The World’s First Golf Courses
The fact that golf courses that are hundreds of years old can still present a challenge of world-class standing to the golfers of today is something that I find absolutely incredible.
As a group, golfers have a tendency to get quite excited about all of the history and tradition that are associated with the game. It is for this reason that we will take a look at the oldest golf courses in the world.
There are a few items that are not included on the list, but here are a few that you might want to cross off your list when the time comes for you to play golf once more.
St Andrews Old Course
The Old Course at St. Andrews is commonly considered to be the spiritual home of golf and requires little introduction before being considered. The Old Course is the golf course that holds the record for being the oldest in the world.
The first documented evidence of golf being played in St. Andrews dates back to 1552, when Archbishop Hamilton signed an official charter that acknowledged the right of the people of St. Andrews to play golf on the land. Golf was played at St. Andrews throughout the 1400s. The course has since become the most well-known golf course in the world, and it is an obligatory requirement for any person who is passionate about golf.
Because it was the place where the 18-hole format of the game that we play today was first developed, the Old Course is considered to be the standard-bearer for all modern golf courses. When you play a round on the Old Course, you will have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of some of the greatest golfers of all time, including Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, and Tiger Woods, as well as those who have won the game in more recent times.
The Old Course, St Andrews
ST ANDREWS & FIFE
Rated 9.4 by 36 golfers
3 Nights, 3 Rounds
- Bed and Breakfast
- 1 round at Old Course, St Andrews
- 1 round at New Course, St Andrews (The New Course, St Andrews)
- 1 round at Kittocks Course (Fairmont St Andrews) or Torrance Course (Fairmont St Andrews)
from£3995
Musselburgh Links – The Old Course
A statistic that should immediately rank Musselburgh at the top of any ardent golfer’s wishlist is the fact that the Old Links at Musselburgh has been officially recognised by Guinness as the oldest golf course in the world. It is possible that The Old Links has lost some of its glitter in terms of tournaments, but the history that lies behind the course ought to convince any golf enthusiast to make the journey to Scotland.
Mary, Queen of Scots is supposed to have played the links here as far back as 1567 and the official measurement for the width of a hole derived from a piece of equipment used to cut the holes at Musselburgh all those years ago.
An official record of golf in Musselburgh may be found in the Account Book of Sir John Foulis of Ravelston. Within the pages of this book, there is an entry that pertains to golf and is dated March 2nd, 1672.
Scotscraig Golf Club
In the year 1817, a small group of individuals who were former members of the St. Andrews Society of Golfers established the Scotscraig Golf Club, which would subsequently evolve into the Royal and Ancient Golf Club. Just ten miles away from St. Andrews, the course can be found in Tayport, which is located in the northern part of the territory of Fife.
The layout was redesigned by James Braid in 1923, and it still has many of the typical features that he came up with, including huge undulating greens that are covered by bunkers that are strategically placed. Golfers frequently describe Scotscraig as an interesting combination of links and heathland because the course does not sit directly beside the beach and is therefore not considered to be a true links layout. Instead, the course is characterised by an abundance of heather and gorse grass throughout.
Scotscraig Golf Club
Rated 7.6 by 4 golfers (Read reviews)
Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Links
Fortrose & Rosemarkie is situated on the Chanonry Peninsula, with a view of the Moray Firth, and is only twenty minutes away from Inverness. In the year 1702, there is the first written evidence that golf was played in this location, and the club was established in the year 1793.
The layout was redesigned by James Braid in 1932, and the five-time Open Champion is known for having greens that are difficult to read, fairways that are narrow, and bunkers that are strategically placed.
In addition to being a host to a number of Scottish amateur championships, the course has been recognised with a number of prestigious honours, including a place in the Top 50 Golf Courses in Scotland.
Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Links
HIGHLANDS & INVERNESS
Rated 8 by 4 golfers (Read reviews)
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- Bed and Breakfast
- 1 round at Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club
- 1 round at Golspie Golf Club (Golspie Golf Club)
Montrose Golf Links
Montrose is not only the third oldest royal golf club in the world, but it is also considered to be the fifth oldest course in the world. As a result, it could not be more appropriate to include it on this list.
