There are many incredible golf courses around the world that offer breathtaking landscapes, challenging layouts, and world-class amenities.  These are the best golf courses in the world. Choosing the best golf courses can be subjective, as different players may have different preferences and priorities. However, there are a few golf courses that are consistently ranked among the best in the world by players, critics, and industry experts.

Listing The Best Golf Courses Globally

The Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland is widely considered the birthplace of golf and is one of the most iconic and historic golf courses in the world. The course has been in use for over 600 years and has played host to many major golf tournaments, including The Open Championship, which is considered the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf.

The Old Course is a links course, meaning it is built on sandy soil near the coast and typically features few trees and significant amounts of wind and natural hazards such as bunkers and tall grasses known as “rough”. Links golf is known for its fast and firm fairways, fast greens, and challenging wind conditions, making it a true test of skill and strategy for golfers of all levels.

One of the most distinctive features of the Old Course is its layout, which features seven double greens, which are shared by two holes each. This means that golfers must often contend with other players who may be playing on the same green or fairway, adding an additional level of challenge to the course. Additionally, the Old Course features several “blind shots,” where the golfer cannot see the landing area of the fairway or green, forcing them to rely on their caddy’s advice or their own experience and judgement.

The Old Course is also home to several iconic and challenging holes, such as the Road Hole 17th, which is considered one of the most famous and difficult holes in golf. The hole features a large bunker known as the “Road Bunker” which sits in the middle of the fairway, forcing golfers to make a decision on how much of the bunker they want to take on. Additionally, the hole features a road that runs alongside it, which comes into play for shots hit too far to the left, adding an additional level of difficulty to the hole.

Another iconic feature on the Old Course is the famous “Valley of Sin” on the 17th hole, a large bowl-shaped depression in front of the green. This feature makes the green much harder to hit, and the golfer is forced to hit the ball high and soft to get the ball to stop on the green and avoid rolling into the valley.

The Old Course is also home to several other notable features, such as the “Swilcan Bridge,” an ancient stone bridge that crosses the Swilcan Burn and is considered one of the most iconic and recognizable landmarks in golf. Additionally, the course is home to the “R&A Clubhouse,” which serves as the headquarters of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, the governing body of golf outside of the United States and Mexico.

The Old Course at St Andrews is considered a true test of golf for players of all skill levels. The course’s unique layout, challenging wind conditions, and iconic features make it a must-play for any golfer looking to experience the history and tradition of the game. It is an Open Qualifying venue and it’s been played as the venue for The Open Championship 30 times, and it will keep doing it in the future. The Old Course has been an integral part of golfing history and is an essential destination for any golfer looking to experience the true essence of the game.

Information Pertaining To The Most Highly Regarded Golf Courses

Augusta National Golf Club, located in Augusta, Georgia, is one of the most iconic and prestigious golf clubs in the world. It is the home of the Masters Tournament, one of the four major championships in professional golf, and has played host to the tournament every year since 1934.

The course was designed by two legends, Bobby Jones, and Alister Mackenzie, and it features lush, rolling terrain and many distinctive features. The course is known for its challenging layout, fast greens, and picturesque scenery, with many holes lined by towering pine trees and a number of water hazards, like Rae’s Creek and the many ponds.

One of the most famous and recognizable holes on the course is the par-3 12th hole, named “Golden Bell,” after a golden bell-shaped flower that grows around the green. The hole is known for its small and sloping green, which is surrounded by a large pond and several bunkers, making it a challenging and exciting hole for golfers of all skill levels.

Another iconic hole on the course is the par-4 11th hole, named “White Dogwood,” after the white dogwood trees that line the fairway. The hole is known for its challenging tee shot, which must navigate a steep slope and several bunkers to reach a narrow fairway. The hole is also known for its beautiful scenery, with views of the surrounding pine trees and water hazards.

Augusta National Golf Club is also known for its exclusivity and high-end amenities. Membership is by invitation only and the club is known for its luxurious amenities and world-class service, including a state-of-the-art practice facility, multiple dining options, and a fully-equipped fitness centre.

Augusta National Golf Club is not just a golf course but a legacy, The Masters Tournament played on this venue, gives us memories that are engraved in the golfers’ minds, and it’s known as a tournament with a great tradition and history. It’s where the champions are crowned and where they will leave an indelible mark in golf history.

Pinehurst Resort No. 2 Course is a golf course located at the Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina, USA. The course was designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1907, it has been host to multiple major championships including the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, and U.S. Senior Open. It is known for its challenging layout and fast, undulating greens. Pinehurst No. 2 is also known for its natural beauty and the use of native sand and wiregrass. The course layout seamlessly integrates with the natural landscape, making it a challenging but fair test of golf. It is considered as one of America’s most historic and iconic golf courses.

The Royal County Down Golf Course, located in Newcastle, Northern Ireland, is considered one of the finest links golf courses in the world. The course was designed by Old Tom Morris and opened in 1889, it has hosted several major tournaments including the Irish Open and Walker Cup. The course layout stretches across undulating dunes, with fast-running fairways and large, challenging greens.

One of the most iconic holes on the course is the par-4 seventh hole, which features a blind tee shot that requires a precise shot to a narrow fairway, surrounded by towering dunes. Another challenging hole is the par-4 18th, which features a steep uphill approach to the green, and is a fitting finish to the round.

The Royal County Down Golf Course is also known for its stunning natural beauty, with panoramic views of the Mountains of Mourne and the Irish Sea. The course’s layout seamlessly integrates with the natural landscape and makes the most of the natural contours of the land to create a challenging and exciting round of golf.

The course is considered as one of the best in the world, and in recent ranking it has been placed on top. Its natural dunes and links are very much a part of the experience, adding to the charm and character of the course. The course’s traditional layout and impeccable conditioning have made it a favorite of golfers and enthusiasts.

The Royal County Down Golf Course is not just a challenging test of golf, but also an experience in natural beauty, history, and tradition. It’s a true must-play for any golfer looking to experience the best of links golf in Northern Ireland.

Many golfers have these golf courses on their bucket list, as a possible highlight of their golfing lives to play on such hallowed turf. Whether it be one course like St Andrews or Augusta National, or, perhaps, several like Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pinehurst Resort (No 2 Course), and Royal Melbourne Golf Club (West Course) the experience, though expensive, would be suitably divine. I call this experience the green cathedral, where the magic nature of it almost beckons a choir of angels, although birdsong does the job just fine.

Most of us will have to be content to watch the best players in the world tee it up on these course on our TV screens. Still it never hurts to dream!

©GolfDom