Golfweek's Best 2024: Top 100 International Golf Courses (2024)

Royal County Down in Northern Ireland (David Cannon/Getty Images)

Jason Lusk

May 27, 2024 7:00 am ET

Welcome to Golfweek’s Best newest course ranking, the Top 100 International Courses.

Golfweek’s Best has ranked classic and modern international courses in the past, but 2024 marks the first year in which all ages of courses have been combined to build one comprehensive ranking of layouts outside the U.S.

The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them based on our 10 criteria. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings on each course are averaged to produce an overall rating. Each course is then ranked against other courses in the region.

This list focuses on the golf courses themselves, not resorts as a whole or other club amenities.Each golf course included is listed with its average rating from 1 to 10, its location, architect(s) and the year it opened.

Courses must meet a minimum threshold of votes to qualify, and it can take several years for a layout to garner enough votes to show up. Several new layouts either did not open in time to make the 2024 list or have not been played by enough raters to qualify yet – South Cape in South Korea, Ellerston in Australia and Cabot Saint Lucia’s Point Hardy are good examples.

With all that said, we hope you enjoy our inaugural list of Top 100 International Courses.

Nos. 1-10

The Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland (Courtesy of St. Andrews Links)

1. Royal County Down (Championship) 8.93
Newcastle, Northern Ireland; George L. Baillie, Old Tom Morris, George Combe, Harry S. Colt, Donald Steel (1889)

2. St. Andrews Old Course 8.75
St. Andrews, Scotland; Unknown first designer, Old Tom Morris (Unknown)

3. Royal Dornoch (Championship) 8.71
Dornoch, Scotland; Old Tom Morris, John Sutherland, George Duncan (1877)

4. Royal Melbourne (West) 8.70
Black Rock, Victoria, Australia; Alister MacKenzie (1926)

5. Muirfield 8.65
Gullane, Scotland; Old Tom Morris (1892)

6. Shanquin Bay 8.56
Hainan, China; Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw (2012)

7. Hirono 8.54
Hyogo, Japan; Charles H. Alison (1932)

8. Royal Portrush (Dunluce) 8.52
Portrush, Northern Ireland; Harry S. Colt, Martin Ebert (1929)

T9. Tara Iti 8.41
Mangawhai, New Zealand; Tom Doak (2015)

T9. Sunningdale (Old) 8.41
Sunningdale, England; Willie Park Jr., Harry S. Colt (1901)

Nos. 11-20

Cabot Cliffs in Nova Scotia, Canada (Courtesy of Cabot/Jacob Sjöman)

11. Cabot Cliffs 8.39
Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada; Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw (2015)

12. Trump Turnberry Resort (Ailsa) 8.35
Turnberry, Scotland; Willie Fernie, Mackenzie Ross, Martin Ebert, Tom MacKenzie (1901)

Nos. 21-30

The South Course at Te Arai Links in New Zealand (Courtesy of Te Arai Links/Ricky Robinson Photography)

21. Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club 8.01
Rio San Juan, Dominican Republic; Robert Trent Jones Sr., Rees Jones (1997)

22. Royal Birkdale 8.00
Southport, England; George Lowe, F.G. Hawtree, J.H. Taylor (1897)

T23. Cape Wickham 7.98
King Island, Tasmania, Australia; Mike Devries (2015)

T23. Te Arai (South) 7.98
Tomarata, New Zealand; Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw (2022)

25. Swinley Forest 7.95
Ascot, England; Harry S. Colt (1909)

26. Lahinch (Old) 7.94
Lahinch, Ireland; Old Tom Morris, Charles Gibson, Alister MacKenzie, Martin Hawtree (1894)

27. Carnoustie (Championship) 7.91
Carnoustie, Scotland; Robert Chambers, Allan Robertson, Old Tom Morris, James Braid (1830s)

28. Kingsbarns 7.90
Kingsbarns, Scotland; Kyle Phillips (2000)

29. Trump International Scotland 7.87
Balmedie, Scotland; Martin Hawtree (2012)

30. Barnbougle (Lost Farm) 7.83
Bridport, Tasmania, Australia; Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw (2010)

Nos. 31-40

Fairmont Banff Springs in Canada (Golfweek files)

T31. Fairmont Banff Springs 7.80
Banff, Alberta, Canada; Stanley Thompson (1927)

T31. St. George’s G&CC 7.80
Etobico*ke, Ontario, Canada; Stanley Thompson (1930)

33. Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge 7.78
Jasper, Alberta, Canada; Stanley Thompson (1925)

34. Royal Porthcawl 7.77
Porthcawl, Wales; Ramsey Hunter, J. Simpson (1895)

35. Kauri Cliffs 7.76
Matauri Bay, New Zealand; David Harman, Rees Jones (2000)

36. New South Wales Golf Club 7.74
La Perouse, New South Wales, Australia; Alister MacKenzie (1928)

37. Sunningdale (New) 7.73
Sunningdale, England; Harry S. Colt, John Morrison (1923)

T38. Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin) 7.72
Woodhall Spa, England; Harry Vardon, J.H.Taylor, Harry S. Colt, Stafford Vere Hotchkin, Tom Doak (1905)

T38. Cap Cana (Punta Espada) 7.72
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Jack Nicklaus (2006)

T38. St. George’s Hill 7.72
Weybridge, England; Harry S. Colt (1913)

T38. Ardfin 7.72
Isle of Jura, Scotland; Bob Harrison (2017)

Nos. 41-50

Cruden Bay in Scotland (Jason Lusk/Golfweek)

42. Royal Lytham & St. Annes 7.71
Lytham St. Annes, England; George Lowe, Harry S. Colt, Herbert Fowler, Tom Simpson, C.K. Cotton (1897)

T43. Cabot Links 7.70
Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada; Rod Whitman (2012)

T43. Koninkiljke Haagsche 7.70
Wassenaar, Netherlands; Charles H. Alison, Harry S. Colt (1938)

T45. Ganton 7.69
Scarborough, England; Tom Chisholm, Harry Vardon, Ted Ray, James Braid, J.H. Taylor, Harry S. Colt (1891)

T45. Cruden Bay 7.69
Cruden Bay, Scotland; Tom Morris, Archie Simpson, Tom Simpson, Herbert Fowler (1899)

47. Loch Lomond 7.67
Dunbartonshire, Scotland; Jay Morrish, Tom Weiskopf (1993)

48. Cabot Highlands (Castle Stuart) 7.66
Inverness, Scotland; Gil Hanse, Mark Parsinen (2009)

49. Naruo 7.65
Hyogo, Japan; H.C. Crane, Charles H. Alison (1920)

T50. Rosapenna (St. Patrick Links) 7.62
Letterkenny, Ireland; Tom Doak (2021)

T50. Les Bordes (New) 7.62
Saint-Laurent-Nouan, France; Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner (2021)

Nos. 51-60

Casa de Campo’s Teeth of the Dog in the Dominican Republic (Gabe Gudgel/Golfweek)

52. Capilano 7.61
West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Stanley Thompson (1937)

T53. Rye Golf Club 7.60
Rye, England; Harry S. Colt, Tom Simpson, Sir Guy Campbell (1894)

T53. Kawana Hotel (Fuji) 7.60
Shizuoka, Japan; Charles H. Alison (1936)

55. Royal Troon (Old) 7.59
Troon, Scotland; George Strath, Willie Fernie, James Braid (1878)

T56. Casa de Campo (Teeth of the Dog) 7.56
La Romana, Dominican Republic; Pete Dye (1971)

T56. Diamante Cabo San Lucas (Dunes) 7.56
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Davis Love III (2009)

58. National Golf Club (Gunnamatta) 7.55
Cape Schanck, Victoria, Australia; Peter Thomson, Ross Perrett, Michael Woolveridge, Tom Doak (2000)

59. Sagebrush 7.54
Quilchena, British Columbia, Canada; Rod Whitman, Richard Zokol, Armen Suny (2009)

60. St. Enodoc (Church) 7.50
Wadebridge, England; James Braid (1907)

Nos. 61-70

Royal Melbourne’s East Course in Australia (David Cannon/Getty Images)

T61. Waterville 7.49
Waterville, Ireland; Eddie Hackett (1973)

T61. Old Head Golf Links 7.49
Kinsale, Ireland; Eddie Hackett, Joe Carr, Ron Kirby, Paddy Merrigan, Liam Higgins (1997)

63. Royal Aberdeen (Balgownie) 7.47
Bridge of Don, Scotland; Archie Simpson, Robert Simpson, James Braid (1888)

T64. Hamilton (West & South nines) 7.46
Ancaster, Ontario, Canada; Harry S. Colt (1915)

T64. Alwoodley 7.46
Leeds, England; Alister MacKenzie (1907)

