The gust of ocean wind, the splash of sea spray, the squawk of a seagull – needless to say, there’s no setting quite as magical as that of a golf course with an ocean view. And with the undeniable beauty of a seaside fairway, oceanfront golf courses are some of the most popular spots on a golf vacation. These are the top ocean view golf courses across the globe.
Ocean View Golf Courses: The Greatest Meetings of Land and Sea
1. The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island
Kiawah Island, South Carolina
While the East Coast boasts some of the most incredible oceanfront golf courses, the panoramic sea views at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island are hard to beat. After all, with a name like the Ocean Course, you’d expect the ocean views to be as epic as they are! With a total of 10 oceanfront holes, the Ocean Course commands more waterfront than almost any other course in the world. The price to pay for such incredible views? Winds gust up to 60 mph, slick greens, and water hazards galore.
2. Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo
Dominican Republic
Casa de Campo has long been regarded as the premier golf destination of the Caribbean in large part due to its most celebrated layout: Teeth of the Dog. Designed by Pete Dye in 1971, Teeth of the Dog is one of the most outstanding oceanfront golf courses. Peninsula greens and tees that jut out into turquoise waters are something few golfers ever have the pleasure of experiencing. With seven, superior beachside holes, Dye is famously noted as saying “I created 11 holes, and God created seven.”
3. The Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Resort
Lahaina, Hawaii
Only one golf course has been recognized as the best golf course in Hawaii for fifteen consecutive years by Golfweek. And that’s The Plantation Course at Kapalua. Carved into the slopes of the Maui Mountains, this Coore and Crenshaw design is one of the most stunning oceanfront golf courses in the world. Wide rolling fairways are met by contoured greens and dramatic elevation changes offer stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. The Plantation Course is also a regular PGA TOUR stop, hosting the Sentry Tournament of Champions every January.
4. Old Head Golf Links
Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland
Old Head Golf Links is one of the best ocean view golf courses perched atop the steep cliffs of Ireland. The par 72 track is sprawled across 220 acres almost entirely surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, making it one of the most stunning oceanfront golf courses in Ireland. But the crashing waves and uninterrupted ocean views are surpassed in beauty only by the Old Head Lighthouse – an image synonymous with the links of Old Head.
5. Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach, California
Continuously ranked as the No. 1 public course in the nation, Pebble Beach is one of the most widely recognized oceanfront golf courses. Just steps from the rocky shores of the Pacific, Pebble Beach occupies a piece of golf real estate unlike any other. The course has also hosted several professional golf tournaments including six U.S. Opens and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
6. Royal Dornoch
Dornoch, Scotland
Those lucky enough to make the pilgrimage to the home of golf must experience a round at Royal Dornoch. Home to the Championship Course and the Struie Course, Royal Dornoch’s oceanfront golf courses are truly striking. Between the beaches of the Dornoch Firth and the summer blooms of the gorse, Royal Dornoch is one of the finest links golf experiences in the world.
7. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
Bandon, Oregon
With six different oceanfront golf courses inspired by the Scottish links, you won’t find a more authentic golf experience on this side of the pond than Bandon Dunes. With miles of sweeping ocean views, occasionally blanketed in a layer of fog, Bandon Dunes offers both an ominous yet spectacular round of golf. Rolling fairways, contoured greens, and massive dunes are both visually stunning and a true test for every level of player.
8. Turnberry Golf Club
Ayrshire, Scotland
Nestled on the coast of South Ayrshire, Turnberry Golf Club features two world-renowned oceanfront golf courses. The Ailsa course hugs the Firth of Clyde and the Turnberry Bay, allowing for beautiful views of Northern Ireland on a clear day. The King Robert the Bruce course offers equally as stunning views, interrupted only by the Turnberry Lighthouse built in 1873.
Enjoy stress-free travel to any of these ocean view golf courses when you ship your golf clubs ahead! Send your luggage, too, for entirely bag-free travel. Learn more or get a free quote today and start planning your next golf vacation.
