Golf's 50 greatest destinations : Going on a golf vacation? For our 50th anniversary, we rank the 50 best places

When GOLF DIGEST began 50 years ago, there were just 5,000 courses in the United States, and almost two-thirds of them were private. Golf vacations--and places to take them--were rare. Today, America has more than 16,000 courses, more than two-thirds of them are public, and many of the best ones are clustered in wonderful parts of the country. The game has boomed internationally, too, so there are a lot of great new foreign golf destinations. Never have so many had so much choice of places to visit and play.

To mark our 50th anniversary, we decided to rank for the first time the best golf destinations in the world, from an American perspective. We compiled a ballot consisting of 95 golf-travel destinations--with space for write-in candidates--and sent a copy to each of our 700-plus low-handicap, avid course-ranking panelists. We asked them all to rate each destination they had visited in the previous two years, or were very familiar with, on a scale of 1 (very bad) to 10 (very good). What are the ingredients of a good golf destination? We left it up to the panelists to decide, but suggested that a good golf destination might be one that has:

* A good variety of terrific courses;

* a strong "golf ambience";

* a great setting;

* other area attractions/amenities;

* a good variety of quality accommodations;

* good value;

* good service;

* easy travel, both to and from the destination, and also within it.

The most important question we told the panelists to ask themselves for each destination was this: "How much would a typical reader of Golf Digest enjoy a trip there?"

The response was terrific. We received an avalanche of ballots, averaged the scores, and ranked them.

The results (on the gatefold to the right) include many great talking points--look at the incredibly tight photo finish between Monterey and St. Andrews for top honors--and some surprises. Northern Ireland, for instance, did better than anyone could have expected. Kauai ahead of the Big Island? Austin ahead of San Antonio? Everyone will have an opinion.

50 GREATEST GOLF DESTINATIONS

1. Monterey, Calif.                                Average score: 9.309

Perhaps the world's most sublime landscape for golf. The pinnacle is Pebble
Beach; nearby are Spyglass Hill and The Links at Spanish Bay. Cheaper options
abound inland in Carmel Valley.

2. St. Andrews, Scotland                                          9.304

The fountainhead: Golf has been played here since at least the 15th century.
Play the revered Old Course, but don't miss the New and Jubilee, too. Great
additions nearby such as Kingsbarns.

3. Pinehurst/Southern Pines, N.C.                                 9.137

Golf is Pinehurst's raison d'etre. Pinehurst Resort alone has eight courses,
including famed No. 2. Countless other great layouts in the vicinity such as
The Plantation, Mid Pines and Pine Needles.

4. Northern Ireland                                               9.017

Forget "The Troubles": Royal Portrush and Royal County Down are the two best
courses in Ireland. Others worth a visit: Castlerock, Portstewart and Royal
Belfast.

5. Southwest Scotland/Ayrshire                                    8.775

Play the holy trinity of Turnberry, Prestwick and Royal Troon, about an hour
south of Glasgow, with 34 British Opens among them. Western Gailes and
Macrihanish are must-plays, too.

6. Southwest Ireland/County Kerry                                 8.750

Ballybunion, Dooks, Killarney, Tralee, Waterville--these are the experiences
of a lifetime. Be sure to hop across the Shannon to County Clare and play
Lahinch.

7. Sheboygan, Wis.                                                8.697

What it lacks in quantity of golf it more than makes up for in quality: two
five-star courses at Blackwolf Run and the magnificent two-year-old
Whistling Straits. All three classic Pete Dye designs.

8. Phoenix/Scottsdale                                             8.607

This part of the desert is packed full of super-deluxe, perfectly manicured
courses such as The Boulders, Grayhawk, The Raven at South Mountain and Troon
North. Keep away from the cholla cacti.

9. Greater Myrtle Beach, S.C.                                     8.577

Golftown U.S.A. More than 100 courses along the strip, and it's still
growing. Quality, quantity, affordability--it's all here. Try Caledonia, The
Dunes, Heritage, The Legends, Tidewater and Wild Wing.

10. Hilton Head Island, S.C.                                      8.402

Not quite as much golf as Myrtle Beach, but not nearly as many T-shirt shops,
either. Play PGA Tour stop Harbour Town or Palmetto Hall, then take the
ferry to the peaceful Daufuskie Island Resort.

11. Palm Springs/Palm Desert, Calif.                              8.401

There are now more than 100 courses in the Coachella Valley, making the area
a kind of Myrtle Beach West. PGA West, La Quinta and Mission Hills North are
the three big resorts in town.

12. Northern Michigan                                             8.397

The golf boom around Traverse City and Gaylord continues unabated. Too many
great courses to sample in just one trip. Mountain golf, links golf,
lakeside golf--it's all here. Bay Harbor is the king.

13. Northwest England/Southport                                   8.365

On a stretch of coast between Liverpool and Blackpool are Hoylake, Formby,
Hillside, Southport & Ainsdale, Royal Birkdale (England's best course),
Royal Lytham and St. Annes. What are you waiting for?

