The best golf courses in Kendal offer stunning views and challenging play. From their green and fairways, you can admire nature’s beauty with vistas, including the Yorkshire dales, Westmorland fells, and the stunning Lake District national park. That said, with an array of golf courses in Kendal to choose between, deciding where to make a tee time can be tricky.
If you’re planning a golfing holiday in the Kendal area, I can help. Below, I offer seven of the best Kendal golf courses around. So, whether you want a challenging nine-hole course or want to play a full 18, there’s an ideal course on this list.
Carus Golf Course
Burneside Road, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 6EB United Kingdom
Green fees from £40
When it comes to golf courses near Kendal, Carus Golf Course is my top pick. Experts consistently list it as one of the finest courses in Cumbria and North England for good reasons. Carus is a remodelled public course with exceptional countryside views and a challenging variety of holes.
Three rivers run along and through the course, adding complexity to the play. They’ve also put in two-tiered fairways and several new water features. Between all of that and the course’s tight fairways, and quick greens, I find Carus Golf Course provides an enjoyable, skill-testing day.
Kendal Golf Course
The Heights, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 4PQ United Kingdom
Green fees from £35
As far as golf courses in Kendal go, the course at Kendal Golf Club is another of my favourites. It offers rewarding play and magnificent vistas, making it well worth a visit.
Kendal Golf Course is a private moorland course designed by Tom Morris. It’s a par 69 course featuring 5,792 yards of hilly fairways, perfectly kept greens, and stunning views. It sits right up against the Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, but also offers views of the town of Kendal, Westmorland fells, and the Yorkshire dales.
Best of all, this course is playable year-round. Even in wet weather, the limestone foundation offers excellent drainage, keeping this course in great condition.
Windermere Golf Club
Cleabarrow, Bowness on Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 3NB United Kingdom
Green fees from £36 (off-peak), £55 (peak season)
Windermere Golf Club isn’t just one of my preferred courses—it happens to be one of the golf courses Kendal residents seem to really appreciate. In fact, it was recently voted the best golf course in South Cumbria by National Club Magazine and ranked in the top 10 most enjoyable courses in England by Golf World!
That could be because Windermere offers striking views and enough tricks to keep even the most highly skilled golfers interested. With narrow fairways that play fast but true, a magnificent, rolling landscape, and a few blind shots, Windermere is a course worth checking out.
Kirkby Lonsdale Golf Club
Scaleber Lane, Barbon, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, Cumbria, LA6 2LJ United Kingdom
Green fees from £40
Kirkby Lonsdale Golf Club features a par 72 parkland course set amongst the Yorkshire Dales national park. Like other Kendal golf courses, this location offers magnificent views. Unlike many of the area’s golf courses, though, Kirkby isn’t quite so hilly, making it a bit easier to navigate.
Of course, that’s not to say that Kirkby isn’t without its tests of skill. It features a few lengthy par 5’s and its fair share of undulating terrain.
In my opinion, Kirkby is best saved for a sunny day as the drainage on the course is lacking. In fair weather, though, this is a course well worth your time and effort.
Beckside Golf Course
Beckside, Ellerbeck Farm, Crook, Cumbria, LA8 8LE United Kingdom
Green fees from £10
I had to include Beckside Golf Club on this list because it is unlike any other nearby golf course. This 9-hole course was the dreamchild of the owner and greenskeeper Mike Jackson.
Jackson, a farmer by trade and golfer by passion, created this course using the uneven grazing land on his property. The result is a course lined with boulders and gorse bushes, giving a unique challenge to golfers of all skill levels. Though most holes are a par 3, it’s exceptionally hilly and prone to winds, making it a tricky course to play.
There’s no clubhouse, driving range, or other amenities at Beckside. Instead, you simply pay for your round at the nearby farmhouse, then head out to enjoy a game.
Sedbergh Golf Club
Catholes, Abbot Holme, Sedbergh, Cumbria, LA10 5SS United Kingdom
Green fees from £25
Sedbergh Golf Course is an older course established in 1896. Tree-lined and full of water features, it’s a must-play if you’re visiting Kendal. The River Rawthey cuts a spectacular path through the course, and numerous other ponds and brooks babble along the fairways. If you’re partial to water challenges, you’ll love playing here.
The variety of holes creates fun for every skill, and the grounds are excellently maintained. For a parkland course with views of the Yorkshire Dales countryside, there isn’t a better option to play.
Casterton Golf Club
Sedbergh Road, Casterton, Nr Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, LA6 2LA United Kingdom
Green fees from £20
Casterton Golf Club features two courses, a main 9-hole course and a par three course. Well-kept and entertaining, Casterton is my top pick for a casual game with friends. The course boasts beautiful views of the Yorkshire Dales, Lakeland Fells, and the Lancashire coast.
Built into the naturally undulating parkland and studded with rocky outcrops, Casterton is always a pleasure to play. And year-round play is possible here thanks to a well-draining limestone foundation that accommodates golfers through all sorts of weather, wet and dry.
Final Thoughts
If you’re heading to Kendal in the near future and want to have a day on the links, these golf courses can’t be beat. Kendal golf courses have a lot to offer golfers of all skill levels, and the views are phenomenal.
So, bookmark this list before you finalise your trip plans and consider making a tee time or two. Any of the courses above are sure to awe and thrill even the most seasoned golfer.