Best Golf Courses in the World: Discovering the Top Golf Courses on the Planet
If you’re a golf enthusiast, you’re no doubt always on the lookout for new and exciting golf courses to try out. Well, you’re in luck – we’ve compiled a list of the best golf courses in the world, so you can plan your next vacation accordingly.
This list of the best golf courses in the world will highlight the top golf course from around the globe for you to enjoy. And whether you are looking to play them or are just curious about which courses made the cut, this list is a must-read for golf enthusiasts.
If you are looking for golf-related lists, our lists of the best golf gifts, best golf training tools, and best golf gloves will have you covered. These lists will ensure you have everything you need to take on one of these amazing golf courses.
Top 25 Golf Courses in the World:
1. Augusta National Golf Course
Location: Augusta, Georgia, USA
About Golf Course: Nestled in the heart of Georgia, Augusta National Golf Course is one of the most prestigious and iconic courses in the world. Designed by Alister MacKenzie and Bob Jones, the course has been host to the annual Masters Tournament since 1934.
Over the years, the course has undergone various changes and improvements to keep up with the times and today, it features a unique blend of design elements from some of the most renowned golf course architects.
2. Shinnecock Hills Golf Course
Location: Southampton, New York, USA
About Golf Course: Welcome to Shinnecock Hills Golf Course, one of the oldest and most revered courses in America. This beautiful course has been carefully sculpted over the years by some of the biggest names in golf course architecture, and it continues to be one of the best places to play golf in the world.
Shinnecock Hills offers 18 holes of championship golf, and each hole is a true test of your skills. The fairways are lined with thick rough, and the greens are fast and challenging. This is a course that will really make you work for your score.
3. Royal County Down Golf Course
Location: Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland
About Golf Course: Welcome to the Royal County Down Golf Course, one of the best golf courses in the world. This course is truly a sight to behold, with its stunning views of Dundrum Bay and the Mountains of Mourne. The course itself is a work of art, designed by Old Tom Morris and refined by other architects over the years. The greens are flat and well-manicured, while the bunkers are strategically placed and offer a challenge to even the most experienced golfers. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing round of golf or a true test of your skills, the Royal County Down Golf Course is sure to exceed your expectations. Thank you for choosing us and we hope you enjoy your time here at the Royal County Down Golf Course.
4. Pebble Beach Golf Links
Location: Pebble Beach, California, USA
About Golf Course: Pebble Beach Golf Links is one of the best golf courses in the world. This legendary course has been host to many prestigious tournaments over the years, including the U.S. Open and Amateur. The course is situated on the beautiful Monterey Peninsula, offering stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Pebble Beach is known for its picturesque holes, challenging layout, and lush fairways and greens.
5. Royal Melbourne Golf Course
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
About Golf Course: The Royal Melbourne Golf Course is world-renowned for its unique design and spectacular setting. Alister MacKenzie’s 1926 routing fits snuggly into the contours of the rolling sandbelt land, creating a course that is both challenging and beautiful. The greens are miniature versions of the surrounding topography, and the bunkers are expertly placed to test even the most experienced golfer. Most holes dogleg, so distance means nothing and angle into the pin is everything.
6. Pine Valley Golf Course
Location: Pine Valley, New Jersey, USA
About Golf Course: Pine Valley Golf Course is one of the best golf courses in the world. It is located in south-west Jersey and was founded by George Crump. The course has been created by some of the most famous architects in the history of golf, including H.S. Colt, A.W. Tillinghast, George C. Thomas Jr. and Walter Travis. Hugh Wilson, of Merion fame, completed the course.
Pine Valley is unique among golf courses because it blends three different styles of design – penal, heroic and strategic – into one harmonious whole. This makes for a challenging and enjoyable round of golf for players of all levels of ability.
7. Winged Foot Golf Course
Location: Mamaroneck, New York, USA
About Golf Course: Welcome to the famed Winged Foot Golf Club, home of some of the best golf courses in the world. Our picturesque West course has been beautifully restored and is now more open and playable than ever before. Our world-renowned greens, designed by acclaimed architect A.W. Tillinghast, are some of the most challenging and rewarding in the game.
8. Kingston Heath Golf Course
Location: Cheltenham, Victoria, Australia
About Golf Course: Kingston Heath is one of the best golf courses in the world and has been since it opened in 1925. Featuring Bentgrass greens, beautiful fairways, and some of the most strategically placed bunkers in all of golf, Kingston Heath is a must-play for any serious golfer.
If you’re looking for a true test of your golfing skills, look no further than Kingston Heath. It’s a course that will challenge you every step of the way and is sure to leave a lasting impression.
