The Open Championship is guaranteed to inspire golfers to get out and experience links golf for themselves. Watching the world’s best tackle firm fairways, deep bunkers and unpredictable coastal conditions is a reminder of just how enjoyable this unique style of golf can be.
While the famous Open venues and Britain’s highest-ranked links courses rightly dominate bucket lists, they’re far from the only places to enjoy an unforgettable seaside golfing experience. Across Great Britain and Ireland are outstanding links layouts that offer wonderful design, spectacular scenery and exceptional golf, often without the premium price tag or difficulty of securing a tee time.
Last year, we highlighted 50 of the best links golf courses you haven’t heard of, showcasing some of the finest hidden gems around the coastline. This time, we’ve taken a slightly different approach, selecting 15 outstanding links courses that deserve a place on your next golf trip – whether they’re overshadowed by famous neighbours or simply offer a championship-style experience that’s accessible to more golfers.
Using Golfshake ratings and reviews, these are 15 links courses that prove you don’t have to play an Open venue to enjoy unforgettable links golf.
Whether you’re extending a trip to a famous championship venue or planning a dedicated links golf tour, each of these courses offers something special. Better still, many are located close to some of Britain’s and Ireland’s most iconic layouts, making them the perfect addition to your next golf trip.
Playing Royal Birkdale? Add West Lancashire to your itinerary.
Royal Birkdale may attract golfers from around the world, but just along the Sefton coastline sits one of England’s finest traditional links courses. West Lancashire has hosted Final Open Qualifying and offers everything you’d expect from championship links golf – fast-running fairways, revetted bunkers, excellent greens and the constant influence of the coastal breeze. Overshadowed by Royal Birkdale, Hillside and Formby, it’s a course that deserves far more recognition and is an ideal addition to any golf trip to England’s Golf Coast.
Nearest Championship Venue: Royal Birkdale
Golfshake Rating: 4.9/5
Condition: 4.9/5
Summer Price Range: £250-£295
Playing Royal Liverpool? Make time for Wallasey too.
Often overlooked in favour of nearby Hoylake, Wallasey is one of England’s most historic links courses and the birthplace of the Stableford scoring system. Designed by Tom Morris before later improvements by James Braid, it offers a traditional links test with subtle greens, strategic bunkering and plenty of character. It’s another excellent reason to extend a golfing trip to the north west and discover a course that’s long been appreciated by those in the know.
Nearest Championship Venue: Royal Liverpool
Golfshake Rating: 4.6/5
Condition: 4.6/5
Summer Price Range: £235-£255
Playing Royal Troon? Don’t miss Barassie.
Just a few miles south of Royal Troon lies Kilmarnock (Barassie), a superb championship links that regularly hosts Final Open Qualifying. While its famous neighbour attracts global attention, Barassie quietly delivers an outstanding links experience of its own, with excellent conditioning, challenging greens and wonderful views across the Ayrshire coastline. It’s a course that repeatedly exceeds expectations and deserves to feature on every golfer’s Scottish itinerary.
Nearest Championship Venue: Royal Troon
Golfshake Rating: 4.4/5
Condition: 4.3/5
Summer Price Range: £150
Heading to Ayrshire? Add West Kilbride to the schedule.
Ayrshire is packed with world-famous links courses, which perhaps explains why West Kilbride doesn’t always receive the attention it deserves. Set on the shores of the Firth of Clyde, it offers panoramic views, firm turf and a varied layout that rewards thoughtful shot-making. Friendly, welcoming and consistently well presented, it’s one of Scotland’s best-value links experiences.
Nearest Championship Venue: Royal Troon
Golfshake Rating: 4.5/5
Condition: 4.6/5
Summer Price Range: From £115
Visiting Turnberry? Continue south to Southerness.
Southerness sits in one of Scotland’s quieter golfing regions, but the quality of the golf is anything but understated. This championship links stretches along the Solway Firth and is exposed to the elements, providing a true test whenever the wind begins to blow. Wide fairways tempt aggressive play, while the natural terrain ensures every round feels slightly different. It’s one of Scotland’s most underrated links courses and a favourite among those who’ve discovered it.
Nearest Championship Venue: Turnberry
Golfshake Rating: 4.6/5
Condition: 4.8/5
Summer Price Range: £95-£115
Playing Carnoustie? Montrose deserves a place on your itinerary.
Carnoustie may dominate the headlines, but neighbouring Montrose is one of the oldest links courses in the world and remains one of Scotland’s purest seaside tests. The Medal Course combines classic out-and-back routing with firm fairways, natural dunes and greens that reward precision rather than power. Rich in history and full of character, it’s a course that quietly delivers championship-quality golf.
Nearest Championship Venue: Carnoustie
Golfshake Rating: 4.0/5
Condition: 4.3/5
Summer Price Range: £130-£200
Don’t stop at Carnoustie – Monifieth is just down the road.
Sharing the same stretch of Angus coastline, Monifieth has long lived in the shadow of Carnoustie despite offering an exceptional links challenge in its own right. Formerly an Open Qualifying venue, the Medal Course rewards accuracy from the tee and imaginative approach play into subtly contoured greens. It’s a traditional Scottish links that continues to impress golfers who venture beyond its famous neighbour.
