Cabot Cliffs

Inverness, Nova Scotia

Rankings

Guru's Top International Golf Courses

Below is the Gurus list of the top 70 golf courses we've played outside of the United States along with individual rankings for each country. The Gurus appreicate courses with impressive settings/visuals, architectural merits, great conditioning, and variety. A major consideration is how reproducible the course is. As such, courses that enjoy spectacular/unique settings and terrain tend to rank higher.

Top 10 International Courses

  1. Old Head Golf Links (Ron Kirby, Paddy Merrigan, Liam Higgins, Eddie Hackett, Dr. Joe Carr, and Haulie O'Shea 1997, Kinsale, Ireland)
  2. Trump Turnberry (Ailsa) (Willie Fernie 1902, Turnberry, Scotland)
  3. Cape Wickham Golf Links (Mike DeVries and Darius Oliver 2015, King Island, Australia)
  4. Royal Melbourne Golf Club (Composite) (Alister MacKenzie and Alex Russell 1932, Black Rock, Victoria, Australia)
  5. Ballybunion Golf Club (Old) (Tom Simpson 1936, Ballybunion, Ireland)
  6. Cruden Bay Golf Club (Tom Simpson 1926, Cruden Bay, Scotland)
  7. Royal County Down Golf Club (Old Tom Morris 1890, Newcastle, Northern Ireland)
  8. Cabot Cliffs (Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw 2015, Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada)
  9. Cape Kidnappers (Tom Doak 2004, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand)
  10. Royal Melbourne Golf Club (West) (Alister MacKenzie 1931, Black Rock, Victoria, Australia)
9th Hole at Trump Turnberry (Ailsa)
9th Hole at Trump Turnberry (Ailsa)

International Courses 11-20

  1. Playa Grande Golf and Ocean Club (Robert Trent Jones 1997/Rees Jones 2018, Cabrera, Dominican Republic)
  2. Punta Espada Golf Club (Jack Nicklaus 2006, Cap Cana, Dominican Republic)
  3. Tara Iti (Tom Doak 2015, Mangawhai, New Zealand)
  4. New South Wales (Alister MacKenzie 1928, Sydney, Australia)
  5. Royal Dornoch Golf Club (Championship) (Old Tom Morris 1886, Dornoch, Scotland)
  6. Royal Portrush Golf Club (Dunluce) (Harry S. Colt 1929, Portrush, Northern Ireland)
  7. Sunningdale Golf Club (Old) (Willie Park Jr. 1901, Sunningdale, England)
  8. Kingsbarns Golf Course (Kyle Phillips 2000, St Andrews, Scotland)
  9. Castle Stuart Golf Club (Gil Hanse 2009, Inverness, Scotland)
  10. Diamante (Dunes) (Davis Love III 2009, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico)
15th Hole at Royal Portrush
15th Hole at Royal Portrush

International Courses 21-30

  1. Tralee Golf Club (Arnold Palmer 1984, West Barrow, Ireland)
  2. Ocean Dunes Golf Club (Graeme Grant 2017, King Island, Australia)
  3. Quivira Golf Club (Jack Nicklaus 2014, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico)
  4. The National Golf Club (Old) (Robert Trent Jones Jr. 1988, Cape Schanck, Victoria, Australia)
  5. Lahinch Golf Club (Alister Mackenzie 1928, Lahinch, Ireland)
  6. Waterville Golf Links (John A. Mulcahy, Claude Harmon, and Eddie Hackett 1973, Waterville, Ireland)
  7. North Berwick Golf Club (West Links) (Ben Sayers 1932, North Berwick, Scotland)
  8. Casa de Campo (Teeth of the Dog) (Pete Dye 1971, La Romana, Dominican Republic)
  9. Cabo del Sol (Cove Club) (Jack Nicklaus 1994, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico)
  10. Peninsula Kingswood Country Club (North) (Sloan Morpeth 1967/Michael Clayton, Michael Cocking, and Geoff Ogilvy 2019, Frankston, Victoria, Australia)
16th Hole at North Berwick Golf Club (West Links)
16th Hole at North Berwick Golf Club (West Links)

