sportbible
AUGUSTA, Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, Valderrama, and every venue on the Open rota—during my nearly 25-year tenure as The Sun’s golf correspondent, I’ve been fortunate enough to play them all.
I have also explored countless other courses in Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, plus Australia and New Zealand. All in the noble pursuit of research and broadening my golfing experience, naturally!
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So when friends ask for my top ten favorite courses, I’m prepared—though my choices might surprise you.
Here they are.
Not merely the ten most famous or lauded courses I’ve played, but the ten I’d joyfully revisit—no puns intended!
Presented in reverse order, of course…
10) Federal (Canberra, Australia)
I had the pleasure of temporarily playing this hidden treasure while covering the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia, and I was instantly hooked. Naturally, I returned on my days off.
The highlight is the fifth hole, a par three measuring about 170 yards to an elevated green.
It’s impressively bunkered, featuring a lightning-fast putting surface, common across all the greens here.
Several holes border the Red Hill nature reserve, where kangaroos often leap the fences to find shade under the trees lining the golf course.
If you haven’t heard a kangaroo snort in the background after missing an easy putt, you haven’t truly experienced life!
The Gang-gang cockatoos, Australia’s national emblem, are also plentiful here and are not shy about expressing their opinions.
PGA Tour star beams as he gets first look inside Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods’ TGL SoFi Center venue
9) Carnoustie (Scotland)
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This course rightfully maintains its status as the toughest one around—though on a windy day, Troon gives it a strong run for its money. So why would this appeal to someone whose handicap has never dipped below double figures?
I was an 18-handicapper when I first faced ‘Carnasty’ just before the 1999 Open.
Pre-tournament buzz hinted it would be more daunting than ever due to the ankle-deep rough, and my sports editor was keen to see how a novice would fare.
With a photographer capturing my “fun” moments, I started off pretty well.
I scored 55 on the front nine and sent (at least) a couple of balls soaring over the railway tracks. Two more double bogeys followed after I made the turn.
But then, something remarkable happened—I made three birdies in a row starting from the 12th, marking my only hat-trick ever.
That’s definitely enough to make anyone fall in love with a course.
Even though I quickly reverted to bogeys, a 42 on the back nine meant I actually broke 100!
8) Emirates (Dubai)
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The original and arguably the finest course in Dubai or anywhere else in the United Arab Emirates, despite many other excellent choices like Dubai Creek, Yas Island, and Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
When Emirates first hosted the Desert Classic in 1989, shortly after its opening, it felt like stepping into an oasis.
For miles, the only notable structure was the Hard Rock Café, which later made way for a Manhattan-style skyline.
However, the Emirates was always more than just a scenic grassland in the desert.
Every hole is impressive, and achieving a birdie on the iconic par five 18th is a notable accomplishment—especially for me.
The par four eighth provides the best view of the striking skyline, often compelling players to reach for their cameras. It’s also one of the most challenging holes on the course.
The uphill approach can indeed be intimidating.
7) Tralee (Ireland)
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Ireland hosts an impressive array of remarkable links courses, and I’ve been lucky enough to play many of them.
But none pulls me back like this course.
The three holes on the front nine offering stunning views of the 12th-century tower—a backdrop to the par three third—are so appealing they could be featured on any prestigious course and still stand out.
Arnold Palmer crafted this course in the 1980s, claiming he had “a lot of help from God.” It’s hard to fathom that this course has only been around for forty years; it appears ageless.
While Tralee may not enjoy the same fame as its nearby rival, Ballybunion, when Ballybunion hosted the Irish Open in 2000, four of us turned down a chance to play there on a Monday since we had already committed to returning to Tralee. Enough said.
6) Wentworth East (Surrey, England)
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While the West course often takes the spotlight, hosting some of golf’s biggest names each year for the BMW PGA Championship, it’s the East course that captures my affection.
At just over 6,200 yards from the white tees, the East course is notably shorter compared to its counterpart and more accessible for medium to high handicappers.
A multi-million-pound refurbishment to mark its centenary this year has dramatically improved the experience.
The East is a par 68—featuring only one par five, the ninth—but five of the par fours exceed 400 yards.
This provides enough challenge to keep players interested without overwhelming them as the West might, should they be off their game.
Each hole offers memorable moments, especially the 325-yard 12th.
Typically playing shorter than the scorecard suggests from an elevated tee, if the ground is firm, distance isn’t crucial to get close to the green—or even to sneak one on!
5) Turnberry (Scotland)
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This course has consistently remained a premier links destination, and thankfully, concerns that Donald Trump would tarnish it after purchasing it for £60 million a decade ago turned out to be unfounded.
