Felixstowe Ferry
Founded in 1880, Felixstowe Ferry is one of the oldest golf clubs in England and the only true links in Suffolk, laid out along the coast where the River Deben meets the sea. The Martello Course is a par 72 of 6,379 yards, named for the Napoleonic tower beside the 17th green, with a routing shaped over the years by Willie Fernie, Alister MacKenzie, Henry Cotton and Guy Campbell.
Photo: Tony Aneiros via Google.
The verdict
Felixstowe Ferry is a piece of golfing history, a club founded in 1880 and frequently named among the five oldest courses in England. It is also a genuine rarity: the only true links in Suffolk, set on the coast at the mouth of the Deben where the ground is sandy, the turf is firm and the wind is rarely still.
The Martello Course carries the fingerprints of some of the game's great names. Willie Fernie and Alister MacKenzie had hands in earlier versions, and in 1948 the three time Open champion Henry Cotton, working with Sir Guy Campbell, gave the links much of its current shape. A par 72 of 6,379 yards, it runs out and back beside the sea with the Napoleonic Martello tower standing guard by the 17th, a setting and a history that make it a must for any links lover touring eastern England.
Felixstowe Ferry at a glance
- Founded
- 1880
- Designer
- Cotton and Campbell redesign, earlier Fernie and MacKenzie
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 6,379 yds
- Green fee
- Visitor rate
Founding, designers, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club and leading course databases. The club was founded in 1880 and the Martello Course, redesigned by Henry Cotton and Sir Guy Campbell in 1948 with earlier work by Willie Fernie and Alister MacKenzie, is a par 72 of 6,379 yards. Visitor green fees vary by season and day (indicative, 2026), so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
This is links golf in the old style, where the ground game is everything and the wind sets the questions. The fairways run firm beside the estuary and the sea, the rough is wiry and the bounces are honest, so a low, controlled flight and a willingness to run the ball onto the greens will serve you far better than trying to fly the ball to the flag.
The closing stretch is the signature. The Martello tower, built to repel a Napoleonic invasion that never came and the club's first clubhouse, stands beside the 17th green, lending the run for home a sense of theater that few inland courses can match. With the wind off the sea, the finish can make or break a card.
What gives Felixstowe Ferry its appeal is the combination of true links character and deep history. It is not the longest or the most manicured course in the region, but it is the most authentic, a rare chance to play seaside golf as it was first played in Suffolk nearly 150 years ago.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Members club that welcomes visiting golfers and societies; advance booking recommended, especially at weekends and in summer |
| Green fee | Indicative visitor green fees in the region of 45 to 80 pounds depending on season and day (2026); always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Reserve a tee time through the golf office ahead of your visit; the shorter Kingsfleet course offers a relaxed alternative |
| On the day | Smart golf dress on course and in the clubhouse; trolleys and buggies available; the links walk is flat and exposed to the wind |
| Getting there | At the mouth of the River Deben near Felixstowe in Suffolk, around 25 minutes from Ipswich |
| Best months | April to October for the driest links conditions, with the coastal wind in play year round |
Access and fee details verified June 2026; rates change by season and day, so always confirm directly with the club or your trip planner before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Felixstowe is a traditional seaside resort with seafront hotels and easy access to the course, while the riverside town of Woodbridge a short drive inland adds character and good dining. Ipswich offers the widest choice of lodging for those building a longer Suffolk break.
As the only links in the county, Felixstowe Ferry pairs naturally with the great heathland courses nearby, so a trip can mix the seaside golf here with the heather and gorse at Aldeburgh, Thorpeness and Woodbridge for real variety.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Felixstowe Ferry.
Build a Suffolk golf trip
We arrange tee times at Felixstowe Ferry, pair it with the best of the Suffolk coast and book the lodging around it. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club questions
How old is Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club?
Felixstowe Ferry was founded in 1880, making it one of the oldest golf clubs in England, often cited as the fifth oldest course in the country.
Who designed the Martello Course at Felixstowe Ferry?
The links has been shaped by several hands over its history, including Willie Fernie and Alister MacKenzie, with a notable 1948 redesign by three time Open champion Henry Cotton and Sir Guy Campbell.
Is Felixstowe Ferry a links course?
Yes. The Martello Course is the only true links in Suffolk, running along the coast by the Deben estuary, a par 72 of 6,379 yards.
Where is Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club?
Felixstowe Ferry sits on the Suffolk coast at the mouth of the River Deben near Felixstowe, with the historic Martello tower beside the 17th green.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Founding, designers, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.