Golf Digest have released their annual list of the world’s best 100 golf courses, and Ireland has a record 14 entries
15:21, 26 May 2026Updated 15:30, 26 May 2026
A 360 degree photosphere of Royal County Down golf course(Image: Stephen Barnes via Getty Images)
Ireland’s reputation for world-class golf courses is well established, but now it’s been officially confirmed — the Emerald Isle is home to 14 of the planet’s top 100 courses, according to Golf Digest.
Golf Digest is the world’s foremost golf publication, offering in-depth coverage of instruction, equipment, course rankings and professional tour news. As a leading authority on the sport globally, their annual top 100 courses list is always required reading for golf enthusiasts.
It’s safe to say the publication’s experts have a particular fondness for Ireland’s links courses.
“Ireland’s links are wild and wooly, bouncy and rugged. Some of golf’s biggest dunes are found in the country’s north at places like Carne, which enters this year’s ranking of the World’s 100 Greatest Courses at No. 63, and Enniscrone. You can get lost in there, or at the very least spun around and made dizzy,” say Golf Digest.
“Moving south toward Lahinch, Ballybunion and Waterville, the dunes get smaller but are by no means small-they are still some of the most impressive and exciting in the game. Though not a links, Old Head, due south, is one of the most audacious settings for a golf course on earth, a one of one.
“And even Ireland’s east coast, north and south of Dublin, is stocked with some of the sport’s most underappreciated links like Brittas Bay (formerly The European Club), County Louth and The Island.”
Northern Ireland destination Royal County Down has claimed the title of the world’s best golf course for the sixth consecutive year. The venue is also a personal favourite of back-to-back Masters winner Rory McIlroy.
Golf Digest observes: “On a clear spring day, with Dundrum Bay to the east, the Mountains of Mourne to the south and gorse-covered dunes in golden bloom, there is no lovelier place in golf.”
St Andrews, the spiritual home of golf, secures second position, while Muirfield and Royal Dornoch (both in Scotland) complete the top four.
Another Northern Irish treasure features in the top five, with Royal Portrush, host venue for the 2025 Open Championship, making the grade. Last year it held fourth position globally.
A general view of Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland. Picture date: Tuesday April 22, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story GOLF Open. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire.
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“Portrush is still the only Irish course to host The Open. In a remake ahead of the 2019 Open at Portrush, architect Martin Ebert Ebert retained most of H.S. Colt’s greens, considered one of the best set of putting surfaces in the world, but remodeled others such as at the par-4 10th that were built after Colt left, better working them into the contours of the surrounding dunes.”
Ballybunion in Kerry represents the sole Republic of Ireland entry in Golf Digest’s Top 10.
“Ballybunion has always been great, but it wasn’t until they relocated the clubhouse in 1971 to the southern end that it became thrilling. Tom Watson’s effusive praise for the course after his first visit in 1981 also helped put the relatively unknown Ballybunion on everyone’s mind,” Golf Digest noted. Just two other courses feature in the world’s top 50 — Lahinch in Co Clare and Portmarnock in Dublin.
Lahinch has moved up the rankings, having previously held the 27th position.
“Considered by some to be the St. Andrews of Ireland, the splendid links at Lahinch reflects evolution in golf architecture,” Golf Digest notes.
Of Portmarnock, they say: “A true links on rolling ground with soft rather than dramatic dunes, Portmarnock, on a spit of land in the Irish Sea north of Dublin, is known for its routing, which hasn’t been altered in over a hundred years and was revolutionary at the time for constantly changing wind direction with every shot.”
The breathtaking Waterville in Kerry sits at 52nd, with St Patrick’s Links in the Downings, Donegal placed at 58th.
Carne in Sligo makes a fresh appearance in the Golf Digest top 100 — described by their experts as ‘no longer a hidden gem but a destination of its own’.
Old Head of Kinsale is ranked 72nd, while Brittas Bay in Wicklow sits at 83rd in the global standings.
The 2027 Ryder Cup venue, Adare Manor, enters the rankings for the first time this year at 84th.
Portstewart, situated on the north coast in Co Derry, has risen to 87th from 92nd last year, while Rosses Point in Sligo occupies 90th place.
Another Kerry treasure in Tralee also secures a top 100 ranking, coming in at 91st.
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