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(C) Jacob Sjöman. jacob@sjomanart.com
Jacob Sjöman

The best golf courses in Europe

By Stephen Hennessey and Derek Duncan
June 01, 2026
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Selling a fellow golf traveler on a trip to Europe isn’t the hard part. It’s more difficult to decide where in Europe your golf trip should be. That’s what our new rankings of the Best Courses in Europe is here to help with.

More than half of the courses in our new list of the World’s 100 Greatest rankings are European courses (58). Scotland (21), England (16) and Ireland (11, plus three in Northern Ireland) remain the obvious choices. A number of the 16 newcomers onto our World 100 list include courses that might not be on everyone's radars, like Carne Golf Links in the northwest of Ireland, or Panmure and Gullane, which are often overshadowed by more famous neighboring courses. There's a new No. 1-ranked course in the golf-rich country of Portugal, David McLay Kidd's Dunas course at Terras de Comporta (lead image), which is trending toward a debut in our top 100 once it has the sufficient ballots from our course-ranking panelists. Sweden scored very high among our rankings of the Best Courses in Continental Europe with five designs making our top 20, telling us that all are a contender for our World 100 if courses like Bro Hof Slott's Stadium course and Visby (The One) get more visitors. And countries like Spain, France, Wales and the Netherlands all have representation on our top 100.

RELATED: The best courses in Continental Europe, ranked

There's now time like the present to start planning that next European golf trip. Time's of the essence with golf's increasing popularity. Now it's just time to choose where.

Scroll down for our new ranking of the Best Courses in Europe for 2026-2027.

Editor's Note: Our Best Courses in Europe ranking is part of our rollout of the Best Courses in Every Country. Check back over the next few weeks for more of our rankings of the best golf around the world.

We urge you to click through to each individual course page for bonus photography, drone footage and expanded reviews. Plus, you can now leave your own ratings on the courses you’ve played … to make your case why your favorite should be ranked higher.

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The best courses in the United Kingdom and Ireland

Andorra

  1. Grandvilara G. Soldeu, Soldeu

Armenia

  1. Ararat Valley G.C., Yerevan

Austria

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Courtesy of the club

  1. Fontana G.C., Vienna
  2. Adamstal G.C. (above), Ramsau
  3. Gut Altentann, Henndorf am Wallersee
  4. Kärtner Golfclub Dellach, Maria Wörth
  5. Golfclub Klagenfurt-Seltenheim, Klagenfurt
false
Fontana G.C.
Oberwaltersdorf, Lower Austria, Austria
Touted as one of the best residential golf courses in Europe, Fontana Golf Club, just south of Vienna, was designed by Doug Carrick and Hans Erhardt in 1996. Routed around a 20-acre man-made lake, the ground moved for the excavation has been elegantly used to manufacture dramatic undulations, creating fairways and greens whose slopes appear to fall off into the lakes below. Owner Frank Stronach brought back Carrick Design in 2017 for a renovation project totaling seven million euros. The work was focused on touch-ups to the tees and bunkers as well as rerouting five new holes to accommodate new residential projects. Host of DP World Tour events from 2006 to 2009, the layout at Fontana is target golf, with accuracy and distance control being necessary to deal with forced carries over water and sand. The course is most famous for its dramatic four-hole finishing stretch played alongside the lake, highlighted by the par-3 17th with a peninsula green.
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Azerbaijan

