Ponte Vedra (Ocean)

The Ponte Vedra Inn & Club is one of the top resorts in the country. Per my wife, Beth, it has the best spa she has ever been to. The lap pool overlooking the Atlantic Ocean is pretty cool, too. Ponte Vefra has two courses and the Ocean Course was...

Trump National Doral (Golden Palm)

Golden Palm went through a much needed redesign by Gil Hanse after Trump bought Doral. I would rank Golden Palm as the second best course on property, however….The first hole is fairly welcoming, slight dogleg right with a water hazard on the left....

Ballybunion (Old)

I have had the good fortune in playing the famed Old Course at Ballybunion several times over the years and clearly it rates among the upper, upper echelon of courses I've played. My most recent visit was this past summer and conditions were extremel...

Ballybunion (Cashen)

If you want to really know the standing of the Cashen Course as seen by the management of Ballybunion just check out the greens fees during high seasons for both courses. The Cashen is nearly 70% lower than the Old Course. That's a dramatic discount...

Trump National - Colts Neck

As with all Trump courses I've played -- roughly a dozen or so -- the turf quality is extremely good. For those who enjoy the highly manicured presentation -- TN Colts Neck layout delivers on that front. When someone mentioned to me the courser is "l...

Pueblo Estancia La Paz

Climbing out of the city to the North you will find the rolling landscape, tangled shrub and wild flora of the low sierra for as far as the eye can see. Nestled in amongst the beautiful and wild terrain is an oasis of elegance that was the former hom...

Valle del Golf

Well, when you go and see a comedian live, you want to hear new jokes, not the ones you have heard already right? But when you go and see the rolling Stones the last thing you want is their new album, you want the old stuff, Right? Golf designers li...

Córdoba

This is no course for flip flops folks. The closest course to downtown Cordoba is probably the greatest overall test of the big four you will play in Cordoba. You will not come here for the scenery, It is about the course. It is about the test. Eac...

Breakers (Rees Jones)

The first hole is welcoming with a large landing area. It gets noticeably tougher on the par 4 2nd. Slight dogleg left with a well protected green with bunkers and water left. Of the tee favor the right side for the best approach. The 3rd, 8th and...

Provo

Provo Golf Club is located on the island of Providenciales, which is in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It’s a very conveniently located course, only about 1 mile out of the centre of the region known as Grace Bay. This is where all the major resorts...

Dooks

If you've not been over there before, this makes for an excellent introduction to links golf in Ireland, before moving on to more esteemed neighbours. The views are - at almost every turn - fantastic, and the course itself has all the elements you wo...

Ballybunion (Old)

Arriving at Shannon Airport after an overnight flight, hopping in the car hire, and making one's way to Ballybunion, is a fantastic way for the traveling golfer to start a trip in Ireland.Sure the opening hole isn't that tough and playing along Sandh...

Lahinch (Old)

Lahinch is firmly ensconced in Ireland's Big 5 and rightly so. Home of large dunes and blind shots. Weather forecasting goats. Views of Liscannor Bay. So many good things; maybe even great things.You're off to the races quicker at Lahinch, than at Ba...

Potrerillo De Larreta

Just 45 minutes south west of the bustling streets of downtown Cordoba you will find a course that takes you on a journey around the low hills that look to the scrub covered mountains beyond. Unlike your BA courses you feel out of town, far from S...

Reunion Golf & Spa Resort (Watson)

The Watson course at Reunion is very interesting. There seem to be an infinite amount of moguls, tunnels and no water (there is water but it shouldn’t come into play)! The first hole is an inviting par 5, with bunkers in the landing zones where you...

Gamble Sands

Played 36 holes (07/16) and I have to say it is a fantastic piece of property with a really fun golf course laid out over top of it.Played the first morning round with a twosome and another single (really good guys) and we played from the greens at 6...

Royal Portrush (Valley)

A fine second 18 and second round of the day. This is a perfectly good golf course, but pales in comparison through no fault of its own, to one of the true greats next door. It's readily apparent why it's called the Valley course and it does lack the...

Portmarnock (Championship)

Maybe the best conditioned course we played on our most recent trip? The greens looked and rolled lovely. There was a nice definition to the cut of the fairways and the tee boxes were neatly clipped. Of course you can always go to a garden centre if...

European Club

The passage of time may be marked by a hairline that starts higher up for me and with the use of a buggy on Mr. Ruddy's part, but 20 years after I played the course for the first time, Mr. Ruddy is still there to see you off the first tee. If that do...

Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links

This is a solid, functional golf course. It has the crisp turf, wispy fescue, some riveted bunker faces, and all the other trappings of a proper links. It gets off to a fairly prosaic start over largely flat ground. They've tried to carve out some mo...

Laytown & Bettystown

I wouldn't pretend this is a world beater, but I would also say I don't think you need anything more in a golf course than what is on offer here. It starts out with a couple short 4s, but then increases the interest starting at the 3rd. There's a poo...

Sawgrass (East & West)

Sawgrass East/West is a pedestrian Florida golf course. The first hole is welcoming, relatively straight forward par 4. The 2nd is a longer par 4 dogleg right that is very tight. You must stay left in order to not be blocked out by the tall pine t...

Eynesbury

This course is somewhat hard to qualify as it has elements of linksland in the undulating fairways and swales around the greens, but also some sparse parkland and the big, bold bunkering of modern resort courses. The designers deserve praise if this...

Cranbourne

Just a really pleasant parkland course that was challenging but if played well, very fair. The bunkering and sandy base were standouts, with fairway and greenside bunkers in the line of play on most holes. Excellent conditions, especially the greens...

Federal

I'm fortunate to have played Federal many times and it really is one of those courses where I just don't tire of it, probably because to play Federal well, you have to be playing well with all facets of the game. There are always missed opportunities...

Tasmania

To declare my intentions early: I love this golf course. I love the smell of the mature eucalypts lining many of the holes; I love the unpretentiousness of the club; I love the long, curving, signature 3rd, the wee tap at the short, downhill par 3 11...

Secret Harbour

"Secrets" (I hope the club didn't waste too much money on that marketing gumph) is not a seaside links as the former name, Secret Harbour Golf Links suggests, but is set on sand (as it would appear is most of south-western Western Australia) and some...

Jockey Club (Red)

I think this is my first true Mackenzie Course. Now, I think if you dropped me onto any of his courses blindfolded, I think I would be able to tell you he designed it. It is a true test of technique, confidence and strategy. Vast swathes of green o...

Buenos Aires (Green & Yellow)

Wow, I loved everything about this course. The conditioning, the ambience, The challenge and the variety of holes. It is a world class Golf course. Once again much earth has been moved but it has been done supremely well and the aesthetic and challe...

Pilará

The pancake flat land around Buenos Aires means that if you want to build a course here you need to shape everything and move earth. When they laid down this course they moved A LOT of earth! They did a fine job. Having played many of Jacks Courses...

Argentino

So, My first round in Argentina came on the day I landed. My twelve and half hour overnight flight landed at a similar time as if I had flown to Portugal, and I am only three hours behind London time. Like a newly emerged butterfly my game needed a...

Erin Hills

The 2017 U.S. Open highlighted the roller coaster glacial landforms of this central Wisconsin layout, but as the course was soft and the wind was not blowing, the scores went low, with Brooks Koepka tying the tournament scoring record when all was sa...

Ballybunion (Cashen)

I don't know why we persist in playing this thing. Target golf and links golf don't go together, and if there was any doubt just venture onto the back 9 of the Cashen course, where green sites were chosen with seemingly no regard for how to get the g...

Ballybunion (Old)

I am a member at Ballybunion. IHMO, the club serves the two finest courses on the same beach anywhere in the world. I love the first 6 holes on the Old Course. Five of them head North with the wind blowing 20 off the Atlantic to the West and OB to th...

Southern Highlands

I'm a member at SoHi and it's the hardest course in Las Vegas. Pine-Tree lined holes remind of Pinehurst. Fabulous view of the Strip. Tricky, fast greens. Well placed traps and water hazards guide you around. Fairways generous -- just don't miss them...

Fallen Oak

When we first approached Fallen Oak there were no cars in the parking lot, only in the concierge area. I found it strange for a facility of this caliber, but soon realized that only guests of the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi can play this...

Orange County National (Panther Lake)

Orange County National is one of the best facilities in central FL. They are blessed with two courses. In my opinion Panther Lake is the best of the two. The opening hole is a long par four, slight dogleg right. Favor the left side as to avoid th...

PGA (Wanamaker)

The PGA Wanamaker course is part of a 54 hole complex in Port St. Lucie, FL. I highly recommend it over it’s sisters down in West Palm Beach. A lot fewer people, better pricing and better courses!The first hole is extremely welcoming, a short reach...

Warrnambool

This is a country town golf course of high quality that has part parkland feel but also some elements of linksland being quite close to the ocean and on old dunes. I played as a visitor in a stableford comp with interesting and welcoming members: the...

