Get Swinging at These Top 15 Exclusive Golf Courses
Fancy playing golf in paradise? Some of the most elite golf courses on the planet will, indeed, have you feeling like you are in the Garden of Eden. You can focus on your game amidst lush, gently swaying palm trees, meticulously kept greens, bubbling waterways, and majestic mountain ranges.
If you have thought this might be an excellent time to pack your clubs and head to more temperate climates where you can spend precious moments on elite golf courses, we have put together a list of 16 golf courses where living a golfer’s life reigns supreme. Are you just starting with golf escapades? Here’s what every new golfer should know.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Punta Cana is well-known for having some of the finest golf courses in the Caribbean. Teeth of the Dog is one of them. On the island’s eastern shore, Punta Espada and Corales bring magnificent seaside golf experiences. Here is a list of all the major golf clubs in Punta Cana:
-Punta Espada Golf Club,
-La Cana Golf Club,
-Corales Golf Club,
-Punta Blanca Golf Course,
-Iberostate Bavaro Golf Club
Punta Espada Golf Club
Location - Cap Cana, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, with stunning oceanfront views.
Layout - An 18-hole, par 72 course with 8 holes playing along or over the Caribbean Sea.
Design - A Jack Nicklaus Signature Course featuring emerald fairways and dramatic coastal scenery. The course (par 72, 7,396 yards) is seasoned golfing at its essence and the surroundings are stunning. If the 611-yard second hole doesn't jolt you awake, the ocean spray on the 250-yard 13th definitely will.
Skills required- If you really want to test your golf skills, make your way to Punta Espada. For example, you might not be as familiar with factoring wind gusts into green reading. Punta Espada is the perfect setting to hone these skills.
Fun Fact - Ranked number one in the Caribbean and Mexico by GolfWeek and 35th in the world by Golf Digest.
Spanning over 7,000 square meters, the course is strategically laid out to complement the coastal landscape and reward precision and skill. Golfers are treated to breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea, with several holes dramatically positioned along the ocean’s edge.
La Cana Golf Club
Location- Situated in Puntacana Resort & Club, directly on the Caribbean Sea in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Layout- A 27-hole course with three nines—Tortuga, Arrecife, and Hacienda—featuring 14 holes with ocean views.
Design- Created by P.B. Dye, incorporating seaside fairways, rolling terrain, and strategic bunkers. This club has four holes designed for top-level professionals, as well as 12 holes with sea views for beginners and less-experienced golfers.
Fun Fact - Named the best golf course in the Caribbean by Golf Magazine and known for its eco-friendly paspalum grass.
Corales Golf Club
Location - Part of Puntacana Resort & Club in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, along the Caribbean Sea.
Layout - An 18-hole, par 72 course featuring six oceanfront holes, dramatic cliffs, and coral reefs.
Design - This is an 18-hole course with six seaside holes. Tom Fazio designed the Punta Cana golf club, taking the best of the dramatic landscape with natural cliffs, bays, ocean coves, and inland lakes.
Fun Fact - Hosts the annual PGA Tour and Corales Puntacana Championship, the only PGA event in the Dominican Republic.
Punta Blanca Golf Course
Location - Bavaro, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, near major resorts like Hard Rock and Majestic.
Layout - An 18-hole, par 72 course spanning 7,174 yards with wide fairways, bunkers, and lakes.
Design - This is the first golf course in the Caribbean designed by the famous golfer Nick Price. The course is surrounded by dense vegetation, wetlands and lakes.
Skills required - It’s an 18-hole course suitable for all skill levels.
Fun Fact - Hosted multiple international and national tournaments and is known for its challenging par-3 holes.
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Iberostate Bavaro Golf Club
Location- Bavaro, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, just 20 minutes from Punta Cana International Airport.
Layout- An 18-hole, par 72 course with undulating fairways and lush tropical vegetation.
Design- Created by P.B. Dye, featuring paspalum grass, water hazards, and strategically placed bunkers. Dye tried to pay special attention to the contrast of white sand and stones with bright green grass. In fact, the impressive landscape of the 18-hole course combines artificial lakes, streams and even desert terrain.
Fun Fact- Tee times include lunch and drinks, making it one of the best-value golf courses in the region.
