WORLD’S GREATEST GOLF COURSES

51–75 Golf Courses

Explore courses ranked 51 to 75 in our journey through the world’s greatest golf courses, featuring remarkable layouts, memorable holes and spectacular golfing destinations.

🌍 WORLD | UPDATED 2026 | RANKS 51–75

#51
Kawana Fuji

About The Course

What a perfect location for a golf course. It is set on a headland overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The views from various parts of the course are simply stunning. This course is bookable once you stay in the hotel and if you are in Japan, I would highly recommend playing here. Like some other courses in Japan, the course has a rail that your cart drives on all the way round. The caddie has a remote control for the cart to bring it forward etc. It is a great way for your clubs to be carried around.

BEST 6 HOLES

15, 17, 16, 7, 1, 14

BEST PAR 3

16

BEST PAR 4

17

BEST PAR 5

15

Course Gallery

A closer look at Kawana Fuji

#52
Cape Kidnappers

About The Course

Cape Kidnappers has become world famous because of the aerial photos of the coastal holes on the back nine. These holes are dramatic and your phone battery will be tested because of the amount of photos that you will take. However, I think that the front nine might have the better overall golf holes. The 6th hole for example is a brilliant par 3 that will test every golfer and you might be happy to settle for a 4. Other great holes on the front nine include 1, 3, 4 and 7.

BEST 6 HOLES

12, 15, 6, 3, 1, 10

BEST PAR 3

6

BEST PAR 4

12

BEST PAR 5

15

Course Gallery

A closer look at Cape Kidnappers

#53
Ardfin

About The Course

We must love our golf. It took two flights and a ferry to get to Ardfin but it was worth the effort. Normally you have to stay at the hotel to play the course but my American pal Travis emailed me to say that they were doing a special without having to stay, so my cousin Sean and I booked.

BEST 6 HOLES

10, 14, 8, 11, 17, 1

BEST PAR 3

10

BEST PAR 4

14

BEST PAR 5

16

Course Gallery

A closer look at Ardfin

#54
Cruden Bay

About The Course

If ever a golf course could be the drummer in a rock band then it has to be Cruden Bay. It is quite mad in places but excellent everywhere else. The 2nd is played to an elevated green that you must hit. The 3rd is a wild blind driveable par 4 that would not be designed nowadays. The 4th is a stunning par 3 with the bay to your left. It is world class. The 5th is a beautiful par 4 played between the dunes and is index (handicap) 1 for a reason.

BEST 6 HOLES

5, 4, 17, 7, 14, 13

BEST PAR 3

4

BEST PAR 4

5

BEST PAR 5

13

Course Gallery

A closer look at Cruden Bay

On The Course

Watch videos from Cruden Bay

#55
Royal Lytham & St. Annes

About The Course

A stunning old world clubhouse is the first thing you notice when you arrive here. The second thing you notice is that the first hole is a par 3 of between 174 yards and 204 yards depending on which tees you play from. That must make things interesting at the weekend when the time sheet is quite full with Members. It’s a super par 3 by the way.

BEST 6 HOLES

3, 9, 18, 12, 2, 14

BEST PAR 3

9

BEST PAR 4

3

BEST PAR 5

7

Course Gallery

A closer look at Royal Lytham & St. Annes

#56
Old Town Club

About The Course

There have been many great surprises along this journey of playing great courses and Old Town Club was certainly one of them. It is a fabulous golf course. When a course is listed among the top 100 in the world you expect a lot but this course surpassed that. This course, which opened in 1939, is located in Winston-Salem in North Carolina and was designed by Perry Maxwell.

I had not had much experience of playing a Maxwell designed course but on this particular trip I got to play here, Prairie Dunes and Southern Hills so my respect for him jumped to an extremely high level by the time I returned to Ireland.

In 2013, Old Town Club was restored to its former glory by Coore & Crenshaw. This also involved removing a huge number of trees which nowadays provide some fantastic vistas across the course which were previously hidden.

The course begins strongly and that continues for all 18 holes. The first hole, off our blue tees, played 416 yards and there is trouble left and right while your second shot is played over a creek and is certainly uphill to the green. The 2nd is a lovely par 3 of some 167 yards where many bunkers grab your eye while standing over your tee shot.

