Best links courses in England

Renowned by most as the finest links golf course in England, Royal Birkdale is a must play for any golfer – especially those wanting to tick off an Open Championship venue. This golden links on the North West coast in Southport has seen the likes of Jordan Spieth, Padraig Harrington, and Tom Watson all lift the Claret Jug here, not to mention Mo Martin and Yani Tseng who both won the Women’s British Open here too. Funnelling through valleys of giant sand hills, accuracy is key, as well as distance when the wind comes in off the sea.

Royal St George’s is another Open Championship venue and one that had a popular winner in 2011 in Darren Clarke. This course on the Kent coast features undulating fairways, true greens, humps, swales, dunes and wild rough, to add to the numerous deep bunkers and the wind from the sea. Although filmed at Stoke Park, it was Ian Fleming's original setting, under the guise of Royal St Mark’s, of arguably golf’s most famous fictional match between James Bond and Goldfinger.

Founded in 1886, Royal Lytham & St Annes has hosted them all, including the Open Championship, the Ryder Cup and Women’s and Seniors Open Championships. Before you even set foot on the course, the club’s northern hospitality will have you feeling relaxed. Although surrounded by suburban housing and flanked by a railway line, this links course that is a long way from the sea offers an unconventional charm, which can be enjoyed by all levels of golfer.

No two holes are the same on the Church Course at St Enodoc, and James Braid’s design still enjoys a justified reputation as one of the West Country’s finest links layouts. As you thread your way through sand dunes and across undulating fairways, remember Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman was a lover of this course and his famous poem “Seaside Golf” is about the 13th hole here. Thanks to the warm Gulf stream climate, this course can be enjoyed all-year-round.

A true championship links course like no other, Formby Golf Club runs through mature sand dunes and pinewoods, with a combination of well-protected greens, undulating fairways and challenging tee shots making this a fantastic challenge. Its magnificent contrasts makes it a course you will enjoy playing time and time again, on the Southport coast.

Regarded as the premier golf course in the Devon, the East Course at Saunton Golf Club is a must-play for those on a golf break in the area. The Herbert Fowler design has hosted numerous major amateur events, with many suggesting it is even worthy of hosting an Open Championship. Although the West Course at Saunton has the highest dunes, the East Course presents a much sterner challenge from start to finish.

Another Open Championship host venue, Royal Liverpool has seen the likes of Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods lift the Claret Jug here. On the edge of the Dee shores and against the backdrop of the distant Welsh hills, Royal Liverpool really is a fine place to sense the history and traditions of the game. Although it may seem relatively flat, the deep and strategically placed bunkers combined with the slick greens and their subtle breaks offer a stern examination of your game.

Prince's may well be one of the UK's best-kept golfing secrets. Host to the 1932 Open Championship, the venue borders the great Royal St George's and occupies one of the most prestigious stretches of golfing coastline in Britain. The layout would be painstakingly rebuilt and redesigned by Sir Guy Campbell and John Morrison following WW2. Today golfers will find one of the best links in the country and despite being somewhat overshadowed by its illustrious neighbour, the 27-holes at Prince's are fantastic layouts in their own right. A recent renovation of the Himalayas nine by renowned architects Mackenzie & Ebert looks set to elevate the venue to heady new heights.

Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club, known as S&A, is a James Braid masterpiece that has hosted the Ryder Cup on two occasions. It is nestled among rolling links land, with the sea breeze and profusion of heather and gorse combining to create a tough but fair test of links golf. Thanks to its traditional, testing links layout, it is no wonder the course also hosted the British Ladies’ Open and The British Amateur in the past.