England’s 'best golf courses' named – with five right here in Devon

A picture-perfect golf course in the heart of North Devon has been named one of England’s top venues.

Saunton Golf Club’s East Course, in Braunton, is among the National Club Golfer’s (NCG) 100 Best Courses in England - beating stiff competition from some of the nation’s best venues to secure 20th place on the top 100 list.

The list, compiled by a panel of golf experts, course raters and journalists, features the top 100 courses across all 48 counties in England, highlighting venues with outstanding design, settings, conditioning, facilities and history.

Nestled among the windswept dunes of Braunton Burrows, Saunton Golf Club’s East Course offers 18 holes of rugged links golf, framed by the sparkling River Taw and the Torridge estuary, with breathtaking views across North Devon’s coastline.

Founded in 1897, Saunton has been home to golf for 128 years, with only a brief pause during World War II when the course was requisitioned for military use. It was later restored to its former glory and has since been regarded as one of the leading courses in the UK, and undoubtedly among the very best in Devon.

“The view from the clubhouse at Saunton is one of the finest in British golf,” said Dan Murphy, chairman of the NCG Top 100 rankings. “The sand dunes of Braunton Burrows lie ahead, between the River Taw and the Torridge estuary, accommodating 36 links holes of the highest quality. Saunton presents the kind of honest, relentless challenge guaranteed to identify a true champion.” 

The list features four other Devon venues - Royal North Devon, Saunton (West), East Devon and Yelverton - showing that the region is one of the country’s top golfing destinations.

Royal North Devon 

WHERE: Westward Ho!

RANKING: 48th

Royal North Devon has broken into the top 50 for the first time in 2025, placing 48th in England. Founded in 1864, it is England’s oldest golf club.

Though the famous seventh hole has been lost to coastal erosion, the course has changed little over the decades, preserving its historic charm and original features that make it one of the most natural and authentic links courses in the world. 

Golfers are treated to a landscape dotted with sleepered bunkers, sea rushes, and freely grazing sheep and horses, offering a round of the rawest, most traditional, and most enjoyable golf.

Saunton (West) 

WHERE: Braunton

RANKING: 61st 

The older sibling of the East Course by four decades, Saunton West is a true test of links golf. Stretching 6,596 yards across a par-71 layout, its rolling fairways, bunkers, and natural hazards challenge every aspect of a golfer’s game.

Set in the shadow of the windswept dunes of Braunton Burrows, the course combines raw, no-frills golf with subtle, year-on-year refinements, offering a rugged yet rewarding experience framed by the dramatic North Devon coastline.

East Devon 

WHERE: Salterton 

RANKING: 64th

Also featured in the Top 100 is East Devon Golf Club, a historic venue with over a century of golfing heritage. Praised for its enchanting layout, the course combines incredible views over the English Channel with year-round playability thanks to its firm heathland terrain.

One of the highest clubs in the country in terms of elevation, the course reaches up to 450 feet above sea level, despite being just a stone’s throw from the sea. East Devon has also played host to several England Golf Championships in recent years.

Yelverton 

WHERE: Yelverton 

RANKING: 90th

Completing the Devon contingent in England’s Top 100 is Yelverton, recognised for its “superb moorland layout bursting with interest, intrigue, and cool landforms.” 

Boasting breathtaking views across Devon and Cornwall, the course offers members and guests a round of heathland golf at the highest standard, combining challenging layouts with unique natural hazards.

Set on the site of a former tin-mining landscape, Yelverton features dramatic remnants of its industrial past - collapsed tunnels and undulating terrain create some of the most distinctive hazards in English golf.