The post Course Rater Confidential: Asia-Pacific courses we can’t wait to open appeared first on Golf.

The post Course Rater Confidential: Asia-Pacific courses we can’t wait to open appeared first on Golf.

GOLF’s Top 100 course panelists are among the most respected and well-traveled course evaluators in the game. They’re also keen to share their opinions. In this GOLF.com series, we’ll unlock their unvarnished views on all questions course-related. Check out GOLF’s latest Top 100 Courses in the U.S., Top 100 Courses in the World, Top 100 Courses You Can Play, Best Municipal Courses in the U.S., 100 Best Short Courses and 100 Best Courses in U.K. and Ireland. Meet all of our Top 100 panelists here.

GOLF’s inaugural ranking of the Top 100 Courses in Asia-Pacific is out, and we’re here to break it all down. Are there any courses in the works in that region that you can’t wait to see open? What about them excites you?

Masa Nishijima (panelist since 1991): Te Arai North in New Zealand. Seven Mile Beach and Five Mile Beach in Tasmania.

John Cornish (panelist since 2017): I’m looking forward to returning to New Zealand to visit the new courses at Te Arai. For Te Arai (South) to debut in the top 10 is an amazing achievement, having opened only six months ago. I played Hirono before Martin Ebert completed his renovation and those changes have obviously been well received. I’m eager to see that work. There has been a worldwide push for short courses and Kingston Heath recently opened a course at around 1,200 yards that is bedding in nicely. I need to get there, too.

Thomas Brown (panelist since 2015): Vietnam continues to be the most active country in Asia for new-course construction. But, indulging my interest in visiting new places: Nick Faldo is at work on Thatluang Golf Village, in Vientiane, Laos. The site is an urban location adjacent to a nominated UNESCO World Heritage site. I’m intrigued.

Travel

Gary Lisbon (panelist since 2011): The island state of Tasmania, in Australia, certainly punches above its weight in land size. It was first put on the world golfing map with Barnbougle Dunes and then also Cape Wickham. I believe the imminent opening of Seven Mile Beach (and then Five Mile Beach down the line) will further highlight great golf in this part of the world. A deep sand base with varying topography and a creative design that takes full advantage of both the land and the water vistas is what excites me most about the Seven-Mile Beach. Oh, and a six-minute drive to a major airport (Hobart) is pretty convenient, too.

Michael Goldstein (panelist since 2019): I can’t wait to see Te Arai North, Kangaroo Cliffs and Seven Mile Beach. Three links courses all on dream sites with three different architects. Will be interesting to see how they all finish up.

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The post Course Rater Confidential: What should a first-time traveler know about Asia-Pacific golf? appeared first on Golf.

The post Course Rater Confidential: What should a first-time traveler know about Asia-Pacific golf? appeared first on Golf.

GOLF’s Top 100 course panelists are among the most respected and well-traveled course evaluators in the game. They’re also keen to share their opinions. In this GOLF.com series, we’ll unlock their unvarnished views on all questions course-related. Check out GOLF’s latest Top 100 Courses in the U.S., Top 100 Courses in the World, Top 100 Courses You Can Play, Best Municipal Courses in the U.S., 100 Best Short Courses and 100 Best Courses in U.K. and Ireland. Meet all of our Top 100 panelists here.

GOLF’s inaugural ranking of the Top 100 Courses in Asia-Pacific is out, and we’re here to break it all down. We all know that golf is golf, no matter where it’s played. But we also know that the cultures and customs around golf vary from one place to another. Any insights you can share about Asia-Pacific golf that might help a first-time traveler prepare? Anything worth noting about caddie culture, accessibility of courses, tipping, pace of play, dress codes or other expectations?

Masa Nishijima (panelist since 1991): Caddies in Asia are mainly women who have learned English to accommodate overseas guests. You pay the caddie fee when you check out, and you should feel free to tip for good service. At many private clubs, you’ll need to submit your bio and any club affiliation by e-mail or fax a few months in advance to see if it’s possible to play or not. Be sure to inquire about dress codes. In Japan, there are clubs that are strict about what to wear. Also, some clubs may require members to accompany you. If you don’t have any members, the club may find someone who can play with you.

John Cornish (panelist since 2017): Preparation is the key for any golf traveler. The norms of your local course and your personal expectations may vary significantly from another club or even country. Embracing the customs and traditions of host courses is important, nowhere more so than in Japan. I researched my Japanese host clubs heavily and tried to follow their customs to the letter. A day of golf in Japan often consists of arriving in a formal Jacket, taking coffee with your host, playing the front nine interrupted by lunch/beer before returning to the course for the second nine, and finishing with an Onsen bath. The staff is welcoming and friendly, the caddies are enthusiastic and really know what they’re doing, and the courses are outstanding.

Travel

Thomas Brown (panelist since 2015): Playing with local members or expatriate Westerners may be the best opportunity to learn the local customs. Booking tee times is widely available via local tour operators in all countries featured on this Top 100 list. Years ago, I found an unusual welcome when I joined a society of low-handicap and aspiring golf professionals from various Asian mini-tours. When the opportunity allowed, I would often drop in on their monthly scratch-medal tournaments. As I traveled more, I realized that loosely formed golf societies of expatriates exist in all Asian countries and are generally welcoming of visiting golfers. Asking local golfers who you are playing with that day for advice is the most practical approach. One difficult lesson I learned: in a country with a president or monarch on the currency, it is better to use a plastic marker to mark your ball than put the coin on the green with the leader of the country facing down. Enjoying your time in the clubhouse after your round with customary celebrations of local food and drink is the best compliment you can pay your host or playing partners.

Gary Lisbon (panelist since 2011): Caddies are common throughout Asia and can add greatly to the golf experience. I find their ability to read putts is extraordinary and their pleasant demeanor contributes to what is generally a good day out. They get paid a pittance by Western standards — why not bless them with a large tip? It will make their day and not cost you much at all. Pace of play is not exactly brisk in certain countries in Asia. I like to play fast. I recently returned from an Asian country, where, playing in motorized carts with caddies, the recommended pace of play for a fourball was — wait for it — 5 hours and 50 minutes. Thankfully, we were ahead of the field and finished much sooner than that. Golf in Asia is generally slow-paced. In Australia, it’s fast and in New Zealand, in between.

Michael Goldstein (panelist since 2019): Golf in Asia can be a real experience. Memories of a manic taxi ride through Bo’ao, in China, to get to Shanqin Bay’s pre-opening in 2011 are hard to shake. My advice would be to embrace everything about golf travel in faraway lands — the people, the food, the caddies, the unique golfing cultures. In Asia, it’s also best to leave plenty of time.

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The post Course Rater Confidential: Top 100 Asia-Pacific courses we can’t wait to check out (and snubs) appeared first on Golf.

The post Course Rater Confidential: Top 100 Asia-Pacific courses we can’t wait to check out (and snubs) appeared first on Golf.

GOLF’s Top 100 course panelists are among the most respected and well-traveled course evaluators in the game. They’re also keen to share their opinions. In this GOLF.com series, we’ll unlock their unvarnished views on all questions course-related. Check out GOLF’s latest Top 100 Courses in the U.S., Top 100 Courses in the World, Top 100 Courses You Can Play, Best Municipal Courses in the U.S., 100 Best Short Courses and 100 Best Courses in U.K. and Ireland. Meet all of our Top 100 panelists here.

GOLF’s inaugural ranking of the Top 100 Courses in Asia-Pacific is out and we are here to break it all down. What’s a course on the list that you have yet to see but are especially keen to check out?

Masa Nishijima (panelist since 1991): Victoria Resort in Sri Lanka is on my bucket list. Tom Doak visited there in 2018 and rated it very highly.

John Cornish (panelist since 2017): I missed the opportunity to visit Naruo Golf Club, in Japan, a course that is spoken of so highly by many of my fellow panelists. Our rankings also have a strong representation from South Korea and Vietnam, so they’re high on my list of places to return to.

Thomas Brown (panelist since 2015): Royal Adelaide is on my short list. I watched LPGA players at the 2020 Australian Women’s Open from afar on television and thought the bounce in the course looked ideal. Any property Alister Mackenzie helped design in the Southern hemisphere is worth a visit.

Gary Lisbon (panelist since 2011): Getting to a course is half the fun, and the more remote, the more excited I get. No. 23 on the list in the Himalayan has me wanting to visit Nepal to play and photograph the course. I imagine it would be dramatic in many respects.

Michael Goldstein (panelist since 2019): I’m all about an adventure, so get me to Nepal. But first: the Golden Age work in Japan, which sits atop my worldwide bucket list!

Any course that didn’t make the list that you’d like to see get recognition the next time around? What, in your opinion, makes it deserving?

Travel

Nishijima: I expected Royal Selangor, in Malaysia, to make the list. With a 130-year history, it has long been a leading club in Southeast Asia. I have great expectations for the future of golf in Malaysia, as the talent pool of GMs and superintendents runs deep. In the near future, I could see Malaysia having a top-10 course in Asia. I was also surprised that the BRG DaNang Dunes course was not selected. Eighteen years ago, when I first visited PhanThiet, Vietnam, I was amazed to see the huge sand dunes that stretched along the coastline — hundreds of miles of prime golf land.

Lisbon: A surprising omission for me was Royal Auckland Grange, in New Zealand, the amalgamation of two clubs, each with 18-hole layouts to create a 27-hole course with three sets of nine. I found the course visually appealing, playable by all golfing standards yet challenging and meticulously conditioned.

Brown: To echo Masa’s point regarding golf on the beach in Vietnam, KN Golf Links, in Cam Ranh, sits on exceptional land and is deserving of recognition. Another course would be Santiburi, in northern Thailand, outside of Chiang Rai. The course is an early design of Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and a favorite of mine for its variety in topography.

