Learn about the most wonderful golfing destinations in the world. This guide will see the highest-rated courses which consist of windy coastal links, and breathtaking desert courses. The quest of searching the best golf courses in the world is a terrific experience that carries you to breathtaking locations and allows you to stroll on the fairways of the legends.
And it is a prize to make a special memory whether you are playing the historic links of Scotland or the grand courses of the United States, every round is an opportunity to create a special memory.
What Makes a Course One of the Best?
Ratings of the best golf courses in the world are done by panels of expert raters. These golfers are going to different places and play hundreds of courses. They seek greatness in golf course design, picturesque location and enjoyable and challenging experience by players. A great course is so natural that it belongs to the surrounding and fits well into the nature.
Of late, analysts are particularly enthusiastic with links golf courses. The oldest form of golf is these, constructed on sandy and coastal grounds. They use solid and quick-playing turf and innovative shots, similar to the initial game in Scotland.
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Best Golf Courses: Golf as It Was Meant to Be
These seaside courses are renowned because of their natural scenery and strategic games.
St. Andrews (Old Course), Scotland
It is referred to as the cradle of golf and it is a stroll through the history playing there. The extensive, common greens and ingenious bunkers have been the source of inspiration of golf architecture centuries. Golfweek has ranked it as the second best course in the world.
- Rules: It is a public course! A handicap certificate is required and you can enter a daily ballot (lottery) to enter a tee time.
- Stay Nearby: The renowned Old Course Hotel has got a view of the legendary 17 th hole, the Road Hole.
Royal County Down, Northern Ireland
This is one of the prettiest golf courses in the world with the Mountains of Mourne as a background. Golfweek has placed it at position one as the international course. It is a memorable test because of its well known blinding shots and excellent bunkering.
- Playing: The club is privately players but can be visited by visitors. It is recommended that you should think far ahead.
- Stay Nearby: Slieve Donard resort is the historic one and is adjacent to the course.
Royal Dornoch, Scotland
It has been described here as the most fun that Tom Watson ever had on a golf course. It is further enhanced by its distance deep in the Scottish Highlands.
- Rules of Play Visitors are not only welcome, but the club is surprisingly easy to approach as an elite club.
Classic American Masterpieces
These American courses are known to be legendary in their design and difficulty.
Pine Valley, New Jersey, USA
Considered the best golf course in the world, Pine Valley is a world renowned course because of its dramatic and sandy scenery and excellent green complexes. It is regarded as an ideal representation of so-called penal architecture, with the errant shots severely penalised.
Cypress Point, California, USA
This course is located on the breathtaking Monterey Peninsula and it is a masterpiece by architect Alister MacKenzie. It has the legendary 16 th hole, a par-3 from the raging Pacific Ocean, which is one of the most photographed golf holes.
Augusta National, Georgia, USA
This home course of The Masters, was a joint venture of champion Bobby Jones and architect Alister MacKenzie. They desired to design an experience that would have the strategic choices of St. Andrews in which there would be safe passages and hazardous passages on most of the holes.
Great Modern Gems
When founded on great land, newer courses may immediately become classics.
Sand Hills, Nebraska, USA
This course is a creation of the 1995 year, and demonstrated how a phenomenal natural golf course could be created by a very little earth being moved. It gave rise to a design era that was concerned with the current landscape.
Cabot Saint Lucia
This is a newer ocean front golf course in the Caribbean that was created by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw and is carved through spectacular cliffs. It has 9 of its greens that are located directly at the Atlantic Ocean
In order to make you compare this or that famous course, the following is a brief description
Name of the course Location Important aspect Visitor Access.
| Course Name | Location | Key Feature | Visitor Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Andrews (Old) | St. Andrews, Scotland | Birthplace of Golf; Historic Links | Public (Handicap Required) |
| Pine Valley | New Jersey, USA | #1 Ranked; Penal Design | Extremely Private |
| Royal Melbourne (West) | Melbourne, Australia | Alister MacKenzie's Sandbelt Masterpiece | Private (Reciprocal Clubs) |
| Cypress Point | California, USA | Iconic Oceanfront Holes | Very Private |
| Royal County Down | Newcastle, N. Ireland | Mountain & Sea Views | Private (Visitors Welcome) |
How to Plan Your Ultimate Golf Trip
It takes planning to play the best golf courses. Most of the best clubs are privately owned though some may permit a visitor to play on some days or by introduction.
- Make Reservation Early: When it comes to a very popular course such as St. Andrews, book the tee time as far in advance as possible or play the daily ballot.
- Hire an Expert: Golf travel agencies would assist in trip planning, tee times that are difficult to book, caddies, and hotels.
- Check Requirements: A good course always needs to have evidence of an official handicap to maintain a good pace of play.
Beyond the Top 10: Amazing Golf Destinations
When attempting to pursue the best top 100 courses in the world, be sure not to overlook these amazing golf trip destinations that feature several great courses:
- Bandon Dunes, Oregon: a pure golf resort that contains five magnificent links courses at the Pacific Ocean.
- Pinehurst, North Carolina: The oldest, the home of American golf which is equipped with the most renowned No. 2 course designed by Donald Ross.
- The Melbourne Sandbelt, Australia: This area around the royal melbourne has thick populations of excellent and sandy golf courses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a "links" golf course?
The primitive form of golf is a links course that is constructed on sandy and coastal grounds (known as linksland). They are very hard, gusty and there are not many trees in them focusing on ground shots.
What are the differences between the public and the private golf courses?
Open courses can be booked and played by anybody. In the case of private courses participation is by invitation or membership. Visitors are permitted to play in some of the private clubs.
Where are the best golf courses in the world organized?
Rankings are voted by expert panels of publications such as Golf Digest and GOLF. They take into consideration design, conditioning, scenery and total experience.
Will a low handicap be required to play the best courses in the world?
In most elite courses, they have a certified handicap, which is usually not above 24-36 in men to make all players feel that they are enjoying the round and the game has a good flow.
What is the best country with the finest golf courses?
United States, United Kingdom, and Australia are constantly ranked highly in global top 100 lists with combination of traditional and contemporary designs.