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Palm Springs, California
Be a part of history and hone your game in the same area many Hollywood greats and former US presidents did – in Palm Springs. Here are some courses to be considered in the area:
- La Quinta Resort & Club at PGA West,
- The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa,
- Indian Wells Golf Resort
- Indian Canyons Golf Resort
- Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort
La Quinta Resort & Club at PGA West
Location- La Quinta, California, within the greater Palm Springs area.
Layout- Features five championship courses:
- Pete Dye Course - ranked among Golf Magazine's 100 Greatest Courses.
- Jack Nicklaus Course- PGA Tour Qualifying School host and CareerBuilder Challenge co-host.
- Greg Norman Course- 40 feet below sea level, surrounded by dramatic mountains.
- Mountain Course- Tournament host, set at the Santa Rosa Mountains' base.
- Dunes Course- Scottish-inspired with pot bunkers and desert views.
Design- Courses designed by legends such as Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, and Greg Norman offer diverse challenges and breathtaking desert landscapes.
Fun Fact- The Stadium Course at PGA West is one of the most challenging courses in the U.S. and has hosted multiple PGA Tour events.
The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa
Location- Rancho Mirage, California, near Palm Springs, set on 360 acres of desert landscape.
Layout- An 18-hole, par-70 course measuring 6,706 yards, featuring rolling fairways and spectacular views across the surrounding San Jacinto Mountains.
Design- A Pete Dye creation known for railroad tie borders, deep bunkers, and strategic water hazards, which opened in 1987.
Fun Fact- The course is more forgiving than most Pete Dye designs, making it both challenging and playable for golfers of all skill levels.
Indian Wells Golf Resort
Location- Indian Wells, California, just 20 minutes from Palm Springs International Airport.
Layout- A 36-hole facility featuring the Celebrity Course (playable and scenic) and the Players Course (challenging with deep bunkers).
Design- The Celebrity Course was designed by Clive Clark, while the Players Course was designed by John Fought, offering contrasting styles.
Fun Fact- The resort hosted the LG Skins Game in 2007 and 2008 and is ranked among the Top 20 Best Courses You Can Play in California by Golfweek. This is another great 36-hole facility in the Coachella Valley. The Celebrity and Players courses, jokingly referred to as “Beauty and the Beast,” are ranked in the top 30 of Golf Magazine’s Best Courses to Play in California and have hosted the Golf Channel’s Big Break, as well as the PGA’s Skins Game.
Indian Canyons Golf Resort
Location- Palm Springs, California, set on 550 acres of the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation.
Layout- A 36-hole facility featuring the North Course (longer and classic) and the South Course (scenic with palm trees and water features).
Design- The North Course was designed by William F. Bell, while the South Course was redesigned by Casey O’Callahan with input from LPGA legend Amy Alcott.
Fun Fact- Once a private club called Canyon Country Club, it was a favorite of Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, and even U.S. Presidents like Eisenhower and Reagan
Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort
Location- Palm Springs, California, just minutes from downtown and the international airport.
Layout- A 36-hole facility featuring the Resort Course, a desert links-style course, and the Legend Course, a traditional parkland design.
Design- The Resort Course was designed by Ted Robinson, while the Legend Course was designed by William Francis Bell in the 1950s, who also designed Torrey Pines.
Fun Fact- Golf Digest rated Tahquitz Creek as "one of the best places to play."
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Oahu, Hawaii
You can’t get much closer to paradise than Hawaii, with its lush flora and fauna and superb golf courses that are meticulously kept. From hidden finds such as the Kahuku golf line in the countryside of the north shore to signature courses like the Ko'olina – discover top courses on Oahu:
- Turtle Bay Golf & Resort,
- Ko Olina Golf Course
- Hawaii Prince Golf Club
- Kapolei Golf Club
- Makaha Valley Golf Club
Turtle Bay Golf & Resort
Location- Kahuku, Oahu, Hawaii, on the island’s scenic North Shore.
Layout- A 36-hole facility featuring the Arnold Palmer Course, a championship course with ocean views, and short-course options like The Breaks and Pitch n’ Putt.
Design- The Arnold Palmer Course combines Scottish Links-style holes with tropical landscapes, while the George Fazio Course (currently closed) was known for its walkable layout.