The 3rd is par 4 where your score will likely be determined by your tee shot and it is a tough one with a large tree down the left and bunkers down the right. I hit two good shots to get on the 4th green which is a par 5 but then 3 putted. The greens were perfect but very fast. They were undulating too.

The 6th is a par 3 and it is devilish. You’ve got to pitch near the front edge as it just rolls and rolls away from you. The front nine finishes strongly with 3 solid par 4’s of some 383 yards, 398 yards and 433 yards.

The front nine is super but I think the back nine is even better. The 10th hole is tricky. Your drive goes over a hill and the fairway slopes to the right. Driver was not the best choice here. I hit it well and it bounced on the right edge of the fairway but we never found it. I would go with a 4 iron off the tee if it played it again. The 11th is a beautiful par 3 of some 195 yards that plays over a wasteland. All 4 of us got on the green with the furthest being maybe 25 feet so that was a good team effort.

The 12th and 13th were long par 4’s and then the 14th, which is quite famous, is a short par 4 with one of the trickiest greens you are likely to play. It looks like an easy hole but it is anything but. Holes 11 to 14 are a great stretch of holes. The 16th is a tough drive where you must stay left and then you are faced with a treacherous green which is perched above you. I was surprised that it was index (handicap) No.12 as it seemed tougher than that to me.

The 17th is a par 5 and the green sits just to the right of the 8th where both greens have to be approached over a stream. The 18th is a solid finishing hole of some 407 yards and plays slightly uphill. One of the most beautiful clubhouses you will see sits just behind it.

The greens at Old Town Club are magnificent and are certainly not easy. They were much too good for me anyway. The routing of the course is excellent and the whole place is picture perfect. Louis in the pro shop is an absolute gent as were the three guys I played with namely Will, Michael and Anthony. We had a super day and I really enjoyed the lads company as we had a good laugh on the way round. By coincidence, the very next day I bumped into Will at Old Barnwell and we played together that day too. I hope it won’t be the last time I have a round of golf with those lads. I also met Dunlop afterwards and he told me so much about the history of the club. The lads are so lucky to be a member there. It is a fabulous course that they get to call their home club. A day that will live long in the memory.

BEST 6 HOLES

14, 11, 12, 2, 1, 6

BEST PAR 3

11

BEST PAR 4

14

BEST PAR 5

17

Course Gallery

A closer look at Old Town Club

#57
St. Patrick’s Links

About The Course

It is not easy for golf course developers and designers to find parcels of land to build links courses on nowadays but this stretch of earth is perfect for one. There are huge dunes and the vista out to sea is stunning. The course only opened in 2021 and is superb. As with any new golf course, the course will continue to improve over the coming years. What the owners have achieved deserves huge credit. There is no clubhouse there yet but that will come in time. They have three courses here and they are all excellent links courses. It is a great golf destination. There is a hotel not far from the main clubhouse and the nearby village of Downings is lovely.

This was Tom Doak’s first design in Ireland and the routing is excellent. The 2nd is a lovely par 4 that meanders its way through dunes on both sides. Your second shot plays uphill and is an easy green to miss. The 3rd is an amphitheatre par 3 of 178 yards and is a fine short hole. The view from the 4th tee is stunning and makes you appreciate what a beautiful part of the world this is. The 9th is index (handicap) No.1 and rightly so. It can play as long as 460 yards and swings slightly to the left. The green is difficult due to the slope and somebody in your group is likely to 3 putt here.

The 11th is a belter of a par 4 that measures 472 yards from the tips. Again, like the 9th, your work is not done until the ball is in the hole as the green will test most amateurs. The 13th is not a long par 4 but your drive is blind over a hill which always makes things interesting. The par 4 14th deserves a special mention as the view from the tee box is special looking out towards the Atlantic. It is a dogleg right and a 3 wood might be the best option unless you are into the wind. The green is along the coast and plays uphill. It is a perfect par 4 and is one of the best in Ireland. The best run of holes might be 13 to 16 inclusive.

The 15th only measures 130 yards but hitting the green is a must. The 16th is a long par 4 but plays downhill which is certainly a help as it can measure as long as 534 yards. For amateurs it plays 487 yards but thankfully the contours of the land help to make it reachable in two. The last hole is a tidy par 4 of only 361 yards where you must decide on the tee whether to be adventurous or not. Accuracy is a must here.