14. Los Cabos, Mexico                                             8.297

Once a sleepy fishing village on the southern tip of Baja California, now a
bona fide golf mecca. The best golf in all of Mexico is here: Cabo del Sol,
Cabo Real, Cabo San Lucas and Palmilla. Paradise.

15. Dublin, Ireland                                               8.269

Dublin's a great city with 36 great links holes at Portmarnock, the Arnold
Palmer-designed K-Club (site of the 2005 Ryder Cup), Druids Glen and the
European Club, among others. Plus Guinness.

16. Maui and Lanai, Hawaii                                        8.216

The best of Hawaii. Maui has the state's only 54-hole complexes--Kapalua and
Wailea--and much else besides. The two courses on its little sister, Lanai,
are definitely worth the trip, too.

17. Kauai, Hawaii                                                 8.172

Perhaps the most peaceful and untrammeled of Hawaii's major islands, the
"Garden Isle" boasts the sublime Princeville Resort, Kauai Lagoons and Poipu
Bay, among other places to play.

18. Big Island, Hawaii                                            8.104

The dry Kohala Coast of Hawaii's biggest island presents Hualalai, Mauna
Kea, Mauna Lani and Waikoloa. Where else can you play golf in the morning
and watch an erupting volcano in the afternoon?

19. Whistler, B.C., Canada                                        8.063

The big four at this delectable mountain hideaway, 90 minutes north of the
utopian city of Vancouver, are Big Sky, Chateau Whistler, Nicklaus North
and Whistler, scenic wonders all.

20. The Algarve, Portugal                                         7.900

Long a playground for Europe's golfers, increasingly popular among Americans.
Quinta do Lago is the ultimate resort; also visit San Lorenzo, Vale de Lobo
and Vilamoura. Great seafood, vinho verde.

21. Dominican Republic                                            7.882

The terrific Teeth of the Dog course at the 36-hole Casa de Campo is the
heart of Caribbean golf; a Pebble Beach with palm trees. Try the island's
other layouts, too, such as Metro and Playa Grande.

22. Brunswick/Sea Island, Ga.                                     7.878

Golf aplenty in the Golden Isles. The 36-hole Sea Island Golf Club, including
the Tom Fazio-revamped Seaside Course, is truly great. Don't miss nearby
Jekyll Island, St. Simons Island and Sea Palms.

23. Central Oregon/Bend                                           7.872

Splendid mountain scenery and the Crosswater course at Sunriver--perhaps the
finest public-access course in the Northwest--are the major draws. Also play
Black Butte and Eagle Crest.

24. Williamsburg, Va.                                             7.871

Plenty of golf (especially Golden Horseshoe, Kingsmill and the twin bombasts
of Royal New Kent and Stonehouse) and history (visit the restoration of 1775
Colonial Williamsburg).

25. Costa del Sol/Marbella, Spain                                 7.844

Europe's equivalent of Myrtle Beach--plentiful golf, sunshine and souvenirs.
The 1997 Ryder Cup venue Valderrama is the crown jewel, but don't miss Aloha,
Las Brisas, Sotogrande, Torrequebrada.

26. Prince Edward Island, Canada                                  7.833

Canada's smallest province offers the exquisite Links at Crowbush Cove,
perhaps Canada's best, plus Brudenell River Resort, half a dozen other good
courses and Anne of Green Gables memorabilia.

27. Calgary/Canadian Rockies                                      7.829

Sublime backdrops for golf. Best bets are Banff Springs, Canmore, Heritage
Pointe, Jasper Park, the excellent Robert Trent Jones-designed 36 holes at
Kananaskis and SilverTip. Take a camera.

28. Orlando                                                       7.828

More tour pros per square mile here than any other city. The best
public-access golf is at Bay Hill, Grand Cypress, Orange County National and
Disney, which has 99 holes and Mickey Mouse, too.

29. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada                              7.778

Tough to get to, but worth the effort. The revered 1941 Stanley
Thompson-designed Highlands Links is the pride of New Scotland. A great
new addition is the three-year-old Bell Bay.

30. Tucson                                                        7.768

A booming city, higher and a few degrees cooler than Phoenix-Scottsdale, with
more than 30 public-access courses including the Raven at Sabino Springs,
Ventana Canyon and Vistoso.

31. Robert Trent Jones Trail, Alabama                             7.764

This ambitious state-funded loop of eight golf complexes built around the
state in the past decade has been a huge success. Each of the 36- or 54-hole
site stops presents top-quality, affordable golf.

32. Virginia/West Virginia mountains                              7.727

Two great old 54-hole resorts on either side of the state line: The
Greenbrier in West Virginia (say hello to Sam Snead) and The Homestead in
Virginia. The latter's Cascades Course is the pick.

