Best Golf Resorts in the World | Golf World Top 100

What are the best golf resorts in the world? The Golf World Top 100 panel ranks and rates the best golfing getaways on planet Earth.

Welcome to the Golf World Top 100 Golf Resorts in the World.

There is definitely an element of daydreaming about this list, because there is no denying that plenty of these resorts are expensive. But not all – and at home and abroad there are entries that are affordable to those who like to travel, which is important to me. Check out our ranking of the best golf courses in GB&I you can play for £60 and under if you’re looking for truly great value.  

I want our rankings to be a service to our readers, to give ideas for where to travel and present information to help you make informed choices. I’ve somehow managed to get to 68 of the 100, and compiling this list has definitely whetted my appetite for the other 32.

We define a resort as the course and accommodation being part of the same company or group, and as per above, on the same site. That means, for example, that while Sotogrande does very well in this list, we do not factor Real Valderrama or Real Sotogrande in its courses mark – it would be top 10 if we did. I want to compare apples with apples and this enables us to do that. Should the Old Course Hotel have the six courses it overlooks as part of its resort? Or should we consider the course that it owns, The Duke’s? I think the latter – because why should the Old Course Hotel get to lasso those six courses for its resort? Rusacks is just as close. This is why I define a resort as I do.

Anyway, enough of the admin… get ready to feast your eyes on the world’s greatest golf resorts. Please do feed back where you feel we’ve gone wrong – and also if you think we’ve got things right, too. We’d love to hear from you via email, on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

Chris Bertram, Golf World Top 100 Editor

100 ST MELLION

SALTASH, ENGLAND

Courses 29 Accommodation 14 Amenities 16 Setting 15 Total 74

A great option for the family, with a solid hotel that perhaps doesn’t have the style of others in the list but is packed with amenities. There are two very well-matched courses: the Nicklaus is the star name here but the Kernow certainly doesn’t let the side down.

99 TRUMP ABERDEEN

ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND

Course 33 Accommodation 19 Amenities 5 Setting 18 Total 75

The marks here tell the story. Expect ‘just’ 18 holes and only a handful of rooms, but the quality of both is quite exceptional. Its amenities are largely restricted to magnificent dining. One of the best courses in the list, and allied to the opulence of MacLeod House, it will appeal to many.

98 KATAMEYA HEIGHTS

CAIRO, EGYPT

Courses 26 Accommodation 18 Amenities 16 Setting 15 Total 75

A really impressive Cairo resort with 27 holes by Sir Nick Faldo and Brian Curley that are always beautifully presented. The hotel is every bit as grand, offering really nice modern rooms and a vast spa to complement a good pool area and a super breakfast.

97 TE ARAI

AUCKLAND, NZ

Courses 34 Accommodation 15 Amenities 6 Setting 20 Total 75

This is a soft opening position for Te Arai just because it is all fairly new, especially to our panel, and with the accommodation continually expanding. Expect a resort with a course by Coore-Crenshaw and another by Tom Doak on sandy coastal dunes to rise significantly!

96 ROYAL PALM MARRAKESH

MARRAKESH, MOROCCO

Course 25 Accommodation 18 Amenities 16 Setting 16 Total 75

You arrive here and think the hotel – laid out in a series of luxury mini townhouses – superb spa, pool area and restaurants will totally overshadow the golf, but Cabell Robinson created a resort course that was playable for all but also really compelling.

95 MONTGOMERIE MAXX

BELEK, TURKEY

Course 25 Accommodation 19 Amenities 17 Setting 15 Total 76

Belek’s final entry is a rarity on the Turkish Riviera – a one-course resort. But it’s so good it gets in. The hotel is whatever the word is for ‘beyond sparkly and glitzy’, there is a predictably large number of amenities and the course by European Golf Design is continental Top 100 caliber.

94 CORNELIA

BELEK, TURKEY

Course 25 Accommodation 18 Amenities 18 Setting 15 Total 76

Yes, we do realize there are a lot of Belek resorts in this list. It’s because they are really, really good. Cornelia has 27 well-designed holes by Sir Nick Faldo and hotels that do everything Belek hotels do so well. Luxury, amenities and, not that it matters for this list, incredible value.

93 MAGDALENA GRAND

LOWLANDS, TOBAGO

Course 23 Accommodation 19 Amenities 16 Setting 18 Total 76

The hotel is the star attraction, exuding a colonial elegance and charm in its whitewashed wood. A fun pool area and good spa and fitness facilities to burn off the calories you will unfailingly consume. The course winds between native vegetation and beachside, with infinity green views.

92 BIG CEDAR LODGE

MISSOURI, USA

Courses 30 Accommodation 15 Amenities 13 Setting 18 Total 76

An Ozarks setting for this five-course resort (one is 13 holes and another of them nine), with designs by heavyweights Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tom Fazio and Coore-Crenshaw. The resort boasts 302 rooms, 12 restaurants, a pool, spa, fishing and shooting.

91 BANYAN TREE LANG CO

DA NANG CITY, VIETNAM

Course 25 Accommodation 18 Amenities 15 Setting 18 Total 76

Laguna Lang Co provides the golf element, a Sir Nick Faldo design with fabulous scenery, given it sits between the Vietnam’s East Sea and the Truong Son mountains. The luxurious villas all have pools, while a gym and yoga head the amenities.

90 EL SALER

VALENCIA, SPAIN

Course 31 Accommodation 15 Amenities 13 Setting 17 Total 76

One of the best courses on mainland Europe, this Javier Arana masterpiece enjoys an exhilarating seaside setting on the majority of the front nine and the end of the back half. A solid Parador hotel looks out over the course and the Mediterranean.

89 BOYNE HIGHLANDS

HARBOR SPRINGS, USA

Courses 30 Accommodation 16 Amenities 15 Setting 15 Total 76

Boyne has three resorts close to each other, but they’re too far apart to be classed as one entry. Mountain and Inn at Bay Harbor are excellent but Highlands is our No.1, with four 18-holers, lots of accommodation and the feel of an English country estate.

