One par-3 is tiny, at 115 yards; the others measure 236, 246 and 256. Few courses can claim as sterling a set of two-shotters, headlined by the 6th, 7th, 9th, 15th, 17th and 18th holes. Echoed five-time Open champion Tom Watson, It is one of the best and most beautiful tests of links golf anywhere. Greenkeeper John Bambury embarked six years ago to convert the poa greens to fine fescue and to re-establish the running game. That was never meant to be the course's fate this was Donald Rosss parkland thought-provoking magnum opus. Indeed, plenty of the holes elbow one direction or the other, so driver is not an automatic decision. (Photo: Dave Samson), Several of Coore & Crenshaws finest designs are located at hard-to-access private clubs but many of their works thankfully are available to the public, often courtesy of developer Mike Keiser. Macdonalds course in 1923 and not much has changed since as its slew of exemplary template holes make it just as relevant today as it was in the hickory era. (Photo: Graylyn Loomis), Lahinch charms with titanic sandhills and stunning views of both the Atlantic Ocean and of the Cliffs of Moher. (Photo: Brian Oar), Hoylake, as its popularly known, welcomed its 12th Open Championship in 2014. Heathland golf around London is famous for all sorts of reasons but the strength of its par-5s isnt one of them. Constant refinements continue, including to mow lines, but this course will never close for a splashy restoration. Alisons superb bunkering and strategies mix with undulating terrain that make it worth the three-hour trip from Tokyo. Garden Citys tilted greens, like the 10th and 15th, are lay-of-the-land architecture at its highest form. Central hazards once again abound here, most famously at the 2nd and 17th holes where large bunker complexes bisect the fairways. (Photo: Patrick Koenig), Tucked away in a nearly impossible-to-find forested location 40 miles north of Paris is a low-key heathland design that is utterly charming and utterly private. The removal of trees down the right of 11 prior to the 2022 Masters was met with applause by design aficionados who hope that the club continues to restore width and playing angles. (Photo: David Cannon/Getty Images), What makes Merion so distinctive is its remarkable variety. James Bond creator Ian Fleming was a big fan of the perils of the perched 10th green but the nerviest single moment comes at the par-5 14th tee with outbounds hard along the right. (Photo: Dylan Dethier), Many consider this links to be the fairest Open rota course as most of the holes roll through valleys and the number of blind shots are few, despite the course being set in towering dunes. Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia In 1932, on the grounds of the storied 365-acre Fruitland Nurseries, Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts opened arguably Photo By: Taku Miyamoto/Courtesy of Riviera Golf and Tennis, Inc. 7,790 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 64.5043Haven, Wis. / Pete Dye (1998)More about this course , 7,849 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 64.4146Kiawah Island, S.C. / Pete Dye & Alice Dye (1991)More about this course , 6,947 Yards, Par 70 / Points: 64.3556 Hutchinson, Kan. / Perry Maxwell (1937) / Press Maxwell (1957) More about this course , 7,395 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 64.3510Cashiers, N.C. / Tom Fazio (1987)More about this course , 7,560 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 64.1319North Las Vegas, Nev. / Tom Fazio & Steve Wynn (1990)More about this course , Photo By: The Henebrys/Courtesy of Shadow Creek GC, 7,450 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 64.0136Ooltewah, Tenn. / Pete Dye (1983)More about this course , 7,588 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 63.9639Donald Ross (1935)More about this course , 7,414 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 63.7615Atlanta / Robert Trent Jones & Bobby Jones (1947)More about this course , 7,317 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 63.7013Harrison, Idaho / Tom Fazio (2007)More about this course , 7,481 Yards, Par 71 / Points: 63.6918 Tulsa, Okla. / Perry Maxwell (1936) More about this course , Photo By: Andy Johnson/Courtesy of