Attempting to outline the very best golf programs on the planet is clearly a tough and subjective activity.
Nonetheless, on this weblog, we’ve tried to assist
ourselves a bit by breaking it down into totally different sub-categories—from essentially the most
historic and exquisite programs to bucket list-type journeys and the whole lot else in
between.
Want a little bit of inspiration? Learn on…
The very best golf programs on the planet
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Most historic golf programsMost lovely golf programsBucket listing visitsGreatest total experiencesGreatest course designsGreatest golf resortsGreatest new golf programsThe world’s greatest low cost golf course
Most historic golf programs
There actually is nowhere else to begin however the Previous Course at St Andrews. The unique and, many imagine, nonetheless the very best.
The Previous Course won’t dazzle with surroundings
or drama, however it’s filled with a problem so nuanced and delicate that it
typically takes a number of performs to completely respect it.
The legendary Bobby Jones was famously not a fan initially—however ultimately got here to adore it.
It’s the one course the place you’ll hear the often
cynical, medical Tour execs routinely state how they’ve hairs on the again of
their neck standing up on the primary tee.
Additionally on this class sit Prestwick, scene of the primary 24 Opens, and Musselburgh Previous, one other a part of Open folklore.
In the meantime, Royal North Devon is England’s reply to St Andrews.
Most lovely golf programs
The most effective issues about golf is that its
phases take you to lovely places you would possibly in any other case by no means go to.
Do soccer, rugby, tennis or F1 venues take
your breath away? Probably not. Cricket typically does, to be honest, however golf typically does.
Essentially the most spectacular course within the UK, in our opinion, is Turnberry’s Ailsa in Scotland, with a 3rd of its holes set alongside the water.
Over in Eire, step ahead Previous Head, a clifftop golf course of fairly staggering drama.
In continental Europe, Lofoten Hyperlinks is the simple winner. Set inside the North Pole, this spectacular Norwegian course lies the place the mountains meet the ocean. Epic.
Within the US, California’s Pebble Seashore places an enormous tick within the lovely field. Pacific views come as normal right here—and as one of many big-name American programs open to most of the people, it’s a must-visit should you’re ever fortunate sufficient to go to this a part of the world.
South Cape in South Korea and Japan’s Kawana Fuji are strong representatives for Asia on this class, whereas down beneath in Australia, Cape Wickham may very well be described as a fusion of Turnberry and Previous Head—examine that one out, too.
Bucket listing visits
These are the programs that almost all encourage you
to say, “Oh, I’d like to play there!”. We’ve acquired 4 for you, actually.
Prime of the listing for many golfers is definitely Augusta Nationwide.
The annual host of the Masters has ‘emulate-the-stars’
moments on each gap—a few of that are essentially the most thrilling, risk-reward you’ll
ever face. The course is in bewilderingly good situation, too, after all.
Pine Valley in New Jersey is usually the connoisseur’s alternative for the world’s greatest golf course title. It’s uber-private, so few really get to play it, however you by no means hear a disillusioned verdict. Colin Montgomerie, actually, charges it as his #1 course.
Spain’s Actual Membership Valderrama has the sense of mystique you’d anticipate from a €500 inexperienced price and the internet hosting of a legendary Ryder Cup in 1997 (the primary time the match had ever been held exterior of both the UK or the US). And also you’ll not discover a blade of grass misplaced, both.
A maybe much less apparent bucket listing golf course, however no much less spectacular, is the Majlis course on the Emirates Golf Membership in Dubai.
You’ve watched the Tour execs hit THAT tee shot in direction of the skyscrapers; now it’s your flip.
Greatest total experiences
South Africa has many positive golf programs, however the large lure of enjoying right here is that on the likes of Solar Metropolis, for instance, you tackle an outstanding problem whereas additionally taking in a ‘Large 5’ recreation safari.
Or, how about staying on the epic beachside JW Marriott Resort in Mauritius, enjoying at Tamarina Golf, and climbing Le Morne for Insta-worthy footage on the high?
Midnight golf, anybody? Again at Lofoten, and in addition on the likes of Iceland’s Brautarholt, Westman Island, and Keilir, you may play by means of the night time throughout the summer time months.
In case you’ve ever thought of snowboarding and enjoying golf in the identical day, go to the gorgeous nation of Georgia, and you are able to do simply that. Begin with a morning on the mountain slopes earlier than a day drive right down to the capital to play Tbilisi Hills.
Greatest course designs
‘Greatest course design’ is a doubtlessly contentious class, however just a few programs are worthy of inclusion nonetheless, not least Muirfield in Scotland.
This seasoned host of The Open lacks the ocean
views of different hyperlinks however is nonetheless an unremitting problem. Its frequent
adjustments in course imply you always must calculate and work with the
wind.
We talked about it proper at the start, however the Previous Course at St Andrews deserves one other point out right here, too, as do the wonderful Harry Colt heathlands of Sunningdale and Swinley Forest.
Over in Australia, Dr Alister Mackenzie’s ideas of playable-but-strategic golf are in full view at Royal Melbourne’s East Course.
Greatest golf resorts
You possibly can say that Bandon Dunes is the one definitive reply when debating the very best in any class of golf.
It has 4 programs ranked by Golf World in its World Prime 100 public entry listing, all inside 600 yards of one another on-site. Simply think about that—4 of the very best golf programs on the planet in the identical resort. Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, Bandon Trails and Sheep Ranch are all comfortably on that listing, and a fifth—Previous Macdonald—is simply exterior it.
Streamsong additionally has three World Prime 100 entries, whereas Pinehurst opens its 10th course in April 2024. None of its different 9 are something aside from wonderful.
We are able to’t not point out St Andrews once more, both. The Previous, New, Fort, Eden, Jubilee, Strathtyrum,and Balgove programs make this undoubtedly one of many oldest (and most historic) golf resorts.
The King’s, Queen’s, and Centenary programs at Gleneagles make the listing, too, whereas Eire’s Rosapenna, with a new Tom Doak course so as to add to its two nice present hyperlinks, additionally deserves a point out.
Greatest new golf programs
Listed below are a few golf programs which have
solely just lately opened.
In New Zealand, Te Arai has two programs, one by Doak and the opposite by Coore-Crenshaw, that look beautiful and play simply as effectively.
Coore-Crenshaw even have a brand-new design opening at Cabot St Lucia that photos and early suggestions counsel is epic.
BONUS: The world’s greatest low cost golf course
As an added bonus to spherical off our listing of the very best golf programs on the planet, we’re suggesting Shiskine on the island of Arran, off the west coast of Scotland.
It’s solely 12 holes, however nonetheless riotous enjoyable
amongst wonderful seaside surroundings, too.
What’s extra—it’s yours for a really astonishing £32*.
See you there quickly?
*Primarily based on 2023 customer inexperienced charges. Value proven for an grownup 12-hole spherical Monday to Friday.
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