  1. National Azerbaijan G.C., Quba
  2. Dreamland G.C., Baku

Belarus

  1. Minsk G.C., Minsk

Belgium

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  1. Royal Antwerp G.C., Antwerp
  2. Royal Waterloo G.C. (La Marache, above), Waterloo
  3. National Golf Brussels: Championship
  4. Royal G.C. de Belgique, Tervuren
  5. Royal Zoute G.C., Knokke-Heist
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Royal Antwerp G.C.
Kapellen, Belgium
Royal Antwerp Golf Club was founded in 1888 and is not surprisingly the oldest golf club in Belgium. Located just north of Antwerp, the club is set over gently sloping heathland terrain covered in native ground brush and towering pine trees. The club is now home to the 18-hole Tom Simpson course and the nine-hole Dormy House course, each designed originally by Willie Park Jr. in 1912. The club later commissioned Simpson to do renovations in 1930, and the course has been regarded as one of Continental Europe’s great classic courses ever since. Royal Antwerp’s challenge comes in the form of well-guarded fairways lined by heathland and pine trees, often with sets of bunkers shrinking landing areas. The greens at Royal Antwerp are small with subtle breaks but challenge players by forcing precise iron play with tight landing areas. The rolling heathland terrain of Royal Antwerp can easily be mistaken for the best courses in West London, often drawing comparisons to Sunningdale and Wentworth.
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Bosnia and Herzegovina

  1. Sarajevo G.C., Sarajevo

Bulgaria

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  1. Thracian Cliffs G. & Beach Resort (above), Kavarna
  2. BlackSeaRama G. & Villas, Balchik
  3. Lighthouse G. & Spa Resort, Balchik
false
Thracian Cliffs G. & Beach Resort
Kavarna, Bulgaria
There are few more awe-inspiring settings for golf than Thracian Cliffs in Bulgaria, which truly sits on the side of the cliffs on a beautiful 210-acre site. The most thrilling shot amidst a round of many will be the par-3 sixth hole, hitting to a green more than 120 feet below the tee, built into the hillside right along the Black Sea’s edge. Golfers will be rewarded for making it to this pristine resort with an experience unlike many others in European golf, reminiscient in some ways to Sheep Ranch or Cabot Cliffs.
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Croatia

  1. Adriatic G.C., Savudrija

Cyprus

  1. Aphrodite Hills G.C., Paphos
  2. Eléa G.C., Paphos
  3. Secret Valley G.C., Paphos

Czech Republic

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Courtesy of the club

  1. PGA National Czech Republic (Oaks Prague, above), Popovičky
  2. Royal G.C. Mariánské Lázně, Mariánské Lázně
  3. Black Bridge Golf Resort, Prague
  4. Albatross G. Resort, Vysoký Újezd
  5. Panorama Golf Resort, Kacov
  6. Royal Beroun Resort
  7. Karlovy Vary Golf Resort
  8. Karlštejn Golf Resort, Liteň
  9. Prague City Golf Zbraslav, Prague
  10. Ypsilon Golf Resort, Liberec
false
PGA National Czech Republic: Oaks Prague
Popovičky, Central Bohemian, Czech Republic
The PGA National Czech Republic at Oaks Prague sits on wonderfully gentle, rolling terrain with a strategic design by Kyle Phillips. It’s a former DP World Tour venue that opened in the summer of 2020 in the upscale village of Oaks Prague. The course has catapulted atop the list of the best courses in the Czech Republic and deserving of its spot among the best in Continental Europe.
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Denmark

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Jacob Sjöman

  1. The Great Northern G.C., Kerteminde
  2. The Scandinavian G.C. (Old), Farum
  3. The Scandinavian G.C. (New), Farum
  4. Simon’s G.C. (A&B)
  5. Aalborg GK, Aalborg
false
Great Northern Golf Club
Kerteminde, Denmark
Great Northern Golf Club opened in 2017 and is home to 27 holes by Jack Nicklaus, an 18-hole championship and nine-hole academy course set on gentle rolling hills surrounded by scenic Danish farmland on the island of Funen. Nicklaus created seven artificial lakes for the design of the two courses, with nine holes of the championship course and nearly the entire short course playing alongside or over the hazards. With the terrain used to create the lakes Nicklaus constructed an 100-plus-foot ridge where eight of the championship course's holes are played. The change in elevation ensures the course plays differently each day, with wind cascading over the man-made hill in different directions creating challenging approaches when the water comes back into play. Highlights of Nicklaus’s design include a gorgeous three-hole stretch of challenging par 4s from holes four through six, with water protecting the entire left or right side of each of the holes. Also notable at Great Northern are the driveable par 4s at seven and 13, played in opposite directions to ensure a chance at reaching the green on at least one.
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England

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Courtesy of the club

35. Wallasey Golf Club
34. West Hill Golf Club
33. The Addington Golf Club (above)
32. Woking Golf Club
31. Notts Golf Club (Holliwell)

VIEW THE FULL RANKINGS IN ENGLAND HERE.

