World Top 100

California, United States

Cypress Point Club is set at the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains on the very tip of the Monterey Peninsula and the cliff top terrain is varied and thrilling.

New Jersey, United States

Pine Valley Golf Club was the dream of a Philadelphian hotelier, George Crump, who sadly died before its completion. The legacy he left behind is universally considered to be the perfect example of penal golf course architecture.

Down, United Kingdom

Royal County Down Golf Club is at Newcastle, a little holiday town nestling at the feet of the majestic Mountains of Mourne. It’s an exhilarating location for a classic links golf course...

New York, United States

Not only was Shinnecock Hills Golf Club one of the five founding members of the USGA but also it was where one of the first specifically designed golf clubhouses was built.

New York, United States

National Golf Links of America is a golf course of monumental historical importance, it’s a “Bear’s Best”, or “Blair's Best” of the early 20th century.

Victoria, Australia

The West course at Royal Melbourne Golf Club is generally acknowledged as the best course in Australia and one of Doctor Alister MacKenzie's finest designs.

Fife, United Kingdom

No other course has hosted more Opens than the Old Course at St Andrews. Its 29th Open and the 144th Open Championship returned “to the Home of Golf” in 2015.

Pennsylvania, United States

Apart from Augusta National, Oakmont Country Club has hosted more major Championships than any other course in the U.S. and it’s considered by many to be the toughest golf course in the world.

Nebraska, United States

Sand Hills Golf Club is a club to respect and those in the know admire their non-commerciality and that is a delightful break from tradition these days...

Ayrshire & Arran, United Kingdom

The Ailsa course at the Turnberry Resort is probably the most scenic Open Championship golf course. Located right next to the Firth of Clyde, with craggy rocks and superb views across to the Mull of Kintyre...

Lothians, United Kingdom

Muirfield is the course of “The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers” (HCEG), the world’s oldest golf club – according to direct written evidence – formed in 1744.

Georgia, United States

Augusta National Golf Club is one of the most exclusive clubs in the world and was designed by the world’s greatest golfer, who teamed up with the world’s greatest architect.

North Scotland, United Kingdom

Royal Dornoch Golf Club is spellbinding. It seems to mesmerise amateur and professional golfers from all over the world and many make the pilgrimage to this natural links at some point in their lives.

Antrim, United Kingdom

The Dunluce links at Royal Portrush Golf Club is named after the ruined Dunluce castle that overlooks the course. Seven years after the club's formation, the first professional golf tournament in Ireland, won by Sandy Herd in 1895, was staged here.

Pennsylvania, United States

When Merion Golf Club was founded in 1896, Philadelphians were more likely to play cricket than golf. They even sent touring cricket teams to England!

California, United States

Cypress Point is the course you can’t play at Pebble Beach, but thankfully Pebble Beach Golf Links is one you can.

Kerry, Ireland

As you drive from the historic town of Ballybunion, along the winding road to the golf club, your eyes feast upon the most spectacular links land imaginable.

New York, United States

Fishers Island Club is set romantically on a narrow island that is a mere two miles wide and eight miles long.

Kent, United Kingdom

There's nothing artificial about Royal St George’s Golf Club; there's a natural look and feel to the course that blends beautifully into its historical Sandwich surroundings.

Victoria, Australia

Kingston Heath Golf Club pushes Royal Melbourne – and in some opinions exceeds it – as the premier course in Australian golf.

Oregon, United States

Tom Doak's Pacific Dunes is considered by many to be the best course at the fabulous Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

Surrey, United Kingdom

The Old course at Sunningdale is one of the British Isles’ most aesthetically pleasing inland courses. Arguably, it was the first truly great golf course to be built on the magical Surrey/Berkshire sand-belt.

California, United States

The location for the Los Angeles Country Club makes it possibly one of the most valuable pieces of real estate in the world. It’s therefore fitting therefore that North course does full justice to the land...

Michigan, United States

Crystal Downs Country Club is set delightfully on a headland that is wedged between Lake Michigan and Crystal Lake in America’s Midwest. The course was designed by Alister MacKenzie and supervised by Perry Maxwell.

Kinki (Kansai), Japan

Hirono Golf Club has played host to all the major Japanese championships and, although it measures a mere 6,925 yards from the back tees, it’s a supreme test of golf.

