Sandwell Park Golf Club

England's West Midlands is a region spread across five distinct counties, this landlocked stretch of England is home to some of the finest inland golf in the country. Across all six county rankings combined, more than 60 courses are listed, offering visiting golfers an embarrassment of choice stretching from the Welsh border hills of Herefordshire to the Ryder Cup stages of Warwickshire. The region punches well above its weight architecturally. Harry Colt, Herbert Fowler, Tom Simpson, James Braid and Alister MacKenzie all left their mark here, and Robin Hiseman's modern masterpiece at JCB Golf & Country Club has given the West Midlands a course capable of competing at the very top of the national rankings. With six separate county charts — Birmingham, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire — this update marks the most comprehensive assessment of West Midlands golf ever undertaken. Best West Midlands Golf Courses: County Rankings At A Glance Birmingham Birmingham's golfing credentials are often underestimated, yet the city and its immediate surrounds hold some of the best heathland and parkland layouts in the English Midlands. Sutton Coldfield Golf Club leads the way — a MacKenzie-attributed heathland layout from 1919. Edgbaston follows, Harry Colt's 1936 parkland design routed through a compact site around the imposing Georgian Edgbaston Hall. Copt Heath in Solihull completes the podium, a well-regarded parkland test combining quality turf conditions with understated design. Moor Hall and Sandwell Park round out the top five, the former a parkland in a mature setting and the latter a characterful heathland layout that has quietly maintained its reputation as one of the Birmingham area's most reliable tests. 🏆 Herefordshire – Top 3 Herefordshire is the most remote of the five West Midlands counties, tucked up against the Welsh border, and its golf reflects the landscape: dramatic, exposed and unlike anything else in the region. Kington Golf Club heads the county ranking as England's highest golf course. Designed by C.K. Hutchison in the mid-1920s on Bradnor Hill with no bunkers and rambunctious terrain, it offers panoramic views of the Brecon Beacons, Black Mountains, Shropshire Hills and Malvern Hills. It has developed a serious cult following among well-travelled golfers who appreciate quirky, strategic layouts. The Ross-on-Wye Golf Club sits second, set in rolling countryside near the River Wye, while The Herefordshire Golf Club completes a top three that rewards those willing to venture west. 🏆 Shropshire – Top 5 Shropshire's five best courses span the county from the Welsh border at Llanymynech to the rolling terrain around Hawkstone, offering variety in abundance. Llanymynech is a genuinely unique layout that straddles the England-Wales border. A hilltop test extending to just over 6,000 yards that provides one of the most distinctive rounds available anywhere in the Midlands. Oswestry sits second, a James Braid design from the late 1920s laid out across the grounds of Aston Hall. Church Stretton has risen to third, a high-climbing, view-rich layout in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Shifnal and Hawkstone Park Golf Club (Hawkstone) complete the five, with Hawkstone in particular set within one of the most dramatic and atmospheric estates in the English Midlands. 🏆 Staffordshire – Top 5 Staffordshire is the strongest single county in the West Midlands, home to approximately 50 golf clubs and a top five that mixes heathland heritage with modern ambition. Beau Desert Golf Club leads — Herbert Fowler's heathland design near Hednesford, described by Bernard Darwin as having echoes of Gleneagles about it, a "Beautiful Wilderness" in name and in character that remains the quintessential Staffordshire heathland experience. Little Aston Golf Club follows, a Harry Colt parkland masterpiece set in 176 acres of mature grounds north of Birmingham, originally laid out by Harry Vardon in 1908 and subsequently reworked by Colt into one of the finest parkland courses in England. JCB Golf & Country Club sits third. Robin Hiseman's design for European Golf Design opened in 2018 and immediately rewrote the expectations for what a modern inland course could achieve. The fourth and fifth positions belong to the two layouts at Enville Golf Club. The Highgate and the Lodge courses continue to impress with its understated quality across both courses. 🏆 Warwickshire – Top 3 Warwickshire's ranking is dominated by two names that need no introduction, but the county's depth beyond those headline acts makes it a destination with more to offer than first glance suggests. The Belfry (Brabazon) leads — the Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss design that hosted the Ryder Cup on four occasions between 1985 and 2002, an astonishing transformation of unremarkable farmland defined by its aquatic drama, particularly at the famous 10th and the emotionally charged 18th. Forest of Arden (Arden) follows, a mature and impressively maintained parkland test that holds its own comfortably in Warwickshire's strongest company, while Ladbrook Park completes the top three, a well-regarded parkland layout that has held its position across multiple ranking cycles. 