Goldstein: As a Kiwi, I think a few more local courses could be part of the discussion, particularly those in the deep south, which has a climate made for fine, bouncy grasses.

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The post Course Rater Confidential: Takeaways from GOLF’s inaugural Top 100 Asia-Pacific ranking appeared first on Golf.

The post Course Rater Confidential: Takeaways from GOLF’s inaugural Top 100 Asia-Pacific ranking appeared first on Golf.

GOLF’s Top 100 course panelists are among the most respected and well-traveled course evaluators in the game. They’re also keen to share their opinions. In this GOLF.com series, we’ll unlock their unvarnished views on all questions course-related. Check out GOLF’s latest Top 100 Courses in the U.S., Top 100 Courses in the World, Top 100 Courses You Can Play, Best Municipal Courses in the U.S., 100 Best Short Courses and 100 Best Courses in U.K. and Ireland. Meet all of our Top 100 panelists here.

GOLF’s inaugural ranking of the Top 100 Courses in Asia-Pacific has put a spotlight on exciting destinations many U.S. golfers rarely get a chance to visit. What were your main takeaways from the Asia-Pacific ranking? Anything that surprised you?

Masa Nishijima (panelist since 1991): When I first heard about this endeavor, I thought we could introduce 88 golf courses to readers around the world. As it stands, there are only 12 golf courses from the Asia-Pacific region on our World Top 100, leaving lots of territory to explore. Breaking into the World Top 100 is a tall order for Asian golf courses. In that sense, I believe that this ranking was extremely important, as it brings attention to worthy courses while providing inspiration for your next golf trip.

John Cornish (panelist since 2017): This list, which introduced me to so many courses I was previously unaware of, highlights the untapped opportunities for golf travel in Southeast Asia. With the experiences I have had throughout the region, I am always blown away by the friendliness of the people and their enthusiasm for welcoming visitors. And who knew there would be such a well-regarded course in Nepal?

Thomas Brown (panelist since 2015): Masa and John are spot-on here. The depth of quality golf courses across the 13 countries represented is high. It’s clear that seaside golf courses still grab the attention of our traveling golfers. Something else that stands out is the variety on this roster, ranging from new resorts to traditional private clubs designed by Golden Age architects such as Alister Mackenzie and Charles Hugh Alison.

Travel

Gary Lisbon (panelist since 2011): Like my fellow Australian, John, new courses and new countries (Nepal? Go figure) have gotten me excited to travel and play more in my “own backyard.” The depth of quality golf is evident and most courses are accessible to the masses (unlike many of the courses on our World Top 100, particularly in the U.S.). I was surprised at the positioning of current World Top 100 Asia-Pacific courses in this local listing. A number of non-World Top 100 courses sat higher than their world-ranked counterparts. Our 2023 World Top 100 ranking will hopefully identify new Asia-Pacific courses worthy of inclusion. The challenge continues to be that there are only 100 places on the list, and plenty of new courses and restorations are in the works. Inevitably, some worthy courses are going to miss out.

Michael Goldstein (panelist since 2019): What I find amazing about this diverse list is how a course like Waverley or Arrowtown, with a miniscule budget, sits alongside some of the most opulent golf experiences in the world. That’s the beauty of this game. The other thing is just how much change is underway in this part of the world. With so many new courses and so much renovation work, it’s a challenge to stay on top of it all. There are also some sneaky architects here who don’t always get the credit they’re due. Alex Russell, Sloane Morpeth and Eric Apperley are three unheralded designers from Down Under who were a big part of nine of the courses on this list.

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The post Planning a golf trip to Asia, Australia or New Zealand? Here are 6 things to know appeared first on Golf.

In golf, Top 100 lists are informational and aspirational. They clue us in to interesting courses even as they plant ideas for new adventures.

Now that GOLF has released its first-ever ranking of Top 100 Courses in the Asia-Pacific region, you may be contemplating a trip to Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea or another of the 13 countries represented on the roster. Godspeed, we say.

And if you’ve never been, here are six things to know before you go.

Access is easier than it is in the U.S.

“Sad to say, but only in America are private clubs so very exclusive and essentially off-limits to the wider golfing masses,” says Hal Phillips, a GOLF course rater who has worked and traveled extensively in Asia. Across that continent, Phillips notes, most clubs operate on the U.K. model, “whereby a polite letter or email to the GM or club secretary ahead of time (and a wad of cash upon arrival) will likely secure you a tee time.” There are exceptions, of course, but “in any and all cases, it’s worth exploring.”

Something similar applies in Australia, says GOLF course rater Gordon Dalgleish, president of leading golf-travel operator PerryGolf. Even the lofty likes of Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath (the top-ranked courses on GOLF’s Asia-Pacific roster) allow outside play, though, as in the U.K., they charge a premium for the privilege. One notable outlier is Ellerston (No. 18), a course so exclusive it verges on self-parody. You have a better chance getting on Augusta National.

In New Zealand, access is usually not an issue, though we’ll put an asterisk beside Tara Iti (No. 3). A private course, it offers limited outside play, but that policy has grown more restrictive since Covid: it’s worth a try, but there’s no guarantee. Otherwise, you’re pretty much in luck, as the majority of courses are either private (in the U.K. sense) or high-end resort courses, like Cape Kidnappers and Kauri Cliffs (Nos. 11 and 34 respectively), which operate on the “Turnberry or Kingsbarns model,” Dalgleish says. If you can pay, you can play.

Travel

Caddies (may be) required

Expect to take a caddie most anywhere in Asia. “Even if you go the cart route in warm-weather climates like Southeast Asia caddies are still part of the equation,” Phillips says. Fees vary, so check with your host or the pro shop about typical rates and tips. 

In Australia, caddies are much rarer. Most people walk and carry or push a trolley. If you want a caddie, you’ll need to try setting one up in advance. In New Zealand, it depends on the type of course At Tara Iti, for instance, caddies are required. But they’re not at most other top-ranked New Zealand courses, including Kauri Cliffs, Cape Kidnappers, Titirangi (No. 52) and Papaparaumu Beach (No. 17).

Keep dress codes in mind

As in the U.S., dress codes vary from course to course. But some general rules apply. In many Southeast Asian countries, Phillips says, “long pants for male players is the norm, regardless of heat index. However, locals also seem to recognize and accept the fact that Americans don’t pay this expectation much mind.” Throughout much of the continent, Phillip says, it’s a good idea to bring a nice change of clothes to the course. “Japanese and Koreans rarely, if ever, finish a round and go straight to the bar or restaurants in sweaty golf clothes,” he says. “They shower or take a communal bath — an experience not to be missed — and change clothes before meeting up again. Quite a sensible idea, really.”

In Australia, where most top courses operate on the U.K. private-club model, U.K. dress codes tend to apply as well, Dalgleish says. You might be able to get away with shorts, but not cargo shorts. And definitely not denim. At the resort courses of New Zealand, on the other hand, expectations around attire are more relaxed.

But there’s also no point leaving anything to doubt. If you’re unsure, inquire about dress codes in advance.

Pace of play is either brisk. Or not

In Australia, where U.K. golf culture runs deep, people tend to get around pretty quickly, Dalgleish says. Four hours for 18 is on the slower end of things. In New Zealand, the pace can be slower, especially at resort courses, but nowhere near as slow as it is in much of Asia. That’s not just because golfers often move from shot to shot at more gradual pace. In parts of the continent, including Japan, Korea and China, it is commonplace to stop for lunch after nine holes. Some high-end properties, such as Shanqin Bay (No. 13), have multiple comfort stations where golfers routinely sit for snacks or meals. If you play 18 in five hours, you’re doing well.

Language barriers and other logistics

Almost any golf trip can be DIY, and many travelers may prefer to go that route. For American travelers, Australia and New Zealand make especially easy transitions, given the common language, though if you choose to rent a car (not a bad option) keep in mind that you’ll be driving on the wrong side of the road. In the age of GPS, driving in such countries as Korea and Japan is reasonably uncomplicated, Phillips says. In Southeast Asia, he recommends hiring a driver, particularly if you’ve got long distances to cover. A lot depends on your comfort level going it alone.

Non-English speaking countries come with other considerations, and it never hurts to have a translator or a tour guide who can help with everything from tee times to ground transportation and accommodations. All of that can come in handy, Phillips notes, especially after a 12-hour flight that crosses as many time zones.

Golf season? It depends

In New Zealand and Australia, golf is played year-round, but the peak season Down Under is during the fall and winter. Think September through May. In countries that see winters, like Korea, Japan and China, the peak season tends to mirror that of the northeastern United States. In Southeast Asia, golf season goes year-round, though it can get extremely hot and humid in the summer. Often, the snag isn’t temperature but moisture. During the rainy season, Phillips recommends playing in the morning to avoid the “afternoon thunderstorms that eventuate, as in Florida, every day about 4 p.m.”

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GOLF Magazine‘s inaugural ranking of the finest courses in Asia-Pacific is long overdue. Not only does the region boast an eclectic mix of architecture, but it’s also home to some of the finest designs built this century.

***

Wondering which Asia-Pacific country scored the largest number of Top 100 Courses in GOLF’s inaugural ranking?

Turns out, it wasn’t even close. Out of a total representation of 13 different countries, Australia won in a landslide, with 38 of the Top 100, and an impressive 5 of the Top 10.

Japan was next on the list with 15, followed by a two-way tie for third with New Zealand and China.

Check out a full breakdown of how the Top 100 is dispersed in each Asia-Pacific country below.

