Best Golf Courses in the World

As the saying goes: "One man's trash is another man's treasure."

There's no getting around it; a lot of things in life are purely subjective. This is certainly the case for golf courses.

Royal Portrush or Royal County Down?
St Andrews or Pebble Beach?
Augusta National or Pine Valley?

We have compiled lists of the best golf courses in:

• England
• Scotland
• Ireland
• Wales
• Spain
• Portugal
• France
• Turkey and many more.

Cypress Point Club is considered by many to be the most picturesque golf course in the world. Designed by Alistair MacKenzie, this stunning course is located at the foothills of the Santa Lucia mountains.

The cliff top terrain is thrilling but beautiful and has created a golf course that few get to visit with less than 250 members and being exclusively available for members and their guests. A lot of superlatives have been used to describe the location, but when it comes down to it, Cypress Point Club is just really one-of-a kind.

Call 0800 043 6644 for more info on Cypress Point

"Take plenty of balls, the 16th hole requires a 230-yard tee shot over the Pacific to a mid-sized green guarded by strategically placed bunkers."
Tom (Long Haul Team: Handicap 6)

Call 0800 043 6644 to speak to Tom about playing this course.

Perched on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island, Tara Iti may not be known to many, but trust us when we say it is one of the most spectacular golf courses to arrive on the worldwide scene in recent years.

The course opened for play in 2015 and was designed by legendary course architect Tom Doak, whose previous body of work includes courses such as Bandon Dunes, Barnbougle Dunes, Streamsong Blue and another of New Zealand's mind-boggling beautiful courses; Cape Kidnappers. The course sits on a beautiful coastal site that offers staggering views of the Little Barrier, Great Barrier, Mokohinau and Tauranga Islands from your opening tee shot all the way to your final putt. Rugged but beautiful, Tara Iti boasts a world-class layout, unrivalled course conditioning and some of the best panoramic views on earth, not to mention renowned levels of customer service enjoyed by both its members and visiting golfers alike.

Tara Iti is an exclusive private member's club, but it's not completely inaccessible to visiting golfers, as explained by Jim Rohrstaff, the man in charge of club memberships...

"It's a one-time visit, but that's not defined by one round and one night. If you wanted to come up and stay for a week and play 36 holes a day that's fantastic - but as a non-member-sponsored guest, it's a one-time shot. We are here for our members first and foremost but if we have availability and people go through the right process we would love to have them – and we will roll out the red carpet and treat them no differently to our members. We are very welcoming – but in a specific and limited manner."

Call 0800 043 6644 to speak to a Golf Travel Expert about playing this course.

Pine Valley Golf Club was the creation of George Crump. This successful hotelier had never designed a course before and his work with Harry Colt is revered as one of the best golf courses in the world. Sadly, Crump died before its completion but the legacy left that is enjoyed today is one marvelled by many.

Having officially opened in 1919 and immediately was recognised as one of the sternest tests in golf. Arnold Palmer successfully challenged members who said he couldn't break 70 on his first round here, his score of 68 was considered an incredible feat and the bets he collected that day set him on his way to being a star of professional golf.

Call 0800 043 6644 for more info on Pine Valley

"There are no weak holes at Pine Valley every single one brings unique and beautiful challenges to the visiting golfer."
Richard (Long Haul Team: Handicap 9)

Call 0800 043 6644 to speak to Richard about playing this course.

There are many picturesque landscapes throughout Australia but Royal Melbourne’s West course was designed to be a spectator's paradise. It’s hard not to feel like you’re in the heart of golf with such an array of undulating terrain, lush sandy soil and rugged sandstone columns along the fairways.

Alister MacKenzie's design is like the majestic sandbelt land. It snuggly fits into the contours of the undulating landscape, the bunkers with their vertical edges a foot or more tall chew into fairways and green complexes.

More info on Royal Melbourne Golf Club >>

"The greens are brilliant and provide the finest putting surfaces in Australia. Large and beautifully contoured they are built to accommodate approaches from a number of angles although the further you stray from the perfect line the harder it gets."
Tom (UK & Ireland Team: Handicap 6)

Call 0800 043 6644 to speak to Tom about playing this course.

Oakmont Country Club is one of the capstones of American golf. Having hosted 9 US Opens and 3 PGA Championships, aside from Augusta National, Oakmont has hosted more Major Championships than any other in America.

With incredibly quick greens, thick rough and some of the most advanced bunker complexes in golf, Oakmont is an unrelenting test that can count Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus and of course Johnny Miller (and his 63) as past champions around this Pennsylvania course that has been enjoyed since 1903.