9. Cypress Point Golf Club
Location: Pebble Beach, California, USA
About Golf Course: Designed by Alister MacKenzie, it is often referred to as the ‘Sistine Chapel of golf’.
The club has a rich history and has been home to some of the world’s greatest golfers. In the 2000s, member Sandy Tatum made a commitment to preserve the course’s original architecture. This decision has helped to make Cypress Point one of the most sought-after courses in the world.
Despite its relatively short length, the course is notoriously challenging. But it is this challenge that makes it so rewarding to play. The exquisite bunkering is a particular highlight, and something that sets Cypress Point apart from other courses.
10. Cabot Cliffs Golf Course
Location: Inverness, Canada
About Golf Course: Cabot Cliffs is one of the best golf courses in the world. This spectacular course, designed by Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw, offers a variety of holes that will challenge and thrill any golfer. With its southernmost holes in Lahinch-like sand dunes and its northernmost holes atop Pebble Beach-type ocean cliffs, Cabot Cliffs is a truly unique and world-class golf experience. In addition to its 6 par 5s and 6 par 3s, the course also features an additional one-shot bye-hole, making it one of the most challenging and exciting courses around.
11. Golf de Morfontaine
Location: Senlis, Oise, France
About Golf Course: If you’re looking for a world-class golfing experience, look no further than Golf de Morfontaine. This 1927 Tom Simpson-designed course is widely considered one of the best in the world, and it’s easy to see why.
Set in a beautiful forest north of Paris, Morfontaine looks like something straight out of a postcard. The windswept Scotch pines and heather give the course a distinctly British feel, while the dense forest surrounding the holes adds an extra level of challenge. And speaking of challenge, theCourse has been updated in recent years to include a new 12th green that extends the par-5 by 60 yards.
12. Royal Dornoch Golf Course
Location: Dornoch, Sutherland, Scotland
About Golf Course: There are few places on earth that can rival the majesty of the Royal Dornoch Golf Course. Situated on the shores of the North Sea in the Scottish Highlands, this course has been called the most natural and most fun in the world by some of golf’s biggest names.
The Royal Dornoch Golf Course is a true test of your skills, with many of the greens sitting on elevated plateaus. The wind coming off the sea can make conditions challenging, but that’s all part of the fun. This is a course that you’ll never tire of playing, and it’s easy to see why it’s consistently rated as one of the best in the world.
13. Sunningdale Golf Course
Location: Sunningdale, Ascot, Berkshire, England
About Golf Course: Set amidst a stunningly beautiful pine forest, Sunningdale Golf Course is one of the most celebrated golf courses in the world. Designed by the legendary Willie Park Jr., this course dates back to 1901 and is widely considered to be one of the most advanced designs of its day.
Sunningdale is often likened to other great American courses such as Pine Valley or Pinehurst, due to its stunning visuals and challenging layout. The course is renowned for its huge greens, strategically placed bunkers and sandy base which makes it play like a links course.
14. The Old Course at St. Andrews Links
Location: St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland
About Golf Course: There’s nothing quite like playing a round of golf on the Old Course at St. Andrews Links. This historic course is ground zero for all golf architecture and has been the inspiration for countless other courses around the world. No matter your skill level, you’ll appreciate the challenge that this course offers. And with stunning views of the Scottish countryside, it’s no wonder why the Old Course is widely considered one of the best golf courses in the world. So come and experience golf the way it was meant to be played – on the hallowed grounds of St. Andrews.
15. Sand Hills Golf Course
Location: Mullen, Nebraska, USA
About Golf Course: Golfers from all over the world flock to Sand Hills Golf Course to experience the one-of-a-kind design and natural beauty. Situated in central Nebraska, the course is built on rolling sand hills that offer stunning views in every direction. Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw designed the course to take advantage of the natural landscape, resulting in a layout that is both challenging and breathtaking.
With 4,000 cubic yards of earth moved during construction, the course has a minimal impact on the surrounding environment. The bunkers were created by letting the wind shape the sand, resulting in unique features that are constantly changing. No two holes are alike at Sand Hills Golf Course, making it a must-play for any serious golfer.
16. Muirfield Golf Course
Location: Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
About Golf Course: Muirfield is world-renowned as a top golf course, and it’s easy to see why. The fairways are perfectly manicured and the greens are just the right size, making it a challenge for even the most experienced golfers. But what really sets Muirfield apart is its unique routing. Because the front nine and back nine change direction, you’re always facing different winds, which makes for a very interesting and challenging round of golf. So if you’re looking for a truly world-class golfing experience, look no further than Muirfield.
17. Merion Golf Course
Location: Ardmore, Pennsylvania, USA
About Golf Course: If you’re looking for a world-class golfing experience, look no further than Merion Golf Course. Voted one of the best courses in the world, Merion offers a unique challenge for golfers of all skill levels. From its canted fairways and fast greens to its picturesque setting, there’s something for everyone at this historic course. So whether you’re a seasoned pro or a first-time player, come and see what all the fuss is about at Merion Golf Course.