More GOLF course rankings: Top 100 Courses in the World | Top 100 Courses in the U.S. | Top 100 Courses You Can Play | Top 100 Value Courses in the U.S. | America’s Best Municipal Courses | Top 100 Courses in the U.K. and Ireland | Top 100 Short Courses in the World

Methodology: How we rate courses | Meet our expert raters

TOP 100 COURSES IN ASIA-PACIFIC BY COUNTRY

Australia (38)

1. Royal Melbourne (West)
Blackrock, Australia
Alister MacKenzie, 1926

2. Kingston Heath
Cheltenham, Australia
Dan Soutar, 1925; Alister MacKenzie, 1926

5. Barnbougle Dunes
Bridport, Australia
Tom Doak/Mike Clayton, 2004

8. Royal Melbourne (East)
Black Rock, Australia
Alex Russell/Mick Morcom, 1932

9. Victoria
Cheltenham, Australia
Alister MacKenzie, 1927; Ogilvy Clayton Cocking & Mead, 2019

10. New South Wales
La Perouse, Australia
Alister MacKenzie/Eric Apperly, 1947

15. Cape Wickham
King Island, Australia
Mike Devries/Darius Oliver, 2015

16. Barnbougle Lost Farm
Bridport, Australia
Bill Coore/ben crenshaw, 2010

18. Ellerston
Hunter Valley, Australia
Greg Norman/Bob Harrison, 2001

20. Royal Adelaide
Adelaide, Australia
H. Rymill/C. Gardner, 1906; Alister MacKenzie, 1926

22. Peninsula Kingswood (North)
Frankston, Australia
Sloan Morpeth, 1965; Ogilvy Clayton Cocking & Mead, 2018

24. St. Andrews Beach
St. Andrews Beach, Australia
Tom Doak/Mike Clayton, 2004

25. The National (Moonah)
Cape Schanck, Australia
Greg Norman/Bob Harrison, 2000

27. The National (Gunnamatta)
Cape Schanck, Australia
Thomson Wolveridge & Perrett, 2000; Tom Doak, 2019

29. Newcastle
Fern Bay, Australia
Fred Popplewell Sr., 1915; Eric Apperly, 1932

31. Metropolitan
South Oakleigh, Australia
J.B. MacKenzie, 1908; Dick Wilson, 1960

36. Lake Karrinyup
Karrinyup, Australia
Alex Russell, 1928; Mike Clayton, 2007

39. Ocean Dunes
King Island, Australia
Graeme Grant, 2016

41. Woodlands
Mordialloc, Australia
J.D.H. Scott, 1919

43. Kooyonga
Lockleys, Australia
Herbert Rymill, 1923; Neil Crafter/Paul Mogford, 2012

44. Yarra Yarra
Bentleigh, Australia
Alex Russell, 1929; Tom Doak, 2021

46. Peninsula Kingswood (South)
Frankston, Australia
Sloan Morpeth, 1965; Ogilvy Clayton Cocking & Mead, 2018

48. Commonwealth
Oakleigh South, Australia
sam Bennett, 1921; Charles Lane, 1927; Sloan Morpeth, 1938

58. Barwon Heads
Barwon Heads, Australia
Victor East, 1921; Neil Crafter/Paul Mogford, 2005

60. Royal Canberra
Yarralumla, Australia
John harris, 1961; Ogilvy Clayton Cocking & Mead, 2016

62. Grange (West)
Grange, Australia
Herbert Rymill, 1927; Vern Morcom, 1965; Mike Clayton, 2008

65. The Lakes
Eastlakes, Australia
Von Hagge/Bruce Devlin, 1968; Mike Clayton, 2007

78. The National (Old)
Cape Schanck, Australia
Robert Trent Jones Jr., 1988

79. The Dunes
Rye, Australia
Tony Cashmore, 1995

81. 13th Beach (Beach)
Barwon Heads, Australia
Tony Cashmore, 2001

83. Cathedral Lodge
Thornton, Australia
Greg Norman, 2017

84. Lonsdale Links
Point Lonsdale, Australia
Ogilvy Cocking & Mead, 2020

92. Glenelg
Novar Gardens, Australia
Herbert Rymill, 1927; Vern Morcom, 1954; Neil Crafter/Bob Tuohy, 1998

93. Port Fairy
Port Fairy, Australia
Members, 1963; Kevin Hartley, 1985; Mike Clayton, 2002

95. Royal Queensland
Brisbane, Australia
Carnegie Clark, 1921; Mike Clayton, 2005

96. The Australian
Rosebery, Australia
Jack Nicklaus, 1976, 2013

98. Joondalup (Quarry/Dune)
Connolly, Australia
Robert Trent Jones Jr., 1985

100. Portsea
Portsea, Australia
Jock Young, 1926; Sloan Morpeth/Jack Howard, 1960; Mike Clayton, 2000

Japan (15)

4. Hirono
Miki-Chi, Japan
C.H. Alison/Chozu Ito, 1932; Martin Ebert, 2019

6. Kawana (Fuji)
Ito, Japan
C.H. Alison/Komyo Ohtani/Kinya Fujita, 1936

19. Tokyo
Sayama City, Japan
Komyo Ohtani, 1940; Gil Hanse, 2018

21. Naruo
Kawanishi, Japan
Joe Crane/Harry Crane/Bertie crane, 1930; C.H. Alison, 1931

26. Yokohama (West)
Yokohama, Japan
Takeo Aiyama, 1958; Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 2016

28. Kasumigaseki (East)
Kawagoe, Japan
Kinya Fujita/Shiro Akaboshi, 1929; Tom Fazio/Logan Fazio, 2016

32. Ono
Ono, Japan
Osamu Ueda, 1961

35. Abiko
Abiko, Japan
Rokuro & Shiro Akaboshi, 1931; Brian Silva/Kye Goalby, 2013

40. Osaka
Misaki, Japan
Osamu Ueda, 1937

45. Nikko
Nikko, Japan
Seiichi Inoue, 1955; Taizo Kawata, 2001

67. Koga
Koga, Japan
Osamu Ueda, 1953; Shoichi Suzuki, 1996; Ko Tanihira, 2005

68. Oarai
Oarai, Japan
Seiichi Inoue, 1953

70. Shimonoseki
Ahimonoseki, Japan
Osamu Ueda, 1956

80. Hokkaido Classic
Abira, Japan
Jack Nicklaus, 1991

85. Kasumigaseki (West)
Kawagoe, Japan
Kinya Fujita/Seiichi Inoue, 1932; Taizo Kawata, 1994

New Zealand (10)

3. Tara Iti
Te Arai, New Zealand
Tom Doak, 2015

7. Te Arai (South)
Tomarata, New Zealand
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 2022

11. Cape Kidnappers
Te Awanga, New Zealand
Tom Doak, 2004

17. Paraparaumu Beach
Paraparaumu Beach, New Zealand
Alex Russell, 1949

34. Kauri Cliffs
Matauri Bay, New Zealand
David Harman, 2000

52. Titirangi
Auckland, New Zealand
Alister Mackenzie, 1927

54. Kinloch
Kinloch, New Zealand
Jack Nicklaus, 2007

56. Jack’s Point
Queenstown, New Zealand
John Darby, 2008

69. Arrowtown
Arrowtown, New Zealand
Reg Romans/B.V. Right, 1936; B.V. Right, 1971

82. Waverley
Waverley, New Zealand
Ernie Southerden, 1965

China (10)

13. Shanqin Bay
Hainan, China
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 2012

30. Lanhai Int’l (Yangtze Dunes)
Chongming Island, China
Jack Nicklaus, 2011; Ogilvy Clayton Cocking & Mead, 2018

42. Mission Hills (Blackstone)
Haikou, China
Brian Curley, 2010

61. Dunes at Shenzhou East
Wanning, China
Tom Weiskopf/Phil Smith, 2012

63. Mission Hills (Hainan Lava Fields)
Haikou, Hainan, China
Brian Curley, 2011

64. Lake Malaren (Masters)
Shanghai, China
Jack Nicklaus, 2011

66. Shanghai Links
Shanghai, China
Jack Nicklaus, 1999

89. Dunes at Shenzhou West
Wanning, China
Tom Weiskopf/Phil Smith, 2010

91. Royal Hong Kong (Composite)
Sheung Shui, China
Eden: L.S. Greenhill, 1931; John Hopkins/Peter Thomson, 1968; New: John Hopkins/Peter Thompson/Michael Wolveridge, 1970

94. Nicklaus Club Beijing
Beijing, China
Jack Nicklaus, 2014

Vietnam (8)

33. Hoiana Shores
Quang Nam, Vietnam
Robert Trent Jones Jr., 2020

49. FLC Quang Binh (Forest Dunes)
Hai Ninh, Quang Binh, Vietnam
Brian Curley, 2018

55. FLC Quy Nhon (Ocean-Nicklaus)
Binh Dinh, Vietnam
Jack Nicklaus, 2016

57. The Bluffs Grand at Ho Tram BA
Ria-Vung Tau, Vietnam
Greg Norman, 2010

59. BRG Da Nang (Nicklaus)
Da Nang, Vietnam
Jack Nicklaus, 2020

71. FLC Quang Binh (Ocean Dunes)
Hai Ninh, Vietnam
Brian Curley, 2019

73. Stone Valley
Kim Bang, Ha Nam, Vietnam
Brian Curley, 2018

87. Laguna Lang Co
Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam
Nick Faldo, 2013

South Korea (7)