COMPLETE RANKINGS

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The best golf courses in England

Estonia

  1. Pärnu Bay G. Links, Pärnu
  2. Estonian G. & C.C. (Sea), Tallinn
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Pärnu Bay G. Links
Reiu, Pärnu maakond, Estonia
Estonia might not be on the map for even the most knowledgeable golf traveler, but that needs to change. Pärnu Bay Golf Links sits on wonderfully sandy soil right along the Baltic Sea with shaping done by Mick McShane, who was the lead shaper at Kingsbarns and St. Andrews’ Castle course. Fairways are forgiving and the greens are large to account for the wind—but the putting surfaces are boldly contoured with much interest. Five par 3s on this glorious setting for golf make Pärnu Bay one of the most surprisingly enjoyable rounds you need to have on your radar for Continental Europe golf.
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Faroe Islands

  1. Tórshavnar G.C., Tórshavan

Finland

  1. Ålands Golfklubb, Kastelholm
  2. Kytäjä G. (North West), Hyvinkää
  3. Nordcenter C.C. (Fream), Raasepori
  4. Kytäjä G. (South East), Hyvinkää
  5. Vierumaki Golf Resort (Cooke)
  6. Tahko Golf (New)
  7. Vanajanlinna Golf Club
  8. Master Golf Club
  9. Viipurin G. : Estela-Salmaa
  10. Nordcenter C.C. (Benz), Raasepori
false Private
Ålands Golf Club: Slottsbanan (Castle)
Åland Island, Finland
Ålands Golf Club was founded in 1975 and sits on the former hunting estate of King Gustav Vasa bordering the Slottssundet Bay in the Baltic Sea. The club is home to two 18-hole layouts aptly titled Slottsbanan (Castle) and Kungsbanan (King’s), as well as a short course, the Princess. The Slottsbanan course is routed alongside the edge of the bay, while the Kungsbanan course occupies a tighter, more forested section of the property. Originally designed by Jan Sederholm, the Slottsbanan course was finished in two phases with the front nine debuting in 1983 and the second nine following in 1988. More recently, Phillip Spogard led a 2020 renovation that rerouted many of the Slottsbanan holes closer to Slottssundet Bay with the goal of including views to the historic Kastleholm Castle across the bay. The renovation was successful as now all 18 holes have views to the Baltic Sea. The fairways at Slottsbanan rise and fall over undulating terrain surrounded by natural snaking water hazards and outcroppings of rocks and native plants. The pure rolling greens are guarded by strategic deep bunkering as well as large contours that funnel approaches into tricky runoff areas. After the 2020 renovation, Slottsbanan's highlight hole is now the stunning par-4 10th with a tee shot over the bay and an approach played straight toward the Kastleholm Castle in the distance.
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France

10. Saint Emilionnais G.C. (Saint Emilion), Gardegan-et-Tourtirac
9. Le Golf Nationale (Albatros)
8. Evian Resort, Évian-les-Bains
7. Les Bordes (Old)
6. Saint-Germain (Grand)

VIEW THE FULL RANKINGS IN FRANCE HERE.

