Links golf is the purest and, in our opinion, the superior form of the game, however, there is an abundance of high quality golf to be played away from the links terrain.
Comparing golf courses generally is not an easy task but trying to judge differing styles of layouts together is even more difficult. In many ways it is not comparing apples with apples and since we already have our top 100 links golf courses of the United Kingdom we thought it only fair to put an inland list together.
Our definition of "inland" is actually more a case of "non-links" and as such you will see some coastal and seaside courses on the list.
Golf Empire founder, Ed Battye, has played several of the perceived best inland golf courses in Great Britain, from the heathland greats to the modern classics, and below he gives his Top 50 in order of personal preference.
Many of the venues also have an attached golf course review. If there is no review it means the course was played pre-2013.
"Sunningdale is a great golf club with two fantastic heathland golf courses. I was expecting something special on my first ever trip to Sunningdale and it didn't let me down. In fact it delivered in spades. I have returned since and it continues to mesmerize."
"I've been raving about the golf course at Hollinwell to anybody who would listen for the last 20 years since I first played it. Back then Notts appeared little known outside the Midlands save for those who were in the know. That day I played for the first time I knew I had stumbled upon something extra special."
"Sunningdale is a great golf club with two fantastic heathland golf courses. I was expecting something special on my first ever trip to Sunningdale and it didn't let me down. In fact it delivered in spades. I have returned since and it continues to mesmerize."
"Walton Heath, a club with a rich history and distinguished membership, is an oasis of pure heathland golf situated a mere 20 miles outside the city of London. All but one of the 36 holes that comprise both the Old and New courses are laid out on a wonderful piece of golfing terrain that is hauntingly barren yet stunningly beautiful."
"Alwoodley Golf Club is undoubtedly one of Great Britain & Ireland’s leading lights when it comes to inland golf. Very few courses can surpass the debut work of Dr. Alister MacKenzie as a golf course architect in terms of quality, playability, strategy and ultimately as a true test of golf."
"As long as golf is played the debate about which is the best Surrey heathland course will rage. It's a puzzle that will never be solved because it's such a subjective question. However, what is certain is that St. George's Hill will always be a contender. And a very strong one at that."
"Before I even begin to tell you how good this golf course is I want to let you know just how perfect the entire set-up at West Sussex is. The golf course is almost perfect. West Sussex, on the edge of the South Downs, is quite simply a wonderful place and a magnificent location to golf."
"I returned to the King’s course at Gleneagles in April 2018 just a little over a decade after I first fell in love with it. The reason for this more recent visit was to play in their popular Spring Open. A card and pencil competition off the white tees in the early season was deemed a good idea… at least during the winter planning months!"
"There are few better places to enjoy a full day of golfing than at Woodhall Spa. Home to the National Golf Centre and England Golf, the governing body for the amateur game in this country, Woodhall Spa has the luxury of two courses. It is the famed Hotchkin that grabs most of the headlines, and rightly so."
"Ganton, located in the Vale of Pickering between York and Scarborough, is rightly regarded as one of the UK’s very best inland golf courses with an extremely rich history and a strong sense of tradition. Along with Royal Birkdale and Muirfield these are the only clubs to have staged the Ryder Cup, Walker Cup and Curtis Cup."
*NB: The below golf courses have not been played yet (a few probably never will!):
Queenwood
Beaverbrook
Wentworth West (^post changes)
St. Mellion
We would love to hear if you agree or disagree with our selections. You can do so in the comments box below or tweet us.
