Golf Spot Blog

Top Five Courses

1. Pine Valley Golf Club Clementon, New Jersey Crump/Colt (1918),
Par 70—6,765 yards
Pine Valley is somewhat mysterious in golfing circles because it is hard to find and extremely private. Those who have found the club located in New Jersey’s lonesome Pine Barrens say the course is one of the world’s finest. The founders started the club in 1913, with the purchase of 184 acres (75 hectares) of scruffy pinelands. The later addition of 416 acres (168 hectares) of picturesque virgin woodlands enhanced the remote beauty of the place.

2. Cypress Point Club Pebble Beach, California Mackenzie (1929),
Par 72—6,536 yards
The late great duffer Bob Hope once quipped that during a membership drive at this exclusive club, they drove away 20 members. Cypress Point is indeed a private place, which explains why you won’t see casual players chipping away on the Pacific coastline. Located south of Pebble Beach in California’s gorgeous Big Sur country, the club has an 18-hole course of rolling fairways. Dr. Alister Mackenzie, architect of Augusta National Golf Club (number 8 in this list) designed Cypress also.

3. Muirfield Village Golf Club Gullane, Scotland, United Kingdom T. Morris (1889),
Par 71—7,221 yards
Home to the world’s oldest golfing society, Muirfield opened in 1744. More than 200 years later, Jack Nicklaus won his first British Open here on the storied greens near Edinburgh. Most golfers consider Muirfield to be a particularly demanding test of ability.

4.St. Andrews Scotland, United Kingdom
Par 72—7,279 yards
Any golfer worth his or her weight in golf clubs wants to play the Old Course at St. Andrews, the most famous one in the world. Golf has been played on this heathery patch of land on Scotland’s east coast since the 15th century. In addition to the Old Course, there are four more excellent 18-hole courses, one 9-hole course, and a practice center to accommodate golfers of all skill levels. All are public, but reservations are a must. The Old Course is embedded in the stormy North Sea dunes and is challenging to even the best of golfers. For people who aren’t even pretending to be Tiger Woods, Strathtyrum Course is ideal. The nine-hole Balgove is best for children and beginners.

5. Pebble Beach Golf Links Pebble Beach, California Neville/Grant (1919),
Par 72—6,737 yards
Pebble Beach Golf Links may be the best known course in the United States. As you work your way over the narrow fairways, make sure you pause to drink in the outstanding views of the rocky shores that make up this part of California’s Pacific coast. There’s an especially good vista at the 18th hole, a 548 yards par 5. Since the wind can be a big factor here, be sure to select the proper club if you want to score well.