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These are the Top 100 Courses in the World you can actually play

November 21, 2019

GOLF’s Top 100 Courses in the World ranking is finally released, and there are a number of surprises. Pebble slipped out of the top 10. Augusta National slipped four spots (here’s why that happened).

What might be most surprising about the list is that you can actually play many of the courses. Sure, a bunch of the Top 100 are private. With those, you’d be lucky to get an invite for a round. But the perception that most of the Top 100 are off-limits is folly.

Many of these courses are completely public and ready for your reservation, and many international/European private clubs in our Top 100 will open their doors — and quite willingly — to visitors, especially with a recommendation from a club in the United States. Below is a list of the 50 tracks at which you can snag a tee time, as well as their rank in our Top 100. Now, get to work!

3. St. Andrews (Old)
6. Royal County Down
10. Royal Dornoch
11. Pebble Beach
13. Royal Portrush
16. Pinehurst No. 2
17. Trump Turnberry (Ailsa)

The Home of Golf last hosted the Open in 2015, when Zach Johnson claimed his second major.
The Home of Golf last hosted the Open in 2015, when Zach Johnson claimed his second major.

21. Ballybunion (Old)
22. Kingston Heath
24. Pacific Dunes
29. Sunningdale (Old)
32. Carnoustie (Championship)
33. Royal St. George’s
35. Barnbougle (Dunes)
36. Lahinch (Old)
37. North Berwick (West)
40. Royal Birkdale
43. Cabot Cliffs
44. Cape Kidnappers
46. New South Wales
48. Portmarnock


51. Royal Troon (Old)
53. Bethpage (Black)
54. Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin)
56. Kawana (Fuji)
58. Kiawah Island (Ocean)
59. Casa de Campo (Teeth of the Dog)
60. Cape Wickham
61. Royal Lytham & St. Annes
63. Cruden Bay
65. Royal Liverpool
66. Castle Stuart
67. Rye (Old)
68. TPC Sawgrass (Players Stadium)
69. Whistling Straits (Straits)

Whistling Straits in Wisconsin has hosted PGA Championships and will also host the 2020 Ryder Cup.
Whistling Straits in Wisconsin has hosted PGA Championships and will also host the 2020 Ryder Cup.
Courtesy Photo

70. Diamante (Dunes)
71. Kingsbarns
73. Sunningdale (New)
75. Prestwick
T77. Royal Hague
80. Bandon Dunes
82. Cabot Links
86. St. George’s Hill
87. Bandon Trails
88. De Pan (Utrechtche)
89. Barnbougle (Lost Farm)
90. Walton Heath (Old)
93. Macrihanish
97. Waterville
100. Trump International Golf Links