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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 stigma that good golf has to be expensive is one worth challenging. From windswept prairie in Nebraska and oceanfront holes in California to championship layouts in the shadow of Hazeltine and Bethpage, these are courses that offer much more than a cheap round. All 10 can be played for $100 or less, but the price is only part of the appeal. They have tournament history, famous designers, memorable settings and the kind of layouts that can stand alongside much more expensive golf. Green fees listed are standard rates and do not take twilight or off-season discounts into account, meaning some courses can be played for even less. Wild Horse Golf Club (Nebraska) Nebraska Ranking: 6th | Green Fees: From $68 Why Play it: Outstanding value on a natural prairie layout Best For: Golfers who love natural, windswept courses If you’re looking for proof that great golf doesn’t have to come with a great big price tag, head for the Nebraska prairie. Wild Horse Golf Club is one of the best-value public courses in America, combining excellent golf with a setting that feels a world away from the usual resort experience. Designed by Dave Axland and Dan Proctor, Wild Horse opened in 1999 after the pair spent more than a decade working for Ben Crenshaw’s design company. The result is a natural-looking layout shaped by native grasses, rolling prairie and dramatic blow-out bunkers rather than rows of manicured hazards. Wild Horse has earned plenty of recognition over the years, including a place in the Top100 US rankings, although it has sometimes been overshadowed by nearby Sand Hills. Tom Doak once described it as a “very good golf course” that is often overlooked because of its affordability. Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame (Indiana) Indiana Ranking: 7th | Green Fees: From $75 Why Play it: A Coore & Crenshaw design on the Notre Dame campus Best For: Fans of Coore & Crenshaw Set among 250 acres of woodland on the northern edge of the University of Notre Dame campus, the Warren Golf Course offers the unusual combination of championship pedigree and accessible green fees. Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, the course opened in 2000 and has since become one of Indiana’s most highly regarded public layouts. The Warren Course is home to Notre Dame’s men’s and women’s golf teams and has hosted a string of major amateur events, including NCAA Division I regional championships and the 2010 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links. It also hosted the U.S. Senior Open in 2019, bringing some of the biggest names in senior golf to South Bend. The setting is a big part of the appeal, with the course winding through mature woodland within a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. For golfers visiting Notre Dame or passing through Indiana, the Warren Course offers a chance to experience one of America’s leading modern design partnerships without a leading-edge green fee. Pacific Grove Golf Links (California) California Ranking: 71st | Green Fees: From $66 Why Play it: Oceanfront golf just minutes from Pebble Beach Best For: Golfers looking for a Pebble Beach alternative Just five miles from Pebble Beach, Pacific Grove Golf Links offers a very different way to experience the Monterey Peninsula. This old-school municipal course runs along the Pacific Ocean, with a front nine that feels more like a traditional parkland course before the back nine heads into the dunes overlooking the water. The course has an impressive design lineage, too. US Amateur Champion Chandler Egan, who helped Alister MacKenzie redesign Pebble Beach, laid out the original nine holes in 1932, while Jack Neville, one of the original designers of Pebble Beach, later extended Pacific Grove to 18 holes. The result is a quirky and enjoyable layout, beginning with back-to-back par threes before throwing in consecutive par fives at the fifth and sixth. On the oceanfront back nine, short par fours and tumbling fairways provide plenty of character. Bethpage - Red Course (New York) New York Ranking: 6th | Green Fees: From $90 Why Play it: A championship-calibre course in the shadow of the Black Best For: Golfers who want a taste of Bethpage without playing the Black Bethpage Black might get all the attention, but the Red Course at Bethpage State Park is a formidable test in its own right. Known by some as “Baby Black”, the Red is widely regarded as the standout alternative to its more famous neighbour and offers a chance to experience Bethpage without the Black's