Golfweek's Best 2025: The top 100 international courses

Welcome to Golfweek’s Best 2025 ranking of the Top 100 International Courses, our list of the greatest layouts outside the U.S.

The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them based on our 10 criteria. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those individual ratings on each course are averaged to produce an overall rating. Each course is then ranked against other courses in the region.

• How we rank courses

This list focuses on the golf courses themselves, not resorts as a whole or other club amenities. Each golf course included is listed with its average rating from 1 to 10, its location, architect(s) and the year it opened. Courses must meet a minimum threshold of votes to qualify, and it can take several years for a layout to garner enough votes to show up.

Of note, there are two courses that appear in the top 10 for the first time. Cabot Saint Lucia's Point Hardy Golf Club opened late in 2023, and Shanqin Bay in China was visited by a dedicated group of raters to achieve the minimum vote requirement.

We hope you enjoy this list.

1. Royal County Down (Championship)

Average rating: 8.94

Location: Newcastle, Northern Ireland

Designer(s): George L. Baillie, Old Tom Morris, George Combe, Harry S. Colt, Donald Steel

Year opened: 1889

2. St. Andrews Old Course

Average rating: 8.74

Location: St. Andrews, Scotland

Designer(s): Unknown first designer, Old Tom Morris

Year opened: Unknown

3. Royal Melbourne (West)

Average rating: 8.69

Location: Black Rock, Victoria, Australia

Designer(s): Alister MacKenzie

Year opened: 1926

4. Royal Dornoch (Championship)

Average rating: 8.68

Location: Dornoch, Scotland

Designer(s): Old Tom Morris, John Sutherland, George Duncan, Tom Mackenzie

Year opened: 1877

5. Cabot Saint Lucia (Point Hardy)*

Average rating: 8.67

Location: Cap Estate, Saint Lucia

Designer(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw

Year opened: 2023

6. Muirfield

Average rating: 8.64

Location: Gullane, Scotland

Designer(s): Old Tom Morris

Year opened: 1892

7. Shanqin Bay*

Average rating: 8.56

Location: Hainan, China

Designer(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw

Year opened: 2012

8. Royal Portrush (Dunluce)

Average rating: 8.55

Location: Portrush, Northern Ireland

Designer(s): Harry S. Colt, Martin Ebert

Year opened: 1929

9. Hirono

Average rating: 8.52

Location: Hyogo, Japan

Designer(s): Charles H. Alison

Year opened: 1932

T10. Sunningdale (Old)

Average rating: 8.41

Location: Sunningdale, England

Designer(s): Willie Park Jr., Harry S. Colt

Year opened: 1901

T10. Tara Iti

Average rating: 8.41

Location: Mangawhai, New Zealand

Designer(s): Tom Doak

Year opened: 2015

12. Cabot Cliffs

Average rating: 8.36

Location: Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada

Designer(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw

Year opened: 2015

13. Trump Turnberry Resort (Ailsa)

Average rating: 8.35

Location: Turnberry, Scotland

Designer(s): Willie Fernie, Mackenzie Ross, Martin Ebert, Tom MacKenzie

Year opened: 1901

14. Ballybunion (Old)

Average rating: 8.31

Location: Ballybunion, Ireland

Designer(s): Lionel Hewson, Tom Simpson

Year opened: 1893

15. Royal St. George’s

Average rating: 8.22

Location: Sandwich, England

Designer(s): Laidlaw Purves

Year opened: 1887

16. Golf de Morfontaine (Le Grand Parcours)

Average rating: 8.21

Location: Mortefontaine, France

Designer(s): Tom Simpson, Kyle Phillips

Year opened: 1927

17. Barnbougle Dunes

Average rating: 8.19

Location: Bridport, Tasmania, Australia

Designer(s): Tom Doak, Michael Clayton

Year opened: 2004

18. Cape Kidnappers

Average rating: 8.13

Location: Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

Designer(s): Tom Doak

Year opened: 2004

19. Te Arai (South)

Average rating: 8.12

Location: Tomarata, New Zealand

Designer(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw

Year opened: 2022

20. North Berwick Golf Club (West Links)

Average rating: 8.11

Location: North Berwick, Scotland

Designer(s): David Strath, Ben Sayers

Year opened: 1832

21. Vidauban Golf Club (formerly Prince de Provence)

Average rating: 8.08

Location: Vidauban, France

Designer(s): Robert Trent Jones Sr., Robert Trent Jones Jr.

