The Top 10 Golf Courses in the World

Adam Scott became the first Australian golfer to win the 2013 Masters Tournament by beating 2009 Masters champion Angel Cabrera with a birdie on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff at the Augusta National Golf Club course in Georgia.

This year's field consisted of 87 professionals and six amateurs, representing a total of 20 countries, so what better time than to take a look at the ten best golf courses in the world today.

10. Merion Golf Club

Designed by Hugh Wilson in 1912, Merion Golf Club's East Course is a regular contender as one of the best places to play golf on the planet.
A test for the best drivers off the tee with its narrow fairways and thick rough, the fact that it isn't one of the longest courses in the world shouldn't hide from the fact this can be one of the most challenging.

9. Shinnecock Hills

Another regular in most top 10 courses list, Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, New York has an interesting history behind it.

Originally built with the help of 150 Shinnecock Indians in 1891 before being modernised in 1931 by William Flynn, the course is a refreshing break from the usual pristine courses offered up in the States. Shinnecock takes full advantage of the usually windy conditions to offer a unique challenge.

8. Muirfield

The first of the links course on our list, Muirfield regularly hosts The Open Championship. A snapshot of rough, rural Scotland, the East Lothian course is unusual for a links course in that it has two loops of nine holes, unlike other similar courses which run in one direction up the coast then back again.

7. Royal Birkdale

The first English course on our list, high dunes and ribbons of fairway laced through long grass make this Lancashire course a challenge for the very best in the world.
Birkdale last hosted the Open Championship back in 2008, with Pedriag Harrington coