{"id":8225,"date":"2026-02-16T16:13:32","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T16:13:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/?p=8225"},"modified":"2026-02-16T16:13:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T16:13:34","slug":"top-24-international-golf-courses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/top-24-international-golf-courses\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 24 International Golf Courses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"551\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/1423316727_b17dc6a0-36c0-4137-8961-8511d734c10a_1800x1800-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"best international golf courses\" class=\"wp-image-10163\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/1423316727_b17dc6a0-36c0-4137-8961-8511d734c10a_1800x1800-1-1.jpg 850w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/1423316727_b17dc6a0-36c0-4137-8961-8511d734c10a_1800x1800-1-1-340x220.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/1423316727_b17dc6a0-36c0-4137-8961-8511d734c10a_1800x1800-1-1-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/1423316727_b17dc6a0-36c0-4137-8961-8511d734c10a_1800x1800-1-1-150x97.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photograph Courtesy of Evan Schiller<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Few games have the power to take you places, literally and figuratively, the way golf does. Fall for it hard enough, and you\u2019ll find yourself crossing borders, oceans, time zones, and eras, all in pursuit of a good walk spoiled.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From the \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/what-makes-a-golf-course-royal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">royal and ancient<\/a>\u2019 fairways of St. Andrews to the modern masterpieces emerging in New Zealand, these are the best international golf courses that belong on every golfer\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/bucket-list-golf-courses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bucket list<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/embed?mid=1LwUPtAqff6Ek7I1I3SN0ZRPIboDtfqg&#038;ehbc=2E312F&#038;noprof=1\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best International Golf Courses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-royal-county-down-golf-club\">1. Royal County Down Golf Club\u00a0(Championship Course)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"newcastle-northern-ireland\">Newcastle, Northern Ireland<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_173030529_adobe_express.jpeg\" alt=\"Royal County Down\" class=\"wp-image-8228\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_173030529_adobe_express.jpeg 850w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_173030529_adobe_express-340x220.jpeg 340w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_173030529_adobe_express-300x194.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A rare number of layouts marry natural grandeur and strategic bite quite like the Championship Course at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.royalcountydown.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Royal County Down<\/a>. It\u2019s not just \u201cin the conversation\u201d of the best international golf courses. Depending on the list, it\u2019s No. 1 in the world, or trading punches with Cypress Point, Pine Valley, and Augusta National for the top spot. Not bad company to keep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The routing winds through the purple heather and golden gorse of the Murlough Nature Reserve, zigzagging along Dundrum Bay beneath the Mourne Mountains. It\u2019s the pinnacle of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/what-is-a-links-style-golf-course\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">links golf<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-the-royal-melbourne-golf-club-west-course\">2. The Royal Melbourne Golf Club (West Course)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"black-rock-australia\">Black Rock, Australia<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>For students of architecture and players alike, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.royalmelbourne.com.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Royal Melbourne\u2019s West Course<\/a> is arguably the most celebrated layout in the Southern Hemisphere. This Dr. Alister MacKenzie design is defined by its firm Sandbelt terrain, where the ground game thrives, and rugged bunkering with vertical edges a foot or more tall. As visually arresting as the course is, it\u2019s the beautifully contoured and impeccably maintained greens that steal the show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-muirfield\">3. Muirfield<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"east-lothian-scotland\">East Lothian, Scotland<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>There are ten courses in the Open Championship rota, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.muirfield.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Muirfield<\/a>\u2014a venue that has hosted the game\u2019s oldest major 16 times, trailing only St. Andrews and Prestwick in total Opens staged. What sets Muirfield apart is its distinctive routing: rather than the traditional out-and-back, the course unfolds in two loops of nine that rotate in opposite directions. The result is a constant recalibration, with the wind coming from every conceivable angle and no stretch of holes offering much reprieve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-st-andrews-links-old-course\">4. St. Andrews Links (Old Course)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"st-andrews-scotland\">St. Andrews, Scotland<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_338619976_adobe_express.jpeg\" alt=\"St. Andrews Links\" class=\"wp-image-8229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_338619976_adobe_express.jpeg 850w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_338619976_adobe_express-340x220.jpeg 340w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_338619976_adobe_express-300x194.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.standrews.com\/homepage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Home of Golf<\/a>\u201d really needs no introduction. From the Swilcan Bridge, the sport\u2019s most famous photo-op, to the nerve-wracking Road Hole, the Old Course is as iconic as golf gets. The game has been played here since the early 1400s, and somehow, centuries later, it still feels more alive than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-royal-dornoch-championship-links-course\">5. Royal Dornoch (Championship Course)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"dornoch-scotland\">Dornoch, Scotland<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"851\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/AdobeStock_338617422-4.jpg\" alt=\"Royal Dornoch\" class=\"wp-image-10164\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/AdobeStock_338617422-4.jpg 851w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/AdobeStock_338617422-4-340x220.