Golf is one of the most prestigious games played around the world.
In fact, over 90% of Fortune 500 Company Top Executives play golf (source) - the reason why it is referred as the CEOs game.
Like multi-million football and basketball stadiums, golf courses are also unique, beautiful, expensive grounds and major tourist attraction sites.
However, each golf course is unique and differs in size, toughness/par and prestige depending on the location and kind of tournaments played there.
In this article, we uncover 5 amazing golf courses across the globe and their unique characteristics.
Let's get started
1. Royal County Down, Northern Ireland
Located in Newcastle, N. Ireland, United Kingdom, the Royal County Down is one of the most famous golf courses across the globe. It is also one of the most attractive courses, located at the foot of the Mourne Mountains and stretches to the Irish Sea.
Tom Morris designed the 18-hole course with a championship course that measures 7,200 yards (6,580 m). Royal County has hosted a fair share of famous golf tournaments since its establishment 127 years ago.
Some of the tournaments include The Irish Open, European Tour, Palmer and Walker Cups and Senior British Open Championship amongst others. Renowned professional golfers like Tom Watson have praised the courses tranquility and challenge, especially on the first nine holes.
2. Pebble Beach, California
Designed over 90 years ago by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant, Pebble Beach is a luxurious and world-famous course located in the West Coast. The course has been voted the world’s most beautiful golf course by Golf Digest and hosted some of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world including U.S Open and PGA Tour.
The course has hence hosted the crème de la crème in golf including Tiger Woods, Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Kite. The championship course 6,737 yards and attracts some of the highest green fees at $495 per round. The course was also awarded the ‘best golf course’ open to the public in the US. Pro golfer, Jack Nicklaus once stated that if he had one last chance to play golf, it would definitely be at Pebble Beach.
3. Royal Melbourne, Australia
The Royal Melbourne is an exquisite and expansive golf course located in Eastern Australia, frequently referred to as, ‘the finest golf course in the southern hemisphere.’
Designed some 127 years ago by Dr Alister Mackenzie, the course comprises two separate courses with 18 holes on each hemisphere. The two courses are ranked amongst the best courses in Australia and outside the US. The club is also the oldest existing golf clubs in Australia with a capacity of up to 15,000 spectators. Moreover, the Royal Melbourne has hosted prestigious golf tournaments like the Australian Open, The Presidents Cup and Women’s Australian Open.
4. Leopard Creek, South Africa
Located in the South African Savannah highlands, Leopard Creek is one of the best safari golf courses in the world. The course boarders the famous Kruger National Park, separated only by the crocodile infested Carving River. It poses some of the most challenging courses in the world due to the beautiful scenery and obstacles, which include animals, birds and the terrain.
The course, opened over two decades ago hosts exquisite tournaments like the European Tour and the Alfred Dunhill Challenge. It is also ranked as one of the best golf courses in South Africa and Africa at large.
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, New York
The course is located in Southampton; Long Island, New York ranked the oldest golf clubhouse in the US since its establishment in 1891. Shinnecock has also been voted as one of the best golf courses around the world due to its beautiful scenery.
The championship course extends over 6,996 yards (6,397 m) and has hosted notable tournaments like The US Open. It is also projected to host the same event in 2018 and 2026. The 18-hole course also poses some of the best and most challenging terrains, making it an ideal course for professional golfers.
There are hundreds of other magnificent golf courses around the world. If you would like to learn more about them, stay tuned for our next 'golf course review article coming soon'
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