We’re guessing most North American golfers don’t need much convincing about why a golf trip to England is worth it. You’re familiar with the great venues of the Open rota such as Royal St. George’s and Royal Liverpool, which are firmly in the top 100 of our World’s 100 Greatest Courses. Some of England’s best golf courses, though, might ones you don’t know much about. Visiting these layouts is worth the trip alone.

The strategic marvel that is Woking Golf Club, the work of two amateur Scottish architects, is still studied by veteran and aspiring golf architects alike. Anybody would marvel at Herbert Fowler’s tremendous routing of 36 holes at The Berkshire Golf Club, which includes some of the best par 3s in the United Kingdom (including six par 3s at the Red course). And Dr. Alister MacKenzie’s first design wasn’t in his native Scotland but at Alwoodley, which firmly makes our list of the Best in England. And though you might have Royal Birkdale on your bucket list, you might not be aware that many U.K. golfers consider its neighbor, Hillside Golf Club, just as much of a gem.

Whether you’re a budding student of golf course architecture or just a list chaser, you will appreciate this list of the best golf courses in England. Each of them are worth playing for their own reasons.

Editor’s Note: Our Best Courses in England ranking is part of our rollout of the Best Courses in Every Country. Check back over the next few weeks for more of our rankings of the best golf around the world.

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