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/AdobeStock_338617422-4-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/AdobeStock_338617422-4-150x97.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 851px) 100vw, 851px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/royaldornoch.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Royal Dornoch<\/a> is less like a golf course you happen upon and more like one you seek out\u2026 with a bit of planning\u2026 and a bit of a drive north. All that to say, it\u2019s a bit isolated, but that is absolutely part of its enduring mystique. Golf has been played over this rumpled stretch of linksland for more than four centuries. And that depth of history is palpable on the first tee of the Championship Course to the final putt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-royal-portrush-golf-club-dunluce-links\">6. Royal Portrush Golf Club (Dunluce)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"portrush-northern-ireland\">Portrush, Northern Ireland<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_278327784_adobe_express.jpeg\" alt=\"Royal Portrush Golf Club\" class=\"wp-image-8230\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_278327784_adobe_express.jpeg 850w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_278327784_adobe_express-340x220.jpeg 340w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_278327784_adobe_express-300x194.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.royalportrushgolfclub.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Royal Portrush<\/a> is the only club outside mainland Britain to host the Open Championship. The Dunluce Links, the more famous of the two courses on site, is named after the medieval Dunluce Castle, whose ruins still overlook the course to this day. The Harry Colt\u2011designed links sit atop limestone cliff edges where Atlantic winds prevail and waves crash below.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"7-kingston-heath-golf-club\">7. Kingston Heath Golf Club<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cheltenham-australia\">Cheltenham, Australia<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The Melbourne Sandbelt is home to some of Australia\u2019s most incredible golf courses. But few come close to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kingstonheath.melbourne\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kingston Heath<\/a>. The course weaves beautifully into the natural landscape and is largely considered a masterpiece of golf design. Built on deceptively simple terrain, this compact 18\u2011hole layout proves that pure strategic design beats sheer size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The course\u2019s architectural pedigree reads like a who\u2019s\u2011who of golf history. Scotsman Dan Soutar routed the original layout in the 1920s, and Dr. Alister MacKenzie, the genius mind behind Augusta National, refined its bunkers and revamped the famous uphill 15th\u2014now considered one of golf\u2019s finest short holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"8-tara-iti-golf-club\">8. Tara Iti Golf Club<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"te-arai-new-zealand\">Te Arai, New Zealand<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Named after the endangered New Zealand fairy tern that once nested along its shores, <a href=\"https:\/\/taraiti.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tara Iti<\/a> is a course like no other. Designed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/9-of-the-best-tom-doak-golf-courses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tom Doak<\/a>, the layout winds through rolling sand hills along 11\u202fkm of pristine Pacific coastline, with firm fescue fairways and sandy waste areas that give the course its unique appearance. In just a decade since its debut in 2015, Tara Iti has gone from golf newcomer to one of the best international golf courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"9-ballybunion-old\">9. Ballybunion Golf Club (Old Course)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ballybunion-ireland\">Ballybunion, Ireland<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Ballybunion_Old12_DJI_0036-_adobe_express.jpeg\" alt=\"Ballybunion Golf Club\" class=\"wp-image-8234\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Ballybunion_Old12_DJI_0036-_adobe_express.jpeg 850w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Ballybunion_Old12_DJI_0036-_adobe_express-340x220.jpeg 340w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Ballybunion_Old12_DJI_0036-_adobe_express-300x194.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photograph Courtesy of Evan Schiller<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Legendary figures in golf like Tom Watson have called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ballybuniongolfclub.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ballybunion<\/a> one of the best courses in the world, and many guides consistently rank it near the very top of international lists. While the club is a double delight with two courses, it\u2019s the Old Course that steals the spotlight, delivering pure links golf across some of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/best-golf-courses-in-ireland\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ireland\u2019s<\/a> wildest dunes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"10-sunningdale-golf-club-old-course\">10. Sunningdale Golf Club (Old Course)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"sunningdale-england\">Sunningdale, England<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike many historic courses shaped by seaside winds, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sunningdalegolfclub.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sunningdale<\/a> takes golfers inland, deep into classic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/best-golf-courses-in-england\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">English heathland<\/a>. Opened in 1901 and designed by Willie Park Jr., one of golf\u2019s early architectural pioneers, the course was built on sandy soil that many deemed unsuitable for golf. Park\u2019s visionary work not only proved the skeptics wrong but also set a blueprint for inland heathland courses that architects would emulate for decades to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"11-the-royal-st-georges-golf-club\">11. The Royal St. George&#8217;s Golf Club<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"sandwich-england\">Sandwich, England<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_23423070_adobe_express.jpeg\" alt=\"The Royal St. George's Golf Club\" class=\"wp-image-8235\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_23423070_adobe_express.jpeg 850w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_23423070_adobe_express-340x220.jpeg 340w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_23423070_adobe_express-300x194.