WORLD’S GREATEST GOLF COURSES

126–150 Golf Courses

Explore courses ranked 126 to 150 in our journey through the world’s greatest golf courses, featuring remarkable layouts, memorable holes and spectacular golfing destinations.

🌍 WORLD | UPDATED 2026 | RANKS 126–150

#126
Boston

About The Course

There are not many modern designers who are as good as their counterparts from 100 years ago but Gil Hanse is one of them and he designed this lovely course which opened in 2005. It has a perfect location in Massachusetts and is only 30 minutes south of the great city of Boston itself. I think it is fair to call the course an inland links where the wild bunkers are stunning. The first is a par 5 and is one of the better long holes that you will encounter. Take a 5 and run.

BEST 6 HOLES

14, 9, 2, 12, 6, 18

BEST PAR 3

6

BEST PAR 4

14

BEST PAR 5

1

Course Gallery

A closer look at Boston

On The Course

Watch videos from Boston

#127
Worplesdon

About The Course

This is one of the 3 W’s that are close together in this area. The other two are Woking Golf Club and West Hill Golf Club and we felt that Worplesdon was the best of the three. This is another classic heathland course in the area and its brilliance came as quite the surprise. It is a great golf course where the last 6 holes provide one of the best finishing stretches in the UK.

The course was laid out in 1908 by one of the finest course architects at the time, namely J F Abercromby. The greens and bunkers were constructed by Willie Park Jnr who also designed the famous old course at Sunningdale. Getting top class architects then has certainly paid off since.

For amateurs the course measures 6,929 yards and is a par 71. The first 3 holes are fine heathland holes but things move up a notch when you play the 4th which is a super par 3 of 171 yards that plays more as it is uphill. When you stand on the 5th tee you start to think that maybe this course could be a bit special. It is a wooden heathland hole of 405 yards that slightly dog legs to the right. It is a tight drive and is index 2 for good reason. The green is perfect with a fall off to the right and also at the back. Golf holes don’t come much better than this.

The front finishes strong as the 7th is a great par 3 while the 8th and 9th are par 4’s where your drive is the all-important shot. Stunning vistas on those two tee boxes.

The back nine is probably the better of the two nines mainly because the last 6 holes are top class. The 13th is a picturesque par 3 of 173 yards with bunkers that surround three sides of the green. The 14th is index 1 and rightly so. It is 452 yards with trees and bunkers down both sides. Your second (or third) shot is played to a lovely green set in a corner. A truly great par 4. The 16th was my favourite par 3 and measures 183 yards and plays uphill with sand mounds before the green on both sides. The 17th and 18th are classy par 4’s that measure 395 yards and 438 yards respectively.

Like us, you may not have heard of Worplesdon Golf Club, but believe me it is a brilliant golf course. We had perfect conditions on the day and we had a blast. We met a member named Paddy afterwards and we really enjoyed chatting to him for about 20 minutes. He was originally from Kerry and he has been a member of Worplesdon for many years. There was a lovely atmosphere in the clubhouse and Peter, Jonny and I would highly recommend playing here.

BEST 6 HOLES

14, 5, 16, 18, 2, 17

BEST PAR 3

16

BEST PAR 4

14

BEST PAR 5

11

Course Gallery

A closer look at Worplesdon

#128
Spyglass Hill

About The Course

This course is located on the Monterey Peninsula in California and has some famous neighbours in the shape of Cypress Point and Pebble Beach. It is a public course and is a gem. It has a basic clubhouse but that does not detract from your day out one single bit. The first is a downhill dogleg left par 5 with a tricky green while the 3rd is one of the photographed par 3’s in the US. There are so many great holes on this course. The 4th is a famous short dogleg left par 4 with one of the narrowest greens you are ever likely to play. The 8th is a super par 4 that makes you think you’re in Augusta for a few moments.

BEST 6 HOLES

8, 16, 4, 9, 13, 3

BEST PAR 3

12

BEST PAR 4

8

BEST PAR 5

14

Course Gallery

A closer look at Spyglass Hill

#129
Hankley Common

About The Course

There have been many nice surprises along the way and this course was certainly one of them. It’s a beautiful heathland course and as usual it is situated to the south west of London and is less than an hour’s drive from Heathrow Airport.