Year opened: 1999

22. Kingston Heath

Average rating: 8.07

Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Designer(s): Dan Souter, Alister MacKenzie

Year opened: 1925

23. Te Arai (North)*

Average rating: 8.02

Location: Tomarata, New Zealand

Designer(s): Tom Doak

Year opened: 2023

24. Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club

Average rating: 8.01

Location: Rio San Juan, Dominican Republic

Designer(s): Robert Trent Jones Sr., Rees Jones

Year opened: 1997

25. Royal Birkdale

Average rating: 7.99

Location: Southport, England

Designer(s): George Lowe, F.G. Hawtree, J.H. Taylor

Year opened: 1897

26. Swinley Forest

Average rating: 7.98

Location: Ascot, England

Designer(s): Harry S. Colt

Year opened: 1909

27. Lahinch (Old)

Average rating: 7.96

Location: Lahinch, Ireland

Designer(s): Old Tom Morris, Charles Gibson, Alister MacKenzie, Martin Hawtree

Year opened: 1894

28. Cape Wickham

Average rating: 7.94

Location: King Island, Tasmania, Australia

Designer(s): Mike Devries

Year opened: 2015

29. Carnoustie (Championship)

Average rating: 7.92

Location: Carnoustie, Scotland

Designer(s): Robert Chambers, Allan Robertson, Old Tom Morris, James Braid

Year opened: 1830s

30. Kingsbarns

Average rating: 7.89

Location: Kingsbarns, Scotland

Designer(s): Kyle Phillips

Year opened: 2000

31. Trump International Scotland

Average rating: 7.87

Location: Balmedie, Scotland

Designer(s): Martin Hawtree

Year opened: 2012

32. St. George’s G&CC

Average rating: 7.80

Location: Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada

Designer(s): Stanley Thompson

Year opened: 1930

33. Royal Porthcawl

Average rating: 7.79

Location: Porthcawl, Wales

Designer(s): Ramsey Hunter, J. Simpson

Year opened: 1895

T34. Fairmont Banff Springs

Average rating: 7.78

Location: Banff, Alberta, Canada

Designer(s): Stanley Thompson

Year opened: 1927

T34. St. George’s Hill

Average rating: 7.78

Location: Weybridge, England

Designer(s): Harry S. Colt

Year opened: 1913

36. Barnbougle (Lost Farm)

Average rating: 7.77

Location: Bridport, Tasmania, Australia

Designer(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw

Year opened: 2010

37. Koninkiljke Haagsche

Average rating: 7.75

Location: Wassenaar, Netherlands

Designer(s): Charles H. Alison, Harry S. Colt

Year opened: 1938

T38. New South Wales GC

Average rating: 7.72

Location: La Perouse, New South Wales, Australia

Designer(s): Alister MacKenzie

Year opened: 1928

T38. South Cape Owners Club*

Average rating: 7.72

Location: Namhae, Republic of Korea

Designer(s): Kyle Phillips

Year opened: 2013

T38. Ardfin

Average rating: 7.72

Location: Isle of Jura, Scotland

Designer(s): Bob Harrison

Year opened: 2017

T41. Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

Average rating: 7.71

Location: Jasper, Alberta, Canada

Designer(s): Stanley Thompson

Year opened: 1925

T41. Cruden Bay

Average rating: 7.71

Location: Cruden Bay, Scotland

Designer(s): Old Tom Morris, Archie Simpson, Tom Simpson, Herbert Fowler

Year opened: 1899

T41. Royal Lytham & St. Annes

Average rating: 7.71

Location: Lytham St. Annes, England

Designer(s): George Lowe, Harry S. Colt, Herbert Fowler, Tom Simpson, C.K. Cotton

Year opened: 1897

44. Ganton

Average rating: 7.70

Location: Scarborough, England

Designer(s): Tom Chisholm, Harry Vardon, Ted Ray, James Braid, J.H. Taylor, Harry S. Colt, Alister MacKenzie, Tom Simpson, C.K. Cotton

Year opened: 1891

T45. Sunningdale (New)

Average rating: 7.69

Location: Sunningdale, England

Designer(s): Harry S. Colt, John Morrison

Year opened: 1923

T45. Cap Cana (Punta Espada)

Average rating: 7.69

Location: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Designer(s): Jack Nicklaus

Year opened: 2006

T45. Cabot Links

Average rating: 7.69

Location: Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada

Designer(s): Rod Whitman

Year opened: 2012

48. Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin)

