Burnham & Berrow Golf Club, established in 1890 in Somerset, is a traditional out-and-back links course that has been shaped by numerous legendary course designers. The club’s first professional, J.H. Taylor, later became a five-time Open Championship winner. The course’s design has evolved over thirty years with contributions from Herbert Fowler, Hugh Alison, Harry Colt, Harold Hilton, and Dr. Alister MacKenzie, among others.
Set amidst towering sandhills, Burnham & Berrow offers a challenging layout with narrow, tumbling fairways, deep pot-bunkers, and thick rough. The small, undulating greens demand precision, making the putting experience especially challenging and enjoyable. Notable features include a church in the middle of the course and several strong par threes. The first six holes are particularly outstanding, and the back nine is magnificent, culminating in a classic 18th hole that requires a daunting shot over dunes to a well-protected green.
Burnham & Berrow has hosted many significant amateur championships and regularly serves as a qualifying course for the Open Championship. In 2016, Tom Doak rated the course six out of ten, revising his earlier underestimation and praising its challenging and varied holes. Recent enhancements by Mackenzie & Ebert, including redesigns of the 6th, 8th, 9th, and other holes, have further elevated the course’s quality. Despite its prestige, Burnham & Berrow offers comparatively good value, making it a must-play for links golf enthusiasts.
