Golf Courses That Are Reputed To Be Some Of The Top, By ‘Par’
Trying to rank the 45 best golf courses in the world can be a fun exercise, considering the number of experts who have tried to do it before. Nowadays, golf is not just about ensuring that your putt is perfect. Instead, it involves various other factors, like enjoying a wonderful family getaway because of the sport’s peaceful serenity and incredible views. For many, golf is best played along a refreshing shoreline. Others might find comfort and peace of mind by playing in the middle of the mountains or by the lake. After much research, we have selected the most beautiful courses worldwide, considering their settings and other price points. Surprisingly, these courses, where you can enjoy peaceful walks while looking at the serene skies are also highly affordable. So, here are the best golf courses in the world where you can enjoy and experience golf to its fullest extent.
Fairmont Banff Springs
Located in Banff, Alberta, Canada, Fairmont Banff Springs is highly renowned for its panoramic beauty. The green fee ranges from $125-$249 a round, and walking is allowed. Stanley Thompson is the architect of this lovely and world-renowned golf course.
This golf course is located right in the middle of the Rocky Mountains in Canada. It provides quite a breathtaking and majestic view from all directions. Also, it has a highly captivating, challenging, but magnificent layout, which is a treat for every amateur and professional golfer.
Mid Ocean Club
The Mid Ocean Club is a private golf course located in Tucker’s Town, Bermuda. The fee per round on this 6520-yard 18-hole course is $275. Although it was modified to its existing design by Robert Trent Jones in 1953, the architect of this course is Charles Blair Mcdonald.
The current layout is a dour test, especially in those times when there are rough winds. On the other hand, it is also delightful for the handicapped golfer, primarily due to the presence of a large variety of tees. Walking is also allowed in this golf course.
Royal County Down
The Royal County Down is a walking-only golf course located in Newcastle, Ireland, and Old Tom Morris was its founder. The green fee of this golf course is between $150-$290. Because it is among the finest of all links courses, it imposes a significant challenge from the back tees.
This course is located in the Murlough Nature Reserve against the Mountains of Mourne. Therefore, the Royal County Down undoubtedly has one of the world’s most innately beautiful links settings. According to many golfers, the views are so spectacular that staying focused on the game becomes challenging!
Princeville Makai Golf Club
Here is a fact: This golf course was the first solo design of Architect Robert Jones Jr.! Located in Princeville, Hawaii, it undoubtedly has one of the most scenic locations for a golf course. The fee to play is from $239-$299, and walking is allowed here.
It is widely renowned for its pristine course conditions. In 2010, this golf course underwent an extensive renovation, which also helped it rank high with various other golf courses. The six ocean-front holes and the Hawaiian spirit make it highly challenging for different courses to match its level of sophistication!
Punta Espada Golf Course
Many people who visited and played in the golf course said that there is no better course in the Caribbean. It is located in Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic. Jack Nicklaus is the Architect of this golf course, and the green fee is between $235-$295 (no walking).
Around half of the holes are in the Caribbean. The remaining have been carved out of the sandstone in the most eye-catching way. The hilly views are breathtaking, and so is the greenery. All in all, it offers the most unique and incomparable golfing experience in the Caribbean.
Fuji Course at Kawana Hotel
This golf course is located in Kawana, Japan, 75 miles south of Tokyo. The playing fees here are from $250-$300, and walking is allowed, but a caddie is always required. Charles Alison is the architect of the beautiful Fuji Course.
Also known as Japan’s own Pebble Beach, its layout is quite challenging. But on the contrary, it is also jaw-droppingly beautiful. The fairways hold the ball quite alright, and you will also find the same bristly grass on the greens as well. It makes putting all about adjusting to the contour and grain!
Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course
This golf course is located in Stateline, Nevada, and it is known for its magnificent lake views, architecture, and a wide variety of shots. The playing fee ranges from $210-$300, and walking is allowed. George and Tom Fazio are the architects of the Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.
When you are at Edgewood Tahoe, you are playing at an altitude of more than 6,200 ft., and next to one of America’s best Alpine lakes! All in all, this golf course offers the perfect setting for you to learn golf or improve your game.
