Value golf courses in GB&I: South West 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.

Naunton Downs

GF: From £20 STATS: par 71, sss 69, 6,135 yards T: 01451 850092 W: nauntondowns.co.uk

With beautiful views over the Cotswold countryside, Naunton Downs is a scenic setting for golf. Moving over undulating terrain, past mature trees and shrubs, the course was designed with a view to it blending into the natural surroundings. The attractive stone clubhouse deserves a special mention. It has a great traditional feel and is an excellent place to enjoy a post-round debrief.

Ilfracombe

GF: £27.50 STATS: par 69, sss 68, 5,795 yards T: 01271 862176 W: ilfracombegolfclub.com

Golf had been played in this part of North Devon for a couple of years before Ilfracombe Golf Club came into being in 1892. From its lofty perch the course offers spectacular views across the Bristol Channel and on into Wales. It may not be overly long, but when the prevailing south-westerly is in town you’ll need to have your full golfing wits about you to plot your way successfully around. Great fun and a very pleasant place to play.

Newquay

GF: £30 STATS: par 69, sss 69, 6,141 yards T: 01637 874354 W: newquaygolfclub.co.uk

The revered Harry Colt laid out the course at Newquay on an essentially rectangular piece of linksland sloping gently towards the Atlantic. Step onto the 1st tee and the whole course seems to spread out invitingly in front of you. But, as ever, it’s not as easy as it may look and with holes constantly changing direction, any sort of a breeze makes things interesting. Wonderful views from every hole. Marlborough

GF: £30 STATS: par 72, sss 71, 6,409 yards T: 01672 512493 W: marlboroughgolfclub.co.uk

Marlborough was founded in 1888 and boasts two distinct nines – the front is largely tree-lined, the back has more of a downland feel. When the club extended to 18 holes in 1920, Tom Simpson and Herbert Fowler of Sunningdale and Walton Heath fame respectively, crafted the new nine, eight of which are essentially still in play today. The course lost ten years to the war effort from 1940 to 1950, and has hosted the Wiltshire Professional Championships since 1992. The slightly futuristic clubhouse with wonderfully commanding views was opened to coincide with the club’s centenary in 1988.

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