Top 10 Best Golf Courses in Exeter

Golf in the Exeter Region

Exeter sits in one of the most attractive golfing regions in England. The city is ringed by rolling Devon countryside, with the Exe estuary to the south, the Haldon Hills to the west and open farmland stretching east towards the Blackdown Hills. Within a short drive golfers can find mature parkland layouts, exposed heathland courses and clifftop links-influenced holes with sea views.

The climate is a genuine asset. Devon's mild winters mean courses in the Exeter area often remain playable year-round, with fewer frost closures than inland regions further north or east. Drainage quality varies considerably between courses, however, and the better-draining sandy and downland sites hold up markedly better through wet Devon winters.

Ten Golf Courses In and Around Exeter

Woodbury Park Golf Club is among the most prominent venues in the region, offering a championship-length parkland course alongside a shorter secondary layout. Mature woodland, water features and substantial elevation change create a genuine test, and the resort facilities make it a popular destination for golf breaks and society days.

Exeter Golf and Country Club sits close to the city and combines a well-established parkland course with extensive wider sporting facilities. Its accessibility from Exeter makes it a natural choice for members who play frequently, and the course is known for excellent year-round greens.

Dainton Park Golf Club offers an undulating parkland layout in south Devon with strong drainage that keeps it playable when heavier courses struggle. Its welcoming approach to visitors and pay-and-play golfers has built a broad following.

Teignmouth Golf Club occupies elevated downland above the coast, giving expansive views over the sea and the Teign estuary. The springy turf and exposed position produce a very different challenge from sheltered parkland, with wind frequently the defining factor.

East Devon Golf Club at Budleigh Salterton is a celebrated clifftop course combining heathland and downland characteristics with dramatic coastal outlook. It is widely regarded as one of the finest courses in the county and rewards accurate positional play.

Warren Golf Club at Dawlish Warren is a genuine links course set on a sand spit at the mouth of the Exe estuary. Firm turf, sea breezes and natural dunes deliver an authentic links experience unusual on this stretch of coast.

Tiverton Golf Club lies north of Exeter in the Exe valley, presenting a classic mature parkland layout with tree-lined fairways and well-protected greens. The course is known for its condition and traditional club atmosphere.

Honiton Golf Club sits high on the Blackdown Hills east of the city, offering downland golf with wide views and firm, quick-draining turf. The elevated setting means wind is a constant consideration.

Okehampton Golf Club on the northern edge of Dartmoor combines moorland and parkland characteristics with natural water hazards and dramatic terrain. Its setting against the moor makes it one of the most scenic rounds in Devon.

Fingle Glen Golf Club lies just west of Exeter, offering an accessible parkland course popular with newer golfers and those wanting a quicker round. Its proximity to the A30 makes it convenient for players travelling from across the region.

Choosing a Course to Suit Your Game

Parkland courses around Exeter generally favour players who shape the ball and manage approach distances carefully, with tree lines punishing wayward driving. Downland and clifftop courses place a premium on wind management, flighting the ball lower and accepting that stated yardages mean little on exposed holes.

Links golf at the estuary mouth demands a different skill set again: running approaches, bump-and-run recovery shots and acceptance of unpredictable bounces. Golfers visiting Devon are well served by playing at least one of each type, as the variety within a short radius is genuinely unusual.

Membership, Visitor Access and Society Golf

Most clubs in the Exeter area operate a mix of full membership, flexible or country membership for less frequent players, and green fee access for visitors. Flexible memberships have grown considerably in popularity, combining a lower annual fee with reduced per-round charges, which suits golfers whose playing frequency varies through the year.

Society and corporate golf is a significant part of the regional market. Package deals typically combine a round with catering and are widely available midweek. Booking well ahead is advisable during the summer months, when Devon's tourism peak places heavy demand on tee times at the better-known coastal courses.

Practice and Improvement Facilities

Serious improvement requires more than playing rounds. Several Exeter-area clubs offer driving ranges, short game areas, practice bunkers and putting greens, and many have PGA professionals delivering individual coaching. Launch monitor technology and video analysis have become common, allowing far more precise diagnosis than traditional observation alone.

Junior and beginner pathways have strengthened noticeably across Devon, with group coaching programmes, shorter course options and relaxed dress codes at several venues making the sport more accessible than it was a generation ago.

Course Conditioning and Sustainability

Greenkeeping in Devon involves managing high rainfall, prolonged damp and occasional summer drought. Modern course management increasingly favours drought-tolerant fescue grasses, reduced irrigation, minimal chemical input and wildlife corridors within the rough. Several courses in the region have developed meaningful ecological areas, supporting wildflower meadows and pollinator habitats alongside playable turf.

Golfers benefit from this directly. Firmer, less heavily watered surfaces produce better ball roll, faster greens and more interesting playing conditions than lush over-irrigated turf.

Final Thoughts

Few English cities offer the range of golf available within half an hour of Exeter. From estuary links and clifftop downland to mature parkland and moorland edge, the variety allows golfers to play a genuinely different game each week. Whether seeking full membership, occasional visitor rounds or a golfing break, the Exeter region rewards exploration well beyond the nearest course.