Golf World Top 100: Best Golf Resorts in the World Analysed

Terre Blanche, France, is one of the best golf resorts in the world.

The Golf World Top 100 Resorts in the World… The Best of the Best. We analyse the resorts in the four categories they’re assessed in and break the ranking down by country.

JUMP TO: 100-76 | 75-51 | 50-26 | 25-11 | 10-1 

Want to get an idea of just how competitive our inaugural World Top 100 Resorts was? Here are some names that weren’t among the top-10 in terms of Setting; Bandon Dunes, Kiawah Island, Sandy Lane, Verdura, Belle Mare Plage, Sandals Emerald Bay, Costa Navarino, Praia D’el Rey and Jasper Park. Only a maximum 20/20 score for Setting got you in the top 10 of that category.

Still not convinced? In terms of the Courses category, this lot weren’t among the 10 marked most highly; Kiawah Island, The American Club, Casa de Campo, Praia D’El Rey, Diamante Resort, Golf du Medoc, Carya, Verdura, Quinta do Lago, The Greenbrier, Fancourt, Sun City and Sea Island.

RELATED: Best Golf Resorts in Continental Europe

We include marks for accommodation and non-golf amenities because we want to identify resorts that appeal to more than just the absolute devotee of the game, but if you think that waters down the golf aspect, think again.

In the top 10 in terms of Courses, Turnberry was No.10. Turnberry! With a World Top 10 course and a fine No.2. It scored 36 out of 40, but that was good enough only for 10th.

Bandon Dunes and Pinehurst broke the system, so deep does their golf offering run, but after that you have resorts such as Streamsong, Barnbougle Dunes, Sand Valley and Cabot Cliffs with multiple World Top 100 courses on offer.

The Accommodation category was arguably the most competitive, with a top 10 stacked with opulence and class, but in all honesty, there’s not a whole lot between the No.16 and the No.56 in this sphere.

RELATED: Best Golf Resorts in Britain and Ireland

Non-golf amenities had a clear winner and some clear themes. Gleneagles is by far the No.1 in this area, a playground for all ages and in all weather. Then Belek in Turkey is king, with three of the top 10 for amenities.

The quality from one to 100 was sensational, starting with a top 10 of an insane standard.

And finally, if multiple courses isn’t important to you and you’re happy having just one to play during your stay, this is where you should be looking: Adare Manor (No.14 overall), Mukul (27), Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (29), Le Touessrok (30), and Lemuria (31). Continental Europe’s top single-course resort is Finca Cortesin (50).

RELATED: Best Golf Courses in Continental Europe

Best World Resorts for Golf Courses

Overall ranking in parentheses

Bandon Dunes (1st)

Pinehurst (3rd)

Streamsong (6th)

Barnbougle Dunes (7th)

Cabot Cliffs (9th)

Pebble Beach (5th) 

Sand Valley (25th)

Rosapenna (22nd)

Gleneagles (2nd)

Turnberry (4th)

Best World Golf Resorts for Setting

Overall ranking in parentheses

Lemuria (32nd)

Le Touessrok (30th)

Turnberry (4th)

Mukul (27th)

Ardfin (42nd)

Cabot Cliffs (9th)

Barnbougle Dunes (7th)

Pebble Beach (5th)

Diamante (16th)

Cape Kidnappers (48th)

Best World Golf Resorts for Accommodation

Overall ranking in parentheses

Gleneagles (2nd)

Adare Manor (14th)

Mukul (27th)

Finca Cortesin (50th)

Terre Blanche (10th)

One&Only Palmilla (33rd)

Ardfin (42nd)

Eden Roc (36th)

Villa Padierna (98th)

Sandy Lane (17th)

Best World Golf Resorts for Non-Golf Amenities

Overall ranking in parentheses

Gleneagles (2nd)

Adare Manor (14th)

Sun City (15th)

Terre Blanche (10th)

Carya (21st)

Gloria (37th)

La Manga (81st)

Montgomerie Maxx (85th)

One&Only Palmilla (33rd)

Lemuria (32nd)

Best World Golf Resorts for Stand-Alone Courses

Overall ranking in parentheses

Trump Aberdeen (95th)

Ardfin (42nd)

Cape Kidnappers (48th)

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (29th)

Fairmont Banff Springs (24th)

Kauri Cliffs (63rd)

The Machrie (80th)

Adare Manor (14th)

Trump Doonbeg (47th)

Troia (82nd)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chris Bertram is the Golf World Top 100 Editor.

He was born and brought up in Dumfriesshire and has been a sports journalist since 1996, initially as a junior writer with National Club Golfer magazine.

Chris then spent four years writing about football and rugby union for the Press Association but returned to be Editor and then Publisher of NCG before joining Golf World and Today’s Golfer as Senior Production Editor.

He has been freelance since 2010 and when he is not playing and writing about the world’s finest golf courses, he works for BBC Sport.

A keen all-round sportsman, Chris plays off 11 – which could be a little better if it wasn’t for hilariously poor lag putting which has to be seen to be believed.