88 DOVE MOUNTAIN

TUCSON, USA

Courses 28 Accommodation 17 Amenities 15 Setting 16 Total 76

The name might ring a bell because two of the three Jack Nicklaus nines at this desert retreat used to host the WGC Match Play. Surrounded by the canyons of the Tortolita Mountains, this Ritz-Carlton resort has 253 rooms, five restaurants and a very high-class spa.

87 LA MANGA

MURCIA, SPAIN

Courses 29 Accommodation 14 Amenities 19 Setting 15 Total 77

La Manga’s wow factor has long since disappeared, but with three good courses – led by the West, then the South and then the North – and a lot of non-golf amenities, it still has plenty to offer and recommend. A sparkling hotel to match its townhouses would elevate it up this ranking.

86 LE TOUQUET

LE TOUQUET, FRANCE

Courses 32 Accommodation 16 Amenities 12 Setting 17 Total 77

Le Touquet would have been nowhere near this 100 had the hotel not been refurbed to give a fresh look to its indubitable character, and the courses not been refreshed. Frank Pont did a fine job on Harry Colt’s La Mer – the star here – and for a high-class golf and dining break it is now very hard to beat.

85 DRUIDS GLEN

NEWTOWNMOUNTKENNEDY, IRELAND

Courses 31 Accommodation 17 Amenities 15 Setting 15 Total 78

Huge changes at Druids Glen since our last ranking, hence this notable rise. A multi-million euro investment has seen the re-imagining of all 36 holes at the resort south of Dublin, captivating the eye with modern design, excitement and intrigue. It illuminates both the courses and the resort.

84 OITAVOS DUNES

LISBON, PORTUGAL

Course 30 Accommodation 16 Amenities 14 Setting 18 Total 78

A fine all-rounder between the cute town of Cascais and the Atlantic Ocean. Arthur Hills designed the course on undulating sandy ground and there are plenty of memorable holes on both nines. The hotel is minimalist and chic, with one of the best pool areas in the entire 100.

83 FOUR SEASONS TROON NORTH

SCOTTSDALE, USA

Courses 31 Accommodation 15 Amenities 16 Setting 16 Total 78

Home to the respected Pinnacle and Monument courses, the latter by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, but it loses a mark in Setting as the golf is a short transfer away. More than 200 rooms, four restaurants, a spa, tennis, hiking and biking.

82 CAMERON HOUSE

HELENSBURGH, SCOTLAND

Course 23 Accommodation 19 Amenities 17 Setting 19 Total 78

A strong new entry, this time for a resort that was barely open in 2021 after a fire had devastated the hotel. It is not just fully operational again now, it’s better than ever, with a new wing of sleek accommodation seamlessly added on to the grand old house. The 5-star accommodation benefits from a peerless location on the edge of Loch Lomond. It really is breathtaking.

The course, The Carrick, is five minutes away and combined with it not having a majority of its holes with loch views, means Cameron House only gets 19 points for Setting – despite the hotel’s setting being unquestionably 20/20. There’s lots to do here away from the golf course and you will dine splendidly morning, noon (the Boat House is perfect for lunch) and night.

Expect Cameron House to only go in one direction after debuting here.

81 PENHA LONGA

LISBON, PORTUGAL

Courses 27 Accommodation 19 Amenities 17 Setting 15 Total 78

A big jump for this Cascais resort, whose amenities we undervalued in 2021. They are part of an easy-to-love hotel with one of the finest food offerings in this list, the Michelin-starred Lab. Kyle Phillips’ course is full of memorable holes. A fabulous resort.

80 THE MACHRIE

ISLAY, SCOTLAND

Courses 31 Accommodation 17 Amenities 12 Setting 18 Total 78

There are not many true links resorts, but The Machrie is one. It’s had a total overhaul on and off the course and that means a superb, modern hotel interior and especially a links that is fun, playable and scenic. An enviable location among Islay’s dunes.

79 THE BELFRY

SUTTON COLDFIELD, ENGLAND

Courses 31 Accommodation 15 Amenities 17 Setting 15 Total 78

The Ryder Cup-hosting Brabazon is far and away the No.1 course at The Belfry, but there are 36 additional holes to entertain and offer variety to those staying longer. The hotel has been recently refurbished to great success and there is plenty for the family to do.

78 FRENCH LICK

LOUISVILLE, USA

Courses 30 Accommodation 16 Amenities 16 Setting 16 Total 78

It might be a new name to many of you but check out its credentials: for a start, the revered Donald Ross created the first course here in Hoosier National Forest in 1917 and it soon hosted the US PGA. Pete Dye added another 18 and Tom Bendelow nine. It also has two historic hotels.

77 OMNI HOMESTEAD

VIRGINIA, USA

Courses 28 Accommodation 17 Amenities 16 Setting 17 Total 78

Omni Homestead has two championship courses – Cascades and the Old – sitting among the Allegheny Mountains of Virginia. They are nicely complemented by 423 rooms and five restaurants, plus a spa, pool, hiking/biking, zipline, fishing and equestrian activities.

76 LOUGH ERNE

ENNISKILLEN, NORTHERN IRELAND

Courses 29 Accommodation 16 Amenities 15 Setting 18 Total 78

Helped by a second 18, Castle Hume, Lough Erne maintains its place in this competitive list. Sir Nick Faldo’s course, packed with memorable and dramatic holes, is the big pull, but it’s more than matched by the 5-star hotel in a distinctive, ancient building.

75 OLD COURSE HOTEL

ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND

Course 26 Accommodation 19 Amenities 17 Setting 17 Total 79

The Old Course Hotel loses a mark in Setting for the course being a short drive from the hotel, but the Duke’s is a Scotland Top 100-calibre heathland with views over the town. The hotel is impressive and of course includes views over 17 and 18 of the Old Course – the ultimate setting.

