Top 10 golf courses to visit in the UK in 2012

With 2012 looking set to provide another fine year of golf, let's take a look at a few of the UK best course to whet your appetite.

Royal St George's

Blending gracefully into the surrounding countryside, this course is likely to provide an exciting day of golf whilst offering the opportunity to play a delightful variety of shots avoiding the grand bunkers. The course built in a similar manner to Muirfield consists of two broad circular nines constructing an approximate figure of eight - a real challenge for the mental golfer, especially when the wind joins the game.

Formby

This course is a veritable jewel of The North stretching out as a lovingly presented beauty set amongst towering trees. Extended from its original 1884 nine holes it now measures 7028 yards from top to tail and is considered to be a tough course.

Royal Lytham & St Annes

Royal Lytham and St Annes is a real challenge to even the most experienced golfer, with a three par starting hole that is unique to the Open Championship circuit. This outstanding course is steeped in history and will deliver an excellent days’ play, with the firm and fast greens providing serious challenges.

Birkdale

It’s not without reason that this course is often voted England's number one golf destination. A blustery and difficult experience when the wind is blowing, but when the weather is clear this is a lovely day’s play for any golfer.

Sunningdale

Sunningdale is arguably one of England's most beautiful golf courses. It’s an awe-inspiring place to play golf lines with pine birch and oak trees, heathery terrain and narrow fairways.

Saunton East

Sitting right beside a glorious Devonshire coastline this course is a difficult challenge for beginners and experts alike. With 8 par fours that are over 400 yards long, a player will need their best game. 36 of the finest seaside links in the UK make this is a course that merits repeat visits.

Swinley forest

A gem of a course situated on the famous Surrey/Berkshire sand belt which flies in the face of conventions, only recently introducing pars and scorecards to play. A favourite in late spring when the stunning rhododendrons bloom.

Chart Hills

Since opening in 1993, this Nick Faldo designed golf course has been consistently tripping up even the most experienced golfer with its excess of both sand and water obstacles. It’s a slickly run establishment with superior service and a striking design that conforms the contours of the land to dazzling effect.

Wentworth East

Despite sister course Wentworth West gaining the most media plaudits and the vast majority of the attention this course is no shrinking violet, and perhaps is an even more enjoyable option for the typical golfer who wants to test their golf equipment. It’s a relatively short course in an enclosed woodland environment and should give a highly pleasant days golfing.

West Lancashire

Lancashire's oldest surviving golf club dates from 1837 and was left to us by the hands of an unknown architect. This often overlooked Northern treasure rises out of the surrounding landscape in an understated fashion, and offers a perspective that encapsulates the Crosby Channel. With clear weather, a distant sighting of the Blackpool tower is a possibility.