BEST 6 HOLES

18, 14, 10, 5, 11, 1

BEST PAR 3

11

BEST PAR 4

18

BEST PAR 5

13

Course Gallery

A closer look at Hankley Common

#130
The Berkshire Red

About The Course

Every time we get to play a heathland course that we haven’t played before, we get pleasantly surprised and that was certainly the case with the Berkshire Red. The course opened in 1928 which was 17 years after Sunningdale and four years after Wentworth. I have come to adore heathland courses and when you stand on the first tee of the red course you know you are in for a great afternoon.

BEST 6 HOLES

16, 17, 8, 14, 4, 10

BEST PAR 3

16

BEST PAR 4

8

BEST PAR 5

17

Course Gallery

A closer look at The Berkshire Red

#131
Dunas Comporta

About The Course

I think it is fair to say that Dunas Comporta is the mainland Europe version of Pinehurst. The course only opened in 2023 and was superbly designed by David McLay-Kidd. It was voted the best new course in the world in 2024. McLay-Kidd had a huge land bank to choose from but the routing is mostly excellent.

When you drive into the estate it will take you another 5 minutes’ drive to get to the discreet and beautiful wee clubhouse. I think that understated clubhouses can be stunning and it is the case here. The practice facilities are close at hand and are top class. Pyramids of golf balls await within 50 metres of the clubhouse. The chipping area, bunker area and putting green are also perfect.

The fairways are quite wide and this course is certainly playable if you’re driving is decent. The first is a slight dogleg left where a good drive will leave a wedge to the green. The 3rd hole is a super par 3 and the hole can measure anything from 257 yards to 155 yards for adults – all from the same extremely long tee box.

The 7th is a stunning par 4 of some 427 yards that plays slightly downhill. It is a slight dogleg to the left. The views from this tee box are special and for a moment you might think that you are in North Carolina playing one of the many Pinehurst courses. The 9th is index (handicap) No. 3 and might even play tougher than that. You must stay well to the left off the tee. It was 393 yards for us but it plays longer as the second shot is uphill.

The 9th, 10th and 11th are a brilliant stretch of par 4’s. The 10th has trees down the right and a large waste area down the left. The fairway is quite narrow and must be hit if you wish to get on the dancefloor in two blows. It’s a brilliant golf hole. The 11th hole is equally tough and plays longer. It was into the breeze for us and required two solid shots to get to the green.

The 17th is a beautiful par 3 that only played 150 yards for us but you gotta be up as there are numerous bunkers that catch your eye just short of the green. It is probably the best short hole on the course. When you stand on the 18th tee you again get to appreciate that this is a super golf course. Lots of waste areas to the left and right along with some bunkers and this drive will text most golfers. The second shot plays uphill to an elevated green and a par is a superb effort. It is index (handicap) No.4. It is an excellent finish to an excellent course.

If you are staying in Lisbon then Dunas Comporta (90 mins drive), West Cliffs (75 mins drive) and Oitavos Dunes (45 mins drive) all come highly recommended. Barry, Johnny, Bo and I had an excellent short golf trip to Portugal. The people, the food and of course the golf courses were all superb.

BEST 6 HOLES

10, 18, 9, 17, 7, 11

BEST PAR 3

17

BEST PAR 4

10

BEST PAR 5

12

Course Gallery

A closer look at Dunas Comporta

#132
Hollinwell

About The Course

Hollinwell Golf Club, originally the Nottingham Golf Club, was established in 1887 and moved to its current location in Hollinwell in 1901, when the original course designed by Willie Park Jr. opened. The course was subsequently modified in 1902 by J.H. Taylor and Tom Williamson, who added bunkers and lengthened it.

BEST 6 HOLES

15, 18, 2, 12, 4, 11

BEST PAR 3

13

BEST PAR 4

15

BEST PAR 5

17

Course Gallery

A closer look at Hollinwell

#133
European Club

About The Course

If you are looking for 3 top class Links courses along the east coast of Ireland that are close to Dublin then look no further than Portmarnock, The Island and the European Club. This course was designed and built by Pat Ruddy and what a superb job he did. The European Club is set amongst large dunes where playing to your handicap is aspirational as the course is a beast. The 4th and 5th are two superb par 4s and are tough holes. Avoiding trouble off the tee is paramount. A total of 10 shots or less for those two holes is just fine.

