Beach Road,
Brancaster, nr Hunstanton, Norfolk PE31 8AX
Office
+44 (0)1485 210 223Pro shop
+44 (0)1485 210 616Fax
+44 (0)1475 210 087Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Andrew Collison (PGA Club Professional).The Course:
18 holes. Seaside links. Gently undulating terrain - easy to walk.
Surroundings:
Coastal duneland.
Designer:
Holcombe Ingleby
52.974232
0.636429
7 mi E of Hunstanton / 23 mi N of King's Lynn / 40 mi NW of Norwich.
As you enter Brancaster from Hunstanton on the A149 turn left into Broad Lane at the Church. Follow signs for Beach. Course is 1 mi after leaving A149. [Course not accessible by road during high tides].
Royal West Norfolk Golf Club (Brancaster): Separated from the sea by a single ridge of sand dunes, and from the land by a tidal saltmarsh, 'Brancaster' is a true 'links', and an absolute gem. Just ask anyone who has ever played here, and they'll have a story to tell. Even if the wind is blowing across the course, you can't help but enjoy this immensely natural and scenic links layout.
Occupying a sandy ridge, and surrounded on all sides by water and saltmarsh, this natural links course has delighted visiting golfers for well over a hundred years. The out-and-back layout meanders its way towards Mow Creek, before turning for home at the well-bunkered par-3 10th. Wooden-sleepered bunkers are an early feature on the layout, so to the ever-present views over the wide tidal marshes.
For first-time visitors the short par-5 8th and par-4 9th holes may induce a moment's head scratching; both holes require the marsh to be crossed, not once but twice. Record par (or better) at this tricky duo, and you'll be set-up for a good inward nine, where accuracy should prevail over wayward big-hitting.
Many golfers readily include Brancaster in their list of top ten courses ever played. Only the swish of the fescues and sound of birdsong breaks the tranquility of the wonderfully atmospheric setting. If you play early in the morning or on a still summer's evening - the natural lighting here can be surreal, which might explain why so many landscape painters are attracted to this stretch of the Norfolk coast.
Visitors welcome on weekdays; more restricted on weekends.
Must book in advance. Handicap required.
Brancaster is a two ball course for singles and foursome play only. This is a walking course. Golf carts (buggies) are available for hire but only on medical grounds, and need to be booked in advance.
Limited
Royal West Norfolk's clubhouse is not accessible by car at high tide, and both the 8th and 9th holes can be affected by the tides. It's worth checking any possible tidal restrictions when you book.
Queen Victoria conferred the Royal prefix on the club in its founding year (1892), based on the patronage of her son Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII). By royal prerogative, 19 English golf clubs use the "Royal" title, namely: Ascot, Ashdown Forest, Birkdale, Blackheath, Cinque Ports, Cromer, Eastbourne, Epping Forest, Household (Windsor Castle), Liverpool (Hoylake), Lytham & St Annes, Mid-Surrey, North Devon (Westward Ho!), Norwich, St George's, West Norfolk (Brancaster), Wimbledon, Winchester, Worlington & Newmarket.
England's 17th best course (Golf World, 2025).
Britain & Ireland's 42nd best course (Golf World, 2025).
World's 65th best public access course (Golf World, 2025).
Golf Course Rd, Hunstanton, Norfolk PE36 6JJ.
+44 (0)1485 534 411
Visit websiteThe Best Western Le Strange Hotel sits quietly in the north Norfolk village of Old Hunstanton and enjoys an unrivalled seashore setting, with lawns sweeping down to the dunes and sandy beach. Although the hotel is on England's east coast, it faces west across the Wash, which is famous for its sunsets and wildlife!
No
Hunstanton
Royal West Norfolk (Brancaster); King's Lynn.
Titchwell, nr Brancaster, Norfolk PE31 8BB.
+44 (0)1485 210 221
Visit websiteTitchwell Manor is a boutique 27-bedroom country retreat offering destination fine dining. The elegant former Victorian farmhouse combines traditional values with contemporary accommodation.
No
Royal West Norfolk
Hunstanton; King's Lynn.
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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