With thousands of golf courses all around the world, it is always fun to try something unique and different. Whether it is course location, course history, amenities, famous holes, or characteristics, here are the top 11 coolest golf courses in the world.
Legend Golf & Safari Resort
Located in the majestic architectural Great Enclosure, this course offers a truly special experience. Home to the unique “world-in-one” signature course, each of the 18 holes is designed by a world golfing legend. The coolest part about this course though? The world famous Par 3 Extreme 19th hole, a challenge hole set high above the course on the Hanglip Mountain. This extreme hole is accessible only by helicopter and played to a green down below in the shape of Africa some 400 meters below.
Green Zone or Tornio Golf Club
This extremely unique course follows the Tornio River which goes across two countries, Finland and Sweden. That’s right, playing this course means playing 9 holes in two different countries! Additionally, the course is available to be played during any time, day or night! This is because of its location in which the midnight sun doesn’t go down for months during the golfing season.
Le Touessrok Golf Course
Located on the gorgeous island of Mauritius in the beautiful Indian Ocean, this course is the epitome of tropical luxury and golfing paradise. The course and accompanying resort is located on its own private island surrounded by a magical coral reef and is like nothing you have ever experienced. With sparkling azure blue waters and warm white sand beaches spanning the perimeter of the island and on the backdrop of an ancient volcano, these 18 holes may be some of the most spectacular you’ve ever played.
Brickyard Crossings
This course is so unusual because of its extremely unique location: in the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That’s right, a four-hole stretch is located at the heart and center of the century old speedway, creating an experience that combines the excitement of auto racing with the serene, natural beauty of a championship golf course. It is a thrill to play at this course while surrounded by frantic 200MPH Indie cars racing by.
The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course
This gorgeous course is home to the famous floating 14th hole. Surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of the stunning and pristine Lake Coeur d’Alene, you will arrive on the beautifully groomed fairways via a sleek, mahogany boat. Enjoy the scenery, greens and one of golf’s best-loved floating icons at this truly sublime course.
Old Works Golf Club
This course was made from the ashes of the infamous Anaconda copper mine which ended up being one of the largest Superfund cleanup sites in America. Jack Nicklaus, the courses designer, was not only able to turn the environmental hazard into a state-of-the-art course, but he managed to incorporate many elements of the mining operation such as the smelter, oven, and flue.
Cupp Course at Palmetto Hall
This neat course is dictated by the surrounding nature and features gentle curves and undulations which follow the natural contours of the landscape. Architect Bob Cupp aimed to recast the game in a geometric image with bunkers, tees and greens that formed shapes including triangles, squares and rectangles as well as fairways and mounds that create nearly perfect pyramids. Try your hand at this unique course and appreciate the architecture and planning that went into its unique look.
Shadow Creek Golf Course
Shadow Creek has a reputation as being one of the most luxurious golfing experiences available. It is unconventional because of its humble beginnings as a complete desert wasteland. However, designer Tom Fazio turned it into one of his most highly rated courses around the world. To make the course possible, over 20,000 mature trees were transplanted, the elevation was changed by over 200 feet and streams as well as other water features were constructed from pure desert.
El CamaleĂłn at the Fairmont Mayakoba
This extremely unique course located in Quintana Roo, Mexico, is known for its continually changing course challenges including various lagoons, sand dunes, mangroves, and most notoriously, cenotes (subterranean caves). With names like the “Devil’s Mouth” this course will keep you on your toes. How often do you get to say you went golfing and cave “spelunking” all during one outing?
Furnace Creek Golf Course
This course may not be the best to play during the summer, when temperatures can reach up to 130 degrees due to its location in Death Valley. The course is the lowest altitude course in the world, sitting 214 feet below sea level.
Uummannaq Greenland
The opposite of Furnace Creek, golf in Uummannaq Greenland is actually called Ice Golf. That’s because that is exactly what it is. In this unique area, you better have your winter parka because you will be playing on a giant iceberg with an orange ball to better suit the environment. Uummannaq Greenland is home to the Ice Golf Championships where the game is played essentially the same, except the holes are a little shorter. Oh, and everything is completely frozen.
So whether you are looking forward to riding your remote control golf caddie around a new course or you are just wanting to hit a few balls around in paradise, this list of the coolest golf courses in the world has something for you.
