By the end of 2018, there were 38,864 golf courses all over the world. Almost 30,000 of those courses are open to the public. If you’ve been playing golf a while then you’re no doubt interested in golf course design or perhaps you’re looking for the next international golf course to test your skills at.
If you’re looking to visit a golf course soon, we’re here to help. Let’s take a look at the top golf destinations and what makes them so great.
1. St. Andrews (Scotland)
The Old Course at St. Andrews is the most important piece of golfing history. Conceived in the 1400s, St. Andrews is the birthplace of golf. All golf course design begins at St. Andrews.
The open championship has been hosted here 29 times, which is more times than any other golf course. The course boasts expansive double greens as well as the infamous ‘Road Hole’, one of the hardest holes in the golfing world.
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2. Royal County Down (Northern Ireland)
When it comes to the rustic countryside, Northern Ireland is the perfect place to set a golf course. The two courses at Royal County Down (Championship Links and Annesley) sit overlooking the Irish Sea and beneath the Mountains of Mourne.
The course was originally designed in 1900 by Tom Morris, and it is one of the most breathtaking golf courses in the world as well as one of the most difficult. If you’re considering making a well-worth visit to Northern Ireland for golf then visit The Consummate Pro for their golf trips.
3. Augusta National Golf Club (Georgia, United States)
The Augusta National Golf Club is home to the Masters’ annual tournament. It’s one of the only golf courses that makes its way onto the list of golf fixtures every single year.
The course was originally laid out in 1933 by Alister Mackenzie and Bobby Jones. The current course bears very little resemblance to the original design due to constant reworking by several architects.
It is one of the most beautiful inland golf courses and was built on the site of an old commercial nursery.
4. Cypress Point Club (California, United States)
The infamous Cypress Point Club used to be one of three features of the A&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. However, in the early 90s, the club was dropped after management refused to comply with the PGA Tour commissioner and wouldn’t allow any black golfers on their course.
Racism aside, the 1928 golf course is out of this world. Located in Pebble Beach this is by far the most beautiful shoreside course in the world. It’s also one of the most unlikely invitations in golf.
5. Pine Valley Golf Club (New Jersey, United States)
The Pine Valley Golf Club might not be known for its major tournaments, but it is known for its golf course design. Pine Valley is the perfect blend of all the different schools of golf design. It is the brainchild of some of the best architectural minds of the 20th Century.
The Best International Golf Course?
There’s no possible way to suggest the best overall international golf course, but these top 5 are strong contenders. If you’re looking for where to play golf or you’re just interested in golf course design then these 5 courses need to be on your list.
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