
World's 10 toughest golf courses
- The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, South Carolina, United States. The Ocean Course is one of the world's most famous courses. ...
- Carnoustie Golf Links, Dundee, Scotland. Most important thing at Carnoustie? ...
- Ko'olau Golf Club, Oahu, Hawaii, United States. ...
- Whistling Straits, Kohler, Wisconsin, United States. ...
Full Answer
What are the most difficult golf courses to play?
No. 26: The Conservatory Course at Hammock Beach in Palm Coast, Fla. can play as long as 7,776 yards from the tips. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor Golfers rated these 50 courses the most difficult you can play on Golf Advisor. Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor No. 50: Near Indianapolis, Prairie View Golf Club is a tough Robert Trent Jones, Jr. design.
What is the toughest public golf course in Iowa?
Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor No. 35: Iowa's Amana Colonies Golf Course has a reputation as being one of the state's toughest and most scenic public courses. Courtesy of Amana Colonies
What are the toughest par 4s in golf?
No. 44: One of the newest Jack Nicklaus designs in the U.S., Harbor Shores in Michigan has plenty of undulation around the greens. Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor No. 43: Chambers Bay hosted the 2015 U.S. Open, won by Jordan Spieth. Getty Images No. 41: The fifth hole at Pinehurst No. 2 is generally regarded as one of golf's toughest par 4s.
What is the hardest hole on the course in Michigan?
- toothysaw2 What they're saying: " The view around the course is off the charts. The 5th hole par 5 may be the hardest hole in Michigan." - silguezi

What is the toughest golf course to play?
World's 10 toughest golf coursesThe Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, South Carolina, United States. ... Carnoustie Golf Links, Dundee, Scotland. ... Ko'olau Golf Club, Oahu, Hawaii, United States. ... Whistling Straits, Kohler, Wisconsin, United States. ... Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club, Lijiang, Yunnan, China.More items...•
What is the toughest pro golf course?
The Nine Hardest Courses on the PGA TourSpyglass Hill — . 877 strokes over par.TPC Harding Park — . 755 strokes over par. ... Torrey Pines GC (South) — . 534 strokes over par. ... Pebble Beach Golf Links — . 516 strokes over par. ... Waialae Country Club — . 513 strokes over par. Waialae Country Club is the home of the Sony Open. ...
What golf course has the hardest greens?
Oakmont is known by many as the toughest golf course in America, bringing a mix of deep rough, penal bunkering everywhere, and one of the scariest sets of greens in the world, combining extreme slope and hellacious speed to bring golfers to their knees.
What is the hardest country club to get into?
These are our picks for the most elusive tee times in the the world.Cypress Point Club, Pebble Beach, CA (World Ranking: 2)Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, GA. ( World Ranking: 9)Ellerston, Australia (World Ranking: T-77)
What is the easiest golf course on the PGA Tour?
Relying on the PGA Tour's official field-scoring averages, here are the 10 easiest courses on tour from the 2014-15 season.Plantation Course at Kapalua. 10 of 10.PGA West (Nicklaus Course) 9 of 10. ... Monterey Peninsula CC. ... TPC Louisiana. ... PGA West (Palmer Course) ... La Quinta CC. ... Torrey Pines (North Course) ... Pebble Beach GL. ... More items...
What is the hardest US Open golf course?
The US Open is the toughest major of the year, but how do you define 'toughest'? Erin Hills, presented golfers with the longest course in history. The course measured 7,845 yards in Round 1, dropping to 7,839, 7,818, and 7,721 over the following three rounds.
What is the easiest golf course in the world?
The easiest golf course in the world (and the most exclusive) Hailed as “the most exclusive golf course in the world”, Pyongyang Golf Course may also be the easiest on the planet (if reports are to be believed).
Which golf course has the fastest greens?
Oakmont Country ClubRecommendations. The greens at Oakmont Country Club (where the device was conceived) are some of the fastest in the world, with readings of 15 feet (4.6 m).