Skills required - The Arnold Palmer course offers a versatile golfing experience, welcoming players of all skill levels with its balanced design that combines accessibility and challenge. Meanwhile, the George Fazio course stands out with its spacious fairways, unique moon crater-style bunkers, and pristine greens. Known for its peaceful, uncrowded atmosphere, it provides a serene setting for golfers to focus and unwind. Together, these courses deliver a blend of beauty, relaxation, and dynamic gameplay, ensuring an unforgettable experience for every golfer.
Fun Fact- The Arnold Palmer Course has hosted PGA and LPGA events and is ranked among Golf Digest’s "100 Greatest Public Courses."
Ko Olina Golf Course
Location- Kapolei, Oahu, Hawaii, within the Ko Olina Resort community.
Layout- An 18-hole, par 72 championship course featuring water hazards, multi-tiered greens, and no parallel fairways.
Design- Created by Ted Robinson in 1990, known for its strategic bunkering and scenic oceanfront setting.
Fun Fact- Recognized by Golf Digest as one of the "Top 75 Resort Courses in the U.S." and a former host of the LPGA Tour’s Hawaiian Open. This club is no exception – it’s rated in the top 100 golf courses in Gold Digest Magazine.
Hawaii Prince Golf Club
Location- Ewa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii, about 40 minutes from Waikiki.
Layout- A 27-hole facility with three interchangeable nine-hole courses, offering a variety of playing conditions.
Design- Created by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, featuring long fairways, white sand bunkers, and 10 lakes spread across 270 acres.
Fun Fact- The course provides stunning views of the Waianae Mountains and offers private lessons through the Island Pacific Golf Academy.
Kapolei Golf Club
Location- Kapolei, Oahu, Hawaii, about 25 minutes from Honolulu.
Layout- An 18-hole, par 72 course spanning 7,001 yards, featuring rolling fairways, 80 bunkers, and five lakes.
Design- Created by Ted Robinson, incorporating floral gardens, elevated greens, and multiple water hazards for strategic play.
Fun Fact- The course has hosted professional events like the LPGA Lotte Championship and was ranked among the "Top 15 Best Courses You Can Play in Hawaii" by Golfweek. Afternoons can get windy, so consider reserving an early tee time.
Makaha Valley Golf Club
Location- Waianae, Oahu, Hawaii, nestled in the scenic Makaha Valley.
Layout- An 18-hole, par-71 course spanning 6,260 yards, featuring doglegs, elevation changes, and ocean views.
Design- Created by William F. Bell, who also designed Torrey Pines South, with a challenging mix of rolling terrain and tropical landscapes.
Fun Fact- The course is home to one of Oahu’s toughest par-5 finishing holes and is undergoing redevelopment with potential course improvements. Tiger Woods and his TGR Design Company have announced that they will renovate this golf course.
The World’s Finest Golf Courses, Paired with Unmatched Luxury
From the oceanfront fairways of Punta Cana to the desert landscapes of Palm Springs and the tropical greens of Oahu, these courses are more than places to play—they are destinations in their own right. Designed by legends like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Tom Fazio, each offers a unique challenge set against some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world. But an unforgettable golf getaway is about more than just the game. Where you stay matters. After a day on the course, the right accommodations offer space to relax and enjoy world-class amenities tailored to your needs.
Royal Kailua Estate
A masterstroke of luxury, Royal Kailua Estate is a trophy property on Oahu’s pristine shores. Set on a prime fairway of white sands and turquoise waters, this sprawling retreat is designed for those who appreciate precision, elegance, and the perfect course for relaxation. Inside, the estate blends grandeur and comfort with soaring ceilings, seamless indoor-outdoor flow, and refined island aesthetics. Highlights include a grand primary suite with ocean views and a chef’s kitchen. Outside, a beachfront pool, expansive lanai, and direct Kailua Beach access complete this unparalleled luxury retreat.
Dreaming of a golf escape where ocean views meet pristine greens? Book a private villa in Hawaii and tee off at some of the most breathtaking courses in the world. For those who seek the perfect balance of luxury and the love of the game, our Golf Collection features exceptional villas near the world's most prestigious courses, from the Caribbean to California and beyond. Let’s set up your next round. Reach out to LVH, and we’ll take care of the rest.