100 Classic Golf Holes
Published:
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Golf holes, like people, come in all sorts of different shapes, sizes and personalities. They are made up of different shades, colours, features and characteristics. And again like people, some holes evoke feelings of warmth, excitement and expectation while others make you nervous and fearful.
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The beauty of golf hole design is that it is purely subjective. Our reaction to the courses and holes we play can be influenced by a variety of factors – from how we are feeling on the day, how well we are playing and striking the ball, the weather conditions, the tee and pin positions, our preconceived expectations and even our playing partners.
So what makes a classic golf hole? Well, there is no easy answer. After all, there is no objective or scientific method of deciding that course A is better than course B. One of the main reasons our established Top 100 course rankings franchise remains so popular is that it is based purely on opinion. Well-considered and researched opinion, but opinion nevertheless. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What I consider a ‘classic’ golf hole might very well not look the slightest bit ‘classic’ to you.
The well-known course designer, Robin Hiseman, who works at European Golf Design, says: “A classic hole is one that stirs your soul. It sends a tingle down your spine and puts a big grin on your face, when you stand on the tee. A ‘classic’ is a mix of great strategy, topography, scenery and presentation in varying quantities.”
We hope our collection of what our team of experts have deemed to be the 100 best golf holes stirs your imagination, and makes you want to get out and play golf.
#1 |
16th, Halmstad (North)Halmstad, Sweden |
#2 |
6th, Western GailesAyrshire, Scotland |
#3 |
10th, La Boulie (Valley)Versailles, France |
#4 |
15th, PeveroSardinia, Italy |
#5 |
2nd, Royal DornochSutherland, Scotland |
#6 |
3rd, PrestwickAyrshire, Scotland |
#7 |
8th, NoordwijkseNoordwijkse, Holland |
#8 |
12th, Royal BirkdaleLancashire, England |
#9 |
15th, Vale Do Lobo (Ocean)Algarve, Portugal |
#10 |
7th, Woburn (Marquess)Buckinghamshire, England |
#11 |
4th, ValderramaSotogrande, Spain |
#12 |
18th, Castle StuartInverness, Scotland |
#13 |
16th, WatervilleCounty Kerry, Ireland |
#14 |
1st, MachrihanishArgyll and Bute, Scotland |
#15 |
13th, PGA CatalunyaGirona, Spain |
#16 |
18th, Trump InternationalAberdeen, Scotland |
#17 |
12th, Royal BirkdaleLancashire, England |
#18 |
3rd, UllnaAkersberga, Sweden |
#19 |
17th, El SalerValencia, Spain |
#20 |
13th, MuirfieldEast Lothian, Scotland |
#21 |
17th, HamburgerHamburg, Germany |
#22 |
5th, Sunningdale (Old)Surrey, England |
#23 |
7th, MorfontaineSenlis, France |
#24 |
10th, TorebodaToreboda, Sweden |
#25 |
13th, Praia D'el ReyObidos, Portugal |
#26 |
16th, Quinta Da RiaAlgarve, Portugal |
#27 |
14th, Royal DornochSutherland, Scotland |
#28 |
6th, Thracian CliffsBalchik, Bulgaria |
#29 |
9th, Royal West NorfolkNorfolk, England |
#30 |
11th, HillsideLancashire, England |
#31 |
