Golf Links Rd, Worlington,
Mildenhall, Suffolk IP28 8SD
Office
+44 (0)1638 712 216Pro shop
+44 (0)1638 715 224Fax
+44 (0)1638 717 787Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Ben Kerr (PGA Head Professional).The Course:
9 holes. Tree-lined & open parkland. Gently undulating terrain - easy to walk.
Surroundings:
Rural countryside and woodland.
Designer:
Original layout by Tom Dunn (1893); later revisions by Harry Colt (1906).
52.331038
0.492174
22 miles NE of Cambridge
6 miles north-east of Newmarket. Take the A14, then A11 direction Thetford. Turn left to Worlington just before the Little Chef / Barton Mills roundabout. Located o.5 miles south-east of Worlington village, near Mildenhall.
Royal Worlington & Newmarket
Royal Worlington & Newmarket Golf Club: located alongside the village of Worlington, this much revered nine-hole layout was once dubbed "The Sacred Nine" by legendary golf writer Bernard Darwin. Often referred to as "Mildenhall", after the now defunct railway station of that name ( ... rather than the nearby town or RAF base), it is often ranked the world's best stand-alone nine-hole golf course.
Laid out on easy-draining sandy soil, the good-width fairways are lined with difficult grassy rough and many well-sited grass-fronted bunkers. Although the opening par-5 1st creates the impression of a rather flat and open layout, several mature trees and some splendid Scots pines lend real character to this engaging course.
The closing par-4 offers a fitting end to your front and back nines (assuming you are going round twice). This short two-shotter doglegs to the right, with OB on one side and a road to cross in front of the green. This is a very pleasing, excellently maintained and deceptively testing layout, which arguably gains greater notoriety as a nine-holer than if it was home to a full 18.
Pick of the holes: many would say the layout's three par-3s are the real show stealers. The long par-3 2nd plays 220 yards to an upturned saucer of a green, while the testing par-3 5th is right up there with the best short holes in the country.
Visitors welcome on weekdays; more restricted at weekends. Predominantly a two-ball & foursomes (alternate shot) club; 3 and 4-balls permitted on Thurs pm. Junior visitors (under 18) must play with an adult.
Must book in advance. Handicap required.
Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2025].
Players generally walk this course.
Good
The club's logo simply features a Pink Jug, symbolic of the club's notorious and oft' consumed cocktail drink. The potent concoction, based on a bottle of Moussec with various added spirits, and served in a pink jug (of course), was created in 1934 by club members, John Morrison and James ‘Boxer’ Cannon. As an esteemed “Royal”, the club also uses a more official-looking and traditional logo.
Royal Worlington is the home club of the Cambridge University golf team ("the Light Blues"), a tradition that dates back to when the Club was formed in 1893. The first golfer listed on the Cambridge Captains' Board, which hangs in the clubhouse, is none other than legendary course designer Harry Colt.
Queen Victoria conferred the Royal prefix on Worlington & Newmarket GC in 1895. 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 47th best course (Golf World, 2025).
Britain & Ireland's 104th best course (Golf World, 2025).
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Royal Worlington & Newmarket
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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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