What does a golfer look for in a course? The typical golfer will often look for a course that will take him/her to the limit. There’s no better achievement in defeating yourself and getting through the challenge golf offers you. A course that offers fair degree of difficulty coupled with breath taking scenery is heavenly for players. Public courses that are used for tournaments are also a good experience for the average player, they also get to face what the pros deal with. After searching high and low, here are some of the top courses that a player can go to. There’s a whole lot of courses out there, but these golf courses offer the best of the best.
The Old Course, St. Andrews Links: For being around for almost 6 centuries, who wouldn’t agree that this course is “The Home of Golf”? The game has been played on this course since 1400 A.D. And is the largest golfing complex in Europe. Fairways maintained for centuries, the scenery and the challenge taunting you as early as the first hole will make sure that this is an unforgettable experience. The images seen or videos shown online or in television may deceive you. The ground looks flat but when actually on the course, the grounds are humped and the bunkers are deeper thus the challenge is all over you. Located at Scotland, you can book in advance by ballots. If you want to feel what golf really is about, this might be right for you.
Murfield: This really is the course of The Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers – the eldest group in golf. The design of the course is simply a masterpiece, and it has been like that since 1891. If that is not enough, the club was associated with writing the original rules of golf long ago in 1744. This course was created with holes set up in a circular fashion that require the golfers to always adjust with the wind directions. There are situations when players must stop and admire the excellent view of the course which includes the sea view and the tree around it. The eye candy is just a facade of what it actually brings to the golfer. Bunkers are all around and the greens are small which is quite challenging for the golfer with regards to accuracy.
Oakmond Country Club: If you get the opportunity to play golf in the course, you have to expect an experience worth reminiscing. It has 210 deep bunkers and greens that slope away will await the golfers which can be very challenging as every shot needs to be carefully done. One wasted shot and you might end up on its deep bunkers. The fairways are tight, so accuracy would be the key point. This course has a colourful history that commenced from 1903. This course can be considered the most hardest to play on as bunkers is visible left and right.
Royal Birkdale (The Birkdale): This course is a top ranker in England, with the stunning scenery and the fantastic golf holes. The fairways are designed in a way that the ball will rarely go off course. A fascinating club house, kind staff, and a well-stocked golf shop are just some of what this course can offer. However, you need to ready your pocket as the experience can be extremely expensive. Yet, the challenge that the course offers will make sure that the money it will cost will be worth. The wind Birkdale has is really an malefic force to keep up, however the struggle will propel the golf player to the limits. A excellent bang for the buck.
Shinnecock Hills: This course has hosted four US opens and is a very rough course to play on which was built in 1891 and remodelled during the 1930′s. The holes may start out very easy to make shots with, but it will progressively become difficult and quite deceiving. The hole will demand that the golfer will learn to adapt and play employing astounding skills. The 300-acre course has a clubhouse that is located at their highest point, hence giving a good view to the place. this golf course swanks of winds from the Atlantic, the sandy terrain, and the grasses that border the fairways. Aftergame cocktails could be availed by the club members aside from the game experience they receive.
Turnberry (Ailsa Course), Scotland: The Turnberry Golf Club was established in 1902, then the Turnberry Hotel in 1906 that links to the closest railway station. After considerable repair work when it was used in the two World War and almost damaged, it was reopened in 1951. What makes this course unique from the others is the lack of dunes on holes near the sea coast, which makes a perfect test for the player. It has hosted 4 Opens and remains a favorite. The view of the British Isles offers you a tease of the whole game experience, as well as being on the same holes Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson competed on!
Royal County Down Golf Club: Having one of the best front nines among the world’s courses, this is worth the trip. Located in Northern Ireland, it rests nicely at the foot of the Mourne Mountains and is welcomes the player with a magnificent view of the Bay of Dundrum. With its pristine conditions for a challenging game, this course suprinsingly haven’t hosted a single Open. The course may give you the eye candy, but can also give major pain in your game, as the winds are unpredictable. The strength of the winds can topple a trolley, bend the ball flight and bend the flagstick. The difficulty of the course will challenge a golfer to the limit, not only because of the winds but also with its number of blind drives as well. The challenge it offers simply deserve a spot in the top ten of the world.
Augusta National Golf Club: Being the host to the annual Masters, this dream course is located in a dream-like setting, and even getting to play here is also dream-like also. This golf course has a high exclusive status with its green fees and the list of its members are not available to the public. The fame of the course is known worldwide, even having other courses wanting to imitate their design. Designed by Bobby Jones and Alister Mackenzie, anyone can easily say that it is the right duo that developed a perfect course. Normally, every after concluded Masters, modifications are done with one or two holes to incorporate variety to the playing experience. No surprise that it gets closed every 6 months and not anyone can simply list up and get to play the tee. The scenery of the course just comes next to its good reputation, playing experience, and exclusive status. If there is a chance to play, a golfer will certainly not refuse.
Cypress Point, USA: This course has absolutely the largest water hazard of all which is the Pacific Ocean on the third tee. It is a longshot to even get the chance to play on this course that even the late J. F. Kennedy was refused entry to the restaurant and it has only a few members consisting of politicians, actors, and corporate giants. The course still preserves it historical traditions, being a walking-only course, no yardage markers and even the lockers can make you feel that it’s still 1920. The course parking lot just has 15 stalls and does not always get much players in a single day. It is an advantage for the course to get not so many players as it will help the course to be kept pristine in its condition and one of greens that is so smooth without bumps, ball marks, nematode patches, or sand from nearby bunkers. Simply one of the very best courses that anyone will get to play on if given the opportunity.
Pine Valley, USA: This was a brain child of Philadelphian hotelier George Crump, who deceased a year prior to when the course’s completion. It launched on 1919 and players had a tough time accomplishing the course in 70 strokes, quickly gaining the standing as the ultimate golf challenge. Each hole mocks you with a different challenge, with one bunker 10 feet deep. Missing the green will mean a lot, with there being sloping greens and the holes are wrapped in pine covered heath – not the perfect area where the ball to land on. It can be a massive pain the moment you get a mistake in your shot. Having the chance to play in this magnificent course is horribly rare, so don’t refuse an invite. There’s never a course visually inviting and as challenging as Pine Valley. It greatly justifies why golfers rank this as No. 1.
Surely, there are other courses out there that doesn’t require a membership. However, being able to experience the real challenges of golf lies in these courses, so don’t let an oppurtunity to play in these courses pass by.
Learn more about best golf courses. Stop by Paul Monahan’s site where you can find out all about golf manners and their significance.
