August is a great time to be outside, and spending a morning on the golf course is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, get some exercise, and spend some time catching up with friends along the way. Let’s take a look at some of the best, and most famous, golf courses from around the world.
The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland
Golf as we know it started in Scotland in the 1400s, a challenging game where people whack a dimpled ball with a stick across wide spaces often filled with hazards such as ponds, sand pits, and trees.
The Old Course at St. Andrews Links is one of the oldest known locations where golf was played, and it is where the rules of golf as we know it originated. The course is famous for its bunkers, hills and challenges, as well as its beautiful vistas, challenging design, and historical value.
The oldest professional competition, the Open Championship or British Open, is played here every five years. Legendary golfer Bobby Jones considered it his favorite course.
Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, California
An ideal golf course has a sandy soil with a grass cover, some hills and some land features. Therefore, courses are often near the beach, as is the case with Pebble Beach in California. The course has a beautiful view of Carmel Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
Pinehurst Golf Course Number Two, Pinehurst, North Carolina
Pinehurst is a town in North Carolina that has nine 18-hole courses, but it’s course number two that is the most famous, and regularly ranked as one of the best courses in the US. Courses are evaluated based on the design of the course, landscape, layout, and more.
The course is more than 100 years old, and is famous for its difficult green complexes, including greens that are higher than the area around them, making it difficult to land the ball without it rolling away. Several major professional events have been held here, and there are plans to host the US Open here several times in the coming years.
Cypress Point Club, Pebble Beach, California
Often stated to be the most beautiful course, Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach is just down the way from several other famous links. The course is famed for its beauty, but the club that owns the course is famous for being so exclusive, it refused to allow Black members for decades.
These days, it has changed its policy, but it’s still nearly impossible to join, as the membership fee alone is around $250,000. Not just anyone with that amount of cash lying around can join, you actually have to be invited.
Because the club is so exclusive, the links are regarded for their privacy and peaceful feeling for players. On an average day, only 30 or so golfers play the course, a significantly lower number than any public course.
Royal County Down Golf Club, Newcastle, Northern Ireland
While golf originated in Scotland, it is also very popular in Northern Ireland, just across the Irish Sea. Royal County Down Golf Club actually has two courses, one of which is regularly atop the lists of best courses in the world. The Championship course has hosted dozens of international matches and events.
The course starts out easy, and builds in momentum and difficulty, but while the holes are challenging, they are also enjoyable. The views, especially in spring and early summer, are breathtakingly beautiful. When you see this course, it’s easy to understand why people love golf, even when they’re not very good at it.
Turnberry Golf Course, Ayrshire, Scotland
Looking at these beautiful courses from around the world, it’s easy to see why so many people enjoy recreational golf; you get to spend time outdoors in beautiful settings, getting a little exercise while spending time with friends or enjoying some time alone. No matter what, it’s always a great day for a little golf.