T64. Walton Heath (Old) 7.46
Tadworth, England; Herbert Fowler (1903)

67. Portmarnock (Old) 7.44
Portmarnock, Ireland; George Ross, W.C. Pickeman, Mungo Park (1894)

T68. Victoria Golf Club 7.43
Cheltenham, Victoria, Australia; William Meader, Oscar Damman, Alister MacKenzie (1927)

T68. Royal Melbourne (East) 7.43
Black Rock, Victoria, Australia; Alex Russell, Mick Morcam (1931)

T68. Tokyo Golf Club 7.43
Sayama City, Japan; Komei Otani, Gil Hanse (1940)

T68. Royal Cinque Ports 7.43
Deal, England; Henry Hunter, James Braid, Guy Campbell (1892)

Nos. 71-80

Apes Hill Golf Club in Barbados (Courtesy of Apes Hill/Russell Kirk)

T72. Utrecht GC De Pan 7.42
Bosch en Duin, Netherlands; Harry S. Colt (1929)

T72. Lofoten Links 7.42
Gimoysand, Norway; Jeremy Turner (2015)

T72. Apes Hill 7.42
St. James, Barbados; Ron Kirby (2022)

75. Machrihanish 7.40
Machrihanish, Scotland; Old Tom Morris, J.H. Taylor, Guy Campbell (1876)

76. Pulpit Club (Paintbrush, formally Devil’s Paintbrush) 7.39
Caledon East, Ontario, Canada; Dana Fry, Michael Hurdzan (1992)

77. Fancourt (Links) 7.37
George, South Africa; Gary Player (2000)

78. Queenwood 7.35
Ottershaw, England; David McLay Kidd (2001)

79. Goodwood Golf Club 7.34
Goodwood, Ontario, Canada; Martin Ebert, Tom Mackenzie (2007)

T80. Golf de Morfontaine (Valliere) 7.32
Morfontaine, France; Tom Simpson (1913)

T80. Greywolf 7.32
Panorama, British Columbia, Canada; Doug Carrick (1999)

T80. Coppinwood 7.32
Goodwood, Ontario, Canada; Tom Fazio (2006)

Nos. 81-90

Royal Adelaide in Australia (Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

T83. Toronto GC (Colt) 7.31
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; Harry S. Colt, Martin Hawtree (1912)

T83. Blackhawk 7.31
Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada; Rod Whitman (2003)

85. Royal Adelaide 7.29
Seaton, South Australia, Australia; H.L. Rymill, Alister MacKenzie (1906)

86. Memphremagog 7.28
Magog, Quebec, Canada; Thomas McBroom (2008)

87. Mid Ocean Club 7.27
St. George’s, Bermuda; Charles Blair Macdonald, Seth Raynor (1921)

T88. Mad River 7.26
Creemore, Ontario, Canada; Bob Cupp (1991)

T88. The European Club 7.26
Brittas Bay, Ireland; Pat Ruddy (1992)

T90. Renaissance Club at Archerfield 7.25
Dirleton, Scotland; Tom Doak (2008)

T90. Prestwick 7.25
Prestwick, Scotland; Old Tom Morris (1851)

Nos. 91-100

Hogs Head in Ireland (Courtesy of Hogs Head)

92. Moonah Links (Open) 7.24
Fingal, Victoria, Australia; Peter Thomson (2002)

93. Westmount 7.22
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada; Stanley Thompson (1931)

T94. Hogs Head 7.19
Waterville, Ireland; Robert Trent Jones Jr. (2018)

T94. Bigwin Island 7.19
Baysville, Ontario, Canada; Doug Carrick (2002)

T94. Sandy Lane (Green Monkey) 7.19
St. James, Barbados; Tom Fazio (2004)

T97. Golf de Fontainebleau 7.18
Fontainebleau, France; Julien Chantepie, Tom Simpson, Fred Hawtree (1909)

T97. Notts (Hollinwell) 7.18
Kirkby in Ashfield, England; Willie Park Jr., J.H. Taylor, Tom Williamson (1901)

T99. Royal Liverpool (Hoylake) 7.17
Hoylake, England; Robert Chambers, George Morris, Harry S. Colt, Donald Steel (1869)

T99. Valderrama 7.17
Sotogrande, Spain; Robert Trent Jones Sr. (1974)

T99. Royal West Norfolk 7.17
Brancaster, England; Holcombe Ingleby (1892)