Welcome to golf's most exclusive collection!
Today, we're unveiling something that will transform your golf journey forever. Every golfer dreams of playing the world's greatest courses, those legendary venues where history was made, where champions were crowned, and where golf reaches its absolute pinnacle.
This is your definitive guide to the top 50 golf courses on Earth. Not just a ranking, but your complete roadmap to golf's most prestigious destinations, complete with current green fees, booking information, and everything you need to plan your dream golf adventure.

The Elite Championship Tier: Top 10 Golf Courses
These are golf's crown jewels—the courses that define excellence and inspire golfers worldwide.
1. Augusta National Golf Club
Location: Augusta, Georgia, USA
Green Fee: Private (Invitation Only)
Website: augustanational.com
The cathedral of professional golf. Augusta National represents perfection in every blade of grass, every pristine bunker, every flowering azalea. This Masters Tournament venue creates moments that transcend sport, where legends are born during golf's most prestigious major championship.
The experience: Walking these hallowed fairways means stepping into golf history. The 12th hole's swirling winds, the 13th's risk-reward drama, and the 16th's amphitheater atmosphere create memories that last forever.
2. Pine Valley Golf Club
Location: Pine Valley, New Jersey, USA
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: pinevalleygc.com
Consistently ranked as the world's number one golf course, Pine Valley is strategic golf architecture at its absolute finest. George Crump's masterpiece carved from New Jersey pine forests demands precision on every shot, courage on every swing.
The challenge: Every hole tests your mental fortitude. Carry bunkers that seem impossible, navigate waste areas that punish poor execution, and conquer greens that reward only the most precise approaches.
3. Cypress Point Club
Location: Pebble Beach, California, USA
Green Fee: Private (Invitation Only)
Website: cypresspoint.com
Where golf meets the Pacific Ocean in pure drama. Alister MacKenzie's coastal masterpiece features the most photographed hole in golf—the 16th, a breathtaking carry over churning waves to a green perched on rocky cliffs.
The magic: This scenic golf course combines strategic golf with natural theater. Every hole showcases the California coastline's raw beauty while testing every aspect of your game.
4. St. Andrews Old Course
Location: St. Andrews, Scotland
Green Fee: $280-$350
Website: standrews.com
The Home of Golf. Where our beloved game began over 600 years ago. Walking these ancient fairways means experiencing golf in its purest form, where every bump, hollow, and stone wall tells the story of golf's evolution.
The tradition: Famous golf holes like the Road Hole 17th and the Valley of Sin at 18 have challenged golfers for centuries. This links golf course represents everything authentic about Scottish golf.
5. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
Location: Southampton, New York, USA
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: shinnecockhills.com
America's golf aristocracy. Founded in 1891, Shinnecock Hills combines traditional links-style golf with immaculate conditioning. This US Open venue has tested golf's greatest players across multiple championships.
The test: Wind-swept fairways, lightning-fast greens, and deep rough create the ultimate examination. This difficult golf course separates champions from pretenders.
6. Oakmont Country Club
Location: Oakmont, Pennsylvania, USA
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: oakmont-countryclub.com
The ultimate test of championship golf. Oakmont's lightning-fast greens and penal rough have humbled legends for over a century. This venue has hosted more major championships than almost any other course.
The reputation: Known as golf's most difficult test, Oakmont rewards only the most precise ball-striking and mental toughness.
7. Royal Melbourne Golf Club (West Course)
Location: Black Rock, Victoria, Australia
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: royalmelbourne.com.au
The Southern Hemisphere's greatest golf course design. Dr. Alister MacKenzie's masterpiece features strategic bunkering, undulating fairways, and greens that reward precision while punishing mediocrity.
The design: This world-class golf course showcases MacKenzie's genius through holes that offer multiple strategic options while never feeling unfair.
8. Muirfield
Location: Gullane, Scotland
Green Fee: $380-$450
Website: muirfield.org.uk
The fairest test in championship golf courses. Muirfield's perfectly balanced design ensures every club gets tested, every strategic decision matters, and every round provides comprehensive examination.
The balance: This Open Championship venue combines traditional Scottish links golf with modern championship standards, creating an experience that defines competitive golf.
9. National Golf Links of America
Location: Southampton, New York, USA
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: ngla.org
Charles Blair Macdonald's template masterpiece. Each hole draws inspiration from famous holes across British golf courses, creating a living museum of golf course architecture that continues influencing design today.
The education: Playing NGLA means experiencing golf architecture's greatest lessons through holes that showcase strategic principles refined over centuries.