COMPLETE RANKINGS

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The best golf courses in France

Georgia

  1. Ambassadori G.C., Kachreti

Germany

  1. Hamburger Golf Club: Falkenstein
  2. G.C. Budersand Sylt, Schleswig-Holstein
  3. Golf Club Föhr
  4. G.C. Bad Saarow (Faldo)
  5. G.C. Bad Saarow (Palmer)
  6. G.C. St. Dionys
  7. Golf- und Land-Club Köln
  8. G&CC Seddiner See (Süd)
  9. G&LC Berlin-Wannsee: Championship
  10. WINSTONgolf (WINSTONlinks)
false
Hamburger Golf Club: Falkenstein
Hamburg, Germany
Hamburger Golf Club Falkenstein is one of the oldest golf clubs in Germany. It originally opened in 1906 before later relocating to a new property in 1930 and expanding to 18 holes. Set alongside a nature preserve on the banks of the Elbe river, the course sprawls over secluded forested heathland. The firm of Colt, Allison and Morrison was originally commissioned to design the course, and it has since undergone multiple changes. The first was Bernhard von Limburger’s renovation in the 1960s, while the second and most recent came in the form of Frank Pont’s 2015 renovation that saw the reconstruction of the course's bunkers, as well as reshaped greens and new collection areas to match more with the original design. The club now features undulating fairways that wind between trees, rarely giving players a straight tee shot. Green complexes are built into natural undulations and have small bowls with difficult-to-read breaks. Although devoid of any water hazards, Hamburger Golf Club’s Falkenstein course is protected by strategically placed bunkers, often shrinking landing areas and creating visually intimidating approach shots.
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Greece

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Johan Hampf/Courtesy of the club

  1. Costa Navarino (Dunes, above), Messinia
  2. Costa Navarino (International Olympic Academy), Messinia
  3. Costa Navarino (Bay), Messinia
  4. Costa Navarino (Hills), Messinia
  5. Porto Carras Grand Resort, New Marmoras, Haikidiki

(Note: Costa Navarino's International Olympic Academy course lacked sufficient ballots for our Best Courses in Continental Europe ranking, which is why the Bay course ranks above it on that list.)

More from Golf Digest

World Travel
How Greece’s Costa Navarino became one of Europe’s best golf resorts

Greenland

  1. Nuuk G.C., Nuuk

Hungary

  1. Zala Springs G.C., Zalacsany
  2. Pannonia G. & C.C., Máriavölgy

Iceland

  1. Brautarholt G.C.
  2. Keilir G.C.
  3. Oddur (Urrida)
  4. Reykjavik G.C. (Grafarholt)
  5. Vestmannaeyjar G.C.

VIEW THE FULL RANKINGS IN ICELAND HERE.

COMPLETE RANKINGS

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The best golf courses in Iceland

Northern Ireland

10. Castlerock Golf Club (Bann)
9. Ardglass Golf Club
8. Castlerock Golf Club (Mussenden)
7. Malone Golf Club
6. Royal Belfast Golf Club

VIEW THE FULL RANKINGS IN NORTHERN IRELAND HERE.

COMPLETE RANKINGS

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The best golf courses in Northern Ireland

Ireland, Republic of

25. Royal Dublin Golf Club
24. Donegal Golf Club (Murvagh)
23. The K Club (Palmer South)
22. Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort
21. Jameson Golf Links at Portmarnock Resort

VIEW THE FULL RANKINGS IN IRELAND HERE.

COMPLETE RANKINGS

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The best golf courses in Ireland

Italy

10. La Bagnaia
9. Royal Park Roveri I (Allianz)
8. Castiglion de Bosco Golf Club
7. Castelconturbia
6. Verdura Resort (West)

VIEW THE FULL RANKINGS IN ITALY HERE.

