From Africa to Australia, from the ocean coasts of the United States to the green lands of Scotland and Ireland, strolling through the most beautiful and prestigious golf courses in the world is not just a matter of putter or handicap, but a true lifestyle that It combines passion for sport with contact with nature and the pleasure of feeling part of a privileged elite.
On the other hand, in most cases it is necessary to join a club to play, with long and selective waiting lists and fees that can be worth several tens of thousands of euros. As Dave Simms, a well-known American sports commentator, stated: "Golf is the most expensive game in the world, you pay to play and then you pay again to be a member of the club."
Furthermore, membership in a club imposes its rules and it is common to have to respect a dress code with clothing designed by the most prestigious brands to combine sports and social occasions. However, despite its elitism, the game is increasingly popular, spreading throughout the planet and beyond: in 1971, in fact, astronaut Alan Shepard hit two balls on the lunar surface.
If for some these green, rolling meadows are nothing more than a beautiful spoiled landscape and a Trojan horse for real estate speculation, for others they are true works of art, whose construction is the subject of rigorous landscape and architectural studies carried out by legendary professionals. like Paul (Pete) Dye, Alister MacKenzie, Bobby Jones or Perry Duke Maxwell. Around whose work the facilities for the members' recreation arise.
All of this contributes to creating a halo of charm around the greens that makes them popular destinations even for tourists, thanks to holiday packages that include sport, relaxation and free time for the whole family. In fact, many golf clubs are part of luxurious resorts, equipped with elegant club houses, gourmet restaurants, swimming pools and spas.
Specialized magazines such as Golf Magazine or Golf Digest periodically prepare rankings with the best golf clubs in the world: we take inspiration from their selections to mention ten of the most emblematic, some recently built and others very old, places where the game merges with the elegance, luxury and charm of the environment.
The trip must begin at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, on the east coast of Scotland, the oldest club in the world. The game was born here in the 15th century, among the wet and misty dunes of the North Sea. The original field was shaped over the centuries by the wind and the players who had the honor of stepping on it. The Golf House is public although logically the waiting list is very long. It is possible to stay at the resort located a few meters from the fields, on top of the cliffs of the Scottish coast.
A similar atmosphere is felt between the holes of the Old Head Golf Links, on the south coast of Ireland, in Kinsale, County Cork. For some it is the most impressive golf course in the world, built on a strip of land that juts more than two miles into the Atlantic. The ocean surrounds the course on all sides, perfectly integrated into the natural environment and embellished by the remains of a 17th century lighthouse located near the seventh hole. The wildlife consists of foxes, hares and kestrels and also includes a luxury hotel.
Some of the best golf clubs in the world are located in the United States. One of the most prestigious is the Pine Valley Golf Club, founded in 1913 in Clementon, New Jersey. Due to its particular location it is very difficult to find and is truly exclusive, perhaps too much so. In fact, only men are admitted to the list of approximately 1,300 members spread around the world, whose identity is a closely guarded secret. What makes it special is the beauty of nature harmoniously integrated into the countryside.
In Pebble Beach, California, the Cypress Point Club is an exclusive golf club that has 18 holes that are very popular with fans. Designed in 1928 by Alister MacKenzie within a cypress forest, the course is dotted with sand dunes facing rugged shorelines. Not to be missed are holes 15, 16 and 17, which have earned it the nickname of the Sistine Chapel of golf for its impressive views of the Pacific. The waiting list to become a member of the club is approximately ten years.
On the other side of the world is the Royal Melbourne Golf Club, the oldest on the Australian continent, founded in 1891. This charming private club has two 18-hole courses and hosts numerous world-class sporting events, among mountains, waterfalls and more of 50 species of shrubs. Despite its history, the cost of membership is much lower than that of the most expensive clubs in the world, especially those in the US: about 6,000 euros to become members and 2,000 for an annual fee.
In Africa, The Legend Golf Club stands out, within the Belle Mare Page Resort, on the island of Mauritius. Also in this case the course takes advantage of the beauty of nature, winding between volcanic rocks, rivers and beaches. The complex offers all kinds of amenities for an exclusive vacation. In the same style is the Ria Bintan Golf Club, in Indonesia, which opened its doors in 1998 and has 18 holes located in the heart of subtropical forests with views of the South China Sea. The golf club, which is already part of the international competition circuit, also offers the opportunity to stay at the luxurious Ria Bintan Golf Lodge.
As for the most exclusive clubs in Spain, the most famous are found practically next to each other in the Sotogrande urbanization, in San Roque, province of Cádiz. The first is the Real Club Valderrama, one of the most important courses in the world. Host of the Ryder Cup in 1997, the first outside the USA and Great Britain, the club was founded in 1974. A short distance away is the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, the first to be built on the Costa del Sol, in 1964. Both Andalusian courses were designed by the famous American architect Robert Trent Jones Sr.
In Catalonia the reference is Camiral Golf, in Caldes de Malavella, Girona. Located in the middle of the Mediterranean forest, the course was designed by Neil Coles and Angel Gallardo and has been voted the best in Spain for several years. The club's facilities include a five-star hotel, with a spa and restaurant, and it is a candidate to host the 2031 edition of the Ryder Cup.
