Cloud 9’s Ultimate Bucket List
Fueled by our passion for golf and travel, we set out on a mission to identify and facilitate the World’s best golf trips. Our criteria for a great trip is simple: a cohesive collection of 4-6 golf courses that offer the most beautiful and unique experiences possible. After years of travel, discussion, research, and input from expert travelers, we have settled on our list of the 99 best golf trips for our fellow North American travelers. Our goal is to inspire and inform, so that others can experience these magical golf destinations for themselves.
Best of the Best: “The Cloud 9”
The 9 golf trips that stand out above the rest!
1. Southwest Ireland
Old Head, Ballybunion-Old Course, Waterville, Tralee, Lahinch-Old Course, Doonbeg
2. St. Andrews, Scotland
St. Andrews-Old, Carnoustie-Championship, Kingsbarns, Dumbarnie, Gleneagles-King’s, St. Andrews-Castle
3. Bandon, OR, USA
Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, Bandon Trails, Bandon Old MacDonald, Bandon Sheeps Ranch, Bandon Crossings
4. Victoria, Australia
Royal Melbourne-West, Kingston Heath, Victoria, Metropolitan, St. Andrews Beach, The Dunes
5. Northern Ireland
Royal Portursh-Dunluce, Royal County Down-Championship, Portstewart-Strand, Ardglass, Castlerock
6. West London, UK
Sunningdale-Old, Sunningdale-New, Swinley Forest, St. Georges Hill-Red & Blue, Walton Heath-Old
7. Garden Route/Eastern Cape, South Africa
Fancourt-Links, Pinnacle Point, St. Francis, Humewood, Pezula, Fancourt-Montagu
8. Northern Scotland
Royal Dornoch-Championship, Castle Stuart, Cruden Bay, Royal Aberdeen-Balgownie, Trump International, Nairn
9. North Island (South), New Zealand
Cape Kidnappers, Paraparaumu Beach, Kinloch Club, Royal Wellington, Wairakei
Best of the Rest
10. Ayrshire, Scotland
Turnberry-Ailsa, Royal Troon-Old, Prestwick, Western Gailes, Glasgow Gailes, Dundonald
11. Wisconsin, USA
Whistling Straits-Straits, Sand Valley, Lawsonia, Mammoth Dunes, Blackwolf Run-River, Whistling Straights-Irish
12. Nova Scotia, Canada
Cabot Cliffs, Cabot Links, Highlands Lakes, Lakes Cape Breton, Bell Bay
13. Monterey Peninsula, CA, USA
Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, Spanish Bay, Pacific Grove, Poppy Hills, Bayonet & Black Horse
14. Northwest England
Royal Birkdale, Royal Lytham and St. Annes, Royal Liverpool, Formby, Hillside
15. Tasmania and King Island, Australia
Cape Wickham, Barnbougle-Dunes, Barnbougle-Lost Farm, Ocean Dunes, King Island
16. Los Cabos, Mexico
Diamante-Dunes, Quivira, Palmilla, Diamante-El Cardonal, Puerto Los Cabos
17. North Island (North), New Zealand
Tara Iti, Kauri Cliffs, Titirangi, Muriwai, Carrington, Gulf Harbour
18. Dublin, Ireland
Portmarnock, County Louth, European Club, Island, K Club-Palmer North, Portmarnock Links
19. Northwest Ireland
County Sligo, Ballyliffin-Glashedy, Enniscrone, Carne, Rosapenna-Sandy Hills, Cruit Island
20. Pinehurst, NC, USA
Pinehurst-No. 2, Tobacco Road, Mid Pines, Dormie Club, Pine Needles, Pinehurst-No. 4
21. Tampa, FL, USA