74 BANYAN TREE, PHUKET

PHUKET, THAILAND

Course 26 Accommodation 18 Amenities 17 Setting 18 Total 79

There’s a lot to like about this entry, with the Laguna Golf Phuket course – renovated by Paul Jansen in 2014 – complemented in some style by all-pool villas nestled around a lagoon. The white sand of Bang Tao Beach is a beautiful backdrop. There’s also a kids’ club, pools, tennis and yoga.

73 KAURI CLIFFS

MATAURI BAY, NEW ZEALAND

Course 31 Accommodation 17 Amenities 12 Setting 19 Total 79

As at sister property Cape Kidnappers, there is a sense of a ‘course with limited rooms’ to Kauri. However, with a World Top 100 course in a staggeringly beautiful setting and limited but exquisite accommodation, we think it deserves top 75.

72 LA CALA

MALAGA, SPAIN

Courses 30 Accommodation 16 Amenities 16 Setting 17 Total 79

La Cala ticks so many boxes, especially for those looking for lots of good golf on site. There are 54 holes here, with America and Europa impossible to split and Asia an exceptional ‘third’ course. A super hotel, a spa that clients travel for miles to unwind in, and tapas to die for at La Bodega.

71 THE GROVE

WATFORD, ENGLAND

Course 26 Accommodation 19 Amenities 18 Setting 16 Total 79

A significant rise for this elegant London resort. Kyle Phillips maximized the undulating country estate to create a fine parkland and it is in sensational condition all year round. The accommodation, whether in the old house or modern wing, is fabulous. The amenities are incredible!

70 CELTIC MANOR

NEWPORT, WALES

Courses 31 Accommodation 16 Amenities 17 Setting 15 Total 79

There are 54 holes here, led by the course that hosted the 2010 Ryder Cup and which has been a GB&I Top 100 entry. The other 18-holers are perfectly pleasant and feature in our Wales Top 50. The hotel is impressive; five-star without being over the top and with very good amenities.

69 MOUNT JULIET

KILKENNY, IRELAND

Course 27 Accommodation 19 Amenities 17 Setting 16 Total 79

Jack Nicklaus’ lush parkland – host to the European Tour and a World Golf Championship – cuts a velvety path around the hotel and is one of GB&I’s leading inland courses. The hotel oozes luxury and can stand comparison with most GB&I entries in this list.

68 HAMBANTOTA

AMBALANTOTA, SRI LANKA

Course 25 Accommodation 19 Amenities 17 Setting 18 Total 79

Shangri-La Hambantota’s beachfront hotel is really, really good, not just for its location but also the number of amenities. The course is by Rodney Wright and lies on the south-east coast of Sri Lanka. It’s routed through a coconut plantation and framed by lakes and the Indian Ocean.

67 MAZAGAN BEACH

EL JADIDA, MOROCCO

Course 27 Accommodation 17 Amenities 17 Setting 18 Total 79

A location comprising 7km of beach gets this Moroccan resort off to a good start. Then you add in a well-groomed Gary Player-designed course that enjoys sea-view holes, plus 492 rooms and suites, 13 restaurants and bars, and a wealth of non-golf activities.

66 GRAND WAILEA

MAUI, HAWAII

Courses 31 Accommodation 17 Amenities 14 Setting 17 Total 79

An entry dominated by the three courses in the shadow of Mount Haleakala and beside the Pacific. The Blue is on the lush lower slopes, the Trent Jones Gold is a technical test and the Emerald pure fun.

There are 383 rooms, four restaurants, a spa, tennis and a swimming pool.

65 FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS

ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND

Courses 29 Accommodation 17 Amenities 16 Setting 17 Total 79

A well-deserved rise for a resort that refuses to stand still. The large hotel boasts stylish, spacious rooms with classy traditional Scottish touches and its amenities can entertain couples and families for days. Both courses offer breathtaking views from clifftop fairways.

64 PUEBLO BONITO

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO

Courses 28 Accommodation 17 Amenities 15 Setting 19 Total 79

Quivira by Jack Nicklaus is the golf offering at this spectacular Cabo San Lucas resort, making the most of its position on the tip of the Baja Peninsula. The course is only open to guests of Pueblo Bonito, an adults-only luxury resort with facilities and accommodation on a dreamy level.

63 REYNOLDS LAKE OCONEE

ATLANTA, USA

Courses 33 Accommodation 16 Amenities 14 Setting 16 Total 79

This super-resort sits between Atlanta and Augusta and boasts five courses by the likes of Nicklaus and Weiskopf. They run around gleaming lakes and through gentle woodland.

It has 251 rooms, five restaurants, a spa, fitness center, tennis and swimming pools.

62 PGA NATIONAL TURKEY

BELEK, TURKEY

Courses 30 Accommodation 17 Amenities 17 Setting 15 Total 79

Another Belek resort bursting with all-round appeal. There are two excellent courses with different vibes; the Sultan is a European Tour host that’s a fixture in our continental Top 100, the Pasha is a playable, fun No.2. Two hotels, the Sirene and the ultra-luxurious Kempinski, both packed with amenities.

61 FOUR SEASONS HUALALAI

KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII

Course 28 Accommodation 18 Amenities 15 Setting 18 Total 79

Another Jack Nicklaus course and another entry for Hawaii. It starts in a lush oasis before flowing across green fairways set against black lava, then returning to the ocean for the climax. The elegant hotel has six restaurants, and there are spa and fishing options.

60 SANDALS OCHI

OCHO RIOS, JAMAICA

Course 26 Accommodation 18 Amenities 18 Setting 17 Total 79

Sandals renovated the course, formerly known as Upton, in 1992 and it is now one of the Caribbean’s best. Set in the lush hills of Ocho Rios, it serves up sea and mountain views. The Sandals Ochi Beach and Royal Plantation hotels are 15 minutes away, losing it a mark.

