WORLD’S GREATEST GOLF COURSES

1 – 25 Golf Courses

Explore the courses ranked 1–25 in our world golf course rankings, with first-hand reviews, photos and standout holes from some of the greatest courses in the world.

🌍 WORLD | UPDATED 2026 | RANKS 1–25

#01
Cypress Point

About The Course

To get to play here was an ambition of mine for a number of years… and it was well worth the wait. The ‘best’ is obviously subjective, but I’d certainly describe it as my favourite course so far. It is like playing five different golf tracks all rolled into one – each of them world class in their own right. Initially it’s got a linksy feel to it but quickly morphs into a more inland style course lined with trees from the Del Monte Forest. No sooner have you gotten used to that when it slightly switches again into a more sand-based layout similar to what you might find in Australia. That’s then followed by a series of spectacular cliff-top holes while the Valderrama-type finish completes the transformation.

The first tee shot is iconic, played over a low hedge with a road behind it, namely 17-mile drive. There are consecutive par 5’s on the front nine, balanced out on the back nine with a series of par 3’s. The 7th, 8th and 9th are a world class finish to the front nine. Seven is an uphill par 3 of 170 yards which is easy to underclub. The eighth is a dogleg right par 4 where you can only see the second half of the hole once you reach your tee shot (I hit 4-iron). The ninth is a famous short par 4 of 289 yards. There seemed little point in hitting the driver with so much sand between tee and green.

The 14th is a top class par 4 where you must aim at the left hand side of the fairway or be possibly blocked out from the green by trees down the right. Holes 15, 16 and 17 are the most photographed on the course and for obvious reasons – the views out to the Pacific Ocean are breathtaking. The 15th is a much-loved par 3 of 135 yards to a green surrounded by sand. However if you think that’s tricky, you ain’t seen nothing yet. The 16th is the toughest par 3 I have ever played. In fact, it is worth considering laying up to the left and playing it as a par 4. It is 218 yards from the amateur tees out to a headland. The wind was howling in our faces when we played it. I cannot remember ever hitting a driver to a par 3 before! The 17th is a slight dogleg to the right along the cliffs. These holes can be extremely difficult due to the bunkers, the cliffs and the wind. The 18th is different again and as I said earlier it feels like you are playing in Spain all of a sudden. It might be an iron off the tee and your second shot is up to a raised green set beside a stunning clubhouse.

The course condition was exceptional and the greens were perfect but quite tricky to two-putt, as there are plenty of subtle breaks that can be difficult to see or read. It is not the longest course you will ever play but you must be extremely accurate to score. Dr Alister MacKenzie designed many legendary courses, including Augusta and Royal Melbourne West, but many say that this was his piece de resistance. A day I will never forget. Worth the trip to California from Ireland alone.

BEST 6 HOLES

17 · 16 · 9 · 15 · 4 · 14

BEST PAR 3

16

BEST PAR 4

17

BEST PAR 5

5

Course Gallery

A closer look at Cypress Point

On The Course

Watch videos from Cypress Point

#02
Shinnecock Hills

About The Course

You feel like you’re walking on hallowed ground when you play Shinnecock. The history in the clubhouse will give you goosebumps. When you stand on the elevated first tee you can see most of the course and it is a stunning view. The course presentation is second to none. It is one of the toughest courses around and in fact, it may well be the toughest. The holes are long. I played from about 7,000 yards and was hitting 5 iron second shots for most of the day.

They have fast sloping greens which are not overly receptive to that club. The greens are more suitable to a wedge approach but that isn’t happening. The greens were immaculate but you will 3 putt many times.

The 2nd hole is 221 yards long to an interesting green with bunkers short, left and right. It is officially the second easiest hole on the course which tells you something about Shinnecock. The next is a beautiful par 4 of 447 yards where the drive is all important as there are bunkers to clear and also to the right. The 6th is one of the best par 4’s in the world. It is 491 yards off the back tee and doglegs to the right. Your drive is a demi-blind shot that you play over wasteland to a fairway that is more to the right than you think. The only pond is on this hole but that is well short of the green.There is only one bunker at this green but a 5 at this hole is a decent effort for most amateurs.

