Salt Lake City Golf Travel Guide

Southern Utah transforms desert golf into something extraordinary. Around St. George, courses wind through red rock canyons, alongside ancient lava fields, and beneath towering sandstone cliffs that create the most dramatic backdrops imaginable. This isn't typical desert golf – it's playing on Mars with perfectly manicured fairways. Just two hours north of Las Vegas and neighbour to Zion National Park, St. George offers year-round golf in settings so spectacular they regularly leave visiting golfers speechless. The combination of championship-quality courses and otherworldly scenery creates a destination that delivers both exceptional golf and unforgettable experiences. Southern Utah - Your Next Golf Holiday? Why St. George Should Be on Every Golfer's List • Unique desert terrain: Play through black lava fields and red rock canyons that create the most dramatic golf settings in America • Year-round accessibility: Perfect winter golf when northern courses are closed, with 300+ days of sunshine annually • Championship quality: Seven top-tier courses including Tom Weiskopf's final design and Golf Digest's best renovation winner • Convenient location: Easy access from Las Vegas (2 hours) or Salt Lake City (4 hours) with multiple accommodation options St. George represents desert golf elevated to an art form, where the natural landscape becomes an integral part of each hole's character rather than merely a backdrop. Championship Golf in Southern Utah The region's elite courses showcase how thoughtful design can enhance rather than compete with extraordinary natural settings. Black Desert Resort - Tom Weiskopf's final masterpiece opened in 2023 and immediately established itself as one of America's most distinctive courses. Playing through ancient lava fields, the course feels like links golf where heather has been replaced by jagged black volcanic rock. Each hole presents strategic decisions amplified by the dramatic terrain, creating golf that's both visually stunning and intellectually challenging. Green fees approximately £160 (€190/$220). Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club - Originally designed by Johnny Miller, this private course received David McLay Kidd's renovation expertise in recent years, earning Golf Digest's Best Renovation award. Located adjacent to Black Desert, Entrada blends lava rock features with traditional desert landscape. Access requires staying in the on-property condos for two nights minimum. Green fees approximately £140 (€165/$195). Sand Hollow Golf Course - The original marquee course in Southern Utah remains a must-play experience. Holes 12-15 play along massive red rock ridges, creating some of the most photographed golf holes in America. While the clifftop holes deliver pure spectacle, the inland routing showcases sophisticated strategic design with numerous risk-reward decisions. Public access with online booking available. Green fees approximately £120 (€145/$165). Copper Rock Golf Course - Added to the region's elite tier recently, Copper Rock features one of Utah's finest front nines winding through classic desert terrain with mountain and cliff vistas throughout. The back nine presents more variety, though some holes feel less integrated with the natural landscape. Located 15 minutes from Sand Hollow, making it perfect for multi-course trips. Green fees approximately £100 (€120/$140). Southern Utah's Best Kept Golf Secrets Beyond the championship venues, several courses offer exceptional desert golf experiences at more accessible price points. Coral Canyon Golf Course - True desert golf just minutes from Sand Hollow, where strategic bunkering and native vegetation create challenging approach shots. The routing takes advantage of natural elevation changes while maintaining playability for various skill levels. Green fees approximately £80 (€95/$110). Green Spring Golf Course - An adventure in variety, featuring holes that span giant desert canyons, traverse marshland areas, and climb into mountain terrain. The par-3 canyon crossing stands as one of the region's most memorable holes. This municipal course delivers diverse challenges at excellent value. Green fees approximately £65 (€80/$90). SunBrook Golf Club - Twenty-seven holes of golf that utilise significant elevation changes and stunning mountain views. Multiple routing options allow for different experiences, making it ideal for extended stays. Well-maintained municipal facility with excellent practice facilities. Green fees approximately £70 (€85/$95). The Ledges Golf Club - This course offers spectacular elevated desert golf with panoramic views of red rock formations and the Pine Valley Mountains. The routing takes advantage of natural ledges and elevation changes, creating dramatic approach shots and memorable hole locations. Well-regarded for both course conditioning and strategic design that rewards thoughtful play. Green fees approximately £90 (€110/$125). Sky Mountain Golf Course - Hidden gem offering exceptional value with 18 holes of quality desert golf. The routing provides mountain views throughout while maintaining strategic interest. Popular with locals and winter visitors seeking affordable golf in pristine conditions. Green fees approximately £50 (€60/$70). Sample Itinerary: 4-Day Southern Utah Golf Adventure Day 1: Arrival and Warm-up Fly into Las Vegas, drive two hours