1562 was the year that golf was first played in this area, 1810 was the year that the club was established, and 1845 was the year that Prince Albert bestowed the club with royal patronage. Montrose is a classic links course that, like most other classic courses, is designed by Mother Nature. However, throughout its history, it has also been fortunate enough to have the notable trio of Old Tom Morris, Willie Park Jr., and Harry Colt sprinkle their magic dust over the springy links turf. Montrose is a course that follows the lay of the land very closely.
It is obvious that golf history enthusiasts will find a great deal to learn and appreciate at Montrose; but, the setting of the course on the Angus coastline is possibly its most significant advantage, in addition to the world-class layout of the course. Carnoustie, which is known all over the world, as well as other beautiful golf courses like Monifieth and Panmure, are all easily accessible by car from Montrose. In a nutshell, this region is a golf historian’s dream come true, and if you are someone who fits into that category, you should absolutely put this place on your list of places to visit!
Montrose Golf Links
DUNDEE & ANGUS
Rated 10 by 2 golfers (Read reviews)
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- Bed and Breakfast
- 1 round at 1562 Course, Montrose Links
- 1 round at Medal Course (Monifieth Golf Links)
Royal Aberdeen Golf Club
Throughout the years, golf design legends such as James Braid and Donald Steel have contributed to the development of The Championship Links at Royal Aberdeen, which is a well-known venue for hosting tournaments. This is the pinnacle of golf played on bare links. You will be away from the clubhouse for nine holes until the back nine of the course brings you back to the starting point of your journey home.
This course, which has views over the city of Aberdeen, also includes everything that a traditional links course ought to have, such as punishingly hard and gigantic sand dunes, as well as exposure to the elements. Every golf vacation in Scotland should include a round at the Balgownie Links.
Royal Aberdeen Golf Club
ABERDEENSHIRE
Rated 9.2 by 9 golfers (Read reviews)
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- Bed and Breakfast
- 1 round at Balgownie Links
- 1 round at Murcar Links Golf Club (Murcar Links Golf Club)
Oldest Golf Courses in England
Having been established in 1864, Royal North Devon Golf Course holds the distinction of being the oldest golf course in England, and it continues to use its original fairways. The natural undulations and the predominant wind are the primary factors that should be taken into consideration by a golfer who is trying to achieve a decent score at Royal North Devon, which is a fast-running links course.
When you play links golf at Royal North Devon, you will be able to tread in the footsteps of some of the game’s pioneers, like J.H. Taylor, and the waves will be crashing in the backdrop. Links golf does not get much better than this.
Philip de Crespigny, a local homeowner and landowner, was the one who constructed the first Forest Course at Bramshaw Golf Club in the year 1865. A number of factors, including the presence of roaming ponies and cattle on the fairways, as well as the appearance of deer emerging from the trees, give the impression that the Forest Course has not been altered in for than a century.
George Morris, brother of Old Tom, and Robert Chambers were the ones who initially conceived of Royal Liverpool, also known as Hoylake, as the second English course to host the Open Championship. Since then, Royal Liverpool has hosted a great number of other Open Championships. It was established in 1869, making it the second oldest seaside links course in England. The club was established in Scotland.
Royal North Devon Golf Club
DEVON
Rated 8.4 by 14 golfers (Read reviews)
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
- Bed and Breakfast
- 1 round at East Course (Saunton Golf Club)
- 1 round at West Course (Saunton Golf Club)
- 1 round at Royal North Devon Golf Club
Bramshaw Golf Club
HAMPSHIRE
Rated 7.6 by 12 golfers (Read reviews)
Our Golf Experts are available to provide full details of all deals at Bramshaw Golf Club – call now for an instant quote!
Royal Liverpool Golf Club
CHESHIRE
Rated 8.4 by 13 golfers (Read reviews)
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- Bed and Breakfast
- 1 round at Wallasey Golf Club (Wallasey Golf Club)
- 1 round at Royal Liverpool Golf Club
Oldest Golf Courses in Wales
In Wales, there are a few golf courses that claim to be the oldest, but evidence suggests that the Tenby Golf Club was the first place where golf was played, and it dates back to around 1875. As is the case with many of Braid’s other courses, Tenby is an outstanding classic. It is only one of the numerous classic golf courses that are included in the portfolio of the renowned James Braid the designer. The length of Tenby, which is only 6,300 yards, is not particularly long by today’s standards; yet, it continues to be a more authentic test of links golf.
