2026
Top 100 UK & Ireland Courses
Photo: Gary Lisbon
The UK & Ireland Top 100 celebrates the birthplace of golf. Historic venues such as the Old Course at St Andrews, Royal Portrush, Royal County Down, Carnoustie, and Muirfield anchor a ranking steeped in tradition and links heritage.
The best golf course in the UK and Ireland
The best golf course in the UK and Ireland, according to TheGrint's 2026 Top 100 UK & Ireland Courses, is Trump Turnberry: Ailsa in Ayrshire, Scotland, followed by Dunluce Links and Royal County Down Golf Club: Championship Links. The list is ranked by golfers who played the courses, from millions of real reviews and head-to-head rankings, not by a panel.
1Trump Turnberry: Ailsa
Ayrshire, Scotland
18 holesPar 71Semi-PrivatePlays harder than 98% of rated courses
2Dunluce Links
Royal Portrush Golf Club
Portrush, Northern Ireland
18 holesPar 72PrivatePlays harder than 82% of rated courses
3Royal County Down Golf Club: Championship Links
Newcastle, Ireland
18 holesPar 71Semi-PrivatePlays harder than 99% of rated courses
- 4
St. Andrews Links: Old Course
St. Andrews, Scotland
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 86% of courses - 5
Old Head Golf Links
County Cork, Ireland
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 98% of courses - 6
Kingsbarns Golf Links
St Andrews, Scotland
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 91% of courses - 7
The Golf Club at Adare Manor
Adare, Ireland
18 holesPar 72PrivateHarder than 96% of courses - 8
Trump International Golf Links
Aberdeen, Scotland
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 99% of courses - 9
Muirfield Golf Course
Gullane, Scotland
18 holesPar 71PublicHarder than 95% of courses - 11
Tralee Golf Club
Kerry, Ireland
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 96% of courses - 12
Royal Birkdale Golf Club
Southport, England
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 98% of courses - 13
Trump International Golf Links Doonbeg
Doonbeg, Ireland
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 93% of courses - 14
Royal Dornoch: Championship
Dornoch, Scotland
18 holesPar 70Semi-PrivateHarder than 86% of courses - 15
Gleneagles Golf Club: King's
Auchterarder, Scotland
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 70Semi-PrivateHarder than 66% of courses - 16
Ballybunion Golf Club: Old Course
County Kerry, Ireland
18 holesPar 71PrivateHarder than 96% of courses - 17
Portmarnock Golf Club: Red/Blue
Dublin, Ireland
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 72PrivateHarder than 97% of courses - 18
North Berwick Golf Club
North Berwick, Scotland
18 holesPar 71Semi-PrivateHarder than 69% of courses - 19
Lahinch Golf Club: Old Course
County Clare, Ireland
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 90% of courses - 20
Royal Troon: Old Course
Troon, Scotland
18 holesPar 71PrivateHarder than 99% of courses - 21
Dumbarnie Links Golf Course
Leven, Scotland
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 79% of courses - 22
Royal Liverpool Golf Club
Wirral, England
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 72PrivateHarder than 99% of courses - 23
Waterville Golf Club
Kerry, Ireland
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 99% of courses - 24
Sunningdale Golf Club: Old
Berkshire, England
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 70Semi-PrivateHarder than 79% of courses - 25
Castle Stuart Golf Links
Inverness, Scotland
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 70% of courses - 26
Druids Glen Golf Course
Wicklow, Ireland
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 72% of courses - 27
The Island Golf Club
Malahide, Ireland
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 85% of courses - 28
Royal Porthcawl Golf Club
Porthcawl, Wales
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 89% of courses - 29
Sunningdale Golf Club: New
Berkshire, England
18 holesPar 70Semi-PrivateHarder than 79% of courses - 30
Gullane Golf Club: No.1
Gullane, Scotland
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 71PrivateHarder than 72% of courses - 31
The Nairn Golf Club: Championship
Nairn, Scotland
18 holesPar 71PrivateHarder than 70% of courses - 32
Loch Lomond Golf Club
Alexandria, Scotland
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 72PrivateHarder than 57% of courses - 33
The European Club
Wicklow, Ireland
18 holesPar 71Semi-PrivateHarder than 98% of courses - 34
Glashedy Links
Ballyliffin Golf Club
Donegal, Ireland
