When it comes to golf, players want much more than simply hitting that little while ball onto the green. Golfers want a course where they can look around and see beauty – trees and water features and ocean crashing against the rocks. There are 34,011 golf facilities around the world including 15,372 golf courses in America alone. If you’re a player, why not choose one of the most beautiful courses in the world? Here are some of our favorites…

The Old Course - St. Andrews, Scotland

The Old Couse at St. Andrews is one of the oldest courses in the world, and said to be the greatest golf course outside the United States. They call the Old Course “the home of golf” because the sport was originally played here in the early 15^th century and in 1552, Royalty played here. Today, the world’s greatest golfers love the links. Over the centuries, nature has formed St Andrews and the course has seen little change from its original layout. One of the unique features of the Old Course are the large double greens, seven of which are shared by two holes each. It is a course that can be played either clockwise or counter-clockwise. The famous Swilcan Bridge spanning the 1st and 18^th hole is a world-famous icon for golf. There are 112 bunkers, each individually named including the 10-foot-deep Hell Bunker and the 17^th hole Road Bunker. The par-4 17^th Road Hole is one of the world’s most famous golf holes. If your heart is set on The Old Course, book quickly because the miniscule number of guaranteed visitor times are snapped up quickly. The place to stay is The Old Course Hotel bordering the 17^th Road Hole of the Old Course with a Kohler Waters Spa and overlooking the famous links courses and the Scottish coastline. 

Kiawah Island Ocean Course - South Carolina, United States

Ranked among the greatest and toughest U.S. golf courses is Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s wind-swept Ocean Course, located on the eastern-most end of Kiawah Island. The Ocean Course is the fourth course to have hosted each of the PGA of America's major championships and will also host the 2021 PGA. The Ocean Course was designed in 1991 for the Ryder Cup by Pete and Alice Dye. Pete had laid out the challenging course to sit behind the dunes when his wife Alice suggested raising the course to allow unobstructed views of the Atlantic coastline from every hole. So they elevated the windswept masterpiece, resulting in a course with more seaside holes than any other in the Northern Hemisphere: there are ten holes right along the Atlantic with the other 8 holes running parallel. The view is outstanding, but the course is exposed to brisk and unpredictable sea breezes; as a matter of fact, no other golf course in the world (except for the U.K. and Ireland) is affected so much by the wind. A player can experience up to an 8-club difference on holes, depending on the direction and strength of the winds. But no matter how windy the course, inside the Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s Sanctuary Hotel, villas, condos and rental homes, there is only serenity and Southern Hospitality.

The Palmer Ryder Cup Course - Kildare, Ireland  

Nestled on 550 acres of Irish countryside in Straffan, Kildare is one of Europe’s greatest golfing destinations. The Palmer Ryder Cup Course (designed by Arnold Palmer) is a must-play course in a velvety lush setting just 18 miles from fast-paced Dublin. With 18 of the most dramatic holes in Europe, the course promises entices and challenges even the most avid of golfers. A challenge ensues at every turn, fairway, cascading water feature and leafy, verdant space. The 7,350 yards course is set around the River Liffey which flows through the 550-acre lush Kildare estate. Mature indigenous Irish trees carve their way around the fairways allowing golfers to test their game in all aspects. Walking through the course provides a myriad of landmarks and surprises at every stage including a quaint 19^th Century iron bridge at the 16th hole to provide players safe passage to an emerald island. The island is hugged by two watery arms of the River Liffey, with the ruins of an ancient church by the 13^th hole. Visitors can at the resort’s famed hotel, The Kildare, with a spa and dining options.

Pebble Beach - Pebble Beach, California, USA

Known as the greatest public golf course in America, golfers from around the world have dreamed of playing Pebble Beach Golf Links since 1919. In the early part of the 20th century, Samuel F.B. Morse, who owned the property and was looking for a buyer, decided to create a one-of-a-kind golf course with extraordinary scenic beauty. The area hugged California’s rugged coastline offering wide-open vistas, cliff-side fairways, and sloping greens. He would create an element of difficulty that would be forever challenging and never conquered. To minimize cost, he convinced his board that the course would be maintained by sheep and designed for free by two amateur golfers: Jack Neville and Douglas Grant. Since that time, Pebble Beach Golf Links has held golf’s most prestigious tournaments including five U.S. Open Championships. The Pebble Beach front nine hugs the rugged Pacific coastline with spectacular views of Carmel Beach and Point Lobos State Reserve. The 18^th hole has been called the greatest finishing hole in golf, the ultimate closing test for golfers of all skill levels. It also provides an iconic image for both golfers and visitors: the crashing waves against the Pacific-soaked seawall to the lone Cypress tree on the fairway. In 2019, in conjunction with Pebble Beach’s 100^th Anniversary, the Championship will return for a sixth time.

Finca Cortesin - Casares, Spain

Considered one of the best golf courses in Spain, Finca Cortesin offers ideal Mediterranean climate, manicured Bermuda fairways, more than 100 white marble sand bunkers, and fast and well maintained greens. The course is almost 7,500 yards in length and everywhere are olive trees, cork trees, a Mediterranean forest, and eighteen other varieties of flora. With a choice of five different tee positions, the course is appealing to all levels of play for both men and women. The service is exceptional, the fairways and greens beautifully maintained with attention to every detail, and surrounded by an exceptional natural and unique environment, guests enjoy a guau (wow) experience.

Sentosa Golf Club - Sentosa Island, Singapore

Singapore’s Sentosa Island used to be a military complex until 1972, when it was turned into a playground. To get there from the mainland, take a cable car, the monorail or a taxi. Suddenly you are surrounded by beach and rainforest and you’ll forget you’re in a city until you look back and see the Singapore skyline. The emerald green cover of the Sentosa Golf Club (SGC) is serene and calming with soothing water features. Everywhere, you are surrounded by the turquoise water of Singapore Strait and in the distance, Singapore. SGC is a golfer’s dream, considered the best golf course in Asia. The Tee boxes are well manicured and level, fairways are immaculate, rough are of adequate length, and the beautifully manicured greens are fast. Bonus: an eagle on the challenging par 5 last hole qualifies players for a Singapore Sling in the clubhouse.

Kauri Cliffs Golf Course - North Island, New Zealand

Called “Pebble Beach on steroids,” Kauri Cliffs Matauri Bay on the North Island of New Zealand (a 45-minute flight from Auckland) is a par 72 championship golf course with excellent views from very hole: ocean views from 15 holes played alongside cliffs which plunge to the breaking surf, rocky bays, and shimmering ocean. The inland holes wind through marsh forest and classic rolling Northland sheep farmland. Every hole is a test of accuracy and skill often, with wind), set against a panorama of breaking surf, rocky bays and azure seas. The course is 7,119 yards with five sets of tees to challenge all skill levels. The golf complex includes a world-class practice range, putting and chipping greens, golf shop and locker rooms. After, laze on your balcony of one of 22 guest suites at the famous Lodge at Kauri Cliffs.