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Golfweek's Best 2025: The top 50 classic courses in Great Britain and Ireland

Golfweek

Jan. 10, 2025Updated Nov. 17, 2025, 12:50 p.m. ET

Welcome to Golfweek's Best 2025 ranking of the Top 50 Classic Courses in Great Britain and Ireland – built before 1960 – as determined by the Golfweek's Best raters. For those looking for the GB&I modern courses, click here.

How we rate courses

The members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them based on our 10 criteria. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings on each course are averaged to produce a final rating for each course. Then each layout is ranked against others in Great Britain and Ireland to produce the final rankings.

Listed with each course below is its average ranking, location, designers and year opened.

*New to or returning to list

1. Royal County Down (Championship)

NEWCASTLE, NORTHERN IRELAND, MAY 21 ; The 486 yards par 4, 9th hole on the championship course at The Royal County Down Golf Club, on May 19, 2007, in Newcastle, Northern Ireland, (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

Average rating: 8.94

Location: Newcastle, Northern Ireland

Designer(s): George L. Baillie, Old Tom Morris, George Combe, Harry S. Colt, Donald Steel

Year opened: 1889

Play Royal County Down in May 2025

2. St. Andrews Old Course

The Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland (Courtesy of St. Andrews Links)

Average rating: 8.74

Location: St. Andrews, Scotland

Designer(s): Unknown first designer, Old Tom Morris

Year opened: Unknown

Play the Old Course in 2026

3. Royal Dornoch (Championship)

Royal Dornoch Golf Club in Scotland (Jason Lusk/Golfweek)

Average rating: 8.68

Location: Dornoch, Scotland

Designer(s): Old Tom Morris, John Sutherland, George Duncan

Year opened: 1877

Book your trip to Royal Dornoch

4. Muirfield

GULLANE, UNITED KINGDOM - AUGUST 30: A general view of the 18th hole at The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers Muirfield the venue for the 2013 Open Championship on August 30, in Gullane, Lothian, Scotland. (Photo by David Cannon/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

Average rating: 8.64

Location: Gullane, Scotland

Designer(s): Old Tom Morris, Harry S. Colt, Tom Simpson, Martin Hawtree

Year opened: 1892

Book by Feb. 1 to play Muirfield in 2026

5. Royal Portrush (Dunluce)

PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - OCTOBER 10: An aerial photograph from out to sea of the par 3, sixth hole Harry Colts' in the foreground and the par 4, fifth hole 'White Rocks' behind on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club the host venue for the 2019 Open Championship on October 10, 2018 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

Average rating: 8.55

Location: Portrush, Northern Ireland

Designer(s): Harry S. Colt, Martin Ebert

Year opened: 1929

Play the home of the 2025 Open Championship

6. Sunningdale (Old)

A general view/ course scenic of the 17th green and 18th holes and clubhouse on the Old Course at Sunningdale Golf Club on April 30, 2015 in Sunningdale, England. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Average rating: 8.41

Location: Sunningdale, England

Designer(s): Willie Park Jr., Harry S. Colt

Year opened: 1901

Book your trip to Sunningdale

7. Trump Turnberry Resort (Ailsa)

Trump Turnberry's Ailsa Course, Turnberry, Scotland; No. 9 on Golfweek’s Best: Great Britain & Ireland Courses, 2017

Average rating: 8.35

Location: Turnberry, Scotland

Designer(s): Willie Fernie, Mackenzie Ross, Martin Ebert, Tom MacKenzie

Year opened: 1901

Play Trump Turnberry in 2025

8. Ballybunion (Old)

Average rating: 8.31

Location: Ballybunion, Ireland

Designer(s): James McKenna, Lionel Hewson, Tom Simpson

Year opened: 1893

Play Ballybunion and the best of the Irish Southwest

9. Royal St. George's

Royal St. George's was set to host the 2020 Open Championship and will now host the 2021 event. Photo by Getty Images

