From its humble beginnings in 15th Century Scotland, golf has grown into a worldwide sporting favourite. In all age groups, more and more people are looking at this sport as the newest way to experience the benefits of being outside, with the added bonus of some low impact exercise as well. With the wide variety of courses available to choose from all around the world, budding golfers are spoiled for choice when it comes to finding the perfect location to play. There are some courses which are above and beyond, and these top options might just be the best golf courses in the world. If you want to give your 9-iron a bit of a workout, then check out these top golf courses and start practising your swing.
The UK
- St Andrews, Scotland
As the site of the Open Championship a record breaking 29 times, St Andrews has always been one of the most popular golf courses in the world. There have been volumes written about the history of this stunning selection of greens, making it one of the dream destinations for players at every level. With a par of 72 and a course that combines stunning rolling greens, deep bunkers, and the famous Road Hole, it’s certainly a challenging round. The weather can affect it wildly, but if you’re up for the challenge, invest in outstanding golf clubs and get practising! Plus, playing on this course will mean you’re walking in the footsteps of the greats.
The USA
- Pine Valley, New Jersey
It may not have hosted any of the world famous tournaments, but that doesn’t mean that you should overlook the joys of Pine Valley. Built in 1918 by course founder George Crump, Pine Valley does host the amateur tournament ‘the Crump Cup,’ which the general public is allowed to watch. However, the reason why Pine Valley is widely considered one of the best courses in the world is down to its design. There’s something almost desert-like about Pine Valley, although being surrounded by the pine trees gives it a very secretive and secular brilliance. Golf course design is often judged harshly, but the strategic model of Pine Valley sees it a consistent presence on lists of best golf courses in the world.
Australia
- Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Melbourne
Built in 1926 and designed by Alister Mackenzie, this is one of Australia’s premier golfing venues. With a challenging 71-par course, it has been the site of a large number of both amateur tournaments and Australian Opens as well. At 6,579 yards, this is not a course to be taken lightly, but even if you keep landing in the sand, you’ll certainly enjoy the setting. With a wide variety of challenging approach shots and the world-famous greens that complete each hole, the Royal Melbourne Golf Club is one that should be on every golfer’s bucket list.
There are a massive 576,534 golf courses in the world, and each has their own unique selling points. These three are the crème de la crème, and if you want a golfing challenge that will see you compare your game to the best of the best, then these should be at the top of your list of dream golfing destinations.
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