Southern Hills, 7,649 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 63.6389 Morgantown, W. Va. / J. Robert Gwynne & John Raese (2009) More about this course , 7,170 Yards, Par 71 / Points: 63.5175San Francisco / Sam Whiting (1924)More about this course , 7,500 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 63.5083Roland, Ark. Among other things, Andrew Green saw to it that the incongruent water features were removed and made sure that the mighty East Course was once again a cohesive Golden Age masterpiece without blemishes. In the memorability department, however, 15 takes a backseat to the par-4 13th, The Pit, whose green sits directly behind a low stone wall. 2. One banal way? The Country Club (Brookline) 14. States With The Most Golf Courses in the USA. The mighty-mite 8th gets much of the attention, but Troon also has a host of sterling two-shotters, including the 7th, 11th, 13th and 15th. (Photo: Kevin Murray), Neither as long nor as tough as its illustrious West sibling, the East enjoys its own devoted fanbase for its variety and the encouraging manner in which ground game options are now presented. Fun fact: The winning score at its four U.S. Thankfully, Martin Eberts recent restoration efforts have reestablished sand as a dominant theme. (Photo: Patrick Koenig), This unconventional Tom Doak treasure catapulted him into the spotlight at the turn of the century. The course is buoyed by its enviable location in the dunes along the Pacific Ocean, along with superior fine-fescue fairways and swirls of natural grass and sand. Nearly every hole at St. Andrews and Augusta National provides a safe route to the green and also a riskier one. (Photo: Brian Morgan), Preeminent Canadian architect Stanley Thompson hit his professional peak at this quiet club near downtown Toronto. Is that true for Myopia Hunt, given that it has played host to four U.S. The result is Canadas first authentic links. Yes, stalwarts remain, but, if you look closely at the list, youll notice that what was once considered great architecture is taking on a decidedly broader definition. By all means, celebrate the Postage Stamp but pay heed to the courses other riches, too. Click the star icon to create and share a list of Top 100 Courses youve played! (Photo: David Cannon/Getty Images), The first great American public oceanside course, Pebble benefits from an ingenious routing that brings the player to the oceans edge, then onto much higher ground, before returning to the cliffs for the climactic final two holes. Tillinghast (1923) More about this course , 6,877 Yards, Par 70 / Points: 65.6420 Wheaton, Ill. / C.B. WebTheres a wide choice of superior golf courses to be found in Ontario. Ran Morrissett, GOLFs Architecture Editor, Photos in revolving gallery above: Royal County Down (Evan Schiller), Friars Head (Jon Cavalier), Baltusrol Lower (Patrick Koenig), Tara Iti (Jacob Sjoman), Ardfin (Konrad Borkowski), Podcast: What makes a Top 100 course? Yes, that would be Portmarnock, set among low dunes at the end of a peninsula. Tillinghast in 1926 and Gil Hanses restoration this past decade has the course at peak. All I have to do is eliminate 100 of them. All that's missing is an ocean at this linksy-looking layout that played host to the 2002 U.S. Women's Open (Juli Inkster) and 2006 U.S. Senior Open (Allen Doyle). (Photo: David Cannon/Getty), Andrew Greens renovation restored Ross features, expunged those that were not and added length to test todays tournament players. Eventually it became a site for illegal dumping of toxic waste. Tillinghast design this way: There are probably six hard holes, six really hard holes and six impossible holes. Frighteningly contoured, pear-shaped greens, cavernous bunkers and a procession of rugged par-4s define the trouble. (Photo: Patrick Koenig), Site of three U.S. (Photo: David Cannon/Getty), The blend of tidal marshes, scrub-topped dunes, live oaks and the soothing sound of the Atlantic on every hole make this one of the Souths most memorable playing experiences. Thomass famous quote strategy is the soul of the game manifests itself at Riv. Built in a narrow canyon, there was no reason to hold high hopes for this course. When Nine Bridges has played host to the PGA Tours CJ Cup, the pro routinely