You don't need a four-figure budget, a private-club connection or an invitation from a member to play a course in the World Top 100. Top100 has collated the 10 cheapest visitor-accessible courses on our current World Top 100 Ranking, based on standard green fees. From a world-class links in Tasmania to a U.S. Open and Ryder Cup venue in New York, these courses offer the chance to play some of the best golf on the planet without the eye-watering green fees attached to many of their World Top 100 counterparts. 1. St Andrews Beach Golf Course (Victoria, Australia) World Ranking: 89th | Australia ranking: 6th | Green fee: A$139 (£74) Tom Doak’s first Australian mainland design, St Andrews Beach opened in 2004 on the Mornington Peninsula and has since become one of the country’s best-value, ranked courses. The public-access layout occupies 175 hectares of former grazing land, with wide fairways, rolling terrain and sandy natural contours that give several holes a links-like feel. Measuring just over 6,000 metres from the back tees, it is playable for a broad range of golfers, though the subtle greens ensure there is still plenty to think about. In a region known for outstanding golf, St Andrews Beach stands out not only for its quality but also for its accessibility, offering everyday golfers the chance to experience a Tom Doak design without the premium price tag often attached to courses of this calibre. 2. Bethpage Black (New York, USA) World Ranking: 58th | USA ranking: 28th | Green fee: From US$140 (£106) Bethpage Black has the rare distinction of being a World Top 100 course, a major championship venue and a public golf course. Located within Bethpage State Park on Long Island, the A.W. Tillinghast design opened in 1936 and has since hosted two U.S. Opens and the 2025 Ryder Cup. The Black is renowned for its difficulty, with narrow fairways, deep rough, large sculpted bunkers and elevated greens making accuracy essential. It is a demanding test, but one that remains remarkably accessible to everyday golfers. That combination of championship pedigree and public access is what makes Bethpage Black so unusual. Few golfers get the chance to play a course of this stature without needing a private-club connection or resort stay. 3. Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club (Wellington, New Zealand) World Ranking: 91st | New Zealand ranking: 2nd | Green fee: NZ$275 (£118) Set on the Kapiti Coast, north of New Zealand's capital city Wellington, Paraparaumu Beach has been one of the country’s most celebrated golf courses since Alex Russell designed it in 1949. The links has hosted 12 New Zealand Opens and has long been regarded as one of the country’s finest layouts. It is a relatively short course by modern championship standards, but the coastal wind, firm fairways, deep bunkers and undulating greens provide plenty of challenge. The split-fairway 17th is a particular highlight, forcing golfers to choose between two very different routes to the green. For international golfers, Paraparaumu offers the chance to experience a genuine piece of New Zealand golfing history without needing access to a private resort. 4. Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course (Alberta, Canada) World Ranking: 73rd | Canada ranking: 2nd | Green fee: C$280 (£149) Set among the Canadian Rockies in Jasper National Park, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is one of Stanley Thompson’s most celebrated designs. Opened in 1925, the course winds through the valley beside Lake Beauvert, with snow-capped peaks providing a backdrop to almost every hole. The course combines wide fairways, elevated tees and strategically placed bunkers with the natural contours of the landscape. Thompson’s design rewards thoughtful play rather than simply demanding power, making it a course that can be enjoyed by golfers of different abilities. The result is a rare combination of classic golf and Canadian wilderness, with the surrounding mountains and forest making the journey between shots almost as memorable as the golf itself. 5. Barnbougle - The Dunes Course (Tasmania, Australia) World Ranking: 25th | Australia ranking: 3rd | Green fee: A$285 (£151) Barnbougle Dunes is about as close as Australia gets to a traditional seaside links. Set on Tasmania’s northeast coast, the course was designed by Tom Doak and Australian Mike Clayton and opened in 2004, establishing Barnbougle as one of the country’s premier golf destinations. The layout runs through towering coastal dunes, with wide fairways, natural contours and greens that follow the movement of the land. The wind is an ever-present factor, while the strategic design rewards golfers who think their way around the course rather than simply relying on power. For golfers seeking a genuine links experience outside the British Isles, Barnbougle Dunes is about as compelling as it gets, combining world-class golf with the rugged coastline of Tasmania. 