Britain and Northern Ireland are golf homes. Scotland insists on being the exact home. St Andrews is the home of the home.
This is where golf first plays, and it is still the place where most golfers in the world venture into the best courses.
But which one is the best? Let’s find out.
1. Royal County Tang
Founded: 1889
·Location: Northern Ireland
·Global Golf Course: Link
Designers: Tom Morris, Harry Walden, Harry Colt (redesigned)
·Par/Yardage: 71/7,186
·Wonderful for: magnificent
Green fee starts: £425
There is no doubt that Royal County Down is a world-class golf course, but it is also one of the greatest places in the sport. The creepy Morne Mountains overlooks it, a vast beach edge, and the route itself is one of the strongest sand dunes imaginable.
The views in the T-shirt boxes on the second and third holes will put any golfer in trouble. They are simply outrageous – demanding a blow from a height angle, those mountains behind these mountains, the dunes to the right, the dunes in front of you, and the fairway is just a ribbon in bunkers and grass.
Time and time, time is the shot you face, exhausting your knees, even if the scorecards have more shots than students in the bar. The Royal County Don’s round should be for anyone who has ever taken golf seriously.
2. Royal depiction
· Founded: 1888
·Location: Northern Ireland
·Global Golf Course: Link
Designer: Harry Colt
·Par/Yardage: 71/7,337
·Wonderful for: 2019 Open
Green fees start at: £385
Oh, 2019. Open returns to Northern Ireland. Rory McIlroy’s opening tee shot from the boundary, four shot the 16th green. Then it was almost sensational second round cut. Shane Lowry wins. Irish fans crossed the dunes to pursue Laurie. rain. wind. glory.
The championship is a victory, and in 2025, Claret jugs return to Linksland, just a few miles from the Giant Causeway, and many exciting locations in Game of Thrones. How appropriate.
The route has a peculiar first hole (please ask Rory) but then sweeps through a set of magnificent sand dunes across and around. Tested every aspect of the game. And wait for that 16th hole. It’s a 3-shot, 236 yards long, in the corner of a huge chamfered corner that falls from the dunes, also known as the disaster corner. That’s also very appropriate.
3. Old course, St Andrews
·Create: 1552
·Position: Fafu
·Global Golf Course: Link
Designer: Tom Morris, Old
·Par/Yardage: 72/7,305
·Wonderful for: Becoming a golf home
Green fee starts: £400
There is no place like St Andrews. The old course is a crown gem, which ends in the town itself – locals walk through the course, college students wander, and golf tourists are almost permanently awe.
Tom Morris, the old one, changed the sport here, his echoes remained–his statue overlooked the route, his old shops were also his hometown, his old house was nearby, and so was his grave.
The course has the easiest first and last hole, but they are also the most intimidating in fun ways. History is unresolved. The middle is a timeless test that makes you feel dizzy and happy.
4. Royal Donoci
Founded: 1877
·Location: Northern Scotland
·Global Golf Course: Link
Designer: Tom Morris, Old
·Par/Yardage: 70/6,748
·Wonderful
Green fees start at: £175
The Amateur Championship ventured into Royal Dornoch in 1985, but there were no other major amateur or professional events on the track. It’s too short – but it’s amazing, it doesn’t matter.
Americans love it there. It’s fascinated by them. The estuary is glittering, Goles is golden, fairway sweep, golf is fun.
David Brice of Golf International calls it “King of Scotland’s Links”. “This is the funniest thing I’m on the golf course,” Tom Watson said. It’s not only good – Royal Donoch is special.
5. Muirfield
· Founded: 1744
·Location: East Lothian
·Global Golf Course: Link
Designer: Tom Morris, Old
·Par/Yardage: 71/7,245
·Wonderful for: 16 open
Green fee starts: £365
Muirfield is home to the Edinburgh Golfers Honors Company, located in the golf town of Gullane, about 30 minutes from Edinburgh. This is unusual because it has two loops, one rotates clockwise on the edge of the property and the second one is counterclockwise inside the first nine.
It is called the best open test, but due to the latter’s history, it’s not above the old course. Nick Faldo won two championships in 1987 and 1992 at Muirfield – in the first match he won every hole famously in the final round.
This is an excellent test. From the tee, this is requested. Ask from the fairway. Required around green. On vegetables, this is required. But you will smile. It also requires that.
