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.
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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