Whether written on paper or stored in their mind, every golfer has a bucket list of golf destinations they’d love to explore. While some destinations, like St. Andrews or Pebble Beach, are at the top of everyone’s list, there are a few golf meccas you may have not heard of, sure to give those shoo-ins a run for their money. These are the best golf trips in the world.
Best Golf Trips Around the World
1. St. Andrews – Old Course
St. Andrews, Scotland
Having seen golf’s greatest players in its 600 years, the Old Course at St. Andrews is one of the best golf trips in the world. Regarded as the “Home of Golf,” some of the most iconic sights in golf can be found at St. Andrews including the Swilcan Bridge and the Old Course Hotel.
2. Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach, California
Highly regarded as the top public golf course in the United States, Pebble Beach is another one of the best golf trips in the world. Carved into the rugged California coastline, Pebble Beach is so close to the Pacific you may feel a splash of sea spray from the crashing waves as you tap in for birdie.
3. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
Bandon, Oregon
Celebrating “golf as it was meant to be,” Bandon Dunes has long been regarded as one of the best trips in the world. The resort boasts six links-inspired designs, a par-3 course, stunning accommodations, and an array of options for dining and a post-round beverage.
4. Cape Kidnappers
Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
Cape Kidnappers is truly a marvel of golf course design. With towering, seaside cliffs, and plunging valleys, Cape Kidnappers is one the best golf trips in the world for equal parts drama and beauty. Firm greens and deep bunkers will challenge golfers of all levels, too.
5. Whistling Straits – Destination Kohler
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Home to two championship golf courses, the Straits and the Irish, Whistling Straits is one of the best golf trip destinations in the world. Nestled along the shoreline of Lake Michigan, the courses boast windswept, fescue-lined fairways, challenging bunkering, and more. The Straits, specifically, has also hosted several events, including multiple PGA Championships.
6. Royal County Down
Newcastle, Northern Ireland
Having opened in 1889, Royal County Down is one of the oldest and best golf trip destinations in the world. Located in the Mountains of Mourne with stunning views of Dundrum Bay, Royal County Down is most known for its heather-lined fairways, domed greens, and world-famous bunkers.
7. Pinehurst Resort
Pinehurst, North Carolina
Pinehurst Resort is one of the most popular buddies trip destinations and most certainly one of the best golf trip destinations in the world. The resort boasts 9 championship-level golf courses highlighted by No. 2, the site of several professional tournaments. Pinehurst was also recently named the U.S. Open’s first anchor site.
8. Casa de Campo
La Romana, Dominican Republic
The premier golf experience of the Dominican Republic, Casa de Campo is one of the best golf trip destinations in the world. The Teeth of the Dog Course, located at Casa de Campo, is easily the most celebrated design in the Caribbean with unparalleled oceanfront fairways.
9. Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course
Jasper, Canada
Every round of golf at Jasper Park includes beautiful mountain vistas, an array of wildlife, and some of the most dramatic hole designs in Canada. As one of the best golf trip destinations in the world, visitors flock to Jasper Park for the views, the golf, and the accommodations.
10. Kapalua Golf
Lahaina, Hawaii
Home to the PGA TOUR’s Sentry Tournament of Champions, the Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort has long been regarded as one of the best golf trip destinations in the world. Located on the island of Maui, the resort also boasts the Bay Course which has hosted more than 20 professional tournaments.
11. Cabot Cape Breton
Nova Scotia, Canada
Located on the stunning coast of Cape Breton, Cabot Cape Breton is one of the best golf trip destinations in the world thanks to its two, top 100 golf courses and exquisite views. Towering oceanfront cliffs and natural valleys ensure Cabot is full of surprises at every turn.
From the historic links of St. Andrews to the rugged beauty of Pebble Beach, each of these best golf trips is a testament to golf’s global allure.
So, pack your clubs and embark on a journey that turns golfing dreams into vibrant realities. And don’t forget to tag us, @shipsticks, so we can tag along throughout all your golfing adventures!
