The purpose of the Review of The Month feature is twofold. Top100GolfCourses has always aimed to salute and encourage those who are putting admirable effort into reviewing the world’s great golf courses. Moving forward, we are also looking to learn from these experts! We’ll be chatting with the month’s star authors and discussing topics such as golf in their area, what they like to see in a strong course review, and of course dig a little deeper into their own winning review.
September 2023’s Review of The Month comes from Mariano Martinez de Azagra, who avoided the tourist trends and found thrills at Kington Golf Club in Herefordshire.
There are some courses that are obvious locales for international golfers when visiting England. Kington isn't one of them! How/why did you and your pals end up in Herefordshire during your trip?
One of the things I like most about golf trips is their preparation. That is, the design of the itinerary, something like the routing of the trip. Therefore, I have a lot of fun researching in advance and then deciding which courses to include.
In this case, we traveled to South Wales, where we enjoyed courses such as Porthcawl, Pennard and Southerndown, among others. But, as our flight arrived in Bristol, I saw the opportunity to make a short detour and head to Kington on our way to our base in Wales.
As for Kington, the first reference I had was through Tom Doak's Confidential Guide, whose short review really intrigued me. And, from there, I visited the Top100GolfCourses website, in order to corroborate that impression with user reviews, which led me to Sean Arble's extensive chronicle for GolfClubAtlas.
From there, it was clear to me that Kington had to be one of the highlights of our trip to Wales.
Kington has undeniable charm (as you mentioned, sheep as greenskeepers). How much of a boost does such charm give a course like Kington, versus the well-established fame of championship-caliber clubs?
For me it is fundamental. I find that courses like Kington combine two of the parameters that I value most in golf: charm and sustainability. In this sense, it shares the same characteristics as other of my favorite places in golf, such as Brora, Boat of Garten and Fraserburgh in Scotland, or Ballycastle and Dooks in Ireland.
All of them are clubs located in small towns, with very controlled maintenance costs, and where the green fee price has not skyrocketed, unlike the most distinguished clubs. And it's also much easier and more satisfying to be able to stop and chat with members, as I was lucky enough to do at Kington.
Like any golfer, I also enjoy the experience of visiting the most renowned clubs, with first-rate facilities and top conditioning, but it is not my priority when it comes to visiting new courses.
C.K. Hutchison has not had a hand in many course designs, but those that he did are well known, especially Turnberry's Ailsa, West Sussex, and Gleneagles. Have you had an opportunity to play any of these? If so, notice any trends in his designs?
Unfortunately, I have not been able to play any of these courses; I tried to visit West Sussex in 2019 but it wasn't possible.
Of course, I have been pleased to see that where he did have some intervention was at the West Links in North Berwick, my all-time favorite, although I imagine that his contribution must not have been particularly significant.
Many golf groups traveling to Spain will also be inclined to visit the "big names" on the list. As a well-informed Spanish golfer, are there any off-the-beaten-path gems akin to Kington that you would recommend?
In my experience, no. Let me explain myself: in Spain, golf is much more recent, and does not enjoy the tradition of Great Britain and Ireland. Consequently, it is almost unthinkable to find a course of Kington's quality in a secluded location, and bearing the signature of a famous and competent architect.
In fact, and in general, we are decades behind Great Britain when it comes to many of the issues that I value most in golf, such as the preparation of the courses (it is not unusual to find overwatered fairways and greens) or the slow pace of play (no one has even imagined tee times for foursomes or two balls). It is a matter of golf culture in which we have a long way to go.
Of course, if I had to recommend a course in my country, it would be El Saler, in Valencia. I know it's moderately famous, but it's often off the beaten path of golf, and it's really good.
A side note: While they are not of the quality of the British, there are more than acceptable courses everywhere in Spain. And, of course, what I can assure you is that the offer in any area of Spain is superior to Britain in aspects such as gastronomy, and leisure in general. And the weather factor also helps...
Now that you're a celebrated "Review of The Month" winner, let us know what factors you appreciate in a strong golf course review!
Basically, two things:
On the one hand, it must provide useful information about the experience, which may include aspects about the club's services, but mainly about the course, although I do not need it to go into an extensive description of each of the holes. Rather, I am inclined to value an overview of the entire experience of the round of golf; something that convinces me that I want to go there... or not.
