Which are the 10 hardest golf courses in the world, and why are they considered difficult?

Golf is one of the highest-earning sports in the world, with legends such as Tiger Woods known worldwide. The game is played on fields known as courses which may determine the outcome depending on the hardness of the courses. So, Which are the hardest golf courses in the world? Read on to learn more about the hardest golf courses in the world.

Some of the most famous golf courses in the world include Old Course, Pinehurst No.2, the Cypress Point Club, and the Pebble Beach Golf Links. While some players might prefer the softer clubs, others seek the tough courses that challenge them. Less skilled players are usually not advisable to attend these challenging golf clubs. Below are some of the hardest golf courses in the world by rating.

Top 10 hardest golf courses in the world

So, what determines the difficulty of a golf course? The difficulty is determined by two measurements that is the course rating and slope. These measurements are affected by various factors, such as the length of the club. So, what are the most difficult golf clubs? Here are some of the hardest golf courses in the world in 2023:

10. Championship Links, Royal County Down, Northern Ireland

It is known for its very deep bunkers and narrow strips. The strips are bordered by purple heather and golden yellow gorse, making it very aesthetically pleasing. Despite being one of the most challenging courses in the world, it has been voted the best many times.

The blindspots make it even more difficult for the golfers hence the need for caddies for direction. It measures 6571m or 7186 yards long with a 71 par. The course rating is 75, and the slope rating is 142. It was designed by Old Tom Morris, George Combe, Harry Vardon and Harry Colt.

9. Le Touessrok Golf Course, Ile Aux Cerfs, Mauritius

The course is known for its long carries from the tees to fairways to the greens alongside its many holes. Besides the enormous bunkers, there are also mangrove swamps and water hazards, making it even more difficult. It is one of the most beautiful clubs in the world, but the toughness makes it challenging.

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It was designed by German Bernhard Langer, who is a two-time Masters Champion. The course is also known for its inaccessibility by road; hence only helicopters and speed boats can reach it. The club is 6452m or 7055 yards with a 72 par. The course rating is 70, while its slope rating is 113.

8. Cape Kidnappers, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

It is one of the most dangerous clubs on the list due to its 183m cliffs that hang over the sea. It is also characterised by strong winds coming from the Pacific Ocean hence affecting the ball. The club is 6569m or 7183 yards with a 71 par.

It also has a 75.4-course rating and a 145-slope rating. The course, however, is beautiful to the eye. Tom Doak designed the course. However, pros still need to play in the club.

7. Bethpage Black, New York, United States

The course has a warning for golfers on the first tee saying, “The Black Course Is An Extremely Difficult Course Which We Recommend Only For Highly Skilled Golfer.”. This serves as a warning for the lesser-skilled golfers. Tiger Woods is the only US Open Winner known to ever break par in 2002, whereas five others achieved this seven years later in 2009.

Narrow fairways, plateau greens and massive sculptured bunkers describe the club. It measures 6825m or 7463 yards long with a 71 par and 77.5-course rating. It also has a 155 slope rating which is immense. It was designed by Joseph H. Burbeck, assisted by A.W. Tillinghast.

6. Palm Course, Saujana Golf Club, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The club is nicknamed “The Cobra” due to its fairways with many water and sand hazards. This makes it difficult to get to the green. It has hosted six of the past eight Malaysian Opens, with Vijay Singh being among the winners.

It is 6393m or 6991 yards long and has a par of 72. The club also has a 75.1-course rating and a 142-slope rating. It was designed and renovated by Ronald Fream in 2015.

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

The club is known for its thin air, which means the ball flies further due to its high altitude, 3040m above sea level in the Himalayas. The thin air may also cause the balls to move further right or left, making it even more difficult to play there. It is also the longest golf club in the world at 8548 yards or 8454m.

The club has a par rating of 72 and a course rating of 76.9. Its slope is rated at 143. Nelson and Haworth Partnership designed it.

4. Whistling Straits, Kohler, Wisconsin, United States

Yet another Pete Dye masterpiece on the list. The 7123m or 7789-yard course has so many bunkers that some are irrecognisable due to their closeness. There are a total of 976 bunkers which average of 54 bunkers per hole, making it one of the hardest golf courses in the world in the PGA Championship, as witnessed by Dustin Johnson in the 2010 US edition. It has a 72-par rating, a 77.2-course rating and a slope rating of 152.

3. Ko’olau Golf Club, Oahu, Hawaii, United States

Despite coming third on the list, this golf club was one of the most difficult in the world and earned the highest rating ever, which had to be reduced. It was initially handed a 162 rating which was adjusted to get 153, as ratings above 155 are not allowed by the USGA.

The slope rating was even higher when a team was sent to inspect it setting it at 172. It is 6684m or 7309 yards long with a 72 par rating and 78.2-course rating. The club was designed by Nugent and opened in 1992.

2. Carnoustie Golf Links, Dundee, Scotland

Known for its windy whips, which make the club even harder, the Carnoustie Golf Links reduced one of the best in the game, Sergio Garcia, to tears as he came last in the competition. Many describe it as the “Psychic shock experienced on collision with reality by those whose expectations are founded on false assumptions.”

The course measures 6350m or 6944 yards and has a par of 72. Its course rating is 75.2, with a 139 slope rating. The club was designed by Allan Robertson, assisted by Old Tom Morris, and opened in 1842.

1. The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, South Carolina, United States

So, what is considered the hardest golf course in the world? It is the Ocean Course. It was designed by Pete Dye, who earned himself the nickname ‘Marquis de Sod’ for designing difficult courses. It has challenged even the world’s best golfers with its characteristically massive sand dunes, thorny marshes, pot bunkers, and greens.

The club has a par rating of 72 and a length of up to 6726m or 7355 yards. The course’s rating is 77.3, with a slope rating of 144. The back tees make it capable of being played for over 7900 yards or 7223m.

It has been challenging for great players such as Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Fred Couples, and Payne Stewart. It is the number one among the hardest golf courses in the world by slope rating.

Hardest mini golf courses in the world

Mini golf courses come with a thrill and electrifying energy that makes them fun. Here are some of the toughest mini-golf courses:

What is the hardest PGA golf course to play at?

The Bay Hill Club and Lodge is the hardest PGA golf club. It had a 74.106 par, two points above the standard 72 par.

Why is St Andrews golf course so famous?

It is one of the hardest clubs in the world. So, why is St Andrews so hard? It has many turbulent spots, which make the holes tricky. Its hardest hole is the 17th, known as the “Road Hole”.

The Ocean Course takes the top spot among the hardest golf courses in the world. It is known for its massive sand dunes and has a course rating of 77.3 and a slope rating of 144. St Andrews golf club is popular for having the trickiest holes.

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