The best golf courses in Europe

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As soon as you take up golf in the United States, somebody will sell you on taking a trip to Europe. They’re right of course. It’s the birthplace of golf, you’ve heard. St. Andrews is a baptismal experience. Royal County Down might be the best course anywhere. The best links courses that we watch every year during The Open Championship are actually accessible to travelers, unlike many of the best courses in the U.S., which are mostly private.

We’ve been writing for 70-plus years about the merits of a European golf trip. The only question is where? The answer to that question continues to get harder and harder to answer—which is a great thing for the traveling golfer. More than half of the courses in our recently published World’s 100 Greatest rankings (56) are European courses. Scotland, Ireland and England remain the obvious choices, for good reason. Links courses rose a collective 351 spots in our most recent ranking, with classics such as Portmarnock (Championship), Prestwick and Cruden Bay making huge jumps. But new projects promise to continue the Old World’s grasp on great golf, evidenced by Tom Doak’s St. Patrick’s Links at Rosapenna, which opened in 2021 and debuted in our top 50 this year. Doak is constructing a second course at Cabot Highlands, with its Castle Stuart course by Gil Hanse and Mark Parsinen also a top-100 mainstay. Hanse’s Craighead course at Crail and renovation work at Narin and Portnoo are also represented in our Best Courses in Europe, and his and Jim Wagner’s new course at Les Bordes in France will surely continue to generate buzz. American architects have worked in Europe for decades and decades, back when Robert Trent Jones opened an office in Spain to account for his firm’s work in the continent. That trend continues with other talented architects like Kyle Phillips, who has worked in nine European countries, contributing important layouts throughout the world. David McLay Kidd’s new Dunas course at Terras de Comporta adds yet another impressive golf to the growing list of gems in the Algarve.

It’s a better time than ever to plan your next European golf trip. It’s just tougher to decide where in Europe to go than ever. Heck, even Greece has jumped onto the map with its Costa Navarino development and its four stellar courses. Don’t be overwhelmed: Scroll down and discover your next great European getaway below.

Andorra

  1. Grandvilara G. Soldeu, Soldeu

Armenia

  1. Ararat Valley G.C., Yerevan

Austria

  1. Fontana G.C., Vienna
  2. Adamstal G.C., Ramsau
  3. Gut Altentann, Henndorf am Wallersee
  4. Kärtner Golfclub Dellach, Maria Wörth
  5. Golfclub Klagenfurt-Seltenheim, Klagenfurt

Azerbaijan

  1. Dreamland G.C., Baku
  2. National Azerbaijan G.C., Baku

Belarus

  1. Minsk G.C., Minsk

Belgium https://www.golfdigest.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/course-photos-for-places-to-play/royal-antwerp-belgium.jpg

Courtesy of the club

  1. Royal Antwerp G.C. (above), Antwerp
  2. National Golf Brussels: Championship
  3. Royal Zoute G.C., Knokke-Heist
  4. Royal Waterloo G.C. (La Marache), Waterloo
  5. Royal G.C. de Belgique, Tervuren

Bosnia and Herzegovina

  1. Sarajevo G.C., Sarajevo

Bulgaria

  1. Thracian Cliffs G. & Beach Resort, Kavarna
  2. BlackSeaRama G. & Villas, Balchik
  3. Lighthouse G. & Spa Resort, Balchik

Croatia

  1. Adriatic G.C., Savudrija

Cyprus

  1. Aphrodite Hills G.C., Paphos
  2. Eléa G.C., Paphos
  3. Secret Valley G.C., Paphos

Czech Republic https://www.golfdigest.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/course-photos-for-places-to-play/pga-national-czech-republic-oaks-prague.jpg

Courtesy of the club

  1. PGA National Czech Republic, (Oaks Prague, above), Popovičky
  2. Albatross G. Resort, Vysoký Újezd
  3. Royal G.C. Mariánské Lázně, Mariánské Lázně
  4. Karlštejn G. Resort, Liteň
  5. Golf & Spa Kunětická Hora
  6. Black Bridge G. Resort, Prague
  7. Panorama Golf Resort, Kacov
  8. Prague City G. Zbraslav, Prague
  9. Karlovy Vary G. Resort, Karlovy Vary
  10. Ypsilon G. Resort, Liberec

Denmark

  1. The Scandinavian G.C. (Old), Farum
  2. The Great Northern G.C., Kerteminde
  3. The Scandinavian G.C. (New), Farum
  4. Aalborg GK, Aalborg
  5. Royal G.C., Copenhagen

England

  1. Sunningdale Golf Club (Old)
  2. Royal Birkdale, Southport
  3. Royal St. George’s, Sandwich
  4. Swinley Forest, Ascot
  5. Royal Lytham & St. Annes

VIEW THE FULL RANKINGS IN ENGLAND HERE.