11 Coolest Golf Courses
With thousands of golf courses all around the world, it is always fun to try something unique and different. Whether it is course location, course history, amenities, famous holes, or characteristics, here are the top 11 coolest golf courses in the world.
Legend Golf & Safari Resort
Located in the majestic architectural Great Enclosure, this course offers a truly special experience. Home to the unique “world-in-one” signature course, each of the 18 holes is designed by a world golfing legend. The coolest part about this course though? The world famous Par 3 Extreme 19th hole, a challenge hole set high above the course on the Hanglip Mountain. This extreme hole is accessible only by helicopter and played to a green down below in the shape of Africa some 400 meters below.
Green Zone or Tornio Golf Club
This extremely unique course follows the Tornio River which goes across two countries, Finland and Sweden. That’s right, playing this course means playing 9 holes in two different countries! Additionally, the course is available to be played during any time, day or night! This is because of its location in which the midnight sun doesn’t go down for months during the golfing season.
Le Touessrok Golf Course
Located on the gorgeous island of Mauritius in the beautiful Indian Ocean, this course is the epitome of tropical luxury and golfing paradise. The course and accompanying resort is located on its own private island surrounded by a magical coral reef and is like nothing you have ever experienced. With sparkling azure blue waters and warm white sand beaches spanning the perimeter of the island and on the backdrop of an ancient volcano, these 18 holes may be some of the most spectacular you’ve ever played.
Brickyard Crossings
This course is so unusual because of its extremely unique location: in the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That’s right, a four-hole stretch is located at the heart and center of the century old speedway, creating an experience that combines the excitement of auto racing with the serene, natural beauty of a championship golf course. It is a thrill to play at this course while surrounded by frantic 200MPH Indie cars racing by.
The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course
This gorgeous course is home to the famous floating 14th hole. Surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of the stunning and pristine Lake Coeur d’Alene, you will arrive on the beautifully groomed fairways via a sleek, mahogany boat. Enjoy the scenery, greens and one of golf’s best-loved floating icons at this truly sublime course.
Old Works Golf Club
This course was made from the ashes of the infamous Anaconda copper mine which ended up being one of the largest Superfund cleanup sites in America. Jack Nicklaus, the courses designer, was not only able to turn the environmental hazard into a state-of-the-art course, but he managed to incorporate many elements of the mining operation such as the smelter, oven, and flue.
Cupp Course at Palmetto Hall
This neat course is dictated by the surrounding nature and features gentle curves and undulations which follow the natural contours of the landscape. Architect Bob Cupp aimed to recast the game in a geometric image with bunkers, tees and greens that formed shapes including triangles, squares and rectangles as well as fairways and mounds that create nearly perfect pyramids. Try your hand at this unique course and appreciate the architecture and planning that went into its unique look.
Shadow Creek Golf Course
Shadow Creek has a reputation as being one of the most luxurious golfing experiences available. It is unconventional because of its humble beginnings as a complete desert wasteland. However, designer Tom Fazio turned it into one of his most highly rated courses around the world. To make the course possible, over 20,000 mature trees were transplanted, the elevation was changed by over 200 feet and streams as well as other water features were constructed from pure desert.
El CamaleĂłn at the Fairmont Mayakoba
This extremely unique course located in Quintana Roo, Mexico, is known for its continually changing course challenges including various lagoons, sand dunes, mangroves, and most notoriously, cenotes (subterranean caves). With names like the “Devil’s Mouth” this course will keep you on your toes. How often do you get to say you went golfing and cave “spelunking” all during one outing?
Furnace Creek Golf Course
This course may not be the best to play during the summer, when temperatures can reach up to 130 degrees due to its location in Death Valley. The course is the lowest altitude course in the world, sitting 214 feet below sea level.
Uummannaq Greenland
The opposite of Furnace Creek, golf in Uummannaq Greenland is actually called Ice Golf. That’s because that is exactly what it is. In this unique area, you better have your winter parka because you will be playing on a giant iceberg with an orange ball to better suit the environment. Uummannaq Greenland is home to the Ice Golf Championships where the game is played essentially the same, except the holes are a little shorter. Oh, and everything is completely frozen.
So whether you are looking forward to riding your remote control golf caddie around a new course or you are just wanting to hit a few balls around in paradise, this list of the coolest golf courses in the world has something for you.
