As our userbase continues to grow internationally, we thought we would check in on the UK and Ireland to see which courses are receiving excellent reviews so far at Golf Advisor.
We looked back at reviews from 2018 to determine the best unsung courses of Great Britain & Ireland. To determine them, we looked for courses that can be played under £100 (in most cases, they cost far less). we took a combination of their overall star rating average and combined subcategory averages. Courses needed at least two reviews in 2018 and 10 since we began tracking reviews in 2014. 711 courses that received a review in 2018 have at least 10 reviews all time.
Our user base for golf course reviews in the U.K. and Ireland are predominantly of golfers from within these parts, and are in many cases paying society or local green fees compared to U.S. golfers paying a full visitors rate.
There are many courses in the U.K. that offer an excellent experience that don't get the publicity that many of the top medal links and historic Open Championship clubs receive. We hope this list helps point you towards some pleasant alternatives.
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Edzell Golf Club
Angus, Scotland | Read reviews
Green fees: £60-80
What they're saying: "Lovely course, good condition, greens very nice. Clubhouse food and set up was great. Loved it!" - RichieAnderson -
Ardglass Golf Club
County Down, Ireland | Read reviews
Green fees: £65-125
What they're saying: "Absolutely amazing from start to finish. The views are spectacular, and I believe you can see the coast from every tee and green - truly a wonder to be hold!" - RyanAdams18 -
Hessle Golf Club
East Riding of Yorkshire, England | Read reviews
Green fees: £40-50
What they're saying: "Had a fantastic round at Hessle. Course in fantastic condition. Great course layout with some fiendishly challenging greens." - t223630101 -
Ashburnham Golf Club
Carmarthenshire, Wales | Read reviews
Green fees: £50-60
What they're saying: "Ashburnham is a true links course with a real eclectic mix of golf holes." - u388306712 -
Powfoot Golf Club
Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland | Read reviews
Green fees: £40-56
What they're saying: "Played as a four ball on our way back from Carnoustie. Very good links course, quite challenging especially into the wind, the course was in very good condition." -t582156893 -
Portsalon Golf Club
County Donegal, Ireland
Green fees: €50-90
What they're saying: "I had heard good things about portsalon GC but it definitely exceeded expectations ... The standout feature of the course to me was the green complexes and surrounds." - Pointbroken -
Kirkistown Castle
County Down, Northern Ireland | Read reviews
Green fees: £52-74
What they're saying: "This is a proper test of links golf. Recent weather has the fairways a Coffee colour and running faster than Linford Christie. Greens are superb." -
Dunmurry Golf Club
County Antrim, Northern Ireland | Read reviews
Green fees: £35-45
What they're saying: "This parkland course has greatly matured within the past few years and in excellent condition for October’18 with improvements to the 15th green most noticeable." - LeeWilldridge -
Torrance at Fairmont St. Andrews
Fife, Scotland | Read reviews
Green fees: £70-95
What they're saying: " Course in wonderful condition and a real test of links golf in the wind. Views stunning and a great round of golf." - erinrohan -
Church Stretton Golf Club
Shropshire, England | Read reviews
Green fees: £30
What they're saying: "If you haven’t played at Church Stretton, book a round now. Probably the most characterful course in England." - J7MILLER -
Faldo Course at Lough Erne
Enniskillen, Northern Ireland | Read reviews
Green fees: £85-95
What they're saying: The Course is easily the best parkland course in the country that I have played with every hole well designed for enjoyment even for a 18 handicapper like myself." - Gavin8104192 -
International Course at London Golf Club
Kent, England | Read reviews
Green fees: £70-95
What they're saying: "The clubhouse, practice facilities and service are all top notch and we were made to fell at home. The course itself is really fun with some great Par 5's, (risk reward) and some picturesque Par 3's." - aajr1983 -
Elsham Golf Club
Linconshire, England | Read reviews
Green fees: £40-50
What they're saying: "Top quality course challenging good course layout. Well kept fairways and greens lush green considering the sun storm we have had. This is a top quality venue with excellent facilities clubhouse and pro shop." - GParmar -
Greenore Golf Club
County Louth, Ireland | Read reviews
Green fees: €35-55
What they're saying: "Green ore is a great links style golf course just outside Dundalk County Louth. Has a nice variety of holes." - uncleandygolf -
Machrihanish Dunes
Argyll, Scotland | Read reviews
Green fees: £35-75
What they're saying: " Loved the large hilly greens which are in perfect condition, enjoyed the different holes with hidden greens & really had to think about which shot to attempt rather than just smashing the ball as far as i could." - Davybhoy -
Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links
County Dublin, Ireland | Read reviews
Green fees: €55-165
What they're saying: "Greens were the best of any of the courses I played on the trip. Rumors were that the Irish Open may be at this course in the coming years, which I think it is worthy." - Azalea13 -
The Astbury
Shropshire, England | Read reviews
What they're saying: "The Astbury was in excellent condition, lovely fairways, quickish greens that held a good approach, rough can be punishing but not so bad that you lose your ball." - t2075754367
*The course closed at the end of 2018 season for an extensive development project and will reopen in 2020. -
The Roxburghe Hotel & Golf Course
Roxburghshire, Scotland | Read reviews
Green fees: £65
What they're saying: "racking mix of holes, with some excellent par 3s especially, and a good variety off tees to suit all levels of golfer." - statto1980 -
Bingley St. Ives Golf Club
Yorkshire, England | Read reviews
Green fees: £25-30
What they're saying: "The course starts gently but once up in the moorlands the heather tightens everything up. Greens were in excellent condition and the final hole is a great way to finish." - EverydayGolfersUK -
Prestatyn Golf Club
Denbigshire, Wales | Read reviews
Green fees: £25
What they're saying: "A really stunning course with excellent greens. A real test of links golf. Immaculately kept. Recommended." - u000003634878 -
Machrihanish Golf Club
Argyll, Scotland | Read reviews
Green fees: £45-75
What they're saying: "Distant as it is, Machrihanish is perhaps my favorite Scottish Links course. Always available, nicely priced, quick pace of play, challenging conditions." - mcgrutherk -
Concra Wood Golf Club
County Monaghan, Ireland | Read reviews
Green fees: €60-80
What they're saying: "it's probably one of the best courses I've Played, it's got everything to suit all types of player, loved the design and considering the weather we've had over the past months it was in great condition, will definitely be back." - golfyball -
North Wales
Llandudno, Wales | Read reviews
Green fees: £40-60
What they're saying: "My wife and I had a lovely holiday round of links golf at North WAles GC. Course brown hard and fast!" - 1459 -
Dufferin Course at Clandeboye Golf Club
County Down, Northern Ireland | Read reviews
Green fees: £55-65
What they're saying: "Fast and true. Always a tricky test of golf requiring accuracy throughout." - u461333662 -
Pike Fold Golf Club
Bury, England | Read reviews
Green fees: £15-25
What they're saying: "Course was in great condition with a good mix of holes and strategically placed bunkers ready to catch you out plus a few water hazards." - Martin4711970