6. Cape Wickham Golf Links (Tasmania, Australia) World Ranking: 47th | Australia ranking: 4th | Green fee: A$315 (£167) Cape Wickham occupies a spectacular stretch of coastline on King Island, sitting in Bass Strait between Tasmania and mainland Australia. Designed by American architect Mike DeVries, the links opened in 2015 and quickly established itself as one of the country's standout modern courses. The course makes the most of its remote coastal setting, with the opening five holes winding around Cape Farewell before the layout moves through sand hills and limestone outcrops. Several holes hug the shoreline, while the closing stretch heads towards the imposing Cape Wickham Lighthouse. The 18th provides a fitting finale, with the fairway doglegging around a sandy bay before reaching the home green, making Cape Wickham a memorable links experience from start to finish. 7. St Enodoc Golf Club - Church Course (Cornwall, England) World Ranking: 49th | England ranking: 4th | Green fee: £175 Set among towering dunes overlooking the Camel Estuary in Cornwall, St Enodoc’s Church Course is one of James Braid’s most distinctive designs. Founded in 1891, the course was transformed by Braid in the early 20th century and remains a spectacularly natural links. It is a relatively short par 69 at 6,010 metres, but its undulating fairways, dramatic elevation changes and formidable dunes create a test that demands imagination. The famous 6th is the standout, with the enormous Himalaya dune obscuring the green and making club selection particularly difficult. The course also has an unusual piece of history, with the 13th hole running alongside the churchyard where poet laureate John Betjeman is buried. 8. South Cape Owners Club (Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea) World Ranking: 63rd | South Korea ranking: 2nd | Green fee: From KRW 350,000 (£195) Set on Namhae Island off the southeast coast of South Korea, South Cape Owners Club is a dramatic Kyle Phillips design where the ocean is visible from all 18 holes. The course opened in 2013 as part of a luxury resort development and has quickly established itself among Asia's most striking modern layouts. The course is framed by granite outcrops, coastal cliffs and rolling terrain, with bluegrass fairways contrasting against fine fescue rough. The standout stretch comes from the 11th onwards, culminating in two spectacular waterside par threes at the 14th and 16th. For golfers willing to make the journey to Namhae Island, South Cape offers a rare combination of world-class golf, dramatic coastal scenery and a luxury resort experience. 9. Utrecht De Pan Golf Club (Utrecht, Netherlands) World Ranking: 56th | Netherlands ranking: 1st | Green fee: From €235 (£198) Dating back to 1894, Utrecht De Pan is the second-oldest golf club in the Netherlands, with Harry Colt designing the current course in 1929. Set in secluded woodland near Utrecht, the layout is a classic heathland course, winding through pine, birch, oak and chestnut trees. De Pan has hosted the Dutch Open three times and is built around strategic rather than power golf. Several of its most memorable holes play over valleys of heather and sand, while the sixth and seventh demand particularly thoughtful tee shots and approaches. Recent restoration work by Frank Pont has helped return the course towards Colt’s original design, making De Pan a fascinating example of Golden Age heathland golf in the Netherlands. 10. Cruden Bay Golf Club - Championship Course (Aberdeenshire, Scotland) World Ranking: 70th | Scotland ranking: 10th | Green fee: From £205 Cruden Bay is one of Scotland’s most distinctive links, winding through towering dunes on the Aberdeenshire coast with the North Sea providing a constant backdrop. The course opened in 1899 after being laid out by Old Tom Morris and Archie Simpson, before Tom Simpson and Herbert Fowler remodelled it in 1926. Cruden Bay makes spectacular use of its natural terrain, with elevated tees, blind drives, punchbowl greens and fairways that rise and fall between the dunes. The 193-yard 4th, played from an elevated tee across a deep hollow, is one of several standout holes. There is plenty of character, too, from driveable par fours and back-to-back par threes to the feeling that every hole reveals something different. It is exactly the sort of course that rewards golfers willing to embrace its quirks. Green fees are based on standard 18-hole visitor rates, using international visitor rates where applicable. All prices are peak-season rates and do not take twilight, off-season or promotional rates into account. Prices are correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.