🏆 Worcestershire – Top 3 Worcestershire's leading courses are set in some of the most pleasant countryside in the Midlands, with Blackwell Golf Club having maintained its county supremacy throughout the entire history of these rankings. Herbert Fowler and Tom Simpson's 1923 design is the enduring jewel of Worcestershire golf. Set across a compact 102-acre estate near Bromsgrove, renowned above all for its par-three holes and is undergoing a long-term restoration programme under Frank Pont's guidance. Kings Norton Golf Club (Red & Blue) sits second. The Worcestershire Golf Club completes the top three, a traditional club set in the shadow of the Malvern Hills. What the Rankings Tell Us A Region Defined by Golden Age Architecture The West Midlands' best golf courses are disproportionately the product of Golden Age designers. Harry Colt's fingerprints are on Little Aston, Edgbaston, Whittington Heath and Trentham. Herbert Fowler shaped both Beau Desert and Blackwell. Tom Simpson co-designed Blackwell. James Braid designed Oswestry. Alister MacKenzie reshaped Sutton Coldfield. Staffordshire's Dominance With Beau Desert, Little Aston and JCB all holding places in the national rankings, Staffordshire contributes more to those standings than any other West Midlands county. The arrival of JCB in 2018 gave Staffordshire a genuine top-tier modern course to sit alongside its established heathland classics, and the county's depth across 14 ranked layouts is unmatched in the region. The Heathland-Parkland Balance The West Midlands offers a compelling mix of course typologies. The heathland courses of Staffordshire provide fast, firm conditions more associated with Surrey or Berkshire than the English Midlands. The parkland offerings of Warwickshire and Worcestershire deliver a different pleasure entirely. The quirky upland character of Kington and Llanymynech adds yet another dimension, making the region one of the more varied golfing destinations in England. JCB's National Impact When Robin Hiseman's design for JCB opened in 2019, it immediately entered the conversation about the finest modern inland courses in Britain. A Decade of Rankings: 2017–2023 2017 – An Inaugural Regional Top 10 Published in June 2017, the inaugural West Midlands regional ranking featured 10 courses across five counties. Little Aston led the ranking, with Beau Desert at two and the Brabazon at The Belfry at three. Blackwell held fourth, followed by Enville Highgate at five. Whittington Heath and Sutton Coldfield appeared at six and seven, with Kington, Edgbaston and Trentham completing the first-ever West Midlands regional Top 10. 2019 – JCB Arrives, Reshapes Staffordshire The 2019 update, published in October, expanded the West Midlands listings to 50 courses across the five counties. The headline news was the immediate impact of JCB Golf & Country Club, which had opened the previous year and went straight in at number one in Staffordshire. Herefordshire remained stable, with Kington holding firm at the top. In Shropshire, Llanymynech retained its county lead. Warwickshire saw little movement in its top positions, with the Brabazon unchanged at number one. Worcestershire remained anchored by Blackwell, with restoration work at the club noted as ongoing. 2023 – Expansion to 65 Courses, New Voices Emerge The third update, released in September 2023, added 15 further courses to bring the West Midlands total to 65 ranked layouts. New panel members identified previously overlooked courses across all five counties. JCB retained its number one position in Staffordshire, while Oswestry climbed to the top of the Shropshire rankings for the first time, displacing Llanymynech. Planning Your West Midlands Golf Trip The West Midlands works particularly well as a flexible touring destination, with most of the leading courses within comfortable driving distance of each other. A Birmingham base puts you within reach of Sutton Coldfield, Little Aston, Beau Desert and Whittington Heath within 30 minutes, and Blackwell and Edgbaston in roughly the same time in the opposite direction. For golfers focused on the best architecture the region can offer, a combination of Beau Desert, Little Aston and Blackwell covers three of the finest Golden Age designs in England. Those willing to venture into Herefordshire for Kington will be rewarded with an experience available nowhere else in England — an upland, bunker-free, links-like test that defies every expectation. The Warwickshire courses at and around The Belfry lend themselves to a resort stay, combining the Brabazon with the PGA National and Forest of Arden, all within easy reach. Shropshire rewards the explorer: Llanymynech's border novelty, Oswestry's Braid pedigree and the drama of Hawkstone Park make for a compelling two or three-day itinerary in the far west of the county. For the complete county-by-county rankings across all West Midlands courses, visit Top100GolfCourses.com. Previous West Midlands ranking articles: 2017 | 2019 | 2023

