Top Heathland Golf Course in the UK

Stamford Road, Ketton, Stamford, Lincolnshire  

Luffenham opens gently. Don't be fooled, the 412 yard second is one of the best holes on the course with menacing fairway bunkers and a severely sloping green while the 320... more

Aldeburgh, Suffolk  

The original Aldeburgh Golf Club course was designed in 1884 by John Thompson from Royal Wimbledon and Open champion Willie Fernie from Felixstowe and later modified by J.H.... more

Nethybridge Road, Boat of Garten, Highland  

Described as the hidden gem of the Highlands in an Alps-like setting, James Braid designed the 5,870-yard lay-out after the club started with six holes in 1898. The... more

Ganton, Scarborough, North Yorkshire  

Golf was first played at Ganton, in the Vale of Pickering between York and Scarborough, in 1891 on a former inlet from the North Sea and the natural sandy subsoil was an ideal... more

Wentworth Drive, Virginia Water, Surrey  

Designed by Harry Colt in 1924, two years before the more famous West, it is an easier, more user-friendly course with exactly the same attractive characteristics, bellowed by... more

Beacon Road, Crowborough, East Sussex  

Crowborough Beacon is a heathland course close to the highest point in Sussex at nearly 800 feet above sea level with spectacular views to the South Downs. Now 18 holes with a... more

Lords Moor Lane, Strensall, York, North Yorkshire  

York moved to their current site at Strensall in 1904 and J H Taylor designed the course of around 6,000 yards and it was among the longest and most testing in Yorkshire. Now... more

Hopwood Cottage, Rochdale Road, Middleton, Manchester, Greater Manchester  

Hopwood Park was designed by Harry Colt and is a superb mix of parkland and moorland. It measures 6,490 yards and is divided by a wide ravine with a brook winding through it... more

Golf Club Road, St George's Hill, Weybridge, Surrey  

Harry S Colt was called to construct St George’s Hill in 1912 and it has developed onto one of the cherished courses in a rich golfing area in Surrey. Each hole in the three... more

Woking, Surrey  

West Hill is one of the many superb courses in the Surrey-Hampshire-Berkshire golf belt featuring an abundance of heather and mature trees. The scenic course was founded in... more

Ravenswood Avenue, Crowthorne, Berkshire  

East Berkshire was created on a 100-acre desolate heathland site by Peter Paxton from Musselburgh in 1903 and is a typical Berkshire-Surrey-Hampshire course featuring... more

Abingdon, Oxfordshire  

One of the few clubs to boast 54 holes of a high standard, Frilford Heath has two courses of classic heathland and a third course which a links feel. The front nine of the... more

Swinley Road, Ascot, Berkshire  

Some favour the 6,139-yard par 72 Red course that has six par threes, six fours and six fives, but the entire 36-hole complex at The Berkshire is a joy offering great variety... more

Stonnall Road, Aldridge, Walsall, Staffordshire  

Druids Heath, measuring 6,661 yards, offers a challenging test of golf all year round. It was only opened in 1974 in a location that affords impressive views of the... more

Golf Course Road, Rosemount, Blairgowrie, Perth & Kinross  

Blairgowrie, formed as a private members club in 1889, is situated in the heart of Perthshire countryside. In addition to the Rosemount and Lansdowne championship courses, the... more

Golf Road, Tayport, Fife  

Scotscraig is only 15 minutes from the Old Course at St Andrews and displays much the same characteristics. The most memorable hole is the par four fourth. While it is just... more

Links Road, Budleigh Salterton, Devon  

East Devon provides superb coastal views as far as Portland Bill in Dorset on a fine day. A course both demanding and fair, the fairways are generous but a wayward drive will... more

Eakring Road, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire  

Sherwood Forest's reputation as one of the finest heathland courses in Britain is well deserved - it has staged many top amateur events including the 2006 England Boys... more

Wigginton, Banbury, Oxfordshire  

Tadmarton may be considered short at under 6,000 yards but while the first nine holes are fairly open, the second nine are not with narrow fairways and plenty of gorse. That's... more

Heslington Lane, York, North Yorkshire  

Fulford will always be remembered for the Bernhard Langer third shot from the boughs of the ash tree on 17. The original course was designed by Alister Mackenzie and now has a... more

Ermine Street, Broughton, Brigg, Lincolnshire  

Forest Pines Hotel & Golf Resort is one of the most interesting and challenging courses in the UK. The course twists and turns through pines and into open heathland with three... more

Auchterarder, Perth & Kinross  

James Braid fashioned the Gleneagles Hotel King's course that opened in 1919 set in the splendour of the Perthshire hills in Scotland. It has matured into one of the best... more

Heath House Road, Woking, Surrey  

Worplesdon is another quality Surrey heather-gorse-and fir tree course that makes the area such a golfing paradise. It has changed little since F J Abercromby produced the... more

Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey  

Constructed on New Zealand Farm, as the first owner was an early emigrant, founded in 1895 and located within the famous Surrey heath belt, the under-used perfectly maintained... more

Station Road, Northwich, Cheshire  

Delamere Forest is a natural heathland course, despite the word Forest, but trees do form part of its defence on several holes and there are a number of blind drives some... more