The Low Countries offer some of Continental Europe's finest golf, where Golden Age masterpieces from Harry Colt and Tom Simpson showcase world-class architecture across remarkably compact geography. From the towering dunes of Dutch links courses to Belgium's tree-lined royal estates, the Benelux region delivers diverse golfing experiences within easy reach of major airports. The Netherlands leads with 40 exceptional courses headlined by Utrecht De Pan's heathland masterpiece. Belgium counters with 30 superb layouts dominated by royal courses carrying century-old heritage. Luxembourg rounds out the trio with three quality courses in one of Europe's smallest nations. 🇳🇱 Best Golf Courses in The Netherlands The Elite Five 🏆 The Netherlands' premier golf courses showcase the finest Golden Age architecture in Continental Europe. These five courses represent the absolute pinnacle of Dutch golf: 1. Utrecht De Pan – Harry Colt carved this heathland masterpiece through magnificent pine, birch and oak forests in the late 1920s. Ranked 56th in the world, the course presents strategic golf where holes flow naturally across gently rolling terrain. Frank Pont's recent restoration work has returned the layout to its original glory, removing decades of vegetation to reveal Colt's intended playing corridors. 2. Koninklijke Haagsche (Royal Hague) – This links layout weaves through towering sand dunes along the North Sea coast. Originally redesigned by Harry Colt's partner Hugh Alison just before World War II, the course ranks 86th globally and second in Continental Europe. Recent reviews compare its rolling duneland to Shinnecock Hills, high praise for any course outside traditional links strongholds. 3. Kennemer – Harry Colt's 1927 design near Amsterdam offers another links experience, later expanded by Frank Pennink in the 1980s with an additional nine holes. The sandy-soiled fairways and firm conditions provide authentic seaside golf just minutes from Schiphol Airport. 4. Eindhovensche – Another Harry Colt masterpiece from the Golden Age, this woodland course winds through dense forest south of Eindhoven. Recent tree removal has reclaimed lost width and improved turf conditions, showcasing Colt's original strategic intent. 5. Noordwijkse – Coastal links golf at its finest, this layout offers firm turf and natural movement between The Hague and Haarlem. The course held the Netherlands' top ranking in 2014 before being overtaken by the resurgent courses above it. Modern Excellence ⬆️ Beyond the Golden Age classics, exceptional modern courses prove great architecture continues: 🏖️ Links Valley – Modern links-style layout emphasising firm, fast conditions and strategic ground game 🏆 Bernardus – Kyle Phillips masterpiece hosting multiple KLM Open championships ✈️ The International Amsterdam – Bruno Steensels championship venue near Schiphol Airport Regional Character 🗺️ The Hague Coastal Zone 🌊 – Koninklijke Haagsche and Noordwijkse provide the Netherlands' finest links golf with towering dunes and firm conditions. Utrecht Heathland 🌲 – Utrecht De Pan anchors the region where courses thread through pine forests with year-round firm playing conditions. Amsterdam Gateway 🏙️ – Kennemer and The International offer championship golf within 30 minutes of Schiphol Airport. 🇧🇪 Best Golf Courses in Belgium The Royal Elite 👑 Belgium's finest courses carry impressive royal pedigrees, most earning the "Royal" designation automatically after fifty years of operation. The top courses showcase British Golden Age architecture adapted to Belgian terrain: 1. Royal Antwerp – Belgium's oldest club (founded 1888) now holds the nation's top ranking. Tom Simpson redesigned Willie Park Jr's original routing in 1930, creating a wooded heathland classic. Recent intensive tree management has restored the course to Simpson's vision, opening vistas and improving playing conditions dramatically. 2. Royal Zoute – Harry Colt's 1907 links layout near the North Sea coast held Belgium's #1 ranking for years. Eight Belgian Open championships have been contested here, with Lee Westwood capturing the last edition in 2000. 