12. The Club at Nine Bridges
Jeju Island, South Korea
Ron Fream/David Dale, 2001

14. South Cape Owners Club
Namhae-gun, South Korea
Kyle Phillips, 2013

37. Whistling Rock (Temple/Cocoon)
Chuncheon, South Korea
Ted Robinson Jr., 2011; Eric Iverson, 2017

50. Pine Beach (Pine/Beach)
Haenam, South Korea
G.R. Baird/David Dale, 2009

74. Jack Nicklaus GC
Incheon, South Korea
Jack Nicklaus, 2010

88. Haesley Nine Bridges
Yeoju-Gun, South Korea
David Dale, 2009

97. Anyang
Gunpo-Si, South Korea
Chohei Miyazawa, 1968; Robert Trent Jones, Jr., 1997

Thailand (6)

38. Ayodhya
Boh Talo, Thailand
Thomson & Perrett, 2007; Pitak Intrawityanunt, 2012

47. Stonehill
Sam Khok, Thailand
Kyle Phillips, 2022

51. Ballyshear
Tambon Bang Bo, Thailand
Gil Hanse, 2022

76. Amata Spring
Tambon Nong Mai Daeng, Thailand
Lee Schmidt/Brian Curley, 2005

90. Blue Canyon (Canyon)
Tambon Mai Khao, Thailand
Yoshikazu Kato, 1991

99. Siam (Old)
Tambon Pong, Thailand
Ichisuke Izumi, 1971; Lee Schmidt, 2007

Indonesia (1)

65. Jagorawi (Old)
Gunung Putri, Indonesia
Thomson & Wolveridge, 1979

Malaysia (1)

86. Saujana (Palm)
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Ron Fream, 1986

Myanmar (1)

72. Myotha National
Sagaing, Myanmar
Lee Schmidt/Brian Curley, 2018

Nepal (1)

23. Himalayan
Pokhara, Nepal
R.B. Gurung, 1994

Singapore (1)

53. Sentosa (Serapong)
Singapore
Ronald Fream, 1982

Sri Lanka (1)

77. Victoria
Digana, Sri Lanka
Donald Steel/Martin Ebert, 1999

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The post GOLF’s first-ever Top 100 Courses in Asia-Pacific ranking will expand your bucket list appeared first on Golf.

The post GOLF’s first-ever Top 100 Courses in Asia-Pacific ranking will expand your bucket list appeared first on Golf.

GOLF Magazine‘s inaugural ranking of the finest courses in Asia-Pacific is long overdue. Not only does the region boast an eclectic mix of architecture, but it’s also home to some of the finest designs built this century. To say the course-build­ing business in the lands where the sun rises first is booming would be an understatement.

Australia scored big, placing 38 courses in our ranking. And no surprise that the West Course at Royal Melbourne finished in the top spot — it has, after all, held the top spot in the Southern Hemi­sphere ever since we started publishing world rankings four decades ago. That said, its margin of victory over Kingston Heath (No. 2), a world-class course in its own right, was impressive, as it finished more than six points (!) higher than its Aussie counterpart. To put that in perspec­tive, Pine Valley, in our latest ranking of Top 100 Courses in the U.S., beat out runner-up Cypress Point by less than two points.

More GOLF course rankings: Top 100 Courses in the World | Top 100 Courses in the U.S. | Top 100 Courses You Can Play | Top 100 Value Courses in the U.S. | America’s Best Municipal Courses | Top 100 Courses in the U.K. and Ireland | Top 100 Short Courses in the World

Regardless of whatever metrics you value when judging design, Royal Melbourne nails it. Like Shinnecock Hills, Melbourne’s closest equiva­lent here in the States, it’s a marvel for how effort­lessly it flows across its landscape. The gift of time is a luxury rarely afforded modern archi­tects, but it allowed Royal Melbourne, carved out over several years using “horse-drawn plough and scoop,” to emerge harmoniously from its sandy, scrubby environs. It’s the rarest of rare: a course with no faults.

Travel

Six courses in Oz made the top 10. Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, the East Course at Royal Melbourne (No. 8) and Victoria (No. 9) all are in Australia’s famed Sandbelt region. For those who like to travel to great courses that are clustered together, there are few — if any — better areas in the world to head to than here.

Such was the experience of GOLF panelist Pete Phipps, a North Carolina resident who made his first trip to Australia and New Zealand in January of this year. He toured 15 courses in 12 days. In addition to noting how the architects had taken full advantage of the region’s sandy soil, he came away mightily impressed by Australia’s golf cul­ture, writing, “You go days without seeing a cart. You can carry your own bag everywhere, though most members prefer a trolley. The pace of play is steady. The clubhouses and locker rooms are done with great taste. While the Sandbelt courses show off amazing architecture and history, they do it without the pretentiousness or stuffiness that you experience at elite clubs in other countries.”

Having lived in Australia for six years, I fully agree with Pete’s glowing assessment. Back then, most weekends at my home club of New­castle GC (No. 29), two hours north of Sydney, we played the Stableford format, a scoring system that keeps play moving at a fine pace. Trust me: There’s a commonsense approach to golf in Aus­tralia you don’t often see. Although it may take a 13-hour flight to get there, a trip Down Under is worth the effort for the complete playing experience.

The Land of the Rising Sun

Japan had the second most courses in our Top 100 ranking with 15. Its Big Five — Hirono (No. 4), the Fuji Course at Kawana (No. 6), Tokyo GC (No. 19), Naruo (No. 21) and the West Course at Yokohama (No. 26) — are the cornerstone for one of the game’s epic trips. True, you need to take a bullet train southwest to Osaka to play Hirono and Naruo and south from Tokyo to enjoy Kawana, but time, like the train, flies.

Similar to Australia, where Alister MacKenzie played such an outsize role in defining what constitutes great architecture, another Brit, C.H. Alison, played a pivotal role in the 1930s in shaping golf in Japan. His works at the country’s two best courses (Hirono and Kawana) influenced future Japanese architects such as Koymo Ohtani, who went on to build today’s version of Tokyo GC. Gil Hanse and Neil Cameron’s fantastic renovations at Tokyo a few years ago included work on the course’s famous greens. There are two per hole, originally one with warm-weather grass and the other built to survive in cooler temps. Advances in agronomy over the past 80 years has rendered this approach moot. The two-green model remains at Tokyo GC, asking wildly different — and fun — questions of the player.

Kiwi Kindness

Alex Russell, the famed Australian architect who assisted Alister MacKenzie at Royal Melbourne before building other gems of his own, designed Paraparaumu Beach (No. 17) in 1948, which held the mantle as New Zealand’s finest course throughout the last century. It remains a delight, played over some of the game’s most lusciously rumpled land. And with a green fee of $120, it’s a fabulous bargain.

Drive 100 miles north from Paraparaumu up the west coast and you’ll find Waverley GC (No. 82). An honesty box is sometimes the only option you have for paying the roughly $20 green fee. Known colloquially as a “country course,” its greens crew includes sheep that roam the jumbled landforms. “Turf heads,” focused mainly on perfectly manicured conditions, need not visit, but for those who view small-town golf as integral to the fabric of the sport, Waverley is a reaffirmation that golf need not be expensive to be exhilarating.

Elsewhere on the North Island, two American business titans, Julian Robertson and Ric Kayne, have put New Zealand front and center for the best golf built this century. Kauri Cliffs (No. 34), which opened in 2000, is as pretty a setting as I’ve ever seen. Robertson quickly followed its success with Tom Doak’s Cape Kidnappers (No. 11) in 2004, where holes cling to the cliffs some 460 feet above the Pacific.

More GOLF course rankings: Top 100 Courses in the World | Top 100 Courses in the U.S. | Top 100 Courses You Can Play | Top 100 Value Courses in the U.S. | America’s Best Municipal Courses | Top 100 Courses in the U.K. and Ireland | Top 100 Short Courses in the World

Like Robertson, Kayne became bewitched by New Zealand’s impossible beauty and had Tom Doak build Tara Iti (No. 3) in 2015. Pictures of its green fairways twisting through white, sandy dunes instantly captivated golfers worldwide. New Zealand’s seasons are reversed from North America’s, meaning that when you poke your nose out and see nothing but snow in January in Minneapolis, the allure of Tara Iti, bathed in bright sunshine and warmth, becomes especially acute.

Given Tara Iti’s resounding success, Kayne subsequently hired Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw — and Doak again — to build a pair of public-access courses four miles south down the coast from the private Tara Iti. The Doak course opens in October but the Coore & Crenshaw’s Te Arai South (No. 7) opened last year to rave reviews. Based on its finish here, we expect it to be a strong contender for inclusion in our 2023 World Top 100 due out in November.

In Other Parts of Asia

While Australia, Japan and New Zealand courses comprise nearly two thirds of our ranking, exciting builds are percolating all across Asia. Vietnam’s coastline, in particular, is being put to fantastic use. Panelist Paul Rudovsky, who has played over 1,500 courses, was smitten by his time in Vietnam and its people. Rudovsky is our resident course statistician and, citing a study by the R&A, writes, “Vietnam has grown from 78 courses in 2018 to 86 in 2020, and there are an additional 27 new courses that will have opened by year end 2025. So in seven years, Vietnam is projected to go from 78 to 113 courses— a growth of 45 percent!”

Similar to Paul’s sentiments on the Vietnamese, I was mightily impressed on my one visit to South Korea. For sure, Koreans embrace golf almost spiritually. You can see it in how neatly they present their courses and work with nature. Though we only rank courses themselves, if you’re into design in general, the architecture of the clubhouses at the finest courses in South Korea, including Nine Bridges (No. 12), South Cape (No. 14) and Whistling Rock (No. 37), will knock your socks off.

