Golf in England

Being so closely tied to Scotland, where golf was created, England has a long history with the sport. First played in the 1400s, the popularity of the sport quickly spread throughout 16th century Europe and King Charles I brought the game to England. The first golf club formed outside Scotland was the Royal Blackheath, near London, in 1766.

The arrival of railways allowed ordinary people to explore outside of their towns and cities for the first time, and as a consequence courses began to appear throughout the countryside. Clubs and balls became cheaper to produce, making the game affordable. The forerunner to the British Open was played at the Prestwick Golf Club in 1860.

The English Golf Union was founded in 1924 and is based at the National Golf Centre in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire. The English Women's Golf Association was founded in 1952 as an offshoot of the Ladies Golf Union (LGU), and the two organisations merged in 2011. England has had a wealth of great golfers in recent decades, including Nick Faldo, Lee Westwood and Justin Rose.

If you are eager to explore the best courses during your visit to England, contact us today. We recommend putting Royal St Georges, a links course in Kent, at the top your list. Regularly featuring among the top courses in the country, it hosted The Open Championship in 2021.

The Belfry near Birmingham is also a must, as it has hosted the Ryder Cup four times – more than any other venue in the world. The North West is definitely worth spending some time in, as you're got stunning courses at Royal Lytham & St Annes, Royal Birkdale and Royal Liverpool.

Closer to London you can play a round at some fine courses such as the Old Courses at Sunningdale and Walton Heath.

Whether you want to create a trip to England focused on golf, or want to integrate rounds on some great courses into a broader itinerary, we can help you plan the perfect tour, so get in touch with our travel advisors today.