10. Pebble Beach Golf Links
Location: Pebble Beach, California, USA
Green Fee: $595-$695
Website: pebblebeach.com
The most beautiful meeting of land and sea in golf. This public golf course delivers championship drama with views that take your breath away. The closing holes create an unforgettable crescendo along the Pacific coastline.
The accessibility: Unlike many top golf courses, Pebble Beach welcomes public play, making this bucket list golf course achievable for dedicated golfers worldwide.

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The Championship Division: Courses 11-25
These venues represent golf excellence that could headline any golfer's dream itinerary.
11. Royal County Down Golf Club
Location: Newcastle, Northern Ireland
Green Fee: $220-$280
Website: royalcountydown.org
Golf in its most natural form. Set against the dramatic Mourne Mountains, this links golf course features towering dunes, blind shots, and old-world charm that transports you to golf's golden age.
The scenery: This scenic golf course combines championship golf with breathtaking mountain and sea views, creating one of golf's most photogenic experiences.
12. Sand Hills Golf Club
Location: Mullen, Nebraska, USA
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: sandhillsgc.com
A modern miracle in the Nebraska Sandhills. This course proves great golf course architecture can transform any landscape, creating links-style golf in America's heartland that rivals Scotland's finest.
The innovation: Coore & Crenshaw's design philosophy shines through holes that feel completely natural while providing strategic interest and visual excitement.
13. Royal Dornoch Golf Club
Location: Dornoch, Scotland
Green Fee: $180-$220
Website: royaldornoch.com
Scotland's hidden gem. Royal Dornoch combines traditional Scottish golf courses character with stunning Highland scenery, capturing the essence of golf's birthplace in spectacular fashion.
The authenticity: This historic golf course maintains traditional Scottish golf's spirit while providing modern championship conditioning.
14. Fishers Island Club
Location: Fishers Island, New York, USA
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: fishersislandclub.com
Seth Raynor's greatest achievement. This island paradise features template holes that challenge the mind while testing your swing, all set against Long Island Sound's stunning backdrop.
The isolation: Reaching this exclusive golf course requires ferry transportation, adding to its mystique and ensuring an uninterrupted golf experience.
15. Crystal Downs Country Club
Location: Frankfort, Michigan, USA
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: crystaldowns.org
Alister MacKenzie's American masterpiece. Crystal Downs seamlessly blends into its natural sand dune landscape, creating a course that feels timeless and perfectly environmental.
The naturalness: This world-class golf course showcases MacKenzie's ability to work with natural terrain, creating holes that feel sculpted by time rather than machinery.
16. Winged Foot Golf Club (West Course)
Location: Mamaroneck, New York, USA
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: wfgc.org
A.W. Tillinghast's strategic masterwork. Winged Foot West has tested the world's best golfers across five US Open championships, earning its reputation as golf's most demanding examination.
The difficulty: This difficult golf course combines narrow fairways, deep rough, and treacherous greens to create the ultimate test of precision golf.
17. Seminole Golf Club
Location: Juno Beach, Florida, USA
Green Fee: Private (Invitation Only)
Website: seminolegolfclub.com
Donald Ross's Florida masterpiece. Seminole combines strategic design with perfect year-round conditions, creating a winter haven that has attracted golf's elite for generations.
The conditions: This luxury golf course maintains championship conditioning throughout the year, making it a favorite among professional golf tours and elite amateurs.
18. Merion Golf Club (East Course)
Location: Ardmore, Pennsylvania, USA
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: meriongolfclub.com
Compact perfection. Merion East proves great golf doesn't require vast acreage, packing championship-quality holes into a brilliantly designed layout that has hosted golf's greatest moments.
The efficiency: This championship golf course demonstrates how intelligent design can create world-class golf on a relatively small footprint.
19. Royal Portrush Golf Club (Dunluce Course)
Location: Portrush, Northern Ireland
Green Fee: $240-$300
Website: royalportrushgolfclub.com
Ireland's Open Championship venue. Royal Portrush Dunluce Links combines spectacular coastal scenery with challenging golf, embodying the spirit of links golf courses at their finest.
The drama: Clifftop holes and ocean views create an atmosphere that elevates every shot, making this one of golf's most memorable experiences.
20. Chicago Golf Club
Location: Wheaton, Illinois, USA
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: chicagogolfclub.org
America's first 18-hole course. Chicago Golf Club represents golf history in its purest form, featuring a layout that has influenced American golf course design for over a century.
