Royal West Norfolk Golf Club

Royal West Norfolk Golf Club, better known as Brancaster, is one of England's most distinctive links and a genuine step back in time. Set between Brancaster Bay and the tidal salt marshes on the North Norfolk coast, it's shaped by the sea and the tides. At high tide the course is cut off and becomes an island, so timing your tee time is part of the fun.

Founded in 1892 and granted Royal patronage by Queen Victoria two years later, Brancaster has stayed impressively true to Holcombe Ingleby's original routing. It's also one of the few pre-1920s courses to retain sleeper-faced bunkers and much of its traditional character, so you get that wonderfully honest links feel from the first tee.

When it's calm, it can feel gloriously remote, with little more than coastal birds and the sound of the tide in the background. Add a North Sea breeze and it turns into a real test. The turf is firm, the greens are small and the ground game is your best friend. Keep it running, flight it only when you have to and stay out of those sleepers, they are as penal as they look.

If you're building a Norfolk golf break, Royal West Norfolk is an essential round. It's quirky, historic and full of shots you just don't get to play on modern parkland layouts.

Who is this for?
Anyone chasing traditional links golf with real character, especially if you're putting together a Norfolk or East Anglia tour.

Who is it best for?
Links lovers and strategic players who enjoy using the ground, embracing the wind and ticking off a historic course that still feels wonderfully unchanged.