59 WESTIN ABU DHABI

ABU DHABI, UAE

Course 27 Accommodation 18 Amenities 18 Setting 17 Total 80

The long-time host of the European Tour event is one of the Middle East’s finest courses and a superb examination of your game. There are also nine extra holes. The Westin hotel is 30 yards from the 1st tee and while it’s not the most glamorous in the region, it is still very comfortably 5-star.

58 SANDALS ST LUCIA

GROS ISLET, ST LUCIA

Course 26 Accommodation 18 Amenities 18 Setting 18 Total 80

A Greg Norman-designed course in lush native vegetation and featuring significant elevation changes plus luxury hotels at La Toc (which has nine holes on site) and Halcyon, but Grande St Lucian is by far the best option as it is just five minutes away. Sandals St Lucia ticks a lot of boxes.

57 MICHLIFEN

IFRANE, MOROCCO

Course 28 Accommodation 18 Amenities 16 Setting 18 Total 80

This Moroccan resort sits in the heart of the Atlas Mountains at an altitude of 1,650m and its changes in elevation gives instant character to this Jack Nicklaus course, which incorporates craggy ravines, forests and cliff edges. It’s complemented by world-class accommodation.

56 DOM PEDRO VILAMOURA

ALGARVE, PORTUGAL

Courses 34 Accommodation 15 Amenities 16 Setting 15 Total 80

A vast amount of golf all within a short shuttle. Led by The Old and Tour venue Victoria, backed up by the refreshed Laguna, plus Millennium and Pinhal. Three four-star hotels near the beach and marina. Much work is going on here. Watch this space.

55 ANAHITA

BEAU CHAMP, MAURITIUS

Course 26 Accommodation 19 Amenities 18 Setting 18 Total 81

Ernie Els designed the course with six holes along the Indian Ocean and a memorable finale. This resort is set among 213 hectares of tropical Mauritian gardens and also comprises elegant accommodation, two beaches, a spa, boutiques, fitness center, tennis, kids’ club and a watersports center.

54 LA QUINTA RESORT

PALM SPRINGS, USA

Courses 34 Accommodation 16 Amenities 15 Setting 16 Total 81

This lacks for nothing, and certainly not golf holes! You’ve got the Stadium at PGA West, the Mountain at the base of the Santa Rosa range, and faux links the Dunes – all by Pete Dye – plus designs by Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman. Then add more than 1,000 rooms, seven restaurants, a spa, pool and tennis.

53 ARDFIN

JURA, SCOTLAND

Course 33 Accommodation 20 Amenities 8 Setting 20 Total 81

A fall for Ardfin because of its lack of non-golf amenities and question marks raised around the conditioning of the course.

Bob Harrison’s design has a superlative setting (see the marks) and the cottage accommodation is majestic. For a couple who both really love golf, it’s tough to beat.

52 ATLANTIS BAHAMAS

PARADISE ISLAND, BAHAMAS

Course 26 Accommodation 19 Amenities 17 Setting 19 Total 81

The Tom Weiskopf-designed Ocean Club course is a part of the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, where you have a choice of a number of high-end hotels, each offering stylish rooms and extensive amenities.

The course includes seven oceanfront holes and all but one has a view of the water.

51 CAPE KIDNAPPERS

HAWKE’S BAY, NEW ZEALAND

Course 33 Accommodation 16 Amenities 12 Setting 20 Total 81

This goes a little against our preference for a decent breadth of accommodation and some non-golf amenities. Then again, you might see the breathtakingly beautiful accommodation, revive in the spa and play the Tom Doak-designed clifftop World Top 100 golf course and think it should be higher.

50 YAS LINKS

ABU DHABI, UAE

Course 31 Accommodation 17 Amenities 14 Setting 19 Total 81

A new entry as Yas Links and the W Hotel are now part of the same group and thus eligible for the list. The star is a World Top 100 course that mixes great holes with a Gulf-edge location, while the chic, luxury hotel has a very notable view across the F1 circuit. It’s a very impressive combination.

49 GOLF DU MEDOC

BORDEAUX, FRANCE

Courses 33 Accommodation 16 Amenities 15 Setting 17 Total 81

Among the glitz of the hotels in the top 50, a very welcome, more understated option. Golf du Medoc’s hotel is pleasant and four-star rather than opulent and five-star. But add in a nice spa, super food and obviously good wine (it’s Bordeaux) and its two Continental Top 100 courses have excellent support.

48 LE PARADIS

BEL OMBRE, MAURITIUS

Course 26 Accommodation 18 Amenities 18 Setting 19 Total 81

Another Mauritius resort, this time on the achingly beautiful Le Morne peninsula. Le Paradis stretches out beneath Le Morne mountain and down to the white sand lapped by the Indian Ocean. There are 299 rooms – and sister hotel Dinarobin next door gives it a total of eight restaurants. Paradis by name…

47 DOONBEG

KILKEE, IRELAND

Course 31 Accommodation 19 Amenities 12 Setting 19 Total 81

Only one course and not loads of amenities but the golf is superb and the accommodation possibly even better. In fact, the rooms here – characterful cottage-style affairs – are some of the nicest in the 100 and would get top marks if there were more of them. An epic Atlantic Ocean setting. A world-class links.

46 LAUCALA

LAUCALA ISLAND, FIJI

Course 27 Accommodation 19 Amenities 17 Setting 19 Total 82

Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz wanted a tropical bolthole and ensured it would be intimate by building only 25 villas. That shallow accommodation offering means it is no higher than the 40s. David McLay Kidd’s course is breathtaking and there are five bars and restaurants, a spa and stable.

45 CARTON HOUSE

DUBLIN, IRELAND

Courses 31 Accommodation 18 Amenities 17 Setting 16 Total 82

Two courses of fairly even standard – the Montgomerie and the O’Meara – both of which are immaculately presented.

The hotel is at least as good: modern and luxurious, this is five-star opulence in a grand old house. Well worthy of a top-50 slot and really could be higher.

