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The LINKS 100

Who better than LINKS Magazine—and golf architects—to rank the world’s top 100 courses?

Welcome to The LINKS 100, the newest and most distinctive ranking of the world’s top 100 golf courses. Why do we at LINKS Magazine believe this is the most authoritative tabulation of golf’s most elite layouts? Because the only voters were architects—specifically, members of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA), the European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA), and the Society of Australian Golf Course Architects (SAGCA).

Learn about how we ranked them, the architects’ perspective on rankings, and more.

The Links 100 Course Index

L.C. Lambrecht

1

Cypress Point

Pebble Beach, Calif.
Alister MacKenzie
1928
Score: 48
L.C. Lambrecht

2

Pine valley

Pine Valley, N.J.
George Crump/H.S. Colt
1918
Score: 47.58
Kevin Murray

3

Royal County down

Newcastle, Northern Ireland
Old Tom Morris
1889
Score: 46.36
Evan Schiller

4

National Golf Links of America

Southampton, N.Y.
C.B. Macdonald
1911
Score: 46.30
Kevin Murray

5

St. Andrews (Old Course)

St. Andrews, Scotland
Nature
1400s
Score: 45.63
L.C. Lambrecht

6

Shinnecock hills

Southampton, N.Y.
William Flynn
1931
Score: 45.32
L.C. Lambrecht

7

Sand Hills

Mullen, Neb.
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw
1994
Score: 45.21
L.C. Lambrecht

8

Royal melbourne (West)

Black Rock, Australia
Alister MacKenzie
1926
Score: 45
Evan Schiller

9

Royal portrush (Dunluce)

Portrush, Northern Ireland
H.S. Colt
1929
Score: 44.89
Kevin Murray

10

Royal Dornoch (Championship)

Dornoch, Scotland
Old Tom Morris
1889
Score: 44.87
L.C. Lambrecht

11

Chicago

Wheaton, Ill.
C.B. Macdonald/Seth Raynor
1895/1923
Score: 44.73
Jamie Squire/Getty Images

12

Augusta national

Augusta, Ga.
Alister MacKenzie/Bobby Jones
1933
Score: 44.63
Prairie Dunes

13

PRAIRiE DUNES

Hutchinson, Kan.
Perry Maxwell/Press Maxwell
1937/1957
Score: 43.91
L.C. Lambrecht

14

KINGSTON HEATH

Cheltenham, Australia
Des Soutar/Alister MacKenzie
1925/1928
Score: 43.37
Evan Schiller

15

Pebble Beach

Pebble Beach, Calif.
Jack Neville/Douglas Grant
1919
Score: 42.83
L.C. Lambrecht

16

OAKMONT

Oakmont, Pa.
Henry Fownes
1904
Score: 42.78
Evan Schiller

17

Ballybunion (old)

Ballybunion, Ireland
Lionel Hewson/Fred Smith/Tom Simpson
1906/1927/1936
Score: 42.13
L.C. Lambrecht

18

MERION (EAST)

Ardmore, Pa.
Hugh Wilson
1912
Score: 42.06
L.C. Lambrecht

19

Tara Iti

Te Arai, New Zealand
Tom Doak
2015
Score: 41.88
Kevin Murray

20

Muirfield

Gullane, Scotland
Old Tom Morris/H.S. Colt
1891/1925
Score: 41.74
Kevin Murray

21

North Berwick (West)

North Berwick, Scotland
David Strath
1877
Score: 41.67
L.C. Lambrecht

22

Barnbougle Dunes

Bridport, Australia
Tom Doak/Mike Clayton
2004
Score: 41.65
Evan Schiller

23

Lahinch (Old)

Lahinch, Ireland
Old Tom Morris/Alister MacKenzie
1893/1927
Score: 41.64
Kevin Murray

24

Kiawah island (Ocean)

Kiawah Island, S.C.
Pete Dye
1991
Score: 41.55
Kevin Murray

25

Trump Turnberry (Ailsa)

Turnberry, Scotland
Willie Fernie/P. Mackenzie Ross/Martin Ebert
1902/1951/2016
Score: 41.27
L.C. Lambrecht

26

Casa de Campo (Teeth of the Dog)

La Romana, Dominican Republic
Pete Dye
1971
Score: 41.24
L.C. Lambrecht

27

Cape Wickham

King Island, Australia
Mike DeVries/Darius Oliver
2015
Score: 41.21
L.C. Lambrecht

28

Barnbougle Lost Farm

Barnbougle Lost Farm
Bill Coore
2010
Score: 41.19
Evan Schiller

29

Cabot Cliffs

Inverness, Canada
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw
2016
Score: 41.15
L.C. Lambrecht

30

Crystal Downs

Frankfort, Mich.
Alister MacKenzie/Perry Maxwell
1933
Score: 40.97
Kevin Murray

31

Royal St. George’s

Sandwich, England
W. Laidlaw Purves
1887
Score: 40.89
L.C. Lambrecht

32

Fishers Island

Fishers Island, N.Y.
Seth Raynor
1926
Score: 40.80
Kohler Co.

