Aldeburgh Golf Club: Championship Course Review, Green Fees, Tee Times and Key Info

The tough but very rewarding heathland-links hybrid at Aldeburgh Golf Club is moving with the times and has excellent views out over the River Alde estuary

Aldeburgh Golf Club - Aerial
The twelfth hole at Aldeburgh Golf Club with the peaceful coastline beyond
(Image credit: Aldeburgh Golf Club)

Top 100 Courses UK & Ireland 2023/24

(Image credit: Future)

Aldeburgh Golf Club - Key Information

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AddressSaxmundham Road, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, IP15 5PE
Phone01728 452890
Websitealdeburghgolfclub.co.uk
Email david.wybar@aldeburghgolfclub.co.uk
GFs£140 Sun-Fri, £165 peak season, £85/£70 winter
Visitor TimesWelcome subject to bookings, 2-balls only
ParMen 68, Women 74
SlopeWhite/M 126, Red/W 132
Opened1884
ArchitectJohn Thomson & Willie Fernie, Willie Park Jnr & JH Taylor, Harry Colt & Hugh Alison
Golf Monthly Verdict

Aldeburgh Golf Club - Hole 4

(Image credit: Aldeburgh Golf Club)

As easy as the walking may be, the golf is not! The course enjoys a very peaceful heathland setting and is packed with top-quality golf and charm. Keep the ball straight, and you can score well, but length is also required due to the many long par 4s. Exciting plans are in place with Martin Ebert to create a couple of new holes and change others.

Reasons To Play Aldeburgh

– Enjoy a beautifully peaceful course in a tranquil, rural setting

– Test every element of your long game

– Play two rounds… it’s a 2-ball course and you will get round in good time

Rankings

UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2023/24 - 80

Some years ago, any mention of Aldeburgh Golf Club and you would pretty much think immediately of gorse! Thankfully, much has been done in recent years with more in the offing to make this very strong course a little more golfer-friendly.

It is situated a mile or two inland from the Suffolk coast in an area of outstanding natural beauty and dates back to the 1880s. Several leading course architects have influenced the evolution of the design.

Willie Park Junior, JH Taylor and Harry Colt all made changes in the early part of the 20th century, while the next stage of its evolution, whatever that might entail, is being entrusted to the in-demand Martin Ebert.

For the time being, one very noticeable feature is the unusual absence of any par 5s. When you factor in that from the back tees there are no fewer than twelve par 4s in excess of 400 yards, then you know you are going to have to play extremely well to get close to handicap. 

The course runs over very gently-undulating gorse-lined fairways which are easy to walk but a lot more tricky to navigate. Happily, there is more room now though you still need to be in the right place in order to have the best lines into the greens. There’s still plenty of the vibrant yellow shrub with which to contend, but some of those more wayward shots are not immediately lost as they would have been before.

Of the four short holes, the one that rally stands out is the 4th due to its extremely long, sloping green and the very impressive U-shaped and sleepered bunker that protects the entrance and sides. Aldeburgh heads the list of the best golf courses in Suffolk, one of England’s larger counties geographically.

And while accuracy off the tee is still a prerequisite, the many long and testing two-shotters mean that distance is vital too. As mentioned, changes are afoot to make this fine course even better, perhaps also introducing a little more variety. It will be fascinating to see them take place.

Aldeburgh - Hole 2

The second hole almost returns you to the charming clubhouse

(Image credit: Aldeburgh Golf Club)

What The Top 100 Panel Said

Tim Gorman UK&I Top 100 panel
Tim Gorman

Even should you bring your A+ game to Aldeburgh, it’s highly unlikely it will be good enough to shoot 36 points. However, the litmus test is I would love to have a crack at it again!

James Holland UK&I Top 100 panel
James Holland

This certainly isn’t the place to come with the aim of beating your handicap. But if you have realistic expectations, it’s a lovely place to play golf. Go and enjoy your game, it’s a lovely course, but you might not want to keep score!

Aldeburgh Golf Club Location

Aldeburgh Green Fees

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Sun-Fri£140Apr-Sep
Sat£165Apr-Sep
Sun-Fri£105Oct & Mar
Sat£125Oct & Mar
Sun-Fri£70Nov-Feb
Sat£85Nov-Feb

Aldeburgh Golf Club Championship Course scorecard

Best Courses Near To Aldeburgh

IPSWICH

<a href="https://www.ipswichgolfclub.com" data-link-merchant="ipswichgolfclub.com"">IPSWICH

The prolific <a href="https://www.golfmonthly.com/features/the-game/what-courses-has-james-braid-designed-188002" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"" data-link-merchant="ipswichgolfclub.com"">James Braid designed this Next 100 course which is an excellent and hugely enjoyable heathland test featuring a number of very testing two-shotters. Relief comes courtesy of three relatively short par 4s, and the four par 3s are all very appealing.

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<a href="https://www.golfmonthly.com/courses/uk-and-ireland/woodbridge-golf-club-heath-course-review" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"">WOODBRIDGE

James Braid made significant changes at Woodbridge which has some terrific holes such as the lovely 2nd with an approach over a pond, the demanding 14th played to a two-tier well-protected green, and the glorious par-3 15th over a sea of heather to a target seemingly surrounded by sand.

Places To Stay Near Aldeburgh

The White Lion Hotel - Book now at Booking.com

The White Lion is a traditional hotel opposite Aldeburgh’s shingle beach, where wooden huts line the shore. Guests can enjoy fresh seafood,  and the privately owned hotel offers excellent service and menus with fresh Suffolk produce.

Wentworth Hotel - Book now at Booking.com

The family-run Wentworth Hotel features bright, traditional rooms with en suite facilities. Many rooms offer impressive sea views, and the restaurant has 2 AA Rosettes, and serves daily specials using fresh local produce.

Aldeburgh Course Gallery

Historical Top 100 Rankings UK&I

  • 2023/24 - 80
  • 2021/22 - 77
  • 2019/20 - 74
  • 2017/18 - 70
  • 2015/16 - 71
  • 2013/14 - 77
  • 2011/12 - 78
  • 2009/10 - 84

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Aldeburgh the best golf course in Suffolk?

Aldeburgh has been the highest-rated course in the county since the Golf Monthly rankings started 20 years ago. It is actually the only one in the Top 100, though both Ipswich and Royal Worlington & Newmarket are in the Next 100.

Why is Aldeburgh so tough?

This boils down to the difficulty of achieving par. With so many long par 4s, and with no three-shotters to offer some relief, it has a long-standing reputation for difficulty. Recent gorse clearance has eased things a little, while other changes are in the pipeline that may just make it a little less daunting.

Is Aldeburgh links or heathland?

The nearest point of the course - the 13th green - is over half a mile from the beach, and you barely get a glimpse of the sea. However, the club rightly describes the course on its website as ‘maritime heathland’ and it has many of the characteristics of links. As such, it is justifiably one of the best heathland courses in the UK, though you will probably get to experience some links golf too!

Rob Smith
Contributing Editor

Rob Smith has been playing golf for 45 years and been a contributing editor for Golf Monthly since 2012. He specialises in course reviews and travel, and has played more than 1,200 courses in almost 50 countries. In 2022, he played all 21 courses in East Lothian in 13 days. Last year, his tally was 81, 32 of them for the first time. One of Rob's primary roles is helping to prepare the Top 100 and Next 100 Courses of the UK&I, of which he has played all but seven and a half... i.e. not the new 9 at Carne! Of those missing, some are already booked for 2024. He is a member of Tandridge in Surrey where his handicap hovers around 16. You can contact him at r.smith896@btinternet.com.