44 HALF MOON JAMAICA

MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA

Course 27 Accommodation 19 Amenities 18 Setting 18 Total 82

A famous name and with good reason. The Robert Trent Jones Snr course was routed through an old sugar cane estate in 1962, at the height of his powers. It overlooks Half Moon Bay. There are two miles of beach to enjoy and lots of water sports including scuba, plus 210 elegant rooms and 27 villas.

43 DUBAI CREEK

DUBAI, UAE

Course 28 Accommodation 18 Amenities 18 Setting 18 Total 82

A new entry because the Park Hyatt Hotel is owned by the same group as the course. It’s a notable splash but feels like a starting point despite having just the one course. It is one of the Middle East’s best and its creekside setting is a boon for it and the hotel – which certainly doesn’t let the side down.

42 FOUR SEASONS LANAI

HAWAII, USA

Course 27 Accommodation 20 Amenities 18 Setting 18 Total 83

An Insta-worthy Jack Nicklaus course on lava outcrops hugs the Pacific on three holes – but that’s just the start. The adults-only retreat has chic accommodation, five restaurants, tennis courts, a pool and fishing, and it’s famed for its wellness consultations, spa treatments, fitness and wellbeing classes.

41 THE GREENBRIER

CHARLESTON, USA

Courses 34 Accommodation 18 Amenities 15 Setting 16 Total 83

The Old White, by feted Golden Age architects Seth Raynor and Charles Blair Macdonald, opened in 1914 and the former then added The Greenbrier – host of Ryder and Solheim Cups – and The Meadows.

Lots of accommodation and restaurants, plus a good spa and pool.

40 THE K CLUB

DUBLIN, IRELAND

Courses 29 Accommodation 19 Amenities 18 Setting 17 Total 83

The K Club maintains its top-40 spot because of continued investment into this former Ryder Cup venue. There are two courses, with the Palmer North being the pick and including its thrilling climax alongside the river. The rooms in the grand old house are wonderful. Lots to do off the course too.

39 SOTOGRANDE

SOTOGRANDE, SPAIN

Courses 30 Accommodation 19 Amenities 18 Setting 16 Total 83

A bold new entry for this Sotogrande resort, which has rapidly expanded and improved in the past two years. Where once it was a Continental Top 100 course plus a few high-end townhouses, it now has a very sophisticated hotel and 27 holes to its package.

That happened when La Reserva acquired the former Almenara resort… and completely redeveloped it. The hotel, now known as SO/ Sotogrande, is completely unrecognizable – a beautiful, thoughtful and relaxing base for a break.

The 27 holes that surround it have also been revitalized. La Reserva’s course has also never been in better shape and with the addition of the Beach Club and sports facilities, it has immense amenities.

The resort has strong links with Real Valderrama and Real Sotogrande, but as they are owned separately, they are not included in this assessment. Even without those stellar courses being included, the top 30 will be in La Reserva’s sights in the next list.

38 EDEN ROC

CAP CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Course 30 Accommodation 19 Amenities 16 Setting 18 Total 83

Another Dominican Republic resort, but this one is especially intimate and refined. Jack Nicklaus routed the Punta Espada course along cliffs and next to beaches and waterfalls, while the luxury accommodation ranges from boutique villas with private pools to beachfront suites. Scuba diving leads the amenities.

37 GLORIA

BELEK, TURKEY

Courses 30 Accommodation 18 Amenities 19 Setting 16 Total 83

One of Europe’s great resorts by virtue of its incredible consistency across an immense offering. It has three courses, all of a similarly high Top 200 in Continental Europe standard, and three luxury hotels with slightly different emphases but all with a comprehensive array of amenities.

36 SEA ISLAND

GEORGIA, USA

Courses 32 Accommodation 18 Amenities 16 Setting 17 Total 83

Three hotels, cottages, a hunting lodge, 13 restaurants and a host of outdoor activities… and this celebrated US resort also has three superb courses. The Seaside, which looks like a links and is characterized by tidal creeks, dunes and the Atlantic, the remodeled Plantation, and the entertaining Retreat.

35 SANDALS EMERALD BAY

GREAT EXUMA, BAHAMAS

Course 28 Accommodation 18 Amenities 19 Setting 19 Total 84

Emerald Bay is an oceanfront resort in Great Exuma in the Bahamas and has a Greg Norman course with six glorious beachside holes. It’s hosted the Korn Ferry Tour. Add in beautiful accommodation, a huge spa, a deep water marina and 11 restaurants. And it’s No.35!

34 ONE&ONLY PALMILLA

LOS CABOS, MEXICO

Course 27 Accommodation 20 Amenities 19 Setting 18 Total 84

Jack Nicklaus’ first Signature course in Latin America – with three nines incorporating four lakes and notable elevation change. That is surpassed, however, by the range and quality of accommodation, which is staggeringly good. Plenty of non-golf experiences too.

33 LEMURIA

PRASLIN, SEYCHELLES

Course 26 Accommodation 20 Amenities 19 Setting 20 Total 85

Anse Georgette, one of the world’s finest beaches, is part of this resort and the backdrop to a ‘wow’ hole. The Constance hotel is dreamy, with charming villas along a white-sand beach on the edge of the Indian Ocean. Watersports, tennis, a spa, yoga, gym and excellent dining elevate things further.

32 THE BROADMOOR

COLORADO SPRINGS, USA

Courses 32 Accommodation 19 Amenities 18 Setting 16 Total 85

Donald Ross and Robert Trent Jones Snr had a hand in both East and West courses here. They’ve staged the US Women’s Open and the US Amateur. Add to that the 84 rooms, a spa, pools, 10 restaurants, fitness center and tennis. A place to be for the powerful and famous.

