Pebble Beach Golf Links on the California coast

The flagship ranking

The 100 greatest courses you can actually play

The best courses in the world are not all locked behind a member's gate. These hundred are the greatest you can stand on the first tee of, whether by resort booking, daily green fee or public ballot. Ranked, with our verdicts.

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How we chose

Every course on this list is one a traveling golfer can realistically play. Some take a daily green fee, some are resort courses open to guests, and a handful, like the Old Course at St Andrews, come by public ballot or an advance package. We left out the great private clubs that no amount of planning will open to a visitor, because a course you cannot play does not belong on a list of trips worth taking.

The order is our editorial judgment, formed from play, from reporting and from the consensus of the ratings panels read critically rather than copied. We weighed design, conditioning, setting, the strength of the routing and how each course rewards the visitor who has traveled to be there. Access notes and any fees are indicative and move with the season, so always confirm directly before booking. Read more in our editorial policy.

The top ten

1
The Old Course, St Andrews
Fife, ScotlandPublic ballot
The home of golf and the one round every traveler should make. Six centuries of play over common links land, the Swilcan Bridge and the Road Hole. Tee times come by daily ballot or an advance package.
2
Pebble Beach Golf Links
California, United StatesResort guest, public
The most famous public round in America, hung along the cliffs of Carmel Bay. The stretch from the 6th to the 10th is among the best ocean golf anywhere, and resort guests get priority access.
3
Royal County Down
Newcastle, Northern IrelandLimited visitor times
Mountains of Mourne sweeping down to the sea, blind drives, shaggy bunkering and a front nine that takes the breath away. Many rank it the finest links on earth.
4
Pacific Dunes
Bandon, Oregon, United StatesResort, walking
Tom Doak's masterpiece on the Oregon coast: wild dunes, sea cliffs and a routing that bends the rules and gets away with all of it. The pick of a resort with no weak course.
5
Pinehurst No. 2
North Carolina, United StatesResort, public
Donald Ross at his most cunning, restored to sandy waste and crowned greens that repel anything less than a perfect approach. A U.S. Open anchor you can walk up and play.
6
Royal Portrush, Dunluce
County Antrim, Northern IrelandVisitor times
The Open's Irish home, all tumbling dunes and the heart stopping par 4 Calamity Corner. Dramatic, fair and unforgettable on the Causeway Coast.
7
Bandon Dunes
Bandon, Oregon, United StatesResort, walking
The course that started the pilgrimage to the Oregon coast. Gorse, cliffs and the Pacific wind on a classic, walkable links by David McLay Kidd.
8
Turnberry, Ailsa
Ayrshire, ScotlandResort, public
Open links theater wrapped around a lighthouse, the setting for the 1977 Duel in the Sun. The run by the rocks with Ailsa Craig offshore is as good as Britain gets.
9
Whistling Straits, Straits
Wisconsin, United StatesResort, public
A faux Irish links along Lake Michigan with a thousand bunkers and a Ryder Cup pedigree. Walking only, caddies included, and pure spectacle.
10
Cabot Cliffs
Nova Scotia, CanadaResort
Coore and Crenshaw on the cliffs of Cape Breton, with a clutch of par 3s right on the edge of the Atlantic. A modern wonder beside its sibling Cabot Links.

