Northwest England

A popular destination for any visitor to the British Isles, this incomparable 50-mile stretch affords golfers the opportunity to tackle a trio of tests which are familiar for their name and for the theater created when The Open is contested along their fairways and greens. Royal Liverpool, also known as Hoylake, is the second-oldest seaside links in England and boasts an illustrious list of champions spanning the generations, including Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. Royal Birkdale is famous not only for its champions, but also for presenting to the golfing world with Seve Ballesteros, who as a 19-year-old in 1976 tied Jack Nicklaus and finished runner-up in The Open to Johnny Miller. The five-time champion Tom Watson claimed one of his crowns here and in 2017, the young American Jordan Spieth, scrambling in true Seve fashion on the 14th in the final round, outlasted Matt Kuchar to win his third leg of the Grand Slam. Royal Lytham & St. Anne’s provided the canvas for stars of the game such as Ernie Els, David Duval and Ballesteros to paint their major masterpieces. Founded in 1886 and rightly considered England’s most difficult member of The Open rota, it gave little trouble to the legendary Bobby Jones as he outlasted the field here in 1926. Beyond these Open hosts, there’s no shortage of classic courses. Hillside, a James Braid design, was the site of the 1933 and 1937 Ryder Cup. Southport & Ainsdale, Formby, West Lancashire all share the honor of serving as Final Qualifying sites for The Open. Wallasey - originally designed by Old Tom Morris in 1891 with touch-ups from Harold Hilton and James Braid, is the birthplace of the Stableford scoring system, and gives panoramic views of the River Mersey and the Irish Sea.

Liverpool is one of the country’s great pub cities and was the birthplace, of course, to a certain band called The Beatles. The city offers dozens of attractions from Penny Lane to Strawberry Fields for anyone interested in learning more about The Fab Four. The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral is another worthwhile destination. Southport, a coastal resort town on the Irish Sea, has the Model Railway Village in King’s Gardens and The Atkinson museum.

Southeast England

Royal St. George’s was the first club outside Scotland to play host to The Open and the outstanding champions to emerge include Harry Vardon, Bobby Locke, Greg Norman and Darren Clarke, who hoisted the Claret Jug in 2011, an emotional victory in his 20th appearance. The author of the James Bond series, Ian Fleming, used the course in his 1959 novel, Goldfinger, calling it Royal St. Mark’s. Royal Cinque Ports nearby hosted The Open in 1909 and 1920 closes with a stiff challenge as the finishing holes play into the prevailing wind. Prince’s is another local club that regularly serves for final qualifying and which held the championship in 1932 with Gene Sarazen claiming the Claret Jug.

The Heathland courses around London are consistently ranked among the world’s best layout and routinely entertain championship competitors from the amateur and professional level. Sunningdale New is a terrific Harry S. Colt design that’s often overshadowed by its higher-ranked counterpart Sunningdale Old, which is a classic Willie Park layout dotted with more than 100 bunkers protecting tree-lined fairways. The course is rightfully tabbed as one of the top inland courses in England. Swinley Forest, just west of London, was described by prolific architect Harry S. Colt as his “least bad course” and just might be the most demanding 6,400-yard layout on the planet.

London is the capital of England and one of the world’s most visited and cosmopolitan cities. The possibilities are endless with attractions certain to enthrall the most seasoned traveler. Visit Parliament or Westminster Abbey, admire Big Ben or The Tower of London, shop and dine on a stroll through Mayfair or Soho, peruse the international and contemporary offerings in the National Gallery or Tate Modern. Nearby Cambridge is the ideal excursion for the scholarly or curious. Tour one of the 31 colleges or the nine museums sprinkled about this haven for eccentrics, eclectics and academics.

Southwest England

Burnham & Berrow on the shores of the Bristol Channel wanders through the sand dunes and along the coastline. The course is routinely ranked among the top 30 courses in England and has entertained the British Ladies Amateur and British Boys championships. Perranporth, on Cornwall’s scenic North Coast, delivers some of the region’s finest links golf paired with spectacular ocean views. Royal North Devon, commonly referred to as ‘Westward Ho, was founded in 1864 and is the oldest club in England & Wales. Relatively flat, the links is of championship caliber and is a two-time host of the British Amateur. At Trevose enjoy a fun, fair test delivering wide fairways and sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean from all 18 holes. Herbert Fowler designed the Saunton East course in the 1920s, and the equally demanding Saunton West combines to give this lovely property in North Devon a combination that may be unparalleled in Great Britain & Ireland.

Stonehenge, the legendary Neolithic monument, is a must-see attraction. It’s not unusual to be awestruck while admiring one of the wonders of the world - or when you come face-to-face with a 5,500-year-old man. Stunning beaches and delicious food in Cornwall make it a popular destination among couples while Devon provides a beautiful, relaxing place to enjoy an afternoon. Tour the castles at Powerdham and Exeter and watch art come to life in the Cotswolds.

Wales

The 2010 Course at Celtic Manor served as Ryder Cup host for the Europeans romp and provides an exquisitely manicured course in the American style. Traditional seaside links dominate the rest of the country’s top tier. Royal Porthcawl has been a regular host of major amateur and professional tournaments since it opened in 1932. Nearby there’s Pyle & Kenfig, amid hillocks, valleys and towering dunes, overlooking the Bristol Channel as the Welsh Mountains stand strong in the distance. Tenby & Pennard, a favorite of American architect and classic course connoisseur Tom Doak, is nestled into a spectacular site and considered a birthplace of Welsh golf. Royal St. David’s, in the shadow of the Snowdonia Mountains, closes with an intriguing five-hole loop. Conwy, host of the 2020 Curtis Cup, has earned its reputation as a challenging course with a welcoming, friendly membership.

In addition to unforgettable golf, Wales presents the ideal confluence of history and natural beauty. Wales offers the most castles per square mile in Europe and there’s an array of places to explore amid the lush landscapes and rugged terrain. Visit Snowdonia National Park, which features the tallest mountains in Wales and walk along the gorgeous hidden beaches at Pen-y-banc and Borth-y-gest. Enjoy Llechwedd Slate Caverns, St. David’s Cathedral, and Whitesands Bay Beach, have a pint or two in the legendary Farmer’s Arms pub or tour the Conwy or Caernarfon Castles, built in the late 13th century and home for Edward I.

England & Wales with PerryGolf

PerryGolf is uniquely qualified to provide a range of unforgettable golf vacations to England & Wales. We have defined the experience since the company was founded in 1984 by Scottish brothers Colin and Gordon Dalgleish. Our Custom Tours combine the personalized requirements for golf, lodging, sightseeing and local transportation into a seamless itinerary for groups of men, women and couples. They can be enjoyed as a self-drive tour or in the comfort and convenience of a PerryGolf VIP coach with a concierge driver, who will handle every aspect of your trip.

The Escorted Tours we operate are fully managed, fixed itineraries that feature equal parts golf and sightseeing for parties of as many as 30 golfers and non-golfers who enjoy the opportunity to travel in the company of like-minded new friends. Our annual Golf Cruise of the British Isles will visit Ireland along Scotland and England with attendance included to golf’s oldest major championship, The Open.

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