England is home to some of the best golf courses in the world, and its five highest-ranked layouts can be played without being a member. From a 15-time Open venue on the Kent coast to some of the finest heathland golf in Surrey and Berkshire, plus a spectacular links course in Cornwall, these are the five highest-ranked courses in England that welcome visiting golfers. Royal St. George’s Golf Club (Kent) World Ranking: 19th | England ranking: 1st | Green fee: £430 Royal St George’s offers the chance to play one of England’s most historic and challenging links courses. Founded in 1887, it was the first English course to host the Open and has staged the championship 15 times, including the most recent edition in 2021. Routed through towering dunes in a loose figure of eight, Royal St George’s has undulating fairways, uneven lies and plenty of elevation changes that can make even seemingly straightforward shots difficult. The fourth hole is particularly memorable, with a huge bunker carved into a towering dune guarding the fairway. Despite its reputation as a demanding championship test, the course is as enjoyable to explore as it is difficult to score on. Wildflowers and dune grasses line the fairways, while views stretch across Pegwell Bay towards the white cliffs beyond. Add in distinctive features such as the thatched shelters and St George’s flags, and there is plenty to keep you entertained between the inevitable moments of frustration. Sunningdale Golf Club - Old Course (Surrey) World Ranking: 22nd | England ranking: 2nd | Green fee: £485 The Old course at Sunningdale is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful inland courses in the British Isles. Opened in 1901 by Willie Park Jr, it was one of the first great courses to emerge from the Surrey and Berkshire sand-belt, with Harry Colt later reshaping the layout and giving it the intimate, tree-lined character it has today. Pine, birch, oak and heather frame the fairways, while the firm heathland turf makes Sunningdale a joy to walk and play. The course has hosted plenty of memorable golf, too, including Bobby Jones’ remarkable 66 in Open qualifying in 1926 and Nick Faldo’s 62 at the 1986 European Open. The 10th is a particular highlight, with its elevated tee offering a spectacular view before the halfway hut provides one of golf’s more welcome rewards. The 15th, a 226-yard par three, is another standout. For golfers visiting England, Sunningdale Old offers a classic heathland experience in one of the country's finest golfing regions. Sunningdale Golf Club - New Course (Surrey) World Ranking: 41st | England ranking: 3rd | Green fee: £485 The New course at Sunningdale provides a rather different experience to its famous older sibling. Opened in 1923 and designed by Harry Colt, it is more open and rugged than the Old, with elevated tees, heathery terrain and long carries placing a greater emphasis on driving. At 6,700 yards and par 70, the New is no pushover, with narrow fairways and plenty of undulation making it a particularly demanding test from the back tees. Even the professionals have struggled to make it look easy: Jack Nicklaus once held the course record with a 67 before Graeme Storm carded a remarkable 62 during Open qualifying in 2009. The course has also benefited from an ongoing tree-management programme, allowing more heather to return and restoring views across Chobham Common. The fifth, a picturesque par three played across the heath, is one of the highlights. The result is a course that rewards good driving without becoming a purely distance-based test, with the heathland setting providing plenty of visual interest along the way. St Enodoc Golf Club - Church Course (Cornwall) World Ranking: 49th | England ranking: 4th | Green fee: £190 St Enodoc is unlike almost any other links course in England. Overlooking the Camel Estuary in Rock, with views across to Padstow, the Church Course takes its name from the 13th-century church that sits beside the 10th green. Remarkably, the building was completely buried by sand in the 19th century before being excavated in 1863. Founded in 1891 and redesigned by James Braid in 1907, St Enodoc is defined by its towering dunes and constantly changing terrain, where no two holes feel quite the same. The sixth is the course's signature hole, demanding two blind shots over the towering 'Himalayas' dune to reach the hidden green. The 10th, played across a natural valley to a narrow fairway below, is another memorable challenge. If your ball strays towards the churchyard, you'll also find the grave of Poet Laureate John Betjeman, whose poem Seaside Golf was inspired by the course. The combination of huge dunes, unusual holes and views across the Camel Estuary makes St Enodoc a particularly distinctive addition to any English golf trip. Swinley Forest Golf Club (Berkshire) World Ranking: 52nd | England ranking: 5th Swinley Forest offers a quieter, more understated version of heathland golf on the Surrey and Berkshire sand-belt. Set among mature pines and heather, it has a wonderfully quiet atmosphere and an old-fashioned character that is increasingly difficult to find. The firm, fast-running fairways and purple heather in summer give it all the hallmarks of classic heathland golf. Designed by Harry Colt and opened in 1909, Swinley measures around 6,400 yards and plays to a par of 69. The short holes are particularly strong, with a varied collection of one-shotters that require careful club selection. Around the greens, false fronts, run-offs and subtle slopes provide plenty of opportunities for a good round to unravel. For much of its history, Swinley was an intensely private club where visitors were few and far between. It now welcomes green-fee golfers, although the club retains much of its distinctive character. The result is a course that feels removed from the modern world, with little of the glamour associated with some of its better-known neighbours. For golfers who enjoy traditional heathland golf, that simplicity is a large part of Swinley's appeal. Green fees quoted are summer 2027 rates where available.

