Brits are beginning to get back into the swing of things by stretching their legs on the country’s manicured greens and picturesque fairways. To ramp up the enthusiasm, even more, we’ve decided to showcase six beautiful and challenging golf courses located around the world.
It seems that golf is firmly back on the agenda (with a few extra rules) and tee times are said to be selling out fast. One of the nicest aspects of golf is it is easy to practice many of the required skills at home in preparation for the challenges ahead.
With 10,000s of well-honed British golfers chomping at the bit, we’re taking a look at some of the best courses around the world in anticipation for when travel restrictions are lifted.
Hone your skills with an expert PGA-certified instructor at Boulders Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona
Named after the 12-million-year-old Boulder formations in which the resort stands, this luxurious hideaway is surrounded by the Sonoran desert and nature that has been intentionally left untouched, allowing indigenous flora and fauna to thrive. Scottsdale’s Boulder’s Resort and Spa is home to two-award winning golf courses designed by renowned golf architect Jay Morrish.
Both courses feature 18 holes and were designed to take advantage of the unique terrain around boulder formations and natural vegetation. Players can take advantage of the ‘Caddiemaster’ programme where certified caddie professionals who know the tricks and the challenges of the golf courses help a player’s tee shot. This is the course on which to refine and perfect your skills with the expertise of the resorts PGA and LPGA-certified instructors.
Play the course of champions at Pinehurst in North Carolina
This golfer’s paradise is known as the St Andrews of American golf with nine courses scattered among the Carolina pines and steeped in history. The No. 2 course, designed by Donald Ross, is one of the world’s most celebrated golf courses and it may also be the closest America has to a traditional Scottish links course.
Pinehurst has served as the site of the most, single golf championships than any course in America and hosted back-to-back US Open and US Women’s Open Championships for the first time in 2014. The US Open Championship will be returning in 2024.
Take in Canada’s breath-taking views at Cobble Beach Golf Links, Ontario
Perched atop the rocky cliff tops of Georgian Bay overlooking the serene Lake Huron, the Cobble Beach Golf Links offers a great location to play a round of golf. The course was designed by prolific architect Doug Carrick, who created this fast-running green with small pot bunkers and fantastic lake views. After playing, guests can make use of the award-winning Nantucket-style Clubhouse and its Sweetwater Restaurant & Bar, with a wraparound terrace offering the perfect spot to sit back and take in the impressive views.
Play in one of Japan’s most beautiful golf courses at Prince Kawana Hotel, Japan
Located on the Izu Peninsula, is home to two of Japan’s most spectacular golf courses: Fuji Course and Oshima Course. It was also Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio’s honeymoon destination. Surrounded by the beautiful greenery of the courses and blues of the Pacific, the hotel provides unprecedented access to some of Japan’s most sought after golfing spots. Exclusively available for hotel guests, the famous Fuji Course is considered among one of the best in the world for both its beauty and its challenges.
Designed by C.H. Alison, the 18 hole course opened in 1936, and makes good use of the rich natural features of the area, ensuring golfers can enjoy the breath-taking scenery of the area whilst making their way around the course. Alternatively, the Oshima Course, framed by the impressive colours of Sagami Bay, makes for an enjoyable day for beginners. After a day of golfing, guests can enjoy a dip in the luxurious Brisa Marina Onsen with amazing sea views.
Enjoy golfing in the South of the island at The Avalon Golf Estate, Mauritius
Located in the heart of nature in Bois Cheri in the South of the island, this course is designed to offer golfers the chance to enjoy the natural beauty of the course and their surroundings as they play a round. It is the only inland course on the island, making it easily accessible from all areas of Mauritius and offering cooler temperatures amongst the south-central mountains of Mauritius.
This 18-hole international standard golf course was designed by world-renowned South-African architect Peter Matkovich course and offers a diverse setting of tea plantations, rivers, ravines, mountains combined with a sweeping view of the Southern coastline and the spectacular Indian Ocean.
Tee off with the Arabian Gulf as your backdrop at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Abu Dhabi
Keen golfers staying at the Rixos Premium, Saadiyat Island hotel, are perfectly placed across the road from one of the most spectacular golf courses in the region, the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. The Abu Dhabi course is billed as the Arabian Gulf’s first ocean-fronted course, meaning players can tee off alongside the azure coastline, with the chance to spot dolphins and turtles out at sea.
The Gary Player-designed 18-hole championship course is a Par 72 course, designed with both amateurs and professionals in mind, weaving around five-star hotels, salt-water lakes and sand dunes, with six holes featuring panoramic Gulf views. Following a round, golfers can relax in the course’s Hawksbill Restaurant – named after the endangered turtles that lay their eggs on the nearby dunes – or head back to their hotel to take a dip in the warm sea and dine at one of the many a la carte restaurants.
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