Living in the UK is great – well honestly not for every aspect of life, but definitely in terms of golfing. There are more than 3,000 courses here on the isles which is much more than anyone could wish for. Living in central London however is a bit of a mess when it comes to get to play golf because (1) all courses are a bit outside the city and not very accessible with public transport and (2) London golf courses are pretty expensive compared to most of all the other 2,990 in the country.

On the other hand there are other very expensive golf courses to find as well. However these clubs belong to the world’s best courses and were designed by the big course architecture heroes of the past and the present – both inland beauties or links design. Below you find a list of UK and Ireland’s 100 best golf courses (as of 2011).

I only played one of them so far (The Grove, 82) but 2013 is the year some of them might get conquered by a German hacker. I can’t wait to play Sunningdale Old for instance, The Berkshire, St. George’s Hill, Wentworth West, Kingsbarns, the Twenty-Ten at Celtic Manor or the Brabazon at The Belfry. There are so many choices… It’s a golf eldorado here! All I need is time and money!

1. Muirfield
2. Royal County Down – Championship
3. Old Course, St Andrews Links
4. Turnberry – Ailsa
5. Royal Birkdale
6. Royal St George’s
7. Royal Lytham & St Annes
8. Carnoustie – Championship
9. Royal Dornoch – Championship
10. Sunningdale – New
11. Waterville
12. Royal Portrush – Dunluce
13. Ballybunion – Old
14. Sunningdale – Old
15. Royal Liverpool
16. Kingsbarns
17. The European Club
18. Woodhall Spa – Hotchkin
19. Royal Aberdeen – Balgownie
20. Ganton
21. Loch Lomond
22. Doonbeg
23. Lahinch – Old
24. Royal Troon – Old
25. Castle Stuart
26. St Georges Hill – Red & Blue
27. Walton Heath – Old
28. Royal Porthcawl
29. Portmarnock – Red & Blue
30. Hillside
31. North Berwick
32. Nairn – Championship
33. Old Head
34. Swinley Forrest
35. Wentworth – West
36. Gleneagles – King’s
37. Burnham & Berrow – Championship
38. Formby
39. Saunton – East
40. The Berkshire – Red
41. St Enodoc – Church
42. Rosapenna – Sandy Hill
43. Prestwick
44. Hankley Common
45. Royal West Norfolk
46. Royal St David’s
47. Royal Cinque Ports
48. Notts
49. Walton Heath – New
50. Machrihanish
51. Tralee
52. Western Gailes
53. Silloth On Solway
54. West Sussex
55. The Alwoodley
56. County Loth
57. Saunton – West
58. Aberdovey
59. Blairgowrie – Rosemount
60. The Berkshire – Blue
61. Rye – Old
62. Gleneagles – Queen’s
63. Lough Erne
64. Southport & Ainsdale
65. K Club – Palmer Ryder Cup
66. New Course, St Andrews Links
67. Worplesdon
68. Moortown
69. Hunstanton
70. Trevose – Championship
71. Druids Glen
72. Gullane – No.1
73. Liphook
74. Ballyliffin – Glashedy
75. Royal North Devon
76. West Lancashire
77. Aldeburgh
78. The Belfry – Brabazon
79. The Island
80. Woburn – Marquess
81. Bearwood Lakes
82. The Grove
83. Mount Juliet
84. Ladybank
85. Wentworth – East
86. Renaissance
87. Killarney – Killeen
88. West Hill
89. Cruden Bay
90. Portmarnock Links
91. The Castle Course, St Andrews Links
92. Sherwood Forest
93. The Wisley – Church & Mill
94. Woburn Duchess’
95. Nefyn & District – Old
96. Carne
97. Woburn – Duke’s
98. Adare Manor
99. Woking
100. Royal Worlington & Newmarket