4. St. Andrews (Old Course)
Details: St. Andrews, Scotland. 6,721. Par 72.
There’s no course anywhere else in the world that offers the flexibility for a 15-year-old, a 40-year-old, and a 70-year-old to forge a competitive round.
Modern-day architects can still learn an awful lot from the birthplace of golf with its huge double greens and multitude of blind bunkers. The great Augusta itself is one of many other great courses that derived inspiration and laid its foundations based on the variety and intricacy of The Old Course.
Even if this beautiful course didn’t have the distinguished history it does as an Open Championship host; I’m sure it would still have made the top ten.
3. Manele Golf Course
Details: Lanai, Hawaii. 7,039. Par 72.
The only imperfection with this course is the location, and only in terms of accessibility. Every one of the Jack Nicklaus designed 18 holes gives the golfer a guaranteed view of the blue waters of the Pacific.
The most famous hole on the course is the 12th, a challenging par 3 that your average golfer would happily take a bogey on. An undulating green on the far side of an oceanside canyon will test even the best of the best.
2. Pine Valley Golf Club
Details: Pine Valley, New Jersey. 6,999. Par 70.
Golf Digest famously described Pine Valley best, “Pine Valley blends all three schools of golf design — penal, heroic and strategic — throughout the course, oftentimes on a single hole.”
Despite having no real history of hosting big tournaments, mainly down to the difficulty there would be accomodating large crowds due to the intricate course layout, this ‘island to island’ course still ranks very highly. Pine Valley is unique with its pine trees surrounding the desert-like venue.
It is a commonly held belief that Pine Valley has the most formidable hazards the golfing world has to offer.
1. Augusta National
Details: Augusta, Georgia. 7,435 yards. Par 72.
The staggering beauty of this course, plus its Masters tradition, makes it the obvious choice as the greatest golf course in the world.
Designed with the spirit and strategic options of St Andrews Old Course in mind Bobby Jones and his chosen architect Alister MacKenzie designed this incredible course with a risky route to every green alongside a safer path.
Great golf courses are all about narrative, and no other course comes close to matching that of Augusta National.