We embarked on our revision of European national rankings in March 2022 so it’s taken more than a year – and sixteen chart updates – to arrive at the stage where we now round up the remaining eight countries, most of which feature less than ten golf courses. Six of these listings are headed by the same course as last time but two (Lithuania and Russia) have a new number 1 at the top of the table.
Greece – Navarino Dunes
We start in Greece, with the Dunes course at Costa Navarino retaining the #1 spot. The first of four 18-hole courses to appear at the resort since 2010, this layout from Bernhard Langer and European Golf Design still sets the standard for all the others. Both the International Olympic Academy and Hills layouts at the same venue enter our Greek chart at #2 and #5 respectively.
The Kilada Hills course by Nicklaus Design opens soon and may feature in our next chart edition.
Click the link to see the entire list of ranked courses in Greece. View the chart here.
Bulgaria – Thracian Cliffs
The course at Thracian Cliffs Golf & Beach Resort remains our #1 track for Bulgaria. Situated on the Black Sea coast, this Gary Player design is one of the most spectacular golfing experiences in all of Europe, with holes laid out on a narrow sliver of land between high cliffs and a rugged coastline. Nearby BlackSeaRama and Lighthouse make this a great golfing destination within easy reach of Varna airport.
The new development at OKOL Lake Park opens soon in Sofia and we plan to check it out next year.
Click the link to see the entire list of ranked courses in Bulgaria. View the chart here.
Slovakia – Penati
The Jonathan Davison-designed Heritage course at the Penati Golf Resort is still our #1 for Slovakia, just edging out the other 18-hole layout at this impressive facility, the Jack Nicklaus-designed Legend. If ever there was a golfing destination with a high-class pair of contrasting 18-hole courses to enjoy then this is it – compare and contrast these two then make your own mind up which you prefer.
We’ve added the course at Welten outside Bratislava to our Slovakian chart and it debuts at #8.
Click the link to see the entire list of ranked courses in Slovakia. View the chart here.
Slovenia – Royal Bled
The King’s course at Royal Bled Golf easily holds onto its #1 status in Slovenia. Golf at this location goes back as far as the late 1930s when a 9-hole course was first constructed. Donald Harradine redesigned the layout in the early 1970s but it took an extensive 2-year renovation by Howard Swan in 2015-16 to fully realize the potential of the property.
The wonderful 9-hole Lake’s course at Royal Bled also makes a chart entrance at #4, just behind Arboretum which is currently closed for major renovation work.
Click the link to see the entire list of ranked courses in Slovenia. View the chart here.
Russia – Raevo
The course at Raevo Golf & Country Club climbs two places to become our new #1 in Russia. A Jack Nicklaus Signature design, it lies in a densely wooded area close to Moscow, with sand-capped fairways expertly routed around a dammed section of the Reka Nakhavnya water course. Operated by IMG, Raevo offers a high-end playing experience.
We’re adding four new courses to our Russian listings, led by the Cal Olsen-designed Agalarov near Moscow at #7.
Click the link to see the entire list of ranked courses in Russia. View the chart here.
Estonia – Pärnu Bay
The 18-layout at Pärnu Bay Golf Links holds onto its #1 ranking in Estonia. Laid out by Lassi Pekka Tilander, the course occupies a narrow strip of land in a fabulous coastal setting where the heavily forested landscape meets the sea. Often flanked by expansive sandy wasteland areas, the fairways weave in and out of small lagoons in a rather unique golfing environment.
We’ve also added the courses at Otepää GolfCenter (#5) and Rae Golf (#7) to our Estonian table.
Click the link to see the entire list of ranked courses in Estonia. View the chart here.
Latvia – Ozo
The course at Ozo Golf Club in Riga is still our #1 in Latvia. Established twenty years ago by former NHL player Sandis Ozolinsh, the layout was designed by Rob Sedberg of Frontier Golf, transforming a former landfill site near Lake Kisezers into a top-class golf complex which also includes a driving range, together with chipping and putting practice facilities.
Click the link to see the entire list of ranked courses in Latvia. View the chart here.
Lithuania – Capitals
Located an hour’s drive west of Vilnius, the course at Capitals Golf Club takes over at the top of the Lithuanian chart, moving up one place from the runner-up position. Little soil was shifted by Peter Chamberlain when he fashioned the fairways in the early years of the new millennium, so holes are sympathetically set across a mix of largely undisturbed wooded terrain and open countryside dotted with lakes and streams.
Click the link to see the entire list of ranked courses in Lithuania. View the chart here.
We’ve also included the course at National Klaipeda in our updated Lithuanian standings at #2.
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Jim McCann
Editor
Top 100 Golf Courses