
Top 100 Golf Courses of Continental Europe 2012
Our latest and long-awaited Continental European Top 100 golf course rankings are unveiled
25th January 2012
One hundred and ninety-one golf courses were on our ever-growing shortlist for a position within our latest and long-awaited Continental European Top 100 ranking list.
Assembling the list was tricky, as we have yet to find anyone who has played anywhere nearly enough top Continental European courses. The likelihood is that nobody will ever try and play them all, as there are many challenges golfing across a continent that incorporates so many different countries and languages. If you have played them all or have played a significant proportion then please get in touch… I’d love to hear from you.
However, we do have many contributors that reach across Europe and it was really a question of placing all the contenders in the mix and then sequencing the results. Sounds easy?
Golf courses from sixteen Continental European countries made our list and for the first time we have a course from Iceland in the hundred. When Cédric, our Icelandic correspondent, visited Keilir in 2010 he said the club had added some new back tees and it’s now “clearly the best course in the country, both in terms of design and quality, not to mention the unique front nine in the lava”. Keilir debuts at position 99.

At the opposite – and warmer – end of Europe, we have the arrival of the new Sir Nick Faldo-designed course at Elea Golf Club, which opened in Cyprus in October 2010. Despite the presence of another good Cypriot course, Aphrodite Hills, Elea has managed to further raise the golfing bar in Cyprus.
Domain Imperial remains the only golf course from Switzerland to make the hundred, but we have two new entries from Turkey and Perry Dye’s Lykia Links moves meteorically up the table. Thomson Perrett & Lobb’s Carya makes its European debut, as does Bob Hunt’s Sueno (Pines). With five Turkish courses now in the hundred, Turkey really is a destination for the golfing aficionado.

The Netherlands is an overlooked golfing destination but take note, this small but perfectly formed country has the best collection of links courses outside Britain and Ireland. David Davis, our Benelux correspondent, has recently written several detailed essays on Dutch golf courses. If you are interested in finding out more then visit the Top 100 News Channel and check out David’s articles. The Dutch and Rosendaelsche are both new entries in our European hundred, which now means The Netherlands can boast seven courses in the Continental European Top 100.
Belgium is another of the Low Countries that punches well above its weight. Despite its diminutive size, Belgium has four Royals that are worthy of inspection and Royal Zoute continues to lead the Belgian way.
Spain and Portugal are still the primary destinations for those seeking warm climate golf. Spain is the original holiday destination for winter-weary Europeans and the southern Costas continue to be popular for the weather. However, those in search of the best Spanish course should now head to Barcelona and the Costa Brava region because the Stadium course at PGA de Catalunya has finally knocked Valderrama from the Spanish top spot. Portugal’s Monte Rei remains ahead of Oitavos Dunes in our European rankings, but from Iberia, only Spain can boast new entries, the highest of which is the Arriba course at Puerta de Hierro – however, we did feature the Arriba course in our 2006 Continental European rankings. Finca Cortesin, host to the 2009 World Match Play Championship, is a brand new entry, as is Son Gual and Abama on the islands of Majorca and Tenerife respectively. The Links course at Emporda is another Spanish new entry but I feel that Robert von Hagge’s creations in Girona (Links and Forest courses) are underrated.

Five courses from Germany are new entries in our 2012 European rankings. Germany has formerly proven to be a difficult country for us to unravel, but Jens Bernitzky has recently joined the Top 100 team. Jens runs his own Golf Tourism Marketing business, the “Deutsche Golf Strasse®” (German Golf Trail), the first private golf cooperation in Germany and together we aim to publish the first ever ranking list of Germany’s Top 100 Golf Courses. Christoph Stadler refurbished the Harry Colt-designed course of Frankfurter Golf Club recently and it’s our highest new German entry in the European hundred. Koln Golf & Country Club at Refrath returns to the European chart as does Bernhard von Limburger’s Garlstedter Heide course at Club Zur Vahr in Bremen. Arnold Palmer’s layout at the Sporting Club Berlin is the final German new entry, which joins Nick Faldo’s course at the impressive 63-hole Sporting Club Berlin.

Austria now has four courses listed in the hundred and there are three new entries, although Gut Altentann appeared in our 2006 European rankings. Adamstal and Schloss Schonborn join our highest ranked Austrian course, Fontana.
There are three fewer courses from Italy in our European list this year, but we have one new Italian entry at Sir Rocco Forte’s Verdura Resort. There are 36 Kyle Phillips-designed holes on offer at Verdura, but the old fashioned out-and-back Verdura West course just has the edge over the also solid East layout. Both of Verdura’s courses feature prominently in our latest Italian rankings.
We have already mentioned Iceland, but all the Nordic countries continue to provide outstanding golfing facilities. Sweden has the lion’s share of golf courses, indeed there are more Swedish golf courses than across the rest of the Nordic countries put together. Nine Swedish courses appear on our European chart and there’s one new entry at the impressive PGA of Sweden National facility, which boasts two courses from the burgeoning Kyle Phillips portfolio. The Lakes course is the more highly rated layout at the PGA National, but the Links course is also a fine layout in its own right.

