The best golf courses in England | 2022 ranking

There are many course rankings out there. What’s the point? For starters, to educate golfers on everything this game can do to challenge your skill and — more important — your spirit. That’s exactly what makes GOLF’s inaugural rank of the Top 100 Courses in the UK and Ireland our most thrilling yet, spotlighting the obvious (i.e., the courses that have played host to the 149 previous Opens ahead of this July’s sesquicentennial), those that routinely pepper our World Top 100 and a few surprises. Golf here is, well, as bloody good as it gets.

While Scotland is the home of golf, England has the most Top 100 Courses in the UK and Ireland with an astounding 46. Four of the 10 active Open venues are in England — St. George’s, Birkdale, Lytham, and Liverpool (all royal). Royal Cinque Ports and Prince’s also hosted a few generations ago.

Rumpled fairways, deep pot bunkers, and subtle green complexes define England’s best. This list has an unrivaled number of illustrious golf courses, and it’s important to note the diversity of styles and terrain. With newer designs (relatively speaking, of course) by Harry Colt — Sunningdale and Swinley Forest — England is home to beautiful blends of links and heathland.

England

7. Sunningdale (Old)

8. Royal St. George’s*

14. Royal Birkdale*

15. Swinley Forest

16. Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin)

18. Royal Lytham & St Annes*

22. St. George’s Hill (Red & Blue)

24. Rye

27. Royal Liverpool*

29. Royal Cinque Ports**

31. St. Enodoc (Church)

32. Walton Heath (Old)

34. Ganton

38. Royal West Norfolk

40. Notts

41. West Sussex

42. Silloth on Solway

43. Royal Worlington & Newmarket

46. Woking

48. Alwoodley

51. Addington

52. Formby

55. Royal North Devon

58. Burnham & Berrow (Championship)

59. Saunton (East)

60. The Berkshire (Red)

67. Huntercombe

69. Royal Ashdown Forest

70. Southport & Ainsdale

71. Hillside

72. Stoneham

74. Wentworth (West)

75. Huntstanton

76. Hankley Common

78. Broadstone

81. Walton Health (New)

85. The Berkshire (Blue)

86. New Zealand

89. Moortown

92. Worplesdon

94. Cleeve Cloud

95. Liphook

96. Delamere Forest

98. Prince’s**

100. Littlestone (Championship)

*Open Championship host in active rota
**Open Championship host not in active rota