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Best Golf Courses Around the World

A good round of golf is not all about the amount of birdies one makes or the total score of your round, what makes a round of golf truly special is the course that you are playing on. A golf course does a lot for golfers, imagine yourself as a golfer playing on a course with no views nor scenery, or a course without many challenges making the round way too easy, it would simply be boring. Below are the ten golf courses that should be played on by serious golfers as they are beyond doubt fantastic, although they are not done in order of any kind.

  1. Pine Valley

Pine Valley was founded in 1913 by amateur golfers and was designed by George Arthur Crump, but he tragically never got round to he his masterpiece as he died before the completion in 1919. Pine Valley is considered by golf critics around the world as being the best golf club on earth, it is a perfect example of a penal golf course architecture. When it first opened in 1919, it took three years for someone to get round the course in 70 strokes. Members realized that they can make easy money so a standing bet was placed for first timers at this course that they will not break 80. In 1954 along came a young man who was relatively unknown at that time, who went by the name of Arnold Palmer. Palmer took all the bets that were placed with everyone thinking this young man is a fool in accepting a feat that could never be accomplished, Palmer shot a 68. Although I doubt if anyone were to go for their first time anytime soon, don’t bet with anyone because the course will punish you until you have had enough.

Location: Pine Valley Golf Club, Clementon, New Jersey (NJ) 08021, USA

Contact: Tel- +1 856 309 3203

  1. The Old Course at St Andrews

In any rankings, it is very rare that one would find the Old Course at St Andrews to be outside the top ten, because after all is THE Home of Golf. The course was designed by none other than Mother Nature herself making this a very extraordinary links course. This is the oldest golf course in the world as it is believed that as early as the 12th century, golf was played here. For first timers, this course will do nothing but frustrate you but it is the type of course that takes time to get used to and eventually loved. In the Open Championship that we watch on the television, the course looks flat, but in reality the humps and ripples are a lot deeper than they look. The most famous hole here is the 17th, where the best in the world and come and have fallen right on this very hole. It is a course that should at least be played on once by golfers. Imagine the shivers down your spine when the starter calls your name.

Location: St Andrews Links, Pilmour House St Andrews, Fife, KY 16 9SF, Scotland

Contact: Tel- +44 (0) 1334 466666, for further information, visit http://www.standrews.org.uk/

  1. Augusta National Golf Club

Ever since 1934, The Masters has been held at this course as it is one of the famous and exclusive golf courses in the world which every golf fan wants to be on at least onece in their lifetime. Founded by the legendary Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie , the perfect duo made one hell of a perfect golf course! A golf course that radiates a charm that could never be matched even the likes of Tiger Woods who have played here on countless occasions considers himself lucky to ever be in the presence of one of the greatest courses ever built, and he is the world number one! The course is also famous for its botanic beauty. Because the Masters is held on the first weekend following the first full week in April, the flowers of the trees and shrubs bordering the course are in full bloom during the tournament making it even more beautiful. Membership here is not done by application, such process do not exist. The only way to gain membership is to be invited, but do not give up hope, all you need to do and make friends with a member and kindly ask them to take you as a guest! A Green Jacket anybody?

Location: Augusta national Golf Club, 2604 Washington Road, Augusta, Georgia (GA) 30904 USA

Contact: Tel- +1 706 667 6000, for further information, visit http://www.masters.org/

  1. Pebble Beach

This is nothing but paradise for golfers, as Pebble is truly astonishing in terms of play, history and scenery. Not the cheapest of courses to be playing at, a round here is at more than $400 but if you are willing to pay this amount, it is guarantee that you would get your money’s worth. If anybody has a chance to play here, try to put aside the scenery and concentrate solely on your game then a good score is not impossible. If you cannot put aside the scenery then don’t think about the score and try to have as much fun as you can. Because playing on a course like this, at the end of the day if you are not a professional competing in a tournament then your score does not really matter, what matters is you have just played golf on one of the most beautiful courses on the world, just being there is enough. Golf critics believe that 7th-10th hole is the greatest sequence of holes on the planet. Jack Nicklaus once said if he was to play his last ever round of golf, Pebble Beach would be the course of choice. Enough said.

Location: Pebble Beach Resorts, 1700 17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, California (CA) 93953 USA

Contact: Tel- +1 800 654 9300, for more information, visit http://www.pebblebeach.com/

  1. Oakmont Country Club

Oakmont is prestigious due to the fact that it has hosted the most major championships in America. From the mouths of professional golfers themselves, this is considered as one of the most difficult courses one can ever play on, it will leave you in shock and frustration but in a way that you appreciate that experience. It is hard to imagine a course with virtually no water hazards and now virtually no trees. As recent renovations saw the removal of approximately 400 trees but the course has absurdly quick, rippling greens, some 200 bunkers, the most famous being the Church Pews bunkers that can be so unforgiving if anyone is unlucky enough to ever land in there (even professionals do, what chances do we have?!) Although none of us will ever grace the Church Pews bunker unless you apply for membership (which is near impossible) or play as a guest. An Oakmont experience is something that cannot and will not be forgotten.