Overall it is an excellent golf course with many great holes and what the owners along with Tom Doak have achieved here in a short time is remarkable. Having another great links course to add to Ireland’s already brilliant list is significant. It’s so great for Donegal to have a golf course in the World’s Top 100 and St. Patrick’s Links will certainly add a lot to the area in terms of tourism in the coming decades. You will love visiting Rosapenna where all three courses deserve to be played.

BEST 6 HOLES

14, 2, 6, 16, 15, 13

BEST PAR 3

15

BEST PAR 4

14

BEST PAR 5

6

Course Gallery

A closer look at St. Patrick's Links

On The Course

Watch videos from St. Patrick's Links

#58
Rye Old

About The Course

The course was designed in 1895 by the great Harry Colt. When you arrive at Ryde Golf Club, you may wonder if you are in the right place. There is a clubhouse above the car park and the pro shop is across the road. It does not scream world class golf course, but four hours later you will change your mind as this is a brilliant golf course.

BEST 6 HOLES

4, 5, 13, 6, 15, 7

BEST PAR 3

5

BEST PAR 4

4

BEST PAR 5

1

Course Gallery

A closer look at Rye Old

On The Course

Watch videos from Rye Old

#59
Peachtree

About The Course

There are not many more beautiful golf courses in the world than Peachtree. When you drive to Peachtree, you are on the edge of Atlanta and it’s quite a busy area so when you drive in the gates the impact is even greater. You look out on the golf course and you think “Wow” as you can maybe see half the course from there. It’s quite the view.

Bobby Jones was involved in the design of only two golf courses. He helped design Augusta along with Alister MacKenzie and he also helped Robert Trent Jones Sr design Peachtree which opened for play in 1947. I heard a story that it was strongly under consideration for the US Masters to be switched between the two courses every other year but in the end it was left in Augusta.

As I mentioned, the course opened in 1947 with just 9 holes completed. Unfortunately, Bobby Jones never got to play the full 18 as he was diagnosed with a spinal condition in 1948. At the time of writing, I have not played Augusta yet (we can but dream!) but I was at the 2017 Masters and certainly there is a strong resemblance between the two when you see the tall pines, the dogwoods and the azaleas. It was summertime when I played it and the place was in full bloom.

The opening holes are strong. The first is a par 4 of 410 yards from the amateur and pro tees. The second is a par 5 that plays downhill. I hit a good drive and should have birdied it but didn’t. The 3rd is a beautiful par 4 that plays uphill to a tremendously tricky green. The greens were perfect but they were very fast which made this 3rd green a huge challenge.

The 4th hole is maybe the best of the short holes but that is only a maybe as all 4 par 3’s are superb. It measures 166 yards and has lots of bunkers to grab your attention. Hitting the green is a must but I failed that test. I was playing with a pro named Conor who was a super nice fellah but it took me an hour to relax. He was hitting the ball so well but eventually I felt at ease.

The 6th is a stunning par 3 of some 194 yards with again lots of trouble around. Also, the speed of the greens is something that takes an Irishman a while to get used to. The rest of the front nine was great and finished with three par 4’s. The 11th is a great par 3, again, and has one of the most sloping greens you could ever wish to play.

The 12th was maybe the best hole on the course but it was a tough choice with so many great holes. You must finish short of a creek off the tee and requires less than a driver to do so. The second shot is like being Augusta, not for the first time round here, with tall pines just to the right of this elevated green. Top class.

The par 3 14th would remind you of the 16th at Augusta also. It played 183 yards over the small stream and a lake. The green sat at an angle to your tee shot. The 17th and 18th played 391 yards and 422 yards off our tees and represented a strong finish. On a day when I started poorly it was nice to birdie the last and head to the clubhouse with a smile on my face.

Playing Peachtree was a dream come true as it is so picturesque (check out the photos). It was incredible, especially their greens. I would fly to the US just to play it again. Conor was a gent to play with and Colin, our caddie, was excellent. Colin knew the course and the breaks so well. They were super company too. Donn in the clubhouse was a thorough gentleman. I could not say a bad word about Peachtree. It is heaven on earth. You have won the lottery if you are a member there.

