Royal Cromer
Founded in 1888 and royal from the start through the patronage of the Prince of Wales, Royal Cromer runs along the clifftops of the north Norfolk coast more than 300 feet above the North Sea. Old Tom Morris set out the first holes, J.H. Taylor and James Braid refined them, and the result is a par 72 of close to 6,550 yards defined by sea, wind and a famous lighthouse hole.
Photo: Royal Cromer Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Royal Cromer is one of the great coastal experiences in eastern England, a clifftop course where the sea is rarely out of view and the wind is rarely out of play. The club was founded in 1888 and quickly earned its Royal title, and the layout carries the fingerprints of three towering figures of golf design: Old Tom Morris set the early holes, J.H. Taylor remodeled them in the early 1900s, and James Braid revised the routing in the 1920s, with later work by Frank Pennink.
The setting does the heavy lifting and the design makes the most of it. Holes tumble across the cliffs with the lighthouse standing sentinel, the turf drains fast on the high ground, and the exposure means a calm round and a windy round can feel like two different courses. For golfers touring Norfolk's coastline, Royal Cromer is the dramatic, history rich anchor of the trip.
Royal Cromer at a glance
- Founded
- 1888
- Designer
- Old Tom Morris, later Taylor and Braid
- Type
- Clifftop coastal
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- ~6,550 yds
- Green fee
- Visitor rate
Founding, designers, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Royal Cromer Golf Club and leading course databases. The club was founded in 1888, Old Tom Morris set out the early holes with later work by J.H. Taylor, James Braid and Frank Pennink, and it plays as a par 72 of close to 6,550 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
The defining stretch runs out toward the lighthouse, where the holes climb and fall along the cliff edge and the North Sea fills the right hand horizon. Standing on the high tees with the wind pushing across the fairway, you understand quickly why Royal Cromer is talked about as much for its theater as its scorecard.
The par 3s sit among the most memorable, played to greens perched on the contours with little margin and the breeze constantly nudging the ball off line. Club selection is guesswork until you feel the day, and a smooth, low strike will always serve you better than trying to overpower the hole.
The course also has real subtlety on the ground. The remodeling by Taylor and Braid left greens that reward an approach run in along the firm turf, and the closing holes back toward the clubhouse ask for control rather than length. It is a thinking golfer's coastal course, generous to a good plan and punishing to a careless one.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Members club that welcomes visiting golfers and societies; advance booking recommended, particularly in the summer season |
| Green fee | Indicative visitor green fees in the region of 60 to 100 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; tee sheets fill quickly when the weather is kind |
| On the day | Smart golf dress on course and in the clubhouse; trolleys and buggies available; the clifftop walk has some climbs |
| Getting there | Just east of Cromer on the north Norfolk coast, around 40 minutes from Norwich and its airport |
| Best months | May to September for the warmest, driest conditions, with the coastal wind possible 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
Cromer is a classic Victorian seaside town with hotels, guest houses and good crab on every menu, and it makes an easy base right beside the course. Norwich, a short drive inland, adds a wider choice of lodging and dining for those building a longer trip.
Royal Cromer pairs beautifully with the great links of west Norfolk, so a coastal itinerary can run from the clifftops here across to the dunes at Brancaster and Hunstanton for a memorable few days of seaside golf.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Royal Cromer.
Build a Norfolk golf trip
We arrange tee times at Royal Cromer, pair it with the best of the Norfolk 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.
Royal Cromer Golf Club questions
Who designed Royal Cromer Golf Club?
Old Tom Morris set out the early holes from 1891, and the layout was later remodeled by J.H. Taylor between 1911 and 1913, by James Braid in the 1920s, and by Frank Pennink in later years.
What is the par and length of Royal Cromer?
Royal Cromer plays as a par 72 of close to 6,550 yards, a clifftop course where the North Sea wind is a constant factor.
Why is Royal Cromer called Royal?
Founded in 1888, the club gained its Royal title through the patronage of the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII.
Where is Royal Cromer Golf Club?
Royal Cromer sits on the clifftops just east of the seaside town of Cromer on the north Norfolk coast, with holes running near the lighthouse high above the beaches.
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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.