On the other hand, I also appreciate certain originality, or some type of uniqueness, that can come from anecdotes or the description of the feelings that the round of golf, or the atmosphere of the club aroused in the reviewer.
What's one course that you're excited to write a review for in the upcoming year?
I am already planning my trip for next year, most likely to the West coast of Scotland and, within it, the courses I would most like to play (and review) are Machrihanish, Prestwick and Shiskine.
Britain and Ireland represent the spiritual heartland of golf. Nowhere else on earth can a golfer experience such density, diversity and sheer quality of courses within easy reach of one another — from the windswept links of the Outer Hebrides to the Surrey heathland belt, from the Antrim coast to the dunes of County Kerry. Eight new entries join the rankings alongside a series of significant climbers, while the summit remains as stable and formidable as ever. The GB&I ranking draws on the assessments of a dedicated panel of well-travelled golf enthusiasts who evaluate courses across all five nations under consistent criteria. The result is the most authoritative cross-border ranking of golf in the British Isles — a resource for every golfer planning a links pilgrimage or seeking out a heathland gem closer to home. See the GB&I Rankings Now The 2026 Rankings The 2026 list spans links masterpieces, heathland classics, parkland gems and modern championship designs, offering something for every golfing traveller regardless of budget, geography or preferred style of play. Eight courses make their debut in this edition, and Scotland leads the new-entry count with three. England adds four fresh names. Ireland contributes a landmark addition in Royal Portrush Valley, while Wales and the Isle of Man both contribute. 2026 GB&I Top 100 at a Glance 🏅 The Immovable Elite The entire top 30 holds its position unchanged from 2025, which is due to the alignment with the world ranking. (European Club has been removed after its sale and new development). Royal County Down (Championship) retains top spot, a position it has occupied since 2006. Harry Colt's masterpiece on the County Down coast remains the benchmark against which all others are measured. St Andrews Links (Old Course) holds second, Muirfield fourth, and Trump Turnberry Ailsa fifth, with Royal Dornoch sixth, completing a top-six that reads like the definitive roll-call of British links golf. Royal Porthcawl (21st) anchors the Welsh presence at the upper end of the table. See the GB&I Rankings Now 📈 The Rising Stars Brora Golf Club Brora's rise signals a renewed appreciation for one of Scotland's most characterful links experiences. James Braid's Sutherland has long been cherished by those who make the pilgrimage north, and the panel's verdict this time around is emphatic. St Andrews Links (New Course) Tom Morris's New Course at St Andrews makes a similarly dramatic leap. Laid out on the same Fife linksland, the New Course offers a subtler but no less rewarding examination of links golf, and its rise reflects growing recognition among the panel of its considerable merits. Pennard Wales's most dramatic mover, Pennard's climb continues a strong upward trajectory for Welsh golf in this ranking. Set atop dramatic cliffs with views across Three Cliffs Bay, James Braid's coastal design delivers a links experience unlike anything else in the principality. The Addington Golf Club The Addington's extraordinary heath-and-heather landscape and inventive routing through woodland have always inspired devotion among connoisseurs of the inland game; the panel now recognises it more prominently within the national context. Formby Golf Club Formby's leap into the top 40 is particularly noteworthy. The Merseyside club, now sits among the top tier of English links venues. West Lancashire's rise reinforces the quality of the Lancashire coast corridor, which already features Royal Birkdale, Royal Lytham & St Annes, Hillside, Southport & Ainsdale and Wallasey. Carne Golf Links (Wild Atlantic Dunes) Three Irish courses make meaningful advances. Portstewart's Strand Course, County Louth, and Carne Golf Links on the wild Atlantic coast of County Mayo, shaped into the dunes by Eddie Hackett. See the GB&I Rankings Now 🆕 New Entries Eight courses make their debut in the 2026 GB&I Top 100: Cabot Highlands Old Petty (Scotland, #51) — the second Cabot Highlands layout to feature in the rankings, joining Castle Stuart in the list and continuing the rapid rise of this Inverness-shire resort as a world-class golfing destination. Elie (Scotland, #54) — one of the most characterful and historic clubs in Scotland, on the East Neuk of Fife. The course's unique features — including a periscope on the first tee — have made it beloved by generations of Scottish