Longcliffe Golf Club lies a few miles to the southwest of Loughborough, close to the M1 motorway, and the fairways here (many of them doglegged) are judiciously routed through the ancient Charnwood Forest.
Longcliffe Golf Club
Longcliffe Golf Club lies a few miles to the southwest of Loughborough, close to the M1 motorway, and the fairways here (many of them doglegged) are judiciously routed through the ancient Charnwood Forest.
Tom Williamson, the professional at Notts (Hollinwell), designed the course for Longcliffe Golf Club on two hundred acres of the Garendon Estate in 1905. Nine holes opened for play the following year then the full 18-hole layout was made available shortly after, with Hugh Williamson, Tom’s brother, appointed as the club professional.
Some course reconstruction became necessary when the M1 motorway was built to the west of the property during the 1960s, resulting in the loss of the 8th green, 9th hole and 10th tee. In the early 1980s, Donald Steel carried out some course improvements, adding new tees on the 2nd, 4th, 12th and 16th, as well as remodelling the par three 15th hole.
A number of ponds have been enlarged and trees removed over the years and other smaller changes have been made which, although continually improving the course, have not significantly altered its general character. The 17th was modified in 1994 to tighten the approach (and add a bunker to the left of the green) and the reconstruction of the 1st tee in 2004 with sloping banks of heather certainly surpassed expectations.
A round at Longcliffe starts with a par three at the 179-yard 1st but there are only two other short holes played after that, at the 131-yard 5th and the 163-yard 15th. Feature holes include short par fours at the right doglegged 6th and left doglegged 14th, and there’s also a good chance of ending with a birdie at the 338-yard 18th, rated stroke index 18 on the scorecard.
The latest ranking of the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World serves as the ultimate global golf bucket list. Most members of our World Top 100 Panel are seasoned golfers, each playing 20-30 of these courses annually while travelling extensively over decades to form their opinions on others. We recognise that opinions vary—even among our panel members. Rankings are subjective, and there are undoubtedly 50 or more courses in the UK and USA alone that could easily fit onto this list. Links Golf Pilgrimages The rankings
California, United States
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Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
New York, United States
New York, United States
The five counties in our East Midlands region – Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire – kick off our somewhat overdue regional re-ranking process for England. And over the coming months, we’ll produce similar updated listings for another six geographical groupings across the country. We’ve assembled new ranking panels for every county so you might expect to see a few new courses going forward. Indeed, in this edition, we’ve added thirteen to the fifty that we already featured, including another five for both Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. The #1 spot in each of these five East Midlands counties remains the same but there’s still quite a bit happening lower down in every table. Derbyshire The course at Cavendish Golf Club in Buxton (pictured above) took over the top position in Derbyshire in 2017 and it remains at #1 after this English county chart revision exercise. Laid out by Alister MacKenzie almost a hundred years ago, the 18-hole layout is currently undergoing a long-term renovation by playing member and respected architect Jonathan Gaunt. Chevin The course at Chevin Golf Club in Duffield entered our Derbyshire standings at #8 in 2015, dropping down one place in 2019, but it’s now our biggest county climber, rising three places to #6. Established as a 9-hole track by William Lowe, brother of George Lowe who designed Royal Lytham & St Annes, the course was inaugurated by Tom Williamson and James Braid playing an exhibition match on 13th October, 1894. Morley Hayes The first of two new entries appears at #11 and it’s the Manor course at Morley Hayes outside Morley, which Ray Baldwin designed thirty years ago. It’s part of an enterprising 27-hole facility that includes the short 9-hole Tower course, with water hazards featuring in the form of fairway ditches and ponds positioned close to greens. Chapel-en-le-Frith Our second newcomer for Derbyshire at #12 is the course at Chapel-en-le-Frith near Buxton, where the original 9-hole course that was built in 1905 served golfers for more than sixty years until it was expanded into an 18-hole layout by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas in the early 1970s. The newer nine