31 FINCA CORTESIN

MALAGA, SPAIN

Course 28 Accommodation 20 Amenities 19 Setting 18 Total 85

A hotel that bows to no-one in terms of intimacy, tranquility and style. A course that is a fixture in the Continental European Top 100 and which hosted an unforgettable Solheim Cup in the autumn. Pools, a fitness center, a wonderful spa and gardens to explore… if you can tear yourself away from the beauty of your bedroom.

30 LE TOUESSROK

TROU D’EAU DOUCE , MAURITIUS

Course 28 Accommodation 19 Amenities 18 Setting 20 Total 85

There won’t be any locations that top this in the whole list. The Shangri-La hotel sits on fingers of land stretching into the Indian Ocean and you take a small boat with your clubs to Ile aux Cerfs island to play the Bernhard Langer-designed course. Bliss.

29 FAIRMONT JASPER PARK

ALBERTA, CANADA

Course 32 Accommodation 18 Amenities 16 Setting 19 Total 85

Another single-course Canadian resort in the top 30, another one in an epic setting and with a Stanley Thompson World Top 100 course. Jasper Park sits between the Rockies and beautiful lakes. Stay in one of 442 high-caliber bedrooms or a luxury cabin and be pampered in the spa.

28 PRAIA D’EL REY

OBIDOS, PORTUGAL

Courses 35 Accommodation 16 Amenities 15 Setting 19 Total 85

Two courses – West Cliffs and Praia D’el Rey – in the top 30 of our Continental Europe list make this a very strong golf option. The accommodation is a renovated Marriott hotel, enjoying an Atlantic Ocean setting that is right up there among the top 25 of this list.

27 QUINTA DO LAGO

ALGARVE, PORTUGAL

Courses 34 Accommodation 17 Amenities 18 Setting 17 Total 86

Its golf is its strength, even though it’s part of a huge resort. But different companies own different parts of it, so we can only mark on the relatively small Magnolia hotel and the North, South and Laranjal courses, plus sports facilities and restaurants. Still impressive enough to make the top 30.

26 SAND VALLEY

WISCONSIN, USA

Courses 37 Accommodation 17 Amenities 14 Setting 18 Total 86

It’s all about the golf here. But what golf! Two courses in our World Top 100 – Sand Valley by Coore-Crenshaw and Mammoth Dunes by David McLay Kidd – plus The Sandbox, a 17-hole short course. You stay in well-appointed Lodge rooms and cottages, and dine in two decent restaurant

25 HERITAGE AWALI / LE TELFAIR

BEL OMBRE, MAURITIUS

Courses 31 Accommodation 19 Amenities 17 Setting 19 Total 86

How does a resort jump 16 places in two years? Two reasons: either we are correcting a poor ranking in the previous list, or it has somehow significantly improved its offering in that time. Happily, this leap is down to the latter, with Heritage adding a second course that it is at least the equal of the first.

Stay at Heritage Awali or nearby sister hotel Le Telfair and play at Heritage Golf Club, a two-minute buggy transfer or a 10-minute stroll. The Peter Matkovich-designed Le Chateau is presented beautifully as well as being technically excellent and beautifully tranquil as it winds between lush native vegetation.

And now it has a sister course, La Reserve, set further up in the hills yet still within 10 minutes of the accommodation. Designed by Matkovich and Louis Oosthuizen, it is a modern masterpiece, mixing memorable, dramatic holes with jaw-dropping views. Hosting the European Tour in December demonstrated its beauty to the world.

The infinity greens and elevated tee shots will take the plaudits here, but arguably the greatest strength of La Reserve is that Matkovich and Oosthuizen have made the less aesthetically pleasing holes just as memorable and enjoyable. La Reserve delivers style and substance.

The hotels, which sit right next to each other on the beach, are both majestic. Awali is perched a little more on the sand and has an African theme to its design; it is a wonderful hotel with a fantastic ‘Seven Colours’ spa and superb dining. The Indian restaurant, Zafarani, is out of this world for the evening while at lunchtime it has to be Infinity Blue. It overlooks the Indian Ocean and its ‘floor’ is sand, so you wander in with bare feet and lap up the ambiance and food.

Le Telfair is possibly a little more refined but it is not in the least bit stuffy. It has a white-wood, colonial look to its buildings, arranged either side of an inlet that snakes through the hotel. Annabella’s for breakfast and dinner is elegance personified and Gin’ja’s for Asian fusion in the evening is tough to beat. The Cavendish backs up that unstuffy claim, a beautiful bar with a wonderful atmosphere. There is also another superb spa, watersports, a fitness room, a glorious swimming pool area and spacious, luxurious bedrooms.

Good luck choosing which hotel to stay in and which course to play most rounds on!

Up 16 places this time, do not expect the rise to end there – as La Reserve settles down and gets even better, Heritage will edge even further up this ranking. How far can it go? Watch this space?

24 FAIRMONT BANFF SPRINGS

BANFF, CANADA

Course 32 Accommodation 18 Amenities 18 Setting 19 Total 87

Just one course, albeit a Stanley Thompson-designed World Top 100 entry (No.71), plus a spectacular setting in Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that truly takes the breath away. The 757-room Banff Springs hotel, Canada’s ‘Castle in the Rockies’, is basically Gleneagles in an even better setting.

23 BELLE MARE PLAGE

POINTE DE FLACQ, MAURITIUS

Courses 31 Accommodation 19 Amenities 17 Setting 20 Total 87

Imagine a dream-like Indian Ocean setting and you’ve got this Constance resort in your mind. Set out along a glorious palm-fringed, white-sand beach lapped by turquoise water, the hotel has lots of amenities and two fine courses, the Legend by Hugh Baiocchi being the pick.

22 CARYA

BELEK, TURKEY

Courses 33 Accommodation 19 Amenities 19 Setting 16 Total 87

The first of Belek’s many entries, Carya has two European Top 100 courses in Carya and The National, plus the magnificent Regnum Carya hotel, which oozes luxury and style and is packed with amenities, from a bowling alley and endless restaurants to a mini water park and a huge kids’ club.