Eleven to twenty five

11
Ballybunion, Old
County Kerry, IrelandVisitor times
Towering dunes, a graveyard beside the first tee and holes that thread the sandhills with genius. Tom Watson called it one of the best in the world and meant it.
12
Kiawah Island, The Ocean Course
South Carolina, United StatesResort, public
Pete Dye's brutal, beautiful test along the Atlantic, host of the War on the Shore and two PGA Championships. The wind decides everything.
13
Royal Dornoch, Championship
Highland, ScotlandVisitor times
A pilgrimage north worth every mile: pure, raised green Highland links with natural gorse lined fairways and the famous 14th, Foxy. Remote and sublime.
14
Lahinch, Old
County Clare, IrelandVisitor times
The St Andrews of the west, full of quirk, blind shots and the Klondyke and Dell holes. Old Tom Morris and Alister MacKenzie left their marks on this wild Clare links.
15
Cape Kidnappers
Hawke's Bay, New ZealandResort
Fairways that run out to cliff edges hundreds of feet above the Pacific, another Tom Doak triumph. The closing holes are vertigo inducing in the best way.
16
Carnoustie, Championship
Angus, ScotlandPublic ballot
The hardest of the Open rota, with the Barry Burn waiting on the closing holes that have broken champions. Honest, fierce and walkable from the heart of town.
17
Cabot Links
Nova Scotia, CanadaResort
Canada's first true links, laid along an old coal town harbor on Cape Breton. Firm turf, sea views from every hole and a relaxed, walkable charm.
18
Cape Wickham Links
King Island, AustraliaPublic
A windswept links on a remote island in Bass Strait, with the ocean in play on more holes than almost anywhere. Worth the small plane to reach it.
19
Barnbougle Dunes
Tasmania, AustraliaResort
Tom Doak and Mike Clayton in the dunes of Tasmania's north coast, a links so good it put Australian golf travel on the map. Pair it with neighboring Lost Farm.
20
Te Arai Links, South
Northland, New ZealandResort
A Bill Coore design on New Zealand's wild east coast, all sandy turf and Pacific horizons. The newest reason to fly south for golf.
21
Muirfield
East Lothian, ScotlandLimited visitor days
The Honourable Company's immaculate links, a clockwise and counterclockwise routing that exposes every wind. Visitor access is restricted, which only adds to the occasion.
22
Kingsbarns Golf Links
Fife, ScotlandPublic, daily fee
A modern links that plays a thousand years old, hung along the North Sea seven miles from St Andrews. Every hole touches or teases the sea.
23
Royal Troon, Old
Ayrshire, ScotlandVisitor times
Home of the Postage Stamp, the shortest and most feared par 3 on the Open rota. A true out and back links that toughens into the wind on the way home.
24
Streamsong, Red
Florida, United StatesResort, public
Coore and Crenshaw turned a reclaimed Florida phosphate mine into rolling sand dunes. With the Blue and Black, it is the unlikeliest great golf resort in America.
25
Sand Valley, Mammoth Dunes
Wisconsin, United StatesResort, walking
A David McLay Kidd romp through the sandy barrens of central Wisconsin, wide, playable and huge fun. The pick of a fast growing destination resort.