golfers. Trump International Scotland (New Course) (Scotland, #63) — the second Trump Dunes layout at Balmedie, joining the Old Course (25th), extends the Aberdeenshire complex's representation in the national rankings. Royal Portrush (Valley) (Ireland, #81) — the second course at Royal Portrush Golf Club, after new routing and holes from M&E. Prince's Golf Club (Dunes & Himalayas) (England, #82) — the Sandwich Bay classic returns to the rankings in a strong position. Guy Campbell and John Morrison rebuilt the layout after World War II, and Martin Ebert's recent upgrade, adding new tees, restoring natural sand scrapes and creating a new sea-facing par-three. Aldeburgh Golf Club (Championship) (England, #96) — the Suffolk links, founded in 1884 with design contributions from John Thompson, makes its debut in the national rankings after a major overhaul. Hayling Golf Club (England, #97) — the Hampshire links on Hayling Island, shaped in part by Tom Simpson, enters the rankings for the first time. Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club (Old Course) (England, #98) — one of the most unusual and celebrated inland courses in England, Royal Ashdown is unique for having no bunkers. Beau Desert Golf Club (England, #100) — the Staffordshire heathland gem, founded in 1921 by Herbert Fowler, completes the expanded century of courses. See the GB&I Rankings Now Best Golf Courses by Nation 🗺️ England — 47 Courses England accounts for nearly half the rankings — a reflection of both the volume and variety of world-class golf across the country. The Surrey and Berkshire heathland belt contributes a disproportionate share of the upper-table entries: Sunningdale Old (8th) and New (13th), Swinley Forest (18th), St George's Hill (27th), West Sussex (31st), Walton Heath Old (38th) and Hollinwell (41st) all feature within the top half. The links of Lancashire, Kent and East Anglia provide a contrasting but equally compelling strand of the English golfing story. Four new entries — Aldeburgh, Hayling, Royal Ashdown Forest and Beau Desert — expand the list's geographic footprint into Suffolk, Hampshire, East Sussex and Staffordshire, demonstrating that England's golfing heritage extends well beyond its most celebrated corridors. Scotland — 30 Courses Scotland's 30 entries include five of the top six — a statistical dominance that reflects the country's unique concentration of championship links. St Andrews (2nd and 69th), Muirfield (4th), Turnberry Ailsa (5th) and Royal Dornoch (6th) anchor the Scottish contingent at the summit, while Carnoustie (11th), North Berwick (14th), Kingsbarns (15th), Ardfin (16th) and Cabot Highlands Castle Stuart (19th) complete a formidable top-20 presence. Ireland — 18 Courses Eighteen Irish courses feature across the island, with 11 of them sitting in the top 52 — a density of quality that underscores Ireland's claim to be the world's premier links destination. Royal County Down (1st) and Royal Portrush Dunluce (3rd) lead the charge from Northern Ireland, while Ballybunion Old (9th), Lahinch Old (10th), Rosapenna St Patrick's (12th) and Portmarnock (24th) anchor the Republic's contribution at the highest level. Wales — 4 Courses Wales holds four positions in the ranking, led by Royal Porthcawl. Pennard's rise is the Welsh highlight of 2026, with Royal St David's (77th) and Aberdovey (90th) completing the principality's quartet. The Welsh presence reflects a small but fiercely competitive national golfing scene whose best courses can match many of their more celebrated neighbours. Isle of Man — 1 Course Castletown enters the rankings at 93rd, extending the list's geographic scope to include what is perhaps the most underrated links destination in the British Isles. Designed on Langness Peninsula with views across Castletown Bay, the course offers a genuine links experience that few golfers beyond the island's shores have yet discovered. See the GB&I Rankings Now What the Rankings Tell Us 🔍 Scotland's Mid-Table Revolution Brora and the New Course at St Andrews both making gains along with three new Scottish entries arriving suggest that the expanded panel membership has brought fresh perspectives to the evaluation of Caledonian golf, reaching beyond the famous Fife and Ayrshire corridors into the Highlands and East Neuk. England's Heathland Heritage Runs Deep With 47 entries, England dominates the ranking numerically. But the nature of the English contribution is as interesting as the volume. The heathland courses of the Surrey and Berkshire sandbelt account for a remarkable cluster of entries in the top 40. Royal Ashdown Forest's debut as a bunkerless inland classic adds yet another dimension to the story of English golf design. The four new English entries span different eras and geographies, from the ancient links of Hayling Island to the heathland