How many golf courses are in the UK and Ireland?

Matt Coles

The Uk and Ireland is among the top 10 golfing nations for number of golf courses. But how many does the UK boast?

It is one of the most popular sports in this tiny corner of the world, but how many golf courses are in the UK? Let’s break it down but country…

How many golf courses in England?

England has more golf courses than any other country in Europe.

According to the latest research from Statista, which was carried out in 2019, England has 1,888 registered golf courses.

This is more than 1,000 ahead of second-placed Germany on 730. France is third, with 607.

England’s top three ranked courses in the NCG Top 100s are Royal St George’s, Royal Birkdale, and Sunningdale’s Old course.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL NCG TOP 100S ENGLAND RANKING

How many courses in Scotland?

The Home of Golf is fourth in Europe with 560 registered golf courses, according to Statista.

Scotland’s top three ranked courses in the NCG Top 100s are St Andrews’ Old, Turnberry’s Ailsa, and Muirfield.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL NCG TOP 100S SCOTLAND RANKING

How many courses in Wales?

Cymru has 145 registered golf courses, according to Statista.

Wales’ top three ranked courses in the NCG Top 100s are Royal Porthcawl, Royal St Davids, and Aberdovey.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL NCG TOP 100S WALES RANKING

How many courses in Ireland?

The Emerald Isle has 405 registered golf courses, according to Statista.

Ireland’s top three ranked courses in the NCG Top 100s are Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, and Portmarnock.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL NCG TOP 100S IRELAND RANKING

How many golf courses in the UK and Ireland?

There are no specific numbers for the UK – mainly because Ireland and Northern Ireland are counted as one – but if we add the above numbers together we can safely conclude that there are 2,998 golf courses in the UK and Ireland.

According to the NCG Top 100s, Royal County Down, St Andrews’ Old, and Muirfield are the top three ranked courses.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL NCG TOP 100S GB&I RANKING

About the author

Matt Coles

Mention a European country, and Matt will tell you which resorts make the National Club Golfer Top 100s: European Resorts list. He might even throw in who designed the golf course and how many rooms the hotel has got at each one…

Matt got into the game of golf from a young age, following his old man to the local golf club. He fell for the sport, and now can’t seem to go a day without thinking about how to improve his game (Thanks Dad!). Matt has been a member of Howley Hall GC in Leeds since 2020, and is just about managing to maintain a single-figure handicap. He likes to remind people that he once broke 75, but won’t tell people that it was on a shortened course during the winter.

He moved to Leeds after graduating from the University of Central Lancashire with a First Class Honours degree in Sports Journalism. Matt joined NCG after almost five years travelling the world with the Professional Squash Association, working on events in all four corners of the globe.

Matt currently plays a Cobra King LTDx driver and RadSpeed 3-wood. TaylorMade monopolise the rest of his bag, with a SIM UDI, M5 irons and both Milled Grind and HI-TOE wedges, along with a Monza Redline putter. He uses a Vice Pro Plus golf ball, because he’s a bit different…

Away from golf, Matt is a Manchester United fan, and a keen runner, having ran the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon (his first and possibly last), in May 2023.

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