Twenty six to fifty

26
Old Head Golf Links
Kinsale, IrelandPublic, daily fee
A promontory of cliffs jutting into the Atlantic with holes that play along and over the edge. Pure spectacle, and a bucket list round on Ireland's south coast.
27
Spyglass Hill
California, United StatesResort, public
The teeth of the Monterey Peninsula, opening in the dunes by the sea before turning into the Del Monte forest. Often the hardest card of the AT&T week.
28
Cruden Bay
Aberdeenshire, ScotlandVisitor times
A gloriously eccentric Tom Simpson links north of Aberdeen, full of blind shots, punchbowl greens and dunes the size of houses. Endless fun.
29
Portmarnock, Championship
County Dublin, IrelandVisitor times
A pure, classic links on a peninsula near Dublin, with no weak hole and a closing stretch that has decided Irish Opens. Subtle and superb.
30
North Berwick, West Links
East Lothian, ScotlandVisitor times
The template for golf holes copied the world over, including the original Redan. Stone walls, a beach and the Bass Rock make it one of golf's great walks.
31
Waterville
County Kerry, IrelandVisitor times
A majestic links at the end of the Ring of Kerry, beloved by the touring pros who tune up here. Big dunes, big views and a big finish.
32
Tralee
County Kerry, IrelandVisitor times
Arnold Palmer's first European design, set on a wild Kerry headland where the back nine climbs into towering dunes. Cinematic from the first tee.
33
The European Club
County Wicklow, IrelandPublic
Pat Ruddy's personal labor of love south of Dublin, a modern links with deep revetted bunkers and a couple of bonus holes. Play and conditioning are first rate.
34
Cabot Highlands, Castle Stuart
Inverness, ScotlandPublic
An art deco clubhouse above a links framed by the Moray Firth and Kessock Bridge. Generous off the tee, wickedly clever around the greens.
35
County Sligo, Rosses Point
County Sligo, IrelandVisitor times
A classic championship links under Ben Bulben in Yeats country, with a famous run of holes along the high ground. Underrated and well worth the trip.
36
Prestwick
Ayrshire, ScotlandVisitor times
The birthplace of the Open Championship, gloriously old fashioned with blind shots, the Cardinal bunker and the Alps hole. A living museum you can play.
37
Royal Aberdeen, Balgownie
Aberdeenshire, ScotlandVisitor times
One of the great out and back links, the front nine running through superb dunes to the turn. Stern, honest northern golf.
38
Trump International Golf Links Scotland
Aberdeenshire, ScotlandPublic
Vast dunes north of Aberdeen shaped into a muscular modern links. Dramatic and immaculately conditioned, with the sea never far away.
39
Royal St George's
Sandwich, EnglandVisitor times
England's quirkiest Open links, all humps, hollows and the deepest bunker in championship golf at the 4th. A true test in the Kent wind.
40
Royal Birkdale
Southport, EnglandVisitor times
Fairways running through valleys between the dunes, widely considered the fairest of the English Open links. Flat lies and a brilliant finish.
41
Royal Liverpool, Hoylake
Merseyside, EnglandVisitor times
A flat, subtle and ferocious Open links where internal out of bounds lurks. It defends itself with wind, firmness and clever angles.
42
Royal Lytham and St Annes
Lancashire, EnglandVisitor times
An Open links that opens with a par 3 and bristles with more than two hundred bunkers. Surrounded by red brick, pure inland in feel, fierce in execution.
43
Sunningdale, Old
Berkshire, EnglandLimited visitor times
The benchmark heathland course, all heather, pine and birch on the Surrey sand belt. Timeless, walkable and endlessly admired.
44
Saunton, East
Devon, EnglandVisitor times
A classic links among the Braunton Burrows dunes in north Devon, long underrated and consistently excellent. A connoisseur's choice.
45
St Enodoc, Church
Cornwall, EnglandVisitor times
A charming Cornish links with the Himalayas bunker, the largest in Europe, and views over the Camel estuary. Quirk and quality in equal measure.
46
Royal Porthcawl
Bridgend, WalesVisitor times
The premier links in Wales, with the sea in view from every hole and a fierce finish into the prevailing wind. A true championship test.
47
Pennard
Gower, WalesVisitor times
The links in the sky, perched on cliffs above Three Cliffs Bay with a ruined castle in play. Rugged, windswept and unforgettable.
48
Old Macdonald
Bandon, Oregon, United StatesResort, walking
A Doak and Urbina tribute to the template holes of C.B. Macdonald, with huge greens and wide playing corridors. The most fun of the Bandon rota for many.
49
Bandon Trails
Bandon, Oregon, United StatesResort, walking
The inland counterpoint at Bandon, running from dunes through forest and meadow. A Coore and Crenshaw routing that completes the set.
50
Sheep Ranch
Bandon, Oregon, United StatesResort, walking
No bunkers, nine greens on the cliff edge and the Pacific as the only hazard that matters. The boldest course at Bandon Dunes.