holes occupy land to the north of the B5470, with the older nine holes set out on the other side of the road, close to Combs reservoir. Click the following link to see the newly updated county rankings for Derbyshire. Leicestershire & Rutland In 1911, C.H. Alison from Harry Colt’s design firm laid out the course at Luffenham Heath (pictured above) which now retains its status as #1 in this county. James Braid, C.K. Cotton and Martin Hawtree have all played a part in the development of this lovely layout down the years so it’s certainly not lacking in terms of design pedigree. Kirby Muxloe One of only two courses to advance up the new Top 10 county table, Kirby Muxloe (up two to #7) started out with a 9-hole Old Tom Morris layout back in 1893. The course was doubled in size between the wars and Simon Gidman has upgraded the course in more recent times, replacing a few holes and working on a number of the greens. Cosby Stapleford Park has closed and dropped out of our listings, replaced at #10 by the course at Cosby Golf Club, which was established as Narborough Golf Club in 1894. The club operated a 9-hole track until 1966, when another five holes were introduced. Two years later, four more holes were added to fashion the tree-lined 18-hole layout that’s in play today. Click the following link to see the newly updated county rankings for Leicestershire & Rutland. Lincolnshire Currently ranked #60 in our World 100, the Hotchkin course at the National Golf Centre in Woodhall Spa (pictured above) is unlikely to be displaced from the top of the Lincolnshire chart anytime soon. Owner S.V. Hotchkin redesigned the layout in the 1920s and a recent renovation by Tom Doak’s Renaissance Golf Design team – clearing scrub, removing trees, redesigning bunkers – has breathed new life into this fabulous heathland layout. Lincoln The 18-hole layout at Lincoln Golf Club in Torskey has fluctuated between #5 and #6 in the five previous editions of this county chart but it now progresses a couple of spots to #4. Set out by J.H. Taylor as a 9-hole course at the start of the 20th century then extended by club professional Archie Earl in 1909, this part heathland/part parkland track is well worth a play. Stoke Rochford The highest of five new entries for Lincolnshire at #8, the course at Stoke Rochford Golf Club celebrates its centenary next year. W.H. Aitken modified the original 9-hole layout in 1929 before S.V. Hotchkin fashioned a new 18-hole layout six years later, replacing two of the holes that were previously played in front of Stoke Rochford Hall. Click the following link to see the newly updated county rankings for Lincolnshire. Northamptonshire Northamptonshire County in Church Brampton (pictured above) holds on to the #1 position in the county, which is hardly a surprise considering it’s also now listed in our English Top 100 chart. Designed by Harry Colt back in 1909, the course was upgraded by James Braid immediately after World War II then both C.K. Cotton and Donald Steel made minor modifications in the 1950s and 1970s. Peterborough Milton Moving up one place to #3, the course at Peterborough Milton Golf Club is a James Braid layout that first entered our county rankings at #6 in 2011. Opened just before the start of World War II, the course has changed little since then, apart from the resequencing of holes. It’s famed locally for the condition of its flat, subtly contoured putting surfaces – and, of course, its James Braid-designed bunkers. Kettering Also rising one place in the Northamptonshire listings to #6, the 18-hole layout at Kettering Golf Club was founded in 1891, making it the oldest in the county. Old Tom Morris set out the initial 9-hole course when Club Captain John Allison, a doctor from Edinburgh Royal infirmary, invited him to peg out a course for the members on land rented from the Duke of Buccleuch. Whittlebury Park There’s one new entry at #9, comprising the Red and Yellow nines at Whittlebury Park. Golf was first played on the Whittlebury estate in 1905, evolving into the three main 9-hole loops – Yellow, Red and Blue – that are now in operation. There’s also a short par-30 White course which is looked after to the same high standards as the other nines. Click the following link to see the newly updated county rankings for Northamptonshire. Nottinghamshire The wonderful heathland course at Hollinwell (pictured above) easily maintains its #1 position at the top of the Nottinghamshire chart. Dating back to 1901, when Notts Golf Club moved to its current location, the holes were first laid out by Willie Park Junior, with subsequent modifications made by J.H. Taylor and long-term club professional Tom Williamson. Stanton-on-the Wolds Only one course improves its position in our new county chart and it’s Stanton-on-the-Worlds (up one to #7) which is one of the many Midlands golf course designs from the prolific Tom Williamson, who spent fifty-four years at Notts Golf Club. Tight, tree-lined holes here occupy a 105-acre property on rolling terrain. Nottinghamshire Five new entries arrive in our newly enlarged Top 15 chart for Nottinghamshire, headed by the Championship course at The Nottinghamshire Golf & Country Club. The layout has benefitted in recent years from a long-term renovation project overseen by architect Paul Kimber with improvements made to a number of holes, notably the 18th which has had new tees and water features added. Click the following link to see the newly updated county rankings for Nottinghamshire. Jim McCann Editor Top 100 Golf Courses