Plantation Course at Kapalua
This course has fast greens, breathtaking views and is simply magnificent. It is located in Maui, Hawaii, and the green fee ranges from $189-$300 (no walking). This golf course has also ranked consistently as the best golf course in Hawaii. Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw are the architects of this beauty.
It is on the slope of the West Maui Mountains, and it has the best views of the ocean from all holes. Because of the wide fairways and greens, it is easily playable for the average golfer. It also has a lot of elevation changes while also offering numerous downhill tee shots.
New South Wales
Located in Sydney, Australia, Alister MacKenzie is the architect of this links-style golf course. The green fee is $310 here, and walking is allowed. According to reviews, this golf course has a great layout, with various holes and doglegs.
This golf course has been consistently ranked among the best golf courses around the globe. Not only is it one of the most beautiful golf courses in Australia, but it also imposes one of the most challenging tests of golf in Australia.
Quivira
Some call it a quirky course, but nonetheless, it offers the best course conditions with the most breathtaking views. Located in Cabo San Lucas in Mexico, Jack Nicklaus is the architect of this golf course. The green fee is from $233-323 (no walking).
This golf course is on the cliffside, offering sweeping views of the ocean. According to Jack Niklaus, Quivira plays as spectacular as it looks. It also has more coastal exposure than any other golf course in the region, even if some holes turn their way to the desert!
Whistling Straits
From a visual perspective, this course is exactly like the ones you see in the videos. Located in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, Pete Dye is the architect of this beautiful golf course. The green fee of Whistling Straits is $385 with a $65 caddie fee (mandatory). Walking is allowed.
Whistling Straits is a 36-hole links-style golf course. The layout has an extremely fine balance, and it also makes the most out of the natural elements. All in all, there are a lot of interesting holes, which make Whistling Straits a must-play for golfers.
Ocean Course at Kiawah Island
Pete and Alice Dye are the architects of this golf course. This golf course is located on the easternmost end of the island in South Carolina. The green fee is $354-$397, with stay-and-plays starting from $292 (walking is allowed on this golf course).
Golfers seem to love the back nine of the golf course. It is because you start playing along some beach mansions as you trek on. When you finish 14-18, you will be playing along the ocean! Ten holes hug the Atlantic Ocean, whereas eight holes run parallel to it.
Teeth of the Dog
This golf course is well-renowned for the ‘seven holes created by God.’ Located in La Romana, Dominican Republic, Pete Dye is the architect of this golf course as well! The green fee of this golf course is from $195-$395, and walking is allowed on this golf course.
The Teeth of the Dog has a remarkable seven-hole stretch. According to reviews, there are very rare chances of a golfer getting to play holes that are in such proximity to the water. The fickle breeze that blows from the Caribbean sea also imposes a guaranteed great challenge for golfers.
Kauri Cliffs
Located in Matauri Bay, New Zealand, David Harman is the architect of the Kauri Cliffs Golf Club. The green fee of this golf course is $375, and walking is allowed here. For many golfers, this course is on their bucket list. It is at the seaside with some beautiful views!
It offers five tees sets, thus challenging golfers of all levels. Fifteen of these holes have views of the Pacific Ocean, and six of these have to be played along the cliffs plunging into the sea. The complex also has a practice range with putting and chipping greens.
Cape Kidnappers
Tom Doak is the architect of this golf course. This beautiful trek of land is located in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. The green fee of this place ranges from $214-$366 (walking is allowed). It is renowned as one of the best creations in the sport.
For many golfers, this place is like a dream come true. It is also because there is something unique about every hole, and most of them are signature holes. It has the best views of the sea, and it is built on a ridge-and-valley landscape.
Dye Course at French Lick
Dye Course is located in French Link, Indiana, and Pete Dye is the architect of this place. The fee of playing a round at the Dye Course is $350. Walking is allowed here. According to golfers who have been there, it is one of the places with some of the best conditions.
This golf course is on Indiana’s highest points. Its fairways are narrow and unsullied. It is also nationally acclaimed for its panoramic views of the artificial lakes and the countryside. All of these things make Dye Course one of the courses where every golfer wants to play.
Bay Harbor Golf Club
The scenery from the Bay Harbor Golf Club is drop-dead gorgeous. Located in Bay Harbor, Michigan, Arthur Hills is the architect of this golf course. The green fee of this golf course is from $213-$329, and walking is not allowed on this golf course.