18. Fishers Island Golf Club
Location: Fishers Island, New York, USA
About Golf Course: Nestled atop Fishers Island, the Fishers Island Golf Club is widely considered to be one of the best golf courses in the world. Designed by the late, great architect Seth Raynor, the course is a masterpiece of design, with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island Sound. Featuring Raynor’s signature bunkers and greens, the course is a true test of golfing skill, and is sure to challenge and delight players of all levels. So come and experience the best that golf has to offer at the Fishers Island Golf Club.
19. Cape Kidnappers Golf Course
Location: Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
About Golf Course: Cape Kidnappers Golf Course is one of the best golf courses in the world. Located on a windswept plateau high above the sea, this course offers stunning views and challenging gameplay. Architect Tom Doak designed the course to take advantage of the natural lay of the land, creating a series of ridges and valleys that provide a unique and challenging experience for golfers of all skill levels.
20. Chicago Golf Course
Location: Wheaton, Illinois, USA
About Golf Course: If you’re looking for the best golfing experience in the Windy City, look no further than the Chicago Golf Course. Widely regarded as one of America’s first 18-hole courses, this C.B. Macdonald creation is a true test of your golfing skills. With all out-of-bounds on the left, this course is perfect for those who tend to slice the ball. And with its famous hole emulation, you’ll feel like you’re playing on some of the most famous courses in the world.
21. Royal Birkdale Golf Course
Location: Southport, England
About Golf Course: There are very few golf courses in the world that can boast of a pedigree as impressive as Royal Birkdale. Three generations of the Hawtree design firm have worked on the course, and it has been host to some of the biggest events in golf, including the British Open, Ryder Cup, and Walker Cup. The course itself is a true test of golf, with its flat fairways and challenging greens situated between towering dunes. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a relative novice, Royal Birkdale is sure to provide an enjoyable and memorable round of golf.
22. Shanqin Bay Golf Course
Location: Bo’ao, Hainan Island, China
About Golf Course: Shanqin Bay Golf Course is one of the most popular and best golf courses in the world. Located in China, this course is designed by the highly regarded firm of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. It is a course that is perfect for all levels of players, from beginners to pros. With its wide corridors flanked by jungle gunch and big intricate greens, Shanqin Bay offers a unique and challenging experience for all who play it. In addition, the course’s proximity to the South China Sea is outstanding, making it a perfect choice for those looking for a breathtaking golfing experience.
23. Cape Wickham Links
Location: King Island, Tasmania, Australia
About Golf Course: Australia is home to some of the best golf courses in the world, and the Cape Wickham Links is one of them. This course is a collaboration between American Mike DeVries and Australian golf writer Darius Oliver, and it has only been open for less than six months.
The Cape Wickham Links is located on a breathtaking site along Bass Strait, with its routing heart-pounding. The holes start along rocks and crashing surf, then move inland but not out of the wind. The course then returns to the ocean edge at the downhill 10th, pitch-shot 11th, and drivable par-4 12th before wandering into dunes. The closing hole curves along Victoria Cove beach, which is in play at low tides.
24. Crystal Downs Golf Course
Location: Frankfort, Michigan, USA
About Golf Course: Situated in the heart of the Midwest, this course was designed by renowned architect Alister MacKenzie. Perry Maxwell, MacKenzie’s associate, lived onsite during construction and is said to have added his own personal touches to the course.
What sets Crystal Downs apart from other courses is its zigzagging fairways and rolling greens. The greens are especially unique, with doglegs that create a challenge for even the most seasoned golfer. While the greens may be a bit too steep for today’s liking, they are still a sight to behold.
25. St. George’s Golf and Country Club
Location: Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada
About Golf Course: Nestled among the forested glacial land of Canada, St. George’s Golf and Country Club is home to one of the world’s best golf courses. This Stanley Thompson design features meandering fairways that traverse valleys, with greens perched on domes. The putting surfaces are tightly bunkered and full of hidden undulations, making for a challenging yet fun round of golf.
Best Golf Courses in the World Conclusion
After reading through this list, you should have a pretty good idea of some of the best golf courses in the world that are worth checking out. The history and beauty surrounding these top courses make it easy to see why each of them made the list.
So, whether you’re looking for a challenge or just want to admire some stunning scenery, be sure to add one (or all!) of these courses to your bucket list. And for help getting to any of these amazing courses, use our list of the best travel accessories to help you plan and book your trip.
Do you have a favorite golf course or one you would like to visit? If you do, please feel free to share that below in the comments.