The 7th is one of the toughest Redan par 3’s around. It has an undulating green that is difficult to hold with everything kicking to the left, as is normal with a Redan par 3. The 9th is a super par 4 that swings to the left. There are many humps and hollows in the fairway and your second is a blind approach as the green is perched high on a hill. The 9th sits more in front of the clubhouse than the 18th.

The 10th is an excellent par 4 that plays over a hill and hopefully down to the bottom half of the fairway. Your second shot plays back up to a raised green. There are lots of run-offs around this green but that is quite normal at Shinnecock. The 11th is one of the best par 3’s in the world. It is only 159 yards but is played to a tiny raised green with 4 large bunkers around the putting surface. It’s either the green or trouble off the tee here. It’s exemplary. The 18th is a strong par 4 made famous by Corey Pavin in the 1995 US Open. He hit his approach to 5 feet from 225 yards and went on to win by 2 strokes.

It is the oldest incorporated golf club in the US and is one of the 5 founding members of the USGA. The club was formed in 1891 and the original 12 holes course was designed by Willie Davis. This was extended to 18 holes in 1895.

It was an honour to play here and it makes you appreciate how brilliant professional golfers are. It has held 5 US Opens and it is the perfect venue to test the best. How anyone can go round here under par off the back tees is amazing. Thank you to Sean Quinlivan, the head pro who is a top class individual. I played the course with professional Dan, Josh and John. Our caddie was Chris. What a day!

BEST 6 HOLES

6 · 11 · 10 · 3 · 9 · 7

BEST PAR 3

11

BEST PAR 4

6

BEST PAR 5

16

Course Gallery

A closer look at Shinnecock Hills

On The Course

Watch videos from Shinnecock Hills

#03
Royal Melbourne West

About The Course

This is a masterpiece, designed by the brilliant Dr Alisteir MacKenzie. He mapped out the course in 1926 and the course opened for play in 1931. This era has been described as the golden age of golf architecture and it is hard to argue. He was helped by a local man, named Alex Russell, who went on to design the East course next door. One thing I love with golf is that no matter how much money developers spend nowadays they struggle to match the brilliance of courses built 100 years ago.

BEST 6 HOLES

5 · 11 · 17 · 6 · 16 · 7

BEST PAR 3

5

BEST PAR 4

11

BEST PAR 5

4

Course Gallery

A closer look at Royal Melbourne West

On The Course

Watch videos from Royal Melbourne West

#04
Royal County Down

About The Course

When people talk about the best front nine in the world, Royal County Down has to be right at the top of the discussion. The first hole, a par 5, is a gentle introduction for what is ahead. Once you don’t visit the out of bounds beach down the right then a par should be achievable at the first. The next 8 holes are all excellent. Yes there are some blind tee shots, namely on holes 2, 5 (semi-blind), 6, 9 & 11 which not everyone loves but the secret to them is to aim slightly further left than the target stone.

BEST 6 HOLES

9 · 13 · 4 · 3 · 8 · 5

BEST PAR 3

4

BEST PAR 4

9

BEST PAR 5

18

Course Gallery

A closer look at Royal County Down

On The Course

Watch videos from Royal County Down

#05
St. Andrews

About The Course

I have been lucky enough to play here 3 times, but the first day you play St. Andrews is a day that you will never forget. You stand on the first tee and you’re shaking with excitement, fear and nerves. There is nobody else in the world who is hitting a tee shot from the first tee in St. Andrews at that moment! It’s a rush. It helps that it is the widest fairway that you will ever play. No harm to keep further left than you might think.

BEST 6 HOLES

17 · 11 · 14 · 16 · 12 · 2

BEST PAR 3

11

BEST PAR 4

17

BEST PAR 5

14

Course Gallery

A closer look at St. Andrews

#06
Royal Dornoch

About The Course

Golf at Dornoch can be traced back to 1616 but the club was formed in 1877. Located in the north east of Scotland, this brilliant links course was extended from 9 holes to 18 by Old Tom Morris in 1886. George Duncan later helped change the course to its current layout. Donald Ross was the keeper of the greens at Dornoch before heading to America. He went on to design over 400 courses predominantly in North America. Royal Dornoch has had an influence on so many courses around the world since.