33

Whistling Straits (Straits)

Haven, Wis.
Pete Dye
1998
Score: 40.67
L.C. Lambrecht

34

Winged Foot (West)

Mamaroneck, N.Y.
A.W. Tillinghast
1923
Score: 40.57
Evan Schiller

35

Friar’s Head

Baiting Hollow, N.Y.
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw
2003
Score: 40.53
L.C. Lambrecht

36

Royal Melbourne (East)

Black Rock, Australia
Alex Russell
1932
Score: 40.51
L.C. Lambrecht

37

Yeamans Hall

Hanahan, S.C.
Seth Raynor
1925
Score: 40.43
L.C. Lambrecht

38

Swinley Forest

Ascot, England
H.S. Colt
1910
Score: 40.16
L.C. Lambrecht

39

Riviera

Pacific Palisades, Calif.
George Thomas Jr./Billy Bell Sr.
1926
Score: 40.09
Kevin Murray

40

Sunningdale (Old)

Sunningdale, England
Willie Park Jr./H.S. Colt
1901/1922
Score: 40.08
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

41

TPC Sawgrass (Players Stadium)

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Pete Dye
1981
Score: 40.06
Evan Schiller

42

Pacific Dunes

Bandon, Ore.
Tom Doak
2001
Score: 40
Kevin Murray

43

Carnoustie

Carnoustie, Scotland
Allan Robertson/Old Tom Morris/James Braid
1842/1867/1926
Score: 39.85
Kevin Murray

44

Royal Birkdale

Southport, England
George Lowe Jr./Fred G. Hawtree
1897/1932
Score: 39.74
Julien Tizot

45

Morfontaine

Mortefontaine, France
Tom Simpson
1927
Score: 39.63

46

Shoreacres

Lake Bluff, Ill.
Seth Raynor
1921
Score: 39.60
L.C. Lambrecht

47

Cape Kidnappers

Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
Tom Doak
2004
Score: 39.59
Kevin Murray

48

Pinehurst (No. 2)

Pinehurst, N.C.
Donald Ross
1907
Score: 39.53
Kevin Murray

49

Royal Troon (Old)

Troon, Scotland
Willie Fernie
1887
Score: 39.50

50

Pete Dye Golf Club

Bridgeport, W. Va.
Pete Dye
1994
Score: 39.49
L.C. Lambrecht

51

San Francisco

San Francisco, Calif.
A.W. Tillinghast
1918
Score: 39.45
L.C. Lambrecht

52

Calusa Pines

Naples, Fla.
Michael Hurdzan/Dana Fry
2001
Score: 39.43
L.C. Lambrecht

53

Rosapenna (St. Patrick’s Links)

Carrigart, Ireland
Tom Doak
2021
Score: 39.41
L.C. Lambrecht

54

Eastward Ho!

Chatham, Mass.
Herbert Fowler
1922
Score: 39.37
Kevin Murray

55

St. George’s Hill (Red/Blue)

Waybridge, England
H.S. Colt
1913
Score: 39.35
Kevin Murray

56

Cruden Bay (Championship)

Cruden Bay, Scotland
Herbert Fowler/Tom Simpson
1926
Score: 39.24
Kevin Murray

57

Royal Porthcawl

Porthcawl, Wales
Ramsey Hunter/H.S. Colt
1898/1913
Score: 39.23
Kevin Murray

58

Rye (Old)

Rye, England
H.S. Colt/Tom Simpson/Guy Campbell
1895/1932/1946
Score: 39.21
L.C. Lambrecht

59

Old Town Club

Winston-Salem, N.C.
Perry Maxwell
1939
Score: 39.16

60

Camargo

Cincinnati, Ohio
Seth Raynor
1926
Score: 38.75
Evan Schiller

61

California Golf Club of San Francisco

So. San Francisco, Calif.
A.V. Macan/Alister MacKenzie/Kyle Phillips
1926/1928/2007
Score: 38.67
Kevin Murray

62

Walton Heath (Old)

Walton-on-the-Hill, England
Herbert Fowler
1904
Score: 38.64
L.C. Lambrecht

63

Victoria

Cheltenham, Australia
Alister MacKenzie
1927
Score: 38.59
Kevin Murray

64

Machrihanish

Machrihanish, Scotland
Charles Hunter/Old Tom Morris
1876/1879
Score: 38.57
Kevin Murray

65

Seminole

Juno Beach, Fla.
Donald Ross
1929
Score: 38.54
Jon Cavalier

66

New South Wales

La Perouse, Australia
Alister MacKenzie/Eric Apperly
1928/1937
Score: 38.43
Jon Cavalier