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fairways and greens at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.royalstgeorges.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Royal St. George\u2019s Golf Club<\/a> are shaped as much by the English Channel winds as by the architects who routed the holes. It was the first course in England to host The Open Championship in 1894, a groundbreaking moment that shifted the championship beyond its Scottish roots and established Royal St. George\u2019s as a permanent fixture in major championship history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"12-north-berwick-golf-club-the-west-links\">12. North Berwick Golf Club (The West Links)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"north-berwick-scotland\">North Berwick, Scotland<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>There aren\u2019t many courses in the world that occupy land as captivating as the West Links at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.northberwickgolfclub.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">North Berwick Golf Club<\/a>. Widely regarded as one of the best international golf courses in Scotland, it stretches along the edge of the Firth of Forth, where sweeping sea views and a steady coastal breeze create the kind of conditions that define true links golf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"13-lahinch-golf-club-old\">13. Lahinch Golf Club (Old)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lahinch-ireland\">Lahinch, Ireland<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The Old Course at <a href=\"https:\/\/lahinchgolf.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lahinch Golf Club<\/a> carries the fingerprints of some of golf\u2019s most influential architects. Old Tom Morris originally shaped the layout, while later work by Alister MacKenzie and modern refinements by Martin Hawtree helped preserve its character while elevating its challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wild dunes, blind tee shots, and rumpled fairways define the experience here. Holes like the par-5 \u201cKlondyke\u201d and the famous par-3 \u201cDell\u201d give Lahinch a uniquely unforgettable personality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"14-trump-turnberry-ailsa\">14. Trump Turnberry (Ailsa)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"turnberry-scotland\">Turnberry, Scotland<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_474078095_adobe_express.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8236\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_474078095_adobe_express.jpeg 850w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_474078095_adobe_express-340x220.jpeg 340w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_474078095_adobe_express-300x194.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The outward nine on the Ailsa Course builds anticipation, but the stretch around the lighthouse is where it separates itself from every other links in Scotland. Four Open Championships have been played at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trumphotels.com\/turnberry\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trump Turnberry<\/a>, including the iconic 1977 \u201cDuel in the Sun\u201d between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"15-hirono-golf-club\">15. Hirono Golf Club<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"miki-chi-japan\">Miki-Chi, Japan<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/best-golf-courses-in-japan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Japan<\/a> might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of world-class golf, but <a href=\"https:\/\/hironogolfclub.jp\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hirono Golf Club<\/a> proves otherwise. Opened in 1932, the course faced near destruction during World War II when the Imperial Air Force turned it into a runway. After the war, designers painstakingly restored it using Charles Alison\u2019s original plans, though some of the wild character of the original layout never fully returned. Even so, Hirono endures as Asia\u2019s crown jewel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"16-barnbougle-dunes\">16. Barnbougle Dunes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bridport-australia\">Bridport, Australia<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Opened in 2004, <a href=\"https:\/\/barnbougle.com.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Barnbougle Dunes<\/a> is a relative newcomer to the international golf courses scene, yet it has quickly earned a reputation as one of Tasmania\u2019s premier courses. Perched on the island\u2019s northeast coast, it embraces the rugged natural landscape while drawing inspiration from the classic Scottish and Irish links. Windswept dunes and stunning views over Bass Strait make every round a true test of golf\u2014and a feast for the eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"17-carnoustie-golf-links-championship\">17. Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"carnoustie-scotland\">Carnoustie, Scotland<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_282809128_adobe_express.jpeg\" alt=\"Carnoustie Golf Links\" class=\"wp-image-8237\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_282809128_adobe_express.jpeg 850w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_282809128_adobe_express-340x220.jpeg 340w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AdobeStock_282809128_adobe_express-300x194.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carnoustiegolflinks.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Carnoustie Golf Links<\/a>, or\u00a0 \u201cCar-nasty\u201d as it&#8217;s affectionately referred to, strikes fear and admiration in equal measure. The Championship Course, one of three tracks on-site, is a storied layout that has tested the world\u2019s best through eight Open Championships, two Women\u2019s British Opens, and three Senior Opens. Heather-lined fairways, deep, punishing bunkers, and deceptively tricky greens make every hole a mental and physical battle.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"18-morfontaine\">18. Morfontaine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mortefontaine-france\">Mortefontaine, France<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Just north of Paris, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.golfdemorfontaine.fr\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Golf de Morfontaine<\/a> feels like a hidden world unto itself, nestled deep within ancient woodland and heather\u2011strewn heath. Founded in 1913 by the Duc de Guiche and shaped by legendary architect Tom Simpson, its timeless \u201cGrand Parcours\u201d and the classic nine\u2011hole Valli\u00e8re reflect a design philosophy rooted in nature and strategic play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"19-royal-birkdale-golf-club\">19. Royal Birkdale Golf Club<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"southport-england\">Southport, England<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/royalbirkdale.