18 Underrated Golf Destinations You Probably Haven't Considered

For golfers, smacking a small ball hundreds of yards around expanses of land isn't so much a sport as a lifestyle choice. Players of golf, which is believed to have been invented in Scotland, near the city of Edinburgh, find themselves inexplicably drawn to its subtle charms. Whether it's the simple enjoyment of being outdoors for extended periods of time, the feeling of no two games ever being the same because of variations in wind, air temperature, humidity, and light, or the infinite, and yet minute, calculations required to get the ball to its final resting place (the hole), golf manages to maintain a stranglehold on anyone that plays. 

This much is evident from the massive number of devotees and the handsome selection of gorgeous courses in popular golfing destinations, but sometimes golfers want to roam a course that's a little unfamiliar, off the beaten path. Using a mixture of our global hop-scotching intelligence, first-hand knowledge of golf's usual suspects, and ranking from a selection of golfing sites, we've put together a list of destinations that are undiscovered gems.

Located around 170 miles south of Portland, Bend is known for its great adventure activities. Visitors can find sports that will get the heart pumping, the blood flowing, and the calories burning. This is a city with great skiing, rafting, rock climbing, caving, snowmobiling, mountain biking, hiking, and so much more. For a more relaxing adventure, there is also excellent golf, with a wide choice of courses in and around the town. 

Sunriver Resort has not one but four fabulous courses to choose from, letting golfers enjoy 63 holes that wind between wetlands, meadows, and tracts of forest. While two of the courses are only accessible to club members and guests of the resort, both Woodlands and Meadows have tee times available for any visitor. Widgi Creek is also open to the public and has an 18-hole course where fairways are hemmed in by towering trees. At Lost Tracks Golf Club, a round of the 18-hole course costs less than $50, even cheaper when booked as part of an annual pass.

Another award-winning course, the Great Rift Valley Lodge is often lauded as one of the best golf hotels in Africa. One look at the place and golf won't be the only thing that a visitor remembers. The scenic beauty here is remarkable. From the property, guests can look over the largest valley on the planet, with vistas taking in rolling plains, mountains, and endless expanses of treetops. The golf is fantastic, but those views are something else entirely.

Established in 2000 on the side of a dormant volcano, the property is a triumphant combination of nature and sport. Since the course is actually on an escarpment, the views are elevated and uninterrupted, with places like Lake Naivasha and the Aberdare Mountains among the highlights beyond the fairways and greens; a zebra might even wander onto the tee for a look at a player's technique. The 18-hole championship course was designed to meet elite specifications and straddles the line between challenging and relaxing, making it a great golfing getaway for players of all levels.

A beach haven in the south of Thailand, Hua Hin is close to a royal summer retreat, the Maruekhathaiyawan Palace, a teak marvel known as the "Palace of Love and Hope." Located only a three-hour drive from Bangkok, Hua Hin is an easy getaway for travelers searching for a little rest and relaxation and also golfers looking to get out on the tee box and start swinging. 

The Black Mountain Golf Club has three nine-hole courses, including the East Course, where one green sits on its own island. The West Course is the newest, opened in 2016 and set in the canyon by Black Mountain. Visitors usually play two of the courses to complete 18 holes. At the par 72 Banyan Thailand Hua Hin course, the golf carts display course information in multiple languages, while the Springfield Royal Country Club was designed by American legend Jack Nicklaus, and each hole has five sets of tees.

Close to Malaysia's tallest mountain, this coastal city on the island of Borneo is renowned as a base for snorkeling and diving excursions to the nearby Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, an area that encompasses islands and coral reefs. But there is much more to Kota Kinabalu, as golfers will certainly appreciate, with many marvelous courses easily reached from the city. 

Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club is tied to a resort but is open to the public. It's right in town and has three nine-hole courses, with views of water commonplace. The Sabah Golf and Country Club (Sabah is the state where Kota Kinabalu is located) first opened in 1976 and has quick greens and views of Mount Kinabalu. A little north of KK, Dalit Bay Golf & Country Club is an 18-hole course with a couple of rivers flowing through, making for some interesting play and some fascinating wildlife spotting.

