Best Courses to Play This Spring in England

Published: 2026-03-21

These are the best courses to play this spring in England, with longer days, firmer ground and current data on which layouts suit the season best.

Spring is the moment English golf resets. The grey, waterlogged months are behind you. The days are stretching out — the clocks move forward in late March, and by late April sunset is pushing past 8pm. And the courses, the good ones at least, are coming back to life.

If you're choosing where to book, these are the best courses to play this spring in England based on current course data and seasonal fit.

The numbers back this up. Sporting Insights reported a 41% increase in rounds played in March 2025 versus the same month in 2024, making it the busiest March since 2012 ^[1]. England Golf logged a 67% increase in World Handicap System scores submitted in Q1 year-on-year ^[2]. Golfers know spring is the time to play. The question is where.

Here are the courses worth booking right now — ranked by spring playability, not just price.

Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club

Typical green fee: £285

Why it's worth playing this spring

Deal is a genuine Open venue and one of the most demanding links tests in England. Sandy subsoil and a coastal position on the Kent shore mean winter water clears fast — by late March the fairways are firming and the course is playing close to its summer best while inland tracks are still soft.

Spring also brings quieter tee sheets than peak summer, which means better pace and a more considered round. When the ground is running and the wind is up, this is links golf at its most honest.

What you're trading off

Green fees reflect the course's pedigree. Conditioning can vary in early spring — check recent conditions before booking.

Best suited for

Golfers wanting a genuine bucket-list links experience without going to Scotland. Confident mid-handicappers and better.

Optimal playing times

Midweek April. The shoulder season pricing window before full summer rates apply.

Littlestone Golf Club

Typical green fee: £25–£160

Why it's worth playing this spring

Littlestone sits on Romney Marsh and drains as well as any links in England. The flat, open character that divides opinion in summer is actually a spring asset — the course plays fast and hard almost as soon as the winter drying begins, well ahead of parkland courses in the same county.

It rewards low, running golf over aerial approaches. That style of game is at its most relevant in spring.

What you're trading off

Facilities are functional rather than grand. The exposed position means wind is a permanent factor — embrace it rather than fight it.

Best suited for

Mid-handicappers wanting a genuine links test at mid-tier pricing. Excellent value as a standalone or paired with Royal Cinque Ports for a Kent links day.

Optimal playing times

Midweek mornings. Early April for best availability and value before the season peaks.

Royal West Norfolk Golf Club

Typical green fee: N/A (pay & play not available in current dataset)

Why it's worth playing this spring

Brancaster is one of England's most distinctive links — tidal marshes, a beach road at high water, and a course that feels genuinely remote. The sandy soil drains immediately and the course is typically in excellent spring condition from late March onwards.

It's also one of the more atmospheric spring rounds available in England. The light on the Norfolk coast in April is unlike anywhere else.

What you're trading off

Access requires advance planning — the club is private with limited visitor windows. The remote location means it's a proper destination rather than a quick detour.

Best suited for

Golfers who want something beyond the standard bucket list. Strong mid-handicappers and low handicappers who appreciate a genuine links challenge.

Optimal playing times

Midweek April or early May before the club's busier visitor season begins.

Hunstanton Golf Club

Typical green fee: £175

Why it's worth playing this spring

Hunstanton is one of the most underrated links in England — consistently well-maintained, with a layout that rewards proper golf without requiring a handicap in single figures. The Norfolk coast dries fast and the course is reliably playable from early spring, ahead of the county's parkland alternatives.

Good value relative to its quality, particularly in the early season window before visitor demand peaks.

What you're trading off

Less well-known than Royal West Norfolk, which is a feature rather than a flaw — easier to get on, better pace of play.

Best suited for

Mid to low handicappers. Also one of the more welcoming links courses for visiting groups.

Optimal playing times

April weekdays. Combine with Royal West Norfolk for a standout Norfolk links trip.

West Hill Golf Club

Typical green fee: £125–£270

Why it's worth playing this spring

West Hill sits in the Surrey heathland belt — the category of English golf that comes into spring condition earliest after links. Sandy, free-draining soil means the course sheds winter water quickly and is running firm and fast by late March while clay-heavy courses further afield are still recovering.

The heather typically starts to come through in April. The pines frame holes cleanly. West Hill is one of the three great heathland courses in the Woking cluster and spring is genuinely the best time to see it.

What you're trading off

Private members' club — visitor access requires advance booking and handicap certificate. The green fee reflects the quality.

Best suited for

Mid-handicappers and better who rate heathland above all other categories. A serious course that rewards proper golf.

Optimal playing times

Midweek mornings in April. The heather peaks late April to May, which adds visual drama on top of the spring playing conditions.

Thetford Golf Club

Typical green fee: £65–£90

Why it's worth playing this spring

Thetford sits in Breckland — a sandy, heathland-style landscape in Norfolk that drains faster than most of East Anglia. The course combines pine forest with sandy heathland turf and plays firm and quick from early spring, punching well above its green fee in terms of quality.

It's the kind of course that serious golfers know about but casual visitors overlook. Spring is when it's at its best and least crowded.

What you're trading off

Less prestigious than the Surrey heathland belt, but also considerably more affordable and more accessible. Conditioning can vary — check before booking.

Best suited for

Mid-handicappers wanting heathland-style golf at accessible pricing. A strong option for East Anglia-based golfers who don't want to travel to Surrey.

Optimal playing times

Midweek April. Good value and rarely congested in the early season.

Woodhall Spa Golf Club

Typical green fee: £135–£245

Why it's worth playing this spring

Woodhall Spa's Hotchkin Course is widely considered the finest inland course in England — deep bunkers, heathland turf, and a layout that demands proper shot-making from start to finish. The sandy Lincolnshire soil drains well and the course is typically in excellent spring condition from early April.

It's also one of the more affordable top-tier courses in England relative to its quality, and spring pricing undercuts the peak summer rate further.

What you're trading off

A significant drive from most of England's population centres. Worth it, but plan the trip properly.

Best suited for

Any golfer serious about playing the best courses in England. One of the must-play rounds before the summer crowds arrive.

Optimal playing times

Midweek April or May. Book the Hotchkin rather than the Bracken — the gap in quality is significant.

Why Spring Specifically

Links and heathland courses come into form first — sandy, free-draining soil sheds winter water weeks ahead of clay parkland. By late March, the best of these courses are running firm and fast. By April, you have firmer fairways than winter, greens recovered from aeration, and evenings light enough for a full round after work.

And the pricing hasn't caught up yet. Spring is shoulder season at many clubs. You're often playing peak-quality conditions at pre-peak pricing.

The main season runs April to September. This is the beginning of it — and often the best part.

Browse spring-ready golf courses in England →