Nearest Championship Venue: Carnoustie
Golfshake Rating: 4.2/5
Condition: 4.3/5
Summer Price Range: £160
Heading to Royal Dornoch? Moray Old is well worth the detour.
While Royal Dornoch rightly enjoys worldwide acclaim, Moray’s Old Course offers a superb Highland links experience that deserves to be discovered. Designed in part by Old Tom Morris, the course combines classic links characteristics with outstanding conditioning and spectacular views across the Moray Firth. Fast, firm and endlessly enjoyable, it’s a course that proves championship golf isn’t confined to the most famous names.
Nearest Championship Venue: Royal Dornoch
Golfshake Rating: 4.9/5
Condition: 4.1/5
Summer Price Range: £150
Playing Royal Dornoch? Experience one of Scotland’s most characterful links too.
Brora is unlike almost anywhere else in golf. Sheep roam the fairways, electric fences protect the greens and the natural landscape has changed remarkably little over the decades. Yet beneath its quirky charm lies a magnificent James Braid design that demands creativity, precision and an appreciation for traditional links golf. It’s an unforgettable golfing experience that perfectly captures the spirit of Scotland’s Highlands.
Nearest Championship Venue: Royal Dornoch
Golfshake Rating: 5.0/5
Condition: 4.4/5
Price Range: £120-£180
Travelling north to Cruden Bay or Royal Aberdeen? Fraserburgh won’t disappoint.
Founded in 1777, Fraserburgh is one of the oldest golf clubs in the world and remains wonderfully authentic. The Corbiehill course offers rolling fairways, natural dunes and rugged coastal scenery that combine to create a memorable links challenge. Often overlooked in favour of Scotland’s better-known north-east venues, it’s a rewarding stop for anyone exploring the region.
Nearest Championship Venue: Royal Aberdeen
Golfshake Rating: 4.6/5
Condition: 4.5/5
Summer Price Range: £150
Playing Royal Aberdeen? Venture a little further north.
Set among towering dunes overlooking the Ythan Estuary, Newburgh is one of Scotland’s most natural and unspoilt links courses. The dramatic landscape creates a memorable round, while the traditional layout asks plenty of strategic questions from tee to green. Less celebrated than nearby Royal Aberdeen or Cruden Bay, it’s nevertheless one of the country’s finest hidden seaside tests.
Nearest Championship Venue: Royal Aberdeen
Golfshake Rating: 4.5/5
Condition: 4.8/5
Summer Price Range: £85-£125
Crossing the border? Goswick is well worth the stop.
Situated on the spectacular Northumberland coastline, Goswick is one of England’s least-publicised championship links. A regular Final Open Qualifying venue, it combines expansive dunes, excellent greens and a peaceful setting that’s a world away from busier golfing destinations. For golfers travelling between England and Scotland, it’s an essential stop that more than lives up to its growing reputation.
Nearest Championship Venue: Muirfield
Golfshake Rating: 4.3/5
Condition: 4.4/5
Summer Price Range: £80-£120
Playing Royal Porthcawl? Make room for Pyle & Kenfig.
Just along the South Wales coastline, Pyle & Kenfig has quietly built a reputation as one of Britain’s finest links courses. Routed through impressive dunes with fast-running fairways and natural undulations, it offers an exhilarating test that’s every bit as enjoyable as many higher-profile layouts. Golfers often leave wondering why it isn’t talked about alongside its famous neighbour more often.
Nearest Championship Venue: Royal Porthcawl
Golfshake Rating: 4.4/5
Condition: 4.0/5
Summer Price Range: £110-£130
Heading to Royal Portrush? Extend the trip to Donegal.
Portsalon enjoys a spectacular setting overlooking Ballymastocker Bay and has steadily established itself as one of Ireland’s finest links experiences. Redesigned by Pat Ruddy, the course blends dramatic coastal scenery with strategic golf that rewards imagination as much as execution. It’s well worth the journey and perfectly complements any golfing adventure on Ireland’s north coast.
Nearest Championship Venue: Royal Portrush
Golfshake Rating: 4.4/5
Condition: 5.0/5
Summer Price Range: From €190
Playing England’s famous east coast links? Don’t overlook Seacroft.
Just a stone’s throw from the Lincolnshire coast, Seacroft is a classic links that has remained something of a hidden treasure despite its rich history. Designed by Willie Fernie, it features fast fairways, excellent greens and the distinctive tidal ditch that comes into play on several memorable holes. Full of charm and strategic interest, it’s one of England’s most enjoyable seaside courses and a worthy addition to any links golf tour.
Nearest Championship Venue: Hunstanton Golf Club
Golfshake Rating: 4.3/5
Condition: 4.2/5
Summer Price Range: £55-£90
The Open may only visit one venue each year, but exceptional links golf can be found all around the coastline of Great Britain and Ireland. These 15 courses show that you don’t need to tick off another bucket-list name to enjoy the firm turf, strategic golf and unforgettable scenery that make links golf so special.
If you’re looking for even more inspiration, be sure to read our feature on the 50 best links golf courses you haven’t heard of, where you’ll discover even more outstanding seaside layouts recommended by Golfshake members.