England's East Midlands may not draw the same headlines as the links coastlines of Lancashire or the heathland corridors of Surrey, but the region's ranked courses tell a compelling story about architectural heritage, quiet excellence, and a handful of layouts that can match almost anything in the country. Spread across Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire, the region holds some of the finest inland and coastal golf in England. For travelling golfers willing to venture beyond the obvious, this is genuinely rewarding territory.
The region's golfing identity is rooted in the Golden Age. Names such as Willie Park Junior, Harry Colt, Alister MacKenzie, James Braid and Tom Williamson are woven through the county rankings, and it is their work that gives the East Midlands golf so much of its character. More recent renovation projects, including Tom Doak's celebrated work at Woodhall Spa, have refreshed rather than reimagined these originals, ensuring they continue to rank among the finest courses the country has to offer.
The five counties that make up the East Midlands region each carry their own distinct golfing character. Nottinghamshire leads the region for sheer depth of quality and commands the greatest presence in the national rankings. Lincolnshire provides the region's outstanding heathland destination alongside a compelling traditional links. Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland, and Northamptonshire each add architectural variety to a region that rewards proper exploration.
Stability at the Summit
The most striking feature of the current East Midlands rankings is the consistency at the head of each county table. All five county number ones — Cavendish, Luffenham Heath, Woodhall Spa's Hotchkin, Northamptonshire County and Hollinwell — have held their positions across multiple ranking cycles, a testament to the enduring quality of their original design. Three of the five carry the influence of Harry Colt, directly or through his design partners, and two others bear the unmistakable stamp of Alister MacKenzie and Willie Park Junior, respectively. When Golden Age architecture is in good health, it tends to stay at the top.
Nottinghamshire's Heathland Spine
No county in the East Midlands matches Nottinghamshire for depth of quality, with three courses among the finest in England and a county list that extends to fifteen ranked layouts.
Lincolnshire's Twin Anchors
Lincolnshire's position in the regional hierarchy rests on two very different propositions. Woodhall Spa's Hotchkin course defines heathland golf in England, and its Tom Doak-led restoration has drawn renewed admiration from panellists across the country. Seacroft, meanwhile, provides a completely contrasting experience: a no-frills, old-fashioned Willie Fernie links on the Lincolnshire coast that rewards those prepared to make the journey to Skegness. Together, they give the county a compelling two-course case to any travelling golfer.
The Architect Legacy
MacKenzie is the presiding genius in Derbyshire via Cavendish — a Buxton hillside layout he designed for the Duke of Devonshire in. Northamptonshire County, Harry Colt's 1909 design with subsequent contributions from James Braid, C.K. Cotton and Donald Steel, carries perhaps the most illustrious list of design consultants in the region. Luffenham Heath near Rutland Water was C.H. Alison's work — from the Colt & Alison partnership — subsequently revised by Braid and Cotton, then given a major bunker renovation by Martin Hawtree in 2003.
2017: The First Regional Top 10
The inaugural East Midlands regional Top 10 was published in May 2017 as part of a new seven-region framework for England, replacing the previous county-by-county format. Woodhall Spa's Hotchkin headed the list by some distance, with Hollinwell second and Sherwood Forest third. Notable in that first edition were the respective Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire county introductions: Cavendish returned to head the Derbyshire rankings after a period of inconsistency, while Coxmoor was recognised mid-way through a decade-long heathland restoration project. Tom Doak's then-ongoing renovation work at Woodhall Spa was highlighted as the region's most significant course development.
2019: Post-Renovation Momentum
Two years later, the rankings were refreshed with a county-by-county reappraisal. The headline news in Lincolnshire was the completion of Tom Doak's three-year renovation of the Hotchkin, which drew effusive praise from panellists, noting that tree clearance and bunker improvements had left the course looking better than at any point in recent memory.
In Leicestershire & Rutland, Rothley Park climbed following consultancy work by Tom Mackenzie, while the 9-hole Charnwood Forest course also advanced. The Nottinghamshire listing welcomed Oakmere Park's Admirals course as a new entry following Frank Pennink's original layout, receiving bunker renovations from Tom Mackenzie, and Northamptonshire saw Peterborough Milton rise on the back of continued good form.
2023: Expansion and New Panels
The most substantial revision prior to the current edition arrived in August 2023, with new ranking panels assembled for every county and a significant expansion of the listed courses. All five county number ones retained their positions for a third successive cycle.
For travelling golfers, the East Midlands rewards a strategic approach. Nottinghamshire makes the most compelling single-county destination, with Hollinwell, Sherwood Forest and Coxmoor all accessible within a short drive and representing three distinctive forms of English inland golf. Add Worksop, where Lee Westwood learned his craft, for a fourth round that requires no great diversion, and a Nottinghamshire golf break begins to look genuinely appetising.
Lincolnshire demands a slightly different mindset. Woodhall Spa is destination golf in its own right — the Hotchkin alone justifies the journey from virtually anywhere in England, and the Bracken course provides a perfectly capable supporting act. The drive to Seacroft adds a links element, completing a well-rounded county visit.
Northamptonshire County in Church Brampton is the anchor for any visit to the south of the region, with Wellingborough and Northampton within straightforward reach.
For those drawn to architectural history, Cavendish in Buxton and Luffenham Heath near Rutland Water offer two of the most distinctive Golden Age experiences in the Midlands, and both are often overlooked by those unfamiliar with the region's riches.
For the complete county-by-county rankings and course listings, visit Top100GolfCourses.com.
