Representative image Photo: Phillip Capper from Wellington, New Zealand · CC BY 2.0
Royal West Norfolk Golf Club
Brancaster, Norfolk, United Kingdom
18 Holes · Par 71 · Visitor green fees vary by season and format; no single figure confirmed · Links
— About
About Royal West Norfolk Golf Club
Royal West Norfolk Golf Club, known to most golfers as Brancaster, is an 18-hole, par 71 links on the north Norfolk coast. The course runs along a narrow strip of linksland, with the North Sea on one side and salt marsh on the other. Marsh crossings come into play on several holes, and the hazards that define the round are the bunkers, many of them faced with railway sleepers. Few links lean on that look as heavily, and the effect is a course that feels very much like its Victorian origins.
- The 3rd is a long par 4 with a boarded bunker.
- Some fairways are shared between holes, with crossings that serve more than one hole.
- Coastal erosion has forced design changes to the layout.
- Visitors play two-balls only, either singles or foursomes; three- and four-ball play is not permitted.
History of Royal West Norfolk Golf Club
Golf has been played at Brancaster since 1892, when the club was founded. Horace Hutchinson and Holcombe Ingleby are the names tied to the original layout. Outside the changes the sea has forced, the course is little altered from its Victorian origins.
Signature holes at Royal West Norfolk Golf Club
The 8th is a par 5 with a carry over marsh and a bridge to the green, and the 9th is a par 4 over more marsh to a raised green held up by sleepers. The two play very differently at high and low tide. The round ends with the 18th, a par 4 that finishes at a green surrounded by sand and sleepered bunkers.
When to play Royal West Norfolk Golf Club
Plan around the tide rather than the calendar. High water covers the road to the clubhouse, so the club publishes tide times on its website for anyone arriving by car. The marsh crossings on the 8th and 9th are also affected, so check the tide when you book and again before you set off.
Playing Royal West Norfolk Golf Club: tips
Royal West Norfolk is a members' club that welcomes visitors in limited numbers. Contact the club office on +44 1485 210087 to arrange a round, and book early.
— Weather at Royal West Norfolk Golf Club
Approximate conditions · Observed · Open-Meteo
Visit Royal West Norfolk Golf Club
Brancaster, King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE31 8AX
Brancaster, Norfolk, United Kingdom
— FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Royal West Norfolk Golf Club
Why is Royal West Norfolk called Brancaster?
The club sits at Brancaster on the north Norfolk coast, and golfers use the village name as shorthand for the course and the club.
Do you need a handicap to play?
The club asks that visitors show a proficient standard of golf. Ask the office what they expect when you book.
What happens to the course at high tide?
At high water parts of the course become cut off, and the clubhouse cannot be reached by car. Plan arrival times with the tide table.