Golf Courses in the World
October 2005
The greatest golf course designer who has ever lived, Dr Alister Mackenzie, once said: “A great golf course is like a great piece of music, it may take more than one visit to really appreciate it.” Given this, picking the Top 100 courses in the world makes the labours of Hercules look like a three-foot putt.
Let’s make it clear that our ranking is not based purely on the merits of the course. If it was, places like Merrion in Philadelphia, Oak Hill in New York and Royal Melbourne in Australia would certainly be in. But our list is much more about the experience. Playing golf in Kabul Country Club, in Afghanistan, you will not find pristine fairways and brilliant-table greens. In fact, you are much more likely to find the remains of rocket-propelled grenades. But, we think you will remember the experience.
In the same way, Prison View in Alabama has no azaleas and there is no Magnolia Lane at Gezira Golf Club in Egypt, but we think you will come away with unforgettable memories of playing both these courses for years to come, indeed they may well prove to be the highlight of your golfing career.
Like all lists, this one is bound to annoy some and delight others. We make no apologies for that. And, we make no apologies for the fact that it is impossible to play some of the courses on the list, unless you become a member or are the guest of a member. Loads of people have played Augusta National and there are ways of playing even the most exclusive of courses. Enjoy.