Tasmania, Australia

Barnbougle Dunes is a memorable golf course made by enthusiasts for enthusiasts; it's the closest thing to a seaside links as exists in Australia.

New York, United States

Set in 350 acres, this rugged course was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw and opened for play in 2003 with the philosophy that golf at Friar’s Head should be about options and creativity.

North Carolina, United States

Pinehurst No.2 course opened for play in 1907 and its green sites are the ultimate test, legendary and quite unique.

North Island, New Zealand

Exclusivity has finally arrived on New Zealand’s formerly inclusive golfing shores in the shape of Tom Doak’s Tara Iti Golf Club which is routed in a wide and grand scale along the east coast of the North Island.

California, United States

There are few courses with no weaknesses, but the Riviera Country Club can take the moniker. It’s a truly remarkable golf course routed across less than ideal terrain.

Illinois, United States

Founded in 1892, Chicago Golf Club is one of America’s most exclusive clubs and today it is still intensely private.

Lothians, United Kingdom

The West Links at North Berwick Golf Club is an immensely enjoyable golf course, located on the Firth of Forth with stunning sea views across to Craigleith Island and Bass Rock.

Clare, Ireland

Lahinch Golf Club is situated next to the lovely beach of Liscannor Bay. It's an enchanting place to play golf... rugged, distinctive, unusually varied and immensely entertaining.

New York, United States

The West course at Winged Foot Golf Club is the work of A.W. Tillinghast, one of America’s greatest golf course designers, and this is Tilly’s finest creation.

Kansas, United States

Prairie Dunes Country Club is an inland links jewel, which is set in the heart of America. The inland Kansas location is about as far away from the sea as you could possibly be but the course has many characteristics of a classic seaside links.

Angus & Dundee, United Kingdom

Carnoustie is a big natural seaside golf links and the Championship course is considered to be one of the most difficult in the British Isles.

California, United States

Albert Warren Tillinghast was probably the greatest American golf course architect of his day and “Tilly” was the genius who crafted the course for San Francisco Golf Club in 1915.

Florida, United States

Situated on the Atlantic side of Florida’s coastline, Seminole Golf Club is considered by critics to be one of the finest examples of golf course routing.

North East France, France

Morfontaine remains a monument to Tom Simpson’s original design, although Kyle Phillips has recently made some minor changes to the course.

Lancashire, United Kingdom

Royal Birkdale Golf Club is the favourite English course on the British Open rota according to the results of a Top 100 poll...

Donegal, Ireland

Construction of the new St Patrick’s links at Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Resort began in April 2018, with Tom Doak’s lead associate Eric Everson working alongside Clyde Johnson and Angela Moser to complete the build during 2020.

Nova Scotia, Canada

Situated half a mile away from Cabot Links, the Cliffs golf course occupies a more diverse landscape than its predecessor, sitting atop the bluffs that overlook the Gulf of St Lawrence...

New Jersey, United States

Somerset Hills Country Club is a Jekyll and Hyde course that's routed around flat, open, links-like terrain of a former racetrack going out, and across hilly, dense woodland coming home.

Dublin, Ireland

”I know of no greater finish in the world than that of the last five holes at Portmarnock Golf Club”, said Bernard Darwin

Fife, United Kingdom

One of the many delights of Kingsbarns Golf Links is that you can see the North Sea from virtually every part of the course.

Chubu, Japan

There are two courses on the Izu Peninsula at the Kawana Resort and the Fuji course is universally considered to be the best.

Berkshire, United Kingdom

Swinley Forest Golf Club is an absolutely charming golf course sited on the famous sand belt, but it’s a club that is frozen in time, exclusive, unusual and eccentric...

Massachusetts, United States

The name may sound a little arrogant and for golfers in the know, there’s no need to explain that The Country Club at Brookline was the first of its type in the USA. The Country Club has evolved from a six-hole layout in 1882 to a 27-hole unified whole by the guiding hand of Gil Hanse.

New South Wales, Australia

New South Wales Golf Club is one of the most spectacular golf courses in Australia and it’s one of the toughest tests in the country.

Ohio, United States

The Camargo Club is set amidst undulating countryside on the edge of Cincinnati in the State of Ohio. It’s a Seth Raynor jewel which opened for play in 1925.

