Golf is a competitive sport with many benefits. These include getting exercise, spending time outdoors, and connecting socially. What is also appealing to golfers is that many golf courses are set in spectacular locations around the world. The course designers use the natural elements to full effect, whether these are mountain, sea, or inland views.
Augusta National Golf Course
The Augusta National in Augusta, Georgia, is the annual home of The Masters. The course features stunning landscaping with lush fairways and well-manicured tees.
More than 30 varieties of azaleas can be found on the course. Hole 13 is called Azalea and is surrounded by more than a thousand of the beautiful flowers. Each hole on this course is named after a tree or a shrub. Many famous golf players have spoken about their impressions when first playing on this course.
Now that sports betting is legal in many states in the United States, sports bettors can place their bets on golf tournaments like The Masters. In Pennsylvania sports betting is very popular, as it offers 11 legal online sports betting apps.
Ocean Club Golf Course
This golf course on Paradise Island in the Bahamas takes full advantage of its tropical island setting. The course designed by Tom Weiskopf is one of the best-known courses in the region and the world. The course winds along the waters of the stunning blue waters of the Caribbean.
The Jewel at Grand Hotel
The Jewel at Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, Michigan, is the only golf course in the United States with a horse-drawn carriage ride between nines. Mackinac Island is known for being charming and careless. The Grand Nine has wonderful views of the Straits of Mackinac. The Woods Nine is an inland course with views of the Mackinac Bridge. This is the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere.
Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course
Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course in Alberta, Canada, is set in the Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. The designer of the 18-hole, par 71 course was Stanley Thompson, and he made the most of the majestic alpine views. Golfers can see breathtaking views in every direction. Amateurs and professionals speak about the challenging layout from the design of the actual holes to the optical illusions the surrounding mountains create.
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach Golf Links in central California is often rated as one of the best public golf courses in the United States. It has stunning views of the rocky shoreline from the fairways. This course hosts the U.S. Open on a regular basis.
The tournament isn’t held in a single location; it takes place in a different venue each year. The 18th hole on this course is one of the most iconic finishing holes. The original designers of the course were Douglas Grant and Jack Neville. In 2016, Arnold Palmer and Thad Layton organized a refresh to the course.
Old Head Golf Links
Ireland’s County Cork is home to the Old Head Golf Links. The par 22 course sits on a 220-acre diamond-shaped peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. Golfers playing on this course can enjoy some of the most dramatic views of the crashing waves. A man-made addition to the incredible natural beauty is the Old Head of Kinsale lighthouse.
Whistling Straits
Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin, offers two courses. These courses have hosted the Ryder Cup, PGA Championship, U.S. Senior Open, and the Palmer Cup. Some of the top golf players in the world have played on the dramatic Straits course that was formerly an airfield. Herbert Kohler Jr. envisioned it as a golf course, and Pete Dye brought the vision to life. The layout of the course is a masterpiece of engineering and is very well-balanced.
Adare Manor Golf Course
At Adare Manor in County Limerick, Ireland, is an inland course that captures the beauty for which the Emerald Isle is known. It is set within the estate of a spectacular manor house hotel.
The designer of the parkland-style 18-hole, par-72 course was Tom Fazio, a renowned golf architect. It has undulating hills and views of the River Maigue. This course is set to host the 2027 Ryder Cup.