Quite the opposite, actually. Improvements to holes nine, ten, and eleven—especially transforming nine from a decent par four into a captivating par three, ranging from 248 yards to much shorter—have been successful.
Additionally, plans for enhancements to seven and eight are forthcoming. Having seen the proposals, I’m confident they too will be positive changes.
Regardless of personal feelings about Trump—including my own—he’s known for investing money into his courses.
When the Open eventually returns to Turnberry, raising its profile to the heights achieved during the legendary ‘Duel in the Sun’ involving Watson and Nicklaus—presumably after Trump’s name is no longer associated with it—it will surely excite golfers everywhere.
4) Palmetto (South Carolina)
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While Myrtle Beach and other ‘vacation’ courses might come to mind for those thinking of the Carolinas, this stunning slice of American golfing history outshines them all.
Palmetto ranks as the second-oldest 18-hole golf club in the U.S., surpassed only by Chicago, and stepping onto this course is akin to stepping back in time.
Even if you don’t hit a single shot, relaxing in the old rocking chairs on the porch of the 120-year-old white clubhouse would justify the visit.
The course itself is nearly as picturesque but has a bit of bite. Most greens are multi-tiered, and challenging bunkers are strategically placed throughout.
Successfully hitting the narrow green on the par three sixth is reason enough to celebrate.
Located in Aiken—about thirty minutes from Augusta—the town itself is another charming slice of history.
Skipping a round at Palmetto during my annual visit to the Masters would simply be unfathomable for any self-respecting golf writer.
3) Royal Portrush (Northern Ireland)
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This course was already magnificent prior to enhancements made to prepare for the Open in 2019—and has only improved with the addition of two new holes.
I was lucky enough to play the course shortly after its reopening due to the construction of the new seventh and eighth holes, and I couldn’t believe my luck when I scored a birdie on the par five seventh.
The secretary at the time claimed it was the first recorded birdie there. I’d love to know how many others received similar tales, but I hold on to mine!
My playing partner birdied the eighth—sadly, I double-bogeyed it, but reality swiftly set in.
The Open will return to Portrush in 2025, and members of the Association of Golf Writers are invited to play each Open venue a couple of months ahead of the championship.
Next year’s date has been circled on my calendar for ages.
Who are golf’s most famous Wags?
World-class golfers enjoy an amazing lifestyle—and their Wags lead thrilling lives of their own.
Here are some of the most high-profile beauties…
- Playing off a handicap of three, this sports reporter could give her partner a run for his money on the greens.
- This low-key beauty married a superstar golfer before Stevie Wonder, Chris Martin, and Niall Horan.
- A former gymnast who has been her husband’s unwavering support for 14 years—even paying homage to him on his golf balls.
2) Augusta National (Georgia, US)
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One of the many perks of being a golf writer is the chance to enter the draw to play this prestigious course the Monday after the Masters—with under 30 names chosen from about 600 eager participants.
If your name is drawn, you’re out of the running for a decade, ensuring that sheer luck doesn’t favor the same individuals repeatedly.
I was fortunate enough to be selected in both 2002 and 2014—so now I can try again!
And indeed, it’s as pristine as it appears on screen, especially when playing from the members’ tees, which shortens the course from 7,435 yards for professionals to a more manageable 6,365.
I shared this with my caddie, Tall Paul—an intimidating 6ft 8in figure you don’t argue with—who reminded me that the true test of the course lies in its slick greens that maintain their speed on Mondays, keeping the final round’s pin placements intact. Scoring 95 and 92 there isn’t something to take lightly.
1) Royal Birkdale (Merseyside, England)
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Typically, placing Birkdale at the top of my list raises questions like, “How can this be when you’ve played Augusta? Twice!”
If I were granted one last round at any course of my choosing, it would undoubtedly be this one.
For me, Birkdale isn’t just the finest course on the Open rota; it’s also the most fair.
There are no strange bounces or awkward lies; just a classic layout that penalizes poor shots and rewards good ones.
Some courses resonate with us, enhancing our performance in ways we can’t quite explain. Birkdale has consistently done that for me.
Having played it at least a dozen times, and without tempting fate, I’ve regularly managed to play close to or below my handicap.
The par three 12th—requiring a shot across a deep dip to a well-defended green—is particularly memorable.
With the Open returning to Birkdale in 2026, I’m eagerly counting down to that media day.
Just below the surface: Muirfield, Royal Lytham, Wallasey (Merseyside), Sawgrass, Pinehurst, Royal Melbourne, Fairhaven, and Fleetwood (both on the Fylde Coast), among others.
However, NOT St Andrews.
While I respect its historical importance and traditional vibe, I’m not fond of six-hour rounds on shared greens—and I’m not alone in this opinion…
