The one endearing quality that all the best courses in the world seem to have is proximity to the ocean. Here are five of the best oceanfront golf courses in the world.
Royal County Down G.C. – Northern Ireland
This 7,186 yard par 71 course is tucked into the rugged terrain off the coast of the Irish Sea. A well designed course constructed in an otherwise mountainous area and bordered to the east by Dundrum Bay, golfers can expect a top ranked, elegant course with surprisingly flat greens, intensely arched bunker brows and a multitude of blind shots.
Cypress Point Club – Pebble Beach, California, U.S.A.
Intertwined with the jagged coastline of the Pacific Ocean, Cypress Point Club at Pebble Beach, California uses the natural beauty of its setting to create a challenging and eye-catching design. A par 72 at 6,524 yards, Cypress Point is regarded as a shorter course but it makes up for it with challenging green placements and impressive bunkering.
Royal Dornoch G.C. – Dornoch, Sutherland, Scotland
Molded against the North Sea shoreline, this 6,704 yard par 70 course is balanced with surrounding sand dunes. Dornoch is known for its winds and with a majority of the greens sitting on elevated plateaus the challenge lies in hitting quality shots despite those gusts and breezes. Dornoch has been called the most natural course in the world by Herbert Warren Wind.
Muirfield – Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
Another Scottish gem off the North Sea, Muirfield is pressed against the Firth of Forth. Bumpy at times, the 7,209 yard par 71 has otherwise been regarded as straight and tame. With only one blind shot on the 11th tee box, the course boasts great visibility and ‘proper’ green size. A straight-forward course that allows few excuses.
Pebble Beach G. Links – Pebble Beach, California, USA
2019 will be Pebble’s sixth time hosting the U.S. Open and for good reason. Half of the course rests on top of cliffs over the Pacific Ocean with an infamous bluff shot to start off the eighth. An extensive assemblage of land and sea, Pebble is one of the most famous courses in the world and many believe the most beautiful coastal course in the world.