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 72PrivateHarder than 87% of courses - 35
Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club: Championship Course
Lancashire, England
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 71PublicHarder than 89% of courses - 36
Balgownie Links
Royal Aberdeen
Aberdeen, Scotland
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 71PrivateHarder than 97% of courses - 37
Castle Course
St. Andrews Links
St. Andrews, Scotland
18 holesPar 71Semi-PrivateHarder than 94% of courses - 38
Wentworth Golf Club: Edinburgh
Virginia Water, England
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 91% of courses - 39
Western Gailes Golf Club
Irvine, Scotland
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 71Semi-PrivateHarder than 88% of courses - 40
Cruden Bay Golf Course: Championship
Peterhead, Scotland
18 holesPar 70PrivateHarder than 51% of courses - 41
St George's Hill Golf Club: Red/Blue
Surrey, England
18 holesPar 70Semi-PrivateHarder than 48% of courses - 42
Prestwick Golf Club
Prestwick, Scotland
18 holesPar 71Semi-PrivateHarder than 90% of courses - 43
Trump Turnberry: King Robert The Bruce
Ayrshire, Scotland
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 92% of courses - 44
Swinley Forest Golf Club
Ascot, England
18 holesPar 69PrivateHarder than 47% of courses - 45
Connemara Championship Golf Links: Championship Course
Galway, Ireland
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 94% of courses - 46
Silloth On Solway Golf Club
Wigton, England
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 91% of courses - 47
The Grove Golf Club
Rickmansworth, England
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 69% of courses - 49
Gullane Golf Club: No.2
Gullane, Scotland
18 holesPar 71PrivateHarder than 34% of courses - 50
The Royal St Georges Golf Club
Kent, England
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 70Semi-PrivateHarder than 98% of courses - 51
Archerfield: Fidra
North Berwick, Scotland
18 holesPar 72PrivateHarder than 67% of courses - 52
St Patricks Links
Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Resort
County Donegal, Ireland
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 71PublicHarder than 59% of courses - 53
Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club
Kent, England
18 holesPar 72PrivateHarder than 99% of courses - 54
Formby Golf Club
Liverpool, England
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 94% of courses - 55
Crail Golfing Society
Anstruther, Scotland
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 60% of courses - 56
The Golf House Club, Elie
Fife, Scotland
18 holesPar 70PrivateHarder than 32% of courses - 57
Wentworth Golf Club: West
Virginia Water, England
18 holesPar 73Semi-PrivateHarder than 93% of courses - 58
Balcomie Links-White Tees
Crail Golfing Society
Anstruther, Scotland
18 holesPar 69PublicHarder than 35% of courses - 59
Portstewart Golf Club: The Strand
Portstewart, Northern Ireland
18 holesPar 71Semi-PrivateHarder than 57% of courses - 60
Walton Heath Artisans Golf Club: Old
Tadworth, England
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 80% of courses - 61
St. Andrews Links: New Course
St. Andrews, Scotland
18 holesPar 71Semi-PrivateHarder than 45% of courses - 62
Dromoland Castle Golf Club
County Clare, Ireland
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 70% of courses - 63
Mount Juliet Golf Club
Thomastown, Co Kikenny, Ireland
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 99% of courses - 64
Panmure Golf Club
Carnoustie, Scotland
18 holesPar 70Semi-PrivateHarder than 92% of courses - 65
Rye Golf Club: The Old
Sussex, England
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 68PrivateHarder than 36% of courses - 66
Close House Golf Club: Colt
Newcastle, England
18 holesPar 71Semi-PrivateHarder than 98% of courses - 67
Machrihanish Golf Club: Championship
Argyll, Scotland
18 holesPar 70PublicHarder than 73% of courses - 68
The PGA National
The Belfry Golf Club
Sutton Coldfield, England
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 84% of courses - 69
Galway Bay Golf Resort
Galway, Ireland
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 84% of courses - 70
The Berkshire Golf Club: The Red
Ascot, England
18 holesPar 72PrivateHarder than 28% of courses - 71
O'Meara Course
Carton House Golf Club
Maynooth, Ireland
18 holesPar 73PrivateHarder than 86% of courses - 72
Dundonald Links
Ayrshire, Scotland
18 holesPar 72PrivateHarder than 99% of courses - 73
