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

The Championship Course at Burnham and Berrow Golf Club is characterised by a near-perfect quartet of short holes and a stretch of reed-lined holes adding real variety

Burnham and Berrow Golf Club
Looking down on the eighth green and the lovely par-3 ninth at the far end of the course
(Image credit: James Lovett)

Top 100 Courses UK & Ireland 2023/24

(Image credit: Future)

Burnham and Berrow Key Information

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Header Cell - Column 0 Header Cell - Column 1
AddressSt Christopher’s Way, Burnham on Sea, Somerset, TA8 2PE
Phone01278 785760
Websiteburnhamandberrowgolfclub.co.uk
Email manager@burnhamgolf.co.uk
GFs£130 Mon-Thu, £145 Fri, £155 weekend
Visitor TimesAny day subject to availability
ParFive tees - par ranges from 71 to 77
SlopeFrom 114 to 141
Opened1891
ArchitectHerbert Fowler, Harry Colt

Burnham and Berrow Golf Club Championship Course

Golf Monthly Verdict

Burnham and Berrow - Aeriel

(Image credit: James Lovett)

This superb and very spacious out-and-back links is packed with strong golf and includes a quite fabulous collection of par 3s. Depending on the wind, you may well need to make your score on the way out as the run for home can be very tough indeed. Regardless of how you score, you should still enjoy the views and admire the design quality all the way.

Reasons To Play Burnham and Berrow

– A beautiful and expansive links that has steadily improved in recent years

– Arguably as strong and attractive quartet of short holes as you will find at any links

– See if you can hit the final green in two!

Rankings

UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2023/24 - 27

Potentially overlooking Burnham and Berrow Golf Club, then when you think of golf and the west country, you may mentally head straight on towards the best golf courses in Devon and Cornwall. Happily, you don’t have to venture that far to enjoy our highest-ranked west country links. Founded in 1891, Burnham and Berrow in Somerset perhaps took longer to start shouting its own praises than some, but they are praises well worth shouting. JH Taylor was the club’s first professional, and this is a very fine, and at times, stunning links that plays over a beautifully rumpled and varied terrain. Precision and creativity are paramount, with the greens famously fast through the summer and blessed with some perplexing undulations and run-offs. It heads the list of the best golf courses in Somerset, while many believe that the accompanying 9-hole Channel Course is also worthy of inclusion.

Harry Colt was the creative genius behind much of the layout, working with Alister MacKenzie on the 10th and 11th, and there is now a new par-4 12th which has opened since the last rankings.

Great holes abound, starting early on at the 2nd which plays from a raised tee to a fairway that kinks gently both ways before reaching a long and narrow green. The par 3s are extremely strong, with the 5th having a deep central pot bunker set into its false front, and the 9th being a real picture with a necklace of bunkers and boasting a newish back tee. The 14th needs no sand and is played over a chasm to a shelf green, while the 17th is a daunting 200-yarder to a raised green with run-offs and bunkers left and right. It closes with a super-tough par 4 played round to the left and a green under the watchful eye of the clubhouse.

This is a links that requires precision and creativity throughout, and is rewarding all the way. Add in the excellent practice facilities, the Channel 9-holer and a well-priced dormy house, and the Burnham and Berrow experience is simply one of the best.

Burnham and Berrow - Hole 5 Sunset

Looking down on the par-3 fifth in the late afternon

(Image credit: James Lovett)

What The Top 100 Panel Said

Paula Crabtree UK&I Top 100 panel
Paula Crabtree

A traditional members’ club with a very good test of links golf - playable, but even a mild breeze causes you to assess the impact on most shots. I like the fact you can pretty much play Burnham and Berrow without a course planner - it is a tough but fair test of links golf.

Mark Rollins
Mark Rollins

Standing on the fourth tee, with the wind howling, looking across the manicured green undulations of the course out to the stormy sea beyond, I simply felt what a lucky man I was!

John Slater UK&I Top 100 panel
John Slater

Always a treat to come to Burnham and Berrow. Challenging without being daunting and welcoming to all. As testing a set of tee shots and greens as you’ll find anywhere, can’t wait to return.

Burnham and Berrow Golf Club Location

Burnham and Berrow Championship Course Green Fees

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18 holes£130 Mon-ThuRow 0 - Cell 2
18 holes£145 FriRow 1 - Cell 2
18 holes£155 WeekendRow 2 - Cell 2
27 holes£165 Mon-ThuRow 3 - Cell 2
27 holes£180 FriRow 4 - Cell 2
27 holes£190 WeekendRow 5 - Cell 2
36 holes£140 Mon-ThuRow 6 - Cell 2
36 holes£160 FriRow 7 - Cell 2
36 holes£170 WeekendRow 8 - Cell 2

Burnham and Berrow Championship Course Scorecard

Burnham and Berrow Scorecard

(Image credit: Burnham and Berrow Golf Club)

Best Courses Near To Burnham and Berrow

CELTIC MANOR

<a href="https://www.celtic-manor.com/golf" data-link-merchant="celtic-manor.com"" target="_blank">CELTIC MANOR

Sir Terry Matthews transformed an already substantial golf resort into the home of the 2010 Ryder Cup which the Europeans edged by 14½ to 13½. The 2010 Course mixes nine redesigned holes with nine new holes down in the river valley resulting in what is effectively a stadium course. Strong bunkering and water hazards abound, with plenty of drama all the way.

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

Enjoying an elevated position on the outskirts of the lovely, historic city, this charming downland course dates back to the 1880s. It was the beneficiary of a major <a href="https://www.golfmonthly.com/features/the-game/what-courses-has-harry-colt-designed-187263" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"">Harry Colt redesign in 1937, and little has been altered since. There are just three par 3s including the memorable quarry hole at the 14th.

Best Places To Stay Near To Burnham and Berrow

Burnham and Berrow Dormy House - Book now via the golf club
Perfectly situated right on site!

The Victoria Hotel - Book now via Booking.com
The Victoria is a traditional pub in the heart of the Burnham-on-Sea community. Just a stone's throw from the promenade, the Victoria is the place to be for live sport, a drink or a tasty meal or even to dance the night away!

Dunstan House - Book now via Booking.com
This charming pub offers comfortable guest rooms with free Wi-Fi and parking on site. There is a covered decking area, a peaceful garden, and delicious meals are served in the restaurant which boasts an extensive menu of traditional favourites, along with a range of real ales, lagers and wines.

Burnham and Berrow Championship Course Gallery

Historical Top 100 Rankings UK&I

  • 2023/24 - 27
  • 2021/22 - 28
  • 2019/20 - 30
  • 2017/18 - 31
  • 2015/16 - 33
  • 2013/14 - 37
  • 2011/12 - 42
  • 2009/10 - 47

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Burnham and Berrow?

Burnham and Berrow is on the Somerset coast overlooking the Bristol Channel and the South Wales coastline. The Championship Course is the only Top 100 course in the county.

What championships have been hosted at Burnham and Berrow?

Many very important events have been staged here including The Women’s Amateur, the Boys’ Amateur, the English Men's Amateur, the Brabazon Trophy, and both the Men's and Women’s Home Internationals.

What is the second course like at Burnham and Berrow?

The 9-hole Channel Course is delightful and is actually closer to the water than the Championship Course. There are two par 3s and a par 5, and it is more than worth the ¼-mile walk from the clubhouse.

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.