7 Great Courses You Didn’t Know You Could Play
There’s a small but significant roster of courses that is part of a special breed. You’ve watched these courses on television, seen the photos, and noted the rankings—but you thought that getting to play them was out of the question (unless you had connections). Not so fast: Some of the courses on this list are […]
Great Holes of the British Isles: 15th, North Berwick (West), “Redan”
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the 15th Hole at North Berwick’s West course has much to be proud of. The original “Redan” hole has been copied dozens of times, and wherever this hole’s unique design appears, it’s always a highlight of the round. No one’s 100 percent sure who created the original […]
5 Great Value Courses in Scottsdale
Given its penchant for warm, sunny days, its unique desert locale, and its proximity to around 200 golf courses, Scottsdale, Ariz., has rightfully earned its place among the country’s most sought after golf travel destinations. Throw in “The Greatest Show on Grass” at the PGA Tour’s annual Waste Management Phoenix Open and TPC Scottsdale Stadium’s […]
Toughest Set of Par Fours
It’s neither length nor configuration alone that makes for a tough par four. It’s any combination of those two traits, plus lack of width, invasive bunkers, adroitly placed water hazards, terrain, wind, and the severity of the green complexes, including extra-speedy or wildly contoured greens. We’ve identified the 10 toughest sets of par fours in […]
9 Notable International Golf Course Openings for 2022
Golf is a truly global game, with around 38,000 courses in more than 200 countries worldwide. There are also hundreds of development projects in the works, from Australia to Vietnam. Many are sure to appeal to golfers with wanderlust that extends beyond the golf-rich U.S. market. Following are nine scheduled course openings, from nine different […]
Seve Golf Trail: A Travel Route Commemorating the Spanish Legend
As bucket-list golf trips across the pond are concerned, Spain deserves your attention as a superlative destination, one that can rival the United Kingdom and Ireland in terms of quality courses (though it can’t quite compete with the British Isles on the sheer number of exceptional courses to play). That said, what Spain lacks in […]
Golf’s 18 Most Famous Holes (Back Nine)
We knew competition for places would really heat up on the back nine and, sure enough, a number of historic, not to say important, holes have missed out on the top spot. You’ll nod your head at some of our choices while others might cause you to wince. Just remember, it’s all about fame. 10th—Riviera […]
Who is Your Favorite Golf Course Architect?
Greatest Finishing Holes in Golf
A great finishing hole might offer supreme challenge, dazzling aesthetics, myriad risk/reward options, or historical impact. The elite offer a combination. Merely because the hole is hard and drama-drenched, however—I’m winking at you, Carnoustie, Bay Hill, and the Blue Monster at Doral—or because it’s iconic in other ways—Hello, Olympic Club, Riviera, and Merion—doesn’t make it […]
Top U.S. Course Openings for 2022
The limited number of new course openings in recent years isn’t a reflection on the popularity of golf. Rather, it speaks to the wealth of options—particularly in the U.S., which boasts well over 40 percent of the global supply. Consider there are more golf courses spread across the 50 U.S. states (over 16,000 in total) […]
