Published: 19 May 2026
The remarkable rural beauty of Oxfordshire provides the perfect vista for all outdoor pursuits. It should therefore come as no surprise that there is a long-standing history and heritage associated with the game of golf. With a wealth of natural golf course values expressed in the landscape aligned with the experience of some of the finest course architects in history, this county is proud to welcome golfers from all over the world.
Our guide to the best golf courses in Oxfordshire provides a top five to try that will not disappoint players of all abilities.
1. The Oxfordshire
Thame
This imperious 7400-yard course was conceived as a championship course from its very first sketches and it certainly presents a stirring test. It opened in 1993 with design from the American golf architect Rees Jones, who added a touch of the grand scale associated with U.S courses to the English countryside.
The wide fairways invite players to apply strength and force in their game from the outset. In terms of the landscape, the lay of the land is more gentle than dramatic, which definitely helps its status as a great all-year-round option, firm and consistent course in all weathers.
As Oxfordshire is part of a hotel and spa location, it has plenty of contemporary amenities that make for great visits and work trips. It does regularly host high-level amateur events too, with a prestigious reputation in the county for serious players in the south of England.
The Oxfordshire course is best suited to:
- Low handicap players
- Corporate golf trips
- Players looking for a Tour Venue golf experience
2. Huntercombe Golf Club
Nuffield
Huntercombe is a fine representation of an English inland course that has over a century of history attached to it. It was originally designed by the Open Champion Willie Park Jr., with later additions by the peerless architect Harry Colt.
As one would expect from two great masters, this is golf with strategy at the heart of course design. At under 6500 yards in total, this is not a long slog, but its generous fairways often hold awkward little surprises for positioning. With routing that is gentle and interesting, the course rewards precise thought and professional execution with greens that demand focus at all times.
From the beautiful Edwardian clubhouse that was part of the 1901 opening to the wonderfully nuanced bunkering, this is the real golfer’s choice in the county. It provides the opportunity to play in a way that two legends have dictated and the kudos of a good round here goes a long way to establishing one’s own game credentials.
Huntercombe Golf Club is best suited to:
- The golf purists
- Low to mid handicap players
- Golf architecture enthusiasts
3. Frilford Heath Golf Club
Abingdon
Frilford Heath is the most expansive golfing venue in the county, with 54 holes across 3 distinct courses. Its location on 500 acres of glorious Oxfordshire heathland is the perfect setting for the Red, Blue and Green courses that each have their own set of challenges to tackle and master.
The original Red course dates all the way back to 1908, with design by the five-time Open Champion J.H Taylor. It is a par 72 and easily the most demanding of the three, where accurate driving is an absolute must. The Blue course takes one on a much more modern golfing journey with complex bunkering and greens of nerve-jangling undulation. And the Green Course, although not to be taken too lightly, is a shorter par 69 with some excellent par-3 challenges in a gentler manner.
Frilford blends tradition with true modern golf strategy. As one of the oldest venues in Oxfordshire, it makes the most of the landscape in a classic heathland course manner.
Frilford Heath Golf Club is best suited to:
- Serious low handicap players
- Golfing groups looking for a full day of multiple courses
- Players looking for a classic English heathland golf challenge
4. Henley Golf Club
Henley-on-Thames
This is quintessential English golfing heritage in exquisite surroundings. Since 1907, the hamlet of Harpsden has provided the home for this excellent course in a valley close to the River Thames, with the Chiltern Hills looking down from above.
It was an early example of the popularity of the game amongst the county’s elite that led to its creation, with the architect James Braid responsible for design. Henley is a parkland course built on chalk soil where the mature woodlands add a sense of timeless seclusion to every game. Classic parkland strategy is encouraged and rewarded through accurate approach play and a disciplined short game. An unusually high number of par-3 holes are also sewn through the course with dramatic downhills that add a sense of theatre and dynamism in real style.
The traditional members' club operation is respected here. Active competition and a strong social identity mean that the club is taken very seriously, with visitors always welcome to witness it for themselves.
Henley Golf Club is best suited to:
- Players looking for a traditional club home
- Serious low handicap players
- Those looking for prestige and playability
5. Tadmarton Heath
Banbury
The elevated position of Tadmarton Heath Golf Club affords it the most spectacular aspect to survey the county. It feels entirely organic, with the topography of the land providing a first draft for the course before any architecture could even begin.
It was established during the golden age of English golf venue creation in the 1920s and attends to the sensibilities associated with that time. Natural routing of the course is aligned with minimal shaping that leads to integration with the landscape in a liberating way. It rises and falls across ridge lines and shallow valleys with many greens offering a challenge from their subtle perch above the approaches. All of which means that the wind of spring and autumn can offer some serious consideration for strategy too.
A welcoming and relaxed atmosphere at the club fosters a marvellous golfing community that also benefits from a collection of excellent practice facilities for beginners and advancing amateurs.
Tadmarton Heath is best suited to:
- Players with a mid-level handicap
- Those looking for an accessible and welcoming club atmosphere
- Players that enjoy scenery to augment their game
A round of golf in Oxfordshire is an opportunity to witness the county at its natural best. The welcoming club atmospheres and stable landscape of the courses provide an all-year-round experience that many counties in the country would envy. With so much variety and many challenges to try, it is a place that serious golfers find themselves returning to time and time again.