A good halfway house can turn a great round of golf into a memorable one. It might be a cold beer on a Scottish links, a burger with a spectacular view or a hot drink to warm you up before the back nine. Whatever is on offer, the best halfway houses give golfers a chance to forget about the scorecard for a few minutes and enjoy the experience. We recently asked the Top100 Golf Courses community to share their favourite halfway houses, uncovering plenty of memorable stops around the world. We've picked five of their recommendations, alongside five more renowned halfway houses that are well worth knowing about. What is a Halfway House? A halfway house is a food and drink stop positioned around the turn of a golf course, usually between the ninth and 10th holes. Some are little more than a hut serving snacks and drinks, while others have become destinations in their own right, offering everything from full meals and cocktails to fires, views and plenty of local character. Five Halfway Houses Chosen by the Top100 Community Sunningdale Golf Club (England) There is a reason the halfway hut at Sunningdale has become one of the most famous refreshment stops in golf. The small Swiss-chalet-style building has been in place since 1903, sitting where the ninth holes of both the Old and New Courses meet their respective 10th holes. But the building itself isn't the main attraction. That would be the sausage sandwich. Sunningdale's legendary hut serves a simple sausage on buttered bread, with other food and refreshments available alongside it. The hut has become such an established part of the experience that the club's own tradition says everybody stops, but does so speedily. It's not fancy, and that's rather the point. After nine holes of heather-lined fairways, a hot sausage sandwich and a cup of tea can feel like exactly what golf ordered. Nairn Golf Club - The Bothy at Nairn (Scotland) The Bothy at Nairn has a history that goes well beyond golf. Built in 1877, the stone building and neighbouring icehouse formed part of the Easter Delnies Fishing Station, one of five salmon fisheries operating along the coast between Nairn and the mouth of the Findhorn. In a good season, the fishery could catch up to 5,000 salmon, with ice collected from local rivers and a specially made pond and stored in the icehouse to keep the catch fresh. The buildings have since been given a new lease of life, with the Bothy converted into a halfway house where golfers can stop for snacks and refreshments at the turn. On a cold day beside the Moray Firth, there's also a fireplace to warm up beside. The historic stone building, Highland setting and views across the course provide plenty of atmosphere. One of our community members put it rather simply: a dram of whisky and a fire are hard to beat. Hard to argue with that. Turnberry Ailsa (Scotland) Turnberry's halfway house is about as far removed from the traditional golf hut as you can get. The Ailsa's ninth hole now finishes beside the famous Turnberry Lighthouse, which doubles as a halfway house for golfers. The lighthouse itself dates back to 1873, while the golf course's dramatic ninth was redesigned as part of the Ailsa's major renovation. Inside, golfers can stop for food and drink before heading to the 10th, but the real attraction is outside. From the lighthouse, there are views across the Firth of Clyde towards the Isle of Arran and Ailsa Craig. It's a halfway stop that feels more like a destination than a quick pit stop. When your halfway house is a historic lighthouse overlooking one of Scotland's most spectacular stretches of coastline, you've got a pretty good excuse to take your time. Ardglass Golf Club (Northern Ireland) At Ardglass, the halfway-house experience is wonderfully straightforward: have a Guinness and enjoy the view. The course's old cottage halfway house at the back of the 7th green has become one of its most memorable features, with golfers able to stop for a pint before continuing their round. A recent visitor described it as a gorgeous cottage with Guinness, while another praised the combination of a Guinness, sausage roll and views over