Royal West Norfolk Golf Club: Course Review, Tee Times and Key Info

Royal West Norfolk Golf Club Key Information

Regularly cut off by the tide, Royal West Norfolk or Brancaster on the north-west Norfolk coast is most definitely unique in more ways than one. This rugged links is the perfect antidote to modern corporate golf - if you like your links golf old-school and ‘au naturel’, it will be right up your street. It has been a mainstay in the top two-thirds of our Top 100 Golf Courses UK & Ireland rankings since day one and tops our list of the best golf courses in Norfolk.

Laid out in 1892 by Holcombe Ingleby, a prominent and popular politician, relatively little has changed over the course of 123 years. Of course, the ‘naturalness’ of this spit of marshland twixt field and sea is part of its charm and appeal, with the par-5 8th and par-4 9th playing very differently at high tide when there’s water to cross on both.

Stepping out of the quirky old clubhouse, you cross a section of beach to reach the 1st tee. Out on the links, in the shelter of the low dunes, there’s a great feeling of tranquillity and this is a course where pure golfing escapism is possible. It features prominently in our best links courses in England list.

Brancaster is largely an out-and-back links with a few deviations along the way that delivering an excellent test of seaside golf. The prevailing wind helps on the way out and hurts on the run for home.

You’ll encounter great variety and some uniquely memorable holes among the sleepered bunkers, elevated greens, salt marshes and sand dunes. The 3rd and 4th, with their sleepered bunkers and banks, stand out early on, while the blind drive on the 5th will leave you coming over the crest full of anticipation or trepidation depending on where you’ve hit it.

You’ll find the two toughest par 3s - the 6th and 15th - play a similar distance in broadly the same direction, so club one right and you’ll probably get the other one right too. It could be anything from an 8-iron to a 3-wood, mind you, and both greens will be pretty elusive into the wind.

It’s probably fair to say that Royal West Norfolk provides a golfing experience like no other. At just 6,478 yards, it’s only of modest length, but with the wind perpetually whipping in off the sea and the golfer always open to every element, you’ll need to have your wits about you to score well.

It’s also one of few courses, if not the only one, to offer a reduced rate for foursomes golf. How much demand there is for that, who knows! But it’s there if you want it.

In recent times the club has taken the bold step to renovate parts of its Victorian clubhouse, much of which had remained untouched for decades. The refurbishment sought to modernise and improve both functionality and accessibility while preserving the building's historical character and charm. The general view is that it has succeeded on both counts.

What's new for 2025/26? What our panellists said…

Richard Healy

Everything about the club and course can be summarised in one word - ‘unique'. Threading between the wall of dunes and the estuary, this special piece of land and ancient design present particularly local challenges. The landing zones are relatively generous and this is a plotter's, rather than blaster's, course, Only by visiting can you start to understand how different, unique and special this course and stretch of land is. Oh, to get to play it again!

Emily Hudson

The links had a rugged feel in places, but this added to the charm of it sitting behind the dunes. A definite must-play links for any golfer. The 8^th and 9^th holes, in particular, should be on every golfer’s bucket list to play. A demanding but thoroughly enjoyable experience can be topped off by some breathtaking views of the course and coast from the clubhouse, so be sure not to miss those.

Royal West Norfolk Golf Club location

Contact the secretary at Royal West Norfolk for details or to book

Royal West Norfolk Golf Club scorecard

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Best Courses Near Royal West Norfolk

HUNSTANTON
Hunstanton is a classic out-and-back links, with the holes largely played on either side of a sand dune ridge running down the middle of the layout. The conditioning of the course is always excellent and sand dunes are a real feature on most holes, as are the traditional pot bunkers.

SHERINGHAM
The best links golf courses don't have it all their own way when it comes to seaside golf. For some, the clifftop version has even more appeal on account of the elevated views it affords over our beautiful coastline. Sheringham boasts some memorable front-nine holes hugging the cliff edge, among them the long par-4 5th, which serves up spectacular vistas and a lengthy approach to a long bunkerless green.

Best Places To Stay Near Royal West Norfolk

Titchwell Manor, Titchwell - Book now at Booking.com
Titchwell Manor is a Victorian farmhouse less than two miles from the club, which offers luxurious boutique accommodation. Each individually designed room has its own en suite bathroom with shower or bath and luxury toiletries, flatscreen TV and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Many have sea or garden views.

The Hoste, Burnham Market - Book now at Booking.com
Situated in the centre of Burnham Market, about five miles from the club and just two from Norfolk's sandy beaches, The Hoste boasts a private 20-seat cinema room, a gym and beauty treatment rooms. The uniquely designed accommodation lies across two individual properties. Many boast a free-standing bath, pretty terrace, or views over the village green.

Royal West Norfolk Gallery

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ROYAL WEST NORFOLK HISTORICAL TOP 100 RANKING UK&I

• 2025/26 - 59
• 2023/24 - 63
• 2021/22 - 60
• 2019/20 - 54
• 2017/18 - 47
• 2015/16 - 47
• 2013/14 - 45
• 2011/12 - 44
• 2009/10 - 44

Frequently Asked Questions