Best golf courses: England - North

England - North: 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-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Barrow-in-Furness

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Barrow-in-Furness

Designer

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Newcastle upon Tyne
Coles, Neil

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Newcastle upon Tyne

Designer

Neil Coles

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Leeds
MacKenzie, Dr Alister

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Leeds

Designer

Dr Alister MacKenzie

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Leeds

Designer

Original 9-hole course laid out by Sandy Herd (1906), increased to 18-holes (1906) and subsequently modified by James Braid.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Newcastle upon Tyne
Colt, Harry

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Newcastle upon Tyne

Designer

Current design by English course architect Harry Colt (1930).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Douglas, IoM
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Douglas, IoM

Designer

Original design by Old Tom Morris, with later improvements by Philip Mackenzie Ross (1940s) and Donald Steel.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Newcastle upon Tyne
Macpherson, Scott

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Newcastle upon Tyne

Designer

Colt course: Scott Macpherson (2011), in the style of Harry Colt.
Filly course: originally a 9-hole course, extended to 18 by Hawtree, Cram & Glendinning (1980s) and refurbished by Scott Macpherson (2011).

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Leeds

Designer

Harry Colt with significant modifications by Dr Alister MacKenzie.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Leeds
Mackenzie, Charles

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Leeds

Designer

Major Charles A. Mackenzie (brother of Alister MacKenzie).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Newcastle upon Tyne
Braid, James

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Newcastle upon Tyne

Designer

James Braid

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Not Saturdays
Leeds
Herd, Sandy

Visitors?

Not Saturdays

Nearest city

Leeds

Designer

Sandy Herd

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Wkends restrictd
Newcastle upon Tyne
Colt, Harry

Visitors?

Wkends restrictd

Nearest city

Newcastle upon Tyne

Designer

Harry Colt

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Newcastle upon Tyne
Thomas, Dave

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Newcastle upon Tyne

Designer

Dave Thomas

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Saturday restrictd
Leeds
Unknown

Visitors?

Saturday restrictd

Nearest city

Leeds

Designer

Unknown

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Leeds
Chisholm, Tom (et al)

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Leeds

Designer

Original layout by Tom Chisholm (1891). Subsequent changes made by Tom Dunn (1890s), prior to a major redesign by Harry Vardon in conjunction with Ted Ray, J.H. Taylor and James Braid (1905). Later improvements also made by Harry Colt (1907, 1911 & 1931); Dr Alister MacKenzie (1912 & 1920) and C.K. Cotton (1948 & 1952).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Newcastle upon Tyne
Braid, James

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Newcastle upon Tyne

Designer

Original nine-hole design by Tom Dunn (1890), extended to 18 by R. Collins (1894), and further modified by Willie Fernie (1898) and Willie Park Jr (1903). Significantly modified and lengthened by James Braid (1930); further modifications by Frank Pennink (1963).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Newcastle upon Tyne
Westenborg, Marc

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Newcastle upon Tyne

Designer

Marc Westenborg (of Hawtree Design)

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Not Saturdays
Leeds
MacKenzie, Charles

Visitors?

Not Saturdays

Nearest city

Leeds

Designer

Major Charles Atkinson MacKenzie (younger brother of Dr Alister MacKenzie).

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Barrow-in-Furness
Lowe, George

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Barrow-in-Furness

Designer

George Lowe laid out the first nine holes (1891). Eighteen months later the course was extended to 18-holes.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Newcastle upon Tyne
Gaunt, Jonathan

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Newcastle upon Tyne

Designer

Jonathan Gaunt

Unrated: Well regarded course not yet visited by the Where2Golf team.
Newcastle upon Tyne
Park Jr & Braid

Visitors?

Nearest city

Newcastle upon Tyne

Designer

Willie Park Jr and James Braid

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Sat'day restrictd
Newcastle upon Tyne
Rochester, George

Visitors?

