According to Golf Advisor, this is the list of the world’s most beautiful courses which are open to play for the mortals. So you’ll find Pebble Beach, which sets you back 500 dollars, but you wouldn’t find Cypress Point which clearly, as the direct neighbor, is equally beautiful but is a private member’s club, one of the stricter ones even.

You can believe what you want in terms of rankings, this has its US-focus as well and only lists 5 Continental European courses after all. Not fair, you might argue. Well I have very little comparison I’m afraid to judge if the US-courses indeed are of such perfect beauty that courses of other regions are under-represented to a certain extent.

From those 50 courses, I’m fortunate enough to have played 2 at least. The rest is a working target. Will keep you posted on the outcome, as always.

So this is the list with more details:

1. Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach, California | Architect: Jack Neville, Chandler Egan
Green fees: $550 – $595

2. Manele Golf Course
Lanai, Hawaii | Architect: Jack Nicklaus
Green fees: $225 – $485

3. Ailsa course at Trump Turnberry
South Ayshire, Scotland | Architect: Willie Fernie
Green fees: $315 – $470

4. Real Club Valderrama
Cadiz, Spain | Architect: Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Green fees: $450

5. Whistling Straits
Sheboygan County, Wisconsin | Architect: Pete Dye
Green fees: $385 + $65 mandatory caddie fee

6. Ocean Course at Kiawah Island
Kiawah Island, South Carolina | Architect: Pete and Alice Dye
Green fees: $354 – $397

7. Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo
La Romana, Dominican Republic | Architect: Pete Dye
Green fees: $195 – $395

8. Kauri Cliffs
Matauri Bay, New Zealand | Architect: David Harman
Green fees: $375

9. Cape Kidnappers
Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand | Architect: Tom Doak
Green fees: $214 – $366

10. Dye Course at French Lick
French Lick, Indiana | Architect: Pete Dye
Green fees: $350

11. Pacific Dunes
Bandon, Oregon | Architect: Tom Doak
Green fees: $100 – $335

12. Bandon Dunes
Bandon, Oregon | Architect: David McLay Kidd
Green fees: $100 – $335

13. Bay Harbor Golf Club
Bay Harbor, Michigan | Architect: Arthur Hills
Green fees: $213 – $329

14. Old Head Golf Links
Kinsale, Ireland | Architect: Paddy Merrigan
Green fees: $225 – $325

15. Cabot Cliffs
Cape Breton, Canada | Architect: Bill Coore
Green fees: $265 – $320

16. Quivira
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico | Architect: Jack Nicklaus
Green fees: $233 – $323

17. New South Wales
Sydney, Australia | Architect: Alister MacKenzie
Green fees: $310

18. Plantation Course at Kapalua
Maui, Hawaii | Architect: Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw
Green fees: $189 – $300

19. Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course
Stateline, Nevada | Architects: George & Tom Fazio
Green fees: $210 – $300

20. Fuji Course at Kawana Hotel
Kawana, Japan | Architect: Charles Alison
Green fees: $250 – $300

21. Punta Espada Golf Course
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic | Architect: Jack Nicklaus
Green fees: $235 – $295

22. Princeville Makai Golf Club
Princeville, Hawaii | Architect: Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Green fees: $239 – $299

23. Royal County Down
Newcastle, Ireland | Architect: Old Tom Morris
Green fees: $150 – $290

24. Mid Ocean Club
Tucker’s Town, Bermuda | Architect: Charles Blair Macdonald
Green fees: $275

25. Fairmont Banff Springs
Banff, Alberta, Canada | Architect: Stanley Thompson
Green fees: $125 – $249

26. Great Waters at Reynolds Lake Oconee
Eatonton, Georgia | Architect: Jack Nicklaus
Green fees: $200 – $250

27. South Course at Boulders Resort
Carefree, Arizona | Architect: Jay Morrish
Green fees: $69 – $259

28. Wolf Creek Golf Course
Mesquite, Nevada | Architect: Denis, John Rider
Green fees: $65 – $230

29. Tralee Golf Club
Kerry, Ireland | Architect: Arnold Palmer
Green fees: $179 – $257

30. Fazio Course at Red Sky
Wolcott, Colorado | Architect: Tom Fazio
Green fees: $155 – $260

31. Bay Course at Costa Navarino
Costa Navarino, Greece | Architect: Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Green fees: $164 – $204

32. Championship Course at Royal Dornoch
Dornoch, Scotland | Architect: Old Tom Morris/George Duncan
Green fees: $125 – $225

33. Bluffs Course at Arcadia Bluffs
Arcadia, Michigan | Architect: Warren Henderson
Green fees: $90 – $215

34. Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
Alberta, Canada | Architect: Stanley Thompson
Green fees: $109 – $209

35. Royal Isabela
Isabela, Puerto Rico | Architect: David Pfaff
Green fees: $125 – $200

36. East Course at Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau
Hong Kong | Architect: Robin Nelson, Neil Haworth
Green fees: $110 – $187

37. TPC Danzante Bay
Loreto, Mexico | Architect: Rees Jones
Green fees: $79 – $179

38. Oitavos Dunes
Cascais, Portugal | Architect: Arthur Hills
Green fees: $82 – $174

39. Black Jack’s Crossing
Terlingua, Texas | Architect: Lanny Wadkins
Green fees: $125 – $175

40. Ardglass Golf Club
County Down, Northern Ireland | Architect: David Jones
Green fees: $88 – $163

41. Hamilton Island Golf Club
Whitsundays, Queensland, Australia | Architect: Peter Thomson
Green fees: $110 – $160

42. Cape Wickham Links
King Island, Australia | Architect: Mike DeVries
Green fees: $119 – $156

43. Jack’s Point
Queenstown, New Zealand | Architect: John Darby
Green fees: $102 – $159

44. Church Course at St. Enodoc Golf Club
Rock, Wadebridge, UK | Architect: James Braid
Green fees: $63 – $145

45. Top of the Rock
Ridgedale, Missouri | Architect: Jack Nicklaus
Green fees: $80 – $135

46. Thracian Cliffs
Bozhurets, Bulgaria | Architect: Gary Player
Green fees: $59 – $109

47. Lofoten Links
Gimsoyand, Norway | Architect: Jeremy Turner
Green fees: $55 – $100

48. Golf Club at Redlands Mesa
Colorado
Green fees: $60 – $87

49. Nefyn & District Golf Club
Gwynedd, Wales | Architect: Howard Swan
Green fees: $33 – $78

50. Pinnacle Point
Mossel Bay, South Africa | Architect: Peter Matkovich
Green fees: $55 – $65

Which ones of these have you played and would you maybe share your experience with us?