Average rating: 7.68

Location: Woodhall Spa, England

Designer(s): Harry Vardon, J.H. Taylor, Harry S. Colt, Stafford Vere Hotchkin, Tom Doak

Year opened: 1905

T49. Loch Lomond

Average rating: 7.67

Location: Dunbartonshire, Scotland

Designer(s): Jay Morrish, Tom Weiskopf

Year opened: 1993

T49. Kauri Cliffs

Average rating: 7.67

Location: Matauri Bay, New Zealand

Designer(s): David Harman, Rees Jones

Year opened: 2000

T51. Royal Troon (Old)

Average rating: 7.66

Location: Troon, Scotland

Designer(s): George Strath, Willie Fernie, James Braid

Year opened: 1878

T51. Rosapenna (St. Patrick’s Links)

Average rating: 7.66

Location: Letterkenny, Ireland

Designer(s): Tom Doak

Year opened: 2021

53. Kawana Hotel (Fuji)

Average rating: 7.65

Location: Shizuoka, Japan

Designer(s): Charles H. Alison

Year opened: 1936

54. Cabot Highlands (Castle Stuart)

Average rating: 7.63

Location: Inverness, Scotland

Designer(s): Gil Hanse, Mark Parsinen

Year opened: 2009

T55. Old Head Golf Links

Average rating: 7.58

Location: Kinsale, Ireland

Designer(s): Eddie Hackett, Joe Carr, Ron Kirby, Paddy Merrigan, Liam Higgins

Year opened: 1997

T55. Casa de Campo (Teeth of the Dog)

Average rating: 7.58

Location: La Romana, Dominican Republic

Designer(s): Pete Dye

Year opened: 1971

T55. Sagebrush

Average rating: 7.58

Location: Quilchena, British Columbia, Canada

Designer(s): Rod Whitman, Richard Zokol, Armen Suny

Year opened: 2009

58. Capilano

Average rating: 7.57

Location: West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Designer(s): Stanley Thompson

Year opened: 1937

59. Les Bordes (New)

Average rating: 7.56

Location: Saint-Laurent-Nouan, France

Designer(s): Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner

Year opened: 2021

60. Ono Golf Club*

Average rating: 7.53

Location: Hyopo, Japan

Designer(s): Osamu Ueda

Year opened: 1961

T61. St. Enodoc (Church)

Average rating: 7.51

Location: Wadebridge, England

Designer(s): James Braid

Year opened: 1907

T61. National Golf Club (Gunnamatta)

Average rating: 7.51

Location: Cape Schanck, Victoria, Australia

Designer(s): Peter Thomson, Ross Perrett, Michael Woolveridge, Tom Doak

Year opened: 2000

63. Waterville Golf Links

Average rating: 7.50

Location: Waterville, Ireland

Designer(s): Eddie Hackett, Tom Fazio

Year opened: 1973

T64. Portmarnock (Old)

Average rating: 7.49

Location: Portmarnock, Ireland

Designer(s): George Ross, W.C. Pickeman, Mungo Park

Year opened: 1894

T64. Diamante Cabo San Lucas (Dunes)

Average rating: 7.49

Location: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Designer(s): Davis Love III

Year opened: 2009

T64. Utrecht GC De Pan

Average rating: 7.49

Location: Bosch en Duin, Netherlands

Designer(s): Harry S. Colt

Year opened: 1929

T67. Victoria Golf Club

Average rating: 7.48

Location: Cheltenham, Victoria, Australia

Designer(s): William Meader, Oscar Damman, Alister MacKenzie

Year opened: 1927

T67. Royal Aberdeen (Balgownie)

Average rating: 7.48

Location: Bridge of Don, Scotland

Designer(s): Archie Simpson, Robert Simpson, James Braid

Year opened: 1888

T67. Naruo

Average rating: 7.48

Location: Hyogo, Japan

Designer(s): H.C. Crane, Charles H. Alison

Year opened: 1920

T70. Royal Cinque Ports

Average rating: 7.46

Location: Deal, England

Designer(s): Henry Hunter, James Braid, Guy Campbell

Year opened: 1892

T70. Hamilton (West & South nines)

Average rating: 7.46

Location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Designer(s): Harry S. Colt

Year opened: 1915

T72. Rye

Average rating: 7.45

Location: Rye, England

Designer(s): Harry S. Colt, Tom Simpson, Sir Guy Campbell

Year opened: 1894

T72. Royal Melbourne (East)

