The Finest Greens Around the Globe
If your idea of a dream vacation includes bringing your clubs and playing a few holes, then these destinations should be on your bucket list.
There are golf courses all around the world, but some of them are simply more stunning than others. They feature top notch fairways amid gorgeous scenery that will make it difficult for you to keep your eye on the ball. Here are some of the best golf courses in the world.
St. Andrews Links, Fife, Scotland
One of the most famous golf courses in the world, St. Andrews Links is located in the small town of Fife on the east coast of Scotland. The rugged scenery of the Scottish Highlands is absolutely stunning and you can visit the historical Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, founded in 1754.
The 600-year-old St. Andrews Links follows seven impressive courses, including the legendary Old Course. Soak up the history and admire the gently rolling hills, rocky beaches and crumbling stone bridges.
Royal County Down Golf Club, Newcastle, North Ireland
When it comes to golf courses with amazing views, there are few as spectacular as Royal County Down. It offers a stunning vista along its dunes, stretching down to the Irish Sea.
You can see a panorama of Newcastle and the striking Victorian redbrick building of the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa. The fairway is challenging and interesting, with plenty of difficult shots making for the perfect golf vacation.
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Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina, USA
Pinehurst is one of the top golfing resorts in the United States and it is home to the fabled No.2 course which hosted the Ryder Cup in 1951 and the U.S. Open in 1999 and 2005. The quality of the courses here is on another level — Pinehurst No. 8, No. 4 and No. 2 are often ranked the best in America.
The No. 2 course is especially interesting. Designed by famous golf course architect Donald Ross, it features unique upturned-saucer-shaped greens that deflect approach shots into bunkers and make putting quite a challenge.
It’s also one of the most luxurious golf resorts in the world, featuring impressive hotels with fine dining, spas and more.
Sotogrande, Andalucia, Spain
On the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in Southern Spain, you’ll find the enormous privately owned residential development of Sotogrande. Some of the richest and most powerful Spanish families have their summer homes here with regulars including Tony Blair, Shakespearean actor Mike Gwilym and HRH Prince Louis Alphonse.
Sotogrande is home to five of the best golf courses in Europe, including Valderrama Golf Club, Almenara Golf Club and La Reserva. It is also where you will find the famous Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, designed by Robert Trent Jones.
While you are here you can also go hiking in the beautiful natural area of River Guadiaro and Estuary.
Aphrodite Hills, Paphos, Cyprus
This gorgeous 18-hole golf course overlooks the spot where Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, is said to have emerged from the sea. Within this stunning setting you can play a great round of golf on an excellent set of fairways, which have been constructed on plateaus divided by a ravine.
If you want to improve your game while on your golf holiday, there is also an excellent golf academy here that offers lessons from PGA-qualified pros.
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Barnbougle Dunes, Tasmania, Australia
Tasmania is the ideal place for a golf course — an unspoiled pocket of breathtaking natural beauty. Barnbougle Dunes is located close to the seaside village of Bridport, on the wild northeast coast of the island.
An 18-hole championship course, it was designed by well-known fairway architects Mike Clayton and Tom Doak. It is set within stunning rolling sand dunes with views of the sea, making it one of the best golf destinations in the world.
There is also an excellent clubhouse where golfers can relax and enjoy a gourmet meal. Golf to your heart’s content, enjoying some of the world’s best scenery and amenities.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
While perhaps not as extravagant as other places in the world, Myrtle Beach is home to a great variety of quality golf courses that will be sure to keep things interesting. Quaint, quiet and quintessentially Southern, Myrtle Beach plays host to golf resorts you aren’t going to want to miss teeing off on.
Some of the best include The Dunes Golf and Beach Club, Caledonia, Tidewater Golf Club, TPS Myrtle Beach and Barefoot Resort. From Spanish moss to re-created plantation house ruins to ocean views, you’ll have to try hard to dislike this iconic golf location.