COMPLETE RANKINGS

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The best golf courses in Italy

Latvia

  1. Jurmala G.C., Babites Novads
  2. Ozo G.C., Riga

Lithuania

  1. The V G.C., Vilnius

Luxembourg

  1. Grand Ducal G.C. of Luxembourg, Senningerberg

Malta

  1. Royal Malta G.C. Marsa

Netherlands

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Gary Lisbon

  1. Koninklijke Haagsche (Royal Hague, above), Wassenaar
  2. Utrecht Golfclub De Pan, Bosch en Duin
  3. Noordwijkse Golf Club, Noordwijk
  4. Kennemer Golf & Country Club, Zandvoort
  5. Hilversumsche Golf Club
  6. Bernardus Golf Club
  7. Eindhovensche Golf
  8. The International Amsterdam
  9. The Dutch
  10. G.C. De Lage Vuursche
false Private
Koninklijke Haagsche Golf and Country Club: Royal Hague
Wassenaar, South Holland, Netherlands
Though located inland from the sea, there’s no question Royal Hague is links golf. The course, north of the city, sits on the edge of a vast region of sand dunes that would be the home to several more world-class courses if it had been developed in the 19th century (as the links of Scotland had) and not environmentally protected. The Charles Alison and H.S. Colt design is a lesson in restraint—following Frank Pont’s restorative efforts over the last decade and a half, there are only 23 bunkers and almost none guarding fairways, and five holes have zero bunkers. Royal Hague doesn’t need them with fairways that caterpillar over electric landforms leaving numerous shots uphill to semi-blind greens that seem like the only calm parts of the property.
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Norway

  1. Lofoten Links, Gimsoysand
  2. Oslo G.C.
  3. Miklagard G.C., Oslo
  4. Holtsmark Golf, Sylling
  5. Losby G.C. (Østmork), Finstadjordet
false Private
Lofoten Links
Gimsoysand, Lofoten, Norway
The most remote course in the rankings, Lofoten Links is located, for reference, four degrees latitude north of Iceland on Norway’s Lofoten archipelago that branches deep into the Norwegian Sea. The course is set in an austere but stunning Game of Thrones landscape of rock and ocean, and the bumpy links-like holes are studded with pot bunkers and ramble through fields of stone and cold season native grasses. Lofoten started as a six-hole course in the 1990s and was only expanded to 18 holes in 2015, so it’s a newcomer to global golf travelers. Lofoten Links jumped up to #24 in our last World 100 rankings but lacked sufficient ballots to make our rankings in 2026-2027, proving how remote it is.
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Poland

  1. Sand Valley G. & C.C., Paslek
  2. Rosa Golf Club, Konopiska
  3. Postolowo G. & C.C., Postolowo
  4. Modry Las G.C., Choszczno
  5. Krakow Valley Golf & Country Club

Portugal

15. Penha Longa (Atlantico)
14. Praia D'El Ray
13. Quinta do Lago (Laranjal)
12. Troia Golf Course
11. Vale do Lobo (Royal)

VIEW THE FULL RANKINGS IN PORTUGAL HERE.

COMPLETE RANKINGS

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The best golf courses in Portugal

Romania

  1. Theodora Golf Club, Jud. Alba

Russia

  1. Raevo G. & C.C., Moscow
  2. Links National Golf Resort, Teleshovo
  3. Tseleevo Golf Polo Club, Moscow
  4. Pestovo Golf & Yacht Club, Moscow Region
  5. Moscow C.C., Moscow

Scotland

45. Archerfield Links Golf Club (Dirleton)
44. Fairmont St. Andrews (Kittocks)
43. Moray Golf Club
42. Craigelaw Golf Club
41. St. Andrews (Craigtoun) (formerly Duke's)

VIEW THE FULL RANKINGS IN SCOTLAND HERE.

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The best golf courses in Scotland

Serbia

  1. Belgrade G.C., Belgrade

Slovakia

  1. Penati G. Resort (Heritage), Senica
  2. Penati G. Resort (Legend), Senica
  3. G. Resort Black Stork, Veľká Lomnica
  4. Gray Bear Tale Golf Course, Brezno District
  5. Welten G.C. Báč

Slovenia

  1. Bled G. & C.C. (King’s), Bled

Spain

15. Los Naranjos
14. Las Colinas
13. La Finca
12. San Roque Club (New)
11. Parador de El Saler

VIEW THE FULL RANKINGS IN SPAIN HERE.