the Irish Sea. It fits Ardglass perfectly. The County Down links is already one of the most dramatic places to play golf in Northern Ireland, with the Irish Sea never far away. Add a pint of Guinness just before the turn and you've got a halfway house that feels distinctly of its surroundings. Sometimes you don't need to reinvent the wheel. Blair Atholl Golf Estate (South Africa) Blair Atholl might have been one of the less obvious names to appear among the community recommendations, but the descriptions made it impossible to leave out. The halfway stop sounds less like a quick break and more like an event. One golfer highlighted the chicken burger, a chef cooking a barbecue beneath the trees and a deck sitting beneath a stream. Another mentioned silver-service high tea. That's quite the halfway-house menu. It's also a good example of why the best stops aren't necessarily the most famous. A halfway house can become memorable because of the food, the setting or simply the feeling that you're being looked after rather than rushed back onto the course. Five More Renowned Halfway Houses St Andrews Links - The Old Course (Scotland) If we're talking about halfway houses, it makes sense to visit the place that has a claim to starting the tradition. In the 19th century, David "Old Da" Anderson sold ginger beer and other refreshments from a cart on the Old Course at St Andrews. It has been described as golf's first refreshment stand. The modern version sits behind the ninth green and keeps the tradition going, albeit with a rather more substantial menu. The pork and haggis sausage roll is a popular choice, while the club's own Tom Morris 1821 Lager provides a suitably Scottish accompaniment. It's difficult to think of a more fitting place for a halfway stop. The Old Course is steeped in golfing history, and even the break between nines has a story of its own. Pine Valley Golf Club (New Jersey, United States) Pine Valley's halfway house is memorable before you've even ordered anything. Rather than a conventional hut, it is built into the base of an old water tower, which golfers encounter around the eighth hole and again near the 12th tee. It's an appropriately unusual feature for one of the world's most unconventional golf courses. The tower doubles as a stop for drinks and snacks, giving golfers a chance to take a breather before continuing around Pine Valley. It even boasts an impressive collection of golf balls from around the world. There aren't many halfway houses that can claim to be built inside a water tower. Quivira Golf Club (Baja California Sur, Mexico) Quivira has taken the halfway-house concept and spread it across the entire round. The Jack Nicklaus-designed course has multiple all-inclusive comfort stations, each offering golfers food and drinks as they make their way around the Cabo San Lucas layout. The most spectacular is The Cliffs, perched almost 300 feet above the Pacific, where golfers can stop for a breakfast burrito and take in the views over the ocean. Then there's The Oasis, the main halfway house near the ninth green. Here, the emphasis is on the food, with freshly prepared Baja cuisine including tacos and tostadas, alongside a full tequila bar. A final stop, Cañada, sits near the 16th tee, while another comfort station beside the oceanfront practice facility offers snacks and cold drinks before golfers even reach the first tee. The food and refreshments are included in the green fee, making Quivira's comfort stations much more than somewhere to grab a quick drink. Tacos, tequila and spectacular Pacific Ocean views make the breaks almost as memorable as the golf. Whistling Rock Country Club (South Korea) At Whistling Rock, there isn't just one halfway house to look forward to. The South Korean club is made up of three nine-hole loops, each with its own themed tea house: Cocoon, Temple and Cloud. The three buildings are each distinctly different. One is a rounded structure between a lake and forest, another is a formal wood-and-glass building, while the Cloud tea house sits high among the trees. The result is a halfway-house experience that feels distinctly different depending on which nine you're playing, with each tea house adding another layer to the Whistling Rock experience. Royal Dornoch Golf Club (Scotland) Royal Dornoch's halfway house is proof that sometimes the best idea is a simple one. The stop sits behind the ninth green of the Championship Course, with views back across the links towards the Dornoch Firth. And then there's the traditional order: hot chocolate with Bailey's Irish Cream, a combination that makes considerably more sense when you're standing on a Scottish links in a North Sea wind. It's a small detail, but one that has become part of the Royal Dornoch experience and exactly the sort of halfway-house tradition golfers remember.