BEST 6 HOLES

12, 4, 15, 14, 3, 18

BEST PAR 3

4

BEST PAR 4

12

BEST PAR 5

2

Course Gallery

A closer look at Peachtree

#60
Somerset Hills

About The Course

This course opened in 1918 and was designed by the great A.W. Tillinghast. Before that the site had been used as a racecourse and you can still see the track in some parts of the course. The clubhouse is old world. It is very beautiful and looks over most of the course.

BEST 6 HOLES

2, 15, 7, 11, 16, 1

BEST PAR 3

2

BEST PAR 4

15

BEST PAR 5

9

Course Gallery

A closer look at Somerset Hills

#61
Woodhall Spa Hotchkin

About The Course

This is the home of the governing body for amateur golf in England, “England Golf” and is situated in mid-eastern England. We flew into Sheffield and from there it is about a 90 minute drive to the south east. It is a heathland course but it is one with a difference as the bunkers are huge with rather large eyebrows too. The course opened in 1905 and was originally designed by the famous Harry Vardon before being re-designed by Stafford Vere Hotchkin in the 1920’s. It came as a shock as to how great this course is, having not heard much about it beforehand.

BEST 6 HOLES

12, 13, 7, 11, 4, 16

BEST PAR 3

12

BEST PAR 4

13

BEST PAR 5

18

Course Gallery

A closer look at Woodhall Spa Hotchkin

#62
St. Georges Hill

About The Course

St. Georges Hill opened in 1913 and designed by the brilliant Harry Colt. It is set in a private estate of houses and facilities that are 5 star all the way. The tennis club nearby looked top class. The cost of property in this area must be frightening. The clubhouse is famous. It is a lovely building that looks over the course from a height.

BEST 6 HOLES

16, 17, 6, 10, 13, 1

BEST PAR 3

8

BEST PAR 4

16

BEST PAR 5

15

Course Gallery

A closer look at St. Georges Hill

On The Course

Watch videos from St. Georges Hill

#63
Prestwick

About The Course

In 1851, a group of 57 locals, who met regularly at the Red Lion Inn in Prestwick, decided to form a golf club and purchased two cottages opposite the tavern. The first cottage would become the members clubhouse while the other was given to the greenkeeper, ball maker and club maker Old Tom Morris who went on to design the course, albeit 12 holes at the beginning.

BEST 6 HOLES

9, 10, 8, 17, 1, 13

BEST PAR 3

11

BEST PAR 4

9

BEST PAR 5

12

Course Gallery

A closer look at Prestwick

#64
Sleepy Hollow

About The Course

This course is located less than an hour north of Manhattan in a lovely part of the world. It must have one of the biggest clubhouses that you will ever see. The mansion was purchased by William Rockefeller and Frank Vanderlip in 1911 and the following year the Sleepy Hollow Country Club was founded.

BEST 6 HOLES

8, 16, 13, 15, 18, 11

BEST PAR 3

16

BEST PAR 4

8

BEST PAR 5

6

Course Gallery

A closer look at Sleepy Hollow

#65
Cabot St. Lucia

About The Course

There are some brilliant clifftop courses in the world including Pebble Beach, Cape Kidnappers, Cabot Cliffs and Old Head Of Kinsale to name four but you can now add Cabot St. Lucia to that top class list. The course only opened in December in 2023 and within a short time had received huge acclaim. I played a number of US courses on this trip and decided to play this Coore & Crenshaw design on the way home and it was a great decision.

I landed in Hewanorra Airport which is at the southern tip of St. Lucia while Cabot St. Lucia is at the other end of this stunning island. I hired a car and the 90 minute drive to the course and back to the airport the next day was interesting to say the least. The road itself is ordinary and people fly along so concentration is required. There are plenty of climbs. The people on this island are so helpful and friendly and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.

When I played there the facilities were basic and I’m sure that will change over time. I would never worry too much about that once the course lives up to the hype – which it did, easily. The first hole is possibly the easiest hole on the course. It is a par 5 and played only 463 yards from the amateur tees. Two good shots should see you around the green. The 2nd hole is a par 4 of similar length and I thought it was a tougher hole even to get a 5 on compared to the first.

Things move up a notch when you get to the 5th tee. The views are special. There is a half-way house there and it rivals any in the world. It’s 5 stars. The 5th itself plays downhill and you must be accurate as there is wild rough on both sides of the fairway. It was only 388 yards but the small green is nestled in on the right hand side and a par is a great score. The 6th is only 326 yards and you must decide whether to have a blast at the green or not. I did and ended up in a bunker. The ocean is the backdrop to this green.

