Fore-sure, these 10 golf courses will leave you green with envy and itching to grab your clubs
by Stefanie Michaels
Golf has been a popular sport for centuries, and the love for the game has led to the creation of some of the finest golf courses worldwide.
These golf courses grant players breathtaking landscapes, challenging holes, and spectacular designs–from the historic St. Andrews in Scotland to the scenic Pebble Beach in California, the best golf courses worldwide are renowned for their beauty, difficulty, and timeless appeal.
Whether you are a seasoned pro or just starting, playing on one of these courses is an unforgettable experience that will stay with you forever.
Here are the top ones around the world.
- Augusta National Golf Club: Augusta, Georgia, USA – Known for its stunning beauty and challenging course design, Augusta National is considered one of the best golf courses in the world. The club is home to the Masters Tournament, one of the four major championships in professional golf.
- Royal County Down Golf Club: Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland – Located on the shores of the Irish Sea, Royal County Down features breathtaking coastal views and a challenging course that has been ranked as the best in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
- Pinehurst Resort (No. 2 Course): Pinehurst, North Carolina, USA – Designed by the legendary architect Donald Ross, the No. 2 course at Pinehurst Resort is known for its rolling terrain and iconic sand bunkers. The course has hosted numerous major championships, including the U.S. Open.
- Andrews Old Course: St. Andrews, Scotland – Andrews is known as the “home of golf,” and its Old Course is one of the most famous and iconic golf courses in the world. The links-style course has a rich history dating back to the 1400s, and has hosted the British Open numerous times.
- Cypress Point Club: Pebble Beach, California, USA – Located on the stunning Monterey Peninsula, Cypress Point Club is known for its beautiful ocean views and challenging course design. The club is exclusive and difficult to get into, which adds to its allure.
- Shinnecock Hills Golf Club: Southampton, New York, USA – Founded in 1891, Shinnecock Hills is one of the oldest golf clubs in the United States and has a rich history of hosting major championships, including the U.S. Open. The course is known for its challenging greens and windswept dunes.
- Royal Melbourne Golf Club (West Course): Melbourne, Victoria, Australia – Located in the suburb of Black Rock, the Royal Melbourne Golf Club is considered one of the best golf courses in Australia and has hosted numerous international tournaments. Its West Course, designed by Alister MacKenzie, is known for its strategic bunkering and undulating greens.
- Muirfield: Gullane, Scotland, Muirfield is a links-style golf course located in East Lothian, Scotland, and is the home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. The course has a long history of hosting the British Open, and its challenging design has earned it a reputation as one of the best courses in the world.
- Kapalua Resort (Plantation Course): Maui, Hawaii, USA – Located on the island of Maui, the Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course is known for its stunning ocean views and challenging course design. The course has hosted the PGA Tour’s season-opening tournament, the Sentry Tournament of Champions, since 1999.
- Royal Troon Golf Club (Old Course): Troon, Scotland – The Old Course at Royal Troon Golf Club is a links-style course and one of the premire golf courses, located on the west coast of Scotland. It has a long history of hosting the British Open and is known for its challenging winds and fast greens.
A little History:
Golf has a long and storied history that dates back to the 15th century in Scotland. The modern game as we know it today has its roots in Scotland, where early versions of the sport involved hitting a pebble around a natural course using a club.
Over time, the sport evolved to include different clubs and balls made of various materials, including leather and feathers. Golf quickly gained popularity in Scotland and eventually spread to other countries, including the United States and Great Britain, where it became a widely played and enjoyed the sport.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, golf experienced a surge in popularity and was officially recognized as a sport by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.
These days, golf is played and enjoyed by millions of people worldwide and is one of the most widely watched and played sports in the world.
