It is merely impossible to pinpoint one specific reason why people fall in love with this wonderful sport. Competition, elegance, and mental strength are all individual characteristics that define golf. What certainly helps this romance that players have with golf are the majestic courses that we get to play on. From the brisk hills of Scotland, to the rocky beaches of the Pacific, out of hundreds of thousands of courses around the world, I am going to try to limit myself to talk about five of the most famous golf courses in the world that have captured our hearts and competitive spirits.

Here are some of the golf courses that should be on your bucket list.

Saint Andrews Old Course, Fife, Scotland - Best Golf Course for History

Stats:

• Location: St Andrews, United Kingdom
• Key Info:
  • 18 Holes, Par 72, 7,305 yards
  • Rating/Slope 73.1 /155 (Black Tees)
• Website: https://standrews.com/golf/playing-st-andrews

Course Overview

The home of golf. Or as some may call it, the Old Lady. This historic public course, located in the town of Fife, Scotland is held in trust by the Saint Andrews Links Trust, believe it or not, under an actual Act of Parliament. Golf was first played here over 600 years ago; it is the oldest and one of the most iconic golf courses in the world.

Expert Review

Saint Andrew's has some fun history to it. Partly because of Saint Andrews, golf was banned in Scotland in 1457 because King James II believed it was taking away too much time from the practice of archery. Today, most of our significant others would probably agree with King James II, that golf is still taking too much time away from other “responsibilities.” To the great fortune of golfers, and not our partners or James II, golf was later reinstated by King James IV in 1502 because, funny enough, he became an avid golfer, go figure. In 1754, 82 noblemen, professors, and landowners founded the Society of Saint Andrews Golfers which laid the foundation for the organization that we know today as the R&A, the governing body of golf outside of the US and Mexico. In the middle of that 19th century, rabbit farmers and golfers actually had a massive fight for the land. But the links course was saved thanks to James Cheape of Strathtyrum who bought the land and kept it as a pristine course. Who knows what St. Andrews would have been today if rabbit farmers got their way.

ESPN put it perfectly, "No other golf course has as many famous landmarks at Saint Andrews..." Accounting for over 112 bunkers, endless rolling hills that give players the most absurd lies, and deep hollows that have been cursed for centuries and named for their legends, the Old Lady sure knows how to challenge players. On top of being known for their massive double greens that are as hard as the Scottish cobblestones around the course, you want to try to avoid their deep bunkers and the pesky rough as it has claimed the “lives” of many competing on the course. Saint Andrews has such a unique layout that it makes it one of the most beautiful links courses in the world. There is a reason it has hosted multiple open championships, with the first one in 1873. You have one of the most iconic crossings in the world when walking over the Swilcan Bridge which was originally built 700 years ago to help Shepherds get livestock across over the burn. It stands as one of the most beautiful bridges in golf, with thousands of pictures taken here every year.

Now, one of the beauties of St Andrews is that it is a public course. The fact that you can come out and play Saint Andrews makes it all that special. For those lucky ones that do get a chance to play it, beware of the valley of sin on 18 and take a picture for all of us when walking over the Swilcan Burn.

Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia: Best “Once in a Lifetime” Course

Stats:

• Location: Augusta, Georgia
• Key Info:
  • 18 Holes, Par 72, 7,445 yards
  • Rating/Slope 76.2 /148
• Website: https://augustacountryclub.co:8443/

Course Overview

How can I contain myself from going on a ridiculous outburst of this exquisite course? It feels disrespectful just calling it a course; Augusta National symbolizes much more than just a golf course. Similar to St Andrews, it is one of the Mecca's of our wonderful sport. Georgia's dream course but really it should be known as the world's dream course, it is one of the most exclusive clubs on planet Earth. And, when you get one of the most exclusive and elegant clubs in the world, teamed up with one of the best architects in the world in Alister Mackenzie and add to that one of the best golfers to ever play in Bobby Jones; you get the perfect result which we know as Augusta National.