Royal Fremantle

Royal Freo is a mature tree-lined parkland course set on broad undulating land a couple of kilometres inland from Fremantle harbour. Most holes have uphill or downhill aspect with dog-legs; unless my memory is failing me there were almost no straight...

Whistling Straits (Straits)

Sand, fescue, and amazing lake views: that’s what you get when you play the Straits course. Eight of the greens (including all four par threes) hover perilously on the bluff over Lake Michigan, and the holes are oriented on several of them to point t...

Grand Bear

Grand Bear is a situated on a very secluded piece of Cypress wetland property near Saucier in the coastal region of Mississippi. This Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course is a tree-lined parkland design with wide fairways and narrow rough that has be...

Sandestin (Raven)

Sandestin Raven is way over rated on this list. Nice but not the 57th best course in FL. It is a Robert Trent Jones, Jr design and has hosted a couple of PGA Champion events over ten years ago. The first hole is dogleg left. It is not a welcoming...

Santana

This is a thoroughly enjoyable course. It is not a 'championship' course and is all the better for it. It is just long enough to be challenging, wide enough to be forgiving, and the greens are excellent but not straightforward. It should probably be...

Rimba Irian

I played here while on a trekking holiday to Lorentz National Park, a vacation I’ll never forget. The setting is completely jaw dropping where snow capped mountains tower above the wet and sticky tropical jungle. It’s not for the feint hearted and a...

St George's Golf & Country Club - Ontario

This golf course is almost perfect. As a mid single digit handicap, the Blue Tees at ~6800 is a tough test. I hit more 3/4 irons than on any other golf course (200-215 yards). The greens are the best I’ve seen in Canada. Combining the history with th...

Cabo del Sol (Desert)

The tough aspect in being a 36-hole resort is when the "second course" sits in the shadow of the primary one. That's the case with the Tom Weiskopf design at Cabo del Sol's Desert Course. Opened in 2001 -- a full seven years after the more acclaimed...

Cabo del Sol (Ocean)

One man is responsible for creating the growth for golf in the Cabo area and he just happens to be the game's greatest player -- Jack Nicklaus. In years past the Cabo area was where such Hollywood titans such as Bing Crosby and John Wayne, to name ju...

European Club

Played this one quite recently and it was a walk but we were told beforehand they do like their dunes in Ireland. Glad we took one of their electric buggies because it saved my legs. Enjoyed our round and it was something different to the norm for us...

Fish River

Beautiful course - worth the visit.

Belgrade Lakes

Fully agree with the other. A great golf course where the aim is golf, great golf, and not a hotel with golf, or a silly clubhouse, on the side.Well worth the trip.

Heritage (Henley)

There had been a significant burst of rain on and around this course the afternoon and evening before I played, but the course was only showing minor effects and the ground staff had done a great job early in the morning. The water hazards were certa...

Heritage (St John)

The St. John course occupies the better parcel of land at this 36-hole club and is the superior of the two courses. It is for the most part quite open and flows like a links style course, but has been shaped from a relatively sparse parkland setting....

Ballyneal

It's truly amazing when you drive through the town of Holyoke, which is simply ordinary and quite flat, you begin to wonder what the fuss is all about regarding Ballyneal. Then you head south for a few miles and you get an initial glimpse of "Chop Hi...

Haymaker

When top tier public facilities are mentioned in The Centennial State it boggles my mind when I don't see Haymaker listed near the very top. The Keith Foster design is smartly crafted because being able to create such a gifted design when a facility...

Royal Mid-Surrey (JH Taylor)

Less than 10 miles from Buckingham Palace and close to Kew Gardens, Royal Mid-Surrey occupies an historic piece of Crown property. Part of the back nine is laid out over land where two Royal Palaces once stood. The course is predominantly flat, with...

Pearl Valley

I am German and I played several golf courses around South Africa. The last week on our journey we spent around Cape Town. One of the most pleasant spot there was Pearl Valley Hotel by Mantis. A great place to enjoy the winelands with the best restau...

Milnerton

The location of the course right on the beachfront and with views of Table Mt is spectacular. The course was in excellent condition, both fairways and greens. If the wind blows (as it did) the holes back towards the clubhouse/Table Mt become really c...

The Oaks Golf Club

The Oaks Golf Club is an in-house design by Stephen Caplinger and Chris Cole from Landmark National that originally opened in February 1998. In August 2005 they took a direct hit from Hurricane Katrina and reportedly lost over 3,000 trees but you’d...

Country Club of Jackson (Dogwood & Azalea)

The Country Club of Jackson opened in 1914 and sits on 400 acres. It is a private facility with an opulent clubhouse but extremely family-friendly. Amenities include a youth lounge, an Olympic-sized pool with waterslide and splash pool. They also ha...

