Value golf courses in GB&I: Central England

We've reviewed some excellent value golf courses in an effort to prove that the recession needn't mean you have to cut down on your golf. From Canterbury in the south east to Kirkistown Castle in Northern Ireland, take at look at these 50 value tracks.

Brampton Heath

GF: £20 STATS: par 72, sss 71, 6,566 yards T: 01604 843939 W: bramptonheathgolfcentre.co.uk

Opened in 1995, the main course at Brampton Heath is set on rolling heathland just to the north of Northampton. The layout has been constructed on free-draining soil and this means the course remains playable in good condition throughout the year.

Thorpe Wood

GF: £14.60 STATS: par 73, 7,086 yards T: 01733 267701 W: thorpewoodgolfcourse.co.uk

Just a mile from Peterborough city centre, Thorpe Wood golf course was designed by the respected duo of Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas. One of the key leisure projects connected to the expansion of Peterborough, it’s a pay-and-play facility offering high-quality golf at an extremely low price. The track can stretch to 7,086 yards off the backs. Rutland Water

GF: £18 STATS: par 72, sss 72, 6,816 yards T: 01572 737525 W: rutlandwatergolfcourse.co.uk

The Normanton Course at Rutland Water has quickly earned a reputation as a fine pay-and- play layout. Stretching to over 6,800 yards, it provides a suitable challenge for the low handicapper though the level of difficulty certainly doesn’t preclude enjoyment for more novice golfers.

Jeremy Ellwood
Contributing Editor

Jeremy Ellwood has worked in the golf industry since 1993 and for Golf Monthly since 2002 when he started out as equipment editor. He is now a freelance journalist writing mainly for Golf Monthly. He is an expert on the Rules of Golf having qualified through an R&A course to become a golf referee. He is a senior panelist for Golf Monthly's Top 100 UK & Ireland Course Rankings and has played all of the Top 100 plus 91 of the Next 100, making him well-qualified when it comes to assessing and comparing our premier golf courses. He has now played 1,000 golf courses worldwide in 35 countries, from the humblest of nine-holers in the Scottish Highlands to the very grandest of international golf resorts. He reached the 1,000 mark on his 60th birthday in October 2023 on Vale do Lobo's Ocean course. Put him on a links course anywhere and he will be blissfully content.

Jezz can be contacted via Twitter - @JezzEllwoodGolf


Jeremy is currently playing...

Driver: Ping G425 LST 10.5˚ (draw setting), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange 55 S shaft

3 wood: Ping G425 Max 15˚ (set to flat +1), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange 65 S shaft

Hybrid: Ping G425 17˚, Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Orange 80 S shaft

Irons 3-PW: Ping i525, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts

Wedges: Ping Glide 4.0 50˚ and 54˚, 12˚ bounce, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts

Putter: Ping Fetch 2021 model, 33in shaft (set flat 2)

Ball: Varies but mostly now TaylorMade Tour Response