Streamsong-Red, Streamsong-Blue, Streamsong- Black, World Woods-Pine Barrens, Innisbrook-Copperhead, World Woods-Rolling Oaks
22. East Lothian, Scotland
Muirfield, North Berwick, Gullane-No. 1, Dunbar, Archerfield-Fidra
23. Northeast South Africa
Leopard Creek, Gary Player, Royal Johannesburg and Kensington-East, Glendower, Lost City
24. Costa del Sol, Spain
Real Valderrama, Real Sotogrange, Finca Cortesin, Real Las Brisas, La Reserva, San Roque-Old
25. Queenstown, New Zealand
Jack’s Point, The Hills, Arrowtown, Millbrook, Queenstown
26. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Casa de Campo-Teeth of the Dog, Punta Espada, Punta Cana-Corales, Casa de Campo-Dye Fore, Punta Cana-La Cana
27. Southeast England
Royal St. George’s, Royal Cinque Ports, Princes, Rye, Littlestone
28. Maui/Lanai, HI, USA
Kapalua-Plantation, Manele, Wailea-Gold, Wailea-Emerald, Kapalua-Bay, Ka’anapali
29. The Netherlands
Koninklijke Haagsche, Utrecht de Pan, Kennemer, Bernardus, Noordwijkse, Hilversumsche
30. Traverse City, MI, USA
Arcadia Bluffs-Bluffs, Arcadia Bluffs-South, Forest Dunes-Weiskopf, Forest Dunes-Black/Red, Boyne Highlands-Heather, Belvedere
31. Alberta, Canada
Banff Springs, Greywolf, Stewart Creek, Kananaskis, Jasper Park Lodge, Mickelson National
32. Branson, MO, USA
Ozarks National, Buffalo Ridge, Branson Hills, Payne’s Valley, Ledgestone, Top of the Rock
33. Tokyo, Japan
Kawana-Fuji, Taiheiyo Gotemba, Kawana-Oshima, Kasumigaseki-East, Kasumigaseki-West
34. Paris, France
Fontainebleau, Chantilly-Vineuil, Saint Germain, Le Golf National, Paris International
35. Lisbon, Portugal
West Cliffs, Oitavos Dunes, Praia Del Ray, Penha Longa, Troia
36. Algarve, Portugal
Monte Rei, Palmares, Quinta do Lago-South, Vilamoura-Old, San Lorenzo, Quinta do Lago-North
37. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Punta Mita-Pacifico, Punta Mita-Bahia, Vista Vallarta-Nicklaus, Vista Vallarta-Weiskopf, Litibú
38. United Arab Emirates
Yas Links, Saadiyat Beach, Abu Dhabi National, Dubai Creek, Emirates-Majlis, Trump Dubai
39. Da Nang, Vietnam
Hoiana Shores, BRG Da Nang, Laguna Lang Co, Ba Na Hills, Montgomerie Links
40. San Francisco, CA, USA
TPC Harding Park, Pasatiempo, Half Moon-Ocean, Wente Vineyards, Half Moon-Old
41. Denmark / South Sweden
Falsterbo, Scandinavian-Old, Scandinavian-New, PGA Sweden National-Links, Barseback-Masters, Great Northern
42. Belgiun / North France
Royal Zoute, Royal Ostend, Le Touquet-La Mer, Hardelot-Les Pins, Belle Dune, Royal Antwerp
43. La Quinta, CA, USA
PGA West-Stadium, La Quinta-Mountain, Indian Wells-Players, Shadow Ridge, Desert Willow-Firecliff, Rams Hill
44. Puerto Rico
Royal Isabela, TPC Dorado Beach-East, Bahia Beach, Palmas Athletic Club-Flamboyan, Coco Beach-Championship
45. Jacksonville, FL, USA
TPC Sawgrass-Stadium, Hammock Beach-Ocean, Hammock Beach-Conservatory, TPC Sawgrass-Dye’s Valley, World Golf Village-King and Bear, World Golf Village-Slammer and Squire
46. San Diego, CA, USA