Mission Inn (El Campeón)

El Campeon is a fun atypical Florida course. I received conflicting original opening dates, so I will say that it is old. Having said that, it has been redesigned and tweaked to a yardage over 7k from the tips. The first hole is an interesting par...

Wyncote

There's no question that anyone heading to play Wyncote will get the best of service from an attentive staff and an equal element on the course conditioning side which is very well presented. The main lacking issue is an architectural style up to the...

Links at Hiawatha Landing

There's nothing worse than a course pretending to be something which in all reality it cannot be. Such is the case with another facility embracing the term "links" when nothing remotely close in the Southern Tier area of New York State could ever exi...

Saratoga National

The name Roger Rulewich may not resonate with many people but for many years when Robert Trent Jones, Sr. was alive it was Rulewich who was his number one guy on the scene at the key designs. As Jones ultimately faded from the scene it was Rulewich w...

Fairmont St Andrews (Kittocks)

I played this course as the final of four rounds in a single day in the Fife region, starting at Drumoig, Scotscraig, St Andrews (New) and then finally here. It was a charity event with a small group of work colleagues and we raised some money for He...

St Andrews (New)

The first time I played the New Course was during a week in St Andrews, exploring the town and all the courses of the Links Trust. I thought it was a wonderful, classic, links course. The second time was during a 72-hole charity day of golf on four c...

Scotscraig

I liked Scotscraig, I really did, but just didn't have the time to do it justice. This course was the venue for the second of four games played on the summer solstice a few years ago, in a charity 72-holes-in-a-day golfing marathon for a small group...

Drumoig

Considering the golfing pedigree on offer both in Scotland and closer to Drumoig in the Fife region, this course can only really be considered average. It's a fine course no doubt if it were many other places in the world, but in Fife?I do feel churl...

Mission Inn (El Campeón)

This course is excellent apart from one aspect - a huge tree in the middle of the par 5, (560 yards) 17th hole. This in my view spoils what is a brilliantly designed hole that is sufficiently strategic not to need this gimmick. It is appreciated that...

Royal County Down (Championship)

The thing about RCD for me is that I'd arrived, been overawed by finally playing the majestic links and then all too quickly it was over; and I have to be reminded of that day when I see the images occasionally pop-up on my personal photos screensave...

Royal Porthcawl

I'd have to disagree with the editors in their opening note on this Royal Porthcawl webpage, as from my conversations with other golfers, many, many people know of or have played this spectacular links course: it's certainly not "relatively unknown"...

Celtic Manor (Montgomerie)

I'd played this course in March and the overnight frost made the first few greens rather interesting! Quite surprised to have been let out to play with the greens still in that condition actually. It was something that caused me to wait an hour the...

Coral Ocean Point

Let me add to the comments above for a little more qualification of this course: I'd played Mangilao in Guam a few days before playing here and that was the full USD200 resort course deal with more employees than golfers, ice box with drinks included...

Arundel Hills

Arundel Hills is a parkland-style members course on the northern end of the Gold Coast that, whilst a fine course, could easily be mistaken for many of the other resort courses in the area. It was nice enough in terms of design elements, with slight...

Lemuria

There's a lot of wow associated with this course and it's not all just the signature par 3 15th. If you're playing golf here, it's more likely that you're staying on site at the high end Constance Lemuria resort where rooms are upwards of EUR500 per...

Carlton Woods (Nicklaus)

Before I get to the golf course, the staff here provides the most luxurious vibe I've ever experienced at a facility. I felt very fortunate to get the opportunity to play here, and the hospitality, amenities, and conditions made me all the more thank...

Southern Dunes

A Steve Smyers design it opened in 1993 and was redesigned by Smyers in 2016. From the tips it is long, over 7200 yards. It does have 5 tee options and this course plays hard and fast, to the point where you do not think you can reach a hazard and...

Emerald Dunes

Emerald Dunes is a golf rarity. In 1990, the Tom Fazio designed course, opened as a pay to play course. It is now uniquely private. When I say uniquely, members pay a fee at the beginning of the year and that covers everything. Most high end club...

Forest Dunes (Weiskopf)

So many times when people prepare reviews the focus often highlights the "experience" side of the equation. How well was one received by staff? How good were the turf conditions? How well did the putting greens roll? There's no question that these el...

Longue Vue

The immediate Pittsburgh area is blessed with a fine array of outstanding courses with clearly the likes of Oakmont leading the way. However, there's much more to the local golf scene and matters are helped considerably in having the kind of terrain...