Surprisingly, no Norwegian courses made our European rankings, despite the best endeavours of our own Norway and Sweden correspondent. Jan Nordstrom has played virtually every course in Norway and is working his way systematically through the courses of Sweden. Jan’s view is that the quality of top Swedish courses is so much higher than anything available in his Norwegian homeland. However, if you are planning to play golf in Norway, there are still some great courses to savour, so check out our extended Norway Top 20.
Denmark is a strong golfing nation and the addition of the new 36-hole facility at the Scandinavian Golf Club simply adds to the country’s strength and depth. The Old course at the Scandinavian is our highest Danish new entry, even though it only opened its tees for play in 2010, one year ahead of the club’s New course.
Finland retains three courses in the European table and two are available for play at Kytäjä Golf Club. Tom McBroom, who knows a thing or two about designing great Canadian golf courses, designed both layouts at Kytäjä, which bear remarkable similarities to the Canadian landscape.
If you are searching for an undiscovered European golfing destination, then you may want to look at Bulgaria. Thracian Cliffs is located on the northern Black Sea Coast and it’s a Black Knight signature design that opened in 2011. The course is routed, hole after hole, along the cliffs on magical land of the once powerful Thracian kingdoms. The setting is pure theatre and Gary Player is quite rightly enthusiastic about the site: “You will not find another golf course like this anywhere on the planet”, commented Player. “Pebble Beach is renowned as the best site and I would say Thracian Cliffs is twice as good as Pebble Beach.” Now that is a statement.

France remains the cornerstone of our European rankings and there are nineteen French courses on the list. Three French courses have dropped off the list only to be replaced by three new Gallic layouts. Barbaroux, Joyenval (Marly) and Hardelot (Les Pins) make an appearance for the first time and we also have a new Continental European No.1. Morfontaine heads the European rankings again, just as the club did in 2008. Les Bordes maintains its Continental European No.2 position but swaps places in the French national rankings with Morfontaine. With around 550 golf courses across France there is not only strength in numbers but also depth in quality. Numerous layouts from the Golden Age still exist, occasionally in their original form, and we hope to extend our French rankings in the not too distant future.

We always welcome feedback, so please feel free to let us know what you think of our latest Continental European Top 100. We don’t claim to be “definitive” but we do like to think that we’re the most “informed” and considered golf course rankings in the business. If you’ve played any of our featured European courses, we’d love to know what you think, so why not post a course review or two?
Keith Baxter
Editor-in-Chief
www.top100golfcourses.com
| 2012 | Course | Country | Move |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morfontaine | France | Up 2 |
| 2 | Les Bordes | France | No change |
| 3 | PGA de Catalunya (Stadium) | Spain | Up 1 |
| 4 | Valderrama | Spain | Down 3 |
| 5 | Noordwijkse | Netherlands | Up 3 |
| 6 | Royal Zoute | Belgium | Down 1 |
| 7 | Chantilly (Vineuil) | France | Down 1 |
| 8 | Bro Hof Slott (Stadium) | Sweden | Down 1 |
| 9 | Hamburger Falkenstein | Germany | Up 4 |
| 10 | National (L'Albatros) | France | Down 1 |
| 11 | Fontainebleau | France | Up 12 |
| 12 | Monte Rei | Portugal | Down 2 |
| 13 | Koninklijke Haagsche | Netherlands | Up 4 |
| 14 | Kennemer (Colt & Van Hengel) | Netherlands | Down 2 |
| 15 | Barsebäck (Masters) | Sweden | Up 3 |
| 16 | Sporting Club Berlin (Faldo) | Germany | No change |
| 17 | Lubker | Denmark | Up 2 |
| 18 | Biella | Italy | Down 4 |
| 19 | Oitavos Dunes | Portugal | Up 1 |
| 20 | Prince de Provence | France | Up 12 |
| 21 | Sotogrande | Spain | Up 1 |
| 22 | Lykia | Turkey | Up 26 |
| 23 | Spérone | France | Down 8 |
