The top 100 golf courses in the world

Real Club Valderrama is a world-renowned 18-hole championship golf course in Sotogrande designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. Notably hosting the 1997 Ryder Cup, the course winds through majestic cork oaks and parkland terrain, demanding precision and rewarding strategy on every hole. It is known for its immaculate fairways, tournament conditions, and elite, exclusive atmosphere.

Royal Birkdale Golf Club, designed by George Lowe and enhanced by the Hawtree family, is a storied links on England’s Golf Coast in Southport. Renowned for its championship history, it features rolling dunes, defined fairways, and a memorable art deco clubhouse. The course’s valley-routing provides a fair challenge and exceptional spectator experience, consistently ranking among the world’s best.

Cape Kidnappers Golf Course, designed by Tom Doak, sits atop dramatic cliffs above Hawke's Bay. Celebrated as a modern marvel since 2004, it features deep ravines, cliff-edge fairways, and stunning seaside views. The layout merges strategic interest with bold visuals, making it a bucket-list destination for discerning golfers.

North Berwick Golf Club (West Links) is a world-renowned true links course set on the Firth of Forth, famed for its playability, fun design, and historic character. Established in 1832, it’s evolved through influence from Ben Sayers and features iconic holes with natural undulations, deep revetted bunkers, and classic quirky architecture emblematic of traditional Scottish links.

Te Arai Links South Course, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, opened in 2022 on New Zealand's stunning North Island coastline. This par-72 links masterpiece spans natural sand dunes with fescue turf, offering 16 ocean-view holes and eight directly bordering the Pacific. Ranked among the world's top 100 courses, it blends strategic variety, generous fairways, and breathtaking coastal scenery for an unforgettable golf experience.

Whistling Straits (Straits Course), designed by Pete Dye, is an iconic public links course on the shores of Lake Michigan, known for its rugged terrain, windswept fescue, and over 1,000 bunkers. The course hosts major tournaments including PGA Championships and the Ryder Cup, and is renowned for its challenging layout and stunning scenery.

Ballyneal Golf Club, designed by Tom Doak and opened in 2006, lies in the high plains near Holyoke, Colorado. Revered for its authentic, wind-swept inland links style, the private club offers a rugged, minimalist design inspired by the legendary courses of Scotland and Ireland, with natural contours and strategic variety throughout its acclaimed layout.

Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo is Pete Dye’s Caribbean masterpiece, ranked among the world's best courses. Opened in 1971 and carved by hand from coastal rock and coral, it weaves 18 holes along rolling fairways and the dramatic Caribbean Sea. Seven holes play directly on the ocean, creating a visually spectacular and challenging round.

Bandon Dunes, designed by David McLay Kidd, is the original anchor of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort on the Oregon coast. Opened in 1999, this true links course features wide landing areas, expansive undulating greens, and holes routed through rolling sand dunes with panoramic Pacific Ocean views. It is celebrated for its natural setting, strategic design, and classic Scottish-inspired golf.

Yeamans Hall Club is a renowned private golf course designed by Seth Raynor in 1925 and occupies a historic Lowcountry property near Charleston, South Carolina. The course features classic template holes, strategic bunkering, wide fairways, and a scenic, peaceful setting along the Cooper River. Its elite conditioning and rich history make it one of America’s most respected private clubs.