You don't need a four-figure budget, a private-club connection or an invitation from a member to play a course in the World Top 100. Top100 has collated the 10 cheapest visitor-accessible courses on our current World Top 100 Ranking, based on standard green fees. From a world-class links in Tasmania to a U.S. Open and Ryder Cup venue in New York, these courses offer the chance to play some of the best golf on the planet without the eye-watering green fees attached to many of their World Top 100 counterparts. 1. St Andrews Beach Golf Course (Victoria, Australia) World Ranking: 89th | Australia ranking: 6th | Green fee: A$139 (£74) Tom Doak’s first Australian mainland design, St Andrews Beach opened in 2004 on the Mornington Peninsula and has since become one of the country’s best-value, ranked courses. The public-access layout occupies 175 hectares of former grazing land, with wide fairways, rolling terrain and sandy natural contours that give several holes a links-like feel. Measuring just over 6,000 metres from the back tees, it is playable for a broad range of golfers, though the subtle greens ensure there is still plenty to think about. In a region known for outstanding golf, St Andrews Beach stands out not only for its quality but also for its accessibility, offering everyday golfers the chance to experience a Tom Doak design without the premium price tag often attached to courses of this calibre. 2. Bethpage Black (New York, USA) World Ranking: 58th | USA ranking: 28th | Green fee: From US$140 (£106) Bethpage Black has the rare distinction of being a World Top 100 course, a major championship venue and a public golf course. Located within Bethpage State Park on Long Island, the A.W. Tillinghast design opened in 1936 and has since hosted two U.S. Opens and the 2025 Ryder Cup. The Black is renowned for its difficulty, with narrow fairways, deep rough, large sculpted bunkers and elevated greens making accuracy essential. It is a demanding test, but one that remains remarkably accessible to everyday golfers. That combination of championship pedigree and public access is what makes Bethpage Black so unusual. Few golfers get the chance to play a course of this stature without needing a private-club connection or resort stay. 3. Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club (Wellington, New Zealand) World Ranking: 91st | New Zealand ranking: 2nd | Green fee: NZ$275 (£118) Set on the Kapiti Coast, north of New Zealand's capital city Wellington, Paraparaumu Beach has been one of the country’s most celebrated golf courses since Alex Russell designed it in 1949. The links has hosted 12 New Zealand Opens and has long been regarded as one of the country’s finest layouts. It is a relatively short course by modern championship standards, but the coastal wind, firm fairways, deep bunkers and undulating greens provide plenty of challenge. The split-fairway 17th is a particular highlight, forcing golfers to choose between two very different routes to the green. For international golfers, Paraparaumu offers the chance to experience a genuine piece of New Zealand golfing history without needing access to a private resort. 4. Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course (Alberta, Canada) World Ranking: 73rd | Canada ranking: 2nd | Green fee: C$280 (£149) Set among the Canadian Rockies in Jasper National Park, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is one of Stanley Thompson’s most celebrated designs. Opened in 1925, the course winds through the valley beside Lake Beauvert, with snow-capped peaks providing a backdrop to almost every hole. The course combines wide fairways, elevated tees and strategically placed bunkers with the natural contours of the landscape. Thompson’s design rewards thoughtful play rather than simply demanding power, making it a course that can be enjoyed by golfers of different abilities. The result is a rare combination of classic golf and Canadian wilderness, with the surrounding mountains and forest making the journey between shots almost as memorable as the golf itself. 5. Barnbougle - The Dunes Course (Tasmania, Australia) World Ranking: 25th | Australia ranking: 3rd | Green fee: A$285 (£151) Barnbougle Dunes is about as close as Australia gets to a traditional seaside links. Set on Tasmania’s northeast coast, the course was designed by Tom Doak and Australian Mike Clayton and opened in 2004, establishing Barnbougle as one of the country’s premier golf destinations. The layout runs through towering coastal dunes, with wide fairways, natural contours and greens that follow the movement of the land. The wind is an ever-present factor, while the strategic design rewards golfers who think their way around the course rather than simply relying on power. For golfers seeking a genuine links experience outside the British Isles, Barnbougle Dunes is about as compelling as it gets, combining world-class golf with the rugged coastline of Tasmania. 