BEST 6 HOLES

14 · 6 · 17 · 13 · 7 · 11

BEST PAR 3

6

BEST PAR 4

14

BEST PAR 5

9

Course Gallery

A closer look at Royal Dornoch

On The Course

Watch videos from Royal Dornoch

#07
National Golf Links of America

About The Course

This course was designed by Charles B. MacDonald in 1906, with the help of chief engineer Seth Raynor, and was inspired by some of the best holes that Ireland and Great Britain had to offer. It has a fantastic setting being next door to Shinnecock Hills. It is certainly one of the most beautiful courses you could wish to play.

It starts with 2 short par 4’s with the Windmill in full view. The Windmill was previously a water tower. A member, Dan Pomeroy, suggested that a windmill would look better. After it was completed the bill for all the work was left in Mr. Pomeroy’s locker!

Both of the opening holes are possibly drivable and the 2nd tee shot is a blind one where the best line is maybe only 20 metres right of the aforementioned stunning Windmill. The 3rd is one of the most famous on the course. It is named “Alps” and was inspired by the famous 17th Alps hole at Prestwick. It is 426 yards long and you must clear a cross bunker to reach the diagonal fairway. There is a huge hill that hides the green and this ensures that your second is a blind one. There is a large bunker at the front and to the right of the green.

The 4th is another masterpiece and is a brilliant Redan par 3 of 195 yards. This hole was inspired by the Redan 15th at North Berwick. It is a stunning hole where the green is very difficult to hold and a tee shot that lands at the front right side may be the best option as it may feed down onto the green. It was the first Redan in America and is still among the best examples of one in the world.

The 5th, 7th and 8th are also lovely holes on the front side. The 7th was inspired by the 17th at St. Andrews and has a similar shaped devilish green as a result.

There are some excellent holes on the back nine too. The 12th is a tough 459 yard par 4 which has lots of bunkers on your tee shot and on your approach to the green. The 13th here, which measures 174 yards, was inspired by the brilliant Eden par 3 11th at St. Andrews. The 14th is a dogleg right par 4 that is played over water. This is a “Cape” hole. It is an original and has been copied dozens of times since. The 16th, “Punchbowl”, is a beautiful par 4. It plays uphill to a punchbowl green just to the right of the Windmill.

The course was immaculate and is certainly a fair and playable golf course. The last 3 holes provide a stunning finish to what is a masterpiece. There are picture postcard views to the right of the 18th. Elliott Johnson, the head pro, made me feel very welcome indeed. A special day.

BEST 6 HOLES

3 · 4 · 16 · 12 · 17 · 8

BEST PAR 3

4

BEST PAR 4

3

BEST PAR 5

9

Course Gallery

A closer look at National Golf Links of America

#08
Merion East

About The Course

What a beautiful setting for a clubhouse with people having lunch just metres from the first tee. The course is a wow with so many great holes. It is very difficult to say what the best holes at Merion are because there are so many of them. The par 4 5th measures 412 yards and is index (handicap) 1 and is a flawless design. The fairway and the green slope from right to left which brings the stream down the left hand side more into play. The 7th and 8th are not long par 4’s but they are superb golf holes where accuracy is required to take advantage.

BEST 6 HOLES

18 · 5 · 16 · 14 · 11 · 7

BEST PAR 3

13

BEST PAR 4

18

BEST PAR 5

2

Course Gallery

A closer look at Merion East

On The Course

Watch videos from Merion East

#09
Fishers Island Club

About The Course

I was staying on Long Island while playing some of the other famous courses around there. I had to get a ferry to New London, where I stayed overnight, and then get another ferry to Fishers Island to play here. My helicopter was being serviced that day (joking). It was definitely worth the effort. What a golf course and what a surprise.

BEST 6 HOLES

4 · 13 · 10 · 5 · 11 · 2

BEST PAR 3

5

BEST PAR 4

4

BEST PAR 5

6

Course Gallery

A closer look at Fishers Island Club

On The Course

Watch videos from Fishers Island Club

#10
Pebble Beach

About The Course

I got to play Pebble Beach twice which was great, as the first day was quite foggy for the front nine which took away from the experience a little bit. It also took 5 ½ hours to go round. Both of these things, the fog and the slow play can be a factor at Pebble. The second day I got to play the front nine on a sunny evening on my own with nobody in front of me and that was amazing. I joined up with two other golfers for the back nine.