of Beau Desert. Welsh Golf Reaching New Heights Four Welsh courses in a combined GB&I Top 100 is genuinely significant. With Aberdovey re-entering the list at 90th, the principality now presents a quartet of genuinely diverse and compelling experiences. See the GB&I Rankings Now See the Full Rankings The complete 2026 GB&I Top 100, with individual course pages, panellist commentary and regional breakdowns, is available at Top100GolfCourses.com. Each of the 100 courses links through to detailed profiles, visitor information, and review collections from thousands of golfers who have experienced them firsthand. For regional perspectives within Britain and Ireland, the site also maintains separate Top 100 rankings for England and Scotland, a Top 50 for Wales, and individual rankings for Ireland and Northern Ireland — together covering nearly 700 distinct golf courses across the five nations. See the GB&I Rankings Now
Welcome to the third of our seven regional updates for England. Last time we featured three counties in the North West of the country and in this edition we head to the West Midlands to reappraise golfing layouts in the counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. We have a new #1 in one of those counties and we’re adding a further fifteen layouts to the fifty that we already listed across the five counties. New members of our county panels have identified a few courses which have been overlooked in the past so we’re more than happy to include these additional tracks in our revised line-ups. Herefordshire Located only a mile from the border with Wales, the 18-hole layout at Kington Golf Club (pictured above) remains the #1 golf track in Herefordshire. Recognised as the highest course in England, it’s a Major C.K. Hutchison design that first opened for play in 1926. With holes set out in glorious National Trust property, Kington offers unrivalled panoramic views of The Brecon Beacons, The Black Mountains, The Shropshire Hills and the Malvern Hills. South Herefordshire The only new entry is South Herefordshire at #5, replacing the Rowan course at Sapey Golf and Country Club which recently changed its golf union affiliation. Situated close to the lovely little town of Ross-on-Wye, South Herefordshire occupies a rolling 135-acre property, operating an 18-hole layout, par three academy course and driving range since 1990. Click the following link to see the newly updated county rankings for Herefordshire. Shropshire Rising two spots to #1 in Shropshire, Oswestry Golf Club (pictured above) was founded in 1903 but the course is a more recent development, designed by James Braid in the late 1920s when the club moved to the grounds of Aston Hall. Course improvements were made in the mid-1980s then a bunker upgrade was conducted in the late 1990s, with six hazards removed, one introduced, three repositioned and forty-nine others refurbished. The Astbury The course at The Astbury in Chelmarsh re-enters our county chart at #6. Unveiled in 2010, this 18-hole golf facility was created by former Judas Priest lead guitarist K.K. Downing. Unfortunately, the course closed five years ago when the business went into administration but it’s now back in business under new ownership, having re-opened in April 2021. Telford The only new entry for Shropshire arrives at #12 and it’s the course at Telford Hotel Spa & Golf Resort, which was originally established by Telford Development Corporation in the mid-1970s before it became a private enterprise in 1980. The property’s changed hands a few times since then, with Q Hotels as the latest owner. Click the following link to see the newly updated county rankings for Shropshire. Staffordshire Retaining its position as #1 in Staffordshire, the 18-hole layout at JCB Golf and Country Club (pictured above) is one of only three in the West Midlands region to be included in our English national rankings (at #40) and it also makes the cut in our GB&I Top 100 at #93. Designed by Robin Hiseman of European Golf Design for tournament play, the course now hosts the annual JCB Tournament on the Legends Tour for senior professional male golfers. Penn The highest of four new entries on the new chart is the course at Penn Golf Club in Wolverhampton which debuts at #11. When South Staffordshire Golf Club relocated in 1908, some members remained behind to form a new golf club, inheriting a 9-hole course that was fifteen years old. The modern day layout extends to 6,457 yards and plays to a par of 70 (35 out then 35 in) on a property of no more than 100 acres. The other new Staffordshire entries are Leek [#12], Walsall [#13] and Bloxwich [#14]. Click the following link to see the newly updated county rankings for Staffordshire. Warwickshire The Brabazon course at The Belfry Hotel & Resort (pictured above) holds on to its #1 status in