Average rating: 7.45

Location: Black Rock, Victoria, Australia

Designer(s): Alex Russell, Mick Morcam

Year opened: 1931

T72. Alwoodley

Average rating: 7.45

Location: Leeds, England

Designer(s): Alister MacKenzie

Year opened: 1907

75. Machrihanish

Average rating: 7.43

Location: Machrihanish, Scotland

Designer(s): Old Tom Morris, J.H. Taylor, Sir Guy Campbell

Year opened: 1876

T76. Walton Heath (Old)

Average rating: 7.42

Location: Tadworth, England

Designer(s): Herbert Fowler

Year opened: 1903

T76. Apes Hill

Average rating: 7.42

Location: St. James, Barbados

Designer(s): Ron Kirby

Year opened: 2022

78. Terras da Comporta (Dunas)*

Average rating: 7.41

Location: Carvalhal, Portugal

Designer(s): David McLay Kidd

Year opened: 2023

79. Pulpit Club (Paintbrush, formerly Devil’s Paintbrush)

Average rating: 7.40

Location: Caledon East, Ontario, Canada

Designer(s): Dana Fry, Michael Hurdzan

Year opened: 1992

80. Queenwood

Average rating: 7.38

Location: Ottershaw, England

Designer(s): David McLay Kidd

Year opened: 2001

81. Fancourt (Links)

Average rating: 7.37

Location: George, South Africa

Designer(s): Gary Player

Year opened: 2000

82. Blackhawk

Average rating: 7.35

Location: Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada

Designer(s): Rod Whitman

Year opened: 2003

83. Golf de Morfontaine (Valliere)

Average rating: 7.34

Location: Morfontaine, France

Designer(s): Tom Simpson

Year opened: 1913

T84. Tokyo Golf Club

Average rating: 7.33

Location: Sayama City, Japan

Designer(s): Komei Otani, Gil Hanse

Year opened: 1940

T84. Toronto Golf Club (Colt)

Average rating: 7.33

Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Designer(s): Harry S. Colt, Martin Hawtree

Year opened: 1912

T86. Royal Adelaide

Average rating: 7.32

Location: Seaton, South Australia, Australia

Designer(s): H.L. Rymill, Alister MacKenzie

Year opened: 1906

T86. Greywolf

Average rating: 7.32

Location: Panorama, British Columbia, Canada

Designer(s): Doug Carrick

Year opened: 1999

T86. Coppinwood

Average rating: 7.32

Location: Goodwood, Ontario, Canada

Designer(s): Tom Fazio

Year opened: 2006

T89. Carne (Wild Atlantic Dunes)*

Average rating: 7.30

Location: Belmullet, Ireland

Designer(s): Eddie Hackett, Ally McIntosh, Jim Engh

Year opened: 2017

T89. Goodwood Golf Club

Average rating: 7.30

Location: Goodwood, Ontario, Canada

Designer(s): Donald Steel, Martin Ebert, Tom Mackenzie

Year opened: 2011

T89. Lofoten Links*

Average rating: 7.30

Location: Gimsøysand, Norway

Designer(s): Jeremy Turner

Year opened: 2015

92. Notts (Hollinwell)

Average rating: 7.29

Location: Kirkby in Ashfield, England

Designer(s): Willie Park Jr., J.H. Taylor, Tom Williamson

Year opened: 1901

T93. Prestwick

Average rating: 7.28

Location: Prestwick, Scotland

Designer(s): Old Tom Morris

Year opened: 1851

T93. The European Club

Average rating: 7.28

Location: Brittas Bay, Ireland

Designer(s): Pat Ruddy

Year opened: 1992

95. Western Gailes*

Average rating: 7.27

Location: Irvine, Scotland

Designer(s): Fred Morris, F.W. Hawtree

Year opened: 1898

T96. Mid Ocean Club

Average rating: 7.26

Location: St. George’s, Bermuda

Designer(s): Charles Blair Macdonald, Seth Raynor

Year opened: 1921

T96. The Club at Nine Bridges*

Average rating: 7.26

Location: Jeju Island, Republic of Korea

Designer(s): Ron Fream, David Dale

Year opened: 2001

T98. Moonah Links (Open)

Average rating: 7.24

Location: Fingal, Victoria, Australia

Designer(s): Peter Thomson

Year opened: 2002

T98. Renaissance Club

Average rating: 7.24

Location: Dirleton, Scotland

Designer(s): Tom Doak

Year opened: 2008

100. Memphremagog

Average rating: 7.23

Location: Magog. Quebec, Canada

Designer(s): Thomas McBroom

Year opened: 2008

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Golfweek's Best top 100 international courses