BEST 6 HOLES

7, 4, 10, 5, 18, 8

BEST PAR 3

14

BEST PAR 4

7

BEST PAR 5

3

Course Gallery

A closer look at European Club

#134
Kinloch

About The Course

This Jack Nicklaus designed Links course only opened in 2007 and it is a wee belter. It is courses like this in recent years that have turned New Zealand into a top golf destination. You need to play well hereac to score. There are undulating fairways, lots of large bunkers which are then followed by fast greens. The first is a super par 4 that gently doglegs to the right. Aim more down the right than you may first think.

BEST 6 HOLES

18, 11, 1, 16, 17, 5

BEST PAR 3

11

BEST PAR 4

1

BEST PAR 5

18

Course Gallery

A closer look at Kinloch

#135
Emirates Majlis

About The Course

All the courses in the Dubai area are all bookable which is great. I got to play Emirates, Yas Links and the Jumeirah Earth course with my cousin Sean which was great. The facilities at the Emirates are top class, as you would expect. The amount of money spent here is off the charts. The course was in mint condition. The course was established in 1988 and was the first grass course in the Middle East and since then has played host to the Dubai Desert Classic most years since.

BEST 6 HOLES

8, 5, 14, 9, 16, 6

BEST PAR 3

7

BEST PAR 4

8

BEST PAR 5

18

Course Gallery

A closer look at Emirates Majlis

On The Course

Watch videos from Emirates Majlis

#136
Hillside

About The Course

If you are heading to the greater Liverpool area to play some of their famous courses including three British Open venues then you should consider adding Hillside to your list because this is a great golf course. It has a lovely clubhouse and a train line to the left of the first hole. What more could you want! You might bump into a few ex Liverpool players who are members here. The course held the British Masters in 2019.

BEST 6 HOLES

6, 18, 14, 10, 1, 13

BEST PAR 3

10

BEST PAR 4

6

BEST PAR 5

17

Course Gallery

A closer look at Hillside

#137
Kauri Cliffs

About The Course

This course which opened in 2000 is at the top end of the north island in New Zealand. You have a choice. It is a three and a half hour drive north of Auckland or if you are playing Te Arai / Tara Iti then it’s close to a three hour drive. Afterwards we took a local flight back to Auckland which was not expensive.

BEST 6 HOLES

7, 14, 15, 17, 4, 13

BEST PAR 3

7

BEST PAR 4

17

BEST PAR 5

15

Course Gallery

A closer look at Kauri Cliffs

#138
Yas Links

About The Course

There are a lot of fine golf courses in the Middle East and Yas Links is widely regarded as the No. 1 course in the whole region. It has Links in the name but it is more like a Links style or maybe an inland Links rather than a proper Links that people in Ireland or Britain would know. The course took three years to build and only opened in 2010. There are seven holes along the coastline with most of those on the back nine. The front nine is decent with some good holes such as No. 3, 8 and 9. The 8th is a nice par 3 along the water’s edge and the 9th is a tough par 4 with water and bunkers there to catch a poor drive.

BEST 6 HOLES

18, 9, 17, 13, 16, 3

BEST PAR 3

17

BEST PAR 4

9

BEST PAR 5

18

Course Gallery

A closer look at Yas Links

On The Course

Watch videos from Yas Links

#139
Elie

About The Course

Elie is recognised as the third oldest golf course in the world which is quite amazing in itself. In 1589, King James VI granted a royal charter protecting the locals’ right to play golf. It is just over an hour from Edinburgh Airport and it is not much of a detour on your way to St. Andrews which is 30 mins away.

The periscope. We have to give a big mention to the periscope. The first hole is a par 4 where your tee shot is blind over a hill to the fairway. The club tried many ideas to help ensure safety before the next group could tee off but nothing worked well. In 1966, a member named Gavin Reekie donated a periscope to the club. It was salvaged from the experimental Royal Navy submarine named HMS Excalibur. He has purchased the periscope at an auction.

It is 10 metres tall and it sticks out of the roof of the golf shop / starters hut. The staff use it to see if the first fairway is clear. Visitors are encouraged to use it. I did. It was fun and such a unique experience. It has 360 degree views of the Firth of Fife coastline. You can see most of the course and also across to Muirfield and North Berwick.

The course itself is superb. The famous blind first tee shot forms part of a tough opening par 4 which is 420 yards long. The 3rd hole is a belter. It was 214 yards for us and played into a decent breeze. A bogey there was not the end of the world.

