James Braid's Best Golf Courses

James Braid (1870-1950) stands as one of golf's most influential figures, combining a legendary playing career with unparalleled course design expertise. Born in Earlsferry, Fife, Scotland, this member of the Great Triumvirate transformed golf course architecture across the British Isles while claiming five Open Championship titles.

Jason Livy

Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship)

Angus & Dundee, United Kingdom

Carnoustie is a big natural seaside golf links and the Championship course is considered to be one of the most difficult in the British Isles.

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St Enodoc Golf Club (Church)

Cornwall, United Kingdom

St Enodoc Golf Club (Church)

Cornwall, United Kingdom

St Enodoc Golf Club is certainly a quixotic and rather hilly links course, set amidst towering sand dunes clad with tufts of wild sea grasses.

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Royal Aberdeen Golf Club (Balgownie)

Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom

Royal Aberdeen Golf Club (Balgownie)

Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom

The Balgownie at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club is a traditional out and back links course running along the shore of the North Sea and it has one of the finest first nine holes in golf.

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Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club

Kent, United Kingdom

Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club

Kent, United Kingdom

Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, or Deal as it is somtimes called, is an absolute brute of a links course. Its back nine, or rather the last seven holes, are relentless.

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Royal Troon Golf Club (Old)

Ayrshire & Arran, United Kingdom

Royal Troon Golf Club (Old)

Ayrshire & Arran, United Kingdom

Royal Troon is a traditional out and back links course on the current Open Rota. Host of the 152nd Open Championship, it is best known for the short par 3 Postage Stamp and strategic 11th, named Railway.

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Gleneagles (King's)

Perth & Kinross, United Kingdom

Gleneagles (King's)

Perth & Kinross, United Kingdom

Gleneagles is the perfect setting for a game of golf and the King’s course is surely the best moorland track in the world.

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Nairn Golf Club (Championship)

Highlands & Islands, United Kingdom

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Nairn Golf Club (Championship)

Highlands & Islands, United Kingdom

Championship links on Moray Firth coastline, founded 1887 with contributions from Old Tom Morris and James Braid. Host venue for Walker Cup 1999, Curtis Cup 2012, and Amateur Championships. Highland location offers year-round play with exceptional greens and traditional out-and-back routing alongside Scottish beaches.

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Hankley Common Golf Club

Surrey, United Kingdom

Hankley Common Golf Club

Surrey, United Kingdom

There is an overwhelming feeling of spaciousness at Hankley Common, so much so that it seems plausible that a second or third course could be intertwined between the existing 18 holes.

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Hunstanton Golf Club

Norfolk, United Kingdom

Hunstanton Golf Club

Norfolk, United Kingdom

Hunstanton Golf Club is a connoisseur’s golf course, jammed full of memorable quality golf holes.

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Pennard Golf Club

South Wales, United Kingdom

Pennard Golf Club

South Wales, United Kingdom

Pennard Golf Club is a delightful old-fashioned affair and without doubt, this is one of the very best links courses in the British Isles.

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Gleneagles (Queen's)

Perth & Kinross, United Kingdom

Gleneagles (Queen's)

Perth & Kinross, United Kingdom

The Queen’s course is the pretty little sister at the Gleneagles Hotel. She’s only short course but she's exquisitely delicate and stunningly beautiful.

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Parkstone Golf Club

Dorset, United Kingdom

Parkstone Golf Club

Dorset, United Kingdom

We’ve classified Parkstone Golf Club as a seaside heathland course. It’s not a traditional links and neither is it very far inland.

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Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club

Merseyside, United Kingdom

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Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club

Merseyside, United Kingdom

Southport & Ainsdale hosted the Ryder Cup in 1933 and 1937, with James Braid's 1924 redesign creating an outstanding links amongst towering dunes and heather. This championship venue on England's Golf Coast combines a rich tournament heritage with year-round accessibility, making it an essential destination for golf holidays along the Lancashire coast.

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Wallasey Golf Club

Merseyside, United Kingdom

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Wallasey Golf Club

Merseyside, United Kingdom

Wallasey Golf Club, world famous as the "Home of Stableford". An undiluted links course with its undulating fairways framed with spectacular dunes.

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Brora Golf Club

Highlands & Islands, United Kingdom

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Brora Golf Club

Highlands & Islands, United Kingdom

Brora Golf Club is a fine, natural seaside links. A Highland delicacy to be tasted alongside Royal Dornoch. Brora is one of the jewels in James Braid's crown.

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Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship)

Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship)

Leaderboard for James Braid's Best Golf Courses

James Braid's Best Golf Courses

Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship)

St Enodoc Golf Club (Church)

St Enodoc Golf Club (Church)

Royal Aberdeen Golf Club (Balgownie)

Royal Aberdeen Golf Club (Balgownie)

Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club

Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club

Royal Troon Golf Club (Old)

Royal Troon Golf Club (Old)

Gleneagles (King's)

Gleneagles (King's)

Nairn Golf Club (Championship)

Nairn Golf Club (Championship)

Hankley Common Golf Club

Hankley Common Golf Club

Hunstanton Golf Club

Hunstanton Golf Club

Pennard Golf Club

Pennard Golf Club

Gleneagles (Queen's)

Gleneagles (Queen's)

Parkstone Golf Club

Parkstone Golf Club

Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club

Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club

Wallasey Golf Club

Wallasey Golf Club

Brora Golf Club

Brora Golf Club