The 100 Best Courses in the World You Can Actually Play (2025-26)

Playing the World Golf 100 is often considered the Mount Everest of golf travel. For most people, Augusta is as far away as the Death Zone. But the climb is not as daunting as it sounds. Of the courses on our 2025 roster, 54 welcome outdoor play. Think of this list as a home base—a starting point where trips aren’t dreams, but waiting to be booked.

Scotland

Home to 13 of the world’s top 100 golf courses, this golf town is home to great tournaments found nowhere else. Journeys are often delayed, postponed to ensure safety St. Andrews Old Course (No. 3). But Scotland is more than just a stadium, and it’s not the time to see it one day. That’s it now.

Although fully booked St. Andrews, Muirfield (11th) and Royal Troon (53rd) We have to wait until 2027, there are still 10 Scottish top 100s up for grabs in 2026. Draw a line through Edinburgh and the destination splits neatly into two parts.

north: Royal Dornoch (12th)distant and pure. Castle Stewart (No. 97)minimalism in Moray Firth. Cruden Bay (61st)quirky and beautiful. Carnoustie (39th)blunt and ruthless. Kingsbarns (94th)polished and photogenic.

South: Turnberry (18th)the grandeur of the seaside. Prestwick (58th)the birthplace of the Open. Mahrihanish (92nd)its first tee is a postcard. North Berwick (25th)walls, charm and sea air. Adelfin (72nd)a remote and unique place in the Jura Mountains. Two golf arcs to the north and south of the capital. Ten courses, each with its own story.

Ireland

The island of Ireland has six courses ranked among the top 100 in the world. By 2026, you can circle them all from Dublin to Dublin.

Started with Portmarnock (54th)Linksland is pure and low-key. Head north Royal County Tang (4th place)stunning under the Morne Mountains. go west Royal Portrush (14th)the rugged cliffs of Antrim. and further afield, Rosa Pena and St. Patrick’s Links (44th)new and bold in Dune. Turn south. Ballybanion (29th)pristine and windswept. Lahinch (34th)quirky and charming. Then return to Dublin and the cycle ends.

One island. The Big Six.

England

England occupy 10 places in the world’s top 100 and will form two perfect tours by 2026. South: Starting near London, where Xiangyang Old Brand (No. 22) and Xiangyang New District (55th) Forming one of the greatest duos in the game. nearby, Swinley Forest (50th) Provides quiet charm while Mount St. George (57th) sweeping its dramatic ridges. on the coast, Rye (No. 90) Play fast and firm. Then head to Kent Royal St. George’s College (30th) It is grand in scale and presents classic public drama.

North: The journey turns towards the Lancashire coast. Royal Birkdale (42nd)a permanent fixture of the public lore. Royal Lytham and St. Anne’s (68th)starting the test from the first tee. Royal Liverpool (95th)Hoylake has a rich history that is still relevant today. The inland end point is Woodhall Hot Springs (No. 74)sandy heathland and national treasure. Two trips to the north and south. Ten courses showcasing British golf at its best.

new zealand and australia

Half a world away, the game takes on a different character. Sand belt strategy, seaside drama, unspoiled scenery – Australia and New Zealand have 10 courses ranked among the world’s top 100, all due to open to the public in 2026.

In Melbourne, the sand belt leads the way. Royal Melbourne West End (7th) is the standard, and Royal Melbourne East (82nd) next to it. Kingston Heath (24th) and Victoria (93rd) Complete the quartet and show why this area is revered. From there, the journey turns coastal: Barnbugel Dunes (No. 41) In Tasmania, cut by wind and sea, Wickham Point (100th) Play golf at the edge of the world on Kings Island. Came to the mainland again, new South Wales (46th) Perched above the Pacific Ocean, its views are as bold as its route.

Across the Tasman, New Zealand brings its own drama. Kidnapper’s Corner (No. 65) Clinging to the cliffs above Hawke’s Bay, it’s as spectacular as any scene in the game. north of Auckland, tearai link has become a destination in itself: South Course (No. 79) and North Stadium (No. 98)both are by the sea, and both are unforgettable.

Two countries, 10 routes, one of the best journeys through the Southern Hemisphere. In practice, this is a project that typically lasts three to five years. Each journey is built beyond just the names on the list, drawing on other lessons that provide context and depth. Over time, the exercise became richer—less about check marks and more about education in design, landscape, and how golf expresses itself in different corners of the world. Every trip becomes a story.

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The 100 best courses you can play in the world of golf

3. St. Andrews (Old)
4. Royal County Tang
7. Royal Melbourne (West)
11. Muirfield
12. Royal Dornoch Hotel
14. Royal Portrush
15. Pebble Beach
18. Turnberry (Elsa)
20. Pine Forest Two
22. Xiangyang Old Store
24. Kingston Heath
25. North Berwick (West)

29. Ballybunion (old)
30. Royal St. George Hotel
34. Lahinch (Old)
35. Pacific Dunes
39. Carnoustie (Champion)
41. Barnbugel Dunes
42. Royal Birkdale
44. St. Patrick’s Links
46. ​​New South Wales
48. Lido
50. Swinley Forest
53. Royal Troon
54. Portmarnock
55. Xiang Yang (New)
56. Bethpage (black)
57. Mount St. George
58. Prestwick
61. Cruden Bay
62. Kawana (Fuji)
65. Kidnapper’s Corner
66. Lofoten Islands
69. Cabot St. Lucia

68. Royal Lytham and St. Anne’s
71. Kiawah Island (Ocean)
72.Afen
74. Woodhall Spa (Hodgkin)
76. Bandon Trail
78. Cabot Cliffs
79.Te Arai (South)
81. Haagsche (Royal The Hague)
82. Royal Melbourne East
83. Casa de Campo (Dog Tooth)
85. Bandon Dunes

90. Rye
92. Makrihanish
93.Victoria
94. Kingsbarns
95. Royal Liverpool
96. Cabot Link
97. Castle Stewart
98.Te Arai (North)
100. Wickham Point