Warwickshire. Four-time host venue for the Ryder Cup between 1985 and 2002), the Brabazon is a late 1970s design from PGA stalwarts Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss, who somehow managed to transform an undistinguished tract of farmland into one of England’s most remarkable golf courses at what has since become a 54-hole West Midlands golfing mecca. Walmley The highest climber in the updated Warwickshire chart is the course at Walmley Golf Club in Sutton Coldfield, rising four places to #11. The club started out with a 9-hole layout in 1902 but within six years this was doubled in size. Three new holes were developed in the early 1980s by Brian Huggett and David Williams to create the 6,603-yard course that’s still in play today. Stratford-on-Avon There are five newcomers to the listings and the most prominent of these is the course at Stratford-on-Avon at #13.The club moved a short distance to its current location in 1925, when J.H. Taylor designed a new course with James Carter & Co. of Reading building the holes. Jonathan Gaunt embarked on an ongoing bunker renovation project at the club in the winter of 2020, with contractor MJ Abbot carrying out the construction work. The other Warwickshire new entries are Warwickshire (Kings) [#17), Maxstoke Park [#18], Kenilworth [#19] and Shirley [#20]. Click the following link to see the newly updated county rankings for Warwickshire. Worcestershire The Blackwell Golf Club course in Bromsgrove (pictured above) has been our county number one since we began ranking Worcestershire more than a decade ago and it’s still the #1 layout. The club was formed with a 9-hole course in 1893 and this layout was expanded to eighteen holes thirty years later by Tom Simpson and Herbert Fowler. Currently, Frank Pont is working with the club on a 10-year restoration plan. Kings Norton (Red & Blue) Climbing four positions to #4, the Red and Blue nines at Kings Norton Golf Club comprise the 18-hole Weatheroak layout at this 27-hole facility. The club can trace its origins back to 1892 but it relocated to Alvechurch in the late 1960s, engaging Fred Hawtree to lay out three 9-hole circuits, any two of which provide an 18-hole golf course of high quality. Wharton Park The course at Wharton Park Golf & Country Club is our highest new entry, appearing at #10. Designed by Howard Swan, the 18-hole layout sits just outside the attractive Georgian town of Bewdley on the River Severn. Stretching to 6,402 yards, it plays to a par of 71, with holes arranged in two distinct compartments: holes 1-3 and 11-18 occupy ground closest to the clubhouse, with the remaining holes on the other side of a dense forest. The other new Worcestershire entries are Droitwich [#12], Kings Norton (Yellow) at #13 and Evesham [#14]. Click the following link to see the newly updated county rankings for Worcestershire. Jim McCann Editor Top 100 Golf Courses
West Midlands of England – Best in County Rankings 2019 Hard on the heels of the last news item about our re-ranking of courses in the East Midlands region of England, we now publish our latest findings for the West Midlands, presenting fifty courses across the counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Extending to five thousand square miles, with a population of six million people, the West Midlands region is anchored by the city of Birmingham, England's second largest city. Unfortunately, like the neighbouring East Midlands region, this area doesn’t attract too many visiting golfers. Currently, four tracks in the West Midlands occupy places in the Top 100 for England and one of them also makes it into the more prestigious Great Britain & Ireland listings. It’ll be interesting to see next month if that situation improves when we revise those other important standings. For now, we’re concentrating solely on manoeuvres within the above named county charts in this English heartland location, so let’s crack on and take a look at what we believe to be the best golf course offerings in the West Midlands. Herefordshire It’s a case of “as you were” for this county as all five courses remain in the same position, which means Kington holds on to the top spot in Herefordshire. The course was designed in the mid-1920s by Cecil Key Hutchison – who also had a hand in the development of highly regarded layouts at Gleneagles, North Berwick and Turnberry. Fairways are laid out at altitude on Bradnor Hill, affording sensational views of the surrounding Brecon Beacons, Malvern Hills and Black Mountains. Kington Golf Club Measuring less than 6,000 yards from the back tees, and with no sand or water in play, this short and quirky course features a set of unique and fascinating greensites the likes of which you will never come across elsewhere. In recent years, Kington has slowly but surely built up something of a