Ardglass Golf Club
Downpatrick, England
18 holesPar 71PublicHarder than 35% of courses - 74
Killeen Castle Golf Club
Clavinstown, Ireland
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 93% of courses - 75
Marquess Course
Woburn Golf Club
Milton Keynes, England
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 96% of courses - 76
Jubilee Course
St. Andrews Links
St. Andrews, Scotland
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 73% of courses - 77
Brora Golf Club
Brora, Scotland
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 70Semi-PrivateHarder than 21% of courses - 78
London Golf Club: The Heritage
Brands Hatch, England
18 holesPar 72PrivateHarder than 96% of courses - 79
Dooks Golf Club
Kerry, Ireland
18 holesPar 71PublicHarder than 97% of courses - 80
Woodhall Spa Golf Club: Hotchkin
Woodhall Spa, England
18 holesPar 73Semi-PrivateHarder than 97% of courses - 81
Portmarnock Resort & Jameson Golf Links
Portmarnock, Ireland
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 87% of courses - 82
Royal Dublin Golf Club
Dollymount, Ireland
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 93% of courses - 83
Gleneagles Golf Club: PGA Centenary
Auchterarder, Scotland
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 98% of courses - 84
County Sligo Golf Club: Championship
Sligo, Ireland
18 holesPar 71PublicHarder than 91% of courses - 85
Wallasey Golf Club
Wallasey, England
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 93% of courses - 86
Glen Golf Club
North Berwick, Scotland
18 holesPar 70Semi-PrivateHarder than 31% of courses - 87
Worplesdon Golf Club
Woking, England
18 holesPar 71Semi-PrivateHarder than 48% of courses - 88
Luttrellstown Castle Golf & Country Club
Dublin, Ireland
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 96% of courses - 89
St. Mellion International Resort: Nicklaus
Cornwall, England
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 99% of courses - 90
Ingrebourne Links Golf & Country Club: North/East
Rainham, England
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 72% of courses - 91
Montgomerie Course
Carton House Golf Club
Maynooth, Ireland
18 holesPar 72PrivateHarder than 92% of courses - 92
Killarney Golf & Fishing Club: Killeen
Kerry, Ireland
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 98% of courses - 93
St. Enodoc Golf Club: Church
Cornwall, England
18 holesPar 69PrivateHarder than 74% of courses - 94
The K Club: Palmer North
Kildare, Ireland
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 98% of courses - 95
Wynyard Golf Club
Teesside, England
18 holesPar 72PrivateHarder than 78% of courses - 96
Enniscrone Golf Club: The Dunes
Enniscrone, Ireland
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 73PublicHarder than 80% of courses - 97
Queen's White - Yellow Tees
Gleneagles Golf Club
Auchterarder, Scotland
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 68Semi-PrivateHarder than 23% of courses - 98
Kilspindie Golf Club
Longniddry, Scotland
Photo: Gary Lisbon
18 holesPar 69Semi-PrivateHarder than 11% of courses - 99
Trevose Golf & Country Club: Championship Course
Padstow, England
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 46% of courses - 100
Queenwood Golf Club
Ottershaw, England
18 holesPar 72PrivateHarder than 96% of courses
Where they are
Scotland has the most courses on the list (35), followed by England (31) and Ireland (29).
Each country links to every golf course we list there, not only the ranked ones.
About the Top 100 UK & Ireland Courses
What is the best golf course in the UK and Ireland?
According to TheGrint's 2026 Top 100 UK & Ireland Courses, the best golf course in the UK and Ireland is Trump Turnberry: Ailsa in Ayrshire, Scotland, followed by Dunluce Links and Royal County Down Golf Club: Championship Links.
Which country has the most courses on TheGrint's Top 100 UK & Ireland Courses?
Scotland, with 35 of the courses, followed by England (31) and Ireland (29).
How is TheGrint's Top 100 UK & Ireland Courses ranked?
By golfers who played the courses: each golfer ranks the courses they have played against one another, and golfers who have played more, and better, courses carry more weight. It is built from tens of millions of real reviews and ranking lists, not a panel.
How often is the Top 100 UK & Ireland Courses updated?
It is published as an annual edition. The current edition is 2026.
Playing Top 100 UK & Ireland Courses?
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