Fifty one to seventy five

51
Arcadia Bluffs
Michigan, United StatesPublic
High on the bluffs above Lake Michigan with vast fescue and sweeping views, an Irish links feel in the Midwest. The setting alone justifies the trip.
52
Erin Hills
Wisconsin, United StatesResort, public
A walking only, treeless expanse of glacial terrain that hosted the U.S. Open. Big, bold and best taken on with a caddie.
53
Chambers Bay
Washington, United StatesPublic
A links style municipal on a former gravel quarry above Puget Sound, host of a U.S. Open. Fescue, fast fairways and a lone fir tree.
54
Torrey Pines, South
California, United StatesMunicipal, public
A clifftop municipal above the Pacific north of San Diego that hosts the PGA Tour and a U.S. Open. Long, demanding and open to all.
55
Pasatiempo
California, United StatesPublic
Alister MacKenzie's home course near Santa Cruz, his self professed favorite, with a fearsome 16th. A walkable lesson in strategic design.
56
Harbour Town Golf Links
Hilton Head, South Carolina, United StatesResort, public
Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus among the live oaks and marsh, finishing at the iconic lighthouse 18th. Precision over power on every hole.
57
The Greenbrier, Old White
West Virginia, United StatesResort
A C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor template course in the Allegheny mountains, restored to its strategic best. Grand resort golf with history.
58
Pinehurst No. 4
North Carolina, United StatesResort, public
Gil Hanse's bold reimagining beside the famous No. 2, with sandy waste and wild greens. A worthy second round on any Sandhills trip.
59
Forest Dunes, The Loop
Michigan, United StatesResort
A reversible Tom Doak course that plays clockwise one day and counterclockwise the next. Two great courses on one piece of ground.
60
We-Ko-Pa, Saguaro
Arizona, United StatesPublic
Coore and Crenshaw desert golf with no houses in sight, just saguaro and mountain. Walkable, strategic and a cut above the Scottsdale resort norm.
61
TPC Scottsdale, Stadium
Arizona, United StatesResort, public
Home of the raucous 16th hole at the Phoenix Open, a stadium course built for spectacle. Accessible, polished desert golf.
62
Troon North, Monument
Arizona, United StatesPublic
Classic high desert target golf around boulders and saguaro in north Scottsdale. Immaculate conditioning and big mountain views.
63
PGA West, Stadium
California, United StatesResort, public
Pete Dye at his most sadistic in the California desert, with Alcatraz, the island green 17th. A genuine examination wrapped in resort comfort.
64
Real Club Valderrama
Sotogrande, SpainVisitor times
Continental Europe's Augusta, routed through cork oaks above Sotogrande, host of a Ryder Cup and LIV. Slick greens and the famous par 5 17th. Indicative 2026 high season green fees run around 500 to 550 euros, so always confirm directly before booking.
65
Finca Cortesin
Casares, SpainVisitor, resort
A modern, muscular Cabell Robinson course that hosted the 2023 Solheim Cup, with huge greens and immaculate turf. Welcoming yet exacting near Sotogrande.
66
Monte Rei, North
Algarve, PortugalResort
Jack Nicklaus Signature golf and routinely rated Portugal's finest: secluded, immaculate and single tee in feel. Generous off the tee, precise into the greens.
67
Oitavos Dunes
Cascais, PortugalVisitor times
A breezy, environmentally sensitive links style course near Lisbon with umbrella pines and ocean views. Subtle, walkable and consistently praised.
68
Praia d'El Rey
Obidos, PortugalResort
Cliffs, pine and dunes north of Lisbon on a Cabell Robinson layout that mixes parkland and links. A strong anchor for the Silver Coast.
69
West Cliffs
Obidos, PortugalResort
A dramatic, dune set Cynthia Dye course on Portugal's Silver Coast with constant ocean views. Modern, rugged and superbly conditioned.
70
Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, Red
Rabat, MoroccoVisitor times
Robert Trent Jones Sr. routed this through a cork forest near Rabat, long the host of the Hassan II Trophy. Cathedral like and grand.
71
Le Golf National, Albatros
Paris, FrancePublic
The 2018 Ryder Cup stadium course outside Paris, with water lined closing holes built for drama. A modern championship test open to visitors.
72
Costa Navarino, The Dunes
Messinia, GreeceResort
Bernhard Langer designed dunes golf by the Ionian Sea in the Peloponnese. The leading resort golf in Greece, paired with five star hotels.
73
Emirates Golf Club, Majlis
Dubai, United Arab EmiratesVisitor times
The first grass course in the Middle East and the glittering home of the Dubai Desert Classic. Emerald fairways against the skyline, flawless in winter. Indicative 2026 peak green fees run high, so always confirm directly before booking.
74
Yas Links
Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesVisitor times
A true links on the Gulf by Kyle Phillips, routinely rated the best course in the Middle East. Saltwater carries, fast greens and sea on both nines.
75
Jumeirah Golf Estates, Earth
Dubai, United Arab EmiratesVisitor times
Greg Norman's championship course that closes the DP World Tour season every November. Tree lined, lake laced and a roaring island green finish.