famously difficult tee-time scramble. The course features a series of strong doglegs and demanding holes, with Tom Doak once suggesting that the Red might have received similar acclaim had its more famous neighbour never been built. He particularly praised the opening and closing holes, the long fifth and the short sixth, where an aggressive drive can quickly turn into trouble. The Red doesn't have the Black's enormous bunkers or intimidating reputation, but that doesn't make it easy. For golfers visiting Long Island, it offers another opportunity to play championship-level golf at one of America's most famous public facilities. Bandon Crossings (Oregon) Oregon Ranking: 21st | Green Fees: From $70 Why Play it: Affordable golf in one of America's biggest golf destinations Best For: Golfers visiting Bandon Bandon has become one of America's great golf destinations, but you don't have to play the resort courses to enjoy a round in the area. Bandon Crossings was created specifically to offer affordable public golf for locals and visitors, providing a lower-cost alternative to its famous neighbours. Built on the site of an old cattle and sheep ranch, the course was developed by local couple Rex and Carla Smith with Oregon architect Dan Hixson. Rather than compete directly with Bandon's collection of links courses, Crossings takes its inspiration from the heathland golf found around London. The course may sit away from the Pacific coastline, but that doesn't make it an afterthought. Its fairways move quickly across the property and around Twomile Creek, creating a challenging and enjoyable test that offers a different experience from the resort layouts. Montauk Downs State Park Golf Course (New York) New York Ranking: 80th | Green Fees: From $95 Why Play it: Robert Trent Jones design at the tip of Long Island Best For: Golfers exploring Long Island At the eastern tip of Long Island, around 120 miles from downtown New York City, Montauk Downs feels a long way from the hustle of Manhattan. Golf has been played here for decades, with the current layout shaped by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and his son Rees Jones in 1968. The Jones family connection is one of the course's biggest attractions, with Rees returning alongside Bryce Swanson in 2008 to restore the bunkers and tees on the par-three holes. The result is a classic parkland layout that combines the character of an older course with the challenge expected from a Jones design. Its location also makes Montauk Downs a natural addition to a Long Island golf trip, particularly for golfers looking to explore beyond the courses closer to New York City. Gold Mountain Golf Club - Olympic Course (Washington) Washington Ranking: 13th | Green Fees: From $35 Why Play it: Championship golf at a 36-hole public facility Best For: Golfers looking for a full day of golf The Olympic Course at Gold Mountain Golf Club is proof that you don't need a famous resort or hefty green fee to find championship-calibre golf. Part of a 36-hole public facility owned and operated by the City of Bremerton, the course was designed by John Harbottle III and opened in 1996, 25 years after the original Cascade Course. The tree-lined layout is slightly hillier than its older sibling but remains eminently walkable, with annual bluegrass covering the tees, fairways and greens. Its quality has been recognised on the national stage, hosting the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship in 2006 and U.S. Junior Amateur Championship in 2011. There are plenty of memorable holes, including the short fourth, the water-guarded ninth and the 188-yard 16th, which plays across a lake to the green. The closing par four also offers a tempting birdie opportunity. With the Cascade Course next door, golfers can play 36 holes at Gold Mountain for less than $100, with green fees for the second 18 starting at just $30. Chaska Town Course (Minnesota) Minnesota Ranking: 26th | Green Fees: From $63 Why Play it: Championship golf just minutes from Hazeltine National Best For: Golfers visiting the Twin Cities Just a few miles from Hazeltine National, the Chaska Town Course offers a chance to play a highly regarded championship layout without the private-club price tag. Owned and operated by the local municipality, the course occupies 285 acres of oak groves, open prairie and marshland. Designed by Arthur Hills and opened in 1997, Chaska Town has even shared the stage with Hazeltine. The two courses co-hosted the 2006 U.S. Amateur Championship, while Chaska Town was also scheduled to co-host the 2020 U.S. Junior Amateur before the tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The layout plays to 6,817 yards from the back tees and features two returning nines, each finishing with a par five. The short fourth and 16th offer opportunities to score, while the right-doglegging ninth provides a tougher test. Brackenridge Park Golf Course (Texas) Green Fees: From $56 Why Play it: A Tillinghast classic with Texas Open history Best For: Golfers who love historic golf courses The oldest public 18-hole course in Texas, Brackenridge Park Golf Course has been a fixture in San Antonio golf for more than a century. Designed by A.W. Tillinghast in 1916, “Old Brack” went on to host 21 editions of the Texas Open between 1922 and 1959. The course has retained much of its historic character thanks to a restoration by John Colligan, who brought the layout back to life while preserving Tillinghast’s original design. The front nine is relatively tight, while the back nine opens out and provides some of the course’s strongest holes. Brackenridge is also part of the Alamo City Golf Trail, making it easy to combine with several other public courses in the San Antonio area. Brown Deer Park Golf Course (Milwaukee) Green Fees: $81 Why Play it: A former PGA Tour venue with Tiger Woods history Best For: Golfers who like tournament pedigree Brown Deer Park Golf Course combines affordable public golf with a notable place in PGA Tour history. Located just north of Milwaukee, the course hosted the Greater Milwaukee Open from 1994 to 2009, with Tiger Woods making his professional debut here in 1996. Founded in 1929, the course was originally designed by George Hansen before being partially redesigned by Andy North and Roger Packard. Today, its tree-lined fairways and stream that winds through the property provide a classic parkland setting. The Tiger Woods connection is an obvious draw, but Brown Deer offers more than a famous name in its history. Its accessible layout and location make it a practical option for golfers visiting Milwaukee. For golfers who enjoy playing courses with a tournament past, Brown Deer offers a chance to follow in the footsteps of some of the game's biggest names without paying resort-course prices.
California is home to some of the finest golf courses in the United States, but many of its highest-ranked layouts are reserved for members. For visiting golfers, that can make finding a truly exceptional public course a challenge. Fortunately, the California Top 100 ranking includes several outstanding courses that welcome public play. From the bucket-list experience of Pebble Beach to the much more affordable Rustic Canyon, here are the five highest-ranked courses in The Golden State that visiting golfers can play. Pebble Beach Golf Links (Pebble Beach) World Ranking: 27th | California ranking: 3rd | Green fee: $755 Pebble Beach Golf Links is one of golf’s great amphitheaters, where the Pacific Ocean provides the backdrop and almost every hole carries a piece of history. Jack Neville’s original 1919 layout, remodelled by Henry Chandler Egan, has evolved over the years, but its essential character remains intact. This is the course where the greats have made history, from U.S. Open champions to the stars of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, yet its greatest appeal is that anyone can play it. The price may make the wallet wince, but where else can an ordinary golfer walk in the footsteps of Nicklaus, Watson and Woods? The stretch from the 7th to the 10th is among the most exhilarating in golf, while the run to the 18th provides a suitably spectacular finale. Pebble Beach may not be perfect, but when the Pacific is crashing against the cliffs, who really cares? Only resort guests can reserve Pebble Beach tee times more than 24 hours in advance, subject to a minimum two-night stay. Non-resort guests can call 24 hours before play to enquire about any remaining tee times. Green Fees: Resort Guest: $695 (£513) Non-Resort Guest: $755 (£557), including cart fee Pasatiempo Golf Club (Santa Cruz) USA Ranking: 63rd | California ranking: 7th | Green fee: $465 Pasatiempo Golf Club is one of America’s great Golden Age survivors and, remarkably, the only public-access course that famed golf architect Alister MacKenzie regarded as his finest work. Founded by Marion Hollins in 1929, the rolling Santa Cruz layout was MacKenzie’s American home, and he lived alongside the sixth fairway during the final years of his life. The course has plenty of history, but it remains a thoroughly enjoyable test for visiting golfers. The front nine winds through the trees before the routing becomes more dramatic on the back