Harwich & Dovercourt Golf Club

The golf course sits right on the Essex coast near Harwich, where the North Sea wind gets properly involved in your game. Harwich & Dovercourt is a links-style track that rewards straight hitting and punishes dreamers - which is either brilliant or infuriating depending on your handicap.

You'll walk mostly flat terrain with views across the water and surrounding marshland. The course has character without being brutally difficult, making it approachable for mid-range golfers while still engaging the serious players. The layout follows the coastline, so you get that nice seaside atmosphere without the distraction of amusement arcades.

It's a members' club primarily, though visitors can usually arrange play if you ring ahead and show some credentials. Green fees aren't bargain basement but reasonable for the location. Allow a full morning or afternoon for eighteen holes, longer if it's busy.

For a park holiday in the area - Dovercourt Holiday Park sits just 1.3 miles away, making this genuinely convenient if you're staying there. Suffolk Sands and Felixstowe Beach parks are also within easy driving distance if you fancy mixing coastal golf with caravan life. The Harwich seafront itself offers fish and chips and a proper working harbour to wander round.

Worth it if you're a golfer staying locally. If you're not serious about golf, the town's maritime heritage museum and beaches offer more varied entertainment for families.