We all have our bucket list courses — those places you just have to see and experience. And, unlike hearing about someone else’s fantasy football team, it’s actually fun to discuss other wishlists with friends.
Whether your bucket list consists of desert, links or traditional courses, here are five golf courses you most likely have not played — and may be inclined to consider adding to your bucket list:
Thailand: Mountain Creek Golf Resort & Residences
Twenty-seven holes designed by Seve Ballesteros are the focal point of this all-in-one resort. Bearing the names Highland, Creek and Valley, three nines are lined with dense forest, water hazards and sand traps.
Located two hours from Bangkok and 30 minutes from Khao Yai National Park, Mountain Creek is accessible for anyone visiting the capital city and its surrounding areas.
Vietnam: Dalat Palace Golf Club
At 5,000 feet above sea level, this 7,009-yard course tests golfer’s lungs as it does their golf games. A series of small lakes come into play on 10 of the holes, so make sure the high altitude doesn’t affect your club selection.
The course originally opened in the 1930s and featured six holes — the Emperor Bao Dai discovered golf on a trip to France and upon returning, he had the course built. In 1945 it was abandoned when the emperor relocated to Hong Kong, only to be revived and expanded nine years later. The current 18-hole layout was put together starting in 1994.
Sri Lanka: Victoria Golf & Country Resort
Situated two hours from India and three hours from Singapore, Sri Lanka’s Victoria Golf & Country Resort is reachable from some of the most populated areas of this part of the world. The 6,945-yard, par-73 course is planted with imported Bermuda grass and the greens were built to USGA specifications.
In terms of accommodations, there are 15 lodges, bearing names like Eagle Lodge and Sanctuary, from which to choose. Stunning views of the Knuckles Mountain Range are everywhere.
Turkey: Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort & Spa
Designed by Sir Nick Faldo, this golf resort will make you feel like royalty. Twenty-seven holes of championship-caliber golf are laid out on a plot of land in southern Turkey, right across from the Mediterranean Sea. The views are inviting and the golf is fantastic.
There’s also a David Leadbetter Golf Academy set to open on the grounds, so guests can work on their game while staying in this Turkish golf paradise. After your round, relax at the pool, dine at the Diamond Main Restaurant, and sleep in a Lake House, which are villas that dot the landscape.
Tunisia: Houda Golf and Beach Club
This resort is located on the beach. Literally. So after playing 18 holes along the Mediterranean Sea, put on your swim trunks and go for a dip in one of the resort’s pools. And then lay on the sandy beach and work on your tan.
The golf course is lined with native grasses but without many trees, so it’s essentially a links style layout. Waste bunkers provide a buffer between the course and the sea.
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