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Golfweek's Best 2025: The top 100 international courses

Golfweek's Best 2025: The top 100 international courses Show Caption Hide Caption New for 2025 at Gamble Sands: Scarecrow Golfweek's Jason Lusk visited the beautiful new golf course in Washington at Gamble Sands. Welcome to Golfweek's Best 2025 ranking of the Top 100 International Courses, our list of the greatest layouts outside the U.S. The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them based on our 10 criteria. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those individual ratings on each course are averaged to produce an overall rating. Each course is then ranked against other courses in the region. This list focuses on the golf courses themselves, not resorts as a whole or other club amenities. Each golf course included is listed with its average rating from 1 to 10, its location, architect(s) and the year it opened. Courses must meet a minimum threshold of votes to qualify, and it can take several years for a layout to garner enough votes to show up. Of note, there are two courses that appear in the top 10 for the first time. Cabot Saint Lucia's Point Hardy Golf Club opened late in 2023, and Shanqin Bay in China was visited by a dedicated group of raters to achieve the minimum vote requirement. We hope you enjoy this list. 1. Royal County Down (Championship) Average rating: 8.94 Location: Newcastle, Northern Ireland Designer(s): George L. Baillie, Old Tom Morris, George Combe, Harry S. Colt, Donald Steel Year opened: 1889 2. St. Andrews Old Course Average rating: 8.74 Location: St. Andrews, Scotland Designer(s): Unknown first designer, Old Tom Morris Year opened: Unknown 3. Royal Melbourne (West) Average rating: 8.69 Location: Black Rock, Victoria, Australia Designer(s): Alister MacKenzie Year opened: 1926 4. Royal Dornoch (Championship) Average rating: 8.68 Location: Dornoch, Scotland Designer(s): Old Tom Morris, John Sutherland, George Duncan, Tom Mackenzie Year opened: 1877 5. Cabot Saint Lucia (Point Hardy)* Average rating: 8.67 Location: Cap Estate, Saint Lucia Designer(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw Year opened: 2023 6. Muirfield Average rating: 8.64 Location: Gullane, Scotland Designer(s): Old Tom Morris Year opened: 1892 7. Shanqin Bay* Average rating: 8.56 Location: Hainan, China Designer(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw Year opened: 2012 8. Royal Portrush (Dunluce) Average rating: 8.55 Location: Portrush, Northern Ireland Designer(s): Harry S. Colt, Martin Ebert Year opened: 1929 9. Hirono Average rating: 8.52 Location: Hyogo, Japan Designer(s): Charles H. Alison Year opened: 1932 T10. Sunningdale (Old) Average rating: 8.41 Location: Sunningdale, England Designer(s): Willie Park Jr., Harry S. Colt Year opened: 1901 T10. Tara Iti Average rating: 8.41 Location: Mangawhai, New Zealand Designer(s): Tom Doak Year opened: 2015 12. Cabot Cliffs Average rating: 8.36 Location: Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada Designer(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw Year opened: 2015 13. Trump Turnberry Resort (Ailsa) Average rating: 8.35 Location: Turnberry, Scotland Designer(s): Willie Fernie, Mackenzie Ross, Martin Ebert, Tom MacKenzie Year opened: 1901 14. Ballybunion (Old) Average rating: 8.31 Location: Ballybunion, Ireland Designer(s): Lionel Hewson, Tom Simpson Year opened: 1893 15. Royal St. George's Average rating: 8.22 Location: Sandwich, England Designer(s): Laidlaw Purves Year opened: 1887 16. Golf de Morfontaine (Le Grand Parcours) Average rating: 8.21 Location: Mortefontaine, France Designer(s): Tom Simpson, Kyle Phillips Year opened: 1927 17. Barnbougle Dunes Average rating: 8.19 Location: Bridport, Tasmania, Australia Designer(s): Tom Doak, Michael Clayton Year opened: 2004 18. Cape Kidnappers Average rating: 8.13 