Another interesting aspect of Elie is that there are 16 par 4’s and just par 3’s while there are no par 5’s. Unique but not a negative. There are blind or slightly tee shots over some ridges but again not a negative for me. I am always surprised with how many golfers do not like blind tee shots. I think they represent a great aspect to a golf course especially to a links course which they are mostly on.

The 8th is a par 4 of 382 yards and you play over a dirt road which is just before the green. Again character for me. The 9th was a beast of 440 yards into the wind where you play a mostly blind second shot to a dipped green.

The first four holes on the back nine are quite famous. The 10th might be drivable if you clear the ridge as the fairway kicks down towards the green. The 11th is a lovely par 3 of only 131 yards and is certainly parable once you don’t go left towards the water. The 12th is tough and measures 466 yards.

The 13th is a wow. James Braid famously referred to it as the finest hole in all of Scotland and possibly the best hole in golf. It measures 380 yards. The hole veers slightly to the left and the drive is fair. The magic is the second shot to this amazing green. It sits up on a ledge and everything kicks to the left. If you are too cautious, like we were, then your ball will run a way to the left. If you miss it right then you are above the green and your troubles are only beginning. It’s a stunner.

There are another five par 4’s to finish and they are all strong holes in their own right. Elie is playable as the rough is not overly punishing. I really liked Elie. The layout, the views, the blind shots, the periscope, the beautiful old clubhouse and so many classy par 4’s. Got to play here with two fellas who live in California – namely Chad and Paul. They were super company and they both played well. We had a good chat on the way round and I really enjoyed the day there with them. Britain and Ireland were going through a heat wave at the time so we played it on the perfect day where the ground was firm and fast. The way links should be played. The green fee was £200 and I think that was more than fair. It is certainly worth playing and sampling all its history if you are nearby.

One last thing is that James Braid was actually born in the town of Elie & Earlsferry and the course starts and finishes on the edge of the town which is a lovely feature and is similar in that regard to St. Andrews and Lahinch.

BEST 6 HOLES

13, 9, 12, 17, 3, 8

BEST PAR 3

3

BEST PAR 4

13

BEST PAR 5

–

Course Gallery

A closer look at Elie

#140
Old Barnwell

About The Course

This course only opened in 2023 but you would think it was around a lot longer than that when I played it in the summer of 2026. It was designed by Brian Schneider and Blake Conant. The owners have a huge area of land and there was also a second course under construction while we were there.

We played off the white tees which measured 6,520 yards and the first 3 holes are a reasonably gentle beginning. The first is a par 5 of 490 yards and was slightly downwind on the day. If you avoided the large bunker down the left (I didn’t) then getting to the green in two shots should be achievable. The next two holes are par 4’s of only 280 yards and 355 yards respectively. It is from here that the course begins to show some teeth.

The 5th is a brilliant par 4 which measured 420 yards for us and was into the breeze. There is sand down the right and a large fall off to the left so you must be straight off the tee. The green is huge but best to be on it after your second shot. The 6th and 7th holes are also excellent. They play a similar length and in a similar direction to the 5th. This might be the best stretch of holes on the course.

The 9th is a nice drivable par 4 of some 275 yards but the green is quite well surrounded so you must aim for the right half of the green. The 10th is a super design. You think you can cut some of the corner by going left but that would be a mistake as our caddie Dakota pointed out and he was correct. There are many, many bunkers down the left hand side of the fairway that you cannot see from the tee box. Certainly best to keep right there.

The 14th is another driveable par 4 that measures between 245 yards and 285 yards depending on which tee you play from. Realistically you only need to hit your tee shot maybe 190 yards as once it crosses a blind ridge well short of the green, the ball will run and run. It is easy to hit too much club here.

The 16th is a lovely par 5 where the green is well framed by the natural landscape. The 17th was only 120 yards for us but you gotta hit the green or else struggle. The 18th is an easy par 4 that sweeps around to the left in front of the stunning clubhouse. That clubhouse is brand new but they have made a really good attempt to keep it understated.

The course has much wasteland and some may compare it to a Pinehurst style course but the fairways are huge here and it is quite difficult to lose a ball at Old Barnwell. The greens are huge too but you must putt well to take advantage. There are a number of false fronts to avoid. Overall this is a big golf course but you can score for sure if you play well.

