33 top value courses in the UK
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Looking for a top value round of golf? Look no further. Below you’ll find 33 of the best value courses in the land and there’s bound to be one near you. They’re among some of the best inland and coastal layouts in the UK and are guaranteed to provide a round to remember….specially at these prices! With half-price golf on offer at virtually all of them, not one will cost you a penny over £50 to tee it up.
ENGLAND
*BOWOOD
Home of one of the late Dave Thomas’s best and most challenging layouts, the maestro’s gently rolling parkland masterpiece majestically sitting within the grounds of a 2,000-acre Capability Brown great park and estate.Tel: 01249 822228.
*CARDEN PARK
This county boasts some of the best inland golf in the country and this
cracking Jack Nicklaus parkland layout is among the best, featuring a number of water hazards including the 17th which weaves round a large lake in front of the luxury hotel.Tel: 01829 731003,
*CARLISLE
This wonderful century old layout is conveniently located just off the M6. The gently undulating course is flanked by an assortment of ancient timber and is widely regarded as Cumbria’s top track. Tel: 01228 513029.
*CHARTHAM PARK
Magical modern parkland designed by Neil Coles and providing stunning North Downs views. You’ll be impressed by the excellent facilities too plus the fact it is plotted on fast draining terrain and is playable year-round.Tel: 01342 870340.
*COLLINGTREE PARK
Exciting former European Tour venue which was the handiwork of Johnny Miller and with several risk-reward holes is the place to go for a Ryder Cup match play contest. Both nines end have thrilling finales, the par-5 18th famously being played to an island green.Tel: 01604 700000.
*DARTMOUTH G&CC
Demanding undulating par-72 parkland layout with an impressive combination of holes with a cracking collection of par-3s, a memorable round ending with a memorable short hole played over a water-filled valley in front of the clubhouse/hotel.Tel: 01803 712011.
*DUNSTANBURGH CASTLE
Underrated links on the breathtaking north east coast and the highlights come thick and fast: you’ll certainly never forget teeing off atop a giant sand dune at the dramatic par-4 6th and the tiny par-3 13th overlooked by the castle ruins.Tel: 01665 576562.
*FOREST PINES
A Q Hotels venue which goes from strength to strength with the main attraction of the 27 holes on offer being the Forest and Pines layout (the Beeches nine completes the set). Thread your way between the assorted timber…or else! Visit http://www.qhotels.co.uk/ Tel:01652 601718.
*HEYSHAM
If you’re looking for a serious golfing examination, underrated Heysham will definitely oblige: it’s a long, challenging parkland layout with a string of 400-yards plus par-4s, several water hazards, ditches and ponds to negotiate.Tel: 01524 851011.
*HEYTHROP PARK
A great place to stay and play with the latter being a classy Tom Mackenzie layout plotted within a historic estate and providing a fine mix of holes, the pick being the short risk-reward par-4 6th with the green sitting just beyond a river.Tel: 01608 673414.
*MANOR HOUSE
At one end of the magical medieval Cotswold village of Castle Combe (where Spielberg’s War Horse was filmed) you’ll discover this superb undulating parkland course with a terrific variety of holes, including some of the best par-3s you’re ever likely to play.Tel: 01249 782206.
*MOOR ALLERTON
This was legendary American architect Robert Trent Jones’ first design in Britain and offers 27 holes of quality Leeds parkland golf – and not a weak one among them – with all three loops beginning and ending in front of the clubhouse. Tel: 0113 266 5209.
*PERRANPORTH
Breathtaking rollercoaster of a James Braid links perched on the cliffs overlooking the popular seaside town’s stunning beach. You’ll be hitting ‘blind’ on numerous occasions – usually from elevated tees and over the dunes in front of you – and the views are simply sensational.Tel: 01872 572454.
*PLAYERS CLUB
More match play heaven designed by Adrian Stiff and the Codrington layout definitely lives up to its architect’s name. It’s long, tough and there’s practically water everywhere, including all four par-3s and the par-5 15th which features two lakes on the left.Tel: 01454 313029.
*PUTTENHAM
Plotted amidst scenic foothills and with tight tree-lined fairways and well guarded greens, you have to carefully plot your way round pretty par-71 Puttenham, an unsung hero even though it has been around since 1894.Tel: 01483 810277.
*SCARCROFT
Classy undulating parkland that gets overlooked by Leeds neighbours Alwoodley and Moortown, but a cracking layout in its own right. Founded in 1937, it features several tight driving holes though overall is a fair test.Tel: 0113 289 2311.