Location: Hawke's Bay, New Zealand Designer(s): Tom Doak Year opened: 2004 19. Te Arai (South) Average rating: 8.12 Location: Tomarata, New Zealand Designer(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw Year opened: 2022 20. North Berwick Golf Club (West Links) Average rating: 8.11 Location: North Berwick, Scotland Designer(s): David Strath, Ben Sayers Year opened: 1832 21. Vidauban Golf Club (formerly Prince de Provence) Average rating: 8.08 Location: Vidauban, France Designer(s): Robert Trent Jones Sr., Robert Trent Jones Jr. Year opened: 1999 22. Kingston Heath Average rating: 8.07 Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Designer(s): Dan Souter, Alister MacKenzie Year opened: 1925 23. Te Arai (North)* Average rating: 8.02 Location: Tomarata, New Zealand Designer(s): Tom Doak Year opened: 2023 24. Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club Average rating: 8.01 Location: Rio San Juan, Dominican Republic Designer(s): Robert Trent Jones Sr., Rees Jones Year opened: 1997 25. Royal Birkdale Average rating: 7.99 Location: Southport, England Designer(s): George Lowe, F.G. Hawtree, J.H. Taylor Year opened: 1897 26. Swinley Forest Average rating: 7.98 Location: Ascot, England Designer(s): Harry S. Colt Year opened: 1909 27. Lahinch (Old) Average rating: 7.96 Location: Lahinch, Ireland Designer(s): Old Tom Morris, Charles Gibson, Alister MacKenzie, Martin Hawtree Year opened: 1894 28. Cape Wickham Average rating: 7.94 Location: King Island, Tasmania, Australia Designer(s): Mike Devries Year opened: 2015 29. Carnoustie (Championship) Average rating: 7.92 Location: Carnoustie, Scotland Designer(s): Robert Chambers, Allan Robertson, Old Tom Morris, James Braid Year opened: 1830s 30. Kingsbarns Average rating: 7.89 Location: Kingsbarns, Scotland Designer(s): Kyle Phillips Year opened: 2000 31. Trump International Scotland Average rating: 7.87 Location: Balmedie, Scotland Designer(s): Martin Hawtree Year opened: 2012 32. St. George's G&CC Average rating: 7.80 Location: Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada Designer(s): Stanley Thompson Year opened: 1930 33. Royal Porthcawl Average rating: 7.79 Location: Porthcawl, Wales Designer(s): Ramsey Hunter, J. Simpson Year opened: 1895 T34. Fairmont Banff Springs Average rating: 7.78 Location: Banff, Alberta, Canada Designer(s): Stanley Thompson Year opened: 1927 T34. St. George's Hill Average rating: 7.78 Location: Weybridge, England Designer(s): Harry S. Colt Year opened: 1913 36. Barnbougle (Lost Farm) Average rating: 7.77 Location: Bridport, Tasmania, Australia Designer(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw Year opened: 2010 37. Koninkiljke Haagsche Average rating: 7.75 Location: Wassenaar, Netherlands Designer(s): Charles H. Alison, Harry S. Colt Year opened: 1938 T38. New South Wales GC Average rating: 7.72 Location: La Perouse, New South Wales, Australia Designer(s): Alister MacKenzie Year opened: 1928 T38. South Cape Owners Club* Average rating: 7.72 Location: Namhae, Republic of Korea Designer(s): Kyle Phillips Year opened: 2013 T38. Ardfin Average rating: 7.72 Location: Isle of Jura, Scotland Designer(s): Bob Harrison Year opened: 2017 T41. Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Average rating: 7.71 Location: Jasper, Alberta, Canada Designer(s): Stanley Thompson Year opened: 1925 T41. Cruden Bay Average rating: 7.71 Location: Cruden Bay, Scotland Designer(s): Old Tom Morris, Archie Simpson, Tom Simpson, Herbert Fowler Year opened: 1899 T41. Royal Lytham & St. Annes Average rating: 7.71 Location: Lytham St. Annes, England Designer(s): George Lowe, Harry S. Colt, Herbert Fowler, Tom Simpson, C.K. Cotton Year opened: 1897 44. Ganton Average rating: 7.70 Location: Scarborough, England Designer(s): Tom Chisholm, Harry Vardon, Ted Ray, James Braid, J.H. Taylor, Harry S. Colt, Alister MacKenzie, Tom Simpson, C.K. Cotton Year opened: 1891 T45. Sunningdale (New) Average rating: 7.69 Location: Sunningdale, England Designer(s): Harry S. Colt, John Morrison Year opened: 1923 T45. Cap Cana (Punta Espada) Average rating: 7.69 Location: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Designer(s): Jack Nicklaus Year opened: 2006 T45. Cabot Links Average rating: 7.69 Location: Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada Designer(s): Rod Whitman Year opened: 2012 48. Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin) Average rating: 7.68 Location: Woodhall Spa, England Designer(s): Harry Vardon, J.H. Taylor, Harry S. Colt, Stafford Vere Hotchkin, Tom Doak Year opened: 1905 T49. Loch Lomond Average rating: 7.67 Location: Dunbartonshire, Scotland Designer(s): Jay Morrish, Tom Weiskopf Year opened: 1993 T49. Kauri Cliffs Average rating: 7.67 Location: Matauri Bay, New Zealand Designer(s): David Harman, Rees Jones Year opened: 2000 T51. Royal Troon (Old) Average rating: 7.66 Location: Troon, Scotland Designer(s): George Strath, Willie Fernie, James Braid Year opened: 1878 T51. Rosapenna (St. Patrick's Links) Average rating: 7.66 Location: Letterkenny, Ireland Designer(s): Tom Doak Year opened: 2021 53. Kawana Hotel (Fuji) Average rating: 7.65 Location: Shizuoka, Japan Designer(s): Charles H. Alison Year opened: 1936 54. Cabot Highlands (Castle Stuart) Average rating: 7.63 Location: Inverness, Scotland Designer(s): Gil Hanse, Mark Parsinen Year opened: 2009 T55. Old Head Golf Links Average rating: 7.58 Location: Kinsale, Ireland Designer(s): Eddie Hackett, Joe Carr, Ron Kirby, Paddy Merrigan, Liam Higgins Year opened: 1997 T55. Casa de Campo (Teeth of the Dog) Average rating: 7.58 Location: La Romana, Dominican Republic Designer(s): Pete Dye Year opened: 1971 T55. Sagebrush Average rating: 7.58 Location: Quilchena, British Columbia, Canada Designer(s): Rod Whitman, Richard Zokol, Armen Suny Year opened: 2009 58. Capilano Average rating: 7.57 Location: West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Designer(s): Stanley Thompson Year opened: 1937 59. Les Bordes (New) Average rating: 7.56 Location: Saint-Laurent-Nouan, France Designer(s): Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner Year opened: 2021 60. Ono Golf Club* Average rating: 7.53 Location: Hyopo, Japan Designer(s): Osamu Ueda Year opened: 1961 T61. St. Enodoc (Church) Average rating: 7.51 Location: Wadebridge, England Designer(s): James Braid Year opened: 1907 T61. National Golf Club (Gunnamatta) Average rating: 7.51 Location: Cape Schanck, Victoria, Australia Designer(s): Peter Thomson, Ross Perrett, Michael Woolveridge, Tom Doak Year opened: 2000 63. Waterville Golf Links Average rating: 7.50 Location: Waterville, Ireland Designer(s): Eddie Hackett, Tom Fazio Year opened: 1973 T64. Portmarnock (Old) Average rating: 7.49 Location: Portmarnock, Ireland Designer(s): George Ross, W.C. Pickeman, Mungo Park Year opened: 1894 T64. Diamante Cabo San Lucas (Dunes) Average rating: 7.49 Location: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Designer(s): Davis Love III Year opened: 2009 T64. Utrecht GC De Pan Average rating: 7.49 Location: Bosch en Duin, Netherlands Designer(s): Harry S. Colt Year opened: 1929 T67. Victoria Golf Club Average rating: 7.48 Location: Cheltenham, Victoria, Australia Designer(s): William Meader, Oscar Damman, Alister MacKenzie Year opened: 1927 T67. Royal Aberdeen (Balgownie) Average rating: 7.48 Location: Bridge of Don, Scotland Designer(s): Archie Simpson, Robert Simpson, James Braid Year opened: 1888 T67. Naruo Average rating: 7.48 Location: Hyogo, Japan Designer(s): H.C. Crane, Charles H. Alison Year opened: 1920 T70. Royal Cinque Ports Average rating: 7.46 Location: Deal, England Designer(s): Henry Hunter, James Braid, Guy Campbell Year opened: 1892 T70. Hamilton (West & South nines) Average rating: 7.46 