Best golf courses: England - Central

England - Central: the table below provides brief details about the top golf courses in this country or region. Each golf club has been visited and/or researched by Where2Golf. Click on the course name below to discover more. The course ratings below range from 5 highest, to 2 lowest. They attempt to provide an indication of the golfing experience you might expect at the course (based on its design, condition and surroundings). Hover your cursor above the Rating Key for the rating definitions.
3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Chester
Huggett, Brian

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Chester

Designer

Brian Huggett

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Weekdays only
Milton Keynes
Lawrie, Charles

Visitors?

Weekdays only

Nearest city

Milton Keynes

Designer

Charles Lawrie

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Birmingham
MacKenzie & Hawtree

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Birmingham

Designer

Original design at this location by Dr Alister MacKenzie (1927); nine additional holes, making up for nine holes lost to housing, designed by Fred Hawtree of Hawtree & Co. (1970s).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Wkends restrictd
Nottingham
Dunn, Park Jr & Fowler

Visitors?

Wkends restrictd

Nearest city

Nottingham

Designer

Original nine holes laid out by Tom Dunn. Second nine added by Willie Park Jr & Herbert Fowler. Revisions made by Fred Hawtree (1930s).

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Birmingham
Braid & Vardon

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Birmingham

Designer

Original designer unknown; later modifications by James Braid and Harry Vardon.

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Milton Keynes
Miller, Johnny

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Milton Keynes

Designer

Johnny Miller

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Birmingham
Hutchison, Cecil K.

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Birmingham

Designer

Major Cecil K. Hutchison.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Ian Burnett (Golf Professional).
Nottingham
Alison, Charles H.

Visitors?

Ian Burnett (Golf Professional).

Nearest city

Nottingham

Designer

Original layout by Charles "Hugh" Alison (1910). Later revisions made between WWI and WW2 by James Braid. Updated and lengthened from its original 6,000 yds by Martin Hawtree (2003).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Nottingham
Williamson, Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Nottingham

Designer

Original 9-holes designed by Tom Williamson (1913), and nine more added (1924). The current 9th, 10th, 12th and 13th holes were added in 1968.

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Not Saturdays
Nottingham
Park, Willie Jr.

Visitors?

Not Saturdays

Nearest city

Nottingham

Designer

Willie Park Jr.

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Oxford
Turner & Cotton

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Oxford

Designer

Original nine holes designed by club professional J.H. Turner (1928). Remodelled and extended to 18-holes by C.K. "Ken" Cotton & Frank Pennink (1964).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Milton Keynes
Colt, Harry

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Milton Keynes

Designer

Original design by English architect Harry Colt (1909), with later alterations by Scotsman James Braid (1947). Cameron Sinclair designed three aditional holes (2005).

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Oxford
Hutchison, Cecil K.

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Oxford

Designer

Cecil K. Hutchison

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Manchester
MacKenzie, Dr Alister

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Manchester

Designer

Dr Alister MacKenzie

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Bath / Bristol
Wilson, Buff

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Bath / Bristol

Designer

OLD course: originally laid out in 1889 by Robert Black "Buff" Wilson of St Andrews, Minchinhampton's first professional. Since then the course routing has changed considerably.
AVENING course: largely designed by Fred Hawtree (1975), with some replacement holes added in 1995.
CHERINGTON course: largely designed by Hawtree's son Martin Hawtree (1995), with some holes absorbed from the Avening layout.

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
Visitors welcome
Lincoln
Vardon, Taylor, Colt & Hotchkin.

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lincoln

Designer

Original nine-hole design by Harry Vardon (1903), with bunker design by J.H. Taylor (1904). Extended to 18-holes by Harry Colt (1911); significant modifications during 1920s by Major Cecil K. Hutchison & Colonel Stafford V. Hotchkin (the then owner).

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Bath / Bristol
Cotton, Ken

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Bath / Bristol

Designer

Original design by Ken Cotton (1962); later modifications by Donald Steel.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
(Closed in 2020)
Nottingham
Steel, Donald

Visitors?

(Closed in 2020)

Nearest city

Nottingham

Designer

Donald Steel

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Not Saturdays
Stoke-on-Trent
Colt, Harry

Visitors?

Not Saturdays

Nearest city

Stoke-on-Trent

Designer

Current design by English course architect Harry Colt.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Weekdays only
Milton Keynes
Hawtree Ltd

Visitors?

Weekdays only

Nearest city

Milton Keynes

Designer

Current course at Harrowden Hall laid out by Fred & Martin Hawtree of Hawtree Ltd (1972).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Nottingham
Colt & Braid

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Nottingham

Designer

From an original Harry Colt layout (c.1912) the course was redesigned in 1925 by James Braid.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Lincoln
Fernie, Willie

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lincoln

Designer

Willie Fernie

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Weekdays only
Milton Keynes
Lawrie, Charles

Visitors?

Weekdays only

Nearest city

Milton Keynes

Designer

Charles Lawrie

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Oxford
Taylor, J.H.

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Oxford

Designer

The Red course is the original Frilford Heath layout, designed by J.H. Taylor (1908).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Oxford
Jones, Rees

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Oxford

Designer

Rees Jones

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Lincoln
Coles, Neil

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lincoln

Designer

Neil Coles

Private: A course for members and their invited guests only.
Private club
Stoke-on-Trent
Hiseman, Robin

Visitors?

Private club

Nearest city

Stoke-on-Trent

Designer

Robin Hiseman (of European Golf Design).

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Bath / Bristol
Brown, David

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Bath / Bristol

Designer

David "Deacon" Brown (Scottish professional golfer, club professional, greenkeeper and course designer).

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Wkends restrictd
Milton Keynes
Herd, Sandy

Visitors?

Wkends restrictd

Nearest city

Milton Keynes

Designer

Sandy Herd designed the original 9-hole course (now the back-nine). The current front-nine was added in 1974 and designed by Robert Sandown.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Birmingham
Downing, K.K.

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Birmingham

Designer

Kenneth "K.K." Downing Jr (owner and designer).

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Reading
Park Jr, Willie

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Reading

Designer

Willie Park Jr.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Oxford
Gidman, Simon

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Oxford

Designer

Frilford Heath's most recent course, designed by Simon Gidman (1994).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Weekdays only
Milton Keynes
Alliss & Clarke

Visitors?

Weekdays only

Nearest city

Milton Keynes

Designer

Peter Alliss & Clive Clark

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Nottingham
Williamson, Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Nottingham

Designer

Tom Williamson created the basis for the current layout in 1934. Some alterations have subsequently been made.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Bath / Bristol
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Bath / Bristol

Designer

Original design by Old Tom Morris; possibly modified by Dr Alister MacKenzie.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Lincoln
Morgan, John

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lincoln

Designer

John Morgan

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Chester
Braid, James

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Chester

Designer

James Braid

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

Who's Who

Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.

Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

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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