21 THE AMERICAN CLUB

WISCONSIN, USA

Courses 36 Accommodation 18 Amenities 15 Setting 18 Total 87

The host of the 2021 Ryder Cup, Whistling Straits, heads the golf here, but the Irish plus Blackwolf Run’s River and Meadow Valleys are not far behind. A mark is lost for some shuttling about. There are two hotels, four cabins, seven restaurants, pools, tennis, fitness facilities and hiking/biking.

20 ROSAPENNA

DOWNINGS, IRELAND

Courses 38 Accommodation 17 Amenities 13 Setting 19 Total 87

Moves into the top 20 as its new superstar, St Patrick’s by Tom Doak, settles down and enhances its status as the World Top 100 course we predicted it would be in 2021. Sandy Hills and Old Tom Morris give this Donegal resort one of the world’s strongest golf offerings. It also boasts a super hotel, but with limited non-golf amenities.

19 SANDY LANE

ST JAMES, BARBADOS

Courses 32 Accommodation 19 Amenities 18 Setting 18 Total 87

The legendary Green Monkey course was carved out of an old stone quarry by Tom Fazio and is there for the exclusive use of Sandy Lane guests – and complemented by The Old Nine and The Country Club. These perfectly manicured parklands are complemented by opulent villas and suites, plus a huge spa.

18 DIAMANTE

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO

Courses 33 Accommodation 18 Amenities 17 Setting 19 Total 87

Davis Love’s World Top 100 entry The Dunes is very ably backed up by Tiger Woods’ El Cardonal. The setting is all Pacific Ocean vibes, with the courses routed through sandy dunes and boasting beach views galore. You stay in luxury studios and villas, and play on a 10-acre saltwater lagoon. There’s also a spa and fitness center.

17 CAMIRAL

GIRONA, SPAIN

Courses 32 Accommodation 19 Amenities 19 Setting 17 Total 87

Camiral’s list of attractions is extensive… A Continental Europe top-25 course – the Stadium – plus a solid No.2 in the Tour provide superb options that are in magnificent condition. Comprehensive practice facilities include a state-of-the-art golf school with motion sensor technology that has to be experienced to be believed – it offers instructors and pupils incredible swing feedback.

The beautiful Hotel Camiral, whose interior design is not bettered by anything in this Top 100, boasts an immense spa that not only has high-end pampering but also world-leading cryo chambers and infrared therapy. The exquisite public areas at Camiral are matched by the bedrooms, while the pool area is a delight to laze around. The main restaurant morphs splendidly throughout the day: you’ll have a wonderful al fresco breakfast on the terrace, a delicious lunch of tapas after golf, then a real sense of occasion in the evening, whether choosing from the a la carte menu or savoring every mouthful of the epic tasting option, complete with bespoke wines.

The Lavida is a terrific hotel too, including an Italian restaurant of real substance.

16 VERDURA

SICILY, ITALY

Courses 33 Accommodation 19 Amenities 16 Setting 19 Total 87

The Kyle Phillips-designed courses have settled in after being restored following a freak storm. The East is in the Continental European Top 100 Best Golf Courses, the West in the Next 100. The setting of the resort – mixing cliff-edge and beachside – is spectacular. The Rocco Forte hotel is predictably alluring.

15 SUN CITY

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

Courses 32 Accommodation 19 Amenities 20 Setting 16 Total 87

Two 18-hole Gary Player courses headline this famous resort and are supported by staggering five-star accommodation options that range from the glitzy Palace to the chic Cabanas. There is a large water park on site and a Big Five safari. Something for everyone.

14 ADARE MANOR

LIMERICK, IRELAND

Course 30 Accommodation 20 Amenities 20 Setting 17 Total 87

The world’s No.1 single-course golf resort. To get this high, among these multi-course offerings, illustrates how good it is. The Tom Fazio renovation on the course has made it bucket list stuff and it will soon have Ryder Cup allure. No other resort on this list betters its accommodation – and that’s a serious feat.

13 FANCOURT

GEORGE, SOUTH AFRICA

Courses 34 Accommodation 18 Amenities 18 Setting 18 Total 88

Three Gary Player-designed courses set in lush countryside in the shadow of the Outeniqua Mountains – headed by a World Top 100 entry, The Links – and 115 high-end rooms and suites in The Fancourt Hotel. Amenities include a spa, leisure centre, kids’ club, cinema and indoor and outdoor pools.

12 CASA DE CAMPO

PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Courses 34 Accommodation 18 Amenities 18 Setting 18 Total 88

Three courses led by World Top 100 entry Teeth of the Dog and backed up by Dye Fore and The Links – all by Pete Dye – added to a Caribbean setting plus an array of rooms, suites and luxury villas. A spa, pools and wide range of sports add to its appeal.

11 TERRE BLANCHE

TOURRETTES, FRANCE

Courses 30 Accommodation 20 Amenities 20 Setting 18 Total 88

Terre Blanche has one of the most well-balanced offerings in the entire list, with a Continental Europe Top 100 course, a Top 200 course, classy and spacious accommodation, a wide spectrum of amenities including a dreamy infinity pool, and a peaceful, fragrant Provençal setting.

10 CABOT CAPE BRETON

NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA

Courses 38 Accommodation 18 Amenities 12 Setting 20 Total 88

Canada is well represented at the top end of this list and this is the headline act courtesy of two World Top 100 courses, Cabot Cliffs by Coore-Crenshaw and Cabot Links by Rod Whitman. Add to those a stunning location and well-appointed golf accommodation.

9 KIAWAH ISLAND

SOUTH CAROLINA, USA

Courses 36 Accommodation 18 Amenities 16 Setting 19 Total 89

Another Carolinas entry in the top 10, this time from the South. Kiawah boasts the Ocean – the Ryder Cup and US PGA host – as the superstar among its five courses. There are also 242 rooms, 13 suites, 400 villas, fitness options, a spa, pool, tennis courts and 15 restaurants and bars. Epic setting.