to St. George (arriving late afternoon). Check into accommodation and enjoy sunset round at Sky Mountain Golf Course to adjust to elevation and desert conditions. Evening dinner exploring St. George's growing restaurant scene. Day 2: Championship Experience Morning round at Black Desert Resort, allowing extra time to appreciate Tom Weiskopf's final design masterpiece. Afternoon rest and exploration of Sand Hollow State Park recreation areas. Evening at leisure with early bed preparation for morning tee time. Day 3: Scenic Spectacular Early morning round at Sand Hollow Golf Course, timing arrival for optimal lighting on the clifftop holes. Afternoon visit to Zion National Park (40 minutes away) for hiking and sightseeing. Return for dinner and evening relaxation. Day 4: Hidden Gem Discovery Final round at Copper Rock Golf Course, experiencing the excellent front nine routing. Afternoon departure via Las Vegas or extended stay for additional courses and outdoor activities. Winter Variation: November through February offers perfect playing conditions with temperatures in the 15-20°C (60-70°F) range and courses at peak conditioning. Southern Utah Travel Logistics Getting There and Getting About Air Travel: St. George Regional Airport offers connections via Salt Lake City, providing direct London-Salt Lake-St. George routing. Las Vegas McCarran International (2 hours drive) provides more international flight options and competitive car rental rates. Ground Transportation: Rental cars are essential for course access and regional exploration. All major providers are available at both airports. Driving between courses rarely exceeds 20 minutes, with clear signage throughout the area. Weather Patterns: Peak season runs from November through March with daytime temperatures 15-22°C (60-72°F). Summer brings extreme heat (40-45°C/105-115°F) but creates low-season pricing opportunities. Pack layers for morning/evening temperature swings during winter months. Equipment Considerations: Most courses rent premium clubs, though serious players prefer bringing their own. Desert conditions can be tough on equipment – bring extra gloves and plenty of sunscreen. Spikeless shoes work well on most courses. Local Customs: Cart golf dominates due to course routing through residential areas and elevation changes. Walking is permitted but challenging on several courses. Pace of play tends to be relaxed. Where to Stay for Southern Utah Golf Resort Properties Black Desert Resort and Sand Hollow both offer on-property accommodation with golf packages. These provide convenience and often include preferential tee times. Expect resort pricing but excellent facilities and service standards. St. George City Centre Multiple hotel chains provide comfortable accommodation with easy access to restaurants and shopping. Typically 15-20 minutes from most courses. Good value option for those prioritising variety in dining and evening activities. Vacation Rentals Growing selection of houses and condos, particularly appealing for group trips. Many feature mountain views and outdoor spaces perfect for post-round relaxation. Often more economical for stays exceeding three nights. Budget-Conscious Options Several national chain hotels offer reliable accommodation at competitive rates. While lacking resort amenities, they provide excellent access to courses and outdoor recreation opportunities at significant savings. Strategic accommodation planning considers course access, dining preferences, and whether additional outdoor activities like Zion National Park visits are planned. Southern Utah's Culinary Scene St. George's rapidly growing population has brought increased dining variety, though options remain more limited than in major metropolitan areas. Upscale Dining: Several establishments now offer refined cuisine with patio dining showcasing red rock views. Local Specialities: While not known for distinctive regional cuisine, the area offers excellent steakhouses and southwestern-influenced menus. Fresh fish options are limited, but quality beef and local produce are featured prominently. Casual Options: Chain restaurants and local cafes provide reliable meals. Many golf courses feature decent grille food perfect for post-round meals. Utah Culture: The state's unique beverage culture includes creative non-alcoholic drinks ("dirty sodas") that have gained national attention. Alcohol is available, but with local regulations affecting service. Practical Dining: Grocery stores are well-stocked for self-catering options. Many accommodations include kitchen facilities, useful for extended stays or early morning pre-round fueling. Booking Golf in Southern Utah Advance Planning Requirements Championship courses require booking, particularly Black Desert and Sand Hollow, during peak winter months. Book 2-4 weeks ahead for winter play, with more flexibility during summer months. Seasonal Considerations Winter (November-March) represents peak season with premium pricing and the highest demand. Summer offers significant savings but requires early morning tee times to avoid extreme heat. Package Opportunities Resort properties often provide multi-course packages, including accommodation. These typically offer better value than individual bookings while guaranteeing access to premium courses. Local Booking Tips Municipal courses (Green Spring, SunBrook, Sky Mountain) accept walk-ups