International Courses 31-40

  1. Barnbougle Lost Farm (Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw 2010, Bridport, Tasmania, Australia)
  2. Victoria Golf Club (Oscar Damman and Bill Meader 1927; Alister MacKenzie consulting, Cheltenham, Victoria, Australia)
  3. Kauri Cliffs (David Harmon 2000, Matauri Bay, New Zealand)
  4. Barnbougle Dunes (Tom Doak 2004, Bridport, Tasmania, Australia)
  5. County Sligo Golf Club aka Rosses Point (Harry S. Colt 1927, Sligo, Ireland)
  6. Kingston Heath Golf Club (Dan Souter 1925, Heatherton, Victoria, Australia)
  7. Muirfield - The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers (Old Tom MOrris 1891, Muirfield, Scotland)
  8. Carnoustie Golf Links (Old Tom Morris 1867, Carnoustie, Scotland)
  9. Royal St. George's Golf Club (William Laidlaw Purves 1887, Sandwich, England)
  10. The European Club (Pat Ruddy 1987, Brittas Bay, Ireland)
7th Hole at Barnbougle Dunes
7th Hole at Barnbougle Dunes

International Courses 41-50

  1. Trump International Golf Links Scotland (Martin Hawtree 2012, Aberdeen, Scotland)
  2. Royal Melbourne Golf Club (East) (Alex Russell 1932, Black Rock, Victoria, Australia)
  3. Cape Breton Highland Links (Stanley Thompson 1941/Ian Andrew 2015, Ingonish Beach, Nova Scotia, Canada)
  4. Cabot Links (Rod Whitman 2012, Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada)
  5. St Andrews Beach Golf Club (Tom Doak 2005, Fingal, Victoria, Australia)
  6. St Andrews Links (Castle) (David McLay Kidd 2008, St Andrews, Scotland)
  7. The National Golf Club (Moonah) (Greg Norman 2000, Cape Schanack, Victoria, Australia)
  8. Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club (Alex Russell 1949, Paraparaumu Beach, New Zealand)
  9. Enniscrone Golf Club (Eddie Hackett 1974, Enniscrone, Ireland)
  10. Puntacana Resort (Corales) (Tom Fazio 2010, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic)
8th Hole at Royal Troon
8th Hole at Royal Troon

International Courses 51-60

  1. County Louth Golf Club aka Baltray (Tom Simpson 1938, Louth, Ireland)
  2. Carne Golf Links (Eddie Hackett 1992 and Jim Engh/Ally McIntosh 2013, Belmullet, Ireland)
  3. Prestwick Golf Club (Old Tom Morris 1851, Prestwick, Scotland)
  4. The Kinloch Club (Jack Nicklaus 2007, Kinloch, New Zealand
  5. Royal Aberdeen Golf Club (Archie and Robert Simpson 1888/James Braid 1925, Aberdeen, Scotland)
  6. Trump International Doonbeg (Greg Norman 2002, Doonbeg, Ireland)
  7. Dundonald Links (Kyle Phillips 2003, Troon, Scotland)
  8. The Links at Crowbush (Thomas McBroom 1994, St. Peters, Prince Edward Island, Canada)
  9. The K Club (Arnold Palmer 1991, Straffan, Ireland)
  10. Royal Troon (George Strath 1884, Troon, Scotland)
17th Hole at TPC Danzante Bay
17th Hole at TPC Danzante Bay

International Courses 61-70

  1. TPC Danzante Bay (Rees Jones 2017, Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico)
  2. Casa de Campo (Dye Fore) (Pete Dye 2005, La Romana, Dominican Republic)
  3. Titirangi Golf Club (Alister MacKenzie 1927, Auckland, New Zealand)
  4. Metropolitan Golf Club (J.B. Mackenzie 1908/Alister MacKenzie 1926/Dick Wilson 1959, Oakleigh South, Victoria, Australia)
  5. Ocean's 4 Golf Club (Maverick Golf 2017, La Romana, Dominican Republic)
  6. Royal Isabela (David Pfaff 2009, Isabella, Puerto Rico)
  7. Woodlands Golf Club (Rowley Banks and Sam Bennett 1913, Mordialloc, Victoria, Australia)
  8. Diamante (El Cardonal) (Tiger Woods 2014, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico)
  9. Moonah Links Resort (Legends) (Ross Perrett and Peter Thompson 2003, Fingal, Victoria, Australia)
  10. Cabo Real Golf Club (Robert Trent Jones Jr. 1994, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur)
    11. 8th Hole at Dundarave Golf Club
    8th Hole at Dundarave Golf Club