33. Oregon coast                                                  7.643

Breathtaking Bandon Dunes, Golf Digest's Best New Upscale Public Course last
year, on a cliff high above the Pacific, is alone worth the trip. Be sure to
scoot an hour up the coast to Sandpines, too.

34. Greater Charleston, S.C.                                      7.638

Kiawah Island Resort has five great layouts--including 1991 Ryder Cup venue
Ocean Course--and Wild Dunes Resort has two. In between are plenty of others,
and a terrific, walkable, historic town.

35. San Diego                                                     7.633

Home of the beautiful people: Perfect year-round climate, plenty of good
golf. Aviara, La Costa and Torrey Pines are the big stops. Hop across the
border for a cheap round and cheap tequila in Tijuana.

36. Las Vegas                                                     7.574

The one sure bet in town is the golf. By day play the Desert Inn, Lake Las
Vegas, Las Vegas Pauite Resort, Reflection Bay, Royal Links or the TPC at
The Canyons. By night play the slots.

37. Jacksonville/St. Augustine, Fla.                              7.545

Ponte Vedra Beach: home of the PGA Tour and much great golf, including
Players Championship venue TPC at Sawgrass. Don't miss Amelia Island to the
north nor the World Golf Village to the south.

38. Lake Oconee, Ga.                                              7.517

The action here is at Reynolds Plantation, a complex of 54 holes, all of them
great (especially the Great Waters Course). A strong nearby addition is the
two-year-old Golf Club at Cuscowilla.

39. Colorado Rockies                                              7.500

Celestial courses at altitudes that make your drives soar. Play Beaver Creek,
Breckenridge--a rare Jack Nicklaus muny--Cordillera, Eagle Vail, Keystone
Ranch, Pole Creek, River Valley Ranch, Sonnenalp.

40. Wales                                                         7.469

Oft-overlooked part of the British Isles, especially among golfers. Lots of
great, cheap, un-busy links--try Aberdovey, Royal Porthcawl and Royal St.
David's (in the shadow of Harlech castle) for starters.

41. Brainerd area, Minnesota                                      7.462

This up-and-coming destination features Breezy Point Resort, the Classic at
Madden's Resort, Cuyuna, Grand View Lodge Resort, the Legacy Courses at
Cragun's, The Preserve and Whitefish.

42. Reno/Lake Tahoe, Nevada/California                            7.444

"The Biggest Little City in the World" isn't as glitzy as its sibling, Las
Vegas, but the Reno area has the sublime Lake Tahoe and plenty of great new
golf courses. Edgewood Tahoe is a must-play.

43. Austin, Tex.                                                  7.432

The state capital offers three great courses at Barton Creek (Fazio Course
gets highest marks), plus Forest Creek, Horseshoe Bay (54 holes), Lakeway
(36), Roy Kizer (18). Stroll funky Old Pecan Street.

44. North Carolina mountains                                      7.407

It's still the good old days up in this rarefied air. The high life can be
found especially at Etowah Valley, Hound Ears, Linville, Mount Mitchell,
Olde Beau and Reems Creek.

45. San Antonio                                                   7.355

Texas Open venue La Cantera is the best game in town. Also: Brackenridge
Park (Tillinghast design), Canyon Springs, Cedar Creek, Hill Country,
Mission del Lago, The Quarry and Tapatio Springs.

46. Flathead Valley, Montana                                      7.313

A new destination, right beside Glacier National Park. Half a dozen fine
courses including Buffalo Hill, Eagle Bend, Northern Pines and Whitefish
Lake. Drive four hours to Old Works in Anaconda, too.

47. West Palm Beach, Fla.                                         7.302

The most golf-saturated county in America includes the elegant Boca Raton
Resort, Emerald Dunes, the 90-hole PGA National and Polo Trace. Head north
an hour to PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie.

48. Newport Beach/Orange County, Calif.                           7.152

The 36-hole Tom Fazio-designed Pelican Hill is the pick of the shoreline
south of Los Angeles. Nearby Tijeras Creek and Tustin Ranch are also worth
escaping from the city to play.

49. Bermuda                                                       7.140

This tiny, quaint British dependency due east of North Carolina has eight
strong courses, all within an easy moped ride of each other. The C.B.
Macdonald-designed Mid Ocean is the best.

50. Puerto Rico                                                   7.125

With courses like El Conquistador, Dorado Beach, Palmas del Mar and Rio Mar,
not to mention the historic port of Old San Juan, there are plenty of
reasons to visit this Caribbean U.S. commonwealth.

RELATED ARTICLE: Up-and-comers

A testament to just how blessed we are with great places to play is all the terrific destinations that didn't quite make the cut. There are many strong up-and-comers, where golf is booming but word hasn't quite got out yet, such as Atlantic City, N.J.; Biloxi/ Mississippi-Alabama Gulf Coast; the Florida Panhandle; Ocean City, Md.; St. George, Utah; southern Oregon/ Medford; Virginia Beach.

Visit them now to beat the crowds.

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