The 7th is a beautiful par 3 of only 115 yards but the narrow green is surrounded on three sides by the ocean. It was windy, which I’m sure is normally the case, so the tee shot is quite demanding even over that short distance. The 8th is all about the drive. You may have seen photos of it. You must drive over the ocean to reach the fairway. It is quite the test but if you manage it then you have a flick to the green.

I only realised this when I finished but the front is a bit short if I’m being honest while the back nine certainly isn’t. The 11th, 12th and 13th are three great par 4’s. They measured 493 yards, 454 yards and 451 yards respectively. They could be put on any non-links golf course and not be out of place. Just like at those cliff top courses I mentioned earlier, the course cannot just be about the spectacular holes – there must be substance to the rest of the course and these three holes add to that argument.

The 14th is a great par 5 and measured 590 yards for amateurs. The green is set back and has the ocean on two sides. Then you come to a brilliant stretch of holes. The 15th is very much like the 17th at Cabot Cliffs. You must drive over the ocean and over a daunting looking clifftop to reach the fairway. Thankfully I just about managed it. The green is small but it is not a long hole and really it’s all about the drive.

The 16th is a magical par 3 of 148 yards. You play over the ocean and 4 large bunkers at the front of the green. It is as photogenic a par 3 as you could ever wish to see and play. I hit an ok shot and my caddie Shannon’s commentary was funny. The walk up to the back tee for the 17th is a belter. It is high above the 16th and is worth playing even if it is a beast from there. Again you must play over the ocean and jagged rocks to a semi-blind green. It’s an excellent short hole.

The last hole is a par 5 that plays downhill off the tee but if you hit a good tee shot then you must decide then whether to go for the green with your second. Short of the green are wasteland, water and rocks while the green is surrounded by 6 bunkers. It is another spectacular hole to add to the long list on this super course.

There are at least 10 visually majestic holes on this course namely holes 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18. It would be worth the walk even if you didn’t hit any golf shots. Coore & Crenshaw deserve huge credit for what they achieved here. It is one of the most beautiful courses in the world. Yes the front nine plays a little short but it is a proper test of your golf nonetheless.

I would imagine the wind will always be a factor here and as a result you must be accurate or you will pay a hefty price. It is highly unlikely you will finish your round here with the same ball. My caddie was Shannon and he was excellent at his job and was great company too. We chatted all the way round.

The last 5 holes on the front nine are superb but the back nine is one of the best in the world. Your breath will be taken away on numerous occasions. If you enjoy fabulous scenery and great golf holes then this is the place for you. The green fee was not cheap but I felt it was fair for what was a brilliant day out and one I won’t forget for a long time. The photos say everything.

BEST 6 HOLES

16, 17, 2, 5, 15, 7

BEST PAR 3

16

BEST PAR 4

2

BEST PAR 5

14

Course Gallery

A closer look at Cabot St. Lucia

On The Course

Watch videos from Myopia Hunt Club

#66
Bandon Trails

About The Course

Bandon Trails starts out as a links course, then moves inland and finishes back up as a links course again. That might sound a little odd but it works really well. All credit to Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw for a great layout. Everyone that goes to Bandon Dunes has different opinions on what order they would rate the 5 courses but my friend Ben and I had the same order. We put Bandon Trails in second place out of the five.

BEST 6 HOLES

13, 7, 16, 6, 18, 4

BEST PAR 3

17

BEST PAR 4

13

BEST PAR 5

16

Course Gallery

A closer look at Bandon Trails

#67
Childress Hall Upper

About The Course

There are two courses at Childress Hall and the Upper course opened in December 2024. It was superbly designed by Tom Doak while the Lower course which opened in late 2025 was designed by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner. It is a fantastic piece of property with two excellent courses. It is in a quite remote part of northern Texas but was certainly worth the drive to get there.

The first is a relatively gentle par 4 to begin with where the awaiting green is huge. The second was quite the opposite. It was a beast. It’s a par 4 that doglegs to the left and if you can reach this green in two blows then you can play golf. The 5th is not overly long but has a beautiful punchbowl green that will either help you or hinder you depending on how accurate your approach shot is.

