
Top 10 Golf Courses in Nottinghamshire 2015
Nottinghamshire Best In County rankings updated
Nottinghamshire is inextricably linked to the 15th century tale of Robin Hood and his Merry Men who lived in Sherwood Forest. Organised golf in the county is not quite as old, dating back to the late 19th century when the Nottinghamshire Union of Golf Clubs was formed.

Notts Golf Club, or Hollinwell as it is so called because there is a holy well located amongst the trees close to the 8th fairway, is one of the countyβs oldest clubs. Willie Park Jnr originally designed this unique golf course which not only heads our Nottinghamshire Best In County table, but also occupies a lofty position within our Britain & Ireland rankings.
If you think Nottinghamshire is all about one course, then think again. This county has serious strength. Although Notts is our undisputed No.1, Sherwood Forest Golf Club is not that far behind.
We received a very good response to our Nottinghamshire survey and Coxmoor retains 3rd position, followed very closely by Worksop, which as everyone knows is Lee Westwoodβs home club. Lee kindly wrote the foreword for our first book and commented: βI still get a thrill each time I tee it up on the 1st at some of our lesser-known courses as well as our championship venues, but my golfing heart lies at Worksop, a hidden gem if ever there was one.β

Woollaton Park remains in 5th place, so you will now realise that there are no changes within our Nottinghamshire Top 5. From position 6 onwards, however, itβs all rather different.
We welcome two new entries that make their debut within our rankings. Beeston Fields, formerly the home of Sir Harold Bowden, founder of the Raleigh Bicycle Company, enters at number 8, and Radcliffe-on-Trent Golf Club, which started a Junior Open in 1982 that later became the English Boys Under 16 Open Championship, is straight in at No.10. Unfortunately, Ruddington Grange and the Masters course at the Nottinghamshire Golf and Country Club drop out of our latest Nottinghamshire Top 10.
To see our new 2015 Nottinghamshire Top 10, click the link. If you have played golf extensively across any English county and would like to have your say, please contact me (keith@top100golfcourses.com). In the meanwhile a big thank you to everyone who contributed to our Nottinghamshire Best In County ranking process.
Keith Baxter
Editor-in-Chief
Top 100 Golf Courses

Woburn Golf Club is the only club in England with all three of its courses continuously ranked in the Top 100, and all three sit within 15 minutes of Milton Keynes town centre. For any golfer visiting the area, whether for business or leisure, that is an offer that simply does not exist anywhere else in England. β³οΈ Top 3 Golf Courses in Milton Keynes π₯ Best Golf Course in Milton Keynes β Woburn Golf Club (Marquess) #59 England Β· #1 Buckinghamshire Access: Visitors Welcome β Weekdays Only Best Time to Visit: AprβOct Distance from City Centre: 15 min Set within 200 acres of majestic mature woodland on the Woburn Abbey estate, the Marquess opened in 2000 as the youngest and most expansive of Woburn's three courses. Fairways are wider and more undulating than its siblings, featuring oak, yew, chestnut, rowan and beech rather than dense pine, measuring well over 7,000 yards from the back tees. It has hosted the British Masters four times and the Women's British Open twice, cementing its place as the standout course of one of England's finest golfing venues. π₯ Golf Course in Milton Keynes β Woburn Golf Club (Duke's) #73 England Β· #2 Buckinghamshire Access: Visitors Welcome β Weekdays Only Best Time to Visit: AprβOct Distance from City Centre: 15 min The original Woburn course, opened in 1976, is classical rather than modern in its design. Subtle dog-legs and holes played in magnificent isolation from one another define the layout, with the famous downhill par-three 3rd standing out as one of the most memorable short holes in English parkland golf. It has hosted the Dunlop Masters, the British Masters and the Women's British Open. A must-play. π₯ #3 Golf Course in Milton Keynes β Woburn Golf Club (Duchess) #100 England Β· #3 Buckinghamshire Access: Visitors Welcome β Weekdays Only Best Time