6. Cape Wickham Golf Links (Tasmania, Australia) World Ranking: 47th | Australia ranking: 4th | Green fee: A$315 (£167) Cape Wickham occupies a spectacular stretch of coastline on King Island, sitting in Bass Strait between Tasmania and mainland Australia. Designed by American architect Mike DeVries, the links opened in 2015 and quickly established itself as one of the country's standout modern courses. The course makes the most of its remote coastal setting, with the opening five holes winding around Cape Farewell before the layout moves through sand hills and limestone outcrops. Several holes hug the shoreline, while the closing stretch heads towards the imposing Cape Wickham Lighthouse. The 18th provides a fitting finale, with the fairway doglegging around a sandy bay before reaching the home green, making Cape Wickham a memorable links experience from start to finish. 7. St Enodoc Golf Club - Church Course (Cornwall, England) World Ranking: 49th | England ranking: 4th | Green fee: £175 Set among towering dunes overlooking the Camel Estuary in Cornwall, St Enodoc’s Church Course is one of James Braid’s most distinctive designs. Founded in 1891, the course was transformed by Braid in the early 20th century and remains a spectacularly natural links. It is a relatively short par 69 at 6,010 metres, but its undulating fairways, dramatic elevation changes and formidable dunes create a test that demands imagination. The famous 6th is the standout, with the enormous Himalaya dune obscuring the green and making club selection particularly difficult. The course also has an unusual piece of history, with the 13th hole running alongside the churchyard where poet laureate John Betjeman is buried. 8. South Cape Owners Club (Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea) World Ranking: 63rd | South Korea ranking: 2nd | Green fee: From KRW 350,000 (£195) Set on Namhae Island off the southeast coast of South Korea, South Cape Owners Club is a dramatic Kyle Phillips design where the ocean is visible from all 18 holes. The course opened in 2013 as part of a luxury resort development and has quickly established itself among Asia's most striking modern layouts. The course is framed by granite outcrops, coastal cliffs and rolling terrain, with bluegrass fairways contrasting against fine fescue rough. The standout stretch comes from the 11th onwards, culminating in two spectacular waterside par threes at the 14th and 16th. For golfers willing to make the journey to Namhae Island, South Cape offers a rare combination of world-class golf, dramatic coastal scenery and a luxury resort experience. 9. Utrecht De Pan Golf Club (Utrecht, Netherlands) World Ranking: 56th | Netherlands ranking: 1st | Green fee: From €235 (£198) Dating back to 1894, Utrecht De Pan is the second-oldest golf club in the Netherlands, with Harry Colt designing the current course in 1929. Set in secluded woodland near Utrecht, the layout is a classic heathland course, winding through pine, birch, oak and chestnut trees. De Pan has hosted the Dutch Open three times and is built around strategic rather than power golf. Several of its most memorable holes play over valleys of heather and sand, while the sixth and seventh demand particularly thoughtful tee shots and approaches. Recent restoration work by Frank Pont has helped return the course towards Colt’s original design, making De Pan a fascinating example of Golden Age heathland golf in the Netherlands. 10. Cruden Bay Golf Club - Championship Course (Aberdeenshire, Scotland) World Ranking: 70th | Scotland ranking: 10th | Green fee: From £205 Cruden Bay is one of Scotland’s most distinctive links, winding through towering dunes on the Aberdeenshire coast with the North Sea providing a constant backdrop. The course opened in 1899 after being laid out by Old Tom Morris and Archie Simpson, before Tom Simpson and Herbert Fowler remodelled it in 1926. Cruden Bay makes spectacular use of its natural terrain, with elevated tees, blind drives, punchbowl greens and fairways that rise and fall between the dunes. The 193-yard 4th, played from an elevated tee across a deep hollow, is one of several standout holes. There is plenty of character, too, from driveable par fours and back-to-back par threes to the feeling that every hole reveals something different. It is exactly the sort of course that rewards golfers willing to embrace its quirks. Green fees are based on standard 18-hole visitor rates, using international visitor rates where applicable. All prices are peak-season rates and do not take twilight, off-season or promotional rates into account. Prices are correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.
