The United Kingdom is blessed with having a number of the world’s best golf courses, with some of the finest links and heathland tracks on the planet finding themselves in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Of course, The Open Championship is one of the oldest competitions in any sport which still runs to this day, with the first staging of the event coming all the way back in 1860. Meanwhile, events such as the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, the Irish Open and the Scottish Open also showcase some of the best courses on their shores.
Certainly, golfers could easily put together a lengthy bucket list from the United Kingdom alone of courses they dream of playing. But for those who perhaps need a little help deciding, Rick Shiels has got them covered.
Rick Shiels recommends the top five UK courses
Speaking on The Rick Shiels Golf Show, Shiels named the top five golf courses he would recommend to anyone looking to come over and play.
“If I was coming over from the US and I had one week in the UK, I would say go and play St. Andrews, go and play Turnberry. I know it’s expensive but it’s incredible,” he said.
“If you are nipping over to Ireland go and play Royal County Down. I would then throw in Royal Birkdale. And then also I think Trump International.”
The professional events each course has hosted
Three of the courses Shiels has named have hosted The Open Championship. Unsurprisingly, no course has held The Open more often than the Old Course at St Andrews, which has played host 30 times.
Royal Birkdale has hosted the major 10 times, with Jordan Spieth winning the most recent event back in 2017. The Open will return to Southport in 2026.
Meanwhile, Turnberry has hosted The Open four times between 1979 and 2009. It was the most recent event held at the course which saw a 59-year-old Tom Watson only lose out in a play-off after an amazing display across the week from the American.
Royal County Down hosted its fourth Irish Open earlier this year, with Rory McIlroy just missing out to Rasmus Hojgaard.
Meanwhile, Trump International just outside Aberdeen is yet to host any DP World Tour events since opening in 2012.
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