to Visit: AprβOct Distance from City Centre: 15 min The tightest and most intimate of the three Woburn courses, opened in 1979. At 6,651 yards it is the shortest of the three, but towering pine trees make every hole appear exceptionally narrow. Use your driver sparingly on a course where keeping the ball in play is everything, and one many members quietly regard as their personal favourite. π Can't Play the Top 3? Best Alternative Golf Courses Near Milton Keynes Northamptonshire County Golf Club #96 England Β· #1 Northamptonshire Access: Contact Club Prior to Visit Best Time to Visit: Year-round Distance from City Centre: 45 min Designed by Harry Colt in 1909 on the borders of the Althorp Estate in Church Brampton, this is a traditional layout that carries a distinctive heathland feel despite its parkland setting. Donald Steel described it as offering a test of inland golf that, of its type, is as good as any. Exceptionally well-drained and playable year-round, it is a genuine hidden gem within easy reach of Milton Keynes. Aspley Guise & Woburn Sands Golf Club #2 Bedfordshire Access: Contact Club Prior to Visit Best Time to Visit: Year-round Distance from City Centre: 10 min Sandy Herd's 1914 parkland design sits just ten minutes from Milton Keynes town centre, making it the most accessible alternative when Woburn is unavailable. Extended from nine to eighteen holes in the 1970s, it is a mature and well-regarded layout that hosted the 2009 County Championships and drains well throughout the year. π More Golf Courses Near Milton Keynes Milton Keynes borders three counties, giving travelling golfers a wide choice of verified courses within 60 minutes of the town centre. In Buckinghamshire: Bedfordshire Golf Club, Buckinghamshire Golf Club. In Bedfordshire: Bedford & County Golf Club, Millbrook Golf Club, South Beds Golf Club. In Northamptonshire, north and east of Milton Keynes: Brampton Heath Golf Centre, Collingtree Park Golf Club, Kettering Golf Club, Kingsthorpe Golf Club, Northampton Golf Club, Staverton Park Hotel & Golf Club, Wellingborough Golf Club and Whittlebury Park. Full rankings and reviews for all courses are available at top100golfcourses.com. β Frequently Asked Questions β Golf in Milton Keynes How many Top 100-ranked golf courses are near Milton Keynes? Three β all at Woburn Golf Club. The Marquess (#59 England), Duke's (#73 England) and Duchess (#100 England) are each independently ranked and all sit within 15 minutes of Milton Keynes town centre. Is Woburn Golf Club open to visitors? Yes, but on weekdays only. All three courses welcome visiting golfers from Monday to Friday throughout the year. Advance booking is required and a handicap certificate is recommended. Woburn is closed to visitors at weekends. What is the best golf course in Milton Keynes? The Marquess at Woburn Golf Club is ranked #59 in England and #1 in Buckinghamshire, making it the highest-ranked course within reach of Milton Keynes. It is the recommended first choice for any travelling golfer visiting the area. βοΈ Getting to Milton Keynes for Golf Milton Keynes Central station sits on the West Coast Main Line with direct services into London Euston from 32 minutes. London Luton Airport (LTN) is the nearest airport at 40km (25 miles) from Milton Keynes town centre, approximately 35 minutes by car to Woburn. London Heathrow (LHR) offers the widest international connections at 70km (43 miles) from Milton Keynes town centre, around 55 minutes by car to Woburn. Car rental is available at both airports and is strongly recommended for reaching Woburn, Northamptonshire County and the wider area. π€οΈ Best Time to Play Golf in Milton Keynes May through September offers the most reliable playing conditions, with temperatures ranging from 15Β°C (59Β°F) to 22Β°C (72Β°F) and monthly rainfall averaging 50β60mm (2β2.4in). October brings superb autumn colour through Woburn's pine and beech woodland. Northamptonshire County and Aspley Guise drain exceptionally well and are playable through winter. The Woburn courses play best from April onwards. Plan Your Milton Keynes Golf Trip Full rankings, reviews and course details for every course listed on this page are available at top100golfcourses.com.

