What are the 2024 World's Top 100 Golf Courses?

The American Golf Digest released the 2024-2025 World's Top 100 Golf Courses list on its official website. The full name of this list is World's 100 Greatest Golf Courses. It is released every two years and the selection targets are golf courses in countries around the world outside the United States. The American "Golf Digest" can be regarded as the originator of golf course selection. In 1966, it launched the first golf course selection list-America's 200 Toughest Courses. In 1975, the magazine changed to select the 100 greatest golf courses in the United States (America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses). In 1985, the magazine officially launched the judges' scoring system, and the judges scored item by item. At present, the magazine releases the "America's Top 100 Golf Courses List" and the "World's Top 100 Golf Courses List" (outside the United States) every two years. The 100 golf courses on the list come from 20 countries in five continents, more than half of which are from Europe, including 57 golf courses in 7 countries. The most concentrated area of ​​golf courses is the British Isles, with 50 golf courses from the UK and Ireland. Canada is second with 9 golf courses, Australia with 8 golf courses, and New Zealand with 8 golf courses. Asian golf courses are still at a disadvantage in the selection of world-class golf courses, with a total of 11 golf courses on the list. Among them, Japan has 4 golf courses on the list, South Korea has 2 golf courses, China has 2 golf courses, Thailand has 1 golf courses, Vietnam has 1 golf courses, and the United Arab Emirates has 1 golf courses.Let's take a look at the top 10 golf courses on this list.The first place is the Royal County Down Golf Club in Northern Ireland. The second is the Royal Dornoch Golf Club in Scotland. The third is St Andrews Links (Old Course) in Scotland. The fourth is the Royal Portrush Golf Club (Dunluce) in Northern Ireland. The fifth is the Royal Melbourne Golf Club (West) in Australia. The sixth is Muirfield in Scotland. The seventh is Tara Iti Golf Club in New Zealand. Eighth is Trump Turnberry Golf Resort (Ailsa) in Scotland. Ninth is North Berwick Golf Club (West Course) in Scotland. Tenth is Ballybunion Golf Club (Old) in Ireland.

What are the criteria for the selection of the top 100 golf courses?

The selection process of Golf Digest usually includes an international panel of judges who evaluate and rank golf courses around the world according to certain criteria. These judges may include golf professionals, architects, journalists and influential golfers. The rankings are updated regularly to reflect the opening of new courses, improvements to existing courses, and changes in the opinions of golfers and industry experts. The selection criteria for the world's top 100 golf courses usually include the following aspects:First, the course design mainly evaluates the overall layout of the course, the design aesthetics and strategic design of the fairways, greens, bunkers, etc. The second consideration is the course condition, which mainly considers the level of maintenance of the course, including turf conditions, hazards and overall landscape. Then there is the challenge, which usually evaluates the challenge of the course for golfers of different levels, including professional golfers and amateurs. The third is the consideration of history and tradition, which mainly considers the historical background of the course and its place in the tradition of golf. Environmental impact also accounts for a large proportion, mainly evaluating the harmony between the course and the natural environment, as well as the practice of sustainable development. In terms of uniqueness, the main consideration is the unique features of the course, such as iconic holes or extraordinary landscapes. Another consideration is the playability of the course, which mainly refers to whether the course is open to the public or its accessibility. The course's reputation in the golf community and the personal experience of golfers are also one of the selection criteria. In addition, the geographical location of the course and local climate conditions may also affect the selection. Finally, the course's contribution to the local golf culture must be evaluated.

Introduction to the top 5 golf courses in the world

(1)Royal County Down Golf Club

Royal County Down Golf Club is a golf club located in Newcastle, Northern Ireland. Founded in 1889, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious golf clubs in the world. The club has two 18-hole links courses: the Championship Course and Annesley Links. The Championship Course is considered by many to be one of the best courses in the world. The course was designed by famous golf designers in history, including Old Tom Morris, George Combe, Harry Vardon and Harry Colt. The course is set against the spectacular backdrop of the Mountains of Mourne and stretches along the coastline of Dundrum Bay, offering different views from almost every hole. The championship course of Royal County Down Golf Club is famous for its natural beauty and challenge. The sand dunes, heather and gorse on the course form a beautiful picture, but also provide a severe test for golfers. The club has a relatively relaxed visitor policy and welcomes visitors to play on the championship course on Monday, Tuesday, Friday mornings and afternoons, as well as Thursday mornings and Sunday afternoons. The club has a professional shop in the clubhouse, which provides a variety of golf supplies. In addition, the Royal County Down Golf Club has hosted many important golf championships, including the Irish Open, Walker Cup, The Amateur Championship and Curtis Cup. The Royal County Down Golf Club is highly respected for its excellent course design, natural beauty and historical value, and is one of the dream destinations for golfers around the world.

(2)Royal Dornoch Golf Club

Royal Dornoch Golf Club is a golf club located in Dornoch, in the Scottish Highlands, with a history dating back to 1616 and officially established in 1877. Old Tom Morris expanded the course from 9 holes to 18 holes in 1886, making it one of the world's top links golf courses today. The course is located along the spectacular Dornoch Firth, with ancient dunes, empty beaches and rolling hills as the backdrop, providing a challenging playing environment. The design and layout of the course are considered to be very classic, and each hole has its own unique challenge and charm. Royal Dornoch Golf Club's championship course is famous for its dramatic location, stretching along the north shore and sandy beach of Dornoch Firth. The natural layout and topography of the course are well preserved, ensuring the tradition and purity of the golf experience. The club's facilities include a historic clubhouse, professional golf shop and restaurant serving local cuisine. In addition, the club also pays great attention to the development of junior golf and has a leading junior golf program. Royal Dornoch Golf Club is not only highly regarded for its outstanding course design and natural beauty, but also famous for its contribution to golf culture and history. The course is a pilgrimage site for many golf enthusiasts and professional golfers, and is also the venue for many important amateur tournaments.