Lookaway

Rees Jones has created a number of outstanding courses but as is common with many architects there can be times when a final product is nothing more than an effort that is simply a rendition of what's been done previously.Lookaway Golf Club is presen...

Elie

Scotland must be full of these courses but Elie is one of my favourites. The submarine thing on the first is a bit silly but we all loved it so maybe more blind holes should have one!!! Pulled my drive left early on and it even went in someone’s gard...

Martis Camp

Anyone who ventures to the greater Lake Tahoe area of America and can access both Martis Camp in CA and nearby Clear Creek in NV should do so. Both are private and both are excellent examples of top tier architecture by Tom Fazio and Ben Crenshaw / B...

Bighorn (Mountains)

As home to the now defunct Skins Game between 1992-95 -- the 18-hole layout received plenty of attention during that event held at the Thanksgiving time frame. Designed by Arthur Hills and opened in 1991, the Mountains course is a quality layout and...

Cypress Point

The quote from Bobby Jones when assessing the character of Pebble Beach and Cypress Point is the most accurate and cryptic of them all. Jones stated Pebble was "more difficult" but Cypress was "more fun." That is the core of what makes Cypress Point...

Elmpter Wald

I‘ve been a member here since just before the military left. The club is very welcoming, the course is in perfect isolation amongst the pines, oaks and heather found at the far end of the former RAF base.There is still some oldy-worldly British charm...

Düsseldorfer

Düsseldorfer is a mature 18 hole track over very hilly ground. This slopes - in addition to the length and encroaching trees - make the course very demanding for the average player.Ultimately, it’s a good course if you are looking for a proper challe...

West Hill

It had rained all night but the hardy and the committed queued at the first tee, squinting in to the low flying reluctant sun, beaming through the freshly leafless boughs of towering beech. We hunkered closely, expectantly, stiff limbed and well wrap...

Seminole

Visiting Seminole, entering the Clubhouse, playing the golf course, is an outstanding golfing experience. It is true that the course appears to be very flat and you can see across the whole plot of land from the Clubhouse, but it is a captivating Don...

North Palm Beach

North Palm Beach is well worth the visit. An original Seth Raynor design from the 1920s it had gone through multiple iterations until Jack Nicklaus essentially blew it up and redesigned in 2006. With only 125 odd acres to work with he was somewhat...

Bayside Golf Club

For those who venture to the far western corner of Nebraska I would strongly recommend stopping by Bayside. The course is located on the shores of Lake McConaughy. Dave Axland and Dave Prcotor -- the two men who shaped nearby Sand Hills in Mullen for...

Desert Highlands

When Desert Highlands opened in 1983 it was a truly a game changer in how modern golf design would go forward when located in arid climates such as this. Jack Nicklaus brought forward a layout that for whatever reasons is not more fully appreciated.T...

Lawsonia (Links)

There isn’t much that hasn’t already been said on the internet about Lawsonia’s utterly spectacular Links course. It’s the best daily fee value in the United States, and quite possibly the most heavily underrated golf course listed on this site. The...

Turnberry Isle (Miller)

Turnberry Isle has two courses and the Miller course should be your second choice. Originally, a Robert Trent Jones Sr design it was facelifted by Raymond Floyd. It does not have the sizzle of the Soffer course. From the tips it is only 6400 yards...

Whiskey Creek

Given that I unfortunately played this course on one of the windiest days I can ever remember playing golf, affecting my game to the point that it was almost not fun, my day at Whiskey Creek was not the most memorable one. What I do remember is that...

Rams Hill

Rams Hill is one of the best hidden gems in the country. The drive to Rams Hill is so mello and peaceful because of the awesome scenery. The best part is that you will never have to sit in any traffic while driving to Rams Hill. When you arrive a...

Forres

I played in the Forres five-day Open this year, returning after many years to a course I played as a junior. It was a happy homecoming, the greens were in great shape, the overall maintenance levels are consistently strong.The course itself is fun to...

Lake Forest

Disclaimer: this is my home club! I became a member earlier in 2018. Gary Kern designed the golf course at Lake Forest; he had a prolific design career in the Midwest United States, often on lower budget projects and sometimes in smaller communities...

Coral Creek

The Coral Creek Club is fantastic track amid scenic surroundings. A Fazio design, it first opened in 2000. Unfortunately, it had some financial struggles and was closed briefly in 2003 but appears to have turned the corner and is doing very well....

Camp Creek

Camp Creek Golf Club is a Fazio design that opened in 2001. The most striking element of the course are the generous landing areas. The environment is man made, as I was told that over 1 million cubic feet of dirt was utilized in its creation as we...