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 β Birmingham, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire β 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 β 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. π Herefordshire β 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. π Shropshire β 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. π Staffordshire β 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 β 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. π Warwickshire β 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 β 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. π Worcestershire β 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: 2017β2023 2017 β 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 β 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 β 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 β 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

Yorkshire has long been one of England's most rewarding golf destinations. From the heathland giants of the north to the moorland courses above Bradford and Halifax, the White Rose County offers a breadth and quality that few English counties can match. The 2026 rankings confirm both the enduring strength at the very top of the table and a series of compelling movements in the middle order that reflect how well several clubs have been developing their courses in recent years. With 45 courses now ranked, panellists have assessed layouts across all four corners of Yorkshire - North, West, South and East - rewarding courses that deliver genuine challenge, architectural integrity and a memorable experience for visiting golfers. 2026 Updated Rankings: Yorkshire's Top 15 The top four positions in the 2026 rankings are unchanged, a testament to the enduring quality of Ganton, Alwoodley, Moortown and Lindrick. Below that settled elite, however, the rankings tell a more interesting story, with Hallamshire making a strong move into the top five and Cleveland Golf Club posting the most impressive climb in the entire list. To view the complete Yorkshire rankings and explore individual course profiles, visit the Yorkshire Rankings page. 2026 Top 15 At A Glance The Unchanged Elite Ganton Golf Club retains its position as Yorkshire No.1 for the fourth successive ranking cycle, and it is difficult to imagine that changing any time soon. This extraordinary inland links near Scarborough has hosted Walker Cup, Curtis Cup and Ryder Cup matches and remains one of the finest inland tests in the British Isles. Its fearsome bunkering is the stuff of legend. Alwoodley Golf Club and Moortown Golf Club hold firm at two and three, both occupying their now-familiar positions in the West Yorkshire heartland north of Leeds. Alwoodley's MacKenzie-designed layout remains among the most beautifully understated heathland courses in England, while Moortown β which hosted the first Ryder Cup on home soil in 1929 β continues to develop with considered restoration. Lindrick Golf Club remains fourth, its place among Yorkshire's elite secured by a combination of Ryder Cup heritage and continued course development The Rising Stars Hallamshire Golf Club is the standout performer in the upper half of the table, climbing two places to fifth. Harry Colt's 1938 redesign of this Sheffield heathland layout produced something quietly special. Cleveland Golf Club is the biggest mover in the entire Top 15. Yorkshire's oldest golf club, founded in 1887 at Redcar on the North Sea coast, Cleveland offers a links experience unlike anything else in the county. Its steady upward trajectory over successive rankings reflects a course that has been consistently well presented and increasingly appreciated by travelling golfers. Halifax is perched on the hillsides above the Calder Valley. Halifax's moorland layout delivers spectacular views and a genuine challenge that the panel has now recognised with a well-deserved rise into the Top 15. Headingley moves up one place to eleventh, a modest but consistent improvement for a club with deep architectural credentials β Alister MacKenzie remodelled the layout after the club moved to its current site in 1906, with Harry Colt later redesigning the bunkers. Best Yorkshire Golf Courses by Region West Yorkshire dominates the Top 15 with eight of the fifteen ranked courses drawn from the county's most populous region. The concentration of quality around Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield reflects both the density of clubs in this area and the strong heritage of moorland and heathland golf that developed here from the late Victorian era onwards. Alwoodley, Moortown, Sand Moor, Huddersfield, Headingley, Halifax, Ilkley and Woodsome Hall all represent the West Yorkshire tradition