Home of the prestigious Masters, it was founded in 1932. The first Masters was held in 1934. If you do get to go visit Augusta National, I challenge you to find one blade of grass that stands taller than any other piece of turf on this land. Everything is so perfect at Augusta, that the white sand is actually the purest quartz to make it even softer and look as white as those Caribbean beaches that we hope to vacation at. Its blooming Azaleas and Dogwoods meshed together with the beautiful Pines and bird noises (pumped noise or not) create this scenic course that offers professional golfers one of the biggest challenges that they'll ever face in their careers.

Expert Review

Going head-to-head for eighteen holes at The National is not recommended to the average golfer. Known for its ridiculous elevation change, rolling hills, and ridiculously fast greens, Augusta is truly one of the most challenging courses this world has to offer to a golfer. Ah yes, and I cannot forget to mention the swirling wind that takes your ball once at the height of the trees and slings it wherever it wants. These challenges are the reason why The Masters is the only major that is held at the same course every year. The three-hole stretch of Amen’s Corner has to be the most conic and unique set of holes that this world has to offer. Holes 11, 12, and 13 are some of the most feared and picturesque holes that your eyes may ever see.

Now if you ever get the chance to visit Walt's World as a fan, please abide by their strict rules and policies. Yes please do not run anywhere as you may be banned... FOR LIFE! The only negative thing I dare say about Augusta National is that it is a shame that it is so private and we can only dream in our wildest of dreams that we can one day play this course.

Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, California: Most Historic Ocean Course and Best Views

Stats:

• Location: Pebble Beach, CA
• Key Info:
  • 18 Holes, Par 72, 6,802 yards
  • Rating/Slope 74.9 /144 (Blue Tees)
• Website: https://www.pebblebeach.com/golf/pebble-beach-golf-links/

Course Overview

Pebble Beach and its mix of sea and land. Now, I did want to try to include as many public courses as possible because it is quite a treat not only to be able to visit some of the most famous golf courses in the world, but ultimately play them as well. And with that near San Francisco, I introduce you to Pebble Beach Golf Links located in the pristine rocky shores of Pebble Beach, California.

Expert Review

Every year this course is recognized as one of the most beautiful in the world. Driving along the 17 Mile Drive to get to Pebble Beach you are going to see one of the most aesthetically pleasing and memorable golf courses that you will ever gaze upon. There is something so astonishing about having a golf course right on Caramel Bay that opens up to the wonders of the Pacific Ocean. The rugged California coastline created this wonderful mix of a land and sea golf course that became the first public course to be selected as the number one golf course in America by Golf Digest 2001.

Established in 1919, this wonderful course was originally designed by Champion golfers Neville Douglas Grant and officially opened on February 22nd of 1919. On opening day, a gathering of 50 players played in the opening tournament of the course with each golfer committing to a golfer's oath around a cherry tree as it was George Washington’s birthday. The stated “We pledge ourselves by our faith in the cherry tree to turn in honest scorecards.” Heck, I know a couple golfers that could use that Oath today. Throughout the earlier years Pebble Beach was revised by H. Chandler Egan to make it the seaside golf phenomena that it is today. Later on in the latter part of the 20th century, Jack Nicklaus re-created the 5th hole.

Pebble Beach aspires itself by trying to put as many greens as it can along the rigged and rocky Monterey coastline. The beauty of this course shines on the three-hole stretch of six, seven, and eight. Competing with Amen’s Corner as one of the most historic and heart dropping stretches in golf, these three holes nestled along the coast offer some of the most distinguished tee shots and greens that one can find. Annual PGA events are held here as they should be. This notable course has held six US Opens and one legendary PGA Championship. As I stated before, this gem is a public course so do yourself the honor and go play this beauty and stay at the historic Lodge Hotel where you will be pampered on and off the course.

Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida: Most Unique Par 3 / Rowdiest Tournament Crowd

Stats:

• Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
• Key Info:
  • 18 Holes, Par 72, 7,275 yards
  • Rating/Slope 76.8 /155
• Website: https://tpc.com/sawgrass/

Course Overview

“Have you seen that course down in Florida with that island green”.

Now one of the most daunting holes in golf everyone seems to have heard about or conversed about is that oh so famous island green down in Florida. That hole with that oh so difficult island green pertains to... the one and only the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach just a bit southeast of Jacksonville, Florida.