more readily and offer excellent value. The Ledges typically have good availability due to its Hurricane location. Private course access (Entrada) requires an accommodation booking. Weather Contingencies Courses rarely close for weather, though extreme winds can affect mountain courses. Summer lightning represents the main weather concern, typically occurring mid-to-late afternoon. Explore Beyond Golf Zion National Park Forty minutes from St. George, this iconic national park requires advance permits during peak seasons. The Narrows hike and Angels Landing offer world-class outdoor experiences. A full day is recommended for proper exploration. Red Rock Recreation Off-road vehicle tours and rentals are popular throughout the area. Sand Hollow State Park offers boating, swimming, and ATV/UTV access directly from some resort properties. Equipment rental is readily available. Cultural Attractions Pioneer history exhibits and geological formations provide educational opportunities. The area's Mormon pioneer heritage creates unique historical perspectives throughout the region. Adventure Activities Rock climbing, mountain biking, and hiking trails are abundant. Professional guide services are available for technical activities. Many trails offer spectacular views requiring minimal technical skills. Insider Local Knowledge Common Visitor Mistakes Underestimating summer heat intensity – temperatures above 40°C (105°F) make afternoon golf extremely challenging even for experienced desert players. Always book the earliest possible tee times during the summer months. Local Advantages Winter represents ideal playing conditions with perfect weather and courses at peak conditioning. Many northern Utah golfers migrate south during the winter months, creating knowledgeable local networks happy to share course insights. Strategic Planning Combining golf with outdoor recreation creates the most memorable experiences. Allow flexibility in scheduling to take advantage of optimal weather windows for both golf and outdoor activities. Money-Saving Strategies Summer travel reduces accommodation and golf costs by 30-50% but requires early morning tee times. Multi-course packages often provide better value than individual bookings. Municipal courses deliver exceptional experiences at a fraction of resort pricing. Southern Utah offers extraordinary desert golf experiences across all budget levels, with the dramatic red rock scenery providing unforgettable memories regardless of spending tier. The combination of accessible courses, reliable weather, and unique landscape creates one of America's most distinctive golf destinations. Southern Utah transforms desert golf into something extraordinary. Around St. George, courses wind through red rock canyons, alongside ancient lava fields, and beneath towering sandstone cliffs that create the most dramatic backdrops imaginable. This isn't typical desert golf – it's playing on Mars with perfectly manicured fairways. Just two hours north of Las Vegas and neighbour to Zion National Park, St. George offers year-round golf in settings so spectacular they regularly leave visiting golfers speechless. The combination of championship-quality courses and otherworldly scenery creates a destination that delivers both exceptional golf and unforgettable experiences.

The Sandhills – high-class designs outside Pinehurst I have been very fortunate to play a great deal of golf in Great Britain and Ireland. In fact by last count I have played 38 of the top 50 courses in GB&I including 18 of the top 20. However, access to the top courses in the USA is an entirely different matter. Most of the top courses are member only and extremely exclusive. The top public access courses are usually associated with expensive resorts and can be out of price range for many golfers. However, the Pinehurst area in the Sandhills of North Carolina offers golfers an opportunity to play a number of high-class golf courses at a very reasonable price. Pinehurst is about 350 miles from my home in Knoxville, Tennessee, so it made sense to travel to this fascinating area and try out some of the great courses here. I had visited the wonderful Pinehurst Resort two years ago and played the justifiably famous #2 course, but this time my wife joined me for a tour of several great golf courses outside the resort. We arranged to play Mid Pines, Pine Needles, Southern Pines, Dormie Club and Tobacco Road over the course of five days. First up was Southern Pines, a 1906 Donald Ross design that’s set in beautiful rolling terrain. Ross originally designed nine holes then added the second nine later and like all of the other courses we played on this trip the nines do not return to the clubhouse, which is a fun variation of the ubiquitous nine-hole loops seen in the vast majority of courses in the USA. The greens are pure Donald Ross – subtle yet challenging contours with slopes and run offs in every conceivable direction are the order of the day. The course is very pretty and tree-lined with gentile doglegs on almost every hole. The straightforward downhill opening par four is followed by the lovely short par five 2nd. The tee shot rolls downhill and a well-struck shot offers the opportunity to go for the green in two. However the second shot is uphill off a downhill lie to a green with a significant false front. I really enjoyed the stretch of 10 through 13, a collection of four unique par fours. 