Best 36-hole golf resorts in the UK & Ireland

The five-star Fairmont St Andrews resort encapsulates luxury, elegance and breath-taking surroundings, with the addition of two championship golf courses for guests to enjoy at the home of golf. The Torrance Course, as you have probably figured out, was designed by Sam Torrance and features classic Scottish revetted bunkers and large greens, and has hosted events such as the Scottish Seniors Open. The Kittocks Course offers some of the most beautiful holes in Scottish golf with unparalleled vistas across the dramatic Fife coastline.

Length: - Back tees: 7230 yards - Front tees: 5415 yards Par: 72 Architect: Gary Stephenson and Denis Griffiths Founded: 2001 Course type: Links style

With two courses in The Hunting Course and the Priestman, on top of a luxurious hotel, Slaley Hall is a fantastic golfing escape in Northumberland. The Hunting Course is regarded as the 'Augusta of the North' thanks to its majorly undulating greens and tree-lined holes, which offer a great challenge to all who play. The Priestman Course is a much friendlier challenge and offers golfers panoramic views of the Northumberland countryside.

Length: - Back tees: 7088 yards - Front tees: 5903 yards Par: 72 Architect: Dave Thomas Founded: 1988 Course type: Parkland style

The Belfry is one of the UK’s premier golf resorts offering a rich Ryder Cup history, with the opportunity to play three 18-hole golf courses, plus a fun mini-golf course. The Brabazon Course here is world-renowned for its Ryder Cup history and meticulous design, but that is not to say the PGA National Course and the Derby Course are not fantastic tests in their own right.

Length: - Back tees: 7255 yards - Front tees: 5755 yards Par: 72 Architect: Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss Founded: 1977 Course type: Parkland style

Regarded as one of the toughest venues on the Open Championship rota, the Ailsa Course at Trump Turnberry is without a doubt the most recognised golf course at Trump Turnberry. Named after the third Marquess of Ailsa, this course features 6,474-yards of golfing terrain alongside the Ayrshire coast. The new King Robert the Bruce Course is also an exceptional challenge and offers golfers with breath-taking vistas as well as tough, Scottish layout.

Length: - Back tees: 7489 yards - Front tees: 5406 yards Par: 71 Architect: Mackenzie Ross and Martin Ebert Founded: 1946 Course type: Links style

The 'Home of English Golf', Lincolnshire's Woodhall Spa offers two magnificent golf courses with quaint accommodation in close proximity. The Hotchkin Course here is consistently ranked among the finest heathland experiences in the world, with the dramatic bunkering and individually memorable holes offering a memorable experience. The Bracken Course is a contemporary classic and offers the perfect complement to the Hotchkin, thanks to its generous bunkers and welcoming greens.

Length: - Back tees: 7024 yards - Front tees: 5749 yards Par: 73 Architect: Harry Vardon, H. S. Colt and John Henry Taylor Founded: 1905 Course type: Heathlands

The Forest of Arden is a beautiful Hotel & Country Club in Warwickshire, with the 36-holes of championship golf on site making it one of the UK’s leading golf resorts. The Arden Course is the more well-known of the two, as it has hosted seven English Opens and five British Masters, with the likes of Colin Montgomerie, Thomas Bjorn and Darren Clarke leaving victorious. The newer Aylesford Course is considerably shorter however, there is a premium on accuracy here and is still a great test for all standards of golfer.

Length: - Back tees: 7212 yards - Front tees: 5654 yards Par: 72 Architect: Donald Steel, Tom MacKenzie, Martin Ebert and Andrew Mair Founded: 1973 Course type: Parkland course

Stoke by Nayland offers a great combination of golf and accommodation with two fantastic 18-hole golf courses, a hotel, lodge and spa in the Dedham Vale area of outstanding beauty. The Gainsborough Course measures over 7,000-yards and sees four substantial lakes challenge golfers, as well as plenty of undulating terrain. The Constable Course is set among wooded plantations, with several natural water hazards coming into play, but is considerably shorter than the Gainsborough at 6,544-yards.

Length: - Back tees: 6880 yards - Front tees: 5322 yards Par: 71 Architect: Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss Founded: 1972 Course type: Woodland course

As well as offering five-star luxury accommodation, the Lough Erne Resort also offers two on-site courses and an outstanding golf academy. The Faldo Course offers stunning views of Castle Hume and is in incredible condition all-year-round. The Castle Hume Course is a championship parkland with beautifully manicured fairways and well-contoured greens, which makes it no surprise that is has hosted an unprecedented 10 Ulster PGA Championships.

Length: - Back tees: 7071 yards - Front tees: 4880 yards Par: 72 Architect: Nick Faldo Founded: 2009 Course type: Parkland style

Gleneagles is the ultimate luxury golfing getaway in Scotland, with three 18-hole golf courses, a nine-hole par-3 course, well-appointed accommodation and plenty more activities such as shooting, tennis and riding onsite. The PGA Centenary Course is world-renowned as it hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup, but the Queen’s and King’s courses both offer their own unique challenges that will test all abilities.

Length: - Back tees: 6790 yards - Front tees: 5220 yards Par: 71 Architect: James Braid Founded: 1919 Course type: Heathland

A firm favourite for keen golfers, St Mellion Estate boasts 2 championship parkland-style courses, each with their own individual challenges. Set in the Cornish countryside, the Kernow Course is simply stunning. The layout makes clever use of the natural sloping terrain while the back 9 features high-risk holes to really test your game. In a similar pristine condition, it's sister course Nicklaus presents numerous water-hazards that require strategic and accurate play.

Length: - Back tees: 7008 yards - Front tees: 5509 yards Par: 72 Architect: Jack Nicklaus and Thomas Pearson Founded: 1988 Course type: Parkland style