The best holes at Pebble are along the coast and they start with the 4th which is a short par 4 that has a tiny green. The same applies to the 5th which is a lovely par 3 with water on the right and where again the putting surface is small and tricky to find off the tee. The 6th is a stunning par 5 where if you manage to find the fairway between bunkers down the left and the cliffs down the right then you can think about going for the green in two. You must hit a blind shot over a hill with cliffs on the right. Par 5’s don’t get much better than this. Then you have the famous short 7th hole. It is only 109 yards long but 5 bunkers around a small green make things interesting and that is especially true if the wind is blowing.

The 8th is another magic golf hole. It’s a semi-blind tee shot to a raised fairway. A three wood may be enough off the tee here. Your second shot is played over a cliff edge and a ravine to a green below you but this shot is maybe 170-190 yards so it’s an extremely difficult hole to par. This shot was made even more famous when Jordan Spieth somehow managed to hit his second shot from the cliff edge in 2022. Craziest thing I have ever seen in Golf. I went close to where he hit his shot and I had to turn back. Check out YouTube. The green slopes towards the water too. Very few people par this hole I would imagine.

The 9th and 10th holes are played in the same direction along the cliff tops and overlook the Carmel Sunset Beach. They are low index (handicap) holes and rightly so. Those are three brilliant par 4’s in a row.

The holes along the sea are famous. They are possibly the best 5 hole stretch in the world. Holes 6 to 10 and they are off the charts. Nothing can compare to that stretch. Yes there are a few ordinary holes on the back nine but the last two holes remind you of its brilliance, especially the 18th which is such a great par 5, as we all know from watching on TV, with water all the way along the left. It is expensive but well worth it. I booked the day before at 7am and did not have to pay for accommodation.

BEST 6 HOLES

8 · 6 · 9 · 18 · 7 · 10

BEST PAR 3

7

BEST PAR 4

8

BEST PAR 5

6

Course Gallery

A closer look at Pebble Beach

On The Course

Watch videos from Pebble Beach

#11
Chicago

About The Course

Chicago Golf Club might have the best set of greens in the world and might have the best starting four holes in golf also. I didn’t know much about this course before I got there. It has a stunning clubhouse. When you look out, you see a large square field and you wonder if this course could be amazing or not…but it is. Seth Raynor did a super job in designing this course with the green complexes being a particular highlight. They are perfect.

BEST 6 HOLES

2 · 7 · 12 · 3 · 11 · 18

BEST PAR 3

7

BEST PAR 4

2

BEST PAR 5

4

Course Gallery

A closer look at Chicago

#12
Royal Portrush

About The Course

It was truly great to see Royal Portrush host the British Open in 2019 and the course is easily up to the standard of hosting a major championship such as that. It is located at the very top of Northern Ireland and there is always plenty of debate about which is the best course – Royal County Down or Royal Portrush? It is a close call and both are excellent links courses.

BEST 6 HOLES

4 · 16 · 14 · 5 · 11 · 6

BEST PAR 3

16

BEST PAR 4

4

BEST PAR 5

11

Course Gallery

A closer look at Royal Portrush

#13
Turnberry

About The Course

Sitting on the western coast of Scotland, this course has so much history. It played host to one of the great final rounds in a major when Tom Watson just about fended off Jack Nicklaus in the Duel in the Sun in the 1977 British Open. The course has changed a lot by all accounts since then. The new routing is excellent. It is striking that golfers get to play 8 holes in a row along the coastline, namely from the 4th to the 11th inclusive. They are a super stretch of holes too.

BEST 6 HOLES

16 · 9 · 17 · 8 · 15 · 11

BEST PAR 3

9

BEST PAR 4

16

BEST PAR 5

10

Course Gallery

A closer look at Turnberry

On The Course

Watch videos from Turnberry

#14
Muirfield

About The Course

When you arrive at Muirfield it is a little bit like arriving at Chicago Golf Club because you see a large square-ish field and you wonder if this is going to be a world class course. It is. It was designed by Old Tom Morris and opened in 1891. Then in 1923 Harry Colt made substantial changes to the course. One great thing about here is that you get to play the holes in all different directions.