This golf course is quite elegant, with its gorgeous vistas in the surrounding area. It is situated on the Lake Michigan Shoreline, with long and uninterrupted views of the lake. With the careful design of the course, the offshore breeze makes the Bay Harbor Golf Club a place to remember.
Old Head Golf Links
This course is located in Kinsale, Ireland. Paddy Merrigan is the architect of it, and the fee for playing a round here ranges from $225-$325. Walking is allowed here. According to golfers, the golfing experience at Old Head will make you feel young again!
It reaches over two miles into the Atlantic Ocean, and it also occupies a breathtaking headland on the South West Coast of Ireland. Frankly Speaking, Old Head Golf Links is a sanctuary for those who want to seek the best-personalized services.
Cabot Cliffs
Located in Cape Breton, Canada, this golf course has some postcard-worthy panoramic views and rolling fairways. Bill Coore is the architect of the Cabot Cliffs Golf Course, and the green fee ranges from $265-$320. Walking is allowed here. According to golfers, it also has a steady build to a climactic finish.
To put it simply, Cabot Cliffs Golf Course has been built by dreamers for fellow dreamers of creativity. It raced to the top of the rankings within months of its opening. This golf course has a highly diverse landscape, with transitions between woodlands, wetlands, and meadowlands.
Pebble Beach Golf Links
How can we miss out on this one? Located in Pebble Beach, California, Jack Neville and Chandler Egan are the architects of this golf course. The green fee of this golf course is from $550-$595, and walking is allowed.
According to those who have been here, they say that watching it on TV or hearing the legend is way different than actually playing there. All in all, it is quite a breathtaking experience, and it exceeds its expectations. Many also guarantee that these are the 18 best holes in golf!
Manele Golf Course
Located in Lanai, Hawaii, Jack Niklaus is the architect of the Manele Golf Course. The green fee of this golf course is from $225-$485. Walking is not allowed here. According to reviews, Manele is among the best golf courses in Hawaii.
What’s fantastic is that there is no crowd here. Therefore, it would only take a maximum of three hours to play eighteen holes. Still, you’ll never see another player while playing here. Other than that, the ocean views are breathtaking, and the course and its conditions are picture perfect!
Ailsa Course at Trump Turnberry
Located in South Ayrshire, Scotland, Willie Fernie is the architect of the Ailsa Course. The green fee of this beautiful golf course ranges from $315-$470. Walking is allowed on this golf course. The scenery, combined with the beautiful caddie experience, makes this place worth it!
This golf course is set along the Ayrshire Coastline and has Arran and Ailsa Craig as the beautiful backdrop. Because of its incredible history and immaculate course conditions, Ailsa Course is undoubtedly among the finest golfing destinations for players worldwide.
Real Club Valderrama
It is well-reputed as one of the most famous golf clubs around the globe. Located in Cadiz, Spain, Robert Trent Jones Sr. is the architect of this golf course. The green fee of this golf course is $450, and walking is allowed here.
This golf course has the best conditions in a pristine setting. When you visit the place, you will understand that it is more beautiful in reality! It has a single 18-hole course, with a gorgeous 9-hole par three course.
Pinnacle Point
Pinnacle Point is located in Mossel Bay, South Africa. Peter Matkovich is the architect of Pinnacle Point Golf course. The green fee ranges from $55-$65, making it quite an affordable place to play. Walking is allowed on this golf course.
According to golfers, this golf course will provide you with a mind-blowing experience! It has never-ending views of the Indian Ocean from each hole. What’s best is that it is not only about the beautiful views. Even the holes have a great design.
Golf Club at Redlands Mesa
Located in Grand Junction, Colorado, Jim Engh is the architect of this golf course. It is pretty beautiful, with some holes working around lakes. The green fee ranges from $60-$87, making it another highly affordable golf course (walking is not allowed on this course).
According to reviews, this golf course has the most incredible scenery of the high desert. The scenery of the Grand Mesa, the views of the mountains, desert canyons, and the Colorado National Monument are always in sight of the players through the round.
