Holywell Bay Golf Club
Cornwall
• Par 70
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Best Links Golf Courses in England
England has some of the finest links golf in the world. The Lancashire coast alone contains Royal Birkdale, Royal Lytham and St Annes, Formby, and Hillside — a stretch of golf that rivals anything in Scotland. Further south, Sandwich in Kent, Brancaster in Norfolk, and Saunton in Devon offer equally compelling links experiences. What unites them is the strategic demand: ground game, wind management, and the willingness to take a conservative line when the conditions demand it.
Strategic context
Links golf rewards a different kind of thinking. The bump-and-run is often more reliable than a high approach shot. The wind changes the effective distance of every club. And the firm, fast fairways mean that a well-placed drive to the right side of the fairway can run through to a perfect angle, while an aggressive line can bound into deep rough or a pot bunker. The best links golfers are not necessarily the longest hitters — they are the most strategic.
12 courses found
Seascale Golf Club
Cumbria
• Par 70
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Lough Neagh Golf Club
Tyrone
• Par 70
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Montrose Golf Links Golf Club
Angus
• Par 70
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Alness Golf Club
Highland
• Par 71
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Littlestone Golf Club
Kent
• Par 71
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Caistor Golf Club
Lincolnshire
• Par 71
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Lochmaben Golf Club
Dumfries and Galloway
• Par 70
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Aberystwyth Golf Club
Ceredigion
• Par 70
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Swanston New Golf Club
Lothian
• Par 70
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Reay Golf Club
Highland
• Par 70
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Woolacombe & Mortehoe Golf Club
Devon
• Par 70
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a links golf course?
A links course is built on sandy, linksland terrain — typically coastal land between the sea and the inland farmland. Links courses have firm, fast fairways, minimal tree cover, natural undulations, and are heavily influenced by wind. The term comes from the Old English word for the sandy ground connecting the sea to the arable land.
What is the best links golf course in England?
Royal Birkdale in Lancashire is widely considered England's finest links course and has hosted more Open Championships than any other English venue. Royal St George's in Sandwich, Royal Lytham and St Annes, and Hoylake (Royal Liverpool) are also among the world's best links courses.
How should I approach links golf differently from parkland golf?
The key differences are wind management, club selection, and the use of the ground game. On a links course, a low running shot is often more reliable than a high approach. You should also play more conservatively in strong winds — taking one or two extra clubs and aiming for the centre of greens rather than attacking pins.