While most golf clubs in the UK accept visitors with open arms, a small select group prides itself on its exclusivity.
Strictly reserved for the use of members and their guests, these clubs are incredibly hard to play unless you know the right people, with their hallowed fairways strictly reserved for the creme de la creme of golfers.
These prestigious venues are not only tough to play but also incredibly hard to become a member of, with trim membership levels usually maintained in order to prevent courses from becoming busy and clubhouses from becoming overcrowded.
The courses we are about to mention maintain a certain level of secrecy, and regard their member's privacy with the utmost importance. From professional footballers to CEOs, each club's members list is decorated with household names and titans of industry.
So, here are five of the most exclusive golf clubs in the UK.
Wentworth
Wentworth
The home of the DP World Tour and the BMW PGA Championship, Wentworth has three 18-hole courses, the East, West and Edinburgh.
Located in Virginia Water, Surrey, one of the most affluent locations in the UK, Wentworth was once open to visitors, but that all changed in 2014, when its new owners decided to trim down its membership and increase the joining fee.
The once 3,000-person membership has been reportedly cut to 250 as a result of the new ownership, with the debenture fee required to join being a reported £100,000.
Notable members of the course have included Ernie Els and the late Sir Michael Parkinson.
Widely regarded as the most exclusive golf course in Europe, Queenwood opened its doors to a select group of members in 2001.
Situated just down the road from Wentworth in Ottershaw, Surrey, the elite members club features a stunning David McLay Kidd designed golf course that is said to be one of the finest golf courses in Europe, with pristine conditioning and spectacular scenery.
Little is known about Queenwood due to its level of secrecy, but it is reported that joining fees at the course are said to be in the £200,000 region.
Its select membership is said to feature superstars from the world of film and sport as well as a number of professional golfers, including Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter, who are said to enjoy the standard of facilities and the level of privacy it provides.
To give you an idea of just how private Queenwood is, you need a password and username in order to simply view the website.
Sunningdale
Sunningdale
Featuring two of the finest courses anywhere in the world, Sunningdale is a golfing paradise for those lucky enough to play it.
The two Harry Colt-designed courses feature stunning backdrops and some of the finest course architecture anywhere in the world.
The elite membership includes some of the biggest names in golf as well as influential figures from around the world.
Priding itself on its tradition and elegance, the club recently terminated the membership of former professional footballer Jimmy Bullard after he hit his first tee shot off the top of a bottle of Peroni.
Bullard has since publicly begged the club to reinstate his membership, but it appears some stunts are unforgivable at a course of Sunningdale's stature.
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond
Surrounded by views of the stunning Loch from which this club was named, Loch Lomond boasts some of the most breathtaking scenery you will find anywhere in the UK.
The famous Scottish course has hosted numerous Scottish Opens and has been the scene for some famous victories over the years for players including Colin Montgomerie, Martin Kaymer, Els and Lee Westwood.
The course is kept in immaculate condition, but if you want to sample the manicured fairways it offers, then you will need to be invited by a member, of which there are few.
The joining fee for Loch Lomond is reported to be in the region of £100,000.
Royal St George's
Royal St George's
Arguably the best course in England, Royal St George's has hosted The Open Championship 15 times in its history, with the most recent of those coming in 2021, when Collin Morikawa lifted the famous Claret Jug.
Located on Kent's south coast in Sandwich, the historic course opened in 1887 and was the first golf course outside Scotland to host The Open Championship.
The stunning links course requires a great deal of thought and skill in order to be overcome, with a number of tabletop greens and beautifully twisting fairways providing players with stimulation and contemplation in equal measure.
Boasting world-famous lunches and a clubhouse steeped in history, Royal St George's is playable for the public at select times of the week for £330, but obtaining membership will require a great deal more than just your hard-earned cash.