China

Constructed in a manner unlike anything that’s been built before in China, the Shanqin Bay golf course just might become the benchmark for those still to come... assuming the authorities do not commandeer the fairways.

Colorado, United States

Ballyneal sounds Irish so it’s fitting that this is a links course albeit an inland links. The dream of Rupert and Jim O’Neal is located in the middle of a huge Colorado dunescape, and even the address – Holyoke – echoes that of a current Open Championship links venue.

Surrey, United Kingdom

Taken together, the New and Old courses at Sunningdale Golf Club represent the finest 36 holes of golf in the whole of the British Isles.

Michigan, United States

With many holes lined by trees, six US Opens and one Ryder Cup under its belt, the South course at Oakland Hills Country Club should be treated with respect.

North Scotland, United Kingdom

Cabot Highlands Castle Stuart now offers some serious competition to both Royal Dornoch and Nairn when it comes to attracting visiting golfers, but that's a good thing for the Highlands where the golfing bar of excellence is very high.

California, United States

The California Golf Club of San Francisco can now boast tournament measurements. From the new back tees, which are aptly called Venturi, the course can be stretched to more than 7,200 yards.

New York, United States

The strict men-only policy of the exclusive Garden City Golf Club puts it in the limelight for all the wrong reasons...

Tasmania, Australia

It’s said that respected author Darius Oliver was instrumental in convincing businessman Duncan Andrews to develop the remote Cape Wickham site...

North Carolina, United States

Perry Maxwell took advantage of the hills to create a brilliant set of undulating greens with steep swales and strong contours at the Old Town Club.

Lincolnshire, United Kingdom

Woodhall Spa Golf Club is an oasis in the heart of Lincolnshire, set amongst glorious pine, birch and broom, this heathland golf course is an absolute delight to play.

New York, United States

The course at The Maidstone Club was routed by Willie Park Junior across the Gardiner Peninsula, which is one of the finest parcels of golfing ground in the world.

New York, United States

The Bethpage Black course really is as difficult and penal as the high slope rating suggests. It’s not for the faint hearted.

North East Scotland, United Kingdom

The Balgownie at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club is a traditional out and back links course running along the shore of the North Sea and it has one of the finest first nine holes in golf.

Illinois, United States

When you arrive at Shoreacres (after your mandatory invite) you can almost feel a throwback in time to the 1920s as you approach the David Alder clubhouse.

Lancashire, United Kingdom

Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club is the most northerly of the English championship links courses, situated only 10 miles from Royal Birkdale.

North East Scotland, United Kingdom

Occupying a three-mile stretch of North Sea coastline, Trump International Golf Links is the latest American-inspired, high profile course to open in Scotland since the start of the new millennium.

Ontario, Canada

With tight twisting fairways and undulating terrain, St George’s Golf & Country Club is a man and woman-sized test of golf and five-time host to the Canadian Open.

North East Scotland, United Kingdom

Cruden Bay is an inspirational golf course, regarded by some as quirky and considered by others as a masterpiece. Either way, this is a thrilling place to play golf because the designers used the original lie of the land to fantastic effect.

Yorkshire, United Kingdom

This sandy, gently undulating site was once a North Sea inlet. Consequently, Ganton Golf Club has all the characteristics of a links and a heathland course.

Argyll & Bute, United Kingdom

Occupying a mainly cliff top location on either side of Jura House, the Ardfin Estate golf course is routed across a rugged landscape of peat and rocks...

South Wales, United Kingdom

Royal Porthcawl Golf Club is located off the beaten track, east of Swansea and west of Cardiff. Despite being the highest ranked course in Wales, it remains relatively unknown.

Surrey, United Kingdom

The spectacular golfing panorama from the front of the St George's Hill clubhouse is a view that grabs you and makes your heart pound...

Oregon, United States

The Bandon Dunes course at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort opened for play in 1999 and it has never looked back. It’s a rugged layout with huge slick greens and immaculate all-round conditioning.

Cornwall, United Kingdom

St Enodoc Golf Club is certainly a quixotic and rather hilly links course, set amidst towering sand dunes clad with tufts of wild sea grasses.

Oregon, United States

Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw designed Bandon Trails, the third of four 18-hole courses at the magnificent Bandon Dunes Resort.

New York, United States

“Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?” Well, according to the top touring pros and the Seven Dwarfs, it’s the Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester.

