Best Willie Park Jr. golf courses

Few architects have left as timeless a legacy on the game of golf as Willie Park Jr. A two-time Open Champion turned visionary course designer, Park’s work helped define the early strategic and aesthetic principles that shaped golf architecture worldwide. From the 1890s until his death in 1925, he transitioned into one of the game’s most prolific architects, designing more than 150 courses across Europe and North America.

Park believed golf courses should reward thoughtful play rather than brute strength. He championed strategic options from the tee, intelligent green placement, and the use of natural landforms to create interest and challenge. His designs favoured flowing fairways, subtle contouring, and greens that demanded imagination and precision, allowing golfers of different abilities to enjoy the same course in different ways.

His influence extended beyond design alone. As the son of Open Champion Willie Park Sr., he carried forward one of golf’s great family dynasties, excelling as a player, clubmaker, author, and architect. Many of his courses remain celebrated today, and his contribution to the sport was formally recognised with his induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2013.

Based on international rankings, we’ve picked out some of the best Willie Park Jr. designs across Britain and Europe, each ideal for your next golf break, offering its own distinctive test and sense of place.

Ranked 12th globally in the Golf Digest World Top 100 Location: Berkshire, England | Style: Heathland | Par: 70 | Yardage: 6,627 yards | Founded: 1901

Often cited as the masterpiece of Willie Park Jr.’s career, Sunningdale Old set a new standard for inland golf when it opened in 1901. The layout’s rolling heathland terrain, framed by heather and pine, was a revelation in an era dominated by coastal links.

Park’s routing is a masterclass in variety and balance; strategic bunkering, angled greens, and risk-reward par fours make every hole memorable. When combined with its slightly younger brother (designed by the esteemed Harry Colt), Sunningdale presents arguably the best 36-holes of golf on the planet.

Key features:

• Classic heathland setting with heather, pine and sandy soil
• Strategic bunkering and beautifully angled green complexes
• Outstanding variety across par 3s and par 4s

Travel tip:

• Stay in Ascot or Virginia Water to combine both Sunningdale courses, with London Heathrow just 25 minutes away.

Ranked 44th in the UK by Top 100 courses Location: Nottinghamshire, England | Style: Heathland | Par: 72 | Yardage: 6,457 yards | Founded: 1887

Tucked away in the Nottinghamshire countryside, Hollinwell (formerly known as ‘Notts’) offers one of the purest experiences of traditional English golf. The course flows seamlessly through a landscape of heath and woodland, demanding precision off the tee and imagination into its undulating greens.

Park’s design philosophy in letting the land dictate the golf is on full display here, with fabulous undulations throughout. It’s an exhilarating walk around a course that is usually spectacularly-conditioned, creating a simply unforgettable experience in the heart of England.

Key features:

• Heavily undulating fairways shaped by natural terrain
• Demanding approach shots to subtly contoured greens
• Strong emphasis on positioning rather than power

Travel tip:

• Read our article on a Nottingham golf tour to see some other great courses you can pair Hollinwell with.

Ranked 52nd in the UK by Top 100 courses Location: Southport, England | Style: Links / Woodland | Par: 72 | Yardage: 6,704 yards | Founded: 1884

It’s tough to stand out on England’s famed north-west coast, with some of the best links courses anywhere in the world found here. However, by blending together this mix of reclaimed-sea turf (links) and several holes that wind through woodland, Formby manages to offer something unique to those making the pilgrimage here.

Shaped by Park in the late 19th century and later refined by others, the course meanders through towering pines and sweeping dunes, creating a variety of holes rarely matched in a single round. There are other courses on this coastline that might grab the headlines, but few can rival Park’s layout at Formby.

Key features:

• Rare mix of links-style turf and pine woodland
• Narrow driving zones demanding accuracy
• Excellent contrast between exposed and sheltered holes

Travel tip:

• Base yourself in Southport and combine with Royal Birkdale, Hillside, and Southport & Ainsdale.