Seventy six to one hundred

76
Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesVisitor times
A Gary Player design hugging the Gulf coastline with white sand beaches and crystal water in view. Polished, scenic resort golf.
77
The Els Club
Dubai, United Arab EmiratesVisitor times
Ernie Els blended desert and links ideas into one of Dubai's best layouts, big, bold and beautifully kept. A must play on a UAE trip.
78
Carya Golf Club
Belek, TurkeyResort
Surrey heathland transplanted to the Turkish Mediterranean, purple heather and silver birch, and floodlit for evening play. Belek's most distinctive course.
79
Montgomerie Maxx Royal
Belek, TurkeyResort
A strategic Colin Montgomerie championship layout wrapped in five star comfort, with wide corridors and clever bunkering. Outstanding value for a group.
80
Lykia Links
Antalya, TurkeyResort
A rare true links on the Turkish coast, firm and fast with sea breezes and dramatic dunes. Unlike anything else in the region.
81
Vale do Lobo, Royal
Algarve, PortugalResort
Built around one of European golf's most photographed shots, the clifftop par 3 16th over three ravines. A lively resort base on the Algarve.
82
Quinta do Lago, South
Algarve, PortugalResort
The grande dame of the Golden Triangle, threaded through umbrella pines and lakes, an eight time Portuguese Open host. Classic, walkable resort golf.
83
San Lorenzo
Algarve, PortugalResort, visitor
Along the Ria Formosa lagoon, birdsong, pine and two of golf's best closing holes. Quiet, exclusive and consistently among Portugal's best.
84
Gary Player Country Club
Sun City, South AfricaResort
The host of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, a long, demanding bushveld course at the heart of the Sun City resort. Big, brawny championship golf.
85
Fancourt, The Links
George, South AfricaResort guest
A Gary Player designed inland links on the Garden Route, host of a Presidents Cup, reserved largely for resort guests. South Africa's number one for many.
86
Pearl Valley
Paarl, South AfricaPublic
A Jack Nicklaus design in the Cape Winelands framed by the Simonsberg mountains. Manicured, scenic and open to visitors.
87
Durban Country Club
Durban, South AfricaVisitor times
A classic, rolling links style course near the Indian Ocean, long a favorite of the South African Open. Wonderful old school golf.
88
Leopard Creek
Malelane, South AfricaLimited visitor times
A Gary Player course on the edge of the Kruger, where the Crocodile River and resident wildlife frame the holes. Access is limited, the setting unmatched.
89
Mission Hills, Blackstone
Hainan, ChinaResort
A volcanic rock and lava course on Hainan island, the standout of a vast resort complex. Dramatic and unlike mainland parkland golf.
90
Sentosa, Serapong
SingaporeVisitor, limited
A lush, water laced course on Sentosa island with the city skyline beyond, host of the Singapore Open. Tropical resort golf at its most polished.
91
Ria Bintan
Bintan, IndonesiaResort
A Gary Player seaside course on an Indonesian island a short ferry from Singapore, with forest and beach holes. A relaxed tropical escape.
92
Laguna Lang Co
Hue, VietnamResort
A Nick Faldo design between mountains and the East Sea on Vietnam's central coast, mixing paddy field and links land. Scenic and improving fast.
93
Ba Na Hills Golf Club
Da Nang, VietnamResort
A Luke Donald designed mountain course above Da Nang, cool, forested and dramatic, often rated among Asia's best. A change of pace from coastal golf.
94
Laguna Phuket
Phuket, ThailandResort
A relaxed resort course among lagoons and coconut groves on Phuket, part of an integrated beach resort. Easy going tropical golf for a mixed group.
95
Royal Westmoreland
St James, BarbadosResort
A Robert Trent Jones Jr. course set above the platinum coast of Barbados, with coral stone gullies and sea views. The Caribbean's marquee round.
96
Cabot Saint Lucia, Point Hardy
Cap Estate, Saint LuciaResort
A Coore and Crenshaw course on a dramatic Caribbean headland with cliff edge holes over the sea. The newest jewel in the Cabot collection.
97
Ile aux Cerfs
MauritiusResort
A Bernhard Langer course on its own island off Mauritius, reached by boat, with the lagoon in play throughout. Pure tropical theater.
98
Mount Juliet
County Kilkenny, IrelandResort
A Jack Nicklaus parkland in the Irish countryside, host of the Irish Open, immaculate and inviting. A fine counterpoint to the links on any Irish trip.
99
The K Club, Palmer South
County Kildare, IrelandResort
An Arnold Palmer parkland that hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup, with the Liffey winding through. Lush, grand and a change from the links.
100
Adare Manor
County Limerick, IrelandResort
A lavishly reworked Tom Fazio parkland at a five star manor, chosen to host a future Ryder Cup. Conditioning and setting at the very top end.