The history: As one of America's founding golf clubs, this historic golf course maintains traditions and design principles that shaped American golf.
21. Somerset Hills Country Club
Location: Bernardsville, New Jersey, USA
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: somersetcc.org
A.W. Tillinghast's hidden gem. Somerset Hills showcases strategic design at its finest, with holes that reward intelligent play while punishing poor decision-making.
The strategy: This championship golf course emphasizes course management and strategic thinking over pure power, rewarding smart golfers who think their way around.
22. Ballyneal Golf & Hunt Club
Location: Holyoke, Colorado, USA
Green Fee: $195-$245
Website: ballyneal.com
Modern links golf in the Colorado prairie. Ballyneal proves great architecture can create excitement in any environment, delivering authentic links experience in unexpected surroundings.
The surprise: This world-class golf course demonstrates how talented architects can create links-style golf anywhere, using natural contours and strategic design.
23. Royal St. George's Golf Club
Location: Sandwich, England
Green Fee: $350-$420
Website: royalstgeorges.com
The birthplace of The Open Championship outside Scotland. Royal St. George's delivers traditional English links golf with deep bunkers, undulating fairways, and championship challenges.
The tradition: This Open Championship venue has crowned legends and created memorable moments throughout golf's most prestigious tournament history.
24. Turnberry (Ailsa Course)
Location: Turnberry, Scotland
Green Fee: $380-$480
Website: turnberry.co.uk
Dramatic clifftop golf with views of Ailsa Craig. This Open Championship venue combines Scottish links golf tradition with breathtaking coastal scenery that defines scenic golf courses.
The views: Every hole offers spectacular vistas of the Scottish coastline, creating a visual feast that complements championship-quality golf.
25. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Bandon Dunes Course)
Location: Bandon, Oregon, USA
Green Fee: $195-$295
Website: bandondunesgolf.com
America's premier links golf destination. Bandon Dunes captures Scottish links essence on Oregon's rugged coastline, delivering authentic experience that transports you across the Atlantic.
The authenticity: This public golf course offers genuine links-style golf that rivals Scotland's finest courses while remaining accessible to dedicated golfers.

The Elite Tier: Courses 26-40
These outstanding venues could serve as the centerpiece of any golf destination trip.
26. Prairie Dunes Country Club
Location: Hutchinson, Kansas, USA
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: prairiedunes.com
Perry Maxwell's prairie masterpiece seamlessly integrates with natural sand dune environment, creating holes that feel sculpted by wind and time rather than human hands.
The naturalness: This world-class golf course showcases how great design works with natural terrain to create strategic and visually stunning golf.
27. The Golf Club (New Albany)
Location: New Albany, Ohio, USA
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: thegolfclub.com
Pete Dye's strategic masterwork challenges every aspect of your game with water hazards, strategic bunkering, and greens that reward precision approach play.
The challenge: This difficult golf course demands accuracy and strategic thinking, rewarding golfers who can execute under pressure.
28. Royal Liverpool Golf Club (Hoylake)
Location: Hoylake, England
Green Fee: $280-$350
Website: royal-liverpool-golf.com
The birthplace of many amateur champions. Royal Liverpool combines traditional links golf with modern championship standards, creating a venue worthy of The Open Championship.
The pedigree: This championship golf course has hosted numerous Open Championships and continues to test the world's best golfers.
29. Kingston Heath Golf Club
Location: Cheltenham, Victoria, Australia
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: kingstonheath.com.au
Dan Soutar's Melbourne sandbelt masterpiece features strategic bunkering and fast, firm conditions that reward precision while punishing wayward shots.
The conditions: This world-class golf course maintains the firm, fast conditions that define great golf course design and strategic play.
30. Cabo del Sol (Ocean Course)
Location: Los Cabos, Mexico
Green Fee: $350-$450
Website: cabodelsol.com
Mexican paradise meets championship golf. Jack Nicklaus designed this oceanfront masterpiece where desert landscape meets the Sea of Cortez, creating holes as beautiful as they are challenging.
The setting: This luxury golf course combines dramatic desert scenery with oceanfront holes, creating one of golf's most visually spectacular experiences.
31. Wade Hampton Golf Club
Location: Cashiers, North Carolina, USA
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: wadehampton.com
Tom Fazio's mountain masterpiece winds through the Blue Ridge Mountains, creating a scenic golf course that combines natural beauty with strategic golf challenges.
The elevation: Mountain golf at its finest, with elevation changes and mountain views that create a truly unique golf experience.