10 and 11 are short holes demanding precision but the par four 12th is slightly uphill and at 419 yards is quite a challenge. The 13th returns downhill at 400 yards and the approach is played to a sloping green with a dangerous drop off behind the putting surface. All these are really solid par fours. My wife is a relative beginner, playing to a 36 handicap, but she enjoyed the course. As is the case with most Ross designs the front of the greens were open and welcomed a run up shot versus the forced carries of many modern designs. Unfortunately, as great as the design is, Southern Pines is currently in a significant state of disrepair. The course is poorly maintained and the staff less than welcoming. I played from the back tees and many were unmowed and covered with weeds. In addition the pace of play was atrocious. It took our two ball over five hours to cover the entire 18, and we noticed several beer sodden foursomes in front of us holding up the entire course. Rumors abound that several groups are interested in purchasing the course, and if someone could come in and put some tender care into it (and an infusion of cash, obviously) then I believe Southern Pines could be a US Top 100 contender. Pine Needles and Mid Pines are two more classic Ross designs that lie across the road from one another near the town of Southern Pines. They were originally built to accommodate the overflow of visitors which the original courses at Pinehurst were unable to handle. The land is significantly hillier than the relatively flat land that Pinehurst #2 sits on, so the courses have a distinct flavor of their own. If anything these courses reminded me of some of the great heathland courses around London, perhaps most closely resembling the three “W’s” of Woking, West Hill and Worplesdon. Both these courses flow through beautiful pine forests that influence play but also allow recovery shots. Both courses have undergone renovations in the past few years. Mid Pines has been worked over by Kyle Franz who restored many of the putting surfaces. It has magnificent greens with an incredible variety of run offs, mounds and slopes – each green complex is unique and challenging. In addition, the course has restored the scruffy sand-like waste areas instead of thick Bermuda rough, much like the Coore-Crenshaw restoration of Pinehurst #2. The overall result is a wonderful course. The flow and curves of the holes demand very precise ball striking. The short par four 4th is a good example of the challenges that Mid Pines presents. The hole is only 330 yards, with lovely bunkering on the left. However, a huge single pine tree will block a shot played too carefully to the right. The green is small and angled away from the player with a steep slope off the right. The precision required here is entirely appropriate for a hole of this length. In addition, the par threes are in my opinion all excellent. The 2nd plays from one elevation to another, while the downhill 8th, bunkered 11th and long (230-yard) 13th are all solid challenges. Mid Pines is approximately 6,700 yards from the back tees and is a genuine test for any level of golfer. Pine Needles has hosted several U.S. Women’s Opens and is on schedule to host the championship again in 2022 for the fourth time. Although Mid Pines and Pine Needles are similar in design characteristics they differ sufficiently to be enjoyed on their own account. Pine Needles has undergone several renovations and Kyle Franz is continuing work on Pine Needles as he did at Mid Pines. The routing is unique as the course runs in a long almost continuous loop so that each hole seems to be in isolation from the other. There is essentially no rough on this course, only fairway and pine needles. The fairways are wider than Mid Pines but the course still demands strategy and precision to negotiate the best approach into the greens. The green complexes here are more pronounced than at Mid Pines and are closer to the style of greens at Pinehurst #2 than any other Ross course I have played. The starter warned me to approach the greens carefully, especially with longer clubs. I got the opportunity to appreciate his advice early in my round. On the beautiful long 438-yard par four 2nd I rifled my 5 iron second shot directly at the pin. My shot landed a few feet away from the hole only to roll off the back of the green onto a bank from where I was happy to make bogey. There are a number of supremely challenging holes. The par four 4th plays uphill and is guarded by a large bunker to the left with room available to the right off the tee. However, a large bunker to the left and two to the right protect the green so that the approach has to be played with the utmost precision. I also loved the par five 10th where the drive is challenged by a magnificent bunker in the corner of the dogleg. 