17 Golf Courses for Every Golfer’s Bucket List
17 Golf Courses for Every Golfer’s Bucket List
What goes into making the ideal golf course? For most golfers, it is the landscape. For others, aspects such as location, view, and history also play a crucial role. However, few golf courses possess all these aspects, and those that do should be on every golfer’s bucket list.
Royal County Down Golf Club, Newcastle, Northern Ireland
This is the oldest golf course in Ireland and one of the best in the world. It is popular for its domed greens and bearded bunkers. Its setting is somewhat poetic as it is surrounded by rugged mountains, and overlooks the Dundrum Bay.
Old Course, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland
Old Course is one of the most prestigious courses in the birthplace of golf. It is the oldest golf course in the world as it dates back to 1821. It is characterized by plush greens, a level landscape, and the famous 700-year-old Swilcan Bridge. It has been in operation since the 15th century, and it is a favorite of some of the best golfers in the world including influential figures such as President Donald J. Trump.
Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia
Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia is arguably the most exclusive golf course in the world. It is set apart by its pristine landscape and popularity with The Masters: PGA Tour’s most prestigious tournament. However, you will have to be a distinguished player and individual to play at this golf course as it has strict membership rules; even former President Barrack Obama does not feature among members.
Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, California
This golf course is surrounded by unrivaled beauty. It runs along the coastlines of the Carmel Bay and Pacific Ocean. It also boasts of a pristine landscape that has hosted the PGA Championship once and the U.S. Open five times.
Oakmont Golf Club, Plum, Pennsylvania
This golf course has always ranked among the top 10 golf courses in the U.S. on Golf Digest, one of the leading golf magazines. It is located just outside Pittsburg and features a pristine landscape. It has hosted the U.S. Open nine times.
Cypress Point Golf Club, Pebble Beach, California
Cypress Point may not be as large as most other courses on the list, but it is one of the most interesting. Some of its holes are surrounded by the Del Monte forest while others are located along the coastline of the Pacific Ocean. One of its most interesting aspects is that some holes require players to shoot over the pacific.
Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, New York
This golf course is not for amateurs; it features one of the most complex designs reputed as the best in golfing history. Some of its features include vast bunkers, plush greens, and a thick tree-line. It is popular with both professional and influential figures the likes of Tiger Woods and President Donald J. Trump.
Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, Maryland
As one of the most prestigious golf clubs in the U.S., this golf course features challenging greens and a plush forest. It boasts of a list of high-profile golfers including John Rockefeller, Gerald Ford, Woodrow Wilson, and Charlie Chaplin, among others.
Bethpage Black Course, Farmingdale, New York
This golf course ranks sixth among the U.S.’s toughest golf courses. It is vast and is characterized by sandy bunkers and plush greens. It is also a walk-only course, so be ready to explore the rugged landscape intimately.
Royal Troon, South Ayshire, Scotland
Royal Troon features two golf courses: the Portland Course and Old Course. It is characterized by a rough terrain and challenging greens. Playing is made even more challenging by the strong winds.
Cape Kidnappers, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Cape Kidnappers was designed by the world-renowned golf architecture Tom Doake. Like many New Zealand golf courses, it is surrounded by spectacular scenery featuring rugged cliffs and plush greens that overlook the raging sea.
Royal St. George’s Golf Club, Sandwich, Kent, England
Royal St. Georges should be on the bucket list of every golf player—even more so if you double up as a James Bond fan as his 1964 classic 007 film was filmed there. It features an incredible landscape characterized by dunes, swales, and traditional humps. The golf course is so inviting that it has hosted the Open Championship 14 times.
Torrey Pines Golf Course, La Jolla, California
Torrey Pines features two golf courses that rank among the best in the U.S. The courses run along the La Jolla coastal cliffs, thus offering picturesque views of the Pacific Ocean.
Spyglass Hill Golf Course, Pebble Beach, California
According to Golf Digest, Spyglass Hill Golf Course combines the best of Pine Valley and Augusta National golf courses. Some of its features include a view of the Pacific Ocean and lush forestry.
The Olympic Club, San Francisco, California
This golf course is a combination of several outstanding aspects of golfing: rich history, natural beauty, and a challenging landscape. It features three golf courses, and players rank the Lake Course as the best of the three.
Chambers Bay, University Place, Washington D.C.
Chambers Bay came under criticism for its condition in 2015, but that was rectified and it now ranks among the best golf courses in the U.S. It features a link-style course, and although it is fairly easy it can be challenging for amateurs and professionals alike.
Whistling Straits, Haven, Wisconsin
You will be forgiven for confusing this golf course with some of the exotic golf courses in Scotland and the UK. It was designed by Alice Dye and Pete Dye. It runs along Lake Michigan.
