As morbid as it might sound, golfers take great delight in compiling their bucket-list courses. Rankings and wish lists are universal conversations amongst golfers and inevitably reflect who you are, how traveled you are and your standard of golf. It’s a favorite pastime over a post-round beer to ask others about their golfing dreams. Having undertaken this conversation many times, here are the five most common responses:
1. The Old Course, St. Andrews
This is a recurring selection. One of the oldest courses in the world dating back to the 1500s, it’s steeped in significant golfing history and — best of all — located in a town in Scotland that lives and breathes all that is golf. Before you get too frail to travel, take the time to visit St. Andrews. You will relish in the thrill of teeing off in front of the revered Royal & Ancient Golf Club (the R&A) and experience goose bumps as you stride up the 18th, with complete strangers snapping photos of you like you’re a visiting pro!
The Old Course is one of seven courses in the Links Trust precinct, and the wider Fife county is dotted with absolute gems such as Kingsbarns and Crail, while Carnoustie is a mere 45 minutes drive. However, walking and playing the Old Course, with a knowledgeable caddy who regales you with stories and history, is a truly memorable experience.
2. Old Head
Located in County Cork in the south of Ireland and considered one of the world’s most scenic courses, Old Head juts out into the Atlantic on a two-mile promontory with dramatic, sweeping views. The signature 4th is stunning, with the Celtic Sea on one side and the on-course lighthouse overlooking the green. It is wonderfully wild yet carefully constructed to ensure that single markers or holiday hackers will equally delight in the experience of playing here. It is Irish golf at its very best. The nearby village of Kinsale is a historic and quaint destination in its own right, with local “craic” a favorite over a Guinness.
3. Pebble Beach
The prestige and the privilege are just some of the reasons to jot down Pebble Beach on your “must-play” list. It has an impressive history, breathtaking views of the Californian coastline and lays claim to being the most expensive public course in the world. Five U.S. Open Championships have been played here, most recently in 2010 when Irishman Graeme McDowell nabbed his only Major. It will host the U.S. Open once again in 2019, on its 100th anniversary. It’s awesome to play a PGA course and fantasize about how the pros approach the same challenges you face. Golf Digest ranked the course the number one U.S. public course for 2015-2016. Just so many reasons to go!
4. Old Askernish
An ancient Old Tom Morris-designed course that was lost then found! In the true spirit of Waldo Emerson, the journey is half the pleasure. For golfing history buffs and puritans, Old Askernish will blow your mind. You will need a good map to locate South Uist in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, but your efforts will be rewarded. Old Tom Morris (yes, the very same of St. Andrews fame) created this course in 1891, but by the 1920s it had been returned to local farmers and used for a variety of purposes.
In 2005, enthusiasts decided to restore the 18-hole course. It’s as traditional a links course as you will find. The sheep roam free and are kept off the greens with small electrified fences. The wee clubhouse has a marvelous selection of whiskeys and you are never far away from a great story, a roaring fire and a bowl of soup on offer.
5. Cape Kidnappers
Get yourself to Hawke’s Bay on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island for an immersive experience. Staying and playing at Kidnappers is truly unforgettable; the food, wine, views, staff, service, accommodation and the astounding golf course make this a worthwhile bucket list adventure. The Tom Doak-designed course will test golfers of all levels, and makes the very most of the rugged coastal terrain. You will revel in the balance of man-made challenges within an environmentally-sensitive approach to flora and fauna (including seeing and hearing the large gannet colony located on course).
And the honorable mention goes to…
For those of you who have done everything and played everywhere, your ultimate challenge would be “The Extreme 19th Hole” at the Legend Golf Resort in South Africa. Reached by helicopter, the tee box is located on Hanglip Mountain, some 400 meters (1,300 feet) above the green. It will take more than 30 seconds for your shot to reach the Africa-shaped green below. While there are several courses to play at the resort, The Extreme 19th is surely the ultimate bucket-list experience!
— Nancy Incoll