Torrey Pines-South, Barona Creek, Maderas, Torrey Pines-North, Aviara, La Costa-Champions
47. Argyll and Bute / Arran, Scotland
Machrihanish, Machrihanish Dunes, Machrie, Dunaverty, Shiskine, Ardfin
48. Las Vegas, NV, USA
Shadow Creek, Cascata, Coyote Springs, Wynn, Reflection Bay, Paiute-Wolf
49. Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Quintero, We Ko Pa-Saguaro, Troon North-Monument, TPC Scottsdale-Stadium, Talking Stick-O’odham, Boulders-North
50. New York City, NY, USA
Bethpage-Black, Trump Ferry Point, Pound Ridge, Bethpage-Red, Montauk Downs
51. Wales
Royal Porthcawl, Pennard, Celtic Manor-Twenty Ten, Ashburnham, Pyle and Kenfig, Southerndown
52. Denver, CO, USA
Red Sky Ranch-Norman, Red Sky Ranch-Fazio, Lakota Canyon, Raven at Three Peaks, Iron Bridge, Arrowhead
53. French Lick, IN, USA
French Lick-Donald Ross, French Lick-Pete Dye, Sultans Run, IU Pfau Course, Covered Bridge
54. Idaho / E. Washington, USA
Coeur D’Alene, Circling Raven, Palouse Ridge, Kalispel, Indian Canyon
55. Bermuda
Mid Ocean Club, Port Royal, Belmont Hills, Turtle Hill, Tucker’s Point
56. Hainan, China
Mission Hills-Blackstone, Dunes at Shenzhou Peninsula-East, Dunes at Shenzhou Peninsula-West, Jian Lake Blue Bay, Mission Hills-Lava Fields, Mission Hills-Shadow Dunes
57. Singapore
Sentosa-Serapong, Sentosa-New Tanjong, Tanah Merah-Tampines, Tanah Merah-Garden, Singapore Island-Bukit, Laguna National-Masters
58. Southeast Florida, USA
Doral-Blue Monster, PGA National-Champion, North Palm Beach, Crandon, PGA-Dye, PGA-Wanamaker
59. Orlando, FL, USA
Bay Hill, Orange County National-Panther Lake, Southern Dunes, Grand Cypress-New, Waldorf Astoria, Tranquilo
60. Bend, OR, USA
Pronghorn-Nicklaus, Tetherow, Sunriver-Crosswater, Aspen Lakes, Juniper, Sunriver-Meadows
61. British Columbia, Canada
Tobiano, Predator Ridge-Ridge, Tower Ranch, Predator Ridge-Predator, Salmon Arm, Gallagher’s Canyon
62. St. George, UT / Mesquite, NV, USA
Sand Hollow, Wolf Creek, Conestoga, Sunbrook, Coral Canyon, Ledges
63. Seattle, WA, USA
Chambers Bay, Salish Cliffs, Golf Mountain-Olympic, Home Course, Port Ludlow, White Horse
64. Stockholm, Sweden
Bro Hof Slott-Stadium, Ullna, Bro Hof Slott-Castle, Kungliga Drottningholm
65. Los Angeles, CA, USA
Pelican Hill-North, Pelican Hill-South, Trump Los Angeles, Oak Quarry, Rustic Canyon
66. Mauritius
Ile aux Cerfs, Heritage, Anahita, Avalon, Tamarina
67. Bordeaux, France
Seignosse, Chiberta, Hossegor, Moliets, Medoc-Chateaux, Grand Saint Emilionnais
68. Geneva, Switzerland / Eastern France
Domaine Imperial, Crans-sur-Sierre, Geneva, Evian, Lausanne, Vuissens
69. Northern Italy
Royal Park I Roveri, Villa d’Este, Biella, Castelconturbia, Bogogno-Bonora, Torino-Blue
70. West Virgina / Virginia, USA
Greenbrier-Old White, Greenbrier-Meadows, Homestead-Cascades, Glade Springs-Cobb, Glade Springs-Woodhaven, Glade Springs-Stonehaven
71. Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Victoria, Royal Colwood, Bear Mountain-Mountain, Bear Mountain-Valley, Olympic View
72. Lake Tahoe, NV/CA, USA