cult following with well-travelled golfers. Herefordshire Top 5 Golf Courses 2019 Rank/ Shropshire Our No. 1 course in Shropshire, Llanymynech, enjoys something of a split personality because it straddles the border between two different countries. Most of the fairways of this tree-lined track lie within Wales but the club has always been affiliated through the local county golf union with England Golf. Extending to just over 6,000 yards and playing to a par of 70, it’s a terrific little hilltop layout that offers an engaging test of golf from start to finish. Llanymynech Golf Club Astbury, the course built a decade ago by K.K. Downing, the former band member of heavy metal group Judas Priest, has now closed and is due to re-open after refurbishment sometime next year. In the meantime, it’s dropped out of our Top 10 chart for Shropshire, replaced at number nine by the Championship course at Hawkstone Park, which Brian Hugget designed in the mid-1990s. Shropshire Top 10 Golf Courses 2019 Staffordshire With fifty golf clubs located inside its boundary lines, Staffordshire is the strongest of the five counties in the West Midlands, a fact underlined when we compiled a one-off Top 10 table for the region two years ago, discovering that half the chart was comprised of entries from this county. You might imagine any newcomer would struggle to get into the Staffordshire Top 10 but you’d be wrong. In fact, not only has a new design broken into the chart, it’s gone straight in at No. 1. JCB Golf & Country Club JCB Golf & Country Club in Rocester only opened last year but it’s already causing quite a stir in Midlands golfing circles and beyond. Laid out by Robin Hiseman from European Golf Design, it’s a big budget affair that has taken quite a few people by surprise, especially our editor-in-chief, Keith Baxter, who played there a few weeks ago. “Rarely do I describe five holes in any review,” wrote Keith in his post last week, “but at JCB virtually every hole is worthy of narration… I have not seen a better set of green complexes on any English course built after the Second World War… JCB is a fabulous course that’s primed for the Top 100. Which 100? We’ll simply have to wait and see.” All should be revealed in the next few weeks during our current re-ranking process, so standby for further announcements on that front. Whittington Heath was directly in the path of the new HS2 (High Speed Two) rail link, consequently the club is in the middle of a construction program which is expected to complete in April 2020. The course is currently in flux, so it remains to be seen whether or not the refashioned layout when fully open will receive more or less affection than the original. Staffordshire Top 10 Golf Courses 2019 Warwickshire There’s little movement in our Top 15 for Warwickshire, where eight of the Top 10 courses stay in exactly the same position, including the No. 1 layout, the Brabazon at The Belfry. Scene of four epic Ryder Cups between 1985 and 2002, The Belfry is an astonishing success story for the PGA, and for Peter Alliss, in particular. In the late 1970s, he convinced the professional golfers’ governing body to take over a struggling hotel business in Sutton Coldfield then transform the property into its headquarters – and the PGA has never looked back since. The Belfry Brabazon course Dave Thomas, in conjunction with Peter Alliss, designed the Brabazon course and Thomas returned for a multi-million pound makeover twenty years later, ensuring there was a strong level of aquatic challenge, especially on the closing stretch of holes. As modern parkland courses go, this one is right up there with the best and recent reviews on this site have been generally positive, even though one or two peripheral issues have been mentioned in passing. Warwickshire Top 15 Golf Courses 2019 Worcestershire The course at Blackwell is still the No. 1 course in Worcestershire. The club dates back to 1893 but the layout is thirty years younger, having been designed by Herbert Fowler and Tom Simpson in 1923. Frank Pont was appointed a few years ago to breathe new life into the layout, mainly by removing trees that were restricting lines of play and restoring bunkers that had become rather neglected. Blackwell Golf Club Frank told us the in-house team under Course Manager Rhys Thomas is methodically working through a ten-year program that will ultimately see every hole undergo some form of upgrade. When everything’s been done, this classic old track will then be in its best shape ever – and in good time for the club to celebrate the centenary of its design. Worcestershire Top 10 Golf Courses 2019 The next English region to be reappraised is the North West and the three counties to come under scrutiny in that edition are Cheshire, Cumbria and Lancashire. Jim McCann Editor Top 100 Golf Courses
