World's 17 Best Golf Destinations (PHOTOS)

by Kate Auletta Subscribe to Kate Auletta's posts Posted Apr 28th 2011 07:30 AM

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From the exotic to the familiar, the historic to the brand-new, a worldwide tour of 18 of the best places to tee off.

Each year around this time, golf clubs are summoned from cold garages and basements into living rooms while their owners begin plotting a new season in the sun.

Much wool has likely been gathered over the winter: calendars parsed, brownie points calculated, travel budgets massaged- upward.

To help in this process, Departures came up with a list of 17 of the best experiences the game has to offer. Admittedly, it's an idiosyncratic mix, with standard picks like top caddies and quaint country retreats alongside more unexpected ones (the farthest-off-the-radar golf nation and a favorite midday feast among them).

Some of these highlights can be found at new courses or clubs; others are as old as golf itself. All should someday make the leap from being a golfer's idle daydream to well-loved memory. Why not this year?--Thomas Dunne

Check out Departures' article on their favorite golf accessories here.

Text and photos courtesy of Departures Magazine.

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Best for...Your Own Private Castle: Bovey Castle

Set on the edge of the vast Dartmoor National Park in England’s West Country, Bovey Castle’s sweeping lawns and opulent salons call to mind the romance of the Edwardian age. The manor house was acquired in the early 2000s by developer Peter de Savary and given a thorough makeover. The result is effortless luxury. With everything from horseback riding to falconry, golf is only part of the picture at Bovey, but the course has a first-rate pedigree. Designed by the renowned J.F. Abercromby and touched up by Donald Steel as part of de Savary’s renovation, it’s a stylish parkland ramble that’s playable for holiday golfers of all skill levels. Rooms, from $295; greens fee, $75.

For golf vacation deals click here.

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Lissa Huang

Electric golf carts are more and more popular around the golf course, and now they are also found in the road which has been street legal. I like this modified vehicle. Great article. More from Marshell Green Power CO., LTD, http://www.marshell.net

October 09 2011 at 4:10 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

JOE MACHIA

i,ve played 7 of the listed wonderful choices

May 08 2011 at 12:32 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

depamiroge

GENTLEMEN,PLEASE START YOUR DRIVERS,RRRIIIPPPP IT...ONE COURSE AT A TIME...MADE MY BOOKINGS,,,HEEHAW!!!!

May 08 2011 at 8:31 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

lerar

Take your driver you'll need it on every par 3 with the wind howling off the Atlantic at around 30 mph last time there. Also very isolated with checkstops to keep golfers like me out, But once you get thru security there are a couple courses in addition to the Ocean course where you could play and actually have fun, With that said you have to play the holes most along the ocean, Thanks Pete, but bring a cache of balls you'll need every one good luck and good golf.

May 06 2011 at 3:49 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

nannycitycom

http://www.nannycity.com

April 28 2011 at 8:33 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

nannycitycom

Absolutely - the Old Head

April 28 2011 at 8:32 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Steve Ciabattoni

You do a golf story and list 17??? Why not 18 to make it more... golfy? To this list I'd add Old Head in Ireland, it's pretty spectacular (imagine Royal County Down crossed with Pebble). Many pros play it the week before the Open Championship to prepare for those links conditions/winds.

April 28 2011 at 5:12 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply