A fun, but fiery debate in any clubhouse is the simple question, What is the number one golf course there is? The honest answer? There isn’t one single, universally-agreed-upon champion. Anointing the best golf course is less like a boxing title fight with a single winner and more like trying to name the greatest movie of all time - it depends entirely on who you ask and what they value. This article will break down how the major lists are created, introduce you to the elite few courses that are always in the conversation, and, most importantly, show you what these masterpieces can teach you about enjoying any course you play.
There isn't a central governing body that awards a "Number One Course" trophy each year. Instead, the rankings that command the most respect come from major golf publications, primarily GOLF Magazine's "Top 100 Courses in the World" and Golf Digest's "World's 100 Greatest Golf Courses." These lists are the gold standard and the source of most clubhouse arguments.
So how do they do it? It’s not just a collection of opinions from touring pros. Both publications rely on a large, carefully selected panel of raters. These are typically architecture buffs, well-traveled amateur golfers with impeccable skill, golf industry veterans, and acclaimed journalists. They are golf junkies in the truest sense, and their only job is to play and evaluate courses based on a specific set of criteria.
While the exact formulas vary, their evaluations usually boil down to these core pillars:
Though the exact order shuffles yearly, a small, rarefied group of courses consistently appears at the very top of both lists. These are the titans of the golf world, the courses that have it all: history, immaculate design, and a near-mythical reputation.
More often than not, Pine Valley is the name you see in the number one spot on most lists, and for good reason. It’s widely regarded as the ultimate examination of a golfer's abilities. Architect George Crump’s singular vision, pieced together with help from other legends like H.S. Colt, has produced 18 holes that are completely distinct from one another. Pine Valley is a collection of islands - fairways and greens are separated by vast, unmanicured Sandy Waste areas. There is no such thing as a "bailout" area. You are challenged to execute a great shot on every single swing, making a par feel like a birdie and a birdie feel like a miracle. It is unapologetically punishing, but it is also universally praised as the purest and most formidable test in golf.
If Pine Valley is a brutal examination, Cypress Point is a symphony. Winding along the Monterey Peninsula, a round at Cypress Point is often described as a journey through three different worlds. You begin in dramatic seaside dunes, move inland into the Del Monte Forest with its towering Cypress trees, and then emerge for one of the most breathtaking finishes in all of golf along the rocky cliffs of the Pacific Ocean. Architect Alister MacKenzie, who also designed Augusta National, created a masterpiece of routing and aesthetics. The climax includes the most famous back-to-back par-3s ever created: the 15th over a seaside cove and the legendary 16th, which demands a heroic 230-yard carry over the ocean. Many argue that if a golf course is judged on pure beauty and memorability, Cypress Point has no equal.
Augusta National is likely the "best" course that many golfers will ever feel they know without having played it, thanks to its permanent role as the host of The Masters. What viewers see on television is no illusion - it is a flawless canvas of strategic design. Alister MacKenzie’s genius is in its sublime subtlety. The fairways are generally wide, seemingly inviting, but to score well, you must place your ball on the correct side to have any chance on the severely contoured greens. Augusta is a masterclass in second-shot strategy. The elevation changes are far more dramatic in person than on TV, and the course is built for drama, culminating in the cauldron of emotion that is Amen Corner (holes 11, 12, and 13).
Often topping lists as the best links course, Royal County Down is raw, untamed, exhilarating golf. Set against the shadow of the Mountains of Mourne, the course is a magnificent visual spectacle. Designed by Old Tom Morris and refined by Harry Colt, it’s famous for its "bearded" bunkers, thick with marram grass, and its many blind tee shots that add to the mystery and challenge. The wind is a constant playing partner, and the thick, flowering gorse lining the fairways is beautiful but brutal. Playing Royal County Down feels like a battle against the elements and the land itself, a return to golf’s primal roots but on steroids.
Reading about these courses can feel like admiring museum pieces, but the principles that make them great can sharpen how you see your own home track and improve your game in the process. It's about looking at a course through the eyes of an architect.
A great course isn't just about length, it's about giving you options and making you think. On many holes at Augusta, for example, the ideal tee shot depends entirely on where the pin is located that day. The best courses ask you questions on every tee. Next time you play, don't just blindly hit your driver down the middle. Look at the hole. Where is the trouble? Where does a miss leave you an easy next shot? Is there a better angle to the green? Playing "smart" golf instead of "strong" golf is a skill that separates players.
Pay attention to the rhythm and flow of your course. The best layouts, like Cypress Point, take you on a journey. They present different looks, different lengths, and different challenges. Start thinking about why holes are designed the way they are. Does that bunker on the right really guard the green, or is it there to fool you into playing away from the ideal approach angle on the left? Understanding the 'why' behind the design helps you solve the puzzle the architect laid out for you.
Here’s the thing: you don’t need to get an invitation to an exclusive club to have a "number one" golf experience. The best course in the world for you is the one that brings you the most joy. It might be the prestigious club down the road, or it could be your local, well-loved municipal course where you shot your personal best. It’s the course that tests you fairly, the one whose tough par-4 you’ve finally figured out how to par. It’s the course that holds memories with friends and family. A course’s value isn’t just measured in its ranking, but in the experience it provides to the people who play it.
While magazines will continue to debate whether Pine Valley, Cypress Point, or another contender deserves the title, the truth is that "number one" is more of a fantastic conversation than a definitive crown. The greatest courses test your mind as much as your swing, offering up strategic puzzles and lasting, memorable experiences that stick with you long after you've sunk your final putt.
Understanding the strategy of a world-class course is one thing, but applying that same strategic thinking to your own game can be difficult. That’s where we wanted to give every golfer a powerful advantage. We created Caddie AI to be your personal course strategist, an expert caddie right in your pocket. Whether you're standing on the tee trying to puzzle out the smart play on a difficult par-4, need to analyze a tricky lie, or just want a second opinion on a tough approach shot, you can get instant advice. This helps you make smarter, more confident decisions and truly enjoy your time on the course.
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