Course construction in China is a bit different — it tends to ebb and flow with the government’s desires. At the pinnacle stands Coore & Crenshaw’s Shanqin Bay on the island of Hainan. While its original 17th hole — one of the best on property — was removed a few years ago, a permanent replacement has now taken hold. The addition helped this coastal stunner move into 13th place on our list.

In terms of genuine outpost golf, try Himalayan GC (No. 23) in Nepal. Major Ram Gurung, a Gurkha who served in the British Army for 30 years, designed it in 1994. As he told my brother, “My main theme when laying out the course was simply to flow with nature and where possible bring into play a golfer’s senses by the sound and sight of rivers and canyon edges.” The roar of the Bijayapur River that runs through the canyon is thunderous as it carries snowmelt from the Annapurna range from several hundred feet above on the rim of the canyon. Take care when crossing this river in several spots — this is “adventure golf” of the highest order.

The More Things Change…

As in the States, titans of architecture — from Alister MacKenzie to C.H. Alison to Tom Doak, Jack Nicklaus, Coore & Crenshaw — dominate this ranking. To appreciate the global design empire that Jack Nicklaus built over six decades, 10 original designs are featured here, the most by any architect. Aussie Mike Clayton (with varied partners) and Arizona-based Brian Curley (who has flown across the Pacific more than 500 times) are two other architects found frequently throughout this ranking.

Restorations, like our titans, play a big role in this ranking too. MacKenzie’s and Ebert’s work at Hirono directly led to its top-five finish, and the West Course at Yokohama might have been a hundred spots lower if not for what Coore & Crenshaw did there in 2015. MacKenzie’s Titirangi (No. 52) has been allowed to open up and breathe thanks to work by Clyde Johnson.

As evidenced by the photographs on these pages, Asia-Pacific is a gorgeous part of the world and its golf offerings are as diverse as its landscape. Talented architects have been taking advantage of what’s here for the better part of a century. You need to as well.

The ease of modern travel makes this region more attainable than ever. We trust that this ranking will help with future trips. Akin to golf in the United Kingdom, a proper letter of introduction gains you access to a majority of the region’s finest courses, which makes this ranking even more meaningful and practical. It’s a long flight, but you’ll return with lifetime memories. What are you waiting for?

The post GOLF’s first-ever Top 100 Courses in Asia-Pacific ranking will expand your bucket list appeared first on Golf.

The post Revealed! GOLF’s first-ever Top 100 ranking of the best golf courses in Asia-Pacific appeared first on Golf.

The post Revealed! GOLF’s first-ever Top 100 ranking of the best golf courses in Asia-Pacific appeared first on Golf.

GOLF Magazine‘s inaugural ranking of the finest courses in Asia-Pacific is long overdue. Not only does the region boast an eclectic mix of architecture, but it’s also home to some of the finest designs built this century. To say the course-build­ing business in the lands where the sun rises first is booming would be an understatement.

The ease of modern travel makes this region more attainable than ever. We trust that this ranking will help with future trips. Akin to golf in the United Kingdom, a proper letter of introduction gains you access to a majority of the region’s finest courses, which makes this ranking even more meaningful and practical. It’s a long flight, but you’ll return with lifetime memories.

What are you waiting for?

More GOLF course rankings: Top 100 Courses in the World | Top 100 Courses in the U.S. | Top 100 Courses You Can Play | Top 100 Value Courses in the U.S. | America’s Best Municipal Courses | Top 100 Courses in the U.K. and Ireland | Top 100 Short Courses in the World

Methodology: How we rate courses | Meet our expert raters

Ed. note: Unless otherwise noted, the course descriptions below were written by Ran Morrissett.

1. Royal Melbourne (West)
Blackrock, Australia
Alister MacKenzie, 1926

Beside the club parking area is the horse-drawn plough and scoop that was used to slowly construct what some people consider to be the finest course in the world, let alone Asia-Pacific: the West Course at Royal Melbourne. Because construction played out over a four-year period, the tie-ins are gorgeous, meaning the transition between where nature stops and man’s hand begins is nearly indiscernible. The bunkers are steep-faced and chew into the putting surfaces. The sand is compact too, so to short-side yourself is to likely cost yourself a stroke. How refreshing to find hazards that play as hazards! Standout holes abound, including the short par-4 3rd with its green that falls away; the ½-par 4th that plays up and over the crest of a hill; the photogenic one-shot 5th; and one of the game’s quintessential doglegs, the 6th, which sweeps right around a large native area to a fiercely contoured green. The course embodies all of Alister MacKenzie’s design ideals, even though he was in the country for only nine weeks.

2. Kingston Heath
Cheltenham, Australia
Dan Soutar, 1925; Alister MacKenzie, 1926

Dan Soutar, Mick Morcom and Alister MacKenzie each played a key role in creating a visual feast and a strategic masterpiece, helped in large measure by the site’s critical virtue of sitting on sandy soil. Any modern architect should spend time here, studying how Kingston Heath’s creators teased so much from land that is neither rambunctious nor expansive. It’s no wonder this course is a darling among design aficionados. A stellar collection of two-shot holes pose the full range of questions. Among the other standout holes are the par-5 7th with its exasperating swale in front; the tiny par-3 10th played over scrub; and the uphill one-shot 15th played across a series of bunkers that are a masterclass of presentation.  

3. Tara Iti
Te Arai, New Zealand
Tom Doak, 2015

Tara Iti jumped onto our World list in 2017 as one of our highest debuting courses ever. Then it moved higher still. The course is buoyed by its enviable location in the dunes along the Pacific Ocean, along with superior fine-fescue fairways and swirls of natural grass and sand. The design is loaded with remarkable holes. The punchbowl 3rd green is something that must be experienced firsthand with its design highlighting the joys of a ball careening this way and that along the ground. Two of Tara Iti’s one-shotters — the 15th and 17th — are hyper-photogenic as they play to greens along the coast. Another of the course’s finest moments comes at the long uphill 12th, which plays away from the water to an open, tilted green that is 7 feet higher on its right than left. The tight playing surfaces combine with architecture that dazzles even when one’s back is to the Pacific.  

4. Hirono
Miki-Chi, Japan
C.H. Alison/Chozu Ito, 1932; Martin Ebert, 2019

Japanese golfers had never seen the kind of deep, strategically placed bunkers that architect C.H. Alison introduced to Hirono in the early 1930s — so much so that this style of bunkers became known as “Alisons.” Originally, the course bore a sandy, scrubby appearance akin to Pine Valley (where Alison consulted), but tree planting changed Hirono’s character over the decades. Thankfully, Martin Ebert’s 2019 restoration effort reestablished sand as a dominant theme. No one seems to agree on which is its best par-3, as they are all outstanding. Certainly, the Fjord 5th across a lake and the Devil’s Divot 7th played across a gulley with a series of menacing bunkers cut into the far face are as good a pair of one-shotters as you’ll find on any outward nine. Another standout hole is the par-5 15th, where a central-hazard tree followed by a ravine put great pressure on the player’s second shot. From inception, Hirono set the standard for design excellence and all other Japanese courses have been measured against it since. 

5. Barnbougle Dunes
Bridport, Australia
Tom Doak/Mike Clayton, 2004

Australia’s greatest links continually achieves top status thanks to a sophisticated design coupled with a stirring seaside setting with holes nestled in large dunes that run parallel to the ocean. Each nine fans from opposing sides of the clubhouse. The dunes extend inland “only” some 350 yards and the architects did a fabulous job in having the holes flow across them in every conceivable manner. One highlight is the short, 122-yard 7th, which is the Southern Hemisphere’s equivalent to Royal Troon’s devilish Postage Stamp hole. One of its design tricks is that it heads in a different direction from any previous hole, meaning golfers don’t have a good read on the wind before hitting a short iron toward the green ringed by deep bunkers – and worse. The drivable 300-yard 4th is another instant classic, featuring a natural blowout bunker in the foreground that must be carried while avoiding two smaller — though equally penal — bunkers on the left closer to a green perfectly placed in a natural saddle. 

6. Kawana (Fuji)
Ito, Japan
C.H. Alison/Komyo Ohtani/Kinya Fujita, 1936

There are no guarantees a great course will emerge from a great site. Routing a course — making all 18 holes connect while simultaneously complementing one another — requires vision and talent. It is a true gift and the primary differentiator between being a good architect and an elite one. In the case of the Kawana Resort, its owner, Baron Okura, did not think that the original routing took full advantage of the site’s wonders, which range from views of snowcapped Mt. Fuji to cliff-top panoramas of the Pacific Ocean. Therefore, he organized for C.H. Alison to scout the property while he was working at Tokyo GC. Alison developed a different routing and several years later the course was built under the expert guidance of Koymo Ohtani and Kinya Fujita. The result is what some people consider to be their favorite course along the Pacific Ocean — including California and Oregon! There isn’t a single weak hole, and the golfer eventually runs out of superlatives when describing how well this undulating land was utilized. Recent tree clearing along the perimeter has enhanced the site’s phenomenal coastal setting. Just look at this view of the 7th hole; a decade ago, trees behind the green blocked off this water view. 