COMPLETE RANKINGS Golf Digest Logo The best golf courses in England Estonia

  1. Pärnu Bay G. Links, Pärnu
  2. Estonian G. & C.C. (Sea), Tallinn

Faroe Islands

  1. Tórshavnar G.C., Tórshavan

Finland

  1. Ålands Golfklubb, Kastelholm
  2. Kytäjä G. (South East), Hyvinkää
  3. Nordcenter C.C. (Fream), Raasepori
  4. Kytäjä G. (North West), Hyvinkää
  5. Vierumaki Golf Resort: Cooke

France

  1. Morfontaine Golf Club
  2. Paris International Golf Club, Baillet-en-France
  3. Fontainebleau Golf Club
  4. Saint Emilionnais G.C. (Saint Emilion), Gardegan-et-Tourtirac
  5. Evian Resort, Évian-les-Bains

VIEW THE FULL RANKINGS IN FRANCE HERE.

COMPLETE RANKINGS Golf Digest Logo The best golf courses in France Georgia

  1. Ambassadori G.C., Kachreti

Germany

  1. Hamburger Golf Club: Falkenstein
  2. G.C. Budersand Sylt, Schleswig-Holstein
  3. Golf Club Föhr
  4. G.C. Bad Saarow (Faldo)
  5. G.C. St. Dionys

Greece https://www.golfdigest.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/course-photos-for-places-to-play/costa-navarino-greece-dunes-course-.jpg

Johan Hampf/Courtesy of the club

  1. Costa Navarino (International Olympic Academy), Messinia
  2. Costa Navarino (Hills), Messinia
  3. Costa Navarino (Dunes, above), Messinia
  4. Costa Navarino (Bay), Messinia
  5. Porto Carras Grand Resort, New Marmoras, Haikidiki

Greenland

  1. Nuuk G.C., Nuuk

Hungary

  1. Pannonia G. & C.C., Máriavölgy
  2. Zala Springs G.C., Zalacsany

Iceland

  1. Brautarholt G.C.
  2. Keilir G.C.
  3. Oddur (Urrida) 
  4. Reykjavik G.C. (Grafarholt) 
  5. Vestmannaeyjar G.C. 

Northern Ireland

  1. Royal County Down, Newcastle
  2. Royal Portrush (Dunluce)
  3. Portstewart Golf Club (Strand)
  4. Royal Portrush (Valley)
  5. Castlerock Golf Club (Mussenden)

VIEW THE FULL RANKINGS IN NORTHERN IRELAND HERE.

COMPLETE RANKINGS Golf Digest Logo The best golf courses in Northern Ireland Ireland, Republic of

  1. Ballybunion Golf Club (Old)
  2. Lahinch Golf Club (Old)
  3. Portmarnock Golf Club (Championship)
  4. St. Patrick’s Links at Rosapenna Resort
  5. Waterville Golf Links

VIEW THE FULL RANKINGS IN IRELAND HERE.

COMPLETE RANKINGS Golf Digest Logo The best golf courses in Ireland Italy

  1. Marco Simone Golf and Country Club (Championship), Lazio
  2. Villa d’Este, Lake Como
  3. Olgiata Golf Club (West), Rome
  4. Verdura Resort (Shore), Sicily
  5. Golf Club Castelconturbia

VIEW THE FULL RANKINGS IN ITALY HERE.

COMPLETE RANKINGS Golf Digest Logo The best golf courses in Italy Latvia

  1. Jurmala G.C., Babites Novads
  2. Ozo G.C., Riga

Lithuania

  1. The V G.C., Vilnius

Luxembourg

  1. Grand Ducal G.C. of Luxembourg, Senningerberg

Malta

  1. Royal Malta G.C. Marsa

Netherlands https://www.golfdigest.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/course-photos-for-places-to-play/Royal-Hague_05Tee_0787.jpg

Gary Lisbon

  1. Koninklijke Haagsche (Royal Hague, above), Wassenaar ★
  2. Utrecht Golfclub De Pan, Bosch en Duin ★
  3. Noordwijkse Golf Club, Noordwijk
  4. Bernardus Golf Club
  5. Kennemer Golf & Country Club, Zandvoort