BEST 6 HOLES

13 · 18 · 8 · 6 · 14 · 1

BEST PAR 3

13

BEST PAR 4

18

BEST PAR 5

17

Course Gallery

A closer look at Muirfield

#15
Sand Hills

About The Course

I had tried to get on Sand Hills for a few years and the wait was certainly worth it. It opened in 1995 and it is widely agreed that this is the best Coore & Crenshaw designed course out there. They said they could have built over 130 holes on this huge property before settling on these 18. There is a map of these 130 holes in the clubhouse.

Sand Hills has since been the inspiration for many courses such as Bandon Dunes as it showed that a remote, minimalist course built on natural sand dunes could be a huge success. The routing of the course here is through existing contours and required almost no artificial earthmoving. They focused on the natural course, not on country club facilities, and it worked. It also showed that people would travel anywhere, including Nebraska, for pure golf architecture.
When you drive across Nebraska all you can see on each side of the road is perfect potential sites for maybe a hundred golf courses among the constant rolling hills. If I was asked where I would suggest building a golf complex I think I would say here as the land looks readymade for more great golf.
The first thing that strikes you when you arrive at Sand Hills are the staff. They could not be more friendly and welcoming. They were all top class. Mike is the starter and his wife Roxanne also works at the starter’s hut along with Bo. I was there early and I had great chats with all three. Also, Clint and Barb, who operate back at the clubhouse, were superb too. Everyone seems to enjoy their job and it shows.
I played here on my own but that was not a negative as it gave me time to really have a good look around and remember as much as I could about this special place. The 1st is a brilliant opening hole. It’s a par 5 of 521 yards for amateurs and plays downhill off the tee and then back up again to the green. It’s a dogleg to the left and there are bunkers down both sides for your tee-shot so accuracy is required. The 4th is a special par 4 that played 409 yards. It plays slightly downhill and there is a bunker down the left of the fairway. The green complex is brilliant and there is a massive bunker front left. Don’t go in there as I found out.
The 7th is a drivable par 4 depending on the wind direction. The last three holes on the front nine are not the longest and you can score well in this part of the course. The back nine is the better of the two for me. The 10th plays 426 yards over a large dune and it is reachable in two if you get your drive away. The 11th is a belter. It is a slight dogleg to the left and plays around a massive bunker. It’s a beautiful design. It was a windy day at Sand Hills but I guess that is normal here as the course is fully exposed to the elements.
The 14th is a par 5 and for me was the only average hole on the back nine as the rest were all excellent. The finish of the course is strong. The 16th is a majestic par 5. It played 563 yards and you see a lot of bunkers when you stand on the tee box. Avoiding sand here is not easy and that is the case on your second shot too. The 17th is a par 3 that played 150 yards and was my favourite short hole on the course. You could be in Scotland or Ireland. The green is surrounded by bunkers and the green is perched just high enough in the air to make you think that you can stick one on there but it’s not easy especially with the wind impacting your flight.
The 18th is a stunning par 4 that rises all the way up to the green. There are huge bunkers down the left which must be avoided. It played 432 yards but with it being uphill and possibly into the wind, it is a tough task to get on there in two. It is a great finish to a truly great course and I was delighted to break 80. I would have Sand Hills just behind the likes of Royal Portrush, Turnberry and Muirfield which is a huge compliment. It is the highest ranked course in the world built in the last 60 years and again that is phenomenal. It is a world top 20 course for sure.
I had a day at Sand Hills that I will never forget and to shoot 76 was an added bonus. The burger at the starter’s hut is famous and it didn’t disappoint after 9 holes. What was achieved here in Nebraska is amazing. The course is fantastic and certainly worth the effort to get there but I must say the staff were just as good as the course. Well done to all at Sand Hills – A wonderful experience. Loved it.

BEST 6 HOLES

17, 18, 16, 1, 4, 11

BEST PAR 3

17

BEST PAR 4

18

BEST PAR 5

16

Course Gallery

A closer look at Sand Hills

#16
Los Angeles Country Club

About The Course

After years of planning, the new Club at Beverly Hills officially opened on May 30, 1911. Its stately Clubhouse, tennis courts and 36 holes of golf have served as the club’s home ever since. The original golf course was laid out by Sartori, Tufts, Norman Macbeth and Charles Orr. Later, the courses were redesigned by Herbert Fowler and George C. Thomas, Jr. In 1996 and 1997 an extensive renovation of the North and South courses was completed in accordance with a master plan developed by John Harbottle. In its 100 plus years, the course played host to the Los Angeles Open Tournament in 1926, 1934, 1935, 1936 and 1940.