    International Courses 71-80

    1. Portmarnock Golf Club (William Pickerman and George Ross 1894, Portmarnock, Ireland)
    2. The Lakes (Eric Apperly and Tom Howard 1928/Robert von Hagge 1968/Ogilvy and Clayton 2007, Sydney, Australia)
    3. Puntacana Resort (La Cana) (P.B. Dye 2001, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic)
    4. Bahia Beach Resort and Golf Club (Robert Trent Jones Jr. 2007, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico)
    5. El Conquistador Resort (Arthur Hills 1993, Fajardo, Puerto Rico)
    6. El Cortes Golf Club (Gary Player 2010, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico)
    7. Dundarave Golf Club (Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry 1999, Georgetown Royalty, Prince Edward Island, Canada)
    8. The Links at Brunello (Thomas McBroom 2015, Timberlea, Nova Scotia, Canada)
    9. Trump Turnberry (King Robert the Bruce) (Martin Ebert 2017 - Former Kintyre course, Donald Steel 2001, part of Arran course as well, Turnbery, Scotland)
    10. Nairn Golf Club (Archie Simpson 1887, Nairn, Scotland)

    Top 17 Australia Courses

    1. Cape Wickham Golf Links (Mike DeVries and Darius Oliver 2015, King Island)
    2. Royal Melbourne Golf Club (Composite) (Alister MacKenzie and Alex Russell 1932, Black Rock, Victoria)
    3. Royal Melbourne Golf Club (West) (Alister MacKenzie 1931, Black Rock, Victoria)
    4. Ocean Dunes Golf Club (Graeme Grant 2017, King Island)
    5. The National Golf Club (Old) (Robert Trent Jones Jr. 1988, Cape Schanck, Victoria)
    6. Peninsula Kingswood Country Club (North) (Sloan Morpeth 1967/Michael Clayton, Michael Cocking, and Geoff Ogilvy 2019, Frankston, Victoria)
    7. Barnbougle Lost Farm (Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw 2010, Bridport, Tasmania)
    8. Victoria Golf Club (Oscar Damman and Bill Meader 1927; Alister MacKenzie consulting, Cheltenham, Victoria)
    9. Kingston Heath Golf Club (Dan Souter 1925, Heatherton, Victoria)
    10. Royal Melbourne Golf Club (East) (Alex Russell 1932, Black Rock, Victoria)
    11. Barnbougle Dunes (Tom Doak 2004, Bridport, Tasmania)
    12. St Andrews Beach Golf Club (Tom Doak 2005, Fingal, Victoria)
    13. The National Golf Club (Moonah) (Greg Norman 2000, Cape Schanack, Victoria)
    14. Metropolitan Golf Club (J.B. Mackenzie 1908/Alister MacKenzie 1926/Dick Wilson 1959, Oakleigh South, Victoria)
    15. Woodlands Golf Club (Rowley Banks and Sam Bennett 1913, Mordialloc, Victoria)
    16. Moonah Links Resort (Legends) (Ross Perrett and Peter Thompson 2003, Fingal, Victoria)
    17. Moonah Links Resort (Open) (Ross Perrett and Peter Thompson 2001, Fingal, Victoria)

    Top 16 Scotland Courses

    1. Trump Turnberry (Ailsa) (Willie Fernie 1902, Turnberry)
    2. Cruden Bay Golf Club (Tom Simpson 1926, Cruden Bay)
    3. Royal Dornoch Golf Club (Old Tom Morris 1886, Dornoch)
    4. Kingsbarns Golf Course (Kyle Phillips 2000, St Andrews)
    5. Castle Stuart Golf Club (Gil Hanse 2009, Inverness)
    6. North Berwick Golf Club (West Links) (Ben Sayers 1932, North Berwick)
    7. St Andrews Links (Castle) (David McLay Kidd 2008, St Andrews)
    8. Trump International Golf Links Scotland (Martin Hawtree 2012, Aberdeen)
    9. Muirfield - The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers (Old Tom MOrris 1891, Muirfield)
    10. Carnoustie Golf Links (Old Tom Morris 1867, Carnoustie)
    11. Dundonald Links (Kyle Phillips 2003, Troon)
    12. Prestwick Golf Club (Old Tom Morris 1851, Prestwick)
    13. Royal Troon (George Strath 1884, Troon)
    14. Royal Aberdeen Golf Club (Archie and Robert Simpson 1888/James Braid 1925, Aberdeen)
    15. Trump Turnberry (King Robert the Bruce) (Martin Ebert 2017 - Former Kintyre course, Donald Steel 2001, part of Arran course as well, Turnbery)
    16. Nairn Golf Club (Archie Simpson 1887, Nairn)*
    Aerial view of Cruden Bay
    Aerial view of Cruden Bay