Norway

  1. Lofoten Links, Gimsoysand ★
  2. Miklagard G.C., Oslo
  3. Oslo G.C.
  4. Holtsmark Golf, Sylling
  5. Losby G.C. (Østmork), Finstadjordet

Poland

  1. Sand Valley G. & C.C., Paslek
  2. Rosa Golf Club, Konopiska
  3. Modry Las G.C., Choszczno
  4. Postolowo G. & C.C., Postolowo
  5. Mazury Golf & Country Club, Naterki

Portugal

  1. Monte Rei Golf and Country Club, Algarve
  2. West Cliffs, Obidos
  3. Oitavos Dunes, Cascais
  4. Vilamoura G.C. (Old), Algarve
  5. San Lorenzo G. Cse., Algarve

VIEW THE FULL RANKINGS IN PORTUGAL HERE.

COMPLETE RANKINGS Golf Digest Logo The best golf courses in Portugal Romania

  1. Theodora Golf Club, Jud. Alba

Russia

  1. Raevo G. & C.C., Moscow
  2. Tseleevo Golf Polo Club, Moscow
  3. Links National Golf Resort, Teleshovo
  4. Moscow C.C., Moscow
  5. Pestovo G. & Yacht C., Moscow Region

Scotland

  1. Royal Dornoch Golf Club (Championship)
  2. St. Andrews Links (Old)
  3. Muirfield
  4. Trump Turnberry Resort (Ailsa)
  5. North Berwick Golf Club

VIEW THE FULL RANKINGS IN SCOTLAND HERE.

More From Scotland Golf Digest Logo The best golf courses in Scotland Serbia

  1. Belgrade G.C., Belgrade

Slovakia

  1. Penati G. Resort (Heritage), Senica
  2. Penati G. Resort (Legend), Senica
  3. G. Resort Black Stork, Veľká Lomnica
  4. Welten G.C. Báč
  5. Black River G. Resort, Bratislava

Slovenia

  1. Bled G. & C.C. (King’s), Bled

Spain

  1. Real Club Valderrama, Sotogrande
  2. Sotogrande G.C.
  3. Camiral Golf & Wellness (Stadium)
  4. San Roque Club (Old)
  5. Finca Corestin, Casares

VIEW THE FULL RANKINGS IN SPAIN HERE.

COMPLETE RANKINGS Golf Digest Logo The best golf courses in Spain Sweden Bro-Hof-Slott-Golf-Club.jpg

  1. Bro Hof Slott G.C. (Stadium, above), Bro
  2. Visby G.C., Gotlands, Tofta
  3. Barsebäck G. & C.C. (Masters), Löddeköpinge
  4. Ullna G. & C.C., Stockholm
  5. Falsterbo G.C., Falsterbo
  6. Halmstad G.C. (North), Halmstad
  7. Bro Hof Slott G.C. (Castle), Bro
  8. Ljunghusens Golf Club
  9. Vasatorps G.C. (Tournament), Helsingborg
  10. PGA of Sweden National (Lakes), Bara

Switzerland

  1. Crans-sur-Sierre G.C., Crans-Montana
  2. Domaine Impérial G.C., Gland
  3. G.C. de Lausanne, Lausanne
  4. G.C. de Genève, Cologny
  5. Zürich-Zumikon G. & C.C., Zumikon

Turkey

  1. Antalya G.C. (PGA Sultan), Belek, Antalya
  2. The Montgomerie Maxx Royal, Belek, Antalya
  3. Antalya G.C. (Pasha), Belek, Antalya
  4. Carya G.C., Belek, Antalya
  5. Cornelia G.C. (Nick Faldo), Belek, Antalya
  6. National G.C. Antalya, Serik, Antalya
  7. Sueno G.C. (Pines), Belek, Antalya
  8. Sueno G.C. (Dunes), Belek, Antalya
  9. Lykia Links, Belek, Antalya
  10. Gloria G.C. (Old), Belek, Antalya

Wales Royal St Davids

Kevin Murray

  1. Royal Porthcawl G.C., Porthcawl, Mid Glamorgan ★
  2. Royal St. David’s G.C. (above), Harlech ★
  3. Aberdovey G.C., Aberdovey
  4. Conwy G.C., Morfa
  5. Nefyn & District G.C., Pwllheli
  6. Pennard G.C., Swansea
  7. Celtic Manor Resort (Twenty Ten), Newport, Gwent
  8. North Wales Golf Club, Llandudno
  9. Pyle & Kenfig G.C., Bridgend
  10. Tenby G.C., Tenby

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This article was originally published on golfdigest.com