Thracian Cliffs
Located in Bozhurets, Bulgaria, Gary Player is the architect of this lovely-looking golf course. The fee of playing a round here ranges from $59-$109. Walking on this golf course is allowed. All in all, the course is beautiful, yet very challenging.
This 18-hole cliffside signature golf course fits perfectly in the area. It provides a remarkable golfing experience with great views of the sea and the cliff from each hole. The design challenges players, but the sets of tees make it playable for golfers of all levels.
Church Course at St. Enodoc Golf Club
James Braid is the architect of this golf course located in Rock, Wadebridge, UK. The green fee of this course ranges from $63-$145, and walking is allowed on this golf course. According to reviews, it provides quite a spiritual golfing experience!
It is widely reputed as the finest links layouts in the United Kingdom. Now, it might not look that way, but the 5th par is a very easy hole, even if you need to tread carefully through the sand dunes. Watching the course flyovers is an absolute treat!
Cape Wickham Links
Walking is allowed on this stunning golf course located in King Island, Australia. Mike DeVries is the architect of this course, and the fee to play a round here starts from $119 and goes to $256. The course also has fantastic reviews.
Built on the northern tip of King Island, this golf course has some jaw-dropping views. There is an oceanic view from each hole. The coastal scenery has a spectacular setting, and it is also quite thrilling on every hole!
Ardglass Golf Club
Located in County Down, Northern Ireland, David Jones is the architect of Ardglass Golf Club. The green fee of this golf club is from $88-$163. Walking is allowed. According to reviews, Ardglass Golf Club is simply fantastic, from the start to the end.
This golf course has some dramatic elevation changes, and it offers the best views of the Irish Sea, that too, from each hole. The course is always maintained and kept in the best condition with its greens, pot bunkers, and fairways.
Oitavos Dunes
Arthur Hills is the architect of the Oitavos Dunes golf course located in Cascais, Portugal. The green fee of this place starts from $82 and goes to $174 (walking allowed). One thing that you need to note here is that you need to drive it straight because of the greens.
Apart from that, this golf course has stunning views of the ocean from many of its holes. It is widely reputed as Portugal’s best golf course. Thanks to its practice facilities, this golf course is an excellent resource for all golfing professionals and amateurs.
East Course at Jockey Club
This public golf course is located on the Kau Sai Chau island in Hong Kong. Robin Nelson and Neil Haworth are the architects of this golf course. The green fees of this place start from $110 and go to $187. Walking is allowed here.
Not only is it Hong Kong’s only public golf course, but it is also among the world’s busiest golf courses. It is a steep and rocky site overlooking the waters of the China Sea. It is also said that its construction was very technically demanding for the architects.
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
This next course is one of Canada’s premier golf courses. Located in Alberta, Stanley Thompson is the architect of this golf course. The green fee ranges from $109-209, and walking is allowed. According to golfers, it is also the most stress-free golf round.
People call it stress-free because all you need to do is hit the shots and gaze at the beauty of Mother Nature. The holes of this golf course are well-aligned with distant mountain vistas. What’s beautiful is that the fairways have been carved right through the dense forests!
Championship Course at Royal Dornoch
Located in Dornoch, Scotland, Old Tom Morris and George Duncan are the architects of this golf course. The fee to play a round here is from $125-$225 (walking allowed). It is quite a mesmerizing place for amateur and professional golfers worldwide.
The setting of the place is what makes it such a perfect place to play a game of golf. This golf course is isolated and wild. In contrast, it is also beautiful and humbling. The sandy beach divides the link setting from the Dornoch Firth.
Fazio Course at Red Sky
Tom Fazio is the architect of the Fazio Course located in Wolcott, Colorado. The fee to play here is between $155-$260 (no walking). For golfers, this golf course never troubles them with a massive incline and decline during a round’s course.
The holes fit the land very well. In fact, the first par three isn’t even encountered till you reach the seventh hole. All in all, Fazio Course is a lovely place for golfers with a highly attractive layout that many will surely enjoy.
Wolf Creek Golf Course
Denis and John Rider are the architects of this golf course in Mesquite, Nevada. The green fee of this place ranges from $65-$230, and walking isn’t allowed here. Golfers who come to play here feel like coming back and playing here every week!