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Royal Birkdale Golf Club<\/a> is one of England\u2019s most iconic golf venues and a cornerstone of the Open Championship rota. Founded in 1889 and granted Royal status in 1951, it has since hosted The Open ten times, beginning in 1954, and will host again in 2026. Over the decades, winners here have included legends like Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer, Jordan Spieth, and Ian Baker\u2011Finch, and the course has also hosted Ryder Cups, Women\u2019s Opens, and Senior Opens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">20. Royal Troon Golf Club (Old Course)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Troon, Scotland<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.royaltroon.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Royal Troon\u2019s Old Course<\/a> is one of golf\u2019s most revered links. Founded in 1878 and part of The Open Championship rotation since 1923, it has hosted the Major ten times, most recently in 2024. Set along the windswept Ayrshire coast beside the Firth of Clyde, the course masterfully blends natural seaside terrain with strategic design. Its Par\u20113 \u201cPostage Stamp\u201d may be the shortest hole in Open history, but when the wind roars, it becomes one of the game\u2019s greatest tests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">21. Cape Kidnappers Golf Course<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Te Awanga, New Zealand<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t let the name fool you\u2014the only thing \u201ckidnapped\u201d at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.robertsonlodges.com\/the-lodges\/cape-kidnappers\/explore\/golf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cape Kidnappers<\/a> is the occasional wild tee shot! Perched on towering oceanfront cliffs along New Zealand\u2019s North Island, this dramatic Tom Doak\u2013designed course (built in 2004) offers breathtaking views of the Pacific on nearly every hole. Bold risk-reward holes and expansive, windswept fairways make it as thrilling as it is beautiful\u2014a modern links-style masterpiece on a cliffside canvas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">22. Portmarnock Golf Club (Old Course)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Portmarnock, Ireland<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Just minutes from Dublin and set on a windswept peninsula extending into the Irish Sea, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.portmarnockgolfclub.ie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Portmarnock Golf Club\u2019s<\/a> classic links course is one of Ireland\u2019s most cherished golfing landmarks. Founded in 1894, it has hosted an impressive list of elite events including 19 Irish Opens, the Walker Cup, the Amateur Championship, and the Canada Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"20-cabot-cliffs\">23. Cabot Cape Breton<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"inverness-nova-scotia\">Inverness, Nova Scotia<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/cabot-new-copy.jpg\" alt=\"Cabot Cliffs\" class=\"wp-image-8238\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/cabot-new-copy.jpg 850w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/cabot-new-copy-340x220.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/cabot-new-copy-300x194.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cabot.com\/capebreton\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cabot Cape Breton<\/a> boasts two of the world\u2019s most celebrated golf courses: Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs. They tumble along the edge of the Atlantic, where cliffs, dunes, wind, and waves create a stage for pure golf theater. Entirely at the mercy of the elements, it\u2019s golf played the way it was meant to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"24-casa-de-campo-teeth-of-the-dog\">24. Casa De Campo (Teeth of the Dog)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"dominican-republic\">Dominican Republic<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/21_-Golf_-TOTD3_adobe_express.jpeg\" alt=\"Casa de Campo\" class=\"wp-image-8240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/21_-Golf_-TOTD3_adobe_express.jpeg 850w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/21_-Golf_-TOTD3_adobe_express-340x220.jpeg 340w, https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/21_-Golf_-TOTD3_adobe_express-300x194.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Pete Dye-designed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.casadecampo.com.do\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Teeth of the Dog<strong>\u00ae<\/strong> Golf Course<\/a> is regarded as the best in the Caribbean. Seven holes cling to craggy coral cliffs that tumble dramatically into turquoise waters (holes Dye humbly credits to the divine) while the remaining eleven proudly bear his unmistakable touch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Make traveling to and from these international golf courses just as enjoyable as the rounds in between with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/\">ShipSticks<\/a>. We ship to and from 180 countries and territories, so your golf clubs and luggage arrive ahead of you. That means no long airport lines, no outrageous baggage fees, and no hauling your clubs through a maze of planes, trains, and transfers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Few games have the power to take you places, literally and figuratively, the way golf does. Fall for it hard enough, and you\u2019ll find yourself crossing borders, oceans, time zones, and eras, all in pursuit of a good walk spoiled.\u00a0 From the \u2018royal and ancient\u2019 fairways of St. Andrews to the modern masterpieces emerging in&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":10163,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,249],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8225"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8225"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8225\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10165,"href":"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8225\/revisions\/10165"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10163"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8225"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8225"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shipsticks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8225"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}