COMPLETE RANKINGS

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The best golf courses in Spain

Sweden

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Courtesy of the club/Jacob Sjöman

  1. Bro Hof Slott G.C. (Stadium), Bro
  2. Visby G.C. (The One, above), Gotlands, Tofta
  3. Barsebäck G. & C.C. (Masters), Löddeköpinge
  4. Falsterbo G.C., Falsterbo
  5. Ullna G. & C.C., Stockholm
  6. Kristianstad Golf Club (Åhus Östra East)
  7. Osterakers G.C.
  8. Vasatorps G.C. (Tournament), Helsingborg
  9. Halmstad G.C. (North), Halmstad
  10. Bro Hof Slott G.C. (Castle), Bro
  11. Ljunghusens Golf Club
  12. Vallda Golf and Country Club
  13. The National (Lakes), Bara
  14. The National (Links), Bara
  15. Hills Golf & Sports Club
false Private
Bro Hof Slott Golf Club: Stadium
Bro, Stockholm, Sweden
Our top-ranked course in the golf-heavy country of Sweden, Bro Hof Slott’s Stadium course has hosted the DP World Tour on a regular basis—boasting a total yardage of 8,056 yards. It’s a significant challenge with well-placed bunkers and the ever-present wind of Lake Mälaren, which creates a beautiful setting about 20 miles from Stockholm. An island green 17th hole, ala TPC Sawgrass, sums up the round as water is always to be navigated. The club’s second course, the Castle, opened in 2009.
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Switzerland

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  1. Domaine Impérial G.C. (above), Gland
  2. Crans-sur-Sierre G.C., Crans-Montana
  3. G.C. de Lausanne, Lausanne
  4. G.C. de Genève, Cologny
  5. Golf Club Patriziale Ascona
false
Domaine Impérial Golf Club
Gland, Vaud, Switzerland
Located on the tranquil shores of Lake Geneva, Domaine Imperial Golf Club is steeped in rich history. The land was originally owned by Swiss-French aristocrats before being transferred to the Bonaparte family who, in 1859 constructed a villa on property, now used as the stunning clubhouse overlooking the 18th hole. Following the collapse of the family in the 19th century, the property changed owners many times until landing with the Morf family in 1953. Plans began for the course in 1971, but due to a variety of issues was not completed by Pete Dye until 1987. The beautiful parkland-style course features undulating treelined fairways that snake around running creeks and small hazards. The front nine plays as the harder of the two sides, with the first eight holes played amongst dense trees, with penal hazards often lurking just off of the fairways. The back nine is more open than the front, highlighted by the par-3 15th, played to a classic visually intimidating Pete Dye green protected by a deep waste area and the uphill par-4 18th framed by the historic clubhouse and Lake Geneva in the background.
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Wales

  1. Royal Porthcawl G.C., Porthcawl, Mid Glamorgan
  2. Royal St. David’s G.C., Harlech
  3. Aberdovey G.C., Aberdovey
  4. Nefyn & District G.C., Pwllheli
  5. Pennard G.C., Swansea
  6. Conwy G.C., Morfa
  7. Celtic Manor Resort (Twenty Ten), Newport, Gwent
  8. Pyle & Kenfig G.C., Bridgend
  9. Tenby G.C., Tenby
  10. North Wales Golf Club, Llandudno
false Private
Royal Porthcawl Golf Club
Porthcawl, Wales
Considered a seaside venue but not a true links, Royal Porthcawl, situated on the south coast of Wales, doesn't have returning nines, but it's not an out-and-back routing either. Instead, the front nine moves in a clockwise crescent-shaped manner, with the back nine running counterclockwise inside the crescent. Only the first three holes play adjacent to Bristol Channel, but there are ocean views and ocean winds on all the inland holes too, which are on higher ground. The 2017 Senior Open was contested at Royal Porthcawl, with Bernhard Langer winning a record 10th senior major, and Alex Cejka won the 2023 Senior Open here.
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• • •

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World's 100 Greatest Courses: 2026-2027

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