Ranked 33rd in England by Top 100 courses Location: Bournemouth, England | Style: Heathland | Par: 71 | Yardage: 6,482 yards | Founded: 1893

Down to the south coast now, and laid out amongst Dorset’s picturesque heathland near Poole Harbour, Parkstone is one of England’s most charming and scenic golf courses. Park’s routing maximises the natural elevation changes, offering panoramic views and thrilling shot values; with the course also demonstrating his flexibility to adapt to all types of layout.

The fairways weave through pines, heather, and gorse, with every hole having a distinct. Whilst less heralded than Sunningdale or Hollinwell, Parkstone exudes the same design intelligence and balance that defines Park’s best work.

Key features:

• Elevated tees with sweeping harbour views
• Classic heathland hazards and vegetation
• Varied hole lengths and directions

Travel tip:

• Parkstone shines year-round thanks to its free-draining heathland soil. It works well as a winter-friendly option and combines naturally with Ferndown and Broadstone for a classic Dorset heathland trio.

Ranked 72nd in England by Top 100 courses Location: North East England | Style: Heathland | Par: 72 | Yardage: 6,561 yards | Founded: 1891

Famous as one of the host venues of the 1957 Ryder Cup, Lindrick is a classic Park layout blending open heathland with strategic bunkering and subtle elevation changes. The fairways encourage bold play, but misplaced shots are quickly punished by thick rough and cleverly positioned hazards.

It’s a course that rewards thoughtful golf, and one that remains a favourite among traditionalists for its honest, unpretentious character. Lindrick plays a central part in many of our Leeds-based tours; combining with the likes of Alwoodley, Moortown, Ganton and Fulford to create an immensely strong golfing region of the UK.

Key features:

• Bold bunkering influencing strategy from the tee
• Open, windswept heathland character
• Greens that reward controlled iron play

Travel tip:

• Best enjoyed in late spring or early autumn, Lindrick is an excellent anchor course on a Yorkshire itinerary. Combine it with Fulford, Moortown, and Alwoodley for a tour rich in Ryder Cup and Open history.

Ranked 43rd in Scotland by Top 100 courses Location: Ayrshire, Scotland | Style: Links | Par: 71 | Yardage: 6,819 yards | Founded: 1892

Willie Park Jr. had a knack for finding some great pieces of land on which to build his courses, and the location at Gailes Links (formerly Glasgow Golf Club Gailes) is certainly no exception to that. Park’s layout sits naturally among the dunes, offering fast-running fairways and beautifully framed green complexes. It’s a true test in the wind, yet never unfair, the mark of his strategic genius.

For those touring the west coast of Scotland, Gailes is a fabulous addition to any itinerary that would also include the likes of; Dundonald, Kilmarnock Barassie, Royal Troon, Prestwick, and of course, Trump Turnberry.

Key features:

• Traditional Ayrshire links terrain
• Firm, fast fairways encouraging ground play
• Strong par 4s shaped by natural dunes

Travel tip:

• Slot Gailes into the middle of an Ayrshire itinerary. It prepares you perfectly for Royal Troon, demanding similar control in the wind but with slightly more forgiveness.

Ranked 23rd in France by Top 100 courses Location: Brittany, France | Style: Links | Par: 68 | Yardage: 5,836 yards | Founded: 1887

Founded in 1887 and redesigned by Park in 1907, Dinard Golf is France’s second-oldest course and one of its most scenic. Perched above the rugged Brittany coastline, it’s a windswept links with a distinctly Scottish feel.

Narrow fairways, small greens, and ever-changing sea breezes make it as testing as it is picturesque. Dinard is living proof that Park’s design philosophy translated beautifully beyond Britain’s shores.

Key features:

• Clifftop holes with panoramic sea views
• Narrow fairways and penal rough
• Classic out-and-back links routing

Travel tip:

• Late spring and early autumn offer the best balance of weather and playing conditions. Dinard is ideal for a short continental golf break and pairs well with nearby seaside dining and a stay in Saint-Malo.

Ranked 27th in France by Top 100 courses Location: French Alps, France | Style: Parkland / Alpine | Par: 72 | Yardage: 6,652 yards | Founded: 1904

While best known today for hosting one of the women’s Major's, The Evian Championship, the course here still owes much of its charm to Willie Park Jr.’s original routing.

