The golf world is full of great places to play the game. Here are just a few of them. The Links of St. Andrews is a classic Scottish golf course. Other great golfing destinations are Pebble Beach and Bend/Sunriver, Oregon. There are plenty of courses to choose from in each of these places.
Links of St. Andrews
Golf has been played in the town of St. Andrews since the 15th century, when Archbishop John Hamilton granted a permit to play the links. Golfers in St Andrews had limited competition, as they were limited to members of their own club or those of the ‘Leith Society,’ today known as The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. In 1764, William St Clair of Roslin organised the first 18-hole course at St Andrews. He also laid the foundation stone for the Leith clubhouse, and was a Captain of both clubs multiple times.
A tumultuous history of the Links of St. Andrews has led to many stories of its development. In the 18th century, it was purchased by a wealthy St Andrews landowner who was keen to promote golf. In 1821, he sold it to James Cheape of Strathtyrum, who hoped to develop the links as a golf course.
The first links tournament took place on the links in St Andrews. Archbishop John Hamilton granted the right to play golf to 22 noblemen, who subsequently established the Society of St Andrews Golfers. This society would later become the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, the governing body of golf outside the United States and Mexico. However, in 1797, St Andrews Links became bankrupt, and the town council started to allow rabbit farming on the course.
As a golfer, you probably know the importance of the Links of St. Andrews. The club was founded in 1413 and is closely linked to the ancient city of St Andrews. It was the religious capital of Scotland. However, the reformation ended the religious significance of the town. The university was threatened to be moved to Perth due to financial constraints. Robert the Bruce once attended the huge cathedral in St Andrews.
Pebble Beach
Pebble Beach is an exceptional golfing destination. It’s famous for its challenging and beautiful courses, and you’ll be required to use your irons to make your way over the undulating greens. The fairways are framed by lush rough and deep bunkers. Coastal breezes further reduce your target area. The course is also a great place to try out all types of shots, from long to short. The appeal of playing here is in the fact that you’ll be walking in the footsteps of legendary golfers.
There’s no denying the beauty of Pebble Beach, with its curving coastline and cliff-top setting above the Pacific Ocean. The course is a mix of sun and shadow, with breathtaking coastal holes. Despite being an exclusive golf destination, tee times are available at Pebble Beach, where PGA professionals have made some of the most epic shots in history.
The course has undergone several improvements over the years. In 1919, Harold Sampson and a group of amateurs began working on the course. In 1921, the 18th hole was reshaped to make it a great finisher. In 1929, the U.S. Amateur required the course to rebuild every green. In the last few years, the course has been a popular destination for amateurs and pros alike.
Golfers from all over the world travel to Pebble Beach to play one of the world’s most celebrated courses. This coastal paradise has three Top-50 public courses and is home to the PGA Tour each season. The courses are also renowned for their scenic cliffs and stunning beaches. A stay at Pebble Beach is an unforgettable golf experience.
Bend/Sunriver area
If you’re looking for a challenging yet fun golf course, the Bend/Sunriver area has you covered. The Lost Tracks Golf Club is one of Bend’s best courses, and it offers several benefits that are included with membership. Besides the golf course, Lost Tracks offers indoor tennis, a saltwater pool, workout facilities, and fine dining. Members also get access to practice areas for driving and putting. The course is also surrounded by national forest, with ponderosa and high desert pine trees.
If you’re not a golfing pro, you can always rent a golf cart and take to the course. Golf cart rentals at Lost Tracks include GPS, so you can easily navigate the course with a GPS. You’ll also want to stop at the Lost Tracks patio, where you can take in the view of the Cascade Mountains. Another golf course in the Bend/Sunriver area is the Old Back Nine, a public nine-hole course that is maintained well. It’s fun for golfers of all levels, and it’s close to town.
You’ll find numerous hotels and resorts in the Bend/Sunriver area that offer a variety of amenities. Many of these are located near the golf courses, including Tetherow, Pronghorn, and Brasada. For a more luxurious option, you can stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton or the Oxford Hotel Bend.
Coeur D’Alene
If you love the outdoors, there are many wonderful places to play golf in Coeur D’Alene. The nearby Cougar Bay Preserve is home to an 88-acre wildlife nursery and is a popular attraction for visitors. This beautiful lakeside location attracts migrating and nesting waterfowl, as well as songbirds. The area has five miles of trails and is an excellent place for hiking, canoeing, and bird watching.
The course is renowned for its signature hole, a 203-yard par three. The green is 15,000 square feet and weighs five million pounds. It is controlled by computer system and has bunkers, trees, and a docking station. This course is well-suited for beginners and is considered a fun place to play golf.
The Floating Green is another great attraction. The course is built over a lake, and has an elevated boardwalk that makes it feel like you’re floating. The resort has ten restaurants and lounges, including a sushi bar that overlooks a koi pond. A five-star fine-dining restaurant also offers excellent dining options.
A city-owned municipal golf course is another option for golfers. The sloping fairways provide a fair bounce to the ball, and if you hit the ball straight, you have a good chance of breaking 80. The 18-hole course has excellent views and mature trees around the fairways, making it a great course to play.
Silvies Valley
If you enjoy golf and enjoy a mountain setting, you might want to try Silvies Valley. The golf course opened in early June. You can play at 4,000 feet in the air and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. The golf course also has a bonus hole called the “Beer Tree.” The winner gets a free Bud Heavy. The hole requires a shot of 7.7 inches in order to get the prize. If you miss the hole, you can move the ball seven inches in later holes.
The 140,000-acre Silvies Valley Ranch Retreat and Links is an amazing golf experience. Located between John Day and Burns, the course ties the region’s colorful history with its present economic viability. The course features an 18-hole championship course. You’ll be able to play a round in the great outdoors and relax at the same time. The golf course is even equipped with goat caddies!
The surrounding scenery is breathtaking, and the golf course is surrounded by scenic mountain views. This 144,000-acre ranch offers numerous activities for golfers of all levels. The award-winning course, The Hankins, is one of the top-ranked courses in the country by Golfweek. There are also four par 3 courses at Silvies Valley Ranch, including the McVeigh’s Gauntlet, which was named the ‘Best New Golf Experience in 2018’ by Golf Magazine.
The courses are well-maintained, and the landscape is picturesque. The fairways are wide and well-maintained, and the hazards are minimal. The Hankins course features brand new pink tees that will stretch the course over eight thousand yards.
Craddock/Hankins
The Craddock/Hankins golf courses share the majority of green sites, with 27 total complexes, though the Hankins course has nine additional greens. This provides many unique holes and greatly enhances the golfing experience. Players on both courses will often approach the greens from different angles, making each round a unique experience. Depending on the layout, they can also find a variety of unique aspects of the course designs.
The Hankins Course’s reversible layout is one of the most exciting features of the property. The course includes two holes that follow opposite directions, and the opening landing area is over 235 feet wide. The two courses alternate daily. This is an exceptional way to experience two distinct courses.
The two courses are separated by the resort’s beautiful vistas and undulating topography. You can play the Hankins course clockwise, or reverse it and play the Craddock course counter-clockwise. The Craddock course has over 100 bunkers.
The Hankins course has many great holes, but the Craddock course offers some exceptional holes. The Hankins course has a challenging par five on the 14th hole, and the Craddock course has an interesting par four on the 17th. The second half of the course offers a more consistent experience.
The courses are designed by the same architect, Hixson. However, the two courses differ in personality and design. For instance, the opening sequence is set within a flat meadow while the closing sequence is located on a ridge. The ridges zigzag, creating a variety of golfing opportunities.
