The best public golf courses in the world

Royal County Down Golf Club, designed by Old Tom Morris, Harry Colt, and others, is a world-renowned links set against the Mountains of Mourne and Dundrum Bay. Opened in 1889, the classic course features dramatic dunes, firm fescue fairways, and superb natural beauty. Consistently ranked among the world's best, it regularly hosts elite amateur and professional events.

Pebble Beach Golf Links is one of the few courses that feels both timeless and alive. Set high above the Pacific Ocean, it combines natural drama with strategic nuance in a way few layouts can replicate. Built in 1919 on California’s Monterey Peninsula by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant, the course was routed to place as many holes as possible along Carmel Bay, creating some of the most recognizable views in golf. The opening holes offer a gentle introduction, but the stretch from the sixth through the tenth along the cliffs defines the course. Narrow fairways, small greens, and shifting winds can quickly turn a promising round into a grind. Framed by crashing surf and windswept cypress, Pebble Beach has hosted six U.S. Opens and continues to deliver a test that blends beauty, history, and championship challenge.

Ballybunion Golf Club's Old Course sits on Ireland’s rugged Atlantic coast in County Kerry and is one of the world’s most revered links layouts. Opened in 1893 and later extended to 18 holes, this renowned course features wild dunes, cliff-lined holes, and was shaped by architect Lionel Hewson with refinements by later designers.