Average rating: 8.22

Location: Sandwich, England

Designer(s): Laidlaw Purves

Year opened: 1887

Play Royal St. George's in 2025

10. North Berwick Golf Club (West Links)

Average rating: 8.11

Location: North Berwick, Scotland

Designer(s): David Strath, Ben Sayers

Year opened: 1832

Play North Berthwick in August 2025

11. Royal Birkdale

SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 11: The 473 yards par 4, 18th hole at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, the host course for the 2017 Open Championship on October 11, 2016 in Southport, England. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

Average rating: 7.99

Location: Southport, England

Designer(s): George Lowe, F.G. Hawtree, J.H. Taylor

Year opened: 1897

Book your trip to Royal Birkdale

12. Swinley Forest

Average rating: 7.98

Location: Ascot, England

Designer(s): Harry S. Colt

Year opened: 1909

13. Lahinch (Old)

Average rating: 7.96

Location: Lahinch, Ireland

Designer(s): Old Tom Morris, Charles Gibson, Alister MacKenzie, Martin Hawtree

Year opened: 1894

14. Carnoustie (Championship)

An aerial view of the finishing three holes with the Barry Burn on the Carnoustie Championship Course, venue for the 2007 Open Championship. (David Cannon/Getty Images)

Average rating: 7.92

Location: Carnoustie, Scotland

Designer(s): Robert Chambers, Allan Robertson, Old Tom Morris, James Braid

Year opened: 1830s

15. Royal Porthcawl

Average rating: 7.79

Location: Porthcawl, Wales

Designer(s): Ramsey Hunter, J. Simpson

Year opened: 1895

16. St. George's Hill

Average rating: 7.78

Location: Weybridge, England

Designer(s): Harry S. Colt

Year opened: 1913

T17. Cruden Bay

Average rating: 7.71

Location: Cruden Bay, Scotland

Designer(s): Old Tom Morris, Archie Simpson, Tom Simpson, Herbert Fowler

Year opened: 1899

T17. Royal Lytham & St. Annes

Average rating: 7.71

Location: Lytham St. Annes, England

Designer(s): George Lowe, Harry S. Colt, Herbert Fowler, Tom Simpson, C.K. Cotton

Year opened: 1897

19. Ganton

Average rating: 7.70

Location: Scarborough, England

Designer(s): Harry Vardon, Ted Ray, James Braid, J.H. Taylor, Harry S. Colt, Alister McKenzie, Tom Simpson, C.K. Cotton

Year opened: 1891

20. Sunningdale (New)

Average rating: 7.69

Location: Sunningdale, England

Designer(s): Harry S. Colt, John Morrison

Year opened: 1923

21. Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin)

Average rating: 7.68

Location: Woodhall Spa, England

Designer(s): Harry Vardon, J.H.Taylor, Harry S. Colt, Stafford Vere Hotchkin, Tom Doak

Year opened: 1905

22. Royal Troon (Old)

The par-3 eighth "Postage Stamp" hole at Royal Troon's Old Course in Troon, Scotland. (David Cannon/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

