The World's Most Gorgeous Golf Courses
These gorgeous golf courses feature luscious green grass, blue water, rocky mountains and more. Talk about a hole-in-one.
Fairmont Jasper (Jasper, Alberta, Canada)
Mother Nature and majestic mountains surround this course in Alberta, Canada, that has been open since 1925.
Bluffs Course (Arcadia, Michigan)
This Midwestern gem has no private memberships, meaning it's open to the general public. The stunning course was built on 240 acres of cherry and apple orchards.
Royal Dornoch (Dornoch, Scotland)
Scotland may be known for castles and it's beautiful and rugged terrain but it also has a real claim to golf's birthplace. Though Royal Dornoch was officially formed as a club in 1877, golf has been played at the site since 1616. On top of its beautiful scenery, it's known as one of the world's most challenging courses. There are three courses on the property.
Kapalua Golf (Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii)
The Bay Course at Kapalua Golf in Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui opened in 1975 and has hosted over 20 major professional tournaments. The entire area is not short on beauty. Laihaina is also home to one of the best beaches in the world.
Barefoot Resort & Golf (Myrtle Beach, South Carolina)
The Fazio course at Barefoot Resort & Golf is just one of the many gorgeous courses in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Even though Myrtle Beach is a beach town, this course is known for something else. It has extensive tree coverage and incorporates live oaks, sand, native grasses and pines into its design.
Tralee Golf Club (Ardfert, Ireland)
Designed by famed professional golfer Arnold Palmer, this course in Ireland offers stunning views of the Atlantic coast.
Wolf Creek (Mesquite, Nevada)
Nevada may have the glitz, glam and luxury of Las Vegas, but it also has a golf course that incorporates incredible rock formations. Essentially located in the middle of the desert, Wolf Creek has mini mountains and canyons spread throughout.
Royal Isabela (Isabela, Puerto Rico)
The Royal Isabela course is alive with plants, birds and butterflies native to Isabela, Puerto Rico, an island that doesn't require a U.S. passport. It also has areas of natural sand dunes that run along dramatic, 200-foot-tall ocean cliffs.
Reynolds Lake Oconee (Greensboro, Georgia)
The Great Waters course at Reynolds Lake Oconee was designed by world-renowned golfer Jack Nicklaus. It is surrounded by the beautiful waters of Lake Oconee and recently underwent a restoration in 2019.
Banff Springs (Banff, Alberta, Canada)
Set in Canada's Rocky Mountains that are usually known for hiking, Banff Springs has two courses with incredible views of the mountains and the trees: the Tunnel Mountain Course and the Stanley Thompson Course.
Mid Ocean Club (St. George's, Bermuda)
Bermuda may be best known for some of the best beaches in the world, and the stunning Mid Ocean Club course in St. George's is a private club that has a beautiful view of the ocean.
Royal County Down (Newcastle County Down, Northern Ireland)
Located in the Murlough Nature Reserve and wedged between the mountains and the sea, Royal County Down is set against the Mountains of Mourne and stretches along the shores of Dundrum Bay in Northern Ireland.
Princeville Makai (Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii)
Natural beauty surely contributes to Hawaii being one of the happiest states in the U.S and the golf courses are no exception. Following a $6 million renovation in 2010, Princeville Makai on the Hawaiian island of Kauai is rated as one of the best public golf courses in the U.S. It features six oceanfront holes.
Punta Espada (Cap Cana, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic)
Palm trees dot the course along panoramas of the Caribbean at Punta Espada in the Dominican Republic. The course was designed by acclaimed pro golfer Jack Nicklaus and opened in 2006.
Kawana Hotel Golf Course (Shizuoka, Japan)
Whether it be incredible mountains or exquisite cherry blossoms, Japan is full of stunning natural landscapes. The Fuji Course on the Kawana Hotel Golf Course opened in 1936. This course hosts the Fuji-Sankei Ladies Classic Tournament every year.
Edgewood Tahoe (Stateline, Nevada)
Along the shores of Lake Tahoe, one of the most photogenic spots in the country, Edgewood Tahoe offers exceptional views of the brilliant blue lake while you play golf.
Oitavos Dunes (Cascais, Portugal)
The course at Oitavos Dunes has magnificent views of the Sintra Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean and is known for its namesake scenic sand dunes. Oitavos Dunes is the only Portuguese golf course ranked among Golf Magazine's Top 100 Golf Courses in the World.