Location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada Designer(s): Harry S. Colt Year opened: 1915 T72. Rye Average rating: 7.45 Location: Rye, England Designer(s): Harry S. Colt, Tom Simpson, Sir Guy Campbell Year opened: 1894 T72. Royal Melbourne (East) Average rating: 7.45 Location: Black Rock, Victoria, Australia Designer(s): Alex Russell, Mick Morcam Year opened: 1931 T72. Alwoodley Average rating: 7.45 Location: Leeds, England Designer(s): Alister MacKenzie Year opened: 1907 75. Machrihanish Average rating: 7.43 Location: Machrihanish, Scotland Designer(s): Old Tom Morris, J.H. Taylor, Sir Guy Campbell Year opened: 1876 T76. Walton Heath (Old) Average rating: 7.42 Location: Tadworth, England Designer(s): Herbert Fowler Year opened: 1903 T76. Apes Hill Average rating: 7.42 Location: St. James, Barbados Designer(s): Ron Kirby Year opened: 2022 78. Terras da Comporta (Dunas)* Average rating: 7.41 Location: Carvalhal, Portugal Designer(s): David McLay Kidd Year opened: 2023 79. Pulpit Club (Paintbrush, formerly Devil's Paintbrush) Average rating: 7.40 Location: Caledon East, Ontario, Canada Designer(s): Dana Fry, Michael Hurdzan Year opened: 1992 80. Queenwood Average rating: 7.38 Location: Ottershaw, England Designer(s): David McLay Kidd Year opened: 2001 81. Fancourt (Links) Average rating: 7.37 Location: George, South Africa Designer(s): Gary Player Year opened: 2000 82. Blackhawk Average rating: 7.35 Location: Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada Designer(s): Rod Whitman Year opened: 2003 83. Golf de Morfontaine (Valliere) Average rating: 7.34 Location: Morfontaine, France Designer(s): Tom Simpson Year opened: 1913 T84. Tokyo Golf Club Average rating: 7.33 Location: Sayama City, Japan Designer(s): Komei Otani, Gil Hanse Year opened: 1940 T84. Toronto Golf Club (Colt) Average rating: 7.33 Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Designer(s): Harry S. Colt, Martin Hawtree Year opened: 1912 T86. Royal Adelaide Average rating: 7.32 Location: Seaton, South Australia, Australia Designer(s): H.L. Rymill, Alister MacKenzie Year opened: 1906 T86. Greywolf Average rating: 7.32 Location: Panorama, British Columbia, Canada Designer(s): Doug Carrick Year opened: 1999 T86. Coppinwood Average rating: 7.32 Location: Goodwood, Ontario, Canada Designer(s): Tom Fazio Year opened: 2006 T89. Carne (Wild Atlantic Dunes)* Average rating: 7.30 Location: Belmullet, Ireland Designer(s): Eddie Hackett, Ally McIntosh, Jim Engh Year opened: 2017 T89. Goodwood Golf Club Average rating: 7.30 Location: Goodwood, Ontario, Canada Designer(s): Donald Steel, Martin Ebert, Tom Mackenzie Year opened: 2011 T89. Lofoten Links* Average rating: 7.30 Location: Gimsøysand, Norway Designer(s): Jeremy Turner Year opened: 2015 92. Notts (Hollinwell) Average rating: 7.29 Location: Kirkby in Ashfield, England Designer(s): Willie Park Jr., J.H. Taylor, Tom Williamson Year opened: 1901 T93. Prestwick Average rating: 7.28 Location: Prestwick, Scotland Designer(s): Old Tom Morris Year opened: 1851 T93. The European Club Average rating: 7.28 Location: Brittas Bay, Ireland Designer(s): Pat Ruddy Year opened: 1992 95. Western Gailes* Average rating: 7.27 Location: Irvine, Scotland Designer(s): Fred Morris, F.W. Hawtree Year opened: 1898 T96. Mid Ocean Club Average rating: 7.26 Location: St. George's, Bermuda Designer(s): Charles Blair Macdonald, Seth Raynor Year opened: 1921 T96. The Club at Nine Bridges* Average rating: 7.26 Location: Jeju Island, Republic of Korea Designer(s): Ron Fream, David Dale Year opened: 2001 T98. Moonah Links (Open) Average rating: 7.24 Location: Fingal, Victoria, Australia Designer(s): Peter Thomson Year opened: 2002 T98. Renaissance Club Average rating: 7.24 Location: Dirleton, Scotland Designer(s): Tom Doak Year opened: 2008 100. Memphremagog Average rating: 7.23 Location: Magog. Quebec, Canada Designer(s): Thomas McBroom Year opened: 2008