at its finest. North Yorkshire contributes five courses β Ganton, Fulford, Cleveland, Pannal and York β spread across a large geographic area that takes in the coast, the Vale of York and the slopes of the North York Moors. This regional spread makes North Yorkshire one of the most rewarding areas in the county for a multi-course trip, with Ganton at the top of the rankings serving as the obvious anchor for any visit. South Yorkshire accounts for two of the Top 15, with Lindrick and Hallamshire representing the Sheffield region. Both courses carry significant historical weight β Lindrick's Ryder Cup pedigree and Hallamshire's Colt heritage β and both sit comfortably in the top five of the overall rankings. What the Updated Rankings Tell Us Stability at the Top Signals Enduring Quality The fact that positions one through four are completely unchanged reinforces the message that Yorkshire's leading courses are in exceptional shape. Ganton, Alwoodley, Moortown and Lindrick are not simply coasting on historical reputations β they are courses that continue to deliver outstanding experiences. When a panel of experienced golfers independently assesses courses and returns the same top four, that unanimity is meaningful. Golden Age Architecture Remains the Benchmark The top ten is defined almost entirely by courses shaped by the great Golden Age designers. MacKenzie's fingerprints are visible at Alwoodley, Moortown, Headingley and Fulford. Colt's influence defines Hallamshire. Braid, MacKenzie and Simpson all contributed to Ganton. The rankings reaffirm that design quality, not reputation or heritage alone, sits at the heart of the panel's thinking. Cleveland's Rise Highlights Coastal Yorkshire Yorkshire's links golf is less celebrated than its moorland and heathland courses, yet Cleveland offers an experience that is genuinely different from anything else in the county. Its ascent invites golfers who might not have considered a trip to Redcar to reconsider. Combined with the wider North Yorkshire coast, a visit to Cleveland could anchor a genuine links-focused itinerary. Halifax Opens Up the Pennine Hills Halifax's rise is encouraging. Moorland golf in the West Riding has always attracted those who know where to look, but Halifax's promotion to the Top 15 now ensures it will appear on the radar of a wider travelling audience. The moorland loops above the Calder Valley deserve greater attention than they have historically received, and this ranking movement should help deliver it. Planning Your Yorkshire Golf Trip Yorkshire offers enough quality across a compact enough geography to reward a dedicated golf trip of three to five days. The obvious anchor is Ganton, which sits near Scarborough and provides a logical base for exploring the North Yorkshire coast and vale. A West Yorkshire itinerary built around Leeds makes excellent sense for golfers wanting to experience the MacKenzie and Colt heritage in concentrated form. Alwoodley, Moortown, Sand Moor and Headingley all sit within a short drive of the city centre, with Pannal just to the south near Harrogate adding a moorland dimension. This cluster of courses represents one of the finest urban golf destinations in England β a point that is often underappreciated by those who have not played the area. For something different, the Pennine routes through West Yorkshire open up Halifax, Huddersfield, Ilkley and Woodsome Hall β four courses that deliver spectacular moorland and parkland golf in some of the most dramatic landscapes in northern England. Golfers with time to explore further afield should not overlook Cleveland at Redcar, which now sits eighth in the county rankings and offers the only genuine links experience among Yorkshire's elite courses. Combined with a visit to Ganton, an east-coast loop through North Yorkshire has real appeal for those chasing variety. South Yorkshire is worth a dedicated visit for Lindrick and Hallamshire alone. Lindrick near Worksop and Hallamshire above Sheffield are different experiences β one a classic heathland course at the county boundary, the other a Colt moorland layout on Sheffield's western edge. Looking Ahead With Halifax and Cleveland both on upward trajectories and Headingley continuing its steady climb, the next Yorkshire ranking cycle has the potential for further movement in the middle order. The question of whether any course can close the gap on Ganton at the top remains rhetorical for the time being. The depth of quality between positions five and fifteen suggests the competition for ranking places is as strong as it has ever been and represents an under-appreciated destination for travelling golfers. To view the complete Yorkshire rankings and explore individual course profiles, visit the Yorkshire Rankings page.