3. Royal Limburg – Fred Hawtree designed this heathland course in the mid-1960s, with son Martin later refining the layout. Recent bunker renovation by Bruno Steensels has enhanced both aesthetics and playability. The course extends to over 6,000 metres with strategic demands throughout. 4. Royal Belgium (Old) – Originally laid out by Seymour Dunn over a century ago, Tom Simpson redesigned this tree-lined layout in 1928. Martin Hawtree's 1990s renovation modernised the course whilst respecting Simpson's strategic architecture. The 27-hole facility near Brussels includes a complementary nine-hole short course. 5. Royal Ostend – Belgium's only true links course offers seaside golf along the North Sea. The relatively flat terrain creates different challenges than the rolling dunes found in the Netherlands, but the coastal wind and firm conditions deliver authentic links golf. Championship Tests 🏆 Royal Waterloo (La Marache) – This championship layout consistently ranks among Belgium's finest courses. Strong conditioning and strategic design create a proper tournament test that has hosted numerous professional events. National Golf Brussels (Championship) – Opening in 2017, this modern facility immediately gained recognition for its championship-quality design and extensive practice facilities. Belgian professional stars Nicolas Colsaerts, Thomas Detry and Thomas Pieters endorsed the course at its launch. Tom Simpson's Belgian Legacy 🏛️ Tom Simpson's influence on Belgian golf towers above all other architects. Three top courses bear his design signature: Royal Antwerp – 1930 redesign now fully restored to original intent Royal Fagnes – 1930 partnership with Philip Mackenzie Ross in Spa Royal Sart Tilman – 1939 design through dramatic topography near Liège Simpson's work across varied Belgian terrain, from dense forest to open parkland, created courses that have stood the test of time. His understanding of strategic golf and natural land movement produced layouts that remain relevant nearly a century later. Regional Distribution 🗺️ Belgium's top courses cluster in four regions: Antwerp (Royal Antwerp in the north), Coastal Strip (Royal Zoute and Royal Ostend along the North Sea), Brussels Area (Royal Belgium, Royal Waterloo, National Brussels around the capital), and Ardennes Mountains (Royal Fagnes and Royal Sart Tilman in the southeast). 🇱🇺 Best Golf Courses in Luxembourg Luxembourg's compact size means just three courses dominate the national scene: 1. Golf de Luxembourg – Located within a 400-acre estate in the hilly, forested Grevenmachar district, the course routes around the beautiful 18th-century Belenhaff château. The layout provides a pleasant golf experience that mirrors Luxembourg itself – quality in compact scale. 2. Grand Ducal de Luxembourg – Golf in Luxembourg started here in 1935, making this the nation's oldest course. Originally designed by Major J.C. Symonds with inspiration from Tom Simpson (who was working nearby in Belgium), the venerable layout maintains historic significance. 3. Kikuoka – Japanese architect Iwao Uematsu designed this course in 1991 within the 250-acre Scheierhaff Estate for the Kikuoka family. The club added a unique six-hole short course in 2008 featuring synthetic sand-filled greens, rare in Continental European golf. Planning Your Benelux Golf Trip ✈️ Coastal Links Tour (2 days) 🌊 Experience Dutch seaside golf across Koninklijke Haagsche, Noordwijkse and Kennemer – all within 80 kilometres along the North Sea coast. Base in The Hague or Haarlem. Heathland Heritage Tour (2 days) 🌲 Play Utrecht De Pan, Hilversumsche and Lage Vuursche through pine forests and sandy heathland. This 40-kilometre triangle uses Utrecht as its base. Belgium's Royal Circuit (2 days) 👑 Experience Royal Antwerp, Royal Zoute, Royal Limburg and Royal Belgium across Belgium's finest courses, all within two hours' drive. Brussels makes an excellent base. Complete Benelux Experience (7+ days) 🗓️ Fly into Amsterdam Schiphol. Play two days of Dutch coastal links (Koninklijke Haagsche, Noordwijkse, Kennemer), two days of heathland classics (Utrecht De Pan, Hilversumsche), one day of modern championship golf (Bernardus or The International), then cross into Belgium for Royal Antwerp and Royal Zoute. Why These Courses Matter 🎯 The Low Countries preserve Golden Age architecture from Harry Colt and Tom Simpson that has stood the test of time. The Netherlands maintains two courses in the World Top 100, whilst several Belgian courses rank within Continental Europe's elite. Major international airports at Amsterdam and Brussels provide easy access, with