7. Te Arai (South)
Tomarata, New Zealand
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 2022

Te Arai South is soon to form half of the Te Arai resort alongside the Tom Doak-designed Te Arai North opening in late 2023. Paired with their cousin just along the coast (Tara Iti), this stretch of coastline north of Auckland will soon rank among the world’s dream golf destinations. “Playing Te Arai South is a beautiful experience where the linksland rises perfectly from the beach, mesmerizing the golfer with white sand below, the Pacific Ocean beyond and the islands in the distance. While the early holes dance in and out of the woods, from the 5th hole onward, Te Arai South unfolds into a mind-bendingly fun stretch of coastal golf featuring thrilling short holes, an array of fun short par-4s and some bold, diverse, restrained and zany greens punctuated by the Sitwell-inspired 16th. No commentary on the South course at Te Arai is complete without a nod to the wee 17th, which, no matter how hard the wind is blowing, is one of the greatest 100-yard holes in world golf. — Michael Goldstein, GOLF panelist

8. Royal Melbourne (East)
Black Rock, Australia
Alex Russell/Mick Morcom, 1932

Confident in his own work, Alister MacKenzie freely lauded the work of others. In the United States, he considered Perry Maxwell to be as talented as anyone; in Australia, his man was Alex Russell, who deserves full credit for the East Course, in addition to Paraparaumu Beach (No. 17), Lake Karrinyup (No. 36) and other gems in Australia and New Zealand, including Yarra Yarra (No. 44). The panel’s appreciation of the East Course raises the question: What club offers the finest 36-hole day in golf at one location? Though many champion Winged Foot, Sunningdale and Baltusrol, it is hard to argue that Royal Melbourne isn’t the pick of the bunch.

9. Victoria
Cheltenham, Australia
Alister MacKenzie, 1927; Ogilvy Clayton Cocking & Mead, 2019

Many courses worldwide built before 1940 have been undergoing thoughtful restorations. Victoria is a sterling example, with Mike Clayton meticulously overseeing much of the work over a 20-year period. Today, Victoria enjoys the style of golf that Alister MacKenzie introduced to Australia through his work across the road at Royal Melbourne.  The bunkers and waste areas reflect a Golden Age aesthetic, green undulations and surrounds are both fun and challenging and the overall conditions are as firm and fast as any in the Sandbelt. The club’s leadership and agronomy team also deserve credit for only fostering indigenous vegetation on the property while removing all other forms that had crept in over the decades. The short par-4s at the 1st and the 15th stand out even in a neighborhood full of such risk/reward holes. And the short green-to-tee walks make Victoria a walker’s paradise. — Pete Phipps, GOLF panelist

10. New South Wales
La Perouse, Australia
Alister MacKenzie/Eric Apperly, 1947

Sydney’s magnificent Harbour Bridge and Opera House speak to a city of impossible beauty, and the course at La Perouse is its crowning golf offering. The middle of each nine features holes along the rugged shoreline. The two most famous holes are the par-5 5th, with its long, downward sloping fairway toward the Pacific, and the 195-yard 6th that plays over an inlet of Cape Banks. But the stretch from 13 to 16 is as good a run of par-4s as you will find anywhere.

11. Cape Kidnappers
Te Awanga, New Zealand
Tom Doak, 2004

Drone shots of this course are evocative, showing holes on fingers of land hundreds of feet above the swirling Pacific Ocean. But golf is played from the ground, not the air, and that works just fine here with the site’s tumbling landforms. The course’s most famous hole is also its most feared: the 650-yard, par-5 15th, which falls away on both sides of the fairway and sports a horizon green perched precariously on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Architecture buffs are likely to be just as captivated by the playing angles at the preceding hole, a short two-shotter with a Road Hole green complex. 

12. The Club at Nine Bridges
Jeju Island, South Korea
Ron Fream/David Dale, 2001

Nine Bridges’ appeal starts with its tranquil setting on Jeju island, with holes etched into pine-clad rolling topography in the shadows of Mount Halla, Korea’s tallest peak. Lakes, creeks and wooded slopes not only contribute to the beauty and variety but also are seamlessly integrated into the design. Nine Bridges routinely hosts important professional and amateur events, and the contestants uniformly praise both its challenge and presentation.

13. Shanqin Bay
Hainan, China
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 2012

A tropical island in the south China sea may be an unlikely location for world-class golf but Hainan Island features a plethora of dramatic landforms: steep stretches of rolling farmland, a broad canyon, majestic sand dunes and dense vegetation. Shanqin Bay’s routing, bordered by the sea on three sides, embraces all of these geomorphic features creating a thrilling 18-hole ride. The tumultuous journey takes golfers high on a cliffside and hill where stunning ocean views prevail and dips and turns into valleys and ravines bordered by unyielding native vines and grasses. There’s a pleasant mix of long and short holes that hug the land and are simultaneously natural and strategic. Fairway bunkering is relatively sparse as befits the terrain. Greens are strewn over both high and low land, creating a wonderful, motley array of approach shots. The interior holes may lack the visual drama of those on cliff and beach but do not cede any shot value or playing interest. At Shanqin Bay, Coore and Crenshaw turned hostile geography into an exalted playground for golf. — Joe Andriole, GOLF panelist

14. South Cape Owners Club
Namhae-gun, South Korea
Kyle Phillips, 2013

American designer Kyle Phillips’ work has dazzled at such diverse geographic locations as the California Golf Club of San Francisco, Kingsbarns in Scotland and Yaz Links in Abu Dhabi. Add in this South Korean course and you start to gain a sense of Phillips’ global footprint. Working for business magnate Jae Bong Chung, Phillips was given a sprawling coastal site complete with cliffs on an island just off the South Korean peninsula. You might assume the highlights are the par-5 6th, which twists uphill past rocks and large sandscapes, and the 220-yard 7th, which plays out over the sea. But then you arrive at the stretch from 13 to 16. The 16th is Asia’s equivalent of 16 at Cypress Point, and there is a legitimate debate as to which is finer. No surprise given its owner, but the clean lines and décor of the clubhouse and lodging show immaculate taste, and the music library is a can’t miss. 

15. Cape Wickham
King Island, Australia
Mike Devries/Darius Oliver, 2015

Wickham wows with an opening stretch of seaside headland holes, three par-3s that skirt the sea and a Cape-style 18th that demands a bite-off-as-much-as-you-dare drive over Victoria Cove. Set on the northern end of King Island in the Bass Strait between Tasmania and mainland Australia, this course and Ocean Dunes (No. 39) occupy the windiest spots of any on our list. Wickham compensates with wide landing areas and greens that are open in front, meaning golfers are guaranteed to have fun, be they in a one-club wind — or five! Either way, you are set for a day of lasting memories.

16. Barnbougle Lost Farm
Bridport, Australia
Bill Coore/ben crenshaw, 2010

Unlike its sister course Barnbougle Dunes where the holes run up and down the coast within a narrow band of dunes, the routing here defies description, with holes to-ing and fro-ing in every direction, culminating with the par-5 12th set 1,300 yards from the coastline. With the wind whipping off the Bass Strait, you need to make constant allowances for how the wind impacts each hole. The gorgeous, tiny par-3 4th kicks off the course’s finest four-hole stretch, but the pièce de résistance is Coore’s work in the flats, namely the 2nd and 12th greens and the outrageously clever par-4 16th. The course storms home from there with a long par-3 to a green benched high in the dunes and a long two-shotter that tumbles over land to an open green that is much deeper than it is wide. 

17. Paraparaumu Beach
Paraparaumu Beach, New Zealand
Alex Russell, 1949

“Alex Russell, the one-time design associate of Alister MacKenzie, is an oft-overlooked actor within the top echelon of golf in Australasia. Russell’s crowning glory was at Paraparaumu Beach, where in 1948 — arguably drawing the curtain on the golden age of golf architecture — his life in golf culminated in creating one of the world’s premier links. “Though Paraparaumu Beach may lack the stunning vistas of the modern masterpieces of New Zealand golf,  its routing is one for the purists where restraint balances against its epic, rumpled landforms. Paraparaumu is a seamless stroll through the dunes which are of perfect scale for walkable golf. While most reviews emphasize Paraparaumu’s short holes (notably the 16th to a deep but slender green), the real depth of strategic design comes from the diversity found within its two-shot holes, most notably the rumpled drivable 6th; the whimsical drive-and-pitch 8th; the rollicking 13th; and the strategic dogleg 17th. Once a bit overgrown and spongy, today’s course soars under strong custodianship — the trees are gone allowing the native wastelands to flourish and the playing corridors are once again firm and bouncy. It’s proper links golf of the highest order. — Michael Goldstein, GOLF panelist

18. Ellerston
Hunter Valley, Australia
Greg Norman/Bob Harrison, 2001

Greg Norman always professed his admiration for Alister MacKenzie. At ultra-exclusive Ellerston, he and design partner Bob Harrison adapted MacKenzie strategies and bunker stylings on a rugged landscape, resulting in one of the strongest, most option-laden tests in the Southern Hemisphere. Forced carries over ravines, greens set along ridge tops and the influence of Pages Creek add to the challenge. Few golfers can access to the course, which is shame given there is so much to admire architecturally. 

19. Tokyo
Sayama City, Japan
Komyo Ohtani, 1940; Gil Hanse, 2018

The only word that does this course and club justice is elegant. The existing course is in the club’s third location, and even though C.H. Alison designed the second iteration, today’s course offers even better golf. Koymo Ohtani, who closely studied and worked with Alison, deserves primary credit. He routed today’s course — anchored by a world-class collection of par-5s — and later a second green was added to each hole, with the goal of having one green with a warm weather grass and another with a cool weather variety. That made sense in that era but improvements in agronomy have rendered that approach moot. Still, the two-green system flourishes thanks to work done several years ago by Gil Hanse and Neil Cameron. At the par-3 4th, you play from the upper-right tee to the lower-left green, or you play from the lower-left tee to the upper-right green. Elsewhere, at the 6th, you can bounce a ball onto the open lower-left green that is at grade with the fairway with a creek hugging the green’s left side. But the upper-right plateau green with deep guarding bunkers poses an entirely different ask. Tokyo GC occupies an expansive piece of property, which is precisely what is required to pull off such an elaborate two-green system. First-timer visitors to Tokyo GC will leave yearning for more two-green courses, though this design will always be in a class by itself. 