Despite the fact that the Pontnewydd golf course, which is situated to the north of Newport, asserts that it was founded in the year 1875, there is no concrete evidence to support this claim. The course is a lovely meadowland course that overlooks the Cwmbran valley, and it is without a doubt known to have been built in the nineteenth century. Borth and Ynsylas was established in 1885 and is situated on the breathtaking estuary of the River Rovey. It offers breathtaking views of Cardigan Bay and is a historic landmark.
It was on June 30th, 1890 that the Conwy Golf Club, which is situated on the shoreline of Caernarvonshire, was formally established. During the course of two World Wars, the layout underwent significant changes and was on the verge of being lost. However, thanks to the restoration work done by Frank Pennink and the improvements provided by Brian Hugget and Neil Coles, the game has been converted into the rugged seaside treasure that you may play today.
There is evidence that golf was played at Royal Porthcawl as far back as 1891; however, the original nine holes were eliminated in 1895, and a new championship course was introduced a few years later. In the years that have passed, Harry Colt, Fred Hawtree, John H. Taylor, and Tom Simpson have made modifications in order to create the magnificent course that you see today.
Tenby Golf Club
SOUTH COAST & PEMBROKESHIRE
Rated 9 by 2 golfers (Read reviews)
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- Bed and Breakfast
- 1 round at Haverfordwest Golf Club (Haverfordwest Golf Club)
- 1 round at Tenby Golf Club
Conwy Golf Club
NORTH COAST
Rated 9.4 by 19 golfers (Read reviews)
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- Bed and Breakfast
- 1 round at North Wales Golf Club (North Wales Golf Club)
- 1 round at Conwy Golf Club
Royal Porthcawl Golf Club
SOUTH COAST & PEMBROKESHIRE
Rated 9.6 by 20 golfers (Read reviews)
1 Night, 1 Round
- Bed and Breakfast
- 1 round at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club
Oldest Golf Courses in Ireland
One of the golf courses in Ireland that can lay claim to being the oldest is the Royal Curragh Golf Club. It has been established via research that golf was played in this particular area of County Kildare as long back as the year 1852. The Royal Belfast Golf Club, which was established in 1881, is one of only four golf clubs on the Island of Ireland to be given the designation of “Royal.” This club is located in Northern Ireland. The current layout, which was created as a result of improvements made by Harry Colt in 1925, provides players with breathtaking views of Belfast Lough and the Antrim plateau in the distance.
It is possible to assert that Royal Dublin is the third oldest golf course in Ireland, having been established in the year 1885. Harry Colt was the one who initially developed the layout of the links, which is located on Bull Island. However, Martin Hawtree has since extended the layout to become the championship layout that it is today.
Golf was played for the very first time on this superb course in the year 1886 at the Dooks Golf Club, which is situated in County Kerry. Martin Hawtree recently made some changes to the course, and as a result, it is now a test that is not only tough but also interesting and pleasant. It is comparable to the courses in Waterville and Ballybunion, which are located close.
Royal Belfast Golf Club
NORTHERN IRELAND
Rated 9.4 by 6 golfers (Read reviews)
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- Bed and Breakfast
- 1 round at Royal Belfast Golf Club
- 1 round at The Old Course (Portstewart Golf Club)
Royal Dublin Golf Club
DUBLIN
Rated 8.6 by 9 golfers (Read reviews)
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- Bed and Breakfast
- 1 round at St Margaret’s Golf Club (St Margaret’s Golf Club)
- 1 round at Royal Dublin Golf Club
Dooks Golf Club
SOUTH WEST IRELAND
Rated 9.2 by 11 golfers (Read reviews)
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- Bed and Breakfast
- 1 round at Dingle Golf Links (Dingle Golf Links)
- 1 round at Dooks Golf Club
Oldest Golf Courses in Europe
The Pau Golf Club can be found in the southwestern region of France, and it is situated against the backdrop of the magnificent Pyrenees mountain range. It is considered to be the oldest golf course in mainland Europe, having opened its doors in the year 1856. In addition to being one of the oldest golf courses in France, Fontainebleau Golf Course is often considered to be among the most beautiful courses in the country. In 1909, Julien Chantepie was the one who developed the layout. Around ten years later, Tom Simpson was the one who applied improvements, and in the 1950s, Fred Hawtree was hired to make additional modifications.