*SEATON CAREW
One of England’s oldest and finest links unusually offers 22 holes and a handful of five layouts and has been challenging golfers from all over the world since 1874 including the likes of Vardon, Braid and Hagen. Tel: 01429 266249.
*SELSDON PARK
This gently undulating Croydon parkland at the heart of Surrey suburbia was significantly upgraded a few years back and with several 500-yards plus par-5s and a couple of par-4s under 300 yards, you have to carefully plot your way round this par-72 initially created by J.H. Taylor.Tel: 0208 768 3116.
*TEHIDY PARK
One of Cornwall’s leading parkland layouts scenically sits two miles from the coast and requires 100% focus and accurate ball striking with OB coming into play on nine holes. The 193-yards par-3 over water is a potential card wrecker.Tel: 01209 842208.
TREVOSE
Glorious Harry Colt links with a terrific variety of holes including a pair of classy par-3s on the front nine (3rd and 8th). A memorable round finishes with a demanding par-4 requiring a precise second shot to a long but narrow raised green.Tel: 01841 520208.
SCOTLAND
*EDZELL
An exquisite heathland/parkland combination plotted amidst 128 acres in the foothills of the Angus Glens and thoughtfully re-designed by James Braid in the mid-1930s.Tel: 01356 647283.
*FORTROSE & ROSEMARKIE
Short but exceptionally sweet and testing James Braid links on the slender Chanonry Peninsula in the ‘Black Isle’ with eight holes running next to the sea, offering a good chance of spotting the area’s dolphin colony.
Tel: 01381 620529.
*FRASERBURGH
Venerable links laid out by James Braid in 1922 and where brain rules over brawn – you’ve got to carefully plot your way round, specially on the back nine where the rumpled fairways divert loose balls into hungry pot bunkers.
Tel: 01346 516616.
*KING JAMES VI
Hidden Perthshire Old Tom Morris gem and believed to be Scotland’s only inland island course – it proudly sits on Moncreiffe Island where it has resided since 1897. Tel: 01738 632460.
*MUSSELBURGH LINKS (OLD COURSE)
The historic nine holer – it hosted six Opens between1874-89 and is officially recognised as the world’s oldest course – delightfully sits within the town’s racecourse and starts with a par-3 overlooked by the grandstand. A real trip down memory lane…
Tel: 0131 653 5122.
*THE GLEN
Unheralded East Lothian hero of Scotland’s Golf Coast enjoying a breathtaking clifftop location with many spectacular holes and sensational views of the Firth of Forth and Bass Rock. Finishes with a flourish from an elevated 18th tee backropped by North Berwick and beyond.
Tel: 01620 892726.
WALES
*CELTIC MANOR (ROMAN ROAD)
A pretty classy no.2 layout to the Ryder Cup-staging Twenty Ten, the Roman Road was the resort’s first course and this splendid open and rolling affair was designed by Robert Trent Jones Snr. Having staged several Wales Opens, it has bags of pedigree of its own.
Tel: 01633 413000.
*CONWY
Enjoys a breathtaking North Wales coastline location and challenges Royal Porthcawl as the country’s leading links layout. It’s that good though you need to take care on the potentially card-wrecking final three holes.
Tel: 01492 592423.
*PORTHMADOG
It may be overshadowed by nearby Royal St David’s and Aberdovey but Porthmadog is a class links – and part parkland – act in its own right. You’ll especially love the stunning Snowdon views and the holes around the turn including the driveable par-4 12th. Tel: 01766 514124.
*ST PIERRE (OLD)
Fine all round Marriott resort with its Old Course hosting 14 European Tour events along with the 1996 Solheim Cup. It’s a mature par-72 parkland test rounded-off with a nerve-jangling 200-yards par-3 over water.Tel: 01291 635205.
*TENBY
Wonderful quirky links and home of the oldest club in Wales – it was founded in 1888 – which majestically sits between the sea and railway line, featuring several memorable holes including the par-4 4th ‘Bell’ hole with its hidden green.
Tel: 01834 844447.
*VALE RESORT
Outstanding four star resort just down the M4 from Cardiff though the chief attraction is the formidable Wales National course which opened over a decade ago. It’s long and demanding with some amazing green complexes requiring a red hot putter.
Tel: 01443 665899.
IRELAND
*GALGORM CASTLE
Premier venue located just 30mins from Belfast and plotted within 220 acres of mature parkland in the grounds of one of Ireland’s historic demesnes. It is one of Ireland’s finest parkland tests as this summer’s Northern Ireland Open players discovered.
Tel: 028 25646161.