20. Royal Adelaide
Adelaide, Australia
H. Rymill/C. Gardner, 1906; Alister MacKenzie, 1926

A dune system in the middle of the property was put to perfect use with holes fanning in and out of it on both nines. You haven’t seen the best holes in Australia until you play the short par-4 3rd and the par 4-11th with its interrupted fairway that requires a shot over broken ground to a green nestled at the base of a large dune. Other highlights include the pugnacious par-3 7th green, which is ringed by eight bunkers and plays toward the sea less than 2 miles away. A tram line bisects the course, and the best hole on the east side of it is surely the dogleg-right 14th that features another interrupted fairway. The course and the club exude Old World charm. 

21. Naruo
Kawanishi, Japan
Joe Crane/Harry Crane/Bertie crane, 1930; C.H. Alison, 1931

22. Peninsula Kingswood (North)
Frankston, Australia
Sloan Morpeth, 1965; Ogilvy Clayton Cocking & Mead, 2018

23. Himalayan
Pokhara, Nepal
R.B. Gurung, 1994

In a country known for trekking, golf architect one-hit-wonder Major Ram Gurung delivers a stunning walk across unirrigated ground in the sub-tropical region of Pokhara, Nepal. Holes run back and forth across the Bijaypur River, which flows downhill from the Annapurna mountain peak more than 26,000 above sea level.  The ledge-top descent into the canyon at the 3rd amounts to the start of an escape from civilization for the next couple of hours. Strategic options abound at a hole like the 6th, a long par-5 with decisions about where to place your tee ball alongside whitewater rapids, followed by a choice to go for the green on your second shot. Heroics and skill are required to play the angles properly and to keep your ball dry if you want an eagle putt. If the 6th hole delivers foolish temptation, then the uphill, 150-yard 7th is about caution.  The green is partially hidden on a plateau with wild vegetation growing out of the rocky precipice. Survive by playing your tee shot to the center of green. Did you make the carry from up there? Walk across the river and climb the ledge to find out. The flow and rhythm of the holes and how they relate to one another are excellent throughout. The ascent back to civilization — on the 16th-hole tee shot across a chasm — requires a moment of pause. You can’t find this brand of excitement anywhere else. — Tom Brown, GOLF panelist

24. St. Andrews Beach
St. Andrews Beach, Australia
Tom Doak/Mike Clayton, 2004

25. The National (Moonah)
Cape Schanck, Australia
Greg Norman/Bob Harrison, 2000

26. Yokohama (West)
Yokohama, Japan
Takeo Aiyama, 1958; Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 2016

27. The National (Gunnamatta)
Cape Schanck, Australia
Thomson Wolveridge & Perrett, 2000; Tom Doak, 2019

28. Kasumigaseki (East)
Kawagoe, Japan
Kinya Fujita/Shiro Akaboshi, 1929; Tom Fazio/Logan Fazio, 2016

29. Newcastle
Fern Bay, Australia
Fred Popplewell Sr., 1915; Eric Apperly, 1932

30. PGA Golf Club – An Ying (Yangtze Dunes)
Chongming Island, China
Jack Nicklaus & Jack Nicklaus II for Nicklaus Design, 2011; Ogilvy Clayton Cocking & Mead, 2018

31. Metropolitan
South Oakleigh, Australia
J.B. MacKenzie, 1908; Dick Wilson, 1960

32. Ono
Ono, Japan
Osamu Ueda, 1961

Ono GC was established after the war as a sister club of Hirono by Toyohiko Inui, the founder and developer of Hirono GC. Inui chose Osamu Ueda, who had restored Hirono, to design the course. The front nine is on relatively gentle terrain facing the huge Oike Pond, which is strategically incorporated into holes 7, 8, and 9. The back nine is laid out on slightly hilly terrain with the 10th being especially handsome thanks to its well-placed bunkers. The next hole features a pine tree as a central hazard, a favorite design ploy of Ueda’s (he did the same at holes 4 and 7). At the 11th, the pine stands at the dogleg point and helps to make the hole a gentle double dogleg. Holes 14 and 15 flow uphill, and 16 is a gorgeous downhill heroic par-5. Many overseas visitors note how the par-3s (5, 8, 12 and 17) are all memorable and their individuality accentuates one’s impression of the course overall. Ono deserves its praise as a true hidden gem among classically designed Japanese courses. — Masa Nishijima, GOLF panelist

33. Hoiana Shores
Quang Nam, Vietnam
Robert Trent Jones Jr., 2020

34. Kauri Cliffs
Matauri Bay, New Zealand
David Harman, 2000

35. Abiko
Abiko, Japan
Rokuro & Shiro Akaboshi, 1931; Brian Silva/Kye Goalby, 2013

36. Lake Karrinyup
Karrinyup, Australia
Alex Russell, 1928; Mike Clayton, 2007

37. Whistling Rock (Temple/Cocoon)
Chuncheon, South Korea
Ted Robinson Jr., 2011; Eric Iverson, 2017

38. Ayodhya
Boh Talo, Thailand
Thomson & Perrett, 2007; Pitak Intrawityanunt, 2012

39. Ocean Dunes
King Island, Australia
Graeme Grant, 2016

40. Osaka
Misaki, Japan
Osamu Ueda, 1937

In 2013, Osamu Ueda’s masterpiece was revived with restoration advice from Japanese course architect Taizo Kawata. The removal of trees along the coastline opened panoramic views of Osaka Bay. Kawata was selective in what trees needed to be felled but he helped reveal a wonderful landscape, especially prominent at holes 3 and 7 that head toward the sea. Golfers now appreciate the gorgeous up-and-down seaside terrain. The course measures only 6,402 yards but is full of character. Take the 9th hole, a short par-5 of 477 yards that features a downhill tee shot into an attractive valley, followed by an uphill second shot whereby the golfer needs to decide whether to take the high-left or low-right portion of a spilt fairway. The back-nine’s drama intensifies at hole 13 where the fairway is diagonal and features a slightly uphill tee shot, with the approach shot played to a long green with greenside bunkers left and right and the sea behind. The next hole, a par-3 along the cliff, is equally photogenic. Ueda let the land dictate the pars, and its unusual par finish of 5-3-5-3 is part of Osaka’s charms. — Masa Nishijima, GOLF panelist

41. Woodlands
Mordialloc, Australia
J.D.H. Scott, 1919

42. Mission Hills (Blackstone)
Haikou, China
Brian Curley, 2010

43. Kooyonga
Lockleys, Australia
Herbert Rymill, 1923; Neil Crafter/Paul Mogford, 2012

44. Yarra Yarra
Bentleigh, Australia
Alex Russell, 1929; Tom Doak, 2021

45. Nikko
Nikko, Japan
Seiichi Inoue, 1955; Taizo Kawata, 2001

46. Peninsula Kingswood (South)
Frankston, Australia
Sloan Morpeth, 1965; Ogilvy Clayton Cocking & Mead, 2018

47. Stonehill
Sam Khok, Thailand
Kyle Phillips, 2022

48. Commonwealth
Oakleigh South, Australia
sam Bennett, 1921; Charles Lane, 1927; Sloan Morpeth, 1938

49. FLC Quang Binh (Forest Dunes)
Hai Ninh, Quang Binh, Vietnam
Brian Curley, 2018

Vietnam’s coast is the stuff of any architect’s dreams with sandy beaches giving way to rumpled dunes replete with coastal vegetation. The Quang Binh Resort occupies an enviable position along one such sandy stretch. Two of its courses — Forest Dunes and Ocean Dunes (No. 71) —make our ranking. Architect Brian Curley has designed scores of courses across Asia, and he considers this one of the finest sites with which he has worked. Still, any great site can be ruined by a crummy development plan, and that is decidedly not the case here. This is pure golf, with no development at the surrounds, leaving golfers free to soak up the bright white sands, ocean backdrops, pristine blue waters, clusters of dark trees and lush marshes. As it relates to the Forest Dunes course, Curley notes, “I hope some might consider this to be the most natural course in Asia as we didn’t create a single formal bunker. Instead, we used irregularly edged transitional sandy lows and dunes with splashes of native grasses that cut through the fairways at all sorts of angles. Many of the fairways are interconnected and the large greens have strong interior movement, kick-slopes and backstops, all of which promote the ground game, not to mention having fun.” The short par-4 7th is drivable and features two greens, one surrounded by sand and the other with a narrow lead-in of turf. Another standout hole is the par-4 15th that heads to sea, wrapping around a sandy marsh.