What is the most expensive golf course to join?
National Golf Links of America — Southampton, New York Andrews. The invitation-only club comes with an initiation of $150,000, plus $10,000 in yearly dues, according to Forbes.
What is the most exclusive club in the world?
The World's Most Exclusive Membership ClubsThe American Club. Hong Kong, China. ... The Australian Club. Sydney, Australia. ... The 1930 Club. Milan, Italy. ... The Arts Club. London, UK. ... The Carnegie Club. Scotland, UK.
What is the most famous country club?
Top 150 Country Clubs 2021-22RankClubLocation1Congressional Country ClubBethesda, Md.2Ocean Reef ClubKey Largo, Fla.3The Vintage ClubIndian Wells, Calif.4Boca West Country ClubBoca Raton, Fla.113 more rows
Is Augusta National the hardest course in the world?
The Course Rating of Augusta National turned out to be 76.2, which puts it in the top ten toughest courses in the U.S.
What is the hardest course at the Pebble Beach Pro Am?
Spyglass Hill Golf CourseSpyglass Hill Golf Course is rated one of the toughest courses in the world from the Championship tees, boasting a course rating of 75.5 and a slope rating of 144.
What is the hardest golf hole in the world?
395-yard par 3 in South Africa is the ultimate challenge.
What makes Augusta so difficult?
The biggest issue for players at Augusta is that you cannot hit the ball into the greens with your normal trajectory for 72 holes… you must alter your trajectory to control your landing angles so the ball stops quicker, or you can get the ball on the proper shelf. Think hole No.
25. Woodcrest Country Club
Cherry Hill, N.J. Yardage: 6,528 | Slope/rating: 138/71.9 Architect: William S. Flynn, Rees Jones, Ron Forse What they're saying: "Long rough, narrow fairways and well bunkered greens. The course favors right handed golfer hitting a draw." - bambiklr
24. Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Resort
Kiawah Island, S.C. Yardage: 7,356 | Slope/Rating: 144/77.3 Architect: Pete Dye What they're saying: "You'd better bring your a game when you play this challenging course." - DukeSams
23. Harbour Town Golf Links at Sea Pines Resort
Hilton Head Island, S.C. Yardage: 7,110 | Slope/rating: 148/75.6 Architect: Jack Nicklaus, Pete/Alice Dye What they're saying: "Excellent design tight varied and hard! This is as challenging as it gets don’t let the lack of overall distance fool you. Lots of bunkers and trees. Top notch Dye design." - ThomasGram
22. Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort
French Lick, Ind. Yardage: 8,102 | Slope/rating: 148/80.0 Architect: Pete Dye What they're saying: "My score was a good 10-15 shots higher than my hcp. Fun weekend in the land of Larry Legend." - Bigbluenation
21. Pasatiempo Golf Club
Santa Cruz, Calif. Yardage: 6,521 | Slope/rating: 143/72.4 Architect: Alister MacKenzie What they're saying: "This is a great and very challenging golf course. It makes you think about every shot and placement of shots is key." - ngaudreau
20. Pinehurst No. 2
Pinehurst, N.C. Yardage: 7,588 | Slope/rating: 138/76.5 Architect: Donald Ross What they're saying: " This isn't a course for novices. You don't have to be single digit, but you do need to be able to stop the ball on these upside-down saucer-like Donald Ross greens." - MikeBaileyGA, Golf Advisor Staff
19. The Bridges Golf Club
San Ramon, Calif. Yardage: 6,861 | Slope/rating: 144/74.3 Architect: Johnny Miller, Robert Muir Graves What they're saying: "The Bridges is a very challenging course with forced carries and many ravines off the fairways. Some par 4s in the wind were very difficult for me to reach in two." - 55madman
What is the toughest golf course in the West Coast?