excellent motorways making multi-course trips efficient. Most top courses sit within two hours of major airports. Year-round play is possible thanks to sandy soil and modern drainage, with late spring through early autumn offering peak conditions. What Makes These Courses Special 🎓 Links Golf 🌊 – True links courses remain rare on the continent. The Netherlands offers the finest examples at Koninklijke Haagsche, Noordwijkse and Kennemer, featuring firm turf and natural dune movement. Heathland Golf 🌲 – Dutch heathland courses through pine forests like Utrecht De Pan showcase sandy soil, heather-lined fairways and strategic bunkering that create year-round firm conditions. Restoration Success 🌳 – Recent tree removal at courses like Royal Antwerp demonstrates how returning to original design intent elevates golf courses dramatically. The Best Golf Courses: A Summary 📝 The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg deliver world-class golf architecture across compact geography. Utrecht De Pan's heathland excellence, Royal Antwerp's restored Simpson masterpiece and Belgium's royal courses offer layouts worth crossing an ocean to experience. The region succeeds through architectural heritage preservation and recognition that Golden Age designs remain relevant a century later. For international visitors, the Benelux region provides efficient multi-course itineraries with minimal travel between world-class courses. The best golf courses in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg await.

Top 100 Golf Courses of Continental Europe 2016 Our latest Continental European Top 100 ranking list is unveiled We’ve yet to meet anybody who has played Continental Europe’s Top 100 Golf Courses. Our extended team of contributors have seen all the courses on this latest European ranking list but it’s a challenging process to sequence the rankings because no one person has played them all. Additionally some raters argue their corner more strongly than others. If you’re reading this article and have played 50% or more of the hundred courses listed, then you are doing very well indeed and I for one would love to hear from you, so please get in touch. It seems inconceivable that only two courses from Continental Europe have recently been listed in our 2016 World Top 100. The main reason for this, I think, is that it’s a real labour of love for any golfer to travel to so many different countries with their sticks in tow. It could take a lifetime to visit each country in Continental Europe let alone play every one of the contender courses in every individual country. It’s much easier (relatively speaking) to organise the ranking lists on a country-by-country basis. Having said all of this, we’ve done our very best and spent a great deal of time on this latest Top 100 ranking list. It’s by no means definitive but it’s an honest and unbiased effort. There’s no change at the pinnacle of the table, it’s the position that Morfontaine has occupied for many years and it will take a very special course to displace this venerable Tom Simpson classic, which Kyle Phillips continues to modify, albeit with a light touch. We do have a new Dutch number two though (following a recent Frank Pont renovation) and it’s one of a handful of courses from The Netherlands that appear prominently within this latest list. Koninklijke Haagsche, or Royal Hague, leaps seven positions and also claims a spot in the World Top 100. Refashioned by Harry Colt and Charles Alison just ahead of the Second World War, Royal Hague is blessed with dramatic topography, which sets it apart from most of its Dutch counterparts. Click here to read more about Royal Hague from our International Correspondent, David Davis. Utrecht de Pan is Holland’s equivalent to England’s Sunningdale and it makes a bold move into the European Top 10 (up 15 to #9). It shares Royal Hague’s Harry Colt lineage and both courses were showcased via the TV series “Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf”. If you’re lucky enough to play de Pan, check out the statue of Pan, playing his pipes, on the thatched clubhouse roof. Hopefully, you will not have encountered him during your round as he is said to haunt the woods and fields, causing anxiety to those who pass through – hence the term panic attack. Click here to read more about Utrecht de Pan from our International Correspondent, David Davis. Everyone knows that there are two Real (Royal) clubs in Sotogrande and one might not have the same Ryder Cup pedigree as the other, but for the first time the original Robert Trent Jones course, Real Sotogrande (up 8 to #7) overtakes its younger sibling, Valderrama. We’re sure this won’t meet with universal agreement, but if you’ve played them both you’ll already have an opinion as to which one is best. The North course at Monte Rei (up 2 to #10) is yet to be joined by a younger sibling, but this Algarve property is perfectly able to stand alone. One of the few Jack Nicklaus Signature courses in Europe, Monte Rei continues to receive more positive reviews than most other European facilities. Our Editor Jim McCann commented as follows: “Nicklaus designs are not everybody’s cup of tea but, wow, what a fantastic job Jack did here on such a wonderfully diverse property – this is golf on a grand scale as fairways pitch and roll around heaving foothills in a clever routing that only ever allows the layout of the following hole to be revealed on arrival at the next tee.” An extensive French review has resulted in a few significant moves, notably Harry Colt’s St Germain (up 37 to #17), which frankly was previously positioned way too low in our rankings, and Les Aisses, (up 41 to #33). The original Les Aisses design was modern and occasionally eccentric, but Hawtree Limited changed all that and the style now harks back to the Golden Age. Architect Russell Talley commented exclusively for Top 100 (his full article can be read by clicking the Les Aisses link): “The owner’s brief for Hawtree Ltd was to re-create an old-style course reminiscent and inspired by the old heathland courses of the UK. The existing course, built in the early 1990s, was three loops of nine, of which two of them, the red and white course, were chosen to comprehensively redevelop in style… All tees and greens were remodelled, along with new fairway bunkering.” Our new European Top 100 features eleven new entries, the highest of which is from Sweden. Ullna Golf Club leaps in at #44 following an extensive Nicklaus renovation. The course retains Sven Tumba’s original routing from the early 1980s, but new tees, re-shaped fairways, new bunkers and green complexes at all holes, make the renovated Ullna a definite candidate to return to the top of the Swedish rankings. Dr Bernhard von Limburger, or “Limmy” to his friends, originally designed the East course at Hubbelrath (new entry #57). He drilled a supremely challenging layout through the forest and in the process exposed some amazing natural landforms. Under the guidance of Howard Swan, the East has been remodelled and lengthened to ensure it remains a significant test when hosting important tournaments. Nowadays it's mostly about the top-level amateur circuit, but in the past the German Open was held here on eight occasions between 1973 and 1994. Robert Trent Jones Jnr upgraded Palmares (new entry #67) in 2010, dividing the property into three nines, “Lagos,” “Praia” and “Alvor”. Four holes on the Praia nine (two pretty par threes and two tough par fives) run along the shoreline and the second last greensite on this circuit is shared with the penultimate hole on the Lagos nine (where the only two water holes on the complex are featured). A reviewer recently commented: “Stark elevation changes and a pleasingly engaging and not to say unusual breadth of variety awaits throughout. It just gets better and better. The last few holes feel magical and natural. A fitting end to a superb golf course that you will really love and remember.” The layout belonging to the Golfsociëteit De Lage Vuursche (new entry #71) is the result of collaboration between Kyle Phillips and RTJII and it opened for play in the year 2000. This was an ambitious restoration project that aimed to revert flat farmland back to its former glory of rolling terrain flanked by woodland. The result is that Lage Vuursche has found its level as one of Holland’s premier courses. Neguri (new entry #77) bursts back into the 2016 European rankings for the first time since 2008. Alfonso Erhardt Ybarra, author of The golf courses of Javier Arana, writes: “The course of the Real Sociedad de Golf de Neguri benefits from an excellent routing that extracts the maximum value from a relatively small property; the distances between each green and the following tee are virtually non-existent. Arana had no need for aggressive earthworks or artificial trappings to breathe life and excitement into the course. Despite an apparent absence of hazards, Neguri has withstood its first fifty years admirably, without any lengthening or any addition of sand traps to the forty-five existing ones.” The opening of the Stadium course at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club was