Overlooking Lake Geneva, the course combines alpine beauty with strategic shot-making. Modern renovations have lengthened and toughened the layout, but the spirit of Park’s original design still shines through.

Key features:

• Spectacular lake and mountain views
• Tree-lined fairways with elevation change
• Balanced test of accuracy and distance control

Travel tip:

• Best treated as a destination rather than a stopover. Build rest days around the golf to enjoy the lake, spa, and alpine setting, especially for non-golfing companions.

Ranked 93rd in Scotland by Top 100 courses Location: Edinburgh, Scotland | Style: Parkland | Par: 68 | Yardage: 5,974 yards | Founded: 1735

As one of the world’s oldest golf clubs, Royal Burgess carries deep historical resonance. Park’s redesign in the early 20th century gave the course its modern shape - a refined parkland layout that rewards precision over power.

Tree-lined fairways, clever bunkering, and immaculate conditioning make it a favourite with the Edinburgh locals, and has been growing in popularity amongst visitors to Scotland too.

Key features:

• Traditional parkland layout close to Edinburgh
• Subtle green complexes
• Immaculate year-round conditioning

Travel tip:

• Ideal as an opening round on arrival day. Shorter yardage and parkland calm help golfers ease into a Scotland trip before tackling East Lothian or Fife links.

Ranked 39th in Scotland by Top 100 courses Location: East Lothian, Scotland | Style: Links | Par: 71 | Yardage: 6,313 yards | Founded: 1898

Across the Firth of Forth from Edinburgh, Gullane No.2 offers a pure taste of East Lothian links golf, crafted by Willie Park Jr. in 1898. Sharing the same sweeping dunes and crisp fescue turf as its celebrated neighbour, Gullane No.1, it charms with its intimacy and strategic subtlety.

At just over 6,300 yards, No.2 rewards touch and imagination more than power. The course flows gracefully across rumpled ground, its greens full of quiet menace, its fairways shaped by the wind. From the 7th tee, the panorama across the Firth of Forth is worth the green fee alone!

Key features:

• Compact links layout over rolling dunes
• Exceptional views across the Firth of Forth
• Greens that place a premium on placement

Travel tip:

• Use Gullane No. 2 as a tactical contrast. Play it on the same day as Gullane No. 1 to appreciate how strategy and subtlety can rival length and scale.
• Read our article where we played the best of the best in East Lothian to see where else you could also tee off at.

Ranked 58th in Scotland by Top 100 courses Location: East Lothian, Scotland | Style: Links | Par: 69 | Yardage: 5,476 yards | Founded: 1867

A few miles along the coast from Gullane, Kilspindie Golf Club offers one of Scotland’s most joyful walks. Set beside Aberlady Bay, this compact Willie Park Jr. creation dates from the 1890s and distils the very essence of links golf into a brisk, memorable loop.

Barely 5,500 yards, Kilspindie asks for brains, not brawn. The routing twists through dunes and along the shoreline, with the sea ever in view … and in play. The par-3 8th, played across the bay, is a postcard come to life. What Kilspindie lacks in length, it more than makes up for in character and charm. It’s golf as it was meant to be: quick, scenic, and irresistibly fun.

Key features:

• Coastal holes running alongside Aberlady Bay
• Quirky routing through dunes and shoreline
• Memorable short par 3s

Travel tip:

• Best saved for the final day. Its length, pace, and coastal charm make it the perfect farewell round, leaving players relaxed rather than exhausted.

• Best for classic inland golf: Sunningdale Old & Hollinwell
• Best for traditional links golf: Gailes Links & Gullane No.2
• Best coastal scenery: Dinard Golf & Kilspindie
• Best historic pedigree: Lindrick & Royal Burgess

Willie Park Jr.’s body of work showcases an extraordinary ability to adapt his design philosophy to any landscape. From exposed coastal routes to rolling heathland and refined parkland, his courses reward imagination, judgement, and feel. Whether you’re seeking history, scenery, or pure shot-making, a round on a Park design remains as compelling today as it was over a century ago.