Dinard Golf Club is the second-oldest course in France, having been established in 1887 by a group of British settlers. Tom Dunn, a professional from North Berwick, was responsible for designing the course amid the gorse and broom on a seashore tract of ground that was 125 acres in size and had previously been used only for the grazing of sheep and cattle.
In Portugal, which is located a bit further south, golf was initially played by a small group of people who were members of the British expatriate population. The Oporto Golf Club was established in 1890 and was formerly known as Oporto Niblicks. The course initially consisted of nine holes and was enlarged in 1934 to become Portugal’s first golf course with eighteen holes.
There are those who believe that the year 1937 marked the beginning of golf in the Algarve. At that time, nine holes were constructed in Praia da Rocha, and they were comprised of sand fairways and “browns” (greens made of oil). The first 18-hole grass layout, Penina’s Championship Course, which was created by Sir Henry Cotton, would not be available to golfers until the year 1966.
According to historical records, the first golf course in Spain was established in 1891 on the island of Gran Canaria by British merchants who were established there. Philip Mackenzie Ross is responsible for the design of the current layout of Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas, which is located in the crater of a volcano that has since lost its existence.
Once Real Club de Golf de El Prat became the first golf club in the city of Barcelona, it was followed by Real Club Puerta de Hierro, Real Club de Zarauz, and Club de Golf de San Sebastian. All of these clubs were established in the years that followed.
Real Club De Golf De Las Palmas
GRAN CANARIA
Rated 7.4 by 3 golfers (Read reviews)
5 Nights, 3 Rounds
- Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
- 1 round at Maspalomas Golf (Maspalomas Golf)
- 1 round at Meloneras Golf (Meloneras Golf)
- 1 round at Real Club De Golf De Las Palmas
Oporto Golf Club
PORTO
Rated 4 by 1 golfer (Read review)
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Real Club De Golf El Prat Barcelona
BARCELONA
Rated 9 by 6 golfers (Read reviews)
7 Nights, 4 Rounds
- Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
- 2 rounds at Lakes course (Infinitum Golf)
- 1 round at Hills course (Infinitum Golf)
- 1 round at Real Club De Golf El Prat
Parador de Malaga Golf
MALAGA
Rated 5.4 by 3 golfers (Read reviews)
3 Nights, 2 Rounds
- Bed and Breakfast
- 1 round at Guadalhorce Clube de Golf (Real Guadalhorce Club de Golf)
- 1 round at Parador de Malaga Golf
Oldest Golf Courses in Asia
In a strange twist of fate, the golf course that is the oldest in Asia is also the first one outside of the British Isles. In order to commemorate their trip to Calcutta in 1911, King George V and Queen Mary bestowed the Royal title to the Royal Calcutta Golf Club, which was established in 1829 and is located in Kolkata, India.
The Dago Endah Golf & Country Club was founded in 1917 on a plot of land that was fifty hectares in size and was located to the north of Bandung in Indonesia. The course was initially designed with nine holes, but in 1994, Japanese golf course architect Chohei Miyazawa expanded it to include a total of eighteen holes so that it could accommodate more players. As a result of its location in the foothills, the course features significant elevation variations throughout the course of a round, in addition to providing breathtaking vistas of the city.
Mount Rokko is the location of Japan’s first golf course, which was planned by Arthur Hasketh Groom in 1903. The layout of the course was initially designed to have nine holes, but it was expanded to include a total of eighteen holes with the following year. A game at the Kobe Golf Club may be extremely challenging due to the fact that it is carved out of a mountain and golf buggies are not permitted around the course.
The Royal Selangor Golf Club in Kuala Lumpur was the first golf club in Malaysia, and it opened its doors in 1893. It is one of the oldest golf clubs in Asia, having been established in 1893. Furthermore, it features two championship courses that are 18 holes long in addition to a nine-hole layout. Despite the fact that the Dalat Golf Club in Vietnam was initially conceived of in 1922, it was not until the 1930s that the course was physically constructed. Beginning as a six-hole layout with a modest clubhouse, the course expanded to its current championship level of 7,009 yards in the early 1990s. This expansion was made possible by a rehabilitation effort that cost several millions of dollars and was carried out by Larry Hillblom, who was associated with the establishment of DHL.
At the Royal Hua Hin Golf Course, which is located in neighbouring Thailand, the first golf course in the country was constructed in 1919, during the reign of King Rama VI. This course is rich in history and provides breathtaking views of the Gulf of Thailand. The Scottish railway engineer A.O. Robin was given the order to construct a further nine holes in 1924 by King Rama VII, and the course was opened to the public in 1924 with a total of eighteen holes.