subject to intense coverage in the golfing press. However, the Castle course (new entry #84) seemed to slip below the radar when it opened in 2009. We think the members quietly count their lucky stars as they get to keep the Castle as their little secret. What luxury to have such an interesting counterpoint to the splendid Stadium course at your home club. The Stadium course might be the tougher of the two with its massive length and demanding design, but the Castle course is no pushover. It’s a thorough challenge for any player. Golf de Belle Dune (new entry #86) is the southernmost club in the triumvirate also comprised of Le Touquet and Hardelot. It’s a popular layout with Brits who travel through the Channel Tunnel to the Côte d’Opale. This relatively young course opened for play in 1992 and Jean-Manuel Rossi routed it through some of the France’s finest dune land, a stone’s throw away from the sea. Few people will have heard of the Heritage’s designer, Jonathan Davison, whose work to date has centred on Eastern Europe and Ireland. We predicted that his Heritage course (skilfully shaped by Mick McShane) would be the star in his portfolio. A new entry at #93, the Heritage course leapfrogs the Nicklaus-designed Legend at Slovakia’s Penati Golf Resort. The designer commented as follows: “I set myself a goal to create a golf course that would reflect the theory the early golf course architects espoused. It ignited inside me a desire to use all the existing components of the countryside to their maximum authenticity in order for the course to have the traditional look evoking the atmosphere of “the golden era of golf courses” and to offer a totally different playing experience alongside that of the Nicklaus-designed 18-hole course completed earlier.” The quirky Barbaroux (a re-entry at #94) is set close to the French Riviera. It’s the prime location for golfers who want the warm Mediterranean sunshine on their backs. Pete and P.B. Dye (Paul Burke) – the father and son team – designed Barbaroux, and it’s the first Dye creation in France, opening for play in 1989. This is the course that created a stir and it’s still causing some controversy today. The reason for this is simple, the Dyes did some serious earth moving and the Barbaroux course is a potpourri of styles, which range from links-like holes with blind shots to US-styled target golf holes protected by water. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but it’s certainly not dull. Quinta do Lago has come a long way since entrepreneur André Jordan’s dream way back in the early 1970s. The South course is the layout that most avid golfers rush to play, but the North course (new entry #95), formerly called the Ria Formosa (named after the Nature Reserve) is definitely worth savouring after its €9.6m renovation by American architect Beau Welling in collaboration with European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley. The new-look North course reopened in October 2014 to critical acclaim. Vallda is located in Kungsbacka just south of Sweden's second largest city Gothenburg. In the Göteborg area you will find some thirty decent golf courses and Martin Hawtree’s Vallda Golf & Country Club (new entry #98) is the region’s best. It might be described as a Swedish anomaly, illustrated by one reviewer as follows: “It is very rare to be able to play a real game on the ground in Sweden as most courses are too extensively watered and Mother Nature normally sprinkles liberally herself in July. Vallda naturally has sprinklers, but sensibly leaves Nature to take its course, while no doubt watering to keep the grass alive, but no more. The result was a really fast-running course, all the way from tee to green.” Feedback is always welcome, so please feel free to let us know what you think of our latest 2016 Continental European Top 100. Have we omitted a course that really should be in our rankings, or have we included a course that really doesn’t deserve to be there? Maybe there’s a particular layout that’s riding too high or perhaps there’s one lying too low in the standings? Please click the “Respond to this article” link at the top and bottom of the page if you’d like to share your opinion. If you’d like to help improve our European golf course rankings, please get in touch. Finally, a big thank you to everyone who has taken the time to post many colourful course reviews, please keep them coming, it’s your reviews that we all enjoy reading most. Keith Baxter Editor-in-Chief Top 100 Golf Courses Click to see in detail our new 2016 Top 100 Golf Courses of Continental Europe.