nine, where deep barrancas and undulating terrain come into play. A major restoration completed in 2024 returned the greens and bunkers closer to their original forms. Although Pasatiempo is a semi-private club, visiting golfers can book two types of tee times through the club's online booking system – regular, available up to a week in advance, and priority, available up to a year in advance. For golfers looking to experience one of California's great courses without the price tag of Pebble Beach, Pasatiempo offers a rare chance to play a genuine piece of Golden Age golf. Green Fees: 18 holes: $465 (£341), excluding $50 cart fee Spyglass Hill Golf Course (Pebble Beach) California ranking: 17th | Green fee: $610 Spyglass Hill is one of the great tests on the Monterey Peninsula and, for many, the most demanding of the Pebble Beach quartet. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and opened in 1966, it has been part of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am rota since the following year. The opening five holes sweep from the Del Monte Forest towards the Pacific, with Jones deliberately drawing inspiration from Pine Valley. The course then turns inland through towering Monterey Pines and Cypress, with its tree-lined corridors recalling Augusta National. The 12th and 15th provide memorable par-three challenges, while the closing holes demand a strong finish. Spyglass Hill may live in the shadow of Pebble Beach and Cypress Point, but its reputation as one of America’s toughest and most rewarding layouts is thoroughly deserved. Unlike its more famous neighbour, Spyglass Hill is considerably easier for visiting golfers to book, with non-resort guests able to reserve tee times up to three months in advance. Green Fees: Resort Guest: $550 (£406) Non-Resort Guest: $610 (£450), including cart fee Rustic Canyon Golf Course (Moorpark) California ranking: 19th | Green fee: From $30 Rustic Canyon Golf Course offers a very different experience from the famous resort courses of the Monterey Peninsula. Laid out by Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner and Geoff Shackelford on a former sheep ranch north-west of Los Angeles, it is a relaxed, natural-looking course where wide fairways and firm, fast-running turf give golfers plenty of options. The course is relatively forgiving from the tee, but its large, undulating greens provide a sterner test, while the exposed setting means wind can quickly change the character of the round. The back nine is particularly memorable, climbing into the surrounding hills before a testing finish. It may lack the ocean views and tournament history of California's marquee courses, but Rustic Canyon offers excellent golf at a fraction of the price. For golfers looking beyond the obvious names, it is one of the state's best-value public courses. Tee times can be booked online, with reservations available to public golfers up to 28 days in advance. Popular weekend slots can fill quickly, while green fees vary depending on the day of the week and how far in advance you book. PGA West – Stadium (La Quinta) California ranking: 23rd | Green fee: From $60 PGA West’s Stadium Course is the toughest of the three public courses at the La Quinta resort and has been challenging golfers since 1986. It has plenty of tournament pedigree, having hosted the televised Skins Game and now serving as the venue for The American Express on the PGA Tour. At 7,300 yards, the Stadium Course is no pushover, with water coming into play on many holes. The closing stretch is particularly demanding, with the famous island green on the 17th – nicknamed Alcatraz – followed by a daunting water-guarded 18th. The course underwent a major restoration in 2024 and remains one of California’s most memorable public golf experiences. For golfers who enjoy a challenge, the Stadium Course offers the chance to test themselves on a layout that continues to feature on the professional circuit. Tee times can be booked online through PGA West, with the Stadium Course available to both resort and non-resort guests. Green Fees: Approximately $60–$399+ (£44–£295+), depending on the season and tee time.