Sat'day restrictd

Nearest city

Newcastle upon Tyne

Designer

George Rochester

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Leeds
MacKenzie, Dr Alister

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Leeds

Designer

Dr Alister MacKenzie was among those who contributed to the design of Bingley St Ives.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Weekdays only
Leeds
MacKenzie, Dr Alister

Visitors?

Weekdays only

Nearest city

Leeds

Designer

Dr Alister MacKenzie

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

Visitors?

Wkends restrictd

Nearest city

Leeds

Designer

Original layout designed by Sandy Herd. Many others, including Dr Alister MacKenzie, designed later course improvements.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Not Saturdays
Carlisle
Mackenzie Ross, Phillip

Visitors?

Not Saturdays

Nearest city

Carlisle

Designer

Original course laid out by Tom Simpson. Revamped after WW2 by Scottish course architect Philip Mackenzie Ross, who created the layout which is largely unchanged to this day.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Newcastle upon Tyne
Hawtree Limited

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Newcastle upon Tyne

Designer

Martin G. Hawtree of Hawtree Limited.

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Carlisle

Designer

James Braid

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Newcastle upon Tyne
McCuaig & MacKenzie

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Newcastle upon Tyne

Designer

First 14 holes laid out by Dr Duncan McCuaig (1874) and extended to 18 holes (1891). Improved and lengthened by Dr Alister MacKenzie (1925). Four additional holes (taking the total available holes up to 22) designed by Frank Pennink (1970s).

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Leeds

Designer

James Braid designed the current layout at Ogden in 1920, building on the earlier design work of George Lowe (1906), Herbert Fowler (1908) and Dr Alister MacKenzie (1912).

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Carlisle
Grant, David

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Carlisle

Designer

Original layout by David Grant (1892). Redesigned soon afterwards by Willie Park Jr. Later improvements by Dr Alister MacKenzie.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Leeds
Jones Sr, Robert Trent

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Leeds

Designer

Current layout designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr (1970).

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Barrow-in-Furness
Colt, Harry

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Barrow-in-Furness

Designer

Original layout at this location by Sandy Herd (1910). Significant modifications by Harry Colt (1924).

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Not Saturdays
Newcastle upon Tyne
Cotton, Ken

Visitors?

Not Saturdays

Nearest city

Newcastle upon Tyne

Designer

C.K. "Ken" Cotton designed the current layout in 1951, revamping some earlier design work by Harry Vardon (1907).

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Leeds

Designer

Original design by Tom Dunn, with later modifications by Alex Herd, Herbert Fowler, Dr Alister MacKenzie, Fred Hawtree and Donald Steel.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Wkends restrictd
Leeds
MacKenzie, Dr Alister

Visitors?

Wkends restrictd

Nearest city

Leeds

Designer

Dr Alister MacKenzie

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Leeds

Designer

Current design by English course architect Harry Colt (of Colt, Alison & Morrison) (1937).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Newcastle upon Tyne
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Newcastle upon Tyne

Designer

Original design by Old Tom Morris. Later revisions by Harry Colt (1946) and Donald Steel (2000).

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Carlisle

Designer

Willie Campbell & George Lowe

Find a course

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Tournaments

124th US Open: the No.2 Course at Pinehurst once again plays host to this most illustrious championship (June 13-16). Wyndham Clark defends his title, having won at Los Angeles CC in 2023.

79th Women’s US Open: the second women’s major championship of the season gets underway at Lancaster CC in Pennsylvania. It’s the second time the championship has been held here.
(May 30-June 2).

Who's Who

Nelly Korda: won the Mizuho Americas Open (May 16-19) at Liberty National GC, continuing her extraordinary form in LPGA events. This was her sixth win in seven starts in 2024.

Xander Schauffele: recorded his first major championship win, and second record-equalling low score of 62 in a major. Only he, Branden Grace, Rickie Fowler and Shane Lowry have achieved this feat in a men’s major championship.

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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