Torquay is a coastal, English town located in the southwest between Plymouth and Exeter. For centuries the town was little more than a fishing village until Victorian England discovered its potential as a holiday hotspot.
Today Torquay, also called the English Riviera due to its mild weather, has vibrant beaches with good surfing. The greater area and county, known as Devon, has many golf courses near Torquay to experience.
Torquay is perfect for people who want boats, beaches, and plenty of golf. We have done the rounds and ranked the best Torquay golf courses. Pack the golf bag and get ready to hit the fairways!
The Best Golf Courses Near Torquay
Torquay offers local and far-away courses. Let’s start with the closest ones to town.
1. Torquay Golf Club
30 Petitor Rd, St Marychurch, Torquay TQ1 4QF, United Kingdom
Green Fees from £40
Torquay Golf Club is the local course in the area that serves most of the golfers who want to stay close to town. The town centre is only three miles away.
The famous golfer Nick Faldo won his first paying professional tournament at the Torquay Golf Club Pro. He fondly remembers the experience as “my first major.”
Founded in 1909, the first clubhouse opened in 1911 and resembled a Cricket pavilion. Despite the beautiful coastal views, the course resembles the parkland style. People come for the lovely natural layout as much as the quality of the course and the stunning views.
Visitors always feel warmly welcomed and leave great reviews about the golf and the food.
2. Dainton Park Golf Club
Totnes Rd, Ipplepen, Dainton, Newton Abbot TQ12 5TN, United Kingdom
Green Fees from £26
A relatively new course that opened in the early 1990s, the Dainton Park Golf Club offers a more modern experience with a course designed by Adrian Stiff. Focus on extra facilities such as fitness and a standalone restaurant designed to be an attraction in and of itself, making this course feel meant for the modern era.
The course has coaches and makes an effort to cater to golfers of all abilities. Dainton Park is particularly proud of its track record with youth golfers and bringing new players to the game.
Visitors can expect an 18-hole, par 71 course that extends 6,400 yards. Experienced players can expect some par 5s and tricky dog-leg spots.
3. Churston Golf Club
Dartmouth Road, Galmpton, Brixham TQ5 0LA, United Kingdom
Green Fees from £23
Churston is another parkland-style course, despite the coastal location, with a rich history dating back to its founding in 1890. The club started as a 9-hole course that one person maintained one day a week.
The times have changed and Churston is now an 18-hole course with all the modern amenities discerning golfers expect. The natural sandy surroundings offer perfect drainage, and the course always looks pleasing to the eye.
Since the course naturally drains well, golfers can play year-round. The warm climate keeps the greens in good condition for all twelve months of the year. Not many locations in southern England offer this unique combination of stunning scenery and quality play.
4. Stover Golf Club
Bovey Tracey Rd, Newton Abbot TQ12 6QQ, United Kingdom
Green Fees from £32
Stover Golf Club is outside Torquay, but the drive is not very far. Once there, golfers will enjoy the parkland style, lined with trees and dotted with ponds and streams. The elevation changes, so players can work on different aspects of their game.
The course also has easy access from the M5 and A38. Once on the fairways, especially with the back nine, the course has a good reputation for making players think twice about club selection.
There are tricky spots like hole 14, a par 5. Players have to drive through an avenue of trees and over a river. The ground gradually climbs to a higher elevation and reaches a dog-leg right. The ball must stay on the left side, or a wall of trees blocks the green.
The Best Courses Around Torquay
If a bit of a drive outside Torquay is not a problem, there are some world-class courses to experience.
5. Best Western The Dartmouth Hotel, Golf & Spa
Blackawton, Dartmouth TQ9 7DE, United Kingdom
Green Fees from £46
The Dartmouth is a Championship course, and many people agree, the best in Devon. There are two courses with 27 holes. Jeremy Pern designed the courses to USGA championship specifications with sweeping fairways and superb greens. Many people feel that Dartmouth is one of Pern’s best creations.
The river Dart also offers stunning estuary views, and the mediaeval town of Dartmouth is well worth a visit.
The course sits on 225 acres of rolling hills and beautiful countryside. One look at the design with elevation drops and rises over trees, long grasses, around curves, and a serious player will fall in love.
6. East Devon Golf Club
Links Rd, Budleigh, Budleigh Salterton, Salterton EX9 6DG, United Kingdom
Green Fees from £75
East Devon Golf Club is another throwback course originally designed in 1902. The course allows the natural landscape to dictate the holes. The first version was nothing more than fairways cut out of the native gorse and heather that still divide the fairways to this day.
East Devon is a heathland course, a style primarily found in Great Britain. The style means that the course is full of gorse, heather, and rough grasses. Since the cut-from-rough-grass look is so important, East Devon will appear less manicured than most.
7. Exminster Golf Centre
Exminster Hill, Exminster, Exeter EX6 8GA, United Kingdom
Green Fees from £12
Exminster offers something a bit different as a 9-hole course. Do not get deceived by the length. The course is a real challenge and attracts players from all over the UK and Europe. The cheap green fees make the drive from Torquay worthwhile, especially for families.
The course is still 5,112 yards long, despite the nine holes, and is a par-66, a bit less than short 18-hole courses.
Final Thoughts
There we go, that completes the list. There are other golf courses in Torquay, but this list lets the cream rise to the top and does not bother with the mediocre golf courses Torquay has to offer.
There is plenty to do in and around Torquay, so let the planning begin and get the golf kit ready. Torquay awaits!