The 7th is a Redan par 3. It’s a huge green that is split into two tiers. The 8th is a fine par 4 that is reasonably narrow and as I found out, it is quite easy to end up in trouble from the tee box. The front nine is superb but the back nine is where the magic happens. The first 5 holes on the back nine are unique and I hope I describe them properly.

The 10th is already a well-known par 4 where you have a pair of fairways to choose from. The fairway to the right is raised up high and suits a low iron. I went straight on with a driver and almost ran out of fairway. When you get to the 11th tee you have a choice of par 3 holes. We went to the left and it played 155 yards from memory. The other par 3 11th to the right played around 200 yards. The one we played was a stunning par 3 where you simply cannot miss the putting surface.

By playing the par 3 on the left, it meant that our tee box for the 12th was close at hand and that we played the 12th as a slight right to left hole. If you played the other 11th then the tee box you would have for the 12th would be totally different (maybe 100 yards from our tee box) and it would be a dogleg left par 4. I think it is an ingenious design.

The 12th is a lovely par 4 where your second shot is played over a small valley of wasteland to your left. There are two 13th par 3’s also to choose from. We went left again and it played roughly 200 yards downhill. Again, there are two completely different tee boxes for the 14th depending on which 13th you played. There is a large mound in the middle of the 14th fairway which you must stay left or right off depending on your angle of attack from the tee.

The imagination, time, effort and money that it took to come up with those first five holes on the back nine is incredible. Well done to all involved. It must be great for members to have such variety on the same course.

The course finished very strongly. The 16th is a lovely par 4. It is index (handicap) No.2 and it was easy to see why. It is long but the fairway runs away from you which is a help to gain distance and your second shot is blind over a hill to a green that runs off to the left and to the rear. The 17th is a super par 3. You play over lots of scrubland and you have no choice but to be accurate.

The 18th is a long par 4 that is named St. Enodoc. It is a nice nod to the course in south west England. The bunker on the 18th here is huge and is certainly similar to the one on the 6th hole on the church course at St. Enodoc. If you finish with a par then you have gained on most people. It is a tight enough drive but If you manage to hit the fairway then you have a long second shot over the corner of that aforementioned bunker to a large green in the distance.

Thank you to Steve but also my playing partner on the day who was Alastair. He is originally from Wales and you could not meet a nicer fellah. He was so helpful and friendly. We chatted the whole way round and I thoroughly enjoyed his company.

It is hard to believe how green the course was considering it is in Texas. They have their own wells and watering system and it is worth its weight in gold. I had a quick look at the Lower course and it too looks brilliant. Hopefully, I will have the privilege of coming back and playing the lower course also. It looks stunning just like the Upper course.

Then I was all set for a 5 hour drive to Tulsa to play Southern Hills Country Club the next morning.

BEST 6 HOLES

18, 11, 16, 2, 8, 12

BEST PAR 3

11 Left

BEST PAR 4

18

BEST PAR 5

15

Course Gallery

A closer look at Childress Hall Upper

#68
Royal Melbourne East

About The Course

This course may live a little in the shadow of the West course but make no mistake the East course is top class too. When the club hosts a pro event they usually take six holes from the East course and twelve from the West course and that shows that both courses are of quite a similar standard.

BEST 6 HOLES

16, 2, 18, 13, 9, 12

BEST PAR 3

16

BEST PAR 4

2

BEST PAR 5

10

Course Gallery

A closer look at Royal Melbourne East

#69
Myopia Hunt Club

About The Course

Myopia Hunt Club is a foxhunting and private country club in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, northeast of Boston. The club hosted the U.S. Open four times in its early days: 1898, 1901, 1905, and 1908. It was founded in 1882 by J. Murray Forbes. The golf course was designed and built by Herbert C. Leeds

The name “Myopia” is due to some of its founding members having come from the Myopia Club in Winchester, Massachusetts, which had been founded by four brothers with poor vision, or myopia. Today, the Myopia Hunt Club is a drag hunt, meaning that the hounds follow a laid scent rather than live fox which was since to hear.

When completed, Myopia Hunt Club measured 6,539 yards and Leeds made certain that golfers would encounter a multitude of challenging features, including tall mounds, deep bunkers, lightning-fast greens, blind shots requiring substantial carry, deep swales, punishing rough, plateaued greens, as well as a pond and paddock to avoid. So difficult was the course that in the 1901 U.S. Open, not a single professional was able to break 80 in any round.

