51-60 Top 100 Golf Courses UK & Ireland 2023/24

Golf Monthly's full list of the UK and Ireland's Top 100 courses

Ballybunion Golf Club Old Course with the top 100 UK and Ireland logo
(Image credit: Evan Schiller / Ballybunion Golf Club)

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51-60 Courses

51. SILLOTH ON SOLWAY GOLF CLUB

Silloth on Solway

(Image credit: Getty Images)
  • Location: Wigton, Cumbria
  • Founded: 1892
  • Designed by: David Grant and Willie Park Jr
  • Green fee: £45-£90
  • 23/24 ranking: No change

Resplendent along a remote coastline, Silloth on Solway is undoubtedly the best value in the Top 100.

This is a testing course about which you will rarely if ever hear a bad word. With the exception of the short 9th, it is not heavily bunkered, but all are perfectly positioned and many are very tough to escape. Silloth may be remote, but it more than rewards any effort to get here.

- Silloth on Solway review and key info


The Machrie Links general view

(Image credit: Phil Inglis)
  • Location: Isle of Islay, Scotland
  • Founded: 1891
  • Designed by: Willie Campbell
  • Green fee: £65-£250
  • 23/24 ranking: No change

Golf on whisky-rich Islay dates back to 1891, but it is DJ Russell’s recent wholesale upgrade that has really caught the golfing eye. The recent developments have rightly been attracting ever-more worldwide attention.

Magical green settings abound and with several front-nine tees right beside the beach, it is quite simply a magnificent place to play - thought-provoking too, with several strategic choices to be made.

- The Machrie review and key info


53. LIPHOOK GOLF CLUB

Liphook Golf Club pictured

(Image credit: Kevin Murray)
  • Location: Liphook, Hampshire, Surrey
  • Opened: 1923
  • Designed by: Arthur Croome and Tom Simpson
  • Green fee: £135-£160
  • 23/24 ranking: Up 2

The new holes designed by Tom Mackenzie for the club’s recent centenary to improve the routing and make for a safer crossing of the busy Portsmouth road have bedded in very well.

They have enhanced what was already a very fine heathland design which is beautifully maintained and a joy to play at any time of the year. Liphook is easily home to one of England’s most impressive and enjoyable recent upgrades.

- Liphook review and key info


54. ALWOODLEY GOLF CLUB

Alwoodley Golf Club 8th hole pictured

(Image credit: Getty Images)
  • Location: Moortown, Leeds, Yorkshire, England
  • Founded: 1907
  • Designed by: Alister MacKenzie
  • Green fee: £90-£175
  • 23/24 ranking: Down 4

The first design project of surgeon-turned-course architect, Dr Alister MacKenzie, has remained in our top 60 since day one. 

It boasts attractive bunkering that performs the dual role of strategy and aesthetics as well as anywhere, and far-reaching vistas, with clearing work in recent years bringing a more open feel once more. Probably the finest heathland course in Yorkshire and among the finest in the country.

- Alwoodley review and key info


55. SAUNTON GOLF CLUB EAST COURSE

Saunton Golf Club East Course pictured

(Image credit: Getty Images)
  • Location: Braunton, Devon, England
  • Founded: 1897
  • Designed by: Herbert Fowler
  • Green fee: £60-£200
  • 23/24 ranking: Down 6

Set in the peaceful North Devon dunes, the East Course was designed by Herbert Fowler and is a wonderful place for golf. It has long attracted major events and a teenaged Sergio Garcia won the Boys’ Amateur here in 1997. There are just three short holes, but each is strong and different.

- Saunton East review and key info


56. THE BERKSHIRE GOLF CLUB BLUE COURSE

The Berkshire Blue Course pictured

(Image credit: Kevin Murray)
  • Location: Ascot, Berkshire, England
  • Founded: 1928
  • Designed by: Herbert Fowler
  • Green fee: £145-£300
  • 23/24 ranking: No change

Herbert Fowler made brilliant use of the natural slopes with each hole fitting seamlessly into the landscape.

The course starts with a gem of a long par 3 requiring a solid connection to carry an ocean of heather and a deep valley, and finishes with a clenched fistful of testing par 4s. The Red Course’s tougher brother with a real sting in the tail.

- The Berkshire Blue review and key info


57. WALTON HEATH GOLF CLUB NEW COURSE

Walton Heath New 3rd hole

(Image credit: Getty Images)
  • Location: Walton-on-the-Hill, Surrey, England
  • Opened: 1907 nine holes (1913 18 holes)
  • Designed by: Herbert Fowler
  • Green fee: £135-£395
  • 23/24 ranking: Down 3

Herbert Fowler created the first nine of the New three years after the Old in 1907 

There’s an element of inland links about it, though the ever-present heather is as testing as anywhere. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security by a seemingly straightforward start, for a string of testing par 4s lies in wait. It's a handsomely expansive heathland layout with one of the UK’s very longest nines off the tips.

- Walton Heath New review and key info


58. WEST SUSSEX GOLF CLUB

West Sussex Golf Club approach and green

(Image credit: Kevin Murray)
  • Location: Pulborough, West Sussex, England
  • Opened: 1931
  • Designed by: Guy Campbell and Cecil Hutchison
  • Green fee: £105-£150
  • 23/24 ranking: Down 1

Also known as Pulborough, this is one of the most beautiful and enjoyable inland courses in the country.

It dates back to 1930 and opens with its solitary par 5, a chance to get ahead of the card. There are five fabulous short holes, and plenty of testing and varied par 4s that can both frustrate and delight.

- West Sussex review and key info


59. SOUTHPORT & AINSDALE GOLF CLUB

A par 3 at Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club

(Image credit: Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club)
  • Location: Southport, Merseyside, England
  • Founded: 1906
  • Designed by: George Lowe and James Braid
  • Green fee: £99-£250
  • 23/24 ranking: Up 3

Significant works have been ongoing to make improvements to the course, both from an aesthetic and playing point of view.

A James Braid course dating from 1925, his design remains largely in place. There’s an eclectic selection of holes delivering an interesting blend of links and heathland. It’s a tough but fair layout.

- Southport and Ainsdale review and key info


60. WORPLESDON GOLF CLUB

Worplesdon Golf Club pictured

(Image credit: Getty Images)
  • Location: Worplesdon, Surrey, England
  • Opened: 1893
  • Designed by: J F Abercromby
  • Green fee: £100-£225
  • 23/24 ranking: Up 3

A full bunker renovation project has been completed and is now established and further improvements to course and facilities, plus a clear plan for the future see Worplesdon climb three places since the last ranking.

It’s a classic heathland layout delivering a great strategic test and a real sense of seclusion when out on the springy fairways.

- Worplesdon review and key info

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV

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