It also has some significantly great elevation changes. What’s best is that it has breathtaking 360-degree views! It is surprising to imagine how the architects built the course. You can relate when you stand on the first tee and look down several hundred feet to the fairway in the valleys.
South Course at Boulders Resort
The South Course is located in Carefree, Arizona, and Jay Morrish is the architect of this golf course. Walking is allowed here, and the green fee ranges from $69-$259. The rocks look great here, and it almost feels like they defy gravity.
It is quite famously regarded as one of the top golf courses in the USA. Furthermore, it is famous for its rugged beauty and is also highly demanding in the southwest area. Overall, it provides a once-in-a-lifetime experience to golfers of all levels!
Tralee Golf Club
This golf course is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean with some of the best beachscapes. Located in Kerry, Ireland, Arnold Palmer is the architect of this course. The green fee of this course is $179-$257, and walking is allowed here.
It is an 18-hole links golf course that features towering dunes, clifftop tees, and greens. Arnold Palmer also says that he has never come across such a piece of land that is so perfect for building a golf course!
Bay Course at Costa Navarino
This golf course faces the sea at Navarino Bay. The architect of this masterpiece is Robert Trent Jones Jr., and it is located in Costa Navarino in Greece. Its green fee ranges from $164-$204. Walking is allowed on this course.
It provides a fun but challenging experience for golfers of different levels. This golf course also provides an alternative set of challenges and chances, but all in a vastly different setting. It is only a few minutes away from Navarino Dunes.
Bluffs Course at Arcadia Bluffs
Located in Arcadia, Michigan, this golf course not only lives up to its high expectations, but it exceeds them. Warren Henderson is the genius architect of this golf course, and the fee ranges from $90-$215. Walking is allowed here.
The views from this golf course are simply unbeatable, and so are the design and layout. The course has a drop of more than 200 feet from its top point to the cliffs, which are almost 150 feet above the lake, making it quite a picturesque setting.
Royal Isabela
Located in Isabela, Puerto Rico, David Pfaff is the architect of this golf course. The green fee ranges from $125-$200 (walking allowed). According to golfers who have been here, the course has fantastic views and an even better layout!
It extends along cliffs 200 feet above the oceans. It also drops to the natural sand dune areas along the Atlantic Ocean. Not only that, but it also has some Sod-faced bunkers that add a Scottish flair to this golf course.
TPC Danzante Bay
Renowned for its spectacular views, this golf course is located in Loreto, Mexico, and the architect of this golf course is Rees Jones. The fee to play a round here is from $79-$179, and walking is not allowed here.
Golfers love the view from each hole. This course flamboyantly runs over and through various dunes and valleys. Its panoramic vistas highlight the natural beauty of the region. The sights of the Sierra de la Giganta mountain range are simply breathtaking!
Black Jack’s Crossing
Located in Terlingua, Texas, Lanny Wadkins is the architect of this golf course. The green fee of Black Jack’s Crossing ranges from $125-$175 (walking is not allowed). It is in Lajitas Golf Resort and has often been ranked as Texas’s most beautiful golf course.
The views from the mountain holes are breathtaking, and these are set against the jaw-dropping mountains, making it all the better. The spectacular setting of the Big Bend National Park makes Black Jack’s Crossing an absolute treat for golfers.
Top of the Rock
It is located in Ridgedale, Missouri, and Jack Niklaus is the architect of this golf course. The green fee of Top of the Rock starts from $80 and goes to $135. Walking is allowed here. It sits high above Table Rock Lake, with peaceful waterfalls, lakes, ponds, and creeks.
According to reviews from those who have been there, the course is excellent, it is in immaculate conditions, and the scenery is beautiful. All of it makes Top of the Rock a work of art by Mother Nature. This golf course offers an experience worth remembering to golfers of all experiences and skills.
Pacific Dunes
According to golfers, Pacific Dunes is among the most beautiful golf courses. Located in Bandon, Oregon, Tom Doak is the architect of this golf course. The green fee ranges from $100-$335, and walking is allowed. It is pretty similar to Bandon Dunes, but it is still a masterpiece of modern times.
Considering its measurements, it is not a championship layout, but it is still quite challenging for most golfers, especially when the wind is up. It can quickly become one of the best links if the playing surfaces can be slightly quickened and hardened.