praise both its challenge and presentation. Blind tee shots abound, in brilliant fashion at such holes as 2, 5 and 9. Colt and S.V. The drivable -par 9th is another standout with its angled green toward play. NGLA 12. Daunting carries arent the issue either and the greens are huge, so whats the big deal? The putter was a Ram Texas. Great attention has been paid to the mow lines, with short tight fairway grass on the high side of the entrance to all the greens. Highlights include wide fairways, wild and woolly bunkers and panoramic views of Moray Firth and the Scottish Highlands. The standard quartet of Raynor template one-shot holes (Redan, Short, Biarritz and Eden) are here and rival his best set. Seminole 9. WebNAPLES GOLF CAPITAL OF THE WORLD Premier Golf Communities in Naples, FL Naples has more than 90 18-hole golf courses and per capita is the #1 city for golf in the US. NICK PRICES ZEBRA PUTTER. (Photo: Gary Lisbon), H.S. The lumpiest/bumpiest ground is near the clubhouse and yields such marvels as the 1st with the stonewall and railroad line hard down the right of the fairway, the Narrows 15th and the famous Alps 17th. / Gil Hanse (2004)More about this course , 7,083 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 61.5310Tom Fazio (1994)More about this course , 7,175 Yards, Par 70 / Points: 61.5303Banner Elk, N.C. / Tom Fazio (2003)More about this course , 7,308 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 61.5025Bridgeport, W.Va. / Pete Dye (1994)More about this course , 7,190 Yards, Par 70 / Points: 61.4607Willie Park Jr. (1922)More about this course , J. Krajicek/Courtesy of Hudson National GC, 7,151 Yards, Par 70 / Points: 61.4543 Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y. / Tom Fazio (1996)More about this course , Photo By: J. Krajicek/Courtesy of Hudson National GC, 7,704 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 61.3875Sugar Grove, Ill. / Jerry Rich & Greg Martin (1999)More about this course , 7,570 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 61.3383 Bethesda, Md. The most memorable seaside tests are the par-4 4th and 5th, the par-3 12th and the drivable par-4 16th, each with eye-popping scenery and enjoyable risk/rewards. / Tom Fazio (2004)More about this course , 6,836 Yards, Par 71 / Points: 63.3210A.W. Tiger Woods, the man who has arguably played to a higher level than anyone else, is a four-time winner. The famed 9th tee near the iconic lighthouse was preserved but the semi-blind turtleback fairway wasn't. The dunes extend inland only some 350 yards and the architects did a fabulous job in having the holes flow across them in every conceivable manner. Taku Miyamoto/Courtesy of Riviera Golf and Tennis, Inc. 7,040 Yards, Par 71 / Points: 64.5080Pacific Palisades, Calif. / George C. Thomas Jr. & W.P. Too bad more modern architects are leery to build finishers that reward mind over muscle. GOLF.com and GOLF Magazine are published by EB GOLF MEDIA LLC, a division of 8AM GOLF, Willie Fernie, 1909/Mackenzie Ross, 1946/Martin Ebert, 2016, Old Tom Morris, 1893/Alister MacKenzie, 1927/Martin Hawtree, 2003, A. Robertson, 1842/Old Tom Morris, 1872/James Braid, 1926, Alister Mackenzie, 1928/Eric Apperly, 1947, A.V. Two of its one-shotters the 15th and 17th are media darlings but another of the courses best moments comes at the long uphill 12th, which plays away from the Pacific Ocean to an open, tilted green that is 7 feet higher on its right than left. USE OF AND/OR REGISTRATION ON ANY PORTION OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF OURVISITOR AGREEMENT(UPDATED 1/6/23),PRIVACY AND COOKIES NOTICE(UPDATED 1/4/23) ANDCALIFORNIA PRIVACY NOTICE. Peter Thomson won the first Open played here, in 1954, and Birkdale has staged nine other editions, most recently Jordan Spieths remarkable win in 2017. Its not a pretty course in the conventional sense, as there are no lighthouses, mountains or majestic undulations. WebPlatinum Clubs of the World have released their 2020-2021 list of the Top 100 Golf & Country Clubs in the world. GOLFs 107 raters spread across the globe dealt with Covid restrictions to deliver a comprehensive review of the games elite venues including major renovation projects that demanded full attention in addition to a steady supply