Number one on our list and for good reason
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Royal County Down encompasses every aspect you could want from a golf course and dislodges Turnberry (Ailsa) for the first time in six years.
Just one look at its backdrop and the glorious views from the first three holes truly takes your breath away.
From the mountainous peaks of Mourne to the glistening sea, you are inclined to sit back and take a mental picture of the aesthetically-pleasing setting.
Of course, the golf course should be the main attraction and once your round gets underway, you realise the designer, Old Tom Morris, has intertwined every aspect possible to create an artistic masterpiece.
A combination of gorse bushes, undulating fairways and cavernous bunkers tests every golfer to the limit, with the occasional blind shot adding a level of unpredictable for good measure.
However, unlike the other courses in the top five, the Northern Irish links is rarely used to host professional events and as a result, it is often seen as a forgotten gem.
Nevertheless, it is still highly regarded by a clutch of tour professionals, including regular visitor Rory McIlroy, and is finally starting to earn the recognition it deserves.
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