32. Garden City Golf Club
Location: Garden City, New York, USA
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: gardencitygc.org
Devereux Emmet's original design enhanced by Walter Travis creates a strategic test that emphasizes precision and course management over pure power.
The tradition: This historic golf course maintains classic American golf design principles while providing modern championship challenges.
33. Hirono Golf Club
Location: Hyogo, Japan
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: hirono.co.jp
Charles Alison's Japanese masterpiece combines Western golf course architecture with Japanese aesthetics, creating a unique and challenging golf experience.
The fusion: This world-class golf course demonstrates how great design can adapt to different cultures while maintaining strategic excellence.
34. Metropolitan Golf Club
Location: South Oakleigh, Victoria, Australia
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: metropolitangolf.com.au
Dick Wilson's Australian design features strategic water hazards and challenging green complexes that test every aspect of your short game.
The precision: This championship golf course rewards accuracy and punishes mistakes, creating a true test of golf skills.
35. Whistling Straits (Straits Course)
Location: Kohler, Wisconsin, USA
Green Fee: $395-$495
Website: whistlingstraits.com
Pete Dye's links-inspired design along Lake Michigan creates links-style golf with American flair. This PGA Championship venue has hosted multiple major championships.
The spectacle: This public golf course offers championship golf with stunning lake views, making it accessible to golfers seeking major championship experiences.
36. Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Ocean Course)
Location: Kiawah Island, South Carolina, USA
Green Fee: $350-$450
Website: kiawahresort.com
Pete Dye's oceanfront masterpiece combines links-style golf with American resort amenities. This PGA Championship venue offers challenging golf with spectacular coastal views.
The wind: Constant ocean breezes create ever-changing conditions that test every aspect of your game, from club selection to shot execution.
37. Casa de Campo (Teeth of the Dog)
Location: La Romana, Dominican Republic
Green Fee: $250-$350
Website: casadecampo.com.do
Pete Dye's Caribbean masterpiece features oceanfront holes that rank among golf's most dramatic. This luxury golf course combines tropical paradise with championship golf.
The drama: Holes played directly along the Caribbean Sea create moments of pure golfing theater that define scenic golf courses.
38. TPC Sawgrass (Stadium Course)
Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA
Green Fee: $350-$550
Website: tpc.com/sawgrass
Pete Dye's famous golf course features the iconic 17th island green that has created more drama than perhaps any other hole in professional golf.
The theater: This championship golf course combines strategic design with television-friendly drama, creating memorable moments for players and spectators.
39. Spyglass Hill Golf Course
Location: Pebble Beach, California, USA
Green Fee: $395-$495
Website: pebblebeach.com
Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s Monterey Peninsula masterpiece combines forest holes with oceanfront drama, creating a diverse and challenging golf experience.
The variety: This world-class golf course offers completely different challenges throughout the round, from forest precision to coastal drama.
40. Mayacama Golf Club
Location: Santa Rosa, California, USA
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: mayacama.com
Jack Nicklaus's Sonoma County design winds through rolling hills and vineyards, creating a scenic golf course that combines wine country beauty with strategic golf.
The setting: This luxury golf course offers stunning views of Sonoma County's wine country while providing championship-caliber golf challenges.

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The Premium Collection: Courses 41-50
These final ten courses complete golf's ultimate top 50, each offering unique experiences that justify their prestigious rankings.
41. Tobacco Road Golf Club
Location: Sanford, North Carolina, USA
Green Fee: $95-$165
Website: tobaccoroadgolf.com
Mike Strantz's unconventional design creates one of golf's most unique experiences with dramatic elevation changes and artistic flair that challenges traditional golf course design.
The creativity: This public golf course proves that innovative design can create memorable golf experiences without requiring premium pricing.
42. Royal Birkdale Golf Club
Location: Southport, England
Green Fee: $320-$380
Website: royalbirkdale.com
Classic English links golf that has hosted The Open Championship multiple times. Royal Birkdale combines traditional links challenges with modern championship conditioning.
The championship pedigree: This Open Championship venue has witnessed some of golf's greatest moments while maintaining authentic links character.
43. Streamsong Golf Resort (Red Course)
Location: Bowling Green, Florida, USA
Green Fee: $195-$295
Website: streamsongresort.com
Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw's design transforms former phosphate mining land into a links-style golf experience that rivals any course in America.
The transformation: This public golf course demonstrates how talented architects can create world-class golf from unlikely terrain.
