Ben Crenshaw reveals his top 10 courses in the world

ben crenshaw ryder cup brookline

Brookline didn't make the cut of Ben Crenshaw's top 10 courses, despite laying claim to his triumphant Ryder Cup victory.

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There may be no man more qualified to share his opinion on the worth of the world’s greatest tracks than Ben Crenshaw. The former major champion has aged into one of golf’s elder statesmen—a prolific player turned even-more-prolific designer.

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Crenshaw’s design tastes (in lockstep with his partner, Bill Coore) have birthed some of golf’s greatest modern gems, from Sand Hills to Friar’s Head. But, personal preference aside, Crenshaw’s top 10 courses in the world share a unique perspective into his history, his creative inspiration and of course, his love for the game.

Ben Crenshaw’s Top 10 Courses in the World

Ben Crenshaw top 10 courses
Ben Crenshaw’s top 10 courses in the world. Ben Crenshaw

1. The Old Course at St. Andrews — St. Andrews, Scotland

2. Royal Melbourne — Melbourne, Australia

3. Augusta National Golf Club — Augusta, Ga.

4. Pine Valley — Pine Valley, N.J.

5. National Golf Links of America — Southampton, N.Y.

6. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club — Southampton, N.Y.

7. Kingston Heath — Cheltenham, Victoria, Australia

8. Cypress Point — Pebble Beach, Calif.

9. Chicago Golf Club — Wheaton, Ill.

10. Pinehurst No. 2 — Pinehurst, N.C.

To see how GOLF rated all of these courses, check out our definitive 2020-21 ranking of the Top 100 Courses in the World.

James Colgan

Golf.com Editor

James Colgan is a news and features editor at GOLF, writing stories for the website and magazine. He manages the Hot Mic, GOLF’s media vertical, and utilizes his on-camera experience across the brand’s platforms. Prior to joining GOLF, James graduated from Syracuse University, during which time he was a caddie scholarship recipient (and astute looper) on Long Island, where he is from. He can be reached at james.colgan@golf.com.