17 is a great dog leg left par four where the tee shot is again dominated by a significant bunker in the corner of the dogleg. Overall I preferred Pine Needles ever so slightly over Mid Pines. I thought the setting was more attractive, I found the tight driving lines a little much at Mid Pines. My wife enjoyed both courses as well, but probably liked Pine Needles a little better, especially since she came within 6 inches of a hole-in-one at the downhill par three 13th. Both courses had a nice set of forward tees at just less than 5,000 yards, which suited her game well. The management at both courses is outstanding and the conditioning second to none. The Pinehurst area could be considered Donald Ross heaven and these two courses are among his finest designs. While the three Ross courses highlight the design features of the early 20th century, the other two courses we played, Dormie Club and Tobacco Road, showcase modern golf course architecture. Dormie Club was originally an expensive private club, but fell upon hard times during the economic difficulties earlier this century and is now open for public play. The course is a Coore and Crenshaw design and many of their architectural features are readily apparent. There appears to have been minimal shaping of the land, instead using the significant contours of this hilly lakeside property to bring character to the holes. The course flows up and down, left and right, and any combination of those as well. Overall there is a calm minimalist feel to the course. The holes are very pleasing to the eye as they flow through the tree-lined property. You never feel cramped at Dormie Club but the holes don’t lack strategic interest. I found the back nine much more absorbing than the front. There are several great holes on the inward half including the brutal 465-yard par four 13th hole, with a lone tree to the right of the fairway which really tightens up this already tough hole. The 14th is a short par four barely 300 yards long, but a huge bunker on the right dominates the well-contoured green. Fifteen is a beautiful par four with an oblique wetland hazard running down the right side of the fairway, offering the player endless options off the tee. The uphill par five 17th is probably my favorite hole on the course. The approach must contend with a huge cross bunker/waste area that demands a decision from the player to either lay up or go for it. Tobacco Road is probably the most well known design of the late Mike Strantz. I have often played Caledonia and True Blue (his two courses in the Pawleys Island area near Myrtle Beach) and they have always been favorites of mine. I was looking forward to playing this highly regarded layout and it was a fascinating experience to say the least. Tobacco Road is a somewhat bizarre combination of Pine Valley, Prestwick and Lahinch with a dose of modern Tom Fazio design thrown in for flavoring. This course is a 3D puzzle that is difficult to decipher on the first visit or with a course guide. In general I think the course is very fair, although it is very intimidating visually. There is usually much more room than initial appearances would suggest. The greens range from the sublime to the ridiculous (there must be a 20-foot elevation change from the lower to the upper tier of number seven). In general the course is fun to play but one that definitely demands a second go to really appreciate what is going on. My favorite holes included the short par four 5th. A massive waste area runs from the tee almost 250 yards up the left side of the fairway. There is a generous amount of room right and the reasonable play is to go right and hit a wedge into the green. Long hitters, however, may be ever so tempted to aim for the small sliver of landing area just past the waste area in an attempt to drive the green. I thought this was a cleverly designed hole. Nine is a fantastic uphill par four where the approach is guarded by a massive deep bunker to the right of the green, but in reality there is quite a bit of room to the left to approach the hole. Strantz went for glory on this course, and I thought he missed on a few holes. Thirteen is an uphill, dogleg par five with a dell green that is ridiculously narrow and guarded not only by the hills but by high grass. I thought this hole was somewhat contrived. I would certainly play both of these courses again. Rumor has it that Bill Coore is visiting Dormie Club for some updates, and I think some subtle bunkering and improvement of several of the green complexes, especially on the front nine, would really improve the course. Tobacco Road is certainly a wild ride. Surprisingly my wife much preferred Tobacco Road to Dormie Club. Tobacco Road has a forward set of tees around 4,300 yards that allowed her the challenge of the holes without pressing her to make forced carries either off the tee or approaching the green. At Dormie Club the forward tees were often only 10 or 15 yards in front of the men’s tees, and several holes were just too long for most female golfers. The par five 10th for example was 571 yards from the most forward tee! This was just a little much for her. In addition several of the tee shots had forced carries over wetlands that were just too difficult for her to negotiate. A few new tee boxes accommodating women and younger players would be a welcome addition to this fine course. I really think there are few places in the USA that offer as much quality golf at an affordable price than the Pinehurst area. Between these five courses, the famous Pinehurst #2, and several of the other fine courses at the Pinehurst Resort a golfer can sample the best of classic golf design as well as the new. I plan to return in the future and would recommend this area to anyone interested in playing quality, memorable golf courses at a very reasonable cost. Richard Smith Knoxville, Tennessee

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.