44. Royal Troon Golf Club (Old Course)
Location: Troon, Scotland
Green Fee: $280-$350
Website: royaltroon.co.uk
Traditional Scottish links golf that has hosted The Open Championship multiple times. The famous Postage Stamp 8th hole creates one of golf's most memorable short holes.
The history: This historic golf course maintains century-old traditions while providing modern championship challenges.
45. Bethpage Black Golf Course
Location: Farmingdale, New York, USA
Green Fee: $65-$95
Website: nysparks.com/golf-courses/bethpage-state-park
A.W. Tillinghast's public golf course that has hosted US Open championships. Bethpage Black proves that championship golf can be accessible to all golfers.
The accessibility: This difficult golf course offers major championship golf at public rates, making it a true bucket list golf course for everyday golfers.
46. Congressional Country Club (Blue Course)
Location: Bethesda, Maryland, USA
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: ccclub.org
Traditional American championship golf that has hosted multiple US Open championships. Congressional combines parkland beauty with strategic challenges.
The tradition: This championship golf course embodies classic American golf design while maintaining modern tournament standards.
47. Quaker Ridge Golf Club
Location: Scarsdale, New York, USA
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: qrgc.org
A.W. Tillinghast's Westchester masterpiece combines strategic bunkering with challenging green complexes to create a comprehensive test of golf skills.
The strategy: This world-class golf course rewards intelligent play while punishing poor decision-making through strategic design elements.
48. Victoria Golf Club
Location: Cheltenham, Victoria, Australia
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: victoriagc.com.au
Oscar Damman's Melbourne sandbelt design features the firm, fast conditions and strategic bunkering that define great Australian golf course architecture.
The conditions: This championship golf course maintains the playing conditions that challenge the world's best golfers through precision and strategy.
49. Riviera Country Club
Location: Pacific Palisades, California, USA
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: therivieracountryclub.com
George Thomas Jr.'s Los Angeles masterpiece hosts the PGA Tour's Genesis Invitational. Riviera combines strategic design with perfect California weather.
The venue: This professional golf venue attracts the world's best players annually while maintaining its classic design integrity.
50. Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course)
Location: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA
Green Fee: Private (Member Guest Only)
Website: oaklandhillscc.com
Donald Ross's original design enhanced by Robert Trent Jones Sr. creates "The Monster"—a difficult golf course that has tested champions across multiple major championships.
The monster: This championship golf course earned its nickname through demanding precision and strategic play that separate champions from contenders.

Planning Your Golf Destination Journey
These top golf courses represent more than just places to play—they're destinations that offer complete golf experiences. When planning your golf vacation, consider these factors:
Booking Requirements: Many private golf courses require member introductions or special arrangements. Public golf courses like Pebble Beach and Bethpage Black offer more accessibility but often require advance booking.
Seasonal Considerations: Scottish golf courses and links golf courses play differently in various seasons. Spring and summer typically offer the best conditions, while fall can provide unique challenges and fewer crowds.
Budget Planning: Green fees range from under $100 at quality public golf courses to over $700 at premium luxury golf courses. Factor in travel, accommodation, and additional course expenses when planning.
Travel Logistics: Many world-class golf courses require specific transportation arrangements. Courses like Fishers Island require ferry access, while remote locations may need rental cars.

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The Hole19 Advantage: Enhancing Your Golf Experience
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Precise Yardages: Get exact distances to pins, hazards, and targets on over 45,000 courses worldwide, including many famous golf courses on this list.
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Course Management: Use detailed course maps and strategic information to navigate even the most difficult golf courses with confidence.
Social Features: Share your experiences playing bucket list golf courses with fellow golfers who appreciate the journey toward golf excellence.
The CORE Golf app complements your on-course experience by providing structured practice routines that prepare you for the challenges these championship golf courses present. Our practice drills and performance tracking help you develop the skills necessary to enjoy world-class golf courses to their fullest.

Conclusion: Your Golf Journey Awaits
These top 50 golf courses represent the pinnacle of golf course design, conditioning, and experience. From the private exclusivity of Augusta National to the public accessibility of Bethpage Black, each venue offers unique challenges and unforgettable memories.
Professional golf has elevated these courses through major championships, but their true value lies in the experiences they provide to golfers of all skill levels. Whether you're seeking links golf in Scotland, championship golf in America, or luxury golf courses in exotic destinations, this list provides your roadmap to golf's greatest adventures.
Start planning your journey to these world-class golf courses today. Download the Hole19 app to enhance every round, and begin checking these bucket list golf courses off your golfing goals. The world's best golf awaits—and your greatest golf memories are just a tee time away.
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