| 24 | Oceanico (Old) | Portugal | No change |
| 25 | I Roveri | Italy | Down 2 |
| 26 | Budersand Sylt | Germany | Up 23 |
| 27 | San Lorenzo | Portugal | Up 11 |
| 28 | Royal Fagnes | Belgium | Up 26 |
| 29 | Domaine de Terre Blanche (Château) | France | Up 22 |
| 30 | Praia D'El Rey | Portugal | Up 5 |
| 31 | Vasatorps (Tournament) | Sweden | Up 27 |
| 32 | Thracian Cliffs | Bulgaria | New Entry |
| 33 | Utrecht de Pan | Netherlands | Up 15 |
| 34 | Domaine Imperial | Switzerland | Down 4 |
| 35 | El Saler | Spain | Down 4 |
| 36 | Scandinavian (Old) | Denmark | New Entry |
| 37 | Kempferhof | France | Up 22 |
| 38 | Las Brisas | Spain | Up 12 |
| 39 | Carya | Turkey | New Entry |
| 40 | Santander | Spain | Down 3 |
| 41 | Troia | Portugal | Down 7 |
| 42 | Fontana | Austria | No change |
| 43 | Kytäjä G.C. (South East) | Finland | No change |
| 44 | Royal Belgium (Old) | Belgium | Down 19 |
| 45 | Eindhoven | Netherlands | Down 12 |
| 46 | Elea | Cyprus | New Entry |
| 47 | Seddiner See (South) | Germany | Down 18 |
| 48 | Verdura (West) | Italy | New Entry |
| 49 | Dutch | Netherlands | New Entry |
| 50 | Gut Larchenhof (Jack Nicklaus) | Germany | Down 3 |
| 51 | Halmstad (North) | Sweden | Down 20 |
| 52 | St Germain | France | Up 30 |
| 53 | Cornelia | Turkey | Down 26 |
| 54 | Medoc (Chateaux) | France | Up 26 |
| 55 | La Reserva | Spain | Up 9 |
| 56 | RSHE Club de Campo (North) | Spain | Down 28 |
| 57 | Castelconturbia (Blue & Yellow) | Italy | Down 36 |
| 58 | Seignosse | France | Down 22 |
| 59 | Frankfurter | Germany | New Entry |
| 60 | Le Touquet (La Mer) | France | Up 23 |
| 61 | Puerta de Hierro (Arriba) | Spain | New Entry |
| 62 | Adamstal | Austria | New Entry |
| 63 | Koln - Refrath | Germany | New Entry |
| 64 | Villa d'Este | Italy | Down 24 |
| 65 | Barbaroux | France | New Entry |
| 66 | Visby | Sweden | Up 28 |
| 67 | Finca Cortesin | Spain | New Entry |
| 68 | Quinta de Cima | Portugal | Up 10 |
| 69 | Joyenval (Marly) | France | New Entry |
| 70 | Falsterbo | Sweden | Down 34 |
| 71 | Torino (Blue) | Italy | Up 1 |
| 72 | Zur Vahr Bremen (Garlstedter Heide) | Germany | New Entry |
| 73 | Puerta de Hierro (Abajo) | Spain | Down 13 |
| 74 | Rosendaelsche | Netherlands | New Entry |
| 75 | Gut Altentann | Austria | New Entry |
| 76 | Royal Antwerp | Belgium | Down 7 |
| 77 | Sporting Club Berlin (Palmer) | Germany | New Entry |
| 78 | Sevilla | Spain | Down 5 |
| 79 | Sueno (Pines) | Turkey | New Entry |
| 80 | Holstebro | Denmark | Down 5 |
| 81 | St Nom-la-Breteche (Red) | France | Up 12 |
| 82 | Le Querce | Italy | Down 43 |
| 83 | Ljunghusen (Yellow & Red) | Sweden | Down 37 |
| 84 | Hossegor | France | Up 12 |
| 85 | PGA National Sweden (Lakes) | Sweden | New Entry |
| 86 | Schloss Schonborn | Austria | New Entry |
| 87 | Son Gual | Spain | New Entry |
| 88 | Furnas | Portugal | Down 35 |
| 89 | Sand | Sweden | Down 31 |
| 90 | El Prat (Red) | Spain | Down 2 |
| 91 | Porto Santo | Portugal | Down 1 |
| 92 | Esbjerg (Marbaek) | Denmark | Down 25 |
| 93 | Linna | Finland | Down 27 |
| 94 | Abama | Spain | New Entry |
| 95 | Emporda (Links) | Spain | New Entry |
| 96 | Hardelot (Les Pins) | France | New Entry |
| 97 | Moliets | France | Down 35 |
| 98 | Antalya (Sultan) | Turkey | Down 34 |
| 99 | Keilir | Iceland | New Entry |
| 100 | Kytäjä G.C. (North West) | Finland | Down 1 |
Click the link to see the latest Continental European Top 100 in detail.
Breakdown of courses by country: Austria 4, Belgium 4, Bulgaria 1, Cyprus 1, Denmark 4, Finland 3, France 19, Germany 9, Iceland 1, Italy 7, Netherlands 7, Portugal 9, Spain 16, Sweden 9, Switzerland 1, Turkey 5.
For those interested, the twenty-five courses that made way for the new are: Miklagard, Hilversumsche, Bogogno (Conte), Ullna, Beuerberg, Rethmar, Steiermarkischer, Limburg, Pevero, Courson (Vert/Noir), St Leon-Rot (St Leon), Oceanico (Victoria), St Leon-Rot (Rot), Frosaker, Hills, Club De Campo Villa de Madrid (Negro), Rungsted, St Dionys, Skjoldenaesholm (RTJ), Roma-Acquasanta, PGA National Sweden (Links), Milano, Chiberta, Royal Mougins, Moss & Rygge.