    Top 15 Ireland Courses

    1. Old Head Golf Links (Ron Kirby, Paddy Merrigan, Liam Higgins, Eddie Hackett, Dr. Joe Carr, and Haulie O'Shea 1997, Kinsale)
    2. Ballybunion Golf Club (Old) (Tom Simpson 1936, Ballybunion)
    3. Royal County Down Golf Club (Old Tom Morris 1890, Newcastle, Northern Ireland)
    4. Tralee Golf Club (Arnold Palmer 1984, West Barrow)
    5. Royal Portrush Golf Club (Dunluce) (Harry S. Colt 1929, Portrush, Northern Ireland)
    6. Lahinch Golf Club (Alister Mackenzie 1928, Lahinch)
    7. Waterville Golf Links (John A. Mulcahy, Claude Harmon, and Eddie Hackett 1973, Waterville)
    8. County Sligo Golf Club aka Rosses Point (Harry S. Colt 1927, Sligo)
    9. Enniscrone Golf Club (Eddie Hackett 1974, Enniscrone)
    10. The European Club (Pat Ruddy 1987, Brittas Bay)
    11. Carne Golf Links (Eddie Hackett 1992 and Jim Engh/Ally McIntosh 2013, Belmullet)
    12. County Louth Golf Club aka Baltray (Tom Simpson 1938, Louth)
    13. Trump International Doonbeg (Greg Norman 2002, Doonbeg)
    14. The K Club (Arnold Palmer 1991, Straffan)
    15. Portmarnock Golf Club (William Pickerman and George Ross 1894, Portmarnock)
    4th Hole at Royal County Down
    4th Hole at Royal County Down

    Top 11 Canada Courses

    1. Cabot Cliffs (Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw 2015, Inverness, Nova Scotia)
    2. Cabot Links (Rod Whitman 2012, Inverness, Nova Scotia)
    3. Cape Breton Highland Links (Stanley Thompson 1941/Ian Andrew 2015, Ingonish Beach, Nova Scotia)
    4. The Links at Crowbush (Thomas McBroom 1994, St. Peters, Prince Edward Island)
    5. Dundarave Golf Club (Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry 1999, Georgetown Royalty, Prince Edward Island)
    6. The Links at Brunello (Thomas McBroom 2015, Timberlea, Nova Scotia)
    7. Green Gables Golf Course (Stanley Thompson 1939, Hunter River, Prince Edward Island)
    8. Glen Arbour Golf Club (Graham Cooke 1999, Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia)
    9. Fox Harb'r Resort (Graham Cooke 2000, Wallace, Nova Scotia)
    10. Brudenell River Golf Course (Robbie Robinson 1969, Georgetown Royalty, Prince Edward Island)
    11. Mill River Golf Course (Robbie Robinson 1971, Woodstock, Prince Edward Island)
    16th Hole at Cabot Cliffs
    16th Hole at Cabot Cliffs

    Top 9 Mexico Courses

    1. Diamante (Dunes) (Davis Love III 2009, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur)
    2. Quivira Golf Club (Jack Nicklaus 2014, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur)
    3. Cabo del Sol (Ocean) (Jack Nicklaus 1994, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur)
    4. TPC Danzante Bay (Rees Jones 2017, Loreto, Baja California Sur)
    5. Diamante (El Cardonal) (Tiger Woods 2014, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur)
    6. Cabo Real Golf Club (Robert Trent Jones Jr. 1994, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur)
    7. El Cortes Golf Club (Gary Player 2010, La Paz, Baja California Sur)
    8. Puerto Los Cabos Golf Club (Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman 2008, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur)
    9. Loreto Bay Resort (Mario Schjetnan and Pedro Guereca 1991/David Duval 2006, Loreto, Baja California Sur)
    6th Hole at Quivira
    6th Hole at Quivira

    Top 4 Caribbean Courses

    1. Royal Isabela (David Pfaff 2009, Isabella, Puerto Rico)
    2. Bahia Beach Resort and Golf Club (Robert Trent Jones Jr. 2007, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico)
    3. El Conquistador Resort (Arthur Hills 1993, Fajardo, Puerto Rico)
    4. Coco Beach Golf Resort (Championship) (Tom Kite 2007, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico)
    17th Hole at Royal Isabella
    17th Hole at Royal Isabella

    Top 2 England Courses

    1. Sunningdale Golf Club (Old) (Willie Park Jr. 1901, Sunningdale, England)
    2. Royal St. George's Golf Club (WIlliam Laidlaw Purves 1887, Sandwich, England)
    5th Hole at Royal St. Georges Golf Club
    5th Hole at Royal St. Georges Golf Club

Follow the Golf Course Gurus to some of the country's top golf destinations

Where are the Gurus?
Golf Course Gurus