50. Pine Beach (Pine/Beach)
Haenam, South Korea
G.R. Baird/David Dale, 2009

51. Ballyshear
Tambon Bang Bo, Thailand
Gil Hanse, 2022

Do you celebrate blind shots? How are you in the face of an unexpected bounce, or having to endure the rub of the green? At Ban Rakat Club — affectionately named Ballyshear — architect Gil Hanse created a welcome break from the norm course (especially for Asia) that poses such unconventional questions, with inspiration drawn from C.B. Macdonald’s historic-but-no-longer existing Lido course. Shapers transformed a flat site by moving sandy soil to create elevation changes. The par-5 6th hole with its alternate fairway is a triumph in design as it is so rare to find an alternate fairway that actually works — but if you accept the risk of finding the narrower right fairway, you are rewarded with a shorter shot to the green.  The course features several C.B. Macdonald-style template holes, and they thrive because of the bouncy conditions. Recent advances with zoysia grasses have transformed what is possible in Thailand’s climate; the firmness is produced by the low level of moisture percentage in the fairways, less than what is found at most professional tournament sites around the world. — Tom Brown, GOLF panelist

52. Titirangi
Auckland, New Zealand
Alister MacKenzie, 1927

53. Sentosa (Serapong)
Singapore
Ronald Fream, 1982

54. Kinloch
Kinloch, New Zealand
Jack Nicklaus, 2007

55. FLC Quy Nhon (Ocean)
Binh Dinh, Vietnam
Jim Wagner for Nicklaus Design, 2016

56. Jack’s Point
Queenstown, New Zealand
John Darby, 2008

57. The Bluffs Grand at Ho Tram BA
Ria-Vung Tau, Vietnam
Greg Norman, 2010

58. Barwon Heads
Barwon Heads, Australia
Victor East, 1921; Neil Crafter/Paul Mogford, 2005

59. BRG Da Nang (Nicklaus)
Da Nang, Vietnam
Sean Quinn for Nicklaus Design, 2020

60. Royal Canberra
Yarralumla, Australia
John Harris, 1961; Ogilvy Clayton Cocking & Mead, 2016

61. Dunes at Shenzhou East
Wanning, China
Tom Weiskopf/Phil Smith, 2012

62. Grange (West)
Grange, Australia
Herbert Rymill, 1927; Vern Morcom, 1965; Mike Clayton, 2008

63. Mission Hills (Hainan Lava Fields)
Haikou, Hainan, China
Brian Curley, 2011

64. Lake Malaren (Masters)
Shanghai, China
Jack Nicklaus & Jack Nicklaus II for Nicklaus Design, 2011

65. Jagorawi (Old)
Gunung Putri, Indonesia
Thomson & Wolveridge, 1979

Peter Thomson — with design associates Michael Wolveridge, Ronald Fream and construction supervisor Max Wexler — took more than four years to build the Old Course at Jagorawi Golf & Country Club, in the Bogor Regency of West Java, Indonesia.  The design is one of the best examples of minimalism on our Top 100 Asia and Australia list. The course was built without land-moving equipment, and the locally sourced construction crew used picks and shovels to clear the rainforest. Sand for the greens was screened from the rivers, which run adjacent to several of the holes. The fairways drain via narrow cement culverts on the perimeter, which flow into the surrounding jungle. But fear not if your tee shots go astray: forecaddies with flags are ready to assist should you carve one into the jungle. Jagorawi is a beautiful walk that follows the topography through the tropical environment. Green complexes are consistent with the slope of the land with an occasional dimple or rise. A round here is a reminder of how painfully over-shaped most modern courses are. — Tom Brown, GOLF panelist

66. Shanghai Links
Shanghai, China
Jack Nicklaus, 1999

67. Koga
Koga, Japan
Osamu Ueda, 1953; Shoichi Suzuki, 1996; Ko Tanihira, 2005

68. Oarai
Oarai, Japan
Seiichi Inoue, 1953

69. Arrowtown
Arrowtown, New Zealand
Reg Romans/B.V. Right, 1936; B.V. Right, 1971

70. Shimonoseki
Ahimonoseki, Japan
Osamu Ueda, 1956

71. FLC Quang Binh (Ocean Dunes)
Hai Ninh, Vietnam
Brian Curley, 2019

72. Myotha National
Sagaing, Myanmar
Lee Schmidt/Brian Curley, 2018

73. Stone Valley
Kim Bang, Ha Nam, Vietnam
Brian Curley, 2018

74. Jack Nicklaus GC
Incheon, South Korea
Jack Nicklaus, 2010

75. The Lakes
Eastlakes, Australia
Robert von Hagge/Bruce Devlin, 1968; Mike Clayton, 2007

76. Amata Spring
Tambon Nong Mai Daeng, Thailand
Lee Schmidt/Brian Curley, 2005

77. Victoria
Digana, Sri Lanka
Donald Steel/Martin Ebert, 1999

The island nation of Sri Lanka, just off the tip of India, is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever visited. Donald Steel delivered at Victoria with a minimalist design that gets the most from the land, courtesy of an excellent routing. The golf is challenging, beginning with the opening tee shot, which requires a carry over a severe right-to-left slope. The stretch from 4 to 6 is as good as it gets: the 4th (below) is a tiny one-shotter at the top of the property with lovely views in all directions; the 5th is a short two-shotter with a high road or a low road to either side of a large central tree, with the third option tempting players to try to carry the tree and drive the green; and the 6th might be the No. 1 handicap hole on the Subcontinent, playing dizzyingly downhill from a high tee over the treetops to a narrow fairway along a ridge, then over a stream to a green benched into the opposite hill. Improbably, the back nine is as good as the front, if not quite as dramatic. The course is narrower than I usually recommend — a tree almost criminally blocks off the left three-quarters of the approach at the 14th — but the par-5 15th and the Redan 16th are outstanding. I hope they eventually cut down a few trees to let the land breathe, because as the terrain and routing are the stars. — Tom Doak, GOLF panelist

78. The National (Old)
Cape Schanck, Australia
Robert Trent Jones Jr., 1988

79. The Dunes
Rye, Australia
Tony Cashmore, 1995

80. Hokkaido Classic
Abira, Japan
Jack Nicklaus, 1991

81. 13th Beach (Beach)
Barwon Heads, Australia
Tony Cashmore, 2001

82. Waverley
Waverley, New Zealand
Ernie Southerden, 1965

Even the most intrepid of golfers are unlikely to find themselves passing through rural Taranaki on the west of New Zealand’s North Island. Waverley would be easy to miss, given how the undefined playing corridors drape over the almost overly rambunctious undulations. Three miles from the Tasman Sea, the landscape heaves like windswept sand. The routing flows with, over and against the terrain, turning this way and that, calling for the ball to be worked and the wind constantly judged. A rhythmic sequence, full of intrigue and adventure, is interspersed with half-par holes that tempt and frustrate. Wonderfully varied green complexes with elegant curves sit seamlessly within their surroundings. The elevated, “Tom Thumb” punchbowl green site of the 12th (below) is one to never forget. Bursting with contour and a spirit of adventure, the long 14th tempts a dangerous fence-line following route toward its semi-amphitheater green. The landscape is rich in texture, complemented with distant views of a dormant volcano to distract and inspire. While the sheep-kempt fairways may be too rugged for some, Waverley shares many of the characteristics associated with the world’s best golfing playgrounds. — Clyde Johnson, GOLF panelist

83. Cathedral Lodge
Thornton, Australia
Greg Norman, 2017

84. Lonsdale Links
Point Lonsdale, Australia
Ogilvy Cocking & Mead, 2020

85. Kasumigaseki (West)
Kawagoe, Japan
Kinya Fujita/Seiichi Inoue, 1932; Taizo Kawata, 1994

86. Saujana (Palm)
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Ron Fream, 1986

87. Laguna Lang Co
Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam
Nick Faldo, 2013

88. Haesley Nine Bridges
Yeoju-gun, South Korea
David Dale, 2009

89. Dunes at Shenzhou West
Wanning, China
Tom Weiskopf/Phil Smith, 2010

90. Blue Canyon (Canyon)
Tambon Mai Khao, Thailand
Yoshikazu Kato, 1991

91. Royal Hong Kong (Composite)
Sheung Shui, China
Eden: l.S. Greenhill, 1931; John Hopkins/Peter Thomson, 1968;
New: John Hopkins/Peter Thomson/Michael Wolveridge, 1970

92. Glenelg
Novar Gardens, Australia
Herbert Rymill, 1927; Vern Morcom, 1954; Neil Crafter/Bob Tuohy, 1998

93. Port Fairy
Port Fairy, Australia
Members, 1963; Kevin Hartley, 1985; Mike Clayton, 2002

94. Nicklaus Club Beijing
Beijing, China
Jack Nicklaus, 2014

95. Royal Queensland
Brisbane, Australia
Carnegie Clark, 1921; Mike Clayton, 2005

96. The Australian
Rosebery, Australia
Jack Nicklaus, 1976, 2013

97. Anyang
Gunpo-Si, South Korea
Chohei Miyazawa, 1968; Robert Trent Jones Jr., 1997

98. Joondalup (Quarry/Dune)
Connolly, Australia
Robert Trent Jones Jr., 1985

Robert Trent Jones Jr.’s North American portfolio is expansive enough to make most architects jealous, but his work in Asia and Australia might be even more impressive, with his designs in several countries scattered throughout this ranking. No doubt, he was one of the early trailblazers from the U.S. who helped expand the game in Asia-Pacific. Built in 1985, Joondalup is just north of Perth in Western Australia. Perth is a charming city but its remoteness (it is three hours from Adelaide by plane) keeps many Americans away and has prevented this resort course from being better known. The Quarry nine is the showpiece of RTJ Jr.’s 27 holes here and highlights his natural flair for drama. Take the 3rd hole. Though short at 135 yards, it is all carry over a gnarly 60-foot deep quarry, and the green is adept at soliciting three-putts. On the Dune nine, Jones perfectly routed the dogleg-right 3rd hole to finish at the base of a steep cliff, creating an indelible backdrop. Try to book an early-morning or late-afternoon tee time; the effect that the shadows have across these landforms only heightens the excitement. 

99. Siam (Old)
Tambon Pong, Thailand
Ichisuke Izumi, 1971; Lee Schmidt, 2007

100. Portsea
Portsea, Australia
Jock Young, 1926; Sloan Morpeth/Jack Howard, 1960; Mike Clayton, 2000

More GOLF course rankings: Top 100 Courses in the World | Top 100 Courses in the U.S. | Top 100 Courses You Can Play | Top 100 Value Courses in the U.S. | America’s Best Municipal Courses | Top 100 Courses in the U.K. and Ireland | Top 100 Short Courses in the World

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