Spain’s golf courses continue to set the standard for Continental European golf, with the 2026 rankings showcasing unprecedented stability at the summit alongside remarkable movement in Madrid's most prestigious clubs. Real Club Valderrama retains its crown for another year, whilst Real Puerta de Hierro's Arriba course surges into the Top 5, and Real Moraleja 2 sees a dramatic rise. The latest Top 100 Golf Courses of Spain rankings reflect deeper panellist coverage across all regions, from Andalusia's resort-lined coastlines to the Basque Country's clifftop layouts. With 27 new entries joining the rankings and significant repositioning throughout, these updated listings provide essential guidance for golfers planning trips to Europe's premier year-round golf destination. Spain's 345 courses serve more than 269,000 registered golfers and attract millions of international visitors annually, generating substantial tourism revenue whilst maintaining world-class playing conditions across diverse landscapes. Check out the Complete Spain Ranking now! See the ranking for the Balearic Islands See the ranking for the Canary Islands See the ranking for Madrid and Central Spain See the ranking for North East Spain See the ranking for Northern Spain, including Basque See the ranking for South East Spain See the ranking for Southern Spain - Costa del Sol 2026 Rankings: The Established Century The 2026 rankings maintain the traditional Top 100 format whilst introducing 27 fresh perspectives that reshape the lower half of the table. Spain's golf infrastructure supports this depth, with courses ranging from Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s 1960s masterpieces to cutting-edge modern designs incorporating the latest agronomy and environmental practices. Beyond the ranked 100, dozens of additional playable courses offer compelling golf experiences across the mainland, Balearic Islands, and Canary Islands. Several courses showing promise for future rankings include developments in Valencia, updates to established Mallorcan venues, and renovations to classic Madrid layouts that could elevate their standing in subsequent editions. 2026 Top 100 At A Glance The Unchanged Summit • Real Club Valderrama - The 1997 Ryder Cup venue remains Spain's #1, maintaining its position through meticulous course conditioning and Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s strategic design mastery • Real Club de Golf Sotogrande - Jones's first European design from the early 1960s holds firm in the runner-up position • El Saler - Javier Arana's Valencia masterpiece inside Albufera Nature Park celebrates over 55 years of excellence in 3rd • Camiral Resort Stadium - The European Tour's flagship course, originally PGA Catalunya, anchors the Top 4 for another edition Madrid's Renaissance • Real Puerta de Hierro Arriba surges into the Top 5 • Real Moraleja 2 achieves historic leap into the Top 40 • Real Moraleja 1 climbs substantially into the Top 40 • LaFinca Madrid debuts in the upper half • Moraleja 4 advances into the Top 15 Andalusian Stability and Movement • La Zagaleta Old rockets into the Top 30 • Real Pineda surges into the Top 50 • Los Naranjos Golf Club climbs into the Top 50 • Aloha Golf Club maintains Top 25 status with minimal movement Catalonian Excellence • Real El Prat Pink rises into the Top 10 • Infinitum Hills advances into the Top 25 • Emporda Forest maintains a strong position in the Top 30 • Fontanals enters the rankings in the mid-table Basque and Northern Quality • Real Sociedad de Golf de Neguri climbs into the Top 10 - Javier Arana's clifftop masterpiece near Bilbao • Real Pedreña advances into the Top 15 - Harry Colt design, where Seve Ballesteros learned his craft • Real La Coruña rises into the Top 30 • Larrabea makes debut in Top 40 • Real La Toja enters in the Top 60 South East Developments • La Finca Algorfa surges into the Top 40 • Las Colinas Golf & Country Club advances into the Top 20 • Real La Manga Club South climbs into the Top 20 • Escorpión leaps into the Top 60 New Entries • Infinitum Lakes (31st) • LaFinca Madrid (36th) • Larrabea (40th) • Buenavista (59th) • Real La Toja (60th) • Desert Springs - Indiana (63rd) • Fontanals (64th) • Costa Adeje (66th) • Real Club de Golf La Cerdaña Verde (67th) • Montanya (70th) • Real Club de Golf La Peñaza (78th) • La Dehesa (79th) • Real Guadalhorce (81st) • Sherry Golf Jerez (82nd) • Isla Canela Links (84th) • Norba Cáceres (88th) • Las Pinaillas (89th) • Sant Cugat (90th) • Real Zarauz (92nd) • New Sierra (95th) • Saldaña (96th) • San Sebastián (97th) • Isla Valdecañas (98th) • Costa Brava Verde (99th) • Izki Urturi (100th) Check out the Ranking now! Best Golf Courses by Region Southern Spain (Andalusia): 38 Courses (38%) Andalusia maintains its position as Spain's golf heartland, with more than a third of the Top 100 concentrated along the Costa del Sol and Costa de la Luz. Real Club Valderrama leads the southern contingent, followed by Sotogrande, Las Brisas, La Reserva Club, and Finca Cortesin in the Top 15. The region's dominance reflects decades of golf tourism infrastructure, reliable year-round playing conditions, and architectural contributions from Robert Trent Jones Sr., Pepe Gancedo, and modern designers. South East Spain (Valencia & Murcia): 22 Courses (22%) The Mediterranean coastline from Valencia through Murcia delivers impressive depth, with El Saler leading at 3rd nationally. The region showcases Javier Arana's links-influenced masterpiece alongside Jack Nicklaus's extensive Murcia portfolio, including Alhama, El Valle, and Saurines. Las Colinas and Real La Manga South represent the region strongly in the Top 20, whilst recent improvements at La Finca Algorfa and Escorpión demonstrate the area's evolution. North East Spain (Catalonia): 19 Courses (19%) Catalonia concentrates quality rather than quantity, with Camiral Stadium at 4th and Real El Prat's Pink course at 8th providing world-class golf near Barcelona. The Costa Brava delivers gems like Emporda Forest and the newly-entered Fontanals, whilst inland venues such as Montanya and La Peñaza expand the region's options. The cooler northern climate ensures superb conditioning even during peak summer months. Madrid & Central Spain: 19 Courses (19%) The capital region demonstrates remarkable growth in the 2025 rankings, with Real Puerta de Hierro's two courses both cracking the Top 10. The Real Moraleja complex's extraordinary rise—with three courses now in the Top 40—reflects both improved course conditioning and expanded panellist coverage. Club de Campo Villa de Madrid's Negro course at 11th and LaFinca Madrid's debut at 36th round out Madrid's strengthening golf credentials. Northern Spain (Basque Country & Galicia): 11 Courses (11%) The rugged northern coastline produces characterful layouts that reward creativity over power. Real Sociedad de Golf de Neguri at 6th represents Javier Arana's finest clifftop work, whilst Real Pedreña's association with Seve Ballesteros adds historical resonance to Harry Colt's design. Real La Coruña and the newly entered Larrabea and La Toja expand northern options for discerning golfers. Balearic Islands: 8 Courses (8%) Mallorca dominates the island representation with Club de Golf Alcanada at 21st and Son Gual at 26th leading the way. The departure of several Mallorcan venues from the rankings suggests heightened competitive standards, though those remaining demonstrate genuine Top 100 quality. Canary Islands: 10 Courses (10%) The Atlantic archipelago offers year-round golf in volcanic landscapes. Abama on Tenerife at 41st and Tecina on La Gomera at 57th provide resort golf with dramatic elevation changes. New entries Buenavista (59th) and Costa Adeje (66th) expand Tenerife's options. Check out the Ranking now! What the Rankings Tell Us Key Takeaways from 2026 Summit Stability • Top 4 unchanged for the second consecutive edition demonstrates enduring quality • Valderrama's continued dominance reflects ongoing investment and the 1997 Ryder Cup legacy • Sotogrande, El Saler, and Camiral Stadium prove mature designs age gracefully Madrid's Renaissance • Real Puerta de Hierro Arriba's Top 5 entry validates one of Spain's oldest layouts • Real Moraleja complex achieves three courses in Top 40 - unprecedented clustering • LaFinca Madrid debut demonstrates capital region's strengthening golf credentials Architectural Legacy Recognition • Robert Trent Jones Sr. portfolio (Valderrama, Sotogrande, Las Brisas) dominates Andalusia • Javier Arana's genius honoured with El Saler (3rd) and Neguri (6th) in Top 10 • Harry Colt's Pedreña (12th) maintains historical significance as Seve's home course • European Tour's Camiral Stadium design proves championship pedigrees endure • Modern architects like Pepe Gancedo ("Picasso of Golf") gain recognition Regional Dynamics • Andalusia maintains 38% share - Costa del Sol remains Spain's golf heartland • South East Spain (22%) demonstrates Valencia/Murcia depth with a strong Nicklaus portfolio • Catalonia (19%) concentrates quality over quantity near Barcelona • Madrid/Central (19%) achieves parity with Catalonia through dramatic climbs • Northern Spain punches above its weight with Arana and Colt masterpieces • 27 new entries reflect expanded panellist coverage across all regions Resort Course Validation • La Finca Algorfa and Escorpión prove modern resort layouts compete with private clubs • Improved conditioning and strategic management elevate previously overlooked venues • Year-round playing conditions increasingly valued by international panellists Check out the Ranking now! A Decade of Evolution: 2014-2023 Spain's Rankings Journey 2014-2016: The PGA Catalunya Era During this period, the Stadium course at PGA Catalunya (now Camiral Stadium) dominated Spanish golf rankings, holding the #1 position through multiple cycles. The European Tour's flagship course rivalled the PGA Tour's TPC Sawgrass in tournament pedigree, having hosted the Spanish Open on multiple occasions. Real Club Valderrama was granted Royal status in 2014, adding prestige to its already considerable championship credentials from hosting the 1997 Ryder Cup and annual Volvo Masters events. The mid-2010s saw Spain's golf industry navigating post-financial crisis recovery, with some resort courses struggling whilst established private clubs maintained standards. The rankings reflected this bifurcation, with traditional venues holding strong positions whilst newer resort tracks sought to establish reputations. Anfi Tauro's entry into the rankings at this time signalled growing recognition of Canary Islands golf beyond purely resort-style offerings. 2018: Dramatic Movements and New Perspectives The 2018 rankings marked a turning point, with significant repositioning across the entire table. PGA Catalunya Stadium retained the #1 spot, but emerging challengers demonstrated Spain's deepening quality. Anfi Tauro surged dramatically into the Top 20, Las Colinas made a substantial leap upward, and Rio Real achieved a remarkable climb. These movements reflected both course improvements and expanded panellist coverage providing fresh perspectives. La Finca in Algorfa entered the rankings for the first time, with reviewers praising Pepe Gancedo's design as worthy of the "Picasso of Golf" moniker. The Golf Quara group's properties began receiving recognition, with La Finca joining sister courses Las Ramblas and Villamartin in the Top 100. This period emphasised that Spain's golf scene extended well beyond traditional Andalusian strongholds into Valencia, Murcia, and the Costa Blanca. 