BEST 6 HOLES

2 · 7 · 13 · 5 · 11 · 17

BEST PAR 3

7

BEST PAR 4

2

BEST PAR 5

14

Course Gallery

A closer look at Los Angeles Country Club

#17
Pinehurst No. 2

About The Course

I got to play Pinehurst No. 2 the year before Bryson won the US Open here from Rory on that dramatic final day. It always makes watching a pro tournament all the better when you have played a course and that certainly was the case here. The fact that they can go round here under par for 4 rounds of a US open off the back tees is remarkable. We played the course twice and this added greatly to the experience.

BEST 6 HOLES

11 · 4 · 7 · 6 · 18 · 2

BEST PAR 3

6

BEST PAR 4

11

BEST PAR 5

5

Course Gallery

A closer look at Pinehurst No. 2

On The Course

Watch videos from Pinehurst No. 2

#18
Tara Iti

About The Course

It is a long way to New Zealand from Ireland but it is worth it to play Tara Iti. It is hard to believe that the course only opened in 2015. It looks like it has been there for 50 years. Everything about the place is top class. Super friendly staff, but that’s Kiwi’s in general for you, with an understated elegance about the clubhouse. Te Arai is nearby for the same owners and the three courses make it a fabulous world class resort.

BEST 6 HOLES

17 · 7 · 15 · 6 · 14 · 3

BEST PAR 3

17

BEST PAR 4

7

BEST PAR 5

18

Course Gallery

A closer look at Tara Iti

On The Course

Watch videos from Tara Iti

#19
Friars Head

About The Course

I hadn’t heard much about this course before playing it except for a quote from Rory McIlroy, stating that he felt the finish here was among the best in the world. How right he was. Holes 14 – 18 are brilliant and can ruin any scorecard that is going well up onto that point. The par 4 15th hole is the most photographed on the course and rightly so.

BEST 6 HOLES

15 · 18 · 14 · 6 · 17 · 8

BEST PAR 3

17

BEST PAR 4

15

BEST PAR 5

14

Course Gallery

A closer look at Friars Head

On The Course

Watch videos from Friars Head

#20
North Berwick

About The Course

North Berwick was formed in 1832 and the course has had a big influence on many courses around the world since then. It reminds you a little of St. Andrews as you start at the edge of a town, play away from the town for two hours and then head back to the town for two hours.

BEST 6 HOLES

14 · 13 · 15 · 3 · 16 · 7

BEST PAR 3

15

BEST PAR 4

14

BEST PAR 5

11

Course Gallery

A closer look at North Berwick

#21
Kingston Heath

About The Course

This sand belt course is just outside Melbourne and it’s a cracker. The greens run up to the edge of bunkers which is a glorious sight when you see it for the first time. The routing of this course is excellent as you play holes in different directions all the time. It was in perfect condition and as is the case with almost all Australian courses, the greens were fast and firm.

BEST 6 HOLES

15 · 16 · 9 · 6 · 18 · 7

BEST PAR 3

15

BEST PAR 4

16

BEST PAR 5

7

Course Gallery

A closer look at Kingston Heath

#22
Royal St. Georges

About The Course

It is ranked the No. 1 course in England and it deserves that accolade. This is a beautiful piece of land along the sea. The clubhouse has a lot of old world charm. The modern clubhouses struggle to match their much older counterparts that’s for sure.As you walk to the first tee, you see that famous starters hut to the right and you know you’re in a special place. There are a lot of great links holes here on both nines.

BEST 6 HOLES

18 · 15 · 4 · 14 · 5 · 13

BEST PAR 3

11

BEST PAR 4

18

BEST PAR 5

14

Course Gallery

A closer look at Royal St. Georges

#23 Prairie Dunes

About The Course

We have all heard of some of the brilliant old designers such as MacKenzie, Braid, Ross, Colt, Raynor and Tillinghast but I had never appreciated Perry Maxwell until I went on a golf trip to the US and happened to play three of his best courses in one week. They were Old Town Club, Southern Hills and Prairie Dunes and the last mentioned is probably the best of the three. He originally designed nine holes in 1937 and his son Press completed the course twenty years later.

