Top 10 Best Golf Courses In The World

Every golfer who has had the opportunity to play any of these fantastic courses will have their own thoughts on which are the best golf courses in the world, but one thing is sure they are all part of the conversation about “The World’s Best Golf Courses.”

To help you with your next golf vacation, we’ve compiled a list of the Greatest Courses in Golf, along with information on what makes each one unique, why you should play it, and how to play it. You may also want to consider playing a few of their neighbouring courses while you’re at it.

From the Home of Golf at Scotland’s St Andrews to the famous links course of Pebble Beach, find inspiration for your next golf trip.

Old Course, St Andrews (Scotland)

This list of best golf courses is incomplete without the famous Old Course, also known as the ‘Home of Golf’ at St Andrews Golf Links. It has hosted The Open more times than any other site, is home to the European Tour’s Dunhill Links, and is widely regarded as the world’s most famous course. The Old Course is a must-play course situated in one of Scotland’s most densely populated golfing locations.

Course Facts	Details
Length	– Back tees: 6,670 yards
	– Front tees: 6,037 yards
Par	72
Architect	Old Tom Morris, Alister MacKenzie
Founded	1850
Course type	Links

Pebble Beach Golf Links (California)

From the top ten list of the best golf courses in the world is California’s Pebble Beach, which is said to have one of the most stunning views in all of golf. Pebble Beach opened for play in 1919 and has since hosted several US Opens, a PGA Championship, and other PGA Tournaments. Pebble Beach is located on the gorgeous Monterey Peninsula, south of San Francisco, and is surrounded by a number of fantastic courses, but this picture-perfect link is the best of the bunch.

Royal County Down (Northern Ireland)

The fact that one of the best golf courses in the world, Royal County Down has never hosted an Open Championship is one of golf’s biggest mysteries, but perhaps this simply adds to its charm. County Down was always destined for greatness, having been designed in 1900 by the legendary Tom Morris and then updated in 1926 by Harry Colt.

The two courses, Annesley and Championship Links, are located in Northern Ireland, beneath the Mourne Mountains and overlooking the Irish Sea. County Down is as gorgeous as it is difficult, so don’t let the difficulty deter you; the views more than compensate for a potentially disastrous scorecard!

Course Facts	Details
Length	– Back tees: 7,186 yards
	– Front tees: 6,249 yards
Par	71
Architect	Old Tom Morris, H S Colt
Founded	1889
Course type	Links

Trump Turnberry Resort, Ailsa Course (Scotland)

The Ailsa Course at Turnberry may not have the history of St Andrews or the terror factor of Carnoustie, but it is still one of the best golf courses in the world and the most pleasing course on the Open Championship itinerary. Since its makeover in 2016, Turnberry has grown from strength to strength and is deservedly regarded as one of the top courses in the world.

Course Facts	Details
Length	– Back tees: 7,489 yards
	– Front tees: 5,406 yards
Par	71
Architect	Mackenzie Ross, Martin Ebert
Founded	1946
Course type	Links

Royal Dornoch Golf Club (Scotland)

Golf was first played at Royal Dornoch in 1616, making it the third-oldest course in history and one of the best golf courses in the world. This is as natural as links golf gets, with a classic out-and-back layout with breathtaking views of the shoreline and Dornoch Firth from the Struie and Championship courses. The Championship course, known for its elevated greens and gorse, is a must-play for any golfer in Scotland.

Course Facts	Details
Length	– Back tees: 6,754 yards
	– Front tees: 5,336 yards
Par	70
Architect	Old Tom Morris, George Duncan
Founded	1877
Course type	Links

Ballybunion Golf Club (Ireland)

Ballybunion, located in the south-west of Ireland, was founded in 1983 on some of the most spectacular links territory that golfers will ever see. The towering dunes, coastline views, and, of course, the architecture all contribute to Ballybunion’s unique character. Tom Watson once characterized the Old Course as “a course on which many golf architects should live and play before they build golf courses”- a deserved tribute from one of the greats!

Royal St George’s Golf Club (England)

Royal St George’s is one of the most natural links layouts in the world, and it has hosted 15 Open Championships. The course runs along the lovely Sandwich Bay in Kent, with big rolling sand dunes, undulating fairways, and several bunkers to contend with. In addition, tourists to this part of England can play at Princes and Royal Cinque Ports, both of which were previously Open Venues.

Royal Birkdale Golf Club (England)

Royal Birkdale is widely recognized as one of the UK’s most renowned golf clubs. Since World War II, it has held more championship and international competitions than any other course in the world. Birkdale Golf Club, founded in 1889 and awarded the prestigious ‘Royal’ status in 1951, is consistently ranked among the top ten courses in the United Kingdom and the top 50 in the world. It first hosted the Open Championship in 1954, when great Australian golfer Peter Thomson won his first five Claret Jugs.

Royal Portrush Golf Club (Northern Ireland)

Last but not least is Royal Portrush’s famous Dunluce Course. This 2019 Open Championship site, situated upon a rocky promontory on the Antrim Coastline in northern Northern Ireland, delivers a stern links test unlike any other. Portrush has experienced various alterations since its foundation in 1888, including those by Harry Colt and, more recently, Mackenzie and Ebert in preparation for the 2019 Open.

Course Facts	Details
Length	– Back tees: 7,319 yards
	– Front tees: 6,097 yards
Par	72
Architect	H S Colt, Martin Ebert
Founded	1888
Course type	Links

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