8 BARNBOUGLE DUNES

TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA

Courses 38 Accommodation 17 Amenities 14 Setting 20 Total 89

Barnbougle Dunes by Tom Doak and Mike Clayton, and Lost Farm by Coore-Crenshaw are the main attractions here – No.16 and 34 in the World Courses list respectively. The 50-room Lodge and 22 two-bed cottages plus villas make it a resort. Limited amenities – the golf is king and queen here.

7 COSTA NAVARINO

KALAMATA, GREECE

Courses 34 Accommodation 19 Amenities 19 Setting 18 Total 90

If you’d said to someone 15 years ago that a Greek golf resort would be the seventh-best in the world in 2023, they would have looked at you quizzically. But Costa Navarino is the real deal and, trust us, this position does not flatter it in the slightest.

It is home to four courses – the Dunes by Ross McMurray and Bernhard Langer, the Bay by Robert Trent Jones Jnr, and Jose Maria Olazabal’s Hills and Olympic – that are all ranked by us in the top 135 in Continental Europe. That is a very good illustration of the exceptional quality across the four.

The same balanced offering is also true of its four hotels: the family-friendly Westin, the opulent Romanos, the chic W and the exquisite Mandarin Oriental. Whichever you choose to stay in, you’ll have chosen very wisely.

There are, you won’t be surprised to learn, non-golf amenities galore; Costa Navarino is a fabulous destination for those who don’t play every bit as much as it is for those of us who love the game.

It loses a mark in ‘Setting’ because there is a shuttle (all amazingly well organized by the resort) needed to get you to Bay, Olympic and Hills. In reality the setting is much closer to a 19, with beachside hotels and gorgeous views from all four courses, but especially on the Bay and Olympic.

Costa Navarino is more a complete destination than a mere resort, and it is a thoroughly-deserved World No.7 among these illustrious names.

6 STREAMSONG

FLORIDA, USA

Courses 39 Accommodation 17 Amenities 17 Setting 17 Total 90

Three World Top 100 courses and a great hotel doesn’t get you into the top five of this ludicrously competitive ranking. Streamsong can compete with Bandon in terms of accommodation and probably edges it in terms of non-golf amenities but, incredibly, is edged out for golf despite the World Top 100 Red, Black and Blue.

5 PEBBLE BEACH

PEBBLE BEACH, USA

Courses 37 Accommodation 19 Amenities 15 Setting 20 Total 91

We are still in the territory of ‘potential No.1’ here, given Pebble Beach has three hotels comprising 492 rooms and suites to add to four courses – Pebble Beach, Spanish Bay, Spyglass Hill and Del Monte – plus 10 restaurants, a spa, hiking/biking trails and equestrian center. The main course alone makes you ponder a trip…

4 TURNBERRY

AYRSHIRE, SCOTLAND

Courses 36 Accommodation 18 Amenities 18 Setting 20 Total 92

Martin Ebert’s Ailsa revolution has given Turnberry the course it deserved, making the most of its magnificent seaside setting and eradicating the weak holes. King Robert the Bruce is a much-improved No.2.

The hotel is glitzy and luxurious – and its elevated location means it offers views just as good as the links does.

3 PINEHURST

NORTH CAROLINA, USA

Courses 40+2 Accommodation 18 Amenities 17 Setting 16 Total 93

There are nine courses comprising 171 holes, three hotels, villas, six restaurants, a spa, lawn sports, tennis, hiking/biking trails, fishing and gyms. The US Open host and World Top 100 No.2 course leads the way, while the hotels are top class; The Carolina, a grand building, has been dubbed the ‘Queen of the South’.

2 GLENEAGLES

PERTH, SCOTLAND

Courses 36 Accommodation 20 Amenities 20 Setting 18 Total 94

Some No.2. The King’s, Queen’s and PGA Centenary offer a wonderful all-round golf package with something for everyone. The hotel is at least as impressive, with sumptuous rooms and a feeling of grandeur. The amenities are bewilderingly extensive – there is yet to be a known example of anyone being bored here.

1 BANDON DUNES

PORTLAND, USA

Courses 40 (+12) Accommodation 16 Amenities 10 Setting 19 Total 97

Only if we changed our criteria and/or weighting to significantly favor non-golf amenities could Bandon Dunes not be No.1.

A resort with four courses in our World Top 100 and a fifth that easily could be – plus an epic par-3 course – added to a coastal location and superb accommodation is impossible to beat.

As in 2021, it broke our marking system. Scoring it 40/40 for its golf would mean scoring other resorts unflatteringly low in ‘Courses’ to compensate. We have thus added 12 marks to Bandon’s – and that’s still possibly not enough. It’s irrelevant though – because it is No.1… and a clear No.1.

The bucket-list destination for anyone traveling beyond Britain.

Read about Top 100 Editor Chris Bertram’s epic trip to Bandon Dunes.

The scoring: How we marked the Golf World Top 100 Best Golf Resorts in the World

As ever, we have marked each resort across four categories:

Golf Course(s) (marked out of 40): The quality of the course(s), with extra marks for more than one course.

Accommodation (out of 20): The range, quality and quantity of the accommodation.

Setting (out of 20): Self-explanatory but worth noting that marks are taken off if a shuttle is required.

Non-golf amenities (out of 20): Additional facilities that can make a resort a family and couples attraction.

Golf is clearly still the key category in all of this, but we take accommodation and non-golf amenities into account fairly strongly, because we didn’t want a list of ‘courses with rooms’ and to end up with a list of Top 100-ranked courses with a dormy house. We wanted to include rounded resorts that could appeal to couples and families as well as those for absolute golf nuts.

Can I join the Golf World Top 100 panel?

Yes! If you have knowledge of lots of resorts and courses, we’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re male, female, young, old, low handicap, high handicap, if you’re well-traveled then get in touch with us, here.