There are, quite literally, thousands of golf across the world, so finding your favourite is not only challenging but a privilege. There are some luxurious golf courses set on fantastic scenery and amazing views of the ocean and playing the top courses has become quite the ‘holy grail’ for some committed and well off golfers.
The top golf courses in the world are very diverse and the results are often subjective as it depends on what an individual considers the best attributes of a course. The question is too simple and deserves a more complicated answer but as a famous golf writer once said “Sometimes, it is impossible to separate the context and location of the club from the course.”
Even still, here are 5 golf courses that will always be considered to be in the upper realms of quality.
1. Muirfield, Edinburgh, SCOTLAND
Muirfield, based in Edinburgh is one of the oldest and most prestigious golf courses in the world. You can trace its first beginnings in Leith in 1744, to its later move to Musselburgh and finally in 1891 to Muirfield in East Lothian. The course is the third most used Open Championship course and has hosted the Open 15 times.
Some of the features of the course include coastal fairways, difficult bunkers set deep into the edges of fairways and greens, and also some fantastic driving opportunities. The course is renowned for its deep rough and has often caught out many an aspiring challenger, this combined with small greens make approach shots a real challenge.
2. Pine Valley, New Jersey, USA
Aside from being ranked the number 1 golf course in 2006 and 2009, Pine Valley is also its own stand-alone municipality. New Jersey is a unique state in many ways, as although it is one of the smallest states in the US it actually has over 551 separate municipalities or governing bodies which means local rule is given precedence over state ruling.
Pine Valley Golf Club is constantly praised for consistent challenge it gives golfers throughout its 18 holes. The course is well known for it’s par 5’s which require strength and foresight of the drive and it’s more delicate par 3’s.
3. Cypress Point, California, USA
The Cypress Point Golf Club, ranked number 2 in the world in 2007 and 2011 is located on the Monterey Peninsula between Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill on the 17-Mile Drive. The golf club is famous for being very exclusive and only has a total of 250 members, including some famous US faces including Bob Hope.
As you play around the course you notice the 17 mile drive goes right through the golf course, often splitting the course and the ocean on either side, providing stunning views for both car passengers and golfers.
4. Augusta, Georgia, USA
Since 1934, the Augusta Golf Club has hosted the annual Masters Tournament, one of the four major championships in professional golf. The club has slightly more members than the Cypress Point club, just over 300 but they were famous for making Bill Gates wait after he publicly admitted he applied to be a member.
The course has some very well designed features, including the big oak tree and the Einsenhower tree and the ponds which stretch throughout the course.
5. Ails, Turnberry, SCOTLAND
Although the Turnberry is not often in the top 10 ranking courses, once you have visited the charm and persona of the course leaves an everlasting love affair.
The history and views surrounding the course are delightful and something which you rarely find elsewhere. With views to the Mull of Kintyre and the Isle of Arran, it can incredibly easy to forget about golf and instead spend the hours taking in the incredible scenery. One in particular is Bruce’s Hole which takes you directly past the old ruined castle of Robert the Bruce (which many of you may know from the film Braveheart)
This article was written in association with Caddiemaster who provide electric golf trolleys to the UK, US and European markets.