New South Wales, Australia

Ellerston is the course that Greg Norman built for the flamboyant Australian media magnate Kerry Packer, the country's richest man, who sadly died in December 2005 at the age of 68.

Netherlands

The similarity between this Dutch linksland and that of the British coastline is uncanny. Koninklijke Haagsche Golf & Country Club (or Royal Hague) is an exacting layout which pitches and rolls across undulating land.

South Korea

The course at South Cape Owners Club is a Kyle Phillips design, set out on a dramatic cliff top property, with ocean views available from all eighteen golf holes.

Netherlands

Host to the Dutch Open on three occasions, Utrecht de Pan Golf Club is a strategic and exacting layout which requires thought rather than muscle, especially during the homeward nine.

Nebraska, United States

Situated to the southwest of Valentine and just a few miles north of The Prairie Club, CapRock Ranch is destined to be the next great private golfing destination located in the sand hills.

Nova Scotia, Canada

Cabot Links is located just outside the small town of Inverness on the rugged west coast of Cape Breton Island and these fairways, overlooking the Gulf of St Lawrence, comprise Canada’s first genuine links layout.

South Carolina, United States

According to Pete Dye, "There’s no other golf course in the Northern Hemisphere that has as many seaside holes" as the Ocean course at Kiawah Island.

North Island, New Zealand

The longest drive at Cape Kidnappers is between the public road and the clubhouse. But once on the course, if you can keep your eyes off the cliff top views, the main golfing points are the bunkers and the greens.

Wisconsin, United States

If you didn’t know the history behind Whistling Straits, you’d believe that the 560-acres of land had been shaped by the hands of time.

Kinki (Kansai), Japan

Naruo shares all the traditional aspects of Japan’s older golf clubs. The continuity in tradition here is maintained by the 700 members whose average age is 71.

Oklahoma, United States

There’s nothing flash about Southern Hills. Mature deciduous trees line many of the Bermuda grass fairways and the rough is notoriously thick and tangly. Tree-lined, the classic aesthetic was recently updated by Gil Hanse.

Dominican Republic

There’s one golf course at Casa de Campo with a bark as well as a bite and it’s Pete Dye’s Teeth of the Dog.

New York, United States

Designed by C. B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor, the legendary golf course at Sleepy Hollow Country Club sits high above the Hudson River on a 338-acre site formerly owned by William Rockefeller and Frank Vanderlip…

Tasmania, Australia

The 20-hole Barnbougle Lost Farm links opened for play in December 2010 and commentators already think this new golf course is equal to its world-beating neighbour.

Massachusetts, United States

Myopia Hunt Club in South Hamilton Massachusetts started out in life way back in 1882. So many of the original "horsey" members were bespectacled that they decided to call the club Myopia.

Massachusetts, United States

Herbert Fowler, the esteemed English golf course architect – best known for his work at Walton Heath and The Berkshire – was the man responsible for creating this classic at Eastward Ho! Country Club...

Kent, United Kingdom

Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, or Deal as it is somtimes called, is an absolute brute of a links course. Its back nine, or rather the last seven holes, are relentless...

Ohio, United States

For those readers who associate Inverness with a certain shy little Nessie, we can tell you that the Inverness Club has absolutely nothing to do with the Loch Ness monster.

North Island, New Zealand

Host to twelve New Zealand Opens, the first in 1959, Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club is a New Zealand household name.

Norway

The spectacular 18-hole Lofoten Links course opened in the summer of 2015 and it’s situated in a remote spot along the rugged coast of the island of Gimsøya, in the northern reaches of Norway...

New Jersey, United States

Baltusrol Golf Club takes its name from Mr Baltus Roll who once farmed this land in the 19th century before his untimely murder.

Montana, United States

The Tom Doak-designed golf course at Rock Creek Cattle Company opened for play in 2008, competing with the 10,000-foot backdrop of the sometimes snow-capped but always dramatic Flint Creek Mountain Range.

Brazil

Several years in the making, Tom and Logan Fazio designed the course at Santapazienza Golf Club (their first South American ensemble) and it’s laid out within an enormous, densely forested estate.

Southern Spain, Spain

Most golfers will be familiar with Valderrama from TV coverage. The golf club has hosted a plethora of championships, including the legendary 1997 Ryder Cup. In 2014 the club was granted Royal status.