2020: Valderrama Ascends The 2020 rankings witnessed Real Club Valderrama's rise to #1 after remaining at #4 since 2012. This ascension reflected both the course's timeless quality and renewed appreciation for its strategic demands. A reviewer noted it as "a step away from heaven... from the moment you arrive, you feel as if you are in a golfing paradise," capturing the venue's ability to blend championship pedigree with aesthetic beauty. El Saler climbed to #2. The links-influenced Valencia layout benefited from celebrating 50 years of operation in 2018, with reviewers rediscovering Javier Arana's genius for blending inland and seaside holes. Nine new entries joined the rankings in 2020, including Costa Teguise in Lanzarote, Lopesan Meloneras in Gran Canaria, and Real Club de Golf de La Coruña at #35. These additions demonstrated expanded geographical coverage across Spain's Atlantic islands and northern coastline. 2023: Panel Expansion and Radical Transformation 2023 saw an enlarged panel providing diverse perspectives across all Spanish regions. Valderrama retained its #1 position, having risen there in 2020, whilst the Top 10 remained relatively stable. However, the lower half underwent radical transformation, with 25 courses departing and 24 new entries or re-entries fundamentally reshaping the table's composition. La Hacienda Links made a dramatic climb following its cliff-top Links course's rediscovery by panellists. San Roque Old leapt substantially after completing a total makeover, including bunker refurbishment, bent grass greens, Bermuda fairways, and new practice facilities. Real Sociedad de Golf de Neguri rose into the Top 15, approaching a first Top 10 appearance. Harry Colt-designed Real Pedreña advanced into the Top 15, reinforcing northern Spain's architectural contributions. The 2023 rankings emphasised that Spain's golf scene remained dynamic, with course conditioning, architectural pedigree, and overall experience differentiating elite venues from the merely good. 2026: Spain’s Coming of Age Ranking The 2026 Top 100 Golf Courses of Spain rankings reflect a mature, diverse golf market offering world-class experiences across multiple regions and architectural styles. From Valderrama's strategic brilliance to El Saler's links-influenced routing and Madrid's private club excellence, Spain delivers golf worth travelling for across all skill levels and playing preferences. Check out the Complete Spain Ranking now! See the ranking for the Balearic Islands See the rankings for the Canary Islands See the rankings for Madrid and Central Spain See the ranking for North East Spain See the ranking for Northern Spain See the ranking for South East Spain See the ranking for Southern Spain - Costa del Sol

Top 100 Golf Courses of Continental Europe 2020 It’s two years since we published the last edition of our Top 100 chart for Continental Europe and as this listing is refreshed biennially, it’s now time to reveal our latest ranking positions for 2020-21. We still haven’t come across anybody who’s played every one of these tracks and that’s hardly a bombshell revelation if you consider the number of different countries involved across a vast area. Instead, we rely on trusted correspondents around Europe who’ve played a large proportion of courses within their country and elsewhere, combining their data into an all-embracing list from which we make informed decisions about the relative merits of the serious contenders across the various nations. If you think you have the necessary pan-national experience to contribute to our process then by all means get in touch with us as we try to produce the most informed chart possible. For those interested in the overall statistics, exactly half the courses fall back or drop out altogether, with forty moving up and ten remaining in the same place. The eleven exiting courses are replaced by the same number of new entries, of course. The “Big Four” golfing nations of France, Spain, Portugal and The Netherlands account for more than half the entries and Belgium, Sweden, Germany, Denmark and Italy weigh in with thirty between them. Ten other countries are represented in the remaining thirteen positions. The top three slots stay exactly as they were when we last updated the European listings, which means Tom Simpson’s Grand Parcours course at Golf de Morfontaine is still the No. 1 layout in Continental Europe, a position it’s held onto for six of the seven editions we’ve published since 2008. Morfontaine - Grand Parcours Described in the latest review for the course as “four hours of golfing bliss… [at] an extraordinary club with a brilliant set-up both on and off the golf course,” the Grand Parcours has also now been joined in the elite continental Top 100 by the club’s fabulous 9-hole Vallière course, which is our final chart newcomer at #99. Morfontaine - Vallière course This little beauty is another Tom Simpson tour de force from over a century ago and even though it’s been significantly remodelled since it first opened in 1913, there’s still plenty of the original layout left for golfers to enjoy one of the most fun-filled nine holes in world golf and we have absolutely no hesitation in introducing it into these multi-national rankings. At the top of the table, the Grand Parcours layout holds off strong challenges from two brilliant old Dutch masters, Koninkijke Haagsche Golf & Country Club (at #2) and Utrechtse Golf Club ‘De Pan’ (at #3), where the architectural talents of Harry Colt and his design partner Hugh Alison during the 1920s and 1930s transformed these already wonderful layouts into the world-class courses that we recognise today. Royal Hague “Big and bold [and] a challenge for all levels of golfer – both off the tee where targets perhaps