When it comes to golf courses in the United Kingdom, Scotland tends to get most of the glory. However, those who overlook English golf do so at their own peril, as England boasts some incredible courses – both along the coasts and inland.
With the 2023 British Open going to Royal Liverpool, Golfweek has put together a list of the best courses England has to offer.
More U.K. course rankings: 10 best courses in Scotland | Top 50 classic courses in Great Britain and Ireland | Top 50 modern courses in Great Britain and Ireland
These rankings come directly from the hundreds of Golfweek’s Best Raters for 2021 who continually evaluate courses and rate them based on our 10 criteria. They also file a single, overall rating on each course on a points basis of 1-10. Those overall ratings on each course are averaged to produce a final rating for each course. Only a handful of courses in the world achieve a rating above 9, and any course rated 7 or above presents a can’t-miss opportunity.
For more of Golfweek’s Best course lists, check out the most recent selection of course rankings:
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The Old Course at Sunningdale Golf Club in England (AP/Matt Dunham)
Location: Sunningdale, England
Course Founded: 1901
Designers: Willie Park Jr. and Harry S. Colt
Golfweek’s Best rating: 8.35
Royal St. George’s, host of the 2021 British Open (Getty Images)
Location: Sandwich, England
Course Founded: 1887
Designer: Laidlaw Purves
Golfweek’s Best rating: 8.17
Royal Birkdale Golf Club (David Cannon/Getty Images)
Location: Southport, England
Course Founded: 1897
Designers: George Lowe, F.G. Hawtree and J.H. Taylor
Golfweek’s Best rating: 7.96
Swinley Forest Golf Club in England (Peter Dazeley/Getty Images)
Location: Ascot, England
Course Founded: 1909
Designer: Harry S. Colt
Golfweek’s Best rating: 7.88
Woodhall Spa golf course (Golfweek files)
Location: Woodhall Spa, England
Course Founded: 1905
Designers: Harry Vardon, J.H.Taylor, Harry S. Colt, Stafford Vere Hotchkin and Tom Doak
Golfweek’s Best rating: 7.78
The New Course at Sunningdale Golf Club in England
Location: Sunningdale, England
Course Founded: 1923
Designers: Harry S. Colt and John Morrison
Golfweek’s Best rating: 7.71
Ganton Golf Club in England (Jan Kruger/R&A via Getty Images)
Location: Scarborough, England
Course Founded: 1891
Designers: Harry Vardon, Ted Ray, James Braid, J.H. Taylor and Harry S. Colt
Golfweek’s Best rating: 7.69
Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club (Getty Images)
Location: Lytham Saint Annes, England
Course Founded: 1897
Designers: George Lowe, Harry S. Colt, Herbert Fowler, Tom Simpson and C.K. Cotton
Golfweek’s Best rating: 7.67
Rye Golf Club in England (Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Location: Rye, England
Course Founded: 1894
Designers: Harry S. Colt, Tom Simpson and Guy Campbell
Golfweek’s Best rating: 7.64
St George’s Hill Golf Club in England (David Cannon /Getty Images)
Location: Weybridge, England
Course Founded: 1913
Designer: Harry S. Colt
Golfweek’s Best rating: 7.63
Walton Heath Golf Club in England (David Goddard/Getty Images)
A few more English courses that deserve shoutouts include Walton Heath, Royal Cinque Ports and Royal Liverpool. Walton Heath’s Old Course, designed by Herbert Fowler and opened in 1903, has hosted a Senior Open and British Masters.
Royal Cinque Ports, designed by Henry Hunter, James Braid and Guy Campbell and opened in 1892, hosted multiple Open Championships in the early 20th century. The course is located just 10 minutes down the road from Royal St. George’s, the No. 2 ranked course on this list. Sounds like the makings of a dream golf vacation.
Royal Liverpool, designed by Robert Chambers, George Morris and Harry S. Colt and opened in 1869, is the host of the 2023 Open Championship. The Hoylake course also hosted the 2006 and 2014 Open Championships, won by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, among the 12 times it has hosted the championship.
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