Edgewood, Coyote Moon, Old Greenwood, Incline Village, Gray’s Crossing
73. Northern Germany
Hamburger Falkenstein, Winston-Links, Winston-Open, Budersand Sylt, Fohr
74. Jamaica
Tryall, White Witch, Cinnamon Hill, Half Moon
75. Kuala Lampur, Malaysia
TPC Kuala Lampur-West, Saujana-Palm, The Mines, Kota Permai, TPC Kuala Lampur-East
76. Antalya, Turkey
Carya, Cornelia, Antalya-PGA Sultan, National Antalya, Lykia Links
77. Kiawah Island, SC, USA
Kiawah Island-Ocean, Wild Dunes Links, Kiawah Island-Turtle, Kiawah Island-Osprey, Kiawah Island-Cougar, Kiawah Island-Oak
78. Sydney, Australia
New South Wales, The Lakes, Bonnie Doon, St. Michaels, Newcastle
79. Biloxi, MS, USA
Fallen Oak, Shell Landing, The Preserve, Grand Bear, Windance, The Oaks
80. Albuquerque, NM, USA
Paako Ridge, Black Mesa, Sandia, Twin Warriors, Cochiti, UNM-Championship
81. Myrtle Beach, SC, USA
Dunes, Caledonia, True Blue, Tidewater, TPC Myrtle Beach, Barefoot-Fazio
82. Robert Trent Jones Trail, Alabama
Grand National-Lake, Ross Bridge, Cambrian Ridge, Capitol Hill-Judge, FarmLinks
83. Bangkok, Thailand
Siam-Old, Thai CC, Laem Chabang International, Banyan, Black Mountain, Siam-Plantation
84. Jakarta, Indonesia
Damai Indah-Bumi Serpong Damai, Pondok Indah, Rancamaya, Jagorawi-New, Jagorawi-Old, Royale Jakarta
85. Chelan, WA, USA
Gamble Sands, Desert Canyon, Bear Mountain Ranch, Lake Chelan, Highlander, Alta Lake
86. Iceland
Keilir, Reykjavik-Grafarholt, Oddur, Brautarholt, Vestmannaeyja, Akureyri
87. Toronto, Canada
Muskoka Bay, Bigwin Island, Eagles Nest, TPC Toronto Osprey, Glen Abbey
88. Whistler, BC, Canada
Big Sky, Chateau Whistler, Nicklaus North, Whistler
89. Sea Island, GA, USA
Sea Island-Seaside, Sea Island-Plantation, Sea Island-Retreat, King and Prince
90. Hilton Head, SC, USA
Harbour Town, Atlantic Dunes, Old South, Palmetto Dunes-RTJ, Heron Point, May River
91. Cape Town, South Africa
Pearl Valley, Arabella, Erinvale, De Zalze, Steenburg, Royal Cape
92. Helsinki, Finland
Kytaja-South East, Kytaja-North West, Linna, Nordcenter-Fream, Vierumaki-Cooke, Viipurin-Etelä-Saimaa
93-a. Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
Anfi Tauro, Real Las Palmas, Lopesan Meloneras, Maspalomas, Salobre-Old, Salobre-New
93-b. Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
Tecina, Abama, Golf del Sur, Buenavista, Las Americas, Costa Adeje
94. Mariana Islands
Mangilao, Leo Palace-Palmer, Leo Palace-Nicklaus, Lao Lao Bay-East, Kingfisher
95. Barcelona, Spain
PGA Catalunya-Stadium, El Prat-Pink, PGA Catalunya-Tour, El Prat-Yellow, Emporda-Forest, Pals
96. Central Mississippi, USA
Mossy Oak, Old Waverly, Dancing Rabbit-Azaleas, Dancing Rabbit-Oaks
97. Morocco
Royal Dar Es Salam-Red, Royal Dar Es Salam-Blue, Mazagan, Assoufid, Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech, PalmGolf Ourika
98. French Riviera
Terre Blanche-Chateau, Barbaroux, Chateau de Taulane, Royal Mougins, Cannes Mougins, Saint Endreol
99. Western Australia
Lake Karrinyup-Championship, The Links at Kennedy Bay, Joondalup, The Cut, Meadow Springs
