 Nowadays golf is played in just about every country on earth. There are one or two countries such as the Ukraine and Yemen that have not yet found the delights of golf, but not many. At the last count, there were something like 32,000 listed courses.
So, what are some of the more notable courses?
Well, when it comes to the longest course one contender has to be the International Golf Club in Boston, Massachusetts which, from the "Tiger Woods" tees is 8,325 yards long. From the regular tees the course is a mere 6,547 yards long.
Another contender for the world's longest course is a course situated in a mountainous region of China near the Himalayas which claims to be 8,548 yards long. However, at an elevation of 10,000 feet, this claim is hard to verify.
For those who love sand traps then Hell's Half Acre at the Pine Valley Course in New Jersey is a must. Similarly, if you love playing on large greens then pop back again to Massachusetts and try the green on the 5th at the International Golf Club which is a staggering 28,000 square feet.
At 909 yards, the world's longest single hole is to be found at the Satsuki Golf Club in Japan. Of course by the time you read this a longer hole may well have been built, since nowadays it's cheaper to build golf courses than it is to build office blocks.
Or how about the world's highest golf course. This honor falls to the Tactu Golf Club in Morochocha, Peru which, at its lowest point, is 14,335 feet above sea level.
Now if, rather than being intrigued by statistics, you're actually looking for something you can play, then there are still a number of very interesting golf courses around the world to try.
Scotland, of course, is home to many of the finest courses in the world. Although not one of the prettiest or even the most difficult of courses, the course near Stromness is fascinating, situated as it is only a few minutes from the 5,000 year old burial mound of Maes Howe.
India also boasts a number of very fine golf courses including the world's second oldest course located in Calcutta. Another delightful course is that of the Bangalore Golf Club, founded in 1876, with dry and sandy fairways but lush greens. There is also the Bombay Presidency Club built in 1827, although you have to watch out for the hazard at the 16th hole which is an elephant pit.
Another intriguing trap is that found on the 10th hole of the Kasumigaseki Golf Club in Japan. Opened in 1929, the hole crosses a deep ravine and also includes several man-swallowing sand traps. The holes on this course are separated by tall pines so, despite the fact that it's a long way away, it's easy to imagine that you're in Idaho.
Of course if it's scenery you're looking for, then you cannot do much better than to head for the Beijing Golf Club in China. Just 30 minutes from Beijing's International Airport you can look out on the Great Wall as you play the first hole.
Finally, although it's not the largest, or the oldest, or the highest or the most difficult of courses the Hidden Hills Resort near Hope, Idaho has some of the loveliest scenery of any course in the world. As you play the course wild deer and moose will wander only a few yards away at some of the water traps and, at the conclusion of your round, you can enjoy some of the finest food and drink for 100 miles around in the enormous log cabin style clubhouse.
If you would like to get away from it all for a while and simply concentrate on improving your golf then there is nothing better than or one of the many splendid golf vacations in Phoenix or Scottsdale golf vacations in Arizona. For more information please visit Golf-Unlimited.info
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