The city of Cambridge sits close enough to the Gog Magog Hills to claim two outstanding parkland layouts on its doorstep, and within a short drive you will find Royal Worlington and Newmarket Golf Club — ranked #87 in England and widely regarded as the finest nine-hole course in the world. For the business traveller staying in the city centre or the leisure golfer planning a long weekend, this compact corner of East Anglia delivers far more quality per mile than its flat fenland reputation suggests. Top 3 Golf Courses in Cambridge Best Golf Course in Cambridge — Royal Worlington and Newmarket Golf Club #1 in Suffolk | #87 in England | #3 in East England Access: Contact Club Prior to Visit Best Time to Visit: April to October Distance from City Centre: 40 km (25 miles) — approximately 40 minutes via the A14 and A11 Tom Dunn laid out these nine holes on sandy Suffolk soil in 1893, and Harry Colt refined them a generation later. Bernard Darwin, who chose two holes here among the 18 greatest inland holes in Britain, dubbed the layout the Sacred Nine — a name that has stuck for good reason. The home course of Cambridge University Golf Club since its founding, Royal Worlington plays faster and firmer than almost any inland course in England, with green complexes that demand imagination and precision in equal measure. Note that this course sits beyond the standard 30-minute drive from Cambridge city centre, but its national ranking and unique standing in golf history make the extra distance worthwhile. #2 Golf Course in Cambridge — The Gog Magog Golf Club (Old) #1 in Cambridgeshire Access: Contact Club Prior to Visit Best Time to Visit: April to October Distance from City Centre: 8 km (5 miles) — approximately 15 minutes Established in 1901 on the chalk escarpment of the Gog Magog Hills, this centurion layout rises south from the city across terrain that surprised Bernard Darwin when he first played it: undulating, fast-draining downland in one of England's flattest counties. Willie Park Junior, John Abercromby and Martin Hawtree have each shaped the course over more than a hundred years, and the result is 6,398 yards of accuracy-first parkland where rare perennial flax blooms blue in the rough each summer. The par-three 13th, played over a depression to a green with a spinney lurking left, is as good a one-shotter as the region produces. Host of the Lagonda Trophy since 1975, the Old course counts Lee Westwood, Luke Donald and Andy Sullivan among its past winners. #3 Golf Course in Cambridge — The Gog Magog Golf Club (Wandlebury) #2 in Cambridgeshire Access: Contact Club Prior to Visit Best Time to Visit: April to October Distance from City Centre: 8 km (5 miles) — approximately 15 minutes Sharing the same hilltop address as the Old course, the Wandlebury opened in 1997 after Martin Hawtree combined eleven new holes across freshly acquired downland with seven from an earlier nine-hole layout. At 6,735 yards it plays longer than its sibling and carries its own credentials: the R&A selected it for Open Championship Regional Qualifying between 2007 and 2011. The join between old and new holes is softening with time, and some members prefer the Wandlebury's flow to the Old. Stone Age flint tools discovered on the 4th fairway during construction — following a mandatory archaeological survey — add another dimension to a course that already has one of the finest settings in East Anglia. Can't Play the Top 3? Try These Instead The Links Golf Club, Newmarket #4 in Cambridgeshire Access: Visitors Welcome Best Time to Visit: April to October Distance from City Centre: 22 km (14 miles) — approximately 25 minutes Set out in 1902 on the southeast perimeter of Newmarket racecourse. Colonel S.V. Hotchkin — the architect behind Woodhall Spa's Hotchkin course — redesigned the layout in the 1930s and his work remains largely unchanged today. A training track known as the Gallops surrounds the course and at the 7th and 15th, the tee shot must clear the white racecourse rails before reaching the fairway. The bunkers are numerous and classically placed, with a full fairway-width specimen guarding the approach at the left-doglegging 16th that is as old-fashioned and effective as any hazard on the course. Royston Golf Club #28 in Hertfordshire Access: Visitors Welcome Best Time to Visit: April to October Distance from City Centre: 22 km (14 miles) — approximately 20 minutes Laid out by Harry Vardon on chalk