Pebble Beach G. LinksRanked: 1Pebble Beach G. LinksOn every avid player's bucket list. With seven of the world's most spectacular holes, it's the ultimate combo of setting, scenery and history.
Stephen Szurlej
Old Macdonald, Bandon, Ore.Ranked: 2Old Macdonald, Bandon, Ore.You'll have a hard time losing a ball on this open layout, an homage to C.B. Macdonald, where it's not rare to hit 50-yard putts to farm-size greens.
Stephen Szurlej
Bandon (Ore.) PreserveRanked: 3Bandon (Ore.) PreserveThe new 13-hole par-3 course at the No. 1 U.S. golf resort might become the most popular. Most holes have ocean views, and it can be played in less than 90 minutes.
Matt Ginella
Pacific Dunes, Bandon, Ore.Ranked: 4Pacific Dunes, Bandon, Ore.Tom Doak's best includes five par 3s (back-to-back to start the back nine) and two of the most scenic and challenging par 4s in the country (Nos. 4 (shown here) and 13).
Stephen Szurlej
Pasatiempo G.C., Santa Cruz, Calif.Ranked: 8Pasatiempo G.C., Santa Cruz, Calif.How good is it? After Bobby Jones played the Alister Mackenzie design, he hired him to build Augusta National.
Stephen Szurlej
Cypress Point C., Pebble BeachRanked: 1Cypress Point C., Pebble BeachSeductive as a reunion with an old flame. Begins as a stroll through a forest, evolves into a tryst among coastal dunes, ends with hopes dashed on the rocks.
Stephen Szurlej
Fishers Island (N.Y.) C.Ranked: 2Fishers Island (N.Y.) C.This Seth Raynor/Charles Banks masterpiece proves it once and for all: Blue bloods are capable of having fun.
Stephen Szurlej
National G. Links of America, Southampton, N.Y.Ranked: 3National G. Links of America, Southampton, N.Y.Neighbor Shinnecock Hills gets more ink, but this C.B. Macdonald beauty delivers the Hamptons' most diverting 18 -- plus an all-world lobster lunch.
Stephen Szurlej
Sand Hills G.C., Mullen, Neb.Ranked: 4Sand Hills G.C., Mullen, Neb.Golf in an isolation chamber of tumbling sand dunes, gusty winds and star-filled evenings. A step back in time. A step in the right direction.
Dom Furore
Augusta (Ga.) National G.C.Ranked: 9Augusta (Ga.) National G.C.From the members' tees of 6,365 yards, it's a thrill to pull off shots seen in the Masters.
Stephen Szurlej
St. Andrews Links (Old), ScotlandRanked: 1St. Andrews Links (Old), ScotlandThe original: What's not fun about playing the oldest and best golf course in the world?
Dom Furore
Machrihanish G.C., ScotlandRanked: 6Machrihanish G.C., ScotlandFrom the stirring opening tee shot across a corner of the Atlantic Ocean to the last putt, this has remained just as pure and natural a golf experience as it was when Old Tom Morris extended the course to 18 holes in 1879.
Stephen Szurlej
Askernish G.C., ScotlandRanked: 8Askernish G.C., ScotlandClassic links on the island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides. Laid out by Old Tom Morris in 1891, abandoned in the 1920s, then rediscovered and brought back to life in 2008. All natural, no artificial ingredients.
Stephen Szurlej
Cullen G.C., ScotlandRanked: 14Cullen G.C., ScotlandExtremely quirky 4,597-yard, par-63 course dating to 1870 and first laid out by Old Tom Morris.
J.D. Cuban
The Ladies Putting Club (The Himalayas), ScotlandRanked: 20The Ladies Putting Club (The Himalayas), ScotlandThe true spirit of golf lives in this two-acre, everyone-welcome, laugh-a-minute mini-links beside the second tee of St. Andrews' Old Course.