Call 0800 043 6644 for more info on Oakmont

"The greens here are like lightning which combined with the famous bunkering makes Oakmont one of the hardest courses to play to your handicap."
Richard (Long Haul Team: Handicap 9)

Call 0800 043 6644 to speak to Tom about playing this course.

Potentially the most picturesque golf course in Scotland, on a sunny day the Ailsa course at Trump Turnberry is nothing short of glorious. Watched over by the iconic Turnberry Lighthouse, The Ailsa has a rich history to match the phenomenal views.

Four Open Championships have been played here, none as intense as the 'Duel in the Sun' in 1977 between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus, one of the greatest spectacles in the history of the event.

More info on Trump Turnberry Ailsa Course >>

"The 9th hole is up there with the very best par-3 you'll ever play."
Rob (UK & Ireland Team: Handicap 16)

Call 0800 043 6644 to speak to Rob about playing this course.

Undoubtedly one of the best courses in the world, if not the best, Augusta National is every golfer’s dream golf course. Unfortunately, there’s very little chance any of us will ever get to play it, but as host of arguably the most iconic major championship in golf, we can experience plenty of golfing magic here ourselves by attending The Masters.

At Your Golf Travel, we think The Masters offers the best spectator experience golf has to offer, and since our early days, we have sent thousands of golf fans from all over the world to Augusta National to enjoy the ultimate golf experience: a week as a Masters Patron.

The Masters has produced some of the most historic moments in major championship history. Experience magical moments like Tiger Woods’ win in 2019 for yourself while walking the fairways at the world’s most famous golf course, taking in holes like Firethorn, Redbud, and Pink Dogwood, and of course, the famous trio that makes up Amen Corner.

Call 0800 043 6644 to speak to a Golf Tournament Expert about The Masters.

Located just North of Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes has been cited as a masterpiece by many critics, one of which states that it is mature beyond its years given that it only opened in 2001.

Designed by one of the masters of his craft, Tom Doak, who relied on an ingenious design concept and let Mother Nature work her wonders on this classic links layout. Pacific Dunes is not only unique in its beautiful surroundings but also in the way it's designed making it a real pleasure to play!

More info on Bandon Dunes >>

"The par 4 13th commonly plays into the prevailing wind which increases its length, there is more room for error with your tee shot than you might think from the tee itself. The green is massive in depth so be sure to double check the yardage for your approach, which must be struck straight and true in order to avoid running into one of the cleverly placed run-off areas."
Sam (Long Haul Team: Handicap 1)

Call 0800 043 6644 to speak to Sam about playing this course.

The Links at Fancourt opened for play in 2000 and quickly turned heads in the world of golf, hosting The Presidents Cup in 2003. Designed by the legendary Gary Player, this is now regarded by many as the best golf course in Africa, quite the achievement when you consider the endless list of world-class courses on offer on the continent, particularly in South Africa itself. Player, who has also designed many other great golf courses in South Africa, said of The Links at Fancourt:

“I feel this is one of the very best golf courses in the world, even though it may have been built on the worst piece of ground – clay as flat as an airport. I’m proud to have worked as the course designer and could not be happier with how it turned out. It has been designed to make golfers feel as though they were at Ballybunion, Dornoch, or St Andrews with rolling fairways, pot bunkers, big greens, high rough, and a seascape appearance.”

The Links at Fancourt does indeed bear plenty of the hallmarks of a classic links course from Britain or Ireland, with rolling fairways, dramatic bunkering, and upturned saucer-shaped greens, but with the stunning Outeniqua Mountains as a backdrop, there’s no mistaking that you’re playing golf in one of the world’s most beautiful countries. Fancourt Links is a must-play golf course for anyone heading to the Rainbow Nation for a South Africa golf holiday.

More info on Fancourt Links >>

"I encourage you to trust in your caddy whilst playing The Links, they have bundles of experience & know the undulations on the greens. Be sure you get to the course about an hour prior to your tee time to enjoy the incredible practice facilities."
Richard (Long Haul Team: Handicap 9)

Call 0800 043 6644 to speak to Richard about playing this course.

Handicap: 11
Favourite Course: Chiltern Forest
My 'Expert' areas: Kent & the Home Counties
Best trip I've done: Dubai with golf & Rugby 7's with my dad
Where my next trip is to: Ireland along the Wild Atlantic Way

Give Rick a call on 0800 043 6644 to arrange your next golf break.