(3)St Andrews Links Old Course

St Andrews Links Old Course is a golf course located in the town of St Andrews in the Fife region of Scotland, and is considered the birthplace of modern golf. The course dates back to the 15th century, making it one of the oldest and most prestigious golf courses in the world. Some of the greens on the course are designed to be shared by two holes, which is one of the classic features of the Old Course. In terms of strategic design, the course is designed to take advantage of the natural terrain, including unpredictable coastal winds, which provide additional challenges for golfers. In terms of signature holes, such as the 17th hole, also known as the "Road Hole", the tee shot is required to go over the corner of the Old Course Hotel, and then the second shot challenges the famous road hole and the bunker on the right. The Swyken Bridge is one of the most famous landmarks on the course, and many great golfers have walked over this small stone bridge. St Andrews Old Course is not only famous for its long history and unique design, but also because it is the venue for many important golf championships, including the Open Championship. The course is managed by the St Andrews Links Trust, a charitable organization responsible for the maintenance and operation of the seven golf courses in St Andrews. If you want to play at the Old Course, you usually need to book a long time in advance or get a chance to play through a lottery system (Ballot). For those who love golf, being able to play at the St. Andrews Old Course is a very special experience.

(4)Royal Portrush Golf Club

The Royal Portrush Golf Club is located in Portrush, Northern Ireland, and has two famous golf courses, Dunluce and Valley. Among them, the Dunluce course is considered one of the top courses in the world. The Dunluce course is famous for its challenging greens, magnificent views and rich history. The name of the course comes from the nearby ruins of Dunluce Castle. The course hosted the British Open in 1951 and again in 2019, attracting nearly 250,000 spectators, setting a record for the audience of the Open. Some of the featured holes of the course include the 5th hole, which is a very challenging par 4 hole, and the 16th hole, known as "Calamity Corner", which is a very famous par 3 hole. Royal Portrush Golf Club was originally established in 1888 as the "Country Club", and was renamed the "Royal County Club" in 1892, and finally the "Royal Portrush Golf Club" in 1895. Old Tom Morris expanded and designed the course in 1889. The Dunluce course was designed by renowned golf course architect Harry Colt and opened in 1933. In 2019, the course underwent some major renovations in preparation for the Open Championship, including the redesign of the 7th and 8th holes. The club offers first-class facilities, including a golf shop, restaurant and bar. The course also provides a caddy service, which can not only help golfers understand the course, but also provide rich local history and cultural stories. Royal Portrush Golf Club is located on the north coast of Northern Ireland, surrounded by spectacular natural scenery, including the Giant's Causeway and the Skyris Islands. The club's location not only makes it a challenging golf course, but also makes it a picturesque tourist destination. Royal Portrush Golf Club is a mecca for golf enthusiasts, whether to experience world-class golf courses or to explore the natural beauty and cultural history of Northern Ireland.

(5)Royal Melbourne Golf Club

Royal Melbourne Golf Club is a top 36-hole golf club in Australia, located in Black Rock, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne. The West Course is ranked number one in Australia and is ranked in the top ten in the world. The club was founded in 1891, making it one of the oldest continuously operating golf clubs in Australia. Designed by renowned golf course architect Dr. Alister MacKenzie and opened in 1931, the West Course is considered the best of his many masterpieces, including Augusta National, Cypress Point and Lahinch. The West Course features dramatic undulations, a naturally rugged look and bold bunker design. The greens are the signature feature of the course and have been considered the best in Australia for decades. They are large, beautifully designed with multiple angles of attack, and the difficulty increases as the driving distance deviates. Royal Melbourne Golf Club has hosted many international and intercontinental events, including the 1959 Canada Cup (now the Mission Hills World Cup of Golf) and the 1970 World Cup. In 1998, the club was selected by the PGA Tour as the venue for the Presidents Cup, the first time the event was held outside the United States. In November 2011, the course hosted the Presidents Cup again, this time won by the United States. The course hosted the Australian Women's Open for the first time in February 2012 and is now part of the LPGA Tour. The club is a private membership club and international and interstate visitors, if they are members of the golf club, can inquire about visitor tee times on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays (subject to availability and excluding public holidays). Members of reciprocal clubs have corresponding playing rights under their club's reciprocal agreement with Royal Melbourne. Renowned for its outstanding course design, natural beauty and rich golfing tradition, Royal Melbourne Golf Club is one of the most coveted destinations for golfers around the world.

Summary

After exploring these world-class golf courses, we can see that each course has its own unique charm and challenges. From the ancient links of Scotland to the sandy coast of Australia, from the landscape courses of China to the holy land of the Masters in the United States, these courses are not only the arena of golf, but also the showcase of natural beauty and the inheritor of culture and history. The introduction of these world's top 100 courses is just a glimpse of the leopard. Every lawn and every hole contains endless stories and challenges. For golf enthusiasts, these courses are a lifelong pursuit, a dream destination, a test of skills, and a spiritual home. Whether you are a senior golfer seeking a challenge or a novice eager to experience the charm of golf, these courses provide an unparalleled experience. They are waiting for your exploration, looking forward to your footprints, and ready to welcome your arrival. In the green world of golf, every swing is a dialogue with nature, and every putt is a handshake with history. Let us continue to write our own golf stories in these world's top 100 courses.