New South Wales (Sydney, Australia)
Australia isn't all about cute animals, it has golf too. Located in Sydney, Australia, New South Wales opened in 1926 and lets its natural beauty shine. The club works with the government to protect the natural flora and fauna of the surrounding Botany Bay.
Quivira (Cabo San Lucas, Mexico)
Located on Mexico's Pacific coast, Quivira is a world-class course that has breathtaking views from the tee to the fairway thanks to its beautiful beachfront location.
Cabot Cliffs (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada)
In between the Atlantic Ocean and the beautiful small town of Inverness, Nova Scotia, are the 36 holes that make up Canada's Cabot Cliffs. This course has a beautiful natural backdrop that allows players to enjoy a gorgeous and relaxing round of golf.
Old Head (Kinsale, Ireland)
Located in County Cork on the southwest coast of Ireland, Old Head sits on a strip of land that juts out over 2 miles into the Atlantic Ocean. Along with sweeping views of the ocean and staggering, sheer sea cliffs, Old Head is home to a diverse range of seabirds and exotic plants that add even more color to the course.
Bay Harbor (Bay Harbor, Michigan)
Overlooking Little Traverse Bay off of Lake Michigan, Bay Harbor has been open for over 20 years and has three distinct courses. The 14,000-square-foot clubhouse has a beautiful view of the bay.
Bandon Dunes (Bandon, Oregon)
A West Coast gem, Oregon's Bandon Dunes has five distinctly different courses built atop sand dunes overlooking the Pacific Ocean that wind through meadow and forest landscapes. All net profits from green fees for the Bandon Preserve course go directly to an organization that supports conservation, community and economy on the southern Oregon coast.
Lajitas Golf Resort (Terlingua, Texas)
Named after a U.S. Army general, the Black Jack's Crossing Course at Lajitas Golf Resort features the beautiful sights of Big Bend National Park as its backdrop. This course has several beautiful vistas of mountains in the distance.
Dye Course (French Lick, Indiana)
The resort town of French Lick, Indiana, is home to the Dye Course, which is named after American golf course designer Pete Dye. This course, which Dye originally sketched on a napkin, is just as challenging as it is beautiful with 40-mile panoramic views of the southern Indiana countryside.
Cape Kidnappers (Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand)
Cape Kidnappers sits on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island and makes good use of the country's famous landscapes. It's like a Hollywood production atop dramatic ocean cliffs with a view of the bay from every single hole on the course.
Kauri Cliffs (Matauri Bay, New Zealand)
On the northern tip of New Zealand's North Island, Kauri Cliffs in Matauri Bay overlooks the crystal-clear waters of the Pacific Ocean. The course is attached to a luxury hotel with three private beaches where you can unwind after a day of golfing.
Teeth of the Dog (La Romana, Dominican Republic)
Another course that has a great view of the Atlantic Ocean, Teeth of the Dog is located at Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, a sprawling resort in La Romana on the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic. Seven of this challenging course's 18 holes sit right along the ocean.
Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Kiawah Island, South Carolina)
Kiawah Island Golf Resort is home to the Ocean Course. Located on an island 25 miles southwest of Charleston, South Carolina, this beautiful golf course has stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. The island is also home to one of the best beach towns you've never heard of.
Whistling Straits (Sheboygan County, Wisconsin)
Whistling Straits has hosted three PGA Championships as well as the U.S. Senior Open and is the scheduled location of the 2020 Ryder Cup. This course boasts a fantastic view of Lake Michigan from Wisconsin.
Real Club Valderrama (Cadiz, Spain)
Located at a resort in southern Spain, this course is consistently ranked among the best in Europe. Valderrama was founded in 1974 and hosted the 1997 Ryder Cup.
Trump Turnberry (South Ayrshire, Scotland)
Trump Turnberry is home to The Ailsa. This beautiful course in Scotland has hosted the Open Championship four times throughout its history. It was bought by The Trump Organization in 2014.
Manele (Lanai City, Hawaii)
Built on lava outcroppings, this Hawaiian golf course has a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean and three holes built on cliffs. Hawaii is among the places around the world that have active volcanoes.
Augusta National (Augusta, Georgia)
Augusta National is the home of the first major of the year, the Masters. The Masters is the most prestigious major in golf and has been around since 1933. Augusta National is both beautiful and historic.
Pebble Beach Resorts (Pebble Beach, California)
Pebble Beach Golf Links at Pebble Beach Resorts is one of the top public courses in the country. It features a wide-open view of Carmel Bay opening to the Pacific Ocean and the PGA Tour plays annual events at this gorgeous golf course. And if you are more of a sea person than a land person, check out the prettiest waters around the world.
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