The best golf trips for couples aren’t necessarily the ones with the most famous courses. They’re the destinations where great golf is just one part of a holiday that both of you will genuinely enjoy. That might mean playing a championship course before spending the afternoon on the beach, exploring wine country after a morning round, or combining world-class golf with a spa, fine dining and a beautiful setting. The key is finding places where the golf adds to the experience rather than taking it over completely. Top100 has chosen 10 destinations that offer two excellent courses alongside plenty to do away from the fairways, from the beaches of Hawaii and Mauritius to the vineyards of Napa Valley and the restaurants and sunshine of the Mediterranean. These are the golf trips where you don’t have to compromise. Kiawah Island (South Carolina, USA) Two good courses: Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Ocean course) & Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Osprey Point course) Couples activities: Beach day on Kiawah & day/evening in Charleston Kiawah Island is an ideal destination for couples who want serious golf without sacrificing the wider holiday experience. The headline act is the legendary Ocean Course, Pete Dye’s spectacular seaside layout that hosted the infamous 1991 Ryder Cup, the 2012 PGA Championship and Phil Mickelson’s record-breaking victory at the 2021 PGA Championship. With panoramic Atlantic views and more seaside holes than almost any other course in the Northern Hemisphere, it is a genuine bucket-list round. For a second round, Osprey Point, designed by Tom Fazio, offers a contrasting experience. Rather than following the coastline, the course winds across the island, with ponds and water hazards providing much of the challenge. Away from the golf, Kiawah offers miles of beach, nature and outdoor activities, while historic Charleston is close enough for a day or evening out. The result is a destination where championship golf can be combined with beach days, great food and time spent exploring Charleston together. Best for: Golf and beach Gleneagles Golf Resort (Scotland) Two good courses: Gleneagles (King’s course) & Gleneagles (Queen’s course) Couples activities: Spa day & falconry/country pursuits Gleneagles is one of those rare golf resorts where the golf is only part of the appeal. Set in the Perthshire countryside, it has three championship courses, with the King’s Course and Queen’s Course providing a superb combination for a couples getaway. Designed by James Braid and C.K. Hutchison, the King’s is the more testing of the two and has hosted the Scottish Open, while the Queen’s is shorter and more intimate, winding through woodland and undulating moorland. The resort’s credentials away from golf are just as compelling. Gleneagles offers five-star accommodation, a state-of-the-art spa and fine dining, including two-Michelin-starred Andrew Fairlie. Couples can also choose from activities including horse riding, falconry, fishing and off-road driving. That variety is what makes Gleneagles work so well for couples. Days can be built around championship golf, long lunches, spa treatments and country pursuits, while the spectacular Perthshire setting gives the whole trip a sense of occasion. Best for: Luxury country living Sea Island (Georgia, USA) Two good courses: Sea Island Resort (Seaside course) & Sea Island Resort (Plantation course) Couples activities: Beach/pool day & kayaking or boating Sea Island is one of America’s great golf resorts, combining exceptional courses with a luxurious coastal setting and an impressive range of activities. The Seaside Course is the standout, with roots stretching back to the 1920s when C.H. Alison of Colt & Alison created the original layout. Tom Fazio later updated the course, retaining its bold carries across tidal marshland and its spectacular coastal character. The result is a strategic seaside course where water, wind and wetlands are constant companions. The Plantation Course offers a contrasting experience. Originally laid out by Walter Travis in 1926, it was comprehensively redesigned by Love Golf Design in 2018, restoring elements of the original routing and introducing Golden Age-inspired features, including chocolate drops and a Principal’s Nose bunker. Beyond the golf, Sea Island delivers the kind of setting that makes a couples trip feel like a proper escape, with beaches, a spa, fine dining, boating and other outdoor activities. The combination of world-class golf, coastal scenery and resort comforts makes it an easy place to spend several days without ever feeling short of things to do. Best for: Coastal luxury Costa Navarino Golf Resort (Greece) Two good courses: Costa Navarino (Dunes course) & Costa Navarino (Bay course) Couples activities: Anazoe Spa & explore the Messinian coast/local food and culture Costa Navarino has evolved into one of Europe’s most complete golf destinations, combining four championship courses with five-star hotels, beaches, restaurants and the spectacular coastline of Greece’s Peloponnese. For