heathland straddling the Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire border, Royston is one of the most unusual courses within reach of Cambridge — hilly, exposed and entirely unlike the flat fenland landscape that surrounds it. At 5,910 yards and par 70, the course offers no refuge in length, but the fast-draining chalk base keeps conditions firm and true year-round, and the rough in summer plays as demanding as heather. Nick Faldo won the junior championship here. The first formal golf course was recorded on this ground in 1869, making Royston one of the oldest clubs in England, and the layout has changed little since Andrew Kirkaldy became the club's first professional in 1893. More Golf Courses Near Cambridge Beyond the top five, Cambridge sits within an hour of several other ranked courses worth exploring. In Cambridgeshire itself, Ely City Golf Club — a Henry Cotton design opened in 1973 by Lee Trevino — lies 24 km (15 miles) north of the city, while St Ives (Hunts) Golf Club, Cambridge Country Club (Bourn) and Cambridge Meridian Golf Club each provide solid parkland golf within 30 km to the north and west. Cross into Suffolk and the county's heathland gems open up: the nationally ranked Ipswich Golf Club (Purdis Heath) and Aldeburgh Golf Club (Championship) are further east but reward the drive for golfers building an East Anglian itinerary. For a full ranked and reviewed list of courses across the region, visit top100golfcourses.com. Frequently Asked Questions What is the best golf course in Cambridge? Royal Worlington and Newmarket Golf Club is the highest-ranked course within reach of Cambridge, sitting at #87 in England. Known as the Sacred Nine, this nine-hole Suffolk layout is widely considered the finest nine-hole course in the world and has been the home course of Cambridge University Golf Club since 1893. For golfers wanting the best course within 15 minutes of the city centre, The Gog Magog Golf Club (Old) is ranked #1 in Cambridgeshire and has hosted the Lagonda Trophy since 1975. Is golf in Cambridge open to visitors? The Gog Magog Golf Club requires visitors to contact the club in advance to arrange a tee time. Royal Worlington and Newmarket Golf Club also operates on an advance-booking basis, with visitors required to have an official handicap certificate. The Links Golf Club in Newmarket and Royston Golf Club both welcome visitors and allow direct booking. When is the best time to play golf in Cambridge? April to October offers the most reliable conditions, with longer daylight hours and firmer, faster surfaces as the season progresses. The chalk and sand-based courses — Royal Worlington, the Gog Magog layouts and Royston — drain exceptionally well and remain playable through most of the winter, making Cambridge a viable golf destination outside the peak season. Getting There Cambridge station sits on the Great Northern main line, with direct services to London Kings Cross taking from 49 minutes. The station is approximately 2 km (1 mile) from the city centre. Nearest airport: London Stansted Airport (STN), 48 km (30 miles) south of Cambridge city centre, approximately 35 minutes by road to the Gog Magog Golf Club. For international connections: London Heathrow Airport (LHR), 110 km (68 miles) southwest of Cambridge city centre, approximately 80 minutes by road under normal traffic conditions. Best Time to Play Golf in Cambridge The golf season in Cambridge runs comfortably from April through October, with May, June and September representing the sweet spot of firm ground, reliable weather and manageable course pressure. The chalk and sand-based courses — Royal Worlington, the Gog Magog layouts and Royston — drain exceptionally well and remain playable through most of the winter, making Cambridge a more viable year-round golf destination than much of East England. Summer brings long evenings and the blue flax rough in flower on the Gog Magog hills. Autumn sharpens the light and empties the courses. Spring offers the best green fees for early-season visitors willing to take a chance on the weather. Plan Your Cambridge Golf Trip For full rankings, course reviews and visitor information, visit top100golfcourses.com. Use the site to compare courses across Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Hertfordshire, read panellist reviews and build your East Anglian golf itinerary from one of the most comprehensive golf course databases in the world.