Location: Oakmont Country Club, 1233 Hulton Road, Oakmont, Pennsylvania (PA) 15139 USA

Contact: Tel- +1 412 828 4653, for more information, visit http://www.oakmont-countryclub.org/

  1. Carnoustie

Remember that epic collapse at the Open Championship 1999 by a French man who went by the name of Jean Van de Velde? Where he had a six shot lead, a double bogey on the last could have and would have done the job and put his name is the history books but instead he hit his shot into the Barry Burn and everything went pear shaped from there. He went on to lose to Paul Lawrie, with Lawrie thinking he had lost it when Van de Velde teed of on the last. This is an example of how things can go wrong at Carnoustie, a punishing course where one bad shot can mean the end. As Van de Velde found out in 1999, the finishing holes here are as brutal as they come providing one of, if not, the best back nines of championship golf. It is not the most attractive of golf courses but the subliminal design will haunt you with is severe lay out.

Location: Carnoustie Golf Links, Links Parade, Carnoustie, Angus, DD7 7JE, Scotland

Contact: Tel- +44 (0) 1241 853789, for further information, visit http://www.carnoustiegolflinks.co.uk/

  1. Casa de Campo (Teeth of the Dog)

Hearing the name of this place triggers enough interest for people to go there and play some golf! This placed is described as ‘the Caribbean’s most complete resort’ and it would be a lie to disagree. This course was designed by the genius that is Pete Dye, over two years Dye and his wife Alice (who happened to be an architect) along with 300 or so local helpers transformed an overgrown rocky wasteland that ran along the coastline of the Dominican Republic into the most provocative golf courses in the world today. The designer himself is a modest man, claiming that 11 of the eighteen holes were his work but the other 7 was God’s work. If you are bored with golf courses in America or the United Kingdom, why not come and if so, you are sure to be bitten by the Teeth of the Dog!

Location: Casa de Campo, La Romana, Dominican Republic

Contact: Tel- +1 809 523 3333, for further information, visit http://www.casedecampo.com.do/

  1. Winged Foot (West)

Designed by one of America’s greatest course designers, A.W Tillinghast did an absolutely wonderful job on this course where Phil Mickelson fell in the 2006 U.S Open Championship in what was deemed as one of the most memorable final collapses in major championship golf (though some people may beg to differ as Jean Van de Velde was also memorable!). You can go there and play the course and see where Mickelson went wrong but the catch to playing at Winged Foot is, in order to play you need an invitation! This is a heavily wooded meadowland, a serious golf course with practically no weak holes, expect to use every club in the bag. Closing six holes can murder your mentality and game as this is not the course to be messed with. Planning ahead is vital here, just ask Phil.

Location: Winged Foot Golf Club, Fennimore Road, Mamaroneck, New York (NY) 10543, USA

Contact: Tel- +1 914 381 5821, for further information, visit http://www.wfgc.org/

  1. Kawana (Fuji)

The Kawana Resort offers two golf courses but the one that is regarded as the better one is definitely Fuji, the younger course of the two. Spectacular Pacific Ocean views from cliff tops, sunken folded fairways, plateau greens and Fuji as the background, it is not difficult to understand why this is a favourite among Japanese golfers. Many tournaments have been held here, the most memorable one dates back to 1960 for the World Amateur Golf Team Championship for the Eisenhower Trophy and more recently the Fuji Sankei Classic. One cannot help but be distracted by the nature that surrounds you playing there, it is simply marvelous and should be checked out if you had the chance, as this oriental experience may not be found else where.

Location: 1459 Kawana, Ito City, Shizuoka, Chubu, Honshu, Japan

Contact: Tel- +81 557 45 1111, for further information,

visit www.princehotels.co.jp/kawana/

  1. Valderrama

 

This course is dubbed as the ‘Augusta of Europe’ thanks to Jaime Ortiz-Patino, an industrialist billionaire who in 1985 bought what used to be an regular golf course. Having spent a fortune on the course in order to turn it in to the Valderrama that it is today, one of the best courses golf has to offer. Hosted an abundant of championships, including the Volvo Masters and the unforgettable 1997 Ryder Cup where the European Team tasted victory under the captaincy of homeland hero, Seve Ballesteros. The closing holes are rather tough, but if you choose the right tee from the off then for all golfers, a good round is not unattainable. The par-five 17th hole, called Los Gabiones, is believed to be the best as the challenging water hazard in front of the green bring up hesitation for golfers with the problem of ‘should I attack’ or ‘should I lay up’, which makes it very interesting as you can see if you have made a complete mess or you have made a good shot. A very challenging course indeed, Valderrama will provide with one of the best golfing experiences.

Location: Club de Golf Valderrama, 11310 Sotogrande, Prov de Cadiz, Spain

Contact: Tel- +34 (0) 956 791 200, for further information, visit http://www.valderrama.com/