appear tighter than they really are, and the approach shots which are often off uneven lies to elevated greens” is what a recent reviewer posted for Koninkijke Haagsche, while the same person also wrote about Utrecht de Pan: “it’s not flashy, long or overly demanding. It does however require some thought on length of tee shot, and angle of attack… one of the most impressive old courses I have played.” Another course that now graces our World Top 100 is Spain’s Real Club Valderrama, and it rises three places to No. 4 in our Continental Europe listings. It’s quite a turnaround in fortunes for a course that slipped to number 8 in Europe four years ago but an extensive renovation since then, mainly to install new drainage and renew bunkers, has helped reinvigorate this iconic Robert Trent Jones design and propel it back upwards in the rankings. Real Valderrama Golf Club Our Argentina correspondent Javier Pintos was here a few months ago and had this to say: “I teed off with GM Javier Reviriego in a fun, fast twosome where he was showing the changes, updates and modifications the course went through in the last couple of years. I feel this is even more valuable than just playing the course… [it] was in perfect shape, and when I say perfect I mean it, arguably the best in Continental Europe and with no doubt Top 100 in the World.” Another Spanish track making a big move is Campo de Golf El Saler, entering the elite Top 10 tier for the first time with a sensational six-place jump up to number 5. It’s a big favourite of Top 100 panellists David Davis and Fergal O’Leary, with David posting: “this course is a perfect subtle myriad of pine forest, sand dunes and sea… [with] excellent and very interesting green complexes and surrounds”. Fergal also commented: “the simplicity of its creation makes El Saler a world-class piece of architecture worthy of global acclaim… the bunkers are works of art and always feel in the right place”. El Saler Who knows... maybe there’s a berth awaiting for Javier Arana’s masterpiece in the next edition of the World 100 when it appears in another two years’ time? A further significant upward move in the new European standings is made by another Iberian golfing giant, Real Club de Golf Las Brisas, which leaps thirteen places to No. 24. Laid out by Robert Trent Jones in the late 1960s and completely renovated by Kyle Phillips a few years ago, this magnificent Marbella track was visited a few months ago by Simon Bale, our Commercial Director, who thought: “the designer has done everything to use the natural topography to create drama without compromising playability.” Las Brisas A little further down the listings, the Robert von Hagge-designed 18-hole layout at Golf de Seignosse in the southwest of France climbs a creditable twelve spots to No. 35. Ownership of the golf facility changed hands a short while ago and Open Golf, which is now in charge, has already embarked on an ambitious refurbishment program to improve what is already an outstanding course. For sure, the best is yet to come for this fantastic example of what its flamboyant designer was capable of. Seignosse In the lower half of the table, three courses make admirable double-digit progress. The Links course at WINSTONgolf in Germany (up fifteen to #69) is a David Kraus inland links that took quite a tumble from No. 41 during our previous chart reappraisal but it’s now regained a lot of the ground that was lost. Lassi Pekka Tilander’s Pärnu Bay Golf Links in Estonia (up nineteen to #75) is another new millennium track that has quickly gained similar cult status in the Baltic region. Winston Links On the other hand, the Links course at Golf de Granville in southwest France (up ten to #89) has been around for more than a century, since Harry Colt carried out remedial work on the layout immediately after World War I, in fact. One of the very few authentic links layouts to exist in all of Europe, this classic old course is one to be savoured in a modern era where less than perfect conditioning is frowned upon and often derided. Granville - Links course Turning to the new entries, the highest newcomer – Bernardus in The Netherlands – streaks into the upper reaches of the chart at No. 25. Designed by Kyle Phillips and opened for play last year, it’s about to host the KLM Open for three years, starting this September. A review from a few months ago stated: “the facilities and overall experience here are very strong, and the ‘member for a day’ approach is pretty interesting”. Television coverage of the European Tour event should certainly go some way to conveying just how good this place is. Bernardus Three German tracks also make the cut: the Rot and Gelb nines at Golf Club Föhr’s recently revitalised 27-hole facility in the North Fresian Islands (new at #34); David Krause’s Niedersachsen course at Golf Club Hardenberg in Northeim (new at #86); and the second 18-hole layout at WINSTONgolf in Vorbeck, which is the Holger Rengstorf-designed Open course (new at #96). Golf Club Föhr A trio of Belgian Royals also enter the new Top 100, though two of them are actually re-entries, having dropped out a while back. Royal Ostend Golf Club, established back in 1903, makes its first appearance at No. 82, slightly ahead of Royal Waterloo Golf Club’s La Marache course at No. 87, which fell out of the rankings in 2016. Both layouts have benefitted from architectural input in the last few years from architect Martin Hawtree, whose family firm has operated in the country for a very long time now. Royal Ostend - image courtesy of the EIGCA The third new entry from Belgium, the Tom Simpson course at Royal Antwerp Golf Club, arrives at No. 43, having previously featured in three revisions of our listings between 2008 and 2012. Founded in 1888, Royal Antwerp is