Expert Review

Opening its doors in the Autumn of 1980, it was one of the first Players Clubs to be built. Today it hosts the PGA’s “5th major” more commonly known as The Players Championship. It is one of the PGA’s signature events on tour, and they picked a mesmerizing course. The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass is one of the most intimidating golf courses in the world.

It has very narrow fairways with hazards on each side, marshes not only alongside the fairways, but throughout the eighteen holes that will hold on to your ball and never give it back. As well as deep pot bunkers, palm trees that will knock your ball down in an instant, and thick wet rough. This course just wants trouble. And, of course if it is a tour course, well we can't forget to mention it also has rock hard greens.

When the course first opened, it was received with some harsh reviews. Pro J.C. Sneed called the course “90 percent horse manure and 10 percent luck.” Jack Nicklaus when asked about the course replied, “Well I've never been very good at stopping a five iron on the hood of a car.”

This forced the architects to make the course a little bit more playable and it became the jewel that it is today. The Stadium Course gets its name because it employs a stadium concept. Where fans will enjoy the action on stands that have been made out of raised mounds of grass. This is known to elevate the overall on-site fan experience and create some memorable scenes when players sink shots at The Players.

This is another one of those public courses that you must go play but please beware! It is said that over 100,000 balls a year are taken out of the water around the island green… So bring a couple of sleeves of balls and hack away and let me know if you are one of the lucky ones that can make it stick on 17!

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Southampton, New York: Best Links Course in the United States

Stats:

• Location: Southampton, New York
• Key Info:
  • 18 Holes, Par 70, 6,940 yards
  • Rating/Slope 74.4 /140
• Website: https://www.shinnecockhillsgolfclub.org/

Course Overview

Oh, the Hamptons. Of course, we have to mention that one course between the Peconic Bay and Atlantic Ocean in Southampton, Long Island. Yes, I am talking about that one golf course that has the oldest golf clubhouse in the United States as well as the oldest Incorporated Golf Club in the United States, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.

Expert Review

Shinnecock Hills is one of the founding members of the USGA and has roots all the way to 1889. Opened in 1891, it held the second ever US open in 1896 and has gone on to host four more! Originally set as a twelve-hole course, it was designed by the great Willie Davis and was later expanded to 18 holes in the spring of 1895. How can a golf course host the US Open in three different centuries? Well, if you have one of the most beautiful and historic clubhouses in golf, a course that Ben Hogan said I quote, “one of the finest I have ever played”, and some of the most unique link style holes golf; you can host any tournament in my book.

Since opening, architects have tried to make this link style course faster and firmer, the false fronts and runoffs are significant which make it a very difficult course, but visually it is just oh so stunning. There are a lot of dog legs, but you can see it all which makes this layout insanely unique. This course as its “American” twists as it is nearly impossible to run up putts thanks to their unique fronts. But, like a proper links course, not only does it mean that it obtains some of the fastest and hardest greens, but you're exposed to some serious Atlantic Ocean wind.

If you do get to play or visit Shinnecock Hills, cell phones and other communication devices are not to be used or displayed in the clubhouse or on Club grounds so make sure you can only use it in the telephone room in the clubhouse. Unfortunately, it is a private club as it is a distinguished and prestigious club to be a part of. But they do accept unaccompanied guests! You are able to play the course if you find a member to introduce you at Shinnecock Hills. So if you do find a member, and there aren't many, please let me know so we can play together!

Golf Course Honorable Mentions:

I have to give honorable mentions to these renowned courses that could have definitely been included as well not only for their fame and beauty, but their prestigious resumes.

1. Pinehurst

• Location: Pinehurst, North Carolina
• https://www.pinehurst.com/

2. Royal Melbourne

• Location: Black Rock, Australia
• https://www.royalmelbourne.com.au/

3. Cypress Point Club

• Location: Pebble Beach, California
• http://www.montereypeninsulagolf.com/Cypress-Point-Club

4. Royal County Down Golf Club

• Location: Newcastle Co Down, Northern Ireland
• https://www.royalcountydown.org/

5. Oakmont Country Club

• Location: Oakmont, Pennsylvania
• https://www.oakmontcc.org/

6. Pine Valley Golf Club

• Location: Pine Valley, New Jersey
• https://pinevalleycountryclub.com/