When you drive in, it feels just like old world which was pretty cool. There is no modern large tarmac car park. You just park wherever suits you. There is no pretentious clubhouse but just some lovely old buildings. The pro shop is perched on a wee hill overlooking the practice green, the first tee, the 16th green and the 18th green.

The first two holes give you a false sense of security. There were 276 yards (par 4) and 488 yards (par 5 downhill) and you think that maybe you are in for an easy day. That feeling does not last long as the next three holes are extremely tough. The 3rd hole is a 252 yard par 3 while the 4th hole has one of the most wickedly fast and sloping greens you could wish to play. The 5th is a par 4 that played 417 yards where precision is required as well as distance.

The 6th is a stunning short par 4 where again the green is a huge defence for the course. The greens at Myopia were extremely fast but also they were in mint condition. The 9th is a wonderful par 3 and Alex, my caddie mentioned that it was like their postage stamp. It played 138 yards but has a very narrow green that is surrounded by lots of bunkers. Not many amateurs walk off here with a par.

I think the front nine was slightly my favourite of the two nines but the back nine is mostly excellent too. Your drive on the 10th is a blind shot over a hill but a par awaits if you manage to hit the fairway. The 12th is a wonderful par 4 that is rightly index (handicap) No. 1 and measures 451 yards. It meanders its way to a small green where you cannot go left or long. The 16th is another lovely par 3 that plays downhill but does measure 192 yards. The 18th is a perfect finishing hole where your drive is all important. There is a beautiful large tree that guards the green on the right hand side.

The experience at Myopia is wonderful. The course is excellent with some of the best greens you will ever see. The three par 3’s are all belters. I was lucky to have Alex as my caddie. He is also the caddie master at Myopia. He was very knowledgeable and a lovely guy too. We had a great chat on the way round about most topics but it was lovely to learn so much about the history of this brilliant golf course on a sunny autumn day.

BEST 6 HOLES

9, 4, 12, 3, 18, 6

BEST PAR 3

9

BEST PAR 4

4

BEST PAR 5

15

Course Gallery

A closer look at Myopia Hunt Club

On The Course

Watch videos from Myopia Hunt Club

#70
Cap Rock Ranch

About The Course

This Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner designed course has the most wonderful setting in the sand hills of Nebraska. It took just over 2 hours to drive from North Platte Airport to CapRock Ranch and I must have pictured a hundred golf courses in my mind on the way there as the constant rolling hills in Nebraska look perfect for many a great golf course.

The course at CapRock Ranch runs along the top of the dramatic caprock cliffs on many holes and therefore looks down on the Snake River Canyon. It is a very impressive facility with a top class clubhouse while the accommodation onsite is also perfect. I was lucky enough to stay there for two nights and also got to play the course twice.

I played 14 rounds in 14 days on this trip and one of the highlights was meeting Pat and his son Seamus who I played with both days. They are two of the nicest people you could ever meet and we had a good laugh over the two days. Good golfers too and they get on so well. We have stayed in touch and have played a few rounds in Ireland since then. Seamus has a massive interest in golf and don’t be surprised if he becomes the youngest person ever to play the top 100 courses in the world in the coming years.

There are 5 par 3’s on this par 71 course and personally I think they steal the show. Each one of them are excellent golf holes. Four of them involve the Canyon which was a clever design. The first of them is the 3rd hole which was 168 yards for us over the canyon which is mostly to your right. There is a large bunker front left so accuracy is required. The 4th and 5th play along the edge of the canyon and you must stay left, as I found out to my cost.

The 6th is the second of the par 3’s and although it was only 152 yards the canyon again dominates your thoughts before striking your tee shot. If you hit a decent shot then a par should be your reward. The 8th hole is a big par 4 that played 484 yards from our amateur tees. It is index (handicap) No. 1 and I don’t think there is any dispute about that.

The 9th played 159 yards to an elevated green that sits beside a wee hill. You cannot miss right but missing slightly to the left is no harm as that hill may help you finish on the edge of the green. This is a beautiful hole and reminded me of Scotland or Ireland.