While nearby Pebble Beach Golf Links is the more famous of the pair, Spyglass Hill Golf Course is arguably the toughest of these two West Coast classics. Spyglass Hill is loaded with character, thanks to its incredible scenery and holes that are nicknamed after bits from “Treasure Island,” but its difficulty dampens the charm a bit. At hole No. 4, nicknamed “Blind Pew,” anything less than a perfect tee shot is punished with a blind approach to the green on the second stroke. It’s no wonder Golf Digest ranked it among America’s 20 toughest venues.
What is the toughest course on the PGA Tour?
This USGA 76.4-rated course features tight fairways, dense roughs and greens that may prompt you to schedule an eye exam after you inevitably misread them. It shouldn’t surprise you that the West Course was rated as the toughest course on the entire PGA Tour schedule for the 2020-21 season.
What is the par 70 at Oakmont Country Club?
Precision putting is the name of the game at Oakmont Country Club, where getting on the dance floor is where the fun really starts. This Pennsylvania landmark, which has been testing golfers since the early 1900s, is a par-70 layout with a USGA rating of 75.3 and a bogey rating of 101.1 from the non-professional tees, meaning average golfers have virtually no chance at a respectable score. While the fairways aren’t particularly tight, the rough comes into play often because of slopes, and the approach shots require a local caddie’s knowledge to hope for anything close.
What is the slope rating of the PGA West?
Another of his notorious courses, this one part of the six PGA West venues in La Quinta, has a USGA slope rating of 148 from the black tees (remember, the maximum grade is 155). It’s a Scottish links-style affair loaded with moguls and deep bunkers, which landed the Stadium Course among Golf Pass’s 10 most difficult public courses in the United States. While you’re visiting PGA West, hit up the even longer Nicklaus Tournament Course for another bear of a challenge, provided you still enjoy the game after your round on the Dye links.
How many yards from the back tees is the Olympic Club's lake course?
With more than 7,000 yards from the back tees, your legs will be as tired as your mind after you’re done wrestling with The Olympic Club’s Lake Course. Like all venues on the U.S. Open rotation, the challenges here are immense, and they reward planning over power. The par-71 course has a USGA rating of 75.1 from the black tees and can get even tougher if the marine layer settles in, making you cross your fingers after each shot.
How many strokes can you shoot on a 76.5 tee?
This nearly 7,600-yard monster boasts a rating of 76.5 from the U.S. Open tees, which means scratch golfers can expect to shoot at least four strokes over the par of 72. From the farthest tees used by regular players, its rating of 73.7 is a bit more manageable.
What happened to Lee Trevino at the 1975 Western Open?
At the 1975 Western Open, Lee Trevino got struck by lightning while playing Butler National and that seems to be an apt metaphor for the venue’s dangers. This super-tough course situated in the Chicago suburbs has been easily ranked among the 20 toughest courses in the United States by Golf Digest.
Where is Pete Dye's Pound Ridge Golf Club?
No. 38: Pete Dye's Pound Ridge Golf Club sits less than an hour north of New York City. Courtesy of Jim Krajicek/Pound Ridge G.C.
Where is Nicklaus Course in Oregon?
No. 48: The Nicklaus Course at Pronghorn winds through high desert in central Oregon. Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
How long is the Conservatory Course at Hammock Beach?
No. 26: The Conservatory Course at Hammock Beach in Palm Coast, Fla. can play as long as 7,776 yards from the tips. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Where is No 31 at Champions Club?
No. 31: It's a rugged round at Champions Club at the Retreat in Corona, Calif., where user hbtim1967 says you need to keep the ball in play. Golf Advisor
Is a course manageable for low handicappers?
And just because a course might be manageable for low-handicappers, it may be an entirely different beast for higher handicaps. So if you crave the sternest of tests, keep this list in mind, compiled by golfers all over the world, and features not just U.S. courses, but bruisers in Canada and Ireland as well.
What is the toughest round in the Mid Atlantic?