I got to play here with Dan and Will. I had played Old Town Club the day before with Will and the two lads were top class company. Our caddie was Dakota and he did a super job directing us. It was a very enjoyable day in the breeze and sunshine in South Carolina.

BEST 6 HOLES

5, 6, 10, 12, 4, 11

BEST PAR 3

4

BEST PAR 4

5

BEST PAR 5

12

Course Gallery

A closer look at Old Barnwell

#141
Barnbougle Lost Farm

About The Course

This course opened in 2010 and was designed by Coore and Crenshaw. That was 6 years after Barnbougle Dunes had opened. It is located across the river from the Dunes course and if anything it has even stepper sand dunes than its neighbour next door, which says a lot. The views are stunning at various points especially when playing the 4th and 5th holes. These are public courses which is great news and they also have beautiful accommodation on site. The overall facilities are perfect and are not Pebble Beach prices either, that’s for sure.

BEST 6 HOLES

5, 11, 16, 18, 3, 17

BEST PAR 3

17

BEST PAR 4

5

BEST PAR 5

8

Course Gallery

A closer look at Barnbougle Lost Farm

#142
Liphook

About The Course

Liphook is yet another brilliant heathland course to the south west of London. This course which dates back to the 1920’s is full of charm from the moment you drive in. I personally prefer the old style clubhouses. The history is tangible in every room and I for one would certainly love to be a member of a course like this if I lived nearby. The pro here is Ian Mowbray and he was incredibly friendly and helpful.

The opening 4 holes represent a fantastic opening stretch. The first is a long par 3 of 203 yards where you must stay further left than you think as the land slopes a lot from left to right, as I found out to my cost. The second hole is rightly index (handicap) No.3 and is 423 yards off the white tees. It was into the wind which didn’t help. The second shot is semi-blind as you play over a raised walkway to the green. The 3rd is a beautiful par 3 of only 142 yards but it plays slightly uphill and the green is surrounded by lots of bunkers. The 4th is index (handicap) No. 1 and is 460 yards from the white tees. It is a perfect par 4 where the heathland surrounds the fairway.

When you cross a wee road to the 7th tee you are entering a brilliant part of the course. This large field hosts holes 7 through14. They are all notable and memorable in their own way.

The 10th is a top class par 4 where you must drive arrow straight. There is a pond on the left side of the fairway and a bunker down the right. It is index (handicap) No.2 and it played every bit of its 431 yards. It is not a large green and has a couple of bunkers at the front to grab your attention.

The 12th is a picture postcard par 3 of some 150 yards. It is slightly downhill and some of the green is hidden because of bunkers and heathland just short of the putting surface. The 14th is a long par 4 where your second shot is completely blind. A super hole.

The 18th is a great par 5 to finish with. You play over a large hill off the tee and staying straight is of huge benefit. There are bunkers down the right before the green and this hole has the perfect backdrop of that beautiful old clubhouse.

When you arrive at some courses you are not quite sure of the atmosphere but the vibes at Liphook were all good. It’s a club where all the members are polite and friendly and they seem quite happy with their lot. It is easy to see why. This is a great golf course. The green fee was £180. I know that is a lot of money but it represents excellent value for money when you consider what a lot of the great courses charge nowadays.

I know I am repeating myself but heathland golf is fantastic. Play it if you get the chance and Liphook should be on your list. It comes highly recommended.

BEST 6 HOLES

10, 2, 4, 14, 6, 18

BEST PAR 3

1

BEST PAR 4

10

BEST PAR 5

18

Course Gallery

A closer look at Liphook

#143
Panmure

About The Course

Panmure on its current site was designed by the legendary Old Tom Morris in 1899 and then was refined by the equally brilliant James Braid in the 1920’s. It is 2 miles to the west of Carnoustie Golf Club and is also a links course but is more inland than its famous neighbour. The first thing I noticed was how welcoming the staff at Panmure were. Scott and Reece in the pro shop were so helpful and friendly along with the staff in the beautiful old clubhouse which also opened in 1899 along with the course.

I was due to play there on my own but I got chatting to two people on the putting green. They welcomed me to join them which was great. Chris and Lorna were super company. They are friends for many years and both had great swings. They each played off 9 from memory and they had a flat match which Lorna won. We had a very enjoyable chat on the way round this great course.