Oldest Golf Courses in America
It is believed that the Savannah Golf Club, located in Georgia, is the oldest golf course in the United States of America. Although there is written evidence that the club celebrated its second anniversary in 1796, the club’s origins may be traced back to 1794. However, the current course at the location dates back to 1899.
Another possible contender for the title of oldest course is Oakhurst Links, which is located in West Virginia. The layout of the course was designed by a guy named Russell Montegue in the year 1884. He constructed the course in close proximity to his house, which had the title of Oakhurst Links Clubhouse for a considerable amount of time. Oakhurst Golf Course asserts that it is the oldest golf course in the world; nevertheless, it has not been in continuous operation since 1912. The area was converted to pasture in 1912, and the golf course was not rebuilt until 1994.
The Vermont-based Dorest Field Golf Club asserts that it is the oldest golf course in the United States that is still in operation without interruption. The course was initially designed with nine holes by Arvin Harrington, Frank Holley, and William Kent in the year 1886. Since then, golf has been played on the course, and in 1999, the course was extended to include a total of eighteen holes.
Under the same circumstances, in the year 1887, Joseph Mickle Fox, who had learned how to play golf in Scotland, established a makeshift eight-hole course in the town of Foxburg, Pennsylvania. Today, Foxburg Country Club is still a nine-hole course, and it is also the location of the American Golf Hall of Fame, which houses a vast collection of incredibly old and valuable golfing relics from a variety of different eras.
In the year 1891, Willie Davis constructed the first twelve holes at Shinnecock Hills. In the year 1895, the course was expanded to include a total of eighteen holes. The current course was designed by William Flynn and Dick Wilson, and Shinnecock Golf Club can lay claim to being the first golf club in the United States to welcome female members. At the same time, women have been playing at the club ever since it was established.
Over the course of its history, the Country Club at Brookline has played host to a number of competitions, including the Ryder Cup back in 1999. Golf was first played there in 1893, with a course consisting of six holes; in 1895, the course was expanded to include eighteen holes. Because he won the United States Amateur Championship in 2013 and the United States Open nine years later, it is likely that English golfer Matt Fitzpatrick considers this to be his favourite course.
The Newport Country Club, which is yet another founding member of the United States Golf Association, is located in Rhode Island. It was in 1894 that William Davies constructed the first nine-hole layout, and in 1899, he expanded it to include eighteen holes. Newport was the location of the very first United States Amateur event and the very first United States Open, both of which took place in the year 1895.
At the renowned Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina, the first course was not constructed until the year 1898, and the well-known No. 2 layout, which was designed by Donald Ross, did not open until the year 1907. In the year 1897, Charles E. Maud constructed the nine-hole Del Monte Golf Course, which was located on the west coast of California. In the year 1902, the course was expanded to include eighteen holes.
Pebble Beach Golf Links, which is located just a few miles away from Del Monte, was not built by Jack Neville even though it is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful courses in the world. It took Neville another seventeen years to develop this course.
- SIGNATURE COLLECTION
- FLIGHTS INCLUDED
Pebble Beach Golf Links
SAN FRANCISCO & MONTEREY
Rated 9.2 by 11 golfers (Read reviews)
Flights, 5 Nights, 3 Rounds
- Self Catering
- 1 round at Pebble Beach Golf Links
- 1 round at The Links At Spanish Bay (The Links At Spanish Bay)
- 1 round at Poppy Hills Golf Club (Poppy Hills Golf Club)
- FLIGHTS INCLUDED
Pinehurst Resort
NORTH CAROLINA
Rated 9.6 by 12 golfers (Read reviews)
Flights, 7 Nights, 5 Rounds
- Room Only
- 1 round at Pinehurst No. 2
- 1 round at Tobacco Road Golf Club (Tobacco Road Golf Club)
- 1 round at Pine Needles Golf Course (Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club)
- 1 round at Southern Pines Golf Club (Southern Pines Golf Club)
- 1 round at Mid Pines Golf Course (Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club)
Del Monte Golf Course
SAN FRANCISCO & MONTEREY
Rated 8 by 1 golfer (Read review)
Our Golf Experts are available to provide full details of all deals at Del Monte Golf Course – call now for an instant quote!