One of the most beguiling destinations in Morocco is a feast for the senses, from the heady smells of spice vendors in the Medina to the hearty tastes of a warming tagine to the sounds of the circus-like atmosphere in the central square, the Jemaa el-Fna, a piece of  UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The city is also a good base for golf at resorts that lie on its outskirts. Samanah Golf Course, part of a country club with the same first name, was styled by Jack Nicklaus and his team and is only 15 minutes away from the heart of Marrakech. While the 18-hole course is certainly pleasing to the eye, the views of the Atlas Mountains are breathtaking. 

With a history dating to the 1920s, Royal Golf Marrakech has an air of opulence about it. Popular with Moroccan royals, it has also hosted significant figures from Europe and beyond. The original 18-hole course was joined by a new nine-hole addition in 2008. Elsewhere near the city, two other courses beckon — the Montgomerie Marrakech and the Tony Jacklin Marrakech.

As bucket-list destinations go, New Zealand is usually up there, a country of incredible, almost unreal scenery — no wonder that the "Lord of the Rings" films were shot here. From soaring mountains to fjords that plunge dramatically into the sea and pretty beaches to rolling hills that are a pastoral fantasy come to life, New Zealand has it all. In a scenic area at the upper part of the North Island, a region smartly called Northland, a number of golf courses stand out. 

The Bay of Islands Golf Club has a dependable roster of members, but public visitors can book tee times and play an 18-hole course at any time of the year. While strolling around the course at Carrington Estate, players will see the grand Pacific Ocean and hills packed with grape vines. The pick of Northland courses is the one at Kauri Cliffs, part of the namesake resort. Here, a number of holes run alongside steep cliffs that just drop right off into the Pacific — how's that for high drama? It is no surprise that Kauri Cliffs regularly features as one of the most popular golf courses on the planet.

Puerto Rico has fantastic, unknown beaches, lush rainforests, and fabulous music, so it is no great shock that it is so popular with tourists. What many American travelers might not be as familiar with is the island's wealth of golf courses, many of which are tied to plush destination resorts. The Links at Royal Isabela is a hypnotic course, winding its way along a breezy waterfront and set atop cliffs 200 feet above sea level before it descends towards sections of dunes. Players will be able to see local flora and fauna — the dazzling butterflies are particularly mesmerizing — while completing a round. 

Palmas Athletic Club also has holes that look onto the sea, but here, there are two courses, including one built on the grounds of a former sugar plantation. In what was once an area used by horse riders, El Legado features a course that sits between the Caribbean Sea and a mountain range. It all makes for a gorgeous golfing experience, another string to Puerto Rico's magnificent bow.

An island with great geographic variety, Taiwan is a verdant destination with a selection of courses near its capital city, Taipei. There is a real historical feel to Taiwan Golf & Country Club, which opened more than a century ago as the first golf course on the island. It sits northeast of the city center, near a waterfront area that draws couples looking for a romantic spot to hang out, especially during the stunning sunsets. 

Notable as the country's most northern course, Ocean View Golf Club has dramatic terrain, with the rolling Pacific on one side and mountains on the other, making it a beautifully scenic place to play a round. Also on the north coast and a short drive from Taipei, Gold Coast Golf Country Club features a par 72 course set above oceanfront cliffs. It's a scenic, breezy spot with wavy terrain and endless views of the roiling ocean — some fairways face toward the water, making shot selection key.

Anyone who has visited this part of South Africa will rave about the natural beauty on display. Cape Town is here, after all, and South Africa's legislative capital is one of the most magnificently located cities in the world. It's a destination with mountains, rolling pastures, vineyards, and gorgeous seascapes, and much of that will be on view at golf courses in the Western Cape. Pezula takes advantage of the bounteous nature with a setting atop headlands between the Knysna Lagoon and the Indian Ocean. 

At Fancourt, there are three courses to choose from, all designed by local hero and nine-time major winner Gary Player. Each course presents a different aesthetic, from classic links to one set near woods and mountains. Much closer to Cape Town than the preceding two options, Arabella Golf Course is anchored by a resort, has plenty of tricky features, and is set by a lagoon and mountains covered in native shrubs.