Not all but most of the first 12 holes play away from the clubhouse and then the last six holes play back towards where you started. We were into the strong breeze on the way out and so the first two thirds of the round proved quite the test.

The first two holes were a nice introduction with a short enough par 4 and a strong par 5 to begin. However, from the third tee that all changed. The next 10 holes, on that day, were as good a test as Carnoustie up the road. The 3rd hole is an excellent hole and played 404 yards off the white tees and it is a slight dog leg to the right with out of bounds further to the right. My birdie at the first was gone in a second after flashing a drive out of town. Ouch. The 4th is another solid par 4 of just over 400 yards that veers to the right but also has a devilish green to test you further.

It is customary in golf for the flag to be on the green and the greenkeepers just about managed that on the par 3 5th hole. It was tucked behind a bunker on the right just a few paces from the edge of the putting surface. Tough but Lorna managed our only par.

The 6th hole at Panmure is quite famous. It is simply called Hogan. Yes, that Hogan. In 1953, Ben Hogan practiced for two weeks at Panmure before winning the Open Championship at nearby Carnoustie. His favourite was the dogleg left 6th hole of some 414 yards off the back tees. He requested that they add a front bunker which the committee duly did. This hole is super and is index (handicap) No.1 as it is tight and then plays uphill to a tricky green perched on top of a hill.

The holes from 9 to 12 are superb and are a good test. I particularly enjoyed the 12th hole. It was 361 yards for us off the whites and a well-placed low iron might be enough before hitting to a raised but tricky green. The holes from 13 to 18 did not quite match the high standards of what went before but maybe that was because the last 6 holes were basically all downwind and therefore did not have the same difficulty as the previous dozen. You might say that can happen a lot with Links golf and you would be correct. Nonetheless, a great golf course.

Make sure to check out all the photos in the clubhouse of Ben Hogan practicing here in 1953. Playing Panmure was a truly special day. The sun was out, there was a lovely breeze, the course was in mint condition, the company was excellent and the course was a good test. What more could you ask for?

The staff give each visitor a metal bag tag and when you finish your round there is a framed photo of you to collect which they take before you start your round. If you are playing Carnoustie and you have a free day then I would recommend playing Panmure for sure. The green fee was £195 which I know is a lot of money but I thought the course was good value for that.

BEST 6 HOLES

6, 3, 10, 12, 4, 5

BEST PAR 3

5

BEST PAR 4

6

BEST PAR 5

2

Course Gallery

A closer look at Panmure

#144
The National Old

About The Course

The National is a great golf club that has 4 courses and is situated 90 minutes south of Melbourne City. It is set on a headland overlooking the waters of the Bass Strait and offers some stunning views. The Old course is the oldest of the 4, as the name suggests, and was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr. Two of the other courses also figure prominently in the best courses in Australia lists, namely The Moonah course which was designed by Greg Norman while Tom Doak designed the Gunnamatta course.

BEST 6 HOLES

7, 2, 13, 16, 9, 1

BEST PAR 3

7

BEST PAR 4

2

BEST PAR 5

17

Course Gallery

A closer look at The National Old

On The Course

Watch videos from The National Old

#145
Woking

About The Course

Woking Golf Club is a heathland course near London that is situated right next door to Westhill GC and Warplesdon GC. They are known as the Three Ws. The clubhouse at Woking is possibly the most quaint of its kind. We had lunch beforehand on the front patio and literally there is a golf green right beside you. We assumed this was the 18th, but in fact it was the 14th. It’s hard to imagine people playing golf this close to people having lunch anywhere else in the world. We loved it.

BEST 6 HOLES

2, 6, 13, 9, 3, 11

BEST PAR 3

2

BEST PAR 4

6

BEST PAR 5

14

Course Gallery

A closer look at Woking

On The Course

Watch videos from Woking

#146
Formby

About The Course

When people talk about the great golf destinations in the world, they will rightly talk about Melbourne, Long Island, Monterrey Peninsula and many others but the greater Liverpool area deserves a mention too. In this area you have Royal Birkdale, Royal Lytham & St. Annes, Royal Liverpool, Hillside and Formby. If you are planning a trip to the area then Formby is certainly worth considering. It is a mere forty minute drive to the north of Liverpool city centre and Anfield.