This course is always highly rated in the world’s top 100 courses and while it is quite remote in Kansas in the centre of America, it certainly was worth the journey. One thing that really hits home about Prairie Dunes is that it feels just like a local club and I loved that. It is not posh and all the members and staff all seem to know each other really well. I heard a lot of people laughing that day.
I played with Chad, Josh and Keith. They were three of the nicest people I have ever played golf with. If I lived in Kansas and was a member there I would certainly be friends with all three. They made me feel so at home and we had many laughs on the way round.
The course is exceptional. The greens are among the best I have ever played. They were so firm, fast and undulating it was incredible. Putting is not the worst part of my game but I struggled with the flat stick that day. To go round there and not 3 putt might just be an impossible task.
We played the blue tees which totalled 6,656 yards and the first is a beautiful par 4 of some 445 yards that doglegs to the left. A tough start. The second is one of the best par 3’s you could ever wish to play. It was 170 yards for us and the green was raised and set into the side of a hill with 5 bunkers around the green to catch you. The 5th is another brilliant par 4 which played 430 yards. You must hit the fairway if you are dreaming of being on this devilish green in two. The green is raised and reasonably narrow and it is no wonder it is the index (handicap) No. 3.
The 8th is a famous par 4 and was once voted the best 8th hole in the US which is a huge compliment when you think of the 8th at Pebble Beach. It played 440 yards and has a rolling slightly uphill fairway that doglegs to the right. The green is above you and has many slopes to deal with. Landing on this green does not mean you will stay on it. A top class golf hole which was index (handicap) No.1 which also speaks volumes as there were many tough holes to choose from in that regard.
The 11th played 495 yards for us and was another strong par 4. This was followed by a 395 yard par 4 that has one of the scariest greens I have ever played. It sloped off from the centre in all directions. Not a long hole but a par is an achievement in itself. The 14th is a lovely par 4 where the green is surrounded by trees. You have to decide on the tee whether you are going to try and cut off some of the corner or you can play it safe and hit an iron for safety.
The 16th was another super par 4 of 420 yards where again hitting the fairway is essential for success. The 17th is a par 5 that has a brilliant raised green. It is small, very narrow and has a large false front which turns a straightforward hole into a tough one. The hole only measured 500 yards but it is tricky around the flagstick. Top class design again.
I had the day of days at Prairie Dunes. The course was exceptional and was the company. My three playing partners were top class and I hope to meet them again. John in the pro shop was such a gent and really summed up the friendly easy going attitude at the club. He deserves huge credit. Perry Maxwell and his son Press achieved so much at Prairie Dunes. The course is brilliant and the greens are a work of art. It was a day I won’t forget for a long time. Then I was set for a 6 hour drive to Texas to play Childress Hall.

BEST 6 HOLES

2, 8, 5, 16, 11, 17

BEST PAR 3

2

BEST PAR 4

8

BEST PAR 5

17

Course Gallery

A closer look at Prairie Dunes

#24
Sunningdale Old

About The Course

Playing golf courses around the world has been a joy and a privilege but my biggest surprise is how brilliant the heathland courses near London are. Please, if you are going to play one course outside the norm or away from where you live, then I think you should play a heathland course. They are stunning. Scotland and Ireland grab a lot of headlines for their links courses but I think heathland courses deserve similar respect.

BEST 6 HOLES

2 · 12 · 5 · 10 · 7 · 16

BEST PAR 3

4

BEST PAR 4

2

BEST PAR 5

14

Course Gallery

A closer look at Sunningdale Old

#25
Hirono

About The Course

Getting to play golf in Japan was a massive thrill. People in Japan are so calm, polite and friendly it is incredible. I was there for 5 days and I have to say that their culture is something to be admired.

BEST 6 HOLES

14 · 2 · 16 · 7 · 3 · 12

BEST PAR 3

7

BEST PAR 4

14

BEST PAR 5

12

Course Gallery

A closer look at Hirono