67

Ohoopee Match Club

Cobbtown, Ga.
Gil Hanse/Jim Wagner
2018
Score: 38.38
Kevin Murray

68

Prestwick

Prestwick, Scotland
Old Tom Morris
1851/1883
Score: 38.36
Jacob Sjoman

69

Cabot Links

Inverness, Canada
Rod Whitman
2012
Score: 38.33
Kevin Murray

70

Harbour Town

Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Pete Dye/Jack Nicklaus
1969
Score: 38.16
Jon Cavalier

71

Muirfield Village

Dublin, Ohio
Jack Nicklaus/Desmond Muirhead
1974
Score: 38.13
L.C. Lambrecht

72

Los Angeles (North)

Los Angeles, Calif.
George Thomas Jr.
1927
Score: 38.10
L.C. Lambrecht

73

The Country Club (Main)

Brookline, Mass.
Willie Campbell
1895
Score: 37.81
L.C. Lambrecht

74

Garden City Golf

Garden City, N.Y.
Devereux Emmet/Walter Travis
1899/1906
Score: 37.73
L.C. Lambrecht

75

Peachtree

Atlanta, Ga.
Robert Trent Jones Sr./Bobby Jones
1947
Score: 37.67
Kevin Murray

76

Kingsbarns

St. Andrews, Scotland
Kyle Phillips
2000
Score: 37.61
Evan Schiller

77

Waterville

Waterville, Ireland
Eddie Hackett
1973
Score: 37.45
Kevin Murray

78

Royal Cinque Ports

Deal, England
Harry Hunter/James Braid/Guy Campbell
1896/1919/1946
Score: 37.40
Kevin Murray

79

Sunningdale (New)

Sunningdale, England
H.S. Colt
1923
Score: 37.39
L.C. Lambrecht

80

Metropolitan

Oakleigh, Australia
J.B. Mackenzie/Dick Wilson
1908/1961
Score: 37.35
Kevin Murray

81

Royal Aberdeen (Balgownie)

Aberdeen, Scotland
Archie Simpson/Robert Simpson
1888
Score: 37.31
Dave Sansom

82

Wade Hampton

Cashiers, N.C.
Tom Fazio
1987
Score: 37.23
Jon Cavalier

83

Royal Adelaide

Seaton, Australia
Des Soutar/Alister MacKenzie
1906/1926
Score: 37.21
Jeff Bertch

84

Essex County

Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass.
Donald Ross
1917
Score: 37.17
L.C. Lambrecht

85

Newport

Newport, R.I.
William Davis/A.W. Tillinghast
1894/1897/1921
Score: 37.15

86

Hoiana Shores

Quang Nam, Vietnam
Robert Trent Jones II
2020
Score: 37.09
Kevin Murray

87

Western Gailes

Irvine, Scotland
Fred Morris/Fred W. Hawtree
1898/1975
Score: 37.07
Evan Schiller

88

Monterey Peninsula (Shore)

Pebble Beach, Calif.
Bob Baldock/Mike Strantz
1962/2004
Score: 37.01
Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

89

Bethpage (Black)

Farmingdale, N.Y.
A.W. Tillinghast
1936
Score: 37
Kevin Murray

90

Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin)

Woodhall Spa, England
Harry Vardon/H.S. Colt/S.V. Hotchkin
1905/1912/1926
Score: 36.97
L.C. Lambrecht

91

Peninsula Kingswood (North)

Frankston, Australia
OCCM/Mike Cocking
2019
Score: 36.93
L.C. Lambrecht

92

Paraparaumu Beach

Paraparaumu, New Zealand
Alex Russell
1949
Score: 36.91
Nick Wall/AirSwing

93

Kauri Cliffs

Matauri Bay, New Zealand
David Harman
2001
Score: 36.90
Jon Cavalier

94

Pasatiempo

Santa Cruz, Calif.
Alister MacKenzie
1929
Score: 36.86
Jon Cavalier

95

The Golf Club

New Albany, Ohio
Pete Dye
1967
Score: 36.77
Jon Cavalier

96

St. George’s

Etobicoke, Canada
Stanley Thompson
1929
Score: 36.70
Evan Schiller

97

Bandon Trails

Bandon, Ore.
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw
2005
Score: 36.36
Jon Cavalier

98

Koninklijke Haagsche (Royal Hague)

Wassenaar, Netherlands
H.S. Colt/C.H. Alison
1938
Score: 36.32
Evan Schiller

99

Bandon Dunes

Bandon, Ore.
David McLay Kidd
1999
Score: 36.22
Kevin Murray

100

Portmarnock (Red/Blue)

Portmarnock, Ireland
W.C. Pickeman/George Ross/Mungo Park/George Coburn
1894/1896
Score: 36.20