a couples trip, the Dunes Course and Bay Course make an excellent pairing. The Dunes, designed by Bernhard Langer with European Golf Design, was the first signature course to open at the resort and combines wide fairways and large greens with links-style dunes, olive groves and views towards the sea. The Bay Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., provides a contrasting coastal layout with holes overlooking the historic Bay of Navarino. Away from the golf, Costa Navarino stretches across 13 kilometres of Messinian coastline and offers four five-star hotels, more than 40 food and drink outlets, beaches, the Anazoe Spa and a host of activities. The combination makes Costa Navarino feel like a genuine Mediterranean holiday rather than simply a golf resort: exceptional courses, beautiful scenery, outstanding food and plenty of opportunities to relax and explore together. Best for: A Mediterranean escape Algarve (Portugal) Two good courses: Quinta do Lago Golf Resort (South course) & Quinta do Lago Golf Resort (Laranjal course) Couples activities: Beach day & boat trip through the Ria Formosa The Algarve is one of Europe’s easiest golf destinations to combine with a proper couples holiday, and Quinta do Lago Resort provides an excellent base. The South Course is the resort’s original and most famous layout, opening in 1974 and subsequently hosting the Portuguese Open eight times. Designed by William Mitchell, its umbrella-pine-lined fairways, bold bunkering and water features create an attractive championship course that remains accessible to a broad range of golfers. A major renovation in 2021 refreshed everything from the playing surfaces to the bunkers and lakes. For a second round, Laranjal offers a very different experience. Opened in 2009 and designed by Jorge Santana da Silva, it winds through orange groves and features an unusual layout of five par fives and five par threes, giving the course a distinctive rhythm. Away from the golf, Quinta do Lago has the ingredients for a relaxed couples escape, with beaches, restaurants, cycling and the natural surroundings of the Ria Formosa. Its proximity to the Algarve’s historic capital city, Faro, also makes it remarkably easy to reach from the UK. The result is a destination where excellent golf sits comfortably alongside sunshine, good food and plenty of time to enjoy the Algarve together. Best for: An easy European escape Napa Valley (California, USA) Two good courses: Silverado Resort (North course) & Silverado Resort (South course) Couples activities: Wine tasting & Napa Valley restaurant/countryside day Napa Valley is an ideal destination for couples who want great golf without making the entire holiday about golf. At its heart is Silverado Resort, whose North course has a history stretching back to 1955, when Ben Harmon created the original layout. Robert Trent Jones later modernised the course and built the South Course, while Johnny Miller subsequently renovated the North before Silverado became host of the PGA Tour’s Safeway Open in 2014. Today, the course combines a strong championship pedigree with the scenery of the Napa Valley. For a second round, the South Course provides a natural companion to the North, giving golfers two contrasting layouts without having to leave the resort. But golf is only one reason to visit Napa. The valley’s vineyards and wineries provide an obvious couples activity, while its exceptional restaurants make lingering over lunch or dinner part of the experience. Add in scenic drives, spas and the relaxed atmosphere of California wine country, and Napa becomes a destination where golf can comfortably sit alongside a wider romantic getaway. Few places make it easier to combine a morning round with an afternoon of wine tasting and an excellent dinner. Best for: Golf and wine Mauritius Two good courses: Anahita Golf Club & Ile aux Cerfs Golf Club Couples activities: Lagoon/boat trip & beach and spa day Mauritius is an obvious choice for couples who want a golf trip to feel like a proper tropical escape. The Anahita Golf Club, designed by Ernie Els, occupies a spectacular setting between the island’s mountains and the Indian Ocean. Built on a former sugar plantation, the course features generous fairways, natural stone walls and six oceanfront holes, with the closing stretch following the rugged coastline back towards the clubhouse. It has also hosted the AfrAsia Mauritius Open. For a second round, Île aux Cerfs Golf Club provides an entirely different experience. Designed by Bernhard Langer, the course occupies a small island in Mauritius’s largest lagoon, with holes