6. Carnoustie
· Founded: 1842
·Position: Angus
·Global Golf Course: Link
Designers: Allan Robertson, Tom Morris Sr., James Braid (redesign)
·Par/Yardage: 72/7,402
·Wonderful for: cruelty
Green fees start at: £321
Carnoustie Golf Connection was recently purchased by US investors, and locals hope that the town’s abnormal settings will be maintained. The course is open with the club section, and each club can enter the three best courses for the championship.
It was a cruel layout, sometimes called “car hater,” which destroyed Jean van de Velde’s hope in 1999 – the Frenchman took the 72nd of three holes and won the loss.
It was the toughest place among the three Dunhill Links champion hosts venues, and when visited publicly, the venue was ready for tears before bed (Sergio Garcia cried on her mother’s shoulder). Tough but also fun – especially with a 5-six, also known as Hogan’s alley (after the big guy).
7.
· Founded: 1900
·Position: Berkshire
·Global Golf Course Type: Wasteland
·Designer: Willie Park Jr
·Par/Yardage: 70/6,627
· Known for: Agatha Christie
Green fees start at: £395
hang on? Famous for Agatha Christie? Yes – she and her husband were members of the club, and when he fell for another lady member Christie disappeared into the night, prompting a nationwide search.
The course was also famous for its many European tours in the 1970s and 1980s, the club’s famous four-player combination and Karen Stupples’ victory in the 2004 Women’s British Open. Yes – 5 holes in two holes!
The ancient route is golf paradise. It twists and turns toward the woodland, with buns and swift green woodlands. Golf should be played – you may see one or two famous faces (or three).
8. Trump’s conversion
Founded: 1906
·Position: Eisen
·Global Golf Course: Link
·Designer: Willie Fernie, Martin Ebert (redesigned)
·Par/Yardage: 71/7,448
·Wonderful for: Duel in the Sun in 1977
Green fees start at: £300
Turnberry’s first Open was probably the greatest of them: the 1977 champion, when Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson rode together in the last 36 holes – a grand duel that entered the final hole before Watson prevailed.
It was a sensational court, and Watson almost won again at the age of 59 in 2009.
When Donald Trump purchased the resort, he accused Martin Ebert of improving the course, no doubt he owned it. The holes that cling to the cliff and skirt are as good as any in the world.
9. Ganton
· Founded: 1891
·Location: North Yorkshire
·Global Golf Course Type: Wasteland
Designer: Tom Chisholm
·Par/Yardage: 71/7,055
· Famous for: 1949 Ryder Cup
Green fees start at: £220
Ganton is a course for Golf’s best architects in the Golden Age of Golf – Harry Vardon, James Braid, JH Taylor, Harry Colt and Alister Mackenzie.
It’s an inland course, but its position in the game is revealed by the only non-linked course that hosts amateur champions.
It helps that wasteland basically works like a link track. It’s a glorious, shocking layout, ferocious bunker and thick gor. Only the best balls will score low points here.
10. RoyalLytham & St Annes
Founded: 1886
Location: Lancashire Coast near Blackpool
·Global Golf Course: Link
Designer: George Lowe, Harry Colt (redesign)
·Par/Yardage: 70/7,118
·Wonderful for: 11 hosting openings
Green fees start at: £245
Only great people tend to win at Royal Lytham: Bobby Jones, Bobby Locke, Peter Thomson, Bob Charles, Tony Jacklin, Gary Player, Seve Ballesteros (twice), Tom Lehman, David Duval and Ernie Els.
Then why? Because Royal Lytham is one of their most intense open tests, all of which are a closing ceremony for six straight 4 shots, jagged and twisted throughout the property, calling for high-quality balls in typical storms.
The bunker is another key feature. Many of them. Actually, a lot. A total of 167. It’s a real connection, but without seeing the sea, the recent renovation has tightened the 5-shot seventh shot and turned the good Par-5 11 into a sensational one.
Complete list
1. Royal County Tang
2. Royal depiction
3. Old course, St Andrews
4. Royal Donoci
5. Muirfield
6. Carnoustie
7.
8. Trump’s conversion
9. Ganton
10. RoyalLytham & St Annes
Read more: Battle of Links: Which Best Royal Portrait or Royal County Falls?