of new designs. The club has two courses designed by Hugh 1928. Alister MacKenzie. Fishers joined our World Top 100 at No. Work started in 1928 and the course didnt open until 1931. What helped Myopia continue to rise in the list is appreciation for Gil Hanses restoration work whereby trees came down, and fairways were expanded/reconnected to Herbert Leedss fabulous pit bunkers. Bunkers were reshaped and relocated, fairways widened and a natural barranca was brought back into play as a strategic hazard. The 2020 U.S. Jim McCann Editor Top 100 Golf Courses The course isnt overseeded, and the release of the ball across its dormant fairways allows the first-class architecture to shine. Some critics of rankings grumble that hosting a major unduly elevates a course. The Black is one of the great routings, highlighted by the masterful way Tillinghast placed the fairways and greens from the 2nd hole in a valley all the way through the dogleg left 9th. Tillinghast (1924)More about this course , 6,732 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 63.3123 David McLay Kidd (1999) More about this course , 7,512 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 63.2751Southampton, N.Y. / Jack Nicklaus & Tom Doak (2006)More about this course , 7,725 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 63.1740 Ridgeland, S.C. / Tom Fazio (2018) More about this course , 7,459 Yards, Par 71 / Points: 63.1529Farmingdale, N.Y. / Joseph H. Burbeck & A.W. Some professionals embrace that aspect while others are leery. Macdonald (1911)More about this course , 7,075 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 67.3575 Jack Neville & Douglas Grant (1919) More about this course , 6,615 Yards, Par 70 / Points: 66.4734Seth Raynor & Charles Banks (1926)More about this course , 7,089 Yards, Par 71 / Points: 66.4208 Mullen, Neb. What follows are a dozen par-4s, 10 of which measure more than 420 yards, and an infamously diabolical group of five par-3s that have this 6,503-yard course weighing in yard for yard as one of the most difficult on our list. Number of Golf Courses in the State of Texas: 907. Tillinghast (1922)More about this course , 6,665 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 62.1302East Hampton, N.Y. / Willie Park Jr. & Jack Park (1924)More about this course , 7,730 Yards, Par 71 / Points: 62.0882 Toledo, Ohio / Donald Ross (1919) More about this course , 7,203 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 62.0564 Manakin-Sabot, Va. / Lester George & Vinny Giles (2001) More about this course , 6,788 Yards, Par 71 / Points: 62.0223Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2005)More about this course , 7,140 Yards / Par 70 / Points: 62.0136Columbus, Ohio / Donald Ross (1916)More about this course , 6,539 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 61.9385South Hamilton, Mass. (Photo: Courtesy Kingsbarns), Home of the 2004, 10 and 15 PGA Championships, this 1998 Pete Dye design on Lake Michigan was once a poker-table-flat military training base in World War II. The 3rd, 4th and 5th are as intoxicating as any three-hole stretch on the eastern seaboard. The more you travel, the more you appreciate Prestwicks unique charms. Add all the different asks together and you have a historic course like no other. Two of the best examples occur late in the round. Merion 6. (Photo: David Alexander/Getty Images), Australias greatest links continually achieves top-40 status thanks to a sophisticated design coupled with a stirring seaside setting with holes nestled in large dunes that run parallel to the ocean. With bunkers and water hazards framed by railroad ties and tall native grasses scattered throughout, this thorough original left no doubt that Dye was a generational talent in the works. (Photo: Kevin Murray), Thanks to a 25-year-long restoration effort with meticulous attention to detail, Somerset Hills has reached the point where some trumpet it as A.W. Instead, a stunning par-3 was created and 10 is now a par-5, longer and more complex while 11 moves closer to the shore. (Photo: Evan Schiller), The only course outside of England and Scotland to host the Open is perennially ranked in the worlds top-15 courses, thanks to a superior 1929 H.S. (Photo: Frank Pont), This quiet club