No. 16: Pete Dye's Bulle Rock is one of the Mid-Atlantic's toughest rounds. Courtesy of Bulle Rock G.C.
What is the most famous par 3 hole in the world?
No. 3: The par-3 14th hole on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club is one of the most famous par 3s in the world. Getty Images
What is the par 4 first hole at TPC Sawgrass?
The par-4 first hole at TPC Sawgrass promotes a left-to-right shot off the tee and the opposite on approach. Courtesy of TPC Network
Where is the bunker on the Black Course?
No. 1: It's a maze of bunkers on the par-5 fourth hole on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in New York. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Which golf course has the highest slope rating?
The Ocean has the highest combination of Slope Rating (155) and Course Rating (79.6) in America, according to the U.S. Golf Association.
What is the name of Pete Dye's golf course?
Pete Dye, 81, has been torturing golfers for half his life, and the Ocean Course , strung along the Atlantic coastline with fairways and greens perched above sand, sea oats and sweetgrass, is perhaps his most Dye-abolical design. (Eight of our top 50 were created by the man they call the "Marquis de Sod.") The Ocean has the highest combination of Slope Rating (155) and Course Rating (79.6) in America, according to the U.S. Golf Association. With forced carries over marshes, endless waste bunkers and roll-resistant Bermuda grasses, the Ocean is a rare course that can bring tears and fears even to tour pros--it was dubbed Looney Dunes after multiple mishaps in the 1991 Ryder Cup. For the rest of us, it kicks sand in our face--literally when howling winds turn club covers into windsocks. Play it in the mornings when it's walking only. You can't cross the Rubicon in a golf cart.
What was the Black course like?
At one time, the Black was what public golf courses were like when we were kids, with hardpan fairways, crabgrass greens and pockmarked tees. After being revamped by Rees Jones for the 2002 U.S. Open, it's in much better shape, but still big and brawny--a 6 1/2-mile hike over hill and dale where no carts are allowed--with massive bunkers and tiny greens, several of them hidden from view, even from the center of some fairways. The Black's magic is that it makes us all feel like kids again, inadequate to the task. It's New York tough.
How many bunkers are there in the 11th hole of the golf course?
Length isn't its only overindulgence: The fifth green is 91 yards long and takes more than an hour to mow, and the 11th, a modest 590-yard par 5, has 24 bunkers. If you plan to play it from the tips, be sure you have a three-day weekend.
What is the name of the third nine golf course in Alabama?
The names of the nines say it all. There's also a third nine, called the Mindbreaker. When we played here, we thought of some other names for these courses, too.
What golf course has the island green 17th hole?
5. OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB.
Is there a hangman's noose on the 16th green?
There used to be a hangman's noose on a tree behind the 16th green--many competitors in the 1988 PGA, in 100-plus-degree heat, must have been tempted to use it. It's gone now, and the greens have been softened, but the ponds, pot bunkers and punishing rough remain.
No. 15: Coco Beach Golf & Country Club
You may not have expected an appearance from the Puerto Rico Open on this list, but Coco Beach’s longest hole brought the heat in 2019.
No. 16: Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead)
Nick Watney taking a drop on No. 16 at Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course.
1. Seriously?
76.567. I can’t believe that number isn’t higher. This is the most difficult combination of golf holes on the entire PGA Tour and the average pro is still easily breaking 80.
2. This is a long golf course
At Torture Country Club, the average par-3 is 229 yards. The average par-4 is 491. And the average par-5 is 589. Those are some beefy holes.
4. Winged Foot would change this radically
If we tabulate this same brutal course at the end of this season, the number will likely be much higher. Why? Because pros went relatively low at the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, especially compared to this September’s test at Winged Foot. Scan the numbers above and you’ll see that the very toughest holes play about 0.3 shots over par.
5. What would you shoot?
Remember, these are the best golfers in the world playing the very hardest golf holes in the world. Maybe this is a question best left unanswered.
