The 7 hardest golf courses in the world

A round can be challenging enough even if you’re not playing on the hardest golf course in the world. On your local stomping ground, conditions might be complicating matters. Your swing might be off for some unknown reason. And luck just might not be on your side.

Now imagine if you were playing on the toughest golf course on the planet.

Across the globe, there are plenty of courses which make amateurs and pros alike wince, while finding a spot in golf legend – or infamy – in the process.

In no particular order, here are seven of the hardest golf courses in the world at which even your A-game might not be enough.

1. Royal County Down, Northern Ireland

Starting close to home, there’s little that hasn’t already been said about the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde of a course that is Royal County Down.

On the one hand, its stunning scenery and constant, breathtaking views of the Mourne Mountains make it a must-visit and regular bucket-list item for many avid golfers. On the other hand, it’s remarkably difficult. Clearly, it’s one of the hardest golf courses in Ireland, and the planet for that matter.

The fact that it’s one of the truest and purest examples of a links course anywhere in the UK, and across the globe, poses challenges of its own. You’re sure to be battered by the wind and will be made to put up with whatever weather conditions strike while you’re there (and they can vary!), but perhaps most pertinent is the design of the course itself.

If you don’t know exactly where you’re going, blind shots will cause you all manner of problems. Even if you can (perhaps with the help of a caddy) navigate your way to the right track, narrow fairways mean you’re still far from guaranteed to send the ball where you desire, and deep bunkers give you even less room for error. Even on the green, you’ll need to be nothing short of spot on to avoid the perils of the domed shaping.

But if you can brave all of that, the view of the Mourne Mountains makes it all worthwhile.

2. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club, Lijiang, Yunnan, China

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to play golf more than 3,040 metres above sea level? Well, look no further than the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club, which, as the name suggests, is located at Ganhaizi in the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area.

The high altitude makes life interesting for a couple of reasons. Shot trajectory is awkward at best, with carries going further but also deviating off course more randomly and dramatically. And you may find yourself short of breath if not at the peak of fitness.

This course isn’t just high up, though. Measuring in at a tad more than 7,816 metres in length, it’s considered the longest in the world. Even if you’ve got the stamina, small greens add one final challenge from hole to hole, meaning you barely get a second’s rest on one of the most unique and most brutal golf courses you can play on.

3. Carnoustie Golf Links, Dundee, Scotland

In the 1999 Open Championship, the brutality of Carnoustie resulted in zero players finishing under par after 18 holes, Sergio Garcia breaking down in tears and, perhaps most famously, Jean Van de Velde – three shots up on the final hole – making a triple bogey and losing in the ensuing play-off.

If even the pros have nightmares on the course, it’s not really a surprise that it has been nicknamed ‘Carnasty’. Scotland has a reputation for tough courses, and this is likely the hardest golf course in Scotland.

It’s incredibly long, full of pot bunkers, narrow greens and battered by North Sea wind in a way that you’d only really get on a Scottish links course. 

4. Palm Course, Saujana Golf & Country Club, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

With a nickname like ‘The Cobra’, it would be a real surprise if this wasn’t one of the hardest golf courses anywhere in the world.

Lined by palm trees and thick, jungle foliage, there’s little room for error on Saujana Golf & Country Club’s Palm Course in Malaysia, and even if you correctly negotiate those obstacles, rapid greens add another stern test.

Another unique challenge is its huge variation in elevation, with daunting hills and cavernous ravines. It’s safe to say that accuracy is king here.

5. Le Touessrok Golf Course, Ile aux Cerfs, Mauritius

In a similar vein to Royal County Down, Le Touessrok Golf Course is set in a simply stunning location in the Indian Ocean, with glistening waters and heavenly beaches lining a course that is an absolute nightmare.

Watery penalty areas and plenty of bunkers – some of which are quite enormous in size – make up only a small part of the problems you’ll encounter, with huge yardages between tees, fairways and greens also common throughout.

That’s without even mentioning the mangrove swamps and lava rock, which need to be avoided. It’s a course where a lost ball is almost certainly an unrecoverable ball.

Luckily, with no road access, you can’t just stumble across this course before being shocked by its challenges. Playing here takes quite a deliberate effort, and if you choose that path, make sure to expect an exceedingly pretty but utterly perilous playing experience.

6. The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, South Carolina, USA

The brainchild of legendary designer Pete Dye, who has over 200 courses under his belt, The Ocean Course on Kiawah Island is regarded by some as the single toughest golf course on the planet.

That’s in large part down to its coastal location (as the name suggests), which typically offers challenging conditions, most notably strong winds that give the ball a mind of its own.

Then there are the narrow fairways, the frequent and large bunkers, the dense rough, the undulating greens and the massive length (just shy of 7,202 metres from the back tees). To make a decent effort on this course, it’s all about great control over both distance and accuracy.

7. Oakmont Country Club, Pennsylvania, USA

While Oakmont Country Club features many of the aspects consistent among most of the world’s toughest courses – thick rough and quick greens, perhaps two of the standouts – there’s one feature which separates it from the rest.

Church Pews bunker. If you’ve never seen it, it’s one of 170 bunkers across the course, but one which is unlike anything else on any golf course anywhere. Stretching over 98 metres, this goliath of a bunker contains 13 stretches of shrubbery in the shape of church pews. It’s tricky to avoid and is the defining feature of an already tough course.

Plenty of pros have played here, and plenty have struggled.

Challenging yourself on one of these 7 courses

These are just seven of the hardest golf courses from across the world, and there are plenty more to whet your appetite – both closer to home and in far-flung destinations.

If you’re getting bored with playing close to home, it may be worth considering taking the plunge and actually playing on one of these. The question is, are you brave enough?

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