13th, Notts (Hollinwell)Nottinghamshire, England |
#32 |
4th, Old HeadCounty Cork, Ireland |
#33 |
7th, CastelconturbiaConturbia, Italy |
#34 |
6th, Royal North DevonDevon, England |
#35 |
6th, DinardBrittany, France |
#36 |
7th, CarnoustieAngus, Scotland |
#37 |
13th, PeninaPortimao, Portugal |
#38 |
1st, The Berkshire (Blue)Berkshire, England |
#39 |
1st, DoonbegCounty Clare, Ireland |
#40 |
16th, Vale Do Lobo (Royal)Algarve, Portugal |
#41 |
7th, The European ClubCounty Wicklow, Ireland |
#42 |
18th, FrankfurterFrankfurt, Germany |
#43 |
2nd, AlohaMalaga, Spain |
#44 |
17th, SeignosseSeignosse, France |
#45 |
16th, HunstantonNorfolk, England |
#46 |
17th, Barseback (New)Landskrona, Sweden |
#47 |
16th, Club Zur VahrBremen, Germany |
#48 |
10th, TurnberryAyrshire, Scotland |
#49 |
18th, Chantilly VineuilChantilly, France |
#50 |
8th, Las BrisasMalaga, Spain |
#51 |
18th, San LorenzoAlgarve, Portugal |
#52 |
14th, Royal PortrushCounty Antrim, Northern Ireland |
#53 |
9th, Royal County DownCounty Down, Northern Ireland |
#54 |
12th, Barseback (Masters)Scania, Sweden |
#55 |
8th, Cruden BayAberdeenshire, Scotland |
#56 |
18th, Monte Rei (North)Algarve, Portugal |
#57 |
18th, Le Golf NationalParis, France |
#58 |
6th, Royal AntwerpKapellan, Belgium |
#59 |
6th, Royal St George'sKent, England |
#60 |
7th, Crans-Sur-SierreCrans Montana, Switzerland |
#61 |
3rd, Real Club De SevilleAlcala de Guadaira, Spain |
#62 |
4th, Woodhall SpaLincolnshire, England |
#63 |
2nd, Royal AberdeenAberdeen, Scotland |
#64 |
4th, Castel GandolfoLazio, Italy |
#65 |
7th, RyeEast Sussex, England |
#66 |
6th, St Nom La BretecheSt Nom La Breteche, France |
#67 |
7th, SunningdaleBerkshire, England |
#68 |
8th, Royal TroonAyrshire, Scotland |
#69 |
18th, Les BordesSt Laurent, France |
#70 |
17th, St Andrews (Old)Fife, Scotland |
#71 |
2nd, SotograndeCadiz, Spain |
#72 |
7th, MuirfieldNorth Berwick, Scotland |
#73 |
18th, Royal Lytham & St AnnesLancashire, England |
#74 |
18th, San Roque (Old)San Roque, Spain |
#75 |
18th, MuirfieldNorth Berwick, Scotland |
#76 |
7th, Hankley CommonSurrey, England |
#77 |
1st, KennemerZandvoort, Holland |
#78 |
2nd, Golf Del Sur (South)Tenerife, Spain |
#79 |
6th, St EnodocCornwall, England |
#80 |
1st, Golf NazionaleLazio, Italy |
#81 |
9th, St EurachBavaria, Germany |
#82 |
11th, Pleneuf-Val-AndreBrittany, France |
#83 |
1st, Onyria PalmaresAlgarve, Portugal |
#84 |
15th, North BerwickEast Lothian, Scotland |
#85 |
5th, Parque Da FlorestaAlgarve, Portugal |
#86 |
14th, St Andrews (Old)Fife, Scotland |
#87 |
18th, ValderramaSotogrande, Spain |
#88 |
17th, TraleeCounty Kerry, Ireland |
#89 |
10th, Antalya (Sultan)Belek, Turkey |
#90 |
17th, Loch LomondDunbartonshire, Scotland |
#91 |
16th, MolietsBiarritz, France |
#92 |
17th, LittlestoneKent, England |
#93 |
4th, Castro MarimAlgarve, Portugal |
#94 |
14th, DoonbegCounty Clare, Ireland |
#95 |
11th, Royal Ashdown ForestEast Sussex, England |
#96 |
13th, Royal LiverpoolLancashire, England |
#97 |
16th, SperoneCorsica, France |
#98 |
5th, Royal WorlingtonCambridgeshire, England |
#99 |
11th, Ballybunion OldCounty Kerry, Ireland |
#100 |
11th, St AndrewsFife, Scotland |