The last 4 holes is one of the best finishes you could ever wish to play. The 15th played 460 yards and the canyon runs along the left hand side of the fairway. It is a stunning par 4. The 16th was only 134 yards for us and is relatively straightforward once you avoid the canyon that runs around the green to the left hand side.

The 17th is a short par 4 and a good drive won’t leave you far from the green. The 18th might be the best hole on the course. It played 196 yards for us and you must hit a decent tee shot to get to the green or pay the price. The canyon is short and left but the green is a decent size which helps. Visually it is quite intimidating and it is a cracking par 3 to finish such a great course.

I thoroughly enjoyed CapRock Ranch and the whole place has such a friendly and relaxed feeling to it. It is the perfect getaway. Trent at check-in was a gent while Patrick in the clubhouse was so helpful. A special thanks to Don also. I jokingly said the course could be called CapRock Canyon as the canyon has such a massive impact on at least 8 of the holes. The course was in superb condition. If somebody asked me where to build a golf resort with 3 courses, I think I might say Nebraska. The natural rolling landscape lends itself perfectly to golf course design just like it did here at the beautiful CapRock Ranch.

BEST 6 HOLES

18, 8, 15, 3, 9, 6

BEST PAR 3

18

BEST PAR 4

8

BEST PAR 5

2

Course Gallery

A closer look at Cap Rock Ranch

#71
Cabot Cliffs

About The Course

Cabot Cliffs is a tough place to get to but well worth it. After two flights we arrived in Halifax airport in Nova Scotia and we still had a three hour drive to the course. The fact that there are two great courses with accommodation onsite makes it a great resort for golfers. Cabot Cliffs is ranked the No. 1 course in Canada. You have to remind yourself that it only opened in 2015. A great achievement by all concerned.

BEST 6 HOLES

16, 10, 2, 5, 7, 17

BEST PAR 3

16

BEST PAR 4

10

BEST PAR 5

7

Course Gallery

A closer look at Cabot Cliffs

#72
Kingsbarns

About The Course

This beautiful links course sits upon 1.8 miles of shoreline and only opened in the year 2000. It certainly feels like it has been there a lot longer than that. Since then it has been one of the 3 courses that host the Dunhill Links Championship along with St. Andrews and Carnoustie. In 2017 it hosted the Women’s British Open. It has the most brilliant location as it is only a fifteen minute drive from St. Andrews itself. The clubhouse is discreet and is certainly not overbearing on the course..

BEST 6 HOLES

12, 15, 7, 18, 11, 4

BEST PAR 3

15

BEST PAR 4

7

BEST PAR 5

12

Course Gallery

A closer look at Kingsbarns

#73
Castle Stuart

About The Course

Located in northern Scotland, this course is a handy 5 minute drive from Inverness Airport. It is beautifully located along the banks of the Moray Firth. The course opened in 2009 and was designed by two Americans – managing partner Mark Parsinen and the brilliant Gil Hanse. Gil is one of only a few modern designers who deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as designers from 100 years ago.

BEST 6 HOLES

11, 13, 7, 5, 15, 3

BEST PAR 3

11

BEST PAR 4

13

BEST PAR 5

18

Course Gallery

A closer look at Castle Stuart

On The Course

Watch videos from Castle Stuart

#74
Cape Wickham

About The Course

Cape Wickham is located at the northern tip of King Island in Australia and is roughly halfway between Melbourne and Tasmania. The course is brilliant but the club needs some infrastructure as when I was there, there was just a very small building which acted as a clubhouse. There was accommodation on site and it was poor.

BEST 6 HOLES

18, 9, 16, 5, 1, 8

BEST PAR 3

17

BEST PAR 4

18

BEST PAR 5

9

Course Gallery

A closer look at Cape Wickham

#75
Utrecht De Pan

About The Course

When you think of Holland, you might think of football, flat land, tulips and the brilliant city of Amsterdam but you wouldn’t think of golf. Can you name one famous Dutch golfer? I couldn’t either. So before I played Utrecht De Pan, I thought the course would be ok but I was way off. This course is a belter. You could think that you were close to Sunningdale or Wentworth as it is a beautiful heathland course.

BEST 6 HOLES

10, 4, 6, 13, 2, 9

BEST PAR 3

12

BEST PAR 4

10

BEST PAR 5

5

Course Gallery

A closer look at Utrecht De Pan

On The Course

Watch videos from Utrecht De Pan