Six breathtaking British & Irish golf courses that anyone can play – no matter how bad they are

Courses
Courses

Simply getting to a golf course doesn’t guarantee that you will be able to play it, even if you can afford the green fees.

Some players’ handicap or lack thereof, deprives them of the opportunity to play some of the best courses in the world.

Most publicly accessible championship courses carry either a hard and fast handicap limit, while others have a recommended handicap level backed up by numerous pace of play warnings.

Here, we take a brief look at six courses across Great Britain and Ireland that any old hacker can have a go on.

North Berwick 

North Berwick is a reminder of why Scottish Linksland has proven so thoroughly captivating for golfers for centuries.

You will have to navigate old stone walls, burns, bumps, and hollows as you play each of the course’s holes, which all have incredible sea vistas.

The club was established in 1832, and its fantastic links are as quirky as they are exceptional and a lot of fun to play.

Neyfn and District

The Nefyn course is endowed with jaw-dropping views that include Snowdonia and, on a clear day even the Wicklow Mountains in southern Ireland are visible from the course.

The Front, The Back, and The Point are the three nines that make up Nefyn’s 27 holes. In the latter, the fairways are bordered by the ocean and beautiful beaches as it winds down a narrow promontory. But while the views are amazing, there are some tricky holes to navigate. If your control isn’t what it should be and you intend playing the Point, bring plenty of balls and be prepared to never see them again.

This course is perfect for a full day of golf because it has three nines. And the contemporary clubhouse features a great restaurant, cosy bar rooms and a snooker room. If that’s not enough, the renowned Ty Coch Inn is located on the shore next to The Point’s sixth hole.

Old Head

The ‘Pebble Beach’ of the British Isles, Old Head is another stunning course laid out on a promontory on the Irish south coast. Many people contend that Old Head is even more stunning than its American cousin. One of Ireland’s top courses is this one.

The green fee is on the heavy side, but if you can spare the bucks, you won’t regret going, and your friends will undoubtedly be quite jealous of your experience. It is conveniently accessible from Cork Airport and may be played at a discounted rate when purchased as a package.

Turnberry

If you have the money, you must play Turnberry’s magnificent Ailsa course, which is among the most exceptional in Scotland and the entire British Isles.

The venue has played host to four Open Championships, with the most recent one being in 2009 when Stewart Cink defeated Tom Watson in a playoff despite Watson having a putt to win. It provides for a great golf getaway because it also boasts a fantastic second course in the King Robert The Bruce layout.

St Enodoc

St Enodoc is considered to be the jewel in the crown of Cornish golf and at just a glance you can see why.

The club’s 36 holes, including the Church Course, unquestionably rank as one of England’s top links courses.

It snakes its way up, down and over dunes while providing excellent surfaces, lots of variation, and breathtaking scenery, with picturesque Padstow and the surrounding sea giving the course a gorgeous setting.

Silloth on Solway

Silloth is a remarkable links experience that has organically developed with contributions from famous designers like Willie Park Jr. and Dr Alister MacKenzie. It boasts breathtaking views to the north to Galloway and the south to the Lakes.

Even though it’s a touch remote, the amazing links golf and incredible value make the trip worthwhile.

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