United Kingdom · Course Ranking
Birdied's best golf courses in the United Kingdom are Royal County Down, Muirfield, Royal Portrush, Carnoustie, Kingsbarns, Royal Aberdeen, North Berwick and Cruden Bay. Which courses belong here is our call; where they land moves with the ratings members leave once they've walked them. Links golf was invented on these coasts, and the courses haven't softened since. You keep the ball down or the wind decides for you. The list splits between the dunes of the Northern Irish coast and Scotland's east side: East Lothian, Fife, Angus, Aberdeenshire. Rounds you cross the world to play, then want on your record once you're home.
Newcastle, on the Northern Irish coast, where the dunes decide which fairways you get to see.
East Lothian, where keeping the ball down stops being advice and becomes the only option.
Out on the north coast, and the round the second week of an Irish trip gets built around.
Angus, straight and exposed, and it gives nothing back on the way in.
Fife, a few miles down the coast from St Andrews, and every bit as much a links.
Aberdeen, in the last county this list's east-coast run reaches, after East Lothian, Fife and Angus.
A short drive from Muirfield in the same county, and a completely different afternoon.
The furthest north stop here, up the Aberdeenshire coast past the city.
Every course here is chosen by Birdied's founder. The numbered order is that shortlist.
Every course on this list is chosen by Birdied's founder. The numbered order is that shortlist.