Churt Road, Hindhead, Surrey  

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was one of the founders of the 6,373-yard par 70 course set in a breathtaking location in 1904. The superior front nine... more

Golf Club Lane, Wiggonholt, Pulborough, West Sussex  

Situated on the edge of the South Downs, the heathland West Sussex course was only created in 1930 but has become established as one of the leading venues in the South and... more

Thorpeness, Aldeburgh, Suffolk  

Gorse and heather make Thorpeness a real test although it is only 6,271 yards from the back tees. A gentle par four opener is followed by a cracking par three with a... more

Golf Lane, Church Brampton, Northampton, Northamptonshire  

A traditional and inland course with a mix of heathland and parkland, Northamptonshire now has has 21 holes. The original 18 holes were designed by Harry Colt and later James... more

St Eval Road, Mawgan Porth, Cornwall  

The Merlin Golf & Country Club is situated on the North Cornish Coast with wonderful views towards the sea. This hilltop, heathland course is designed to suit all standards of... more

Snells Nook Lane, Nanpantan, Loughborough, Leicestershire  

Longcliffe is set on the lower slopes of Charnwood Forest and is covered in silver birch, oak, pine, beech, gorse and broom. An indication of it quality is that it has twice... more

Minley Road, Fleet, Hampshire  

North Hants is a classic Hampshire-Surrey border course tucked among pine and silver birch trees, rhododendrons, heather, broom and gorse. Used as a regional qualifier for The... more

Wentworth Drive, Virginia Water, Surrey  

Wentworth’s West course is probably the most famous in Britain as it hosts the televised PGA Championship and World Matchplay each year. Constructed by Harry Colt in 1926,... more

49a Links Road, Poole, Dorset  

Parkstone, measuring 6,263 yards, par 72 demands keeping the ball straight or the penalty is thick heather rough that twists the club. Scots pines are a feature of a lovely... more

Ridgemount RoadSunningdale, Ascot, Berkshire  

Sunningdale New course was created by Harry Colt in 1923 to cater for the increasing needs of members and is friendlier than the established original layout. It is more open,... more

Ogmore by Sea, Bridgend, Cardiff Area  

Southerndown, a combination of links, downland and heathland perched high overlooking Porthcawl, the Bristol Channel and a beautiful Welsh landscape, is invariably open to... more

AnnsmuirLadybank, Cupar, Fife  

Ladybank is regularly used as a Open Championship Final Qualifying venue when The Open is at St Adndrews (and again in 2010) and it's a course where accuracy is vital because... more

Wheatsheaf Enclosure, Liphook, Hampshire  

Liphook can sometimes appear to resemble an inland links in the height of summer when the ground starts to firm up and plays shorter, but in reality it is a heathland gem. ... more

6 Studland, Swanage, Dorset  

One of the most scenic courses in the South West, set in the Purbeck Hills high above Poole Harbour, Old Harry Rock and Sandbanks, the views over the water are stunning and... more

Lindrick Common, Worksop, Nottinghamshire  

Lindrick is considered one of Britain's finest inland courses - but it is unusual in that it finishes with par three, albeit a great one. Lindrick is always remembered ... more

Swinley Road, Ascot, Berkshire  

Be aware of the tough start to the 6,260-yard par 71 Blue – a monster 217-yard par three to a distant green that lies beyond a heather-covered valley. Other memorable holes... more

Deans Lane, Walton on the Hill, Tadworth, Surrey  

Walton Heath, whose captain was once Edward VIII, boast two courses, the Old and New, and has a links feel although set in the heart of Surrey. Heather borders the fairway... more

Ridgemount RoadSunningdale, Ascot, Berkshire  

Sunningdale's two Harry Colt-designed courses in the Surrey-Berkshire heathland belt where quality courses abound are among the best and most exclusive. The Old course has... more

Rugeley Road, Hazel Slade, Cannock, Staffordshire  

Beau Desert - 'Beautiful Wilderness' - bordering Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, is a classic Midlands course created by land owner the Marquess of Anglesey and completed by... more

Piltdown, Uckfield, East Sussex  

Piltdown Gold Club in East Sussex is close to Uckfield and was founded in 1904. The terrain is fairly level but the narrow fairways; small greens and an abundance of heather... more

Off Chapel Lane, Forest Row, East Sussex  

Royal Ashdown Forest opened in 1889 as the Ashdown Forest & Tunbridge Wells Golf Club and “Tunbridge Wells” was dropped when Queen Victoria bestowed royal patronage in 1893.... more

The Broadway, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire  

The Hotchkin course dating from the early 1900s is a heathland masterpiece but a severe test. The lasting memory is of the cavernous bunkers that are serious card wreckers... more

Coronation Road, Ascot, Berkshire  

A sweeping drive from an elevated first tee to the left of the clubhouse is the start of one of golf’s most memorable rounds through an exceptional Surrey heathland course.... more

Wentworth Drive, Broadstone, Dorset  

Originally known as the Dorset Golf Club in 1898, designed by Tom Dunn, later modified by Harry Colt, Broadstone sits on a superb tract of heathland. The elevated back nine... more

Windmill Lane, Worksop, Nottinghamshire  

Worksop is a classic English woodland course which has produced a number of top players, Lee Westwood among them. There are a number of superb holes on this testing layout,... more