BEST 6 HOLES

15, 9, 7, 2, 6, 11

BEST PAR 3

10

BEST PAR 4

15

BEST PAR 5

8

Course Gallery

A closer look at Formby

#147
Portstewart

About The Course

Playing Royal Portrush is a brilliant experience and is a must for all golfers but if you are venturing to the north coast of Ireland then playing Portstewart is well worth it. The two courses are only 15 minutes apart. The views from the first tee are magic and the first hole itself is one of the best opening holes you will play. It is a slight dogleg right and is 427 yards off the back tee.

BEST 6 HOLES

8, 17, 5, 1, 2, 10

BEST PAR 3

3

BEST PAR 4

8

BEST PAR 5

4

Course Gallery

A closer look at Portstewart

#148
Hunstanton

About The Course

Hunstanton was founded in 1891. Since then, it has hosted twelve British Amateur Championships, twelve Ladies Amateur Championships and three English Amateur Championships. It is a links course that is situated along the Norfolk coastline. It is a super course and well worth visiting especially if you are coming to the area to play the brilliant Royal West Norfolk. The two courses are only 15 minutes apart. They both make an ideal short golf trip even if there is no airport close by.

BEST 6 HOLES

17, 6, 3, 16, 5, 14

BEST PAR 3

16

BEST PAR 4

17

BEST PAR 5

9

Course Gallery

A closer look at Hunstanton

#149
Punta Espada

About The Course

This course is widely regarded as being in the top three courses in the whole of the Caribbean. If you are looking for a game of golf in a topical setting with lots of palm trees in the baking heat then this is the place for you. This course opened in 2006 and visually it is beautiful. I played it on a windy day, not uncommon I believe, and the course certainly was no pushover.

BEST 6 HOLES

13, 10, 17, 5, 11, 18

BEST PAR 3

13

BEST PAR 4

10

BEST PAR 5

2

Course Gallery

A closer look at Punta Espada

#150
County Louth

About The Course

This beautiful links course is located approximately 1 hour north of Dublin. The County Louth Golf Club, known locally as Baltray, was originally designed in 1892 by Thomas Gilroy. In 1938, the course was redesigned by Tom Simpson into the layout we know today. It has held two Irish Opens and the second one in 2009 was won by the then amateur Shane Lowry in a playoff.

This is one of those courses that the first time you play it, you might think that It is very nice but trust me the more times you play the greater the appreciation you will develop for it. There are lots of subtle design features that you may not notice on your first visit.

The first hole is one of the most challenging opening holes you will face in Ireland as your second shot will most likely be played to a green where you can only see the top of the pin. Aim slightly more to the left than you think as the greens slopes off to the right. The 3rd hole is a super par 5 where your third shot is a bling shot to the green. It is a narrow green and quite a tricky shot. If you hit the left side of the green you may end shooting off to the left and down into a valley well off the green.

The 7th is one of the finest par 3’s in the land. The green is triangular in shape and is a work of art. The green is perched on top of a hill and if you miss left, you will kick a long way left. There is a bunker front right. There is also a falloff to the right of the green which feels like a grass bunker. If you ever want to become a golf course designer then study the 7th at County Louth – it is a masterpiece.

The 9th and 11th holes are low index (handicap) long par 4’s and if you only take 9 shots in total for those two holes, then well done. The 12th rivals the 7th for the best hole on the course. It is a dogleg left par 4 with 3 bunkers down the right hand side of the fairway. You then play your second shot over two large ridges to a blind green where, if you are lucky, you may see the top of the flag. The slopes on both sides feed the ball onto the green, which is a big help.

The 14th is a short par 4 but is a wee stunner. You can hit whatever you like off the tee but your second shot with a wedge will test every golfer in the game. It is a small green perched on another hill. The ball can easily roll off on all sides so a 4 is a great score.

If the weather is decent, then you can score quite well at County Louth especially on the front nine. It is a golf course that makes you think. Strategy is important round here. I luckily live only 40 minutes from the course and I usually get to play it at least once a year. I always look forward to playing it. If you are staying in Dublin then I would encourage you to play the course. It’s a gem that is always in excellent condition.

BEST 6 HOLES

12, 7, 14, 5, 9, 13

BEST PAR 3

7

BEST PAR 4

12

BEST PAR 5

3

Course Gallery

A closer look at County Louth