one of the five oldest clubs in continental Europe, with a course originally set out by Willie Park Jr. in 1913. Tom Simpson redesigned the layout in 1930 and it’s now undergoing a well-received sympathetic renovation from local architect Dimitri Van Hauwaert. Royal Antwerp Our International Correspondent David Davis had this to say about the course when he posted a review three months ago: “I’m thrilled to say this is the single best renovation and turnaround I’ve ever seen in Continental Europe… Royal Antwerp for me has become the poster child for what could be done to every single European Golden Age course that has been neglected for years… Bravo Royal Antwerp!” A couple of Spanish layouts also make it into the Top 100 and they’re each located close to the centre of Madrid: Real Moraleja (3) from the design board of Jack Nicklaus (at #54) and Javier Arana’s 1950s Negro course at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid (at #81). The West course at Olgiata Golf Club in Rome debuts at No. 98, bringing the number of Italian courses in our chart up to five, which is still a surprisingly small number for a nation with such a long golfing tradition. Olgiata Golf Club Perhaps we’ll have other courses from Italy in our Top 100 next time around, and there are other nations currently without representation – the likes of the Czech Republic, Poland and Russia – which might also work their way into the reckoning for our 2022 edition. We’d like to run the rule over quite a few courses in those countries in the coming months so be prepared to possibly discover a few new tracks in among the usual suspects when we next revise our Continental Europe rankings. Rank/ To view the complete detailed list of the Top 100 Golf Courses of Continental Europe click the link. Jim McCann Editor Top 100 Golf Courses

Royal Limburg remains Backspin’s 2018 Belgian No.1 Every two years, Backspin, my company, launches a poll to make an objective Top 10 of golf courses in Belgium, contacting some two hundred correspondents in the wide range of “connoisseurs”. Their Top 10 lists receive points as in Formula 1 racing: 25 for the number one, 18 for the runner-up and then 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and finally 1 point. The addition of all those points results in a new Backspin Best of Belgium. The Backspin Best of Belgium 2018 revealed some interesting facts and important charges. Like in the previous Backspin Best of Belgium, published in the beginning of 2016, Royal Limburg, formerly know as Limburg Golf & Country Club Houthalen, remained the Belgian number one. The new name of the club came along with the 50th anniversary of the club. Once a sports club in Belgium reaches that age, it becomes Royal. There are thirteen Royal golf courses in Belgium at present. A surprise (or maybe not) is the runner-up, Royal Ostend. The only real links course in Belgium went through a splendid upgrade in recent times and was honoured by our correspondents. The Royal Golf Club of Belgium, aka Ravenstein, remained third. The course is in a constant evolution, prroceeding the right way. Royal Waterloo, with its La Marache championship course, finished fourth, though the difference in points between Ravenstein and Royal Waterloo was not that big. Hulencourt, the first non-Royal club in the list, is the prestigious number 5 in the Backspin Best of Belgium 2018. It gets the promotion from number 8 to number 6 due to its excellent maintenance and the club will upgrade its holes over the next two years, in time for the next Backspin Best of Belgium 2020. Royal Antwerp, the third oldest golf course in Continental Europe (1888) – only Pau and Dinard in France are older – falls out of the Top 5 to number 6. The relegation of Royal Zoute to number seven – once the Belgian number one and most of the time runner-up – is a result of the long time vision of the club to become more of an inland links with appropriate grasses. Therefore the quality of Royal Zoute was not as usual and resulted in that logical fall. Royal Sart Tilman is the number 8 in our list. The club also has works in the pipeline, with several greens to be rebuilt. The National is a newcomer on the Belgian golfscene. Opened last summer, the course is already included in the Top 10 at number 9, which is remarkable as the course has not been played by all the correspondents. It’s a real championship course with every potential to climb further in the Belgian rankings – a potential number one in the future? Royal Fagnes-Spa, with the design of Tom Simpson still enduring, closes the Top Ten at number 10. Due to the many responses of my correspondents, I can extend the list to a Top 20. Royal Hainaut is the unluckiest of all as it didn’t make the Top 10 and has to accept 11th place. Similarly, Millennium Paal on 12 and Koksijde Golf ter Hille at 13 just miss out. Of course, all three clubs have the ambition to break into the glorious Belgian Top 10. Royal Latem (14) and Royal Bercuit (15), the only Robert Trent Jones Snr course in Belgium, complete the Top 15. Renovated and rerouted Rinkven, the arena of the Belgian Knockout on the European Tour (16), Damme (17), La Tournette (18), L’Empereur (19) and last, but not least, Naxhelet (20), designed by Martin Hawtree, completes our Backspin Best of Belgium 2018. Xavier Champagne Backspin Best of Belgium 2018 1. Royal Limburg (1) 2. Royal Ostend (5) 3. Ravenstein (3) 4. Royal Waterloo (4) 5. Hulencourt (10) 6. Royal Antwerp (6) 7. Royal Zoute (2) 8. Royal Sart Tilman 9) 9. The National (new) 10. Royal Fagnes-Spa (7) 11. Royal Hainaut (12) 12. Millennium Paal (8) 13. Koksijde Golf ter Hille (11) 14. Royal Latem (13) 15. Royal Bercuit (17) 16. Rinkven (18) 17. Damme (new) 18. La Tournette (14) 19. L’Empereur (new) 20. Naxhelet (new)