winding through former sugar plantation, mangroves, volcanic rock and along white-sand beaches. The setting is as memorable as the golf. That combination makes Mauritius particularly appealing for couples. Golf can be combined with lazy beach days, boat trips across the Indian Ocean, spa treatments and long lunches overlooking the water. With spectacular scenery surrounding both courses, even the golf feels like part of the wider tropical holiday rather than a reason to leave it. Best for: A tropical escape Marbella and the Costa del Sol (Spain) Two good courses: Finca Cortesin Golf Club & La Reserva Club Couples activities: Beach clubs & dinner/shopping in Marbella Marbella and the Costa del Sol offer an effortless combination of exceptional golf, Mediterranean sunshine and a glamorous couples getaway. La Reserva Club is one of the region’s newer courses, designed by Cabell B. Robinson and opened in 2004. Set across two valleys, its long, generous layout is capable of championship golf, having hosted the NH Collection Open, La Reserva de Sotogrande Invitational and Aramco Team Series. Finca Cortesin provides an equally impressive second round. Also designed by Robinson, the course winds through a dramatic valley close to the Mediterranean and stretches to almost 7,000 metres from the back tees. Its championship credentials include hosting the World Match Play Championship and, in 2023, the Solheim Cup. A relaxed atmosphere, five-star hotel and spa add to its appeal. Away from the golf, Marbella provides beautiful beaches, stylish beach clubs, excellent restaurants and a lively social scene, while the surrounding Costa del Sol offers plenty to explore. It is a destination that combines two outstanding courses with the pleasures of a luxurious Mediterranean holiday, making it particularly well-suited to couples looking for golf with a little glamour. Best for: Golf, nightlife and glamour Terre Blanche Golf & Spa Hotel (Provence, France) Two good courses: Terre Blanche (Château course) & Terre Blanche (Le Riou course) Couples activities: Spa day & explore Provençal villages and markets Terre Blanche is a superb choice for couples looking for a luxurious golf escape in the south of France. Tucked into the hills of Provence, close to Cannes and the Côte d’Azur, the resort combines spectacular golf with sunshine, fine dining, a five-star hotel and an exceptional spa. The headline course, Le Château, was designed by Dave Thomas and opened in 2000. Measuring 6,616 metres, it winds through the hilly landscape in a setting that feels both secluded and spectacular, with immaculate conditioning and a layout capable of testing the very best golfers. The second course, Le Riou, is shorter at 6,005 metres but no less demanding. Also designed by Thomas, its tree-lined fairways climb into the higher reaches of the property, with water hazards featuring prominently on the closing holes of both nines. Beyond the golf, Terre Blanche is perfectly positioned for exploring Provence and the Côte d’Azur, with Cannes only around 30 minutes away. Add the resort’s spa, restaurants and beautiful countryside setting, and it becomes a destination where golf forms part of a genuinely indulgent French holiday. Best for: Golf and the French good life Wailea (Maui, Hawaii) Two good courses: Wailea Golf Club (Gold course) & Wailea Golf Club (Emerald course) Couples activities: Sunset/whale-watching cruise & explore the Road to Hana Wailea is one of Hawaii’s most appealing golf destinations for couples, combining excellent courses with the beaches, scenery and relaxed atmosphere of Maui’s southwest coast. The Gold Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., is the longest and most challenging of Wailea’s three layouts. Built across volcanic terrain, it incorporates natural lava outcrops and ancient stone walls, while dramatic elevation changes and ocean views add to the experience. The course hosted the Champions Skins Game between 2001 and 2007. For a second round, the Emerald Course provides a more forgiving and visually spectacular contrast. Also designed by Jones Jr., it features colourful landscaping, ocean views and a number of memorable holes, including the downhill 6th and the water-influenced 10th and 17th. Away from the golf, Wailea offers some of Maui’s finest beaches, restaurants, resorts and spas, with the island’s volcanic landscapes and Pacific coastline providing a spectacular backdrop. It is the kind of destination where golf naturally fits into a wider tropical escape, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy Maui together. Best for: The big romantic getaway
