Aldeburgh Golf Club - Key Information
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Address | Saxmundham Road, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, IP15 5PE |
Phone | 01728 452890 |
Website | |
Visitor Times | Welcome subject to bookings, 2-balls only |
Par | Men 68, Women 74 |
Slope | White/M 126, Red/W 132 |
Opened | 1884 |
Architect | John Thomson & Willie Fernie, Willie Park Jnr & JH Taylor, Harry Colt & Hugh Alison |
Golf Monthly Verdict
As easy as the walking may be, the golf is not! The course enjoys a very peaceful heathland setting and is packed with top-quality golf and charm. Keep the ball straight, and you can score well, but length is also required due to the many long par 4s. Exciting plans are in place with Martin Ebert to create a couple of new holes and change others.
Reasons To Play Aldeburgh
– Enjoy a beautifully peaceful course in a tranquil, rural setting
– Test every element of your long game
– Play two rounds… it’s a 2-ball course and you will get round in good time
Rankings
UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2025/26 - 80
Some years ago, any mention of Aldeburgh Golf Club and you would pretty much think immediately of gorse! Thankfully, much has been done in recent years with more in the offing to make this very strong course a little more golfer-friendly and full deserving of its place in the Top 100 Golf Courses UK & Ireland.
It is situated a mile or two inland from the Suffolk coast in an area of outstanding natural beauty and dates back to the 1880s. Several leading course architects have influenced the evolution of the design.
Willie Park Junior, JH Taylor and Harry Colt all made changes in the early part of the 20th century, while the next stage of its evolution, whatever that might entail, is being entrusted to the in-demand Martin Ebert.
For the time being, one very noticeable feature is the unusual absence of any par 5s though this is soon to change. When you factor in that from the back tees there are no fewer than twelve par 4s in excess of 400 yards, then you know you are going to have to play extremely well to get close to handicap. Despite always enjoying my golf here, I have always struggled to score well!
The course runs over very gently-undulating gorse-lined fairways which are easy to walk but a lot more tricky to navigate. Happily, there is more room now though you still need to be in the right place in order to have the best lines into the greens. There’s still plenty of the vibrant yellow shrub with which to contend, but some of those more wayward shots are not immediately lost as they would have been before.
Of the four short holes, the one that rally stands out is the 4th due to its extremely long, sloping green and the very impressive U-shaped and sleepered bunker that protects the entrance and sides. Aldeburgh heads the list of the best golf courses in Suffolk, one of England’s larger counties geographically.
And while accuracy off the tee is still a prerequisite, perhaps why I have not scored well here, the many long and testing two-shotters mean that distance is vital too. As mentioned, changes are afoot to make this fine course even better, perhaps also introducing a little more variety. I am looking forward to returning and seeing them for myself.
The second hole almost returns you to the charming clubhouse
What's new for 2025/26? What our panellists said...
Aldeburgh is a fantastic maritime links that tests the full arsenal of a player’s game. There is a wonderful variety of par 4s of all lengths to navigate here.
One of the toughest tests in the Top 100 with no par 5s (yet!) to offer you respite. The course drains well meaning it is a superb winter destination. Whatever the season, it is a place to come when you are on top form and want to test your game, or if you are simply feeling masochistic!
The course has been lengthened, bunkering has been modified, and the club is working through a programme of change. It was the overall setting, quality conditioning and random routing that made it for me. A real sense of calm and getting away from it all coupled with a fast pace of play as standard. This was a great, fun experience and a superb challenge to boot.
Aldeburgh Golf Club Location
Aldeburgh Golf Club Championship Course scorecard
Best Courses Near To Aldeburgh
Places To Stay Near Aldeburgh
The White Lion Hotel - Book now at Booking.com
The White Lion is a traditional hotel opposite Aldeburgh’s shingle beach, where wooden huts line the shore. Guests can enjoy fresh seafood, and the privately owned hotel offers excellent service and menus with fresh Suffolk produce.
Wentworth Hotel - Book now at Booking.com
The family-run Wentworth Hotel features bright, traditional rooms with en suite facilities. Many rooms offer impressive sea views, and the restaurant has 2 AA Rosettes, and serves daily specials using fresh local produce.
Aldeburgh Course Gallery
Historical Top 100 Rankings UK&I
- 2025/26 - 80
- 2023/24 - 80
- 2021/22 - 77
- 2019/20 - 74
- 2017/18 - 70
- 2015/16 - 71
- 2013/14 - 77
- 2011/12 - 78
- 2009/10 - 84
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aldeburgh the best golf course in Suffolk?
Aldeburgh has been the highest-rated course in the county since the Golf Monthly rankings started. It is actually the only one in the Top 100, though Ipswich is the Next 100 and very highly thought of.
Why is Aldeburgh so tough?
This boils down to the difficulty of achieving par. With so many long par 4s, and with no three-shotters to offer some relief bar the one scheduled to open in 2025, it has a long-standing reputation for difficulty. Recent gorse clearance has eased things a little, while other changes are in the pipeline that may just make it a little less daunting.
Is Aldeburgh links or heathland?
The nearest point of the course - the 13th green - is over half a mile from the beach, and you barely get a glimpse of the sea. However, the club rightly describes the course on its website as ‘maritime heathland’ and it has many of the characteristics of links. As such, it is justifiably one of the best heathland courses in the UK, though you will probably get to experience some links golf too!
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