across the street from Winged Foot has counts Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye among its admirers. (Photo: Gary Lisbon), For most of its 80-year history, the Cal Club, as locals call it, served up a tight though well-regarded course, enhanced by its association with Ken Venturi. The World 100 Greatest Golf Courses | Courses | Golf Digest (Photo: Getty Images), Developers Ben Cowan-Dewar and Mike Keiser handed over a rolling plot of coastal Nova Scotia terrain to Canadian architect Rod Whitman. Tillinghast (1936)More about this course , 6,808 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 63.1065 Mamaroneck, N.Y. / A.W. (Photo: Patrick Koenig). Opens since 1986, most recently in 2018, this is William Flynns design masterpiece. Colt (1918) More about this course , Photo By: Courtesy of the club/Charley Raudenbush, 7,475 yards, Par 72 / Points: 71.8240 Alister MacKenzie & Bobby Jones (1933), RELATED: A comprehensive history of every change made to Augusta National More about this course , 6,524 yards, Par 72 / Points: 69.9692Pebble Beach / Alister MacKenzie & Robert Hunter (1929)More about this course , 7,445 yards, Par 70 / Points: 69.5265 Southampton, N.Y. / William Flynn (1931) More about this course , 7,255 Yards, Par 71 / Points: 68.9795Henry Fownes (1903)More about this course , 6,996 Yards, Par 70 / Points: 67.6807Ardmore, Pa. / Hugh Wilson (1912)More about this course , 6,935 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 67.3821Southampton, N.Y. / C.B. Constant refinements, no matter how small, have Friars Head as dialed-in as any course in the country. (Photo: Patrick Koenig). The same design principles fairway contours that either shunt you out of position or send you to the ideal location, hazards that appear ageless and greens that offer a wide range of hole locations demand you reassess how to best play each hole from one day to the next. Most are open in front to accommodate for the wind, some greens fall away from the player, a couple are knobs that are particularly hard to hold and the tiny putting surface at the 9th protects par at the drivable 295-yard par-4. The clubhouse is situated in the middle, with each nine fanning out on either side. Then it moved higher still. Oakland Hills 19. Ultimately, Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner were given this dream site upon which to build an original design. / Robert Trent Jones (1962) More about this course , 7,037 Yards, Par 70 / Points: 61.3327Winston-Salem, N.C. / Perry Maxwell (1939)More about this course , 7,540 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 61.3059Louisville / Jack Nicklaus (1987)More about this course , 7,280 Yards, Par 70 / Points: 61.2570 Newtown Square, Pa. / Donald Ross (1928) More about this course , 7,404 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 61.1407Kohler, Wis. / Pete Dye (1990)More about this course , 7,175 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 61.1206Galena, Ohio / Jay Morrish & Tom Weiskopf (1992)More about this course , 7,635 Yards, Par 71 / Points: 61.1174 Charlotte, N.C. / George Cobb (1961) More about this course , 6,500 Yards, Par 70 / Points: 61.0755Santa Cruz, Calif. / Alister MacKenzie (1929)More about this course , 6,808 Yards, Par 70 / Points: 61.0487Charleston, S.C. / Seth Raynor & Charles Banks (1926)More about this course , 7,035 Yards, Par 72 / Points: 61.0191Wayzata, Minn. / Tom Fazio (1999)More about this course , Photo By: Peter Wong/Courtesy of Spring Hill GC. The more the world speeds up, the more people appreciate clubs like Swinley where calm reigns supreme. This low-key 1926 Seth Raynor creation in suburban Cincinnati dishes out deep bunkers and huge, squared-off greens on a property laced with valleys and ravines. Colt never went down that path and thus his courses enjoy timeless appeal. After a recent ownership change, a superb upgrade was performed by Martin Ebert that better utilized the jagged cliffline. Im also a fan of the often very wide fairways that reward positioning and of the mix of long and short par-4s. Raves all around for how this course has evolved this century, as demonstrated by the exciting 2022 PGA Championship won by Justin Thomas. 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