The top 100 golf courses in the world

Sleepy Hollow Country Club's Upper Course, designed by Charles B. Macdonald and expanded by A.W. Tillinghast, is a celebrated parkland layout perched above the Hudson River, notable for its historic architecture and meticulously restored classic holes by Gil Hanse. The private club regularly features among America's top 100 courses, admired for strategy, scenery, and Golden Age pedigree.

Bandon Trails at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, opened in 2005 and leads golfers from rolling dunes through open meadows into dense coastal forest before looping back to finish in the dunes. Renowned for its strategic layout, stunning natural transitions, and walkable routing, Bandon Trails offers a distinct inland test among the celebrated coastal tracks.

Cabot Links is Canada’s first true links course, designed by Rod Whitman on former coal mining land along the Gulf of St. Lawrence. This acclaimed 18-hole layout features rolling seaside dunes, firm and fast turf, and panoramic ocean vistas on every hole, blending Scottish tradition with Canadian coastal beauty for an unrivaled playing experience.

Camargo Club is a private, Seth Raynor-designed course in the rolling lands of Indian Hill near Cincinnati, known for its deep bunkers, squared-off greens, and strategic variety. Opened in 1925, Camargo consistently ranks among the world's elite for its classically inspired architecture, walkability, and understated elegance. Membership is highly exclusive.

Oak Hill Country Club's East Course, masterfully designed by Donald Ross in 1926, is renowned for its demanding layout featuring tree-lined fairways, strategic bunkering, and lightning-fast greens. Repeatedly ranked among the world's top courses, it has hosted multiple major championships and is celebrated for its immaculate conditions and classic parkland setting.

Prestwick Golf Club, founded in 1851 by Old Tom Morris, is the birthplace of The Open Championship. This legendary links course boasts deep revetted bunkers, rippling fairways, and classic blind shots, offering a truly authentic Scottish golf experience. Its storied history and unique design captivate golfers from around the world.

Cruden Bay Golf Club's Championship Course, originally designed by Old Tom Morris with Archie Simpson in 1899 and later enhanced by Tom Simpson and Herbert Fowler, winds through towering coastal dunes on Scotland's Aberdeenshire coast. This classic links layout delivers old-fashioned golf with blind shots, driveable par fours, and panoramic North Sea views, blending challenge, quirkiness, and scenic beauty in a secluded, intimate setting.

Shoreacres, located in Lake Bluff, Illinois, is a private Seth Raynor design from 1921 recognized for its ingenious routing and use of dramatic ravines and classic Raynor template holes. Shoreacres pairs strategic interest with walkable beauty, offering original features and a memorable test of golf. Shoreacres is effectively a no‑electronics club: members and guests are expected to leave cell phones, GPS units, rangefinders, and similar devices in the car and not use them on club grounds.

Garden City Golf Club is an elite men-only private club founded in 1899 in Garden City, NY. Originally designed by Devereux Emmet and later updated by Walter Travis, the course is known for its strategic design, deep pot bunkers, fescue rough, and fast-running fairways. The club has hosted major championships, including the U.S. Open and several U.S. Amateurs.

Leopard Creek Country Club, designed by Gary Player, is a celebrated private golf course in Malelane, South Africa. Overlooking the Crocodile River and bordering Kruger National Park, the course features immaculate parkland design, prolific wildlife sightings, and world-class facilities. Host to the Alfred Dunhill Championship, it blends natural African vistas with modern architecture for a truly unique playing experience.