Wales vs the North of England for Golf
Two superb British links trips, a short drive apart across the Severn, and a real choice. The north of England has the heavier artillery: three current Open Championship links within a short stretch of coast, plus Formby and Hillside. Wales answers with value, variety and scenery, from the great Royal Porthcawl and the Ryder Cup resort at Celtic Manor to a run of beautiful, well priced links under Snowdonia. Here is the honest head to head, verdict first.
Photograph: Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, Wales, via Google
The verdict
For a bucket list links trip, the north of England edges it on pure pedigree. Nowhere else in the world packs three current Open Championship venues so close together: Royal Birkdale and the neighbouring Formby, Hillside and Southport and Ainsdale on the Southport coast, Royal Lytham and St Annes a short hop north on the Fylde, and Royal Liverpool at Hoylake across the Mersey. Add the inland Yorkshire classics of Ganton and Alwoodley and you have a region that can fill a week with championship golf of the very highest order. The names are the best in England outside the southeast, and the links sit cheek by jowl.
But Wales wins on value, variety and sheer beauty, and it is closer than the scoreboard suggests. Royal Porthcawl is a genuine top tier links, the equal of anything across the border, and Celtic Manor brings a Ryder Cup resort with three courses and a hotel under one roof, ideal for a group. North Wales then offers a run of gorgeous, gentle on the wallet links under Snowdonia, Royal St David's beneath Harlech Castle, Aberdovey and Conwy among them, at a fraction of English Open venue prices. Pick the north of England for the trophy links and the championship density; pick Wales for value, a resort base, dramatic scenery and quieter tee sheets.
Head to head
| Wales | North of England | |
|---|---|---|
| Signature courses | Royal Porthcawl, Celtic Manor (Twenty Ten), Royal St David's, Aberdovey, Conwy, Pennard | Royal Birkdale, Royal Lytham and St Annes, Royal Liverpool, Formby, Hillside, Ganton, Alwoodley |
| Championship pedigree | One top tier links plus a 2010 Ryder Cup resort; strong but spread out | Three current Open rota links plus Open final qualifying venues, the densest cluster in England |
| Style of golf | Classic links plus the parkland and resort golf of Celtic Manor; great scenic variety | Pure championship links on the coast, classic heathland and parkland inland in Yorkshire |
| Green fees, 2026 | Excellent value: Conwy around 125, Aberdovey 135, Royal St David's 145, Royal Porthcawl 275 (indicative; confirm) | Top of the market: Royal Birkdale around 495, Royal Lytham 460, Royal Liverpool 400 (indicative; confirm) |
| Off course | Snowdonia, the Gower coast, castles and a relaxed pace; a fine resort base at Celtic Manor | Southport and Lytham seaside towns, Liverpool city break, the Lake District and Yorkshire within reach |
| Best for | A value links week with scenery, a resort base and quieter tees | A bucket list trip ticking off Open Championship venues |
| Getting there | Cardiff and Bristol airports for the south; Manchester or Liverpool for the north Wales links | Manchester and Liverpool airports on the doorstep of the links coast |
Course facts and indicative fee ranges verified June 2026 from club listings and the National Club Golfer 2026 top 100 survey; fees vary by season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Who should pick which
Pick Wales if
You want a links week with value, variety and scenery, and you would happily trade a little championship pedigree for it. Royal Porthcawl gives you a genuinely world class links on the Bristol Channel, Celtic Manor brings a Ryder Cup resort with three courses and a hotel that suits a group perfectly, and the North Wales links of Royal St David's, Aberdovey and Conwy deliver beautiful, well priced golf under Snowdonia. It suits travellers who value the setting, the quieter tees and a sensible budget as much as the trophy names.
Pick the North of England if
You want the trophy links and you want them close together. The Southport and Fylde coast lets you play Royal Birkdale, Royal Lytham and St Annes and Royal Liverpool, three current Open Championship venues, in a single trip, with Formby, Hillside and Southport and Ainsdale filling the days between. Add Ganton and Alwoodley inland in Yorkshire and it becomes a championship golf pilgrimage. It suits groups happy to pay top links prices for the best names in English golf outside the southeast.
Plan your golf trip
Wales for value, scenery and a resort base, the north of England for the Open Championship links, or a question of which suits your group. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge builds the tee times, the base and the schedule, and costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Wales vs North of England questions
Is Wales or the north of England better for a golf trip?
It depends what you want. The north of England wins for sheer championship pedigree: three current Open Championship links, Royal Birkdale, Royal Lytham and St Annes and Royal Liverpool, sit within a short stretch of coast alongside Formby and Hillside, one of the densest clusters of great links in the world. Wales counters with value, variety and scenery: the magnificent Royal Porthcawl, the Ryder Cup resort at Celtic Manor and a run of beautiful, well priced North Wales links under Snowdonia. Choose the north of England for a bucket list Open links trip, Wales for value, a resort base and a quieter, more scenic week.
Is golf cheaper in Wales or the north of England?
Wales is markedly better value, especially in the north. Indicative 2026 green fees at the great North Wales links run from around 125 pounds at Conwy and 135 at Aberdovey to 145 at Royal St David's, with Royal Porthcawl, the best course in the country, at around 275. By contrast the Open links of the English northwest sit at the top of the market: Royal Birkdale around 495 pounds, Royal Lytham 460 and Royal Liverpool 400 in peak summer 2026. The north of England has the bigger names; Wales has the better prices. Always confirm current fees directly before booking.
What are the must play courses in each?
In Wales, the bucket list runs through Royal Porthcawl, a sublime links on the Bristol Channel, the 2010 Ryder Cup Twenty Ten Course at Celtic Manor, and the scenic North Wales links of Royal St David's beneath Harlech Castle, Aberdovey and Conwy. In the north of England it is all about the Open rota: Royal Birkdale, Royal Lytham and St Annes and Royal Liverpool at Hoylake, supported by Formby, Hillside and Southport and Ainsdale on the same coast, plus the inland Yorkshire classics of Ganton and Alwoodley. Always confirm access and fees directly before booking.
When is the best time to play golf in Wales and the north of England?
Both are links destinations with the same calendar. The prime season runs from late spring to early autumn, roughly May to September, with the longest days and firmest turf, and this is also the busiest and dearest window at the marquee clubs. The spring and autumn shoulders, April and May and September and October, offer the best balance of conditions and value, while winter golf is possible on the free draining links for those happy with shorter, cooler days. Pack for wind and the odd shower whenever you go. Always confirm current rates before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.