A dimpled ball, a few clubs, some grass and a hole a few hundred metres away – golf is a simple sport, right?
Well, with wedges, woods, irons, slices, hooks, duffs, sand and water traps, any handicapped golfer will tell you that it is ALWAYS easier than it looks.
While the vast majority of weekend warriors ply their trades on public courses, or in paddocks out of town, the professionals – as well as those with deep pockets – are used to teeing off, laying up and putting on grass that is far more manicured.
From the westernmost widths of California right back to the game's birthplace, here are the top ten courses from across the globe to spoil a good walk on.
Be warned though, you will need to be flush with funds to make a tee time at any of these pristine courses.
1. Cypress Point – Alister MacKenzie (1928) – Par 72 – Pebble Beach, CA, USA
2. Pine Valley – George Crump/Harry S Colt (1918) – Par 70 – Pine Valley, NJ, USA
3. Royal County Down (Championship) – Old Tom Morris (1889) – Par 71 – Newcastle, Northern Ireland
4. St Andrews (Old) – 1400s – Par 72 – St Andrews, Scotland
5. Shinnecock Hills – William Flynn (1931) – Par 70 – Southampton, NY, USA
6. Royal Melbourne (West) – Alister MacKenzie (1931) – Par 72 – Black Rock, Victoria, Australia
7. National Golf Links of America – C.B Macdonald (1911) – Par 72 – Southampton, NY, USA
8. Oakmont Country Club – Henry Fownes (1903) – Par 71 – Oakmont, PA, USA
9. Sand Hills – Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw (1994) – Par 71 – Mullen, NE, USA
10. Augusta National – Alister MacKenzie/Bobby Jones (1933) – Par 72 – Augusta, GA, USA