Average rating: 7.66

Location: Troon, Scotland

Designer(s): George Strath, Willie Fernie, James Braid

Year opened: 1878

23. St. Enodoc (Church)

Average rating: 7.51

Location: Wadebridge, England

Designer(s): James Braid

Year opened: 1907

24. Portmarnock GC (Old/Red & Blue nines)

Average rating: 7.49

Location: Portmarnock, Ireland

Designer(s): W.C. Pickeman, Mungo Park, Martin Hawtree

Year opened: 1894

25. Royal Aberdeen (Balgownie)

Average rating: 7.48

Location: Bridge of Don, Scotland

Designer(s): Archie Simpson, Robert Simpson, James Braid

Year opened: 1888

26. Royal Cinque Ports

Average rating: 7.46

Location: Deal, England

Designer(s): Harry Hunter, James Braid, Sir Guy Campbell

Year opened: 1892

T27. Rye

Average rating: 7.45

Location: Rye, England

Designer(s): Harry S. Colt, Tom Simpson, Sir Guy Campbell

Year opened: 1894

T27. Alwoodley

Average rating: 7.45

Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire

Designer(s): Alister MacKenzie

Year opened: 1907

29. Machrihanish

Average rating: 7.43

Location: Machrihanish, Scotland

Designer(s): Old Tom Morris, J.H. Taylor, Guy Campbell

Year opened: 1876

30. Walton Heath (Old)

Average rating: 7.42

Location: Tadworth, England

Designer(s): Herbert Fowler

Year opened: 1903

31. Notts (Hollinwell)

Average rating: 7.29

Location: Kirkby in Ashfield, England

Designer(s): Willie Park Jr., J.H. Taylor, Tom Williamson

Year opened: 1901

32. Prestwick

Average rating: 7.28

Location: Prestwick, Scotland

Designer(s): Old Tom Morris

Year opened: 1851

33. Western Gailes

Average rating: 7.27

Location: Irvine, Scotland

Designer(s): Fred Morris, F.W. Hawtree

Year opened: 1898

T34. Royal Liverpool (Hoylake)

Average rating: 7.18

Location: Hoylake, England

Designer(s): Robert Chambers, George Morris, Harry S. Colt, Donald Steel

Year opened: 1869

T34. Wallasey

Average rating: 7.18

Location: Wallasey, England

Designer(s): Old Tom Morris, James Braid, F.G. Hawtree, J.H. Taylor, Donald Steel

Year opened: 1891

T34. Royal West Norfolk

Average rating: 7.18

Location: Brancaster, England

Designer(s): Holcombe Ingleby

Year opened: 1892

37. Wentworth (West)

Average rating: 7.16

Location: Virginia Water, England

Designer(s): Harry S. Colt

Year opened: 1924

38. Gleneagles (King's)

Average rating: 7.13

Location: Auchterarder, Scotland

Designer(s): James Braid

Year opened: 1919

39. Royal Worlington & Newmarket

Average rating: 7.09

Location: Bury St. Edmunds, England

Designer(s): Tom Dunn, Harry S. Colt

Year opened: 1893

40. West Sussex

Average rating: 7.06

Location: Pulborough, England

Designer(s): Guy Campbell, Cecil K. Hutchison

Year opened: 1931

41. The Island Golf Club

Average rating: 7.00

Location: Donabate, Ireland

Designer(s): Fred Hawtree, Eddie Hackett

Year opened: 1890

T42. Gullane (No. 1)

Average rating: 6.97

Location: Gullane, Scotland

Designer(s): Unknown

Year opened: 1884

T42. Portstewart (Strand)

Portstewart (Courtesy of North & West Coast Links Golf Ireland)

Average rating: 6.97

Location: Portstewart, Northern Ireland

Designer(s): A.G. Gow, Willie Park Jr., Des Griffin

Year opened: 1907

T44. County Sligo Colt Championship Links (Rosses Point)

Benbulbin, a flat-topped mountain of Irish lore,
tries to break free of the clouds on a day that alternated between pelting rain and moments of brilliant sunshine
at County Sligo Golf Club. (Jason Lusk/Golfweek)

Average rating: 6.96

Location: Sligo, Ireland

Designer(s): Harry S. Colt

Year opened: 1927

T44. Formby

Average rating: 6.96

Location: Formby, England

Designer(s): Willie Park Jr., James Braid, Harry S. Colt, Donald Steel

Year opened: 1884

T44. Woking

Average rating: 6.96

Location: Woking, England

Designer(s): Tom Dunn, John Low, Stuart Paton

Year opened: 1893

T44. Silloth on Solway*

Average rating: 6.96

Location: Silloth, England

Designer(s): Davy Grant, Alister MacKenzie, Willie Park Jr.

Year opened: 1892

T48. Walton Heath (New)

Average rating: 6.92

Location: Tadworth, England

Designer(s): Herbert Fowler

Year opened: 1907

T48. Burnham & Berrow (Championship)

Average rating: 6.92

Location: Burnham on Sea, England

Designer(s): Charles Gibson, Walter Foord, Herbert Fowler, Harry S. Colt, C.H. Alison, Alister Mackenzie, Martin Ebert

Year opened: 1891

50. Nairn (Championship)

Average rating: 6.90

Location: Nairn, Scotland

Designer(s): Andrew Simpson, Old Tom Morris, James Braid, Ben Sayers, Tom Mackenzie

Year opened: 1887)

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