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The 100 greatest courses you can actually play

How we chose

The Old Course, St Andrews

Pebble Beach Golf Links

Royal County Down

Pacific Dunes

Pinehurst No. 2

Royal Portrush, Dunluce

Bandon Dunes

Turnberry, Ailsa

Whistling Straits, Straits

Cabot Cliffs

Ballybunion, Old

Kiawah Island, The Ocean Course

Royal Dornoch, Championship

Lahinch, Old

Cape Kidnappers

Carnoustie, Championship

Cabot Links

Cape Wickham Links

Barnbougle Dunes

Te Arai Links, South

Muirfield

Kingsbarns Golf Links

Royal Troon, Old

Streamsong, Red

Sand Valley, Mammoth Dunes

Old Head Golf Links

Spyglass Hill

Cruden Bay

Portmarnock, Championship

North Berwick, West Links

Waterville

Tralee

The European Club

Cabot Highlands, Castle Stuart

County Sligo, Rosses Point

Prestwick

Royal Aberdeen, Balgownie

Trump International Golf Links Scotland

Royal St George's

Royal Birkdale

Royal Liverpool, Hoylake

Royal Lytham and St Annes

Sunningdale, Old

Saunton, East

St Enodoc, Church

Royal Porthcawl

Pennard

Old Macdonald

Bandon Trails

Sheep Ranch

Arcadia Bluffs

Erin Hills

Chambers Bay

Torrey Pines, South

Pasatiempo

Harbour Town Golf Links

The Greenbrier, Old White

Pinehurst No. 4

Forest Dunes, The Loop

We-Ko-Pa, Saguaro

TPC Scottsdale, Stadium

Troon North, Monument

PGA West, Stadium

Real Club Valderrama

Finca Cortesin

Monte Rei, North

Oitavos Dunes

Praia d'El Rey

West Cliffs

Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, Red

Le Golf National, Albatros

Costa Navarino, The Dunes

Emirates Golf Club, Majlis

Yas Links

Jumeirah Golf Estates, Earth

Saadiyat Beach Golf Club

The Els Club

Carya Golf Club

Play the best of them on a
trip built around you.