate only £25 after 2pm so great value for money. The course is very picturesque with some great views of the surrounding area. The course conditions reflected the lack of rainfall in recent weeks, especially the greens."
Stratford Park Golf Club
Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.23
2024 Condition Rating: 4.44
Review Comment: "Challenging course. Hilly. No hole the same. Tough course. Great greens."
The Welcombe Hotel Spa & Golf Club
Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.11
2024 Condition Rating: 4.44
Review Comment: "Well worth visiting. Course and facilities were in wonderful condition. Real good challenge of golf with excellent staff who were really helpful."
Chilwell Manor Golf Club
Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.18
2024 Condition Rating: 4.44
Review Comment: "Very enjoyable, course was quite dry, and buggies available. Good beer and food here. Friendly and helpful staff in pro shop and the clubhouse."
Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel
Location: Aldeburgh, Suffolk
Golfshake Rating: 4.00
2024 Condition Rating: 4.44
Review Comment: "Typical James Braid course with lots of well placed and deep bunkers. A great winter course as the sand based ground drains well and is always playable. Course and hotel staff are always polite. Super value stay and play venue. Will definitely be back."
West Midlands Golf Club
Location: Solihull, West Midlands
Golfshake Rating: 4.13
2024 Condition Rating: 4.44
Review Comment: "Have not played this course for years and had always enjoyed it. Still a great course in my eyes. For the time of year the greens were excellent. Excellent choice of holes that you cannot just get the driver out. Some thought needed on a few of the holes. Par 6 a monster but keep it straight and shouldn't hurt your score to much. Go and try it and enjoy!"
Howley Hall Golf Club
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.28
2024 Condition Rating: 4.44
Review Comment: "Course in excellent condition as always. Greens were true and quite quick for this time of year. Recommended."
Westerham Golf Club
Location: Westerham, Kent
Golfshake Rating: 4.08
2024 Condition Rating: 4.44
Review Comment: "One of the best underrated course. Still one of the best course in the South. With the loss of trees the play has improved 10 times over."
High Legh Park Country Club
Location: Knutsford, Cheshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.07
2024 Condition Rating: 4.43
Review Comment: "Played here often over last few years. Course played very well and greens always in nice condition. Also, always good yardage markers which is good for a mid handicap player!"
The Springs Golf Club
Location: Wallingford, Oxfordshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.15
2024 Condition Rating: 4.43
Review Comment: "Exceptional condition, quality greens and interesting holes, very nice clubhouse and bar."
Fairfield Golf & Sailing Club
Location: Manchester, Greater Manchester
Golfshake Rating: 4.57
2024 Condition Rating: 4.42
Review Comment: "Very friendly members and staff! Challenging and very well presented golf course."
Test Valley Golf Club
Location: Basingstoke, Hampshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.29
2024 Condition Rating: 4.42
Review Comment: "A very pleasant welcome in the pro shop and clubhouse together with a very interesting course."
Thorndon Park Golf Club
Location: Brentwood, Essex
Golfshake Rating: 4.22
2024 Condition Rating: 4.42
Review Comment: "It’s like the Augusta of Essex. So well maintained, as green as any course you can find in the UK. Surrounded by ancient woodland combined with a challenging round of golf."
Whitehill Golf
Location: Ware, Hertfordshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.35
2024 Condition Rating: 4.42
Review Comment: "Well maintained with enough hazards to make it a challenging course that plays consistently. The day I played was sunny and dry after several days of fairly heavy rain. All the tees and greens played well. The course seems very well drained."
Windmill Village Golf Club
Location: Coventry, Warwickshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.25
2024 Condition Rating: 4.42
Review Comment: "A short but lovely course, plenty of water hazards and bunkers to keep you on your toes, friendly staff."
Seaford Head Golf Course
Location: Seaford, East Sussex
Golfshake Rating: 4.27
2024 Condition Rating: 4.42
Review Comment: "First time played, great course and will definitely be back. Scenery is amazing and greens in excellent condition."
Rushcliffe Golf Club
Location: East Leake, Nottinghamshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.50
2024 Condition Rating: 4.42
Review Comment: "Hidden Notts gem. Lovely course, short but you have to think your way round rather than power it to have any chance of a decent score."
Coombe Wood Golf Club
Location: Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey
Golfshake Rating: 3.88
2024 Condition Rating: 4.42
Review Comment: "Excellent condition and value for money. Friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Really enjoyed the day and will be back again."
Croham Hurst Golf Club
Location: Croydon, Surrey
Golfshake Rating: 4.16
2024 Condition Rating: 4.41
Review Comment: "Course was in good condition and recovered well over the winter. Greens were decent and rolled well. Friendly in the clubhouse and decent food after the round."
Farleigh Golf Club
Location: Farleigh, Surrey
Golfshake Rating: 4.10
2024 Condition Rating: 4.41
Review Comment: "Played as a guest of a member. Very friendly club with great facilities. Well laid out course in good condtion."
Kilworth Springs Golf Club
Location: Lutterworth, Leicestershire
Golfshake Rating: 4.01
2024 Condition Rating: 4.41
Review Comment: "Cracking course, enjoyed a society day here. Very easy to find, just off the M1. Course was in excellent condition, tee boxes, fairways and greens running very true."
Manchester Golf Club
Location: Manchester, Lancashire
Golfshake Rating: 4.46
2024 Condition Rating: 4.40
Review Comment: "Usual friendly welcome in clubhouse and pro shop. Good food. If arrive early plenty of practice areas, driving range, chipping area and large putting green. Course in usual great condition, greens mint. Always provides a challenge with rough being penal. Some great holes, never one hole being the same. Will keep on coming back for sure."
Wishaw Golf Club
Location: Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands
Golfshake Rating: 4.08
2024 Condition Rating: 4.40
Review Comment: "If you're visiting The Belfry then pop next door and play Wishaw GC, a real test for any standard of golfer. A mix of water, trees and target tight greens. Course in great condition at the moment."
Ormonde Fields Golf Club
Location: Codnor, Derbyshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.04
2024 Condition Rating: 4.40
Review Comment: "We haven't played at Ormonde Fields for over 10 year so a return was well overdue. We were not disappointed, the course was in great condition for April, the greens, although a little slow, were in good condition with an even roll, the course is a good test of golf and clubhouse staff were very friendly. If you're looking for a good test of golf at a very good price then pay them a visit."
Mattishall Golf Club
Location: Dereham, Norfolk
Golfshake Rating: 4.18
2024 Condition Rating: 4.40
Review Comment: "Brilliant course. They have made a fantastic job of the 9 hole course, the flow of play was very well controlled. We played in the afternoon which was very quiet."
Knebworth Golf Club
Location: Knebworth, Hertfordshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.10
2024 Condition Rating: 4.40
Review Comment: "Played recently for the first time. Layout of course is good and well looked after. Greens well maintained and interesting as many are sloping with multi-level tiers. Fairways quite wide and forgiving so not much time lost looking for balls. Food and facilities very good."
Houldsworth Golf Club
Location: Stockport, Cheshire
Golfshake Rating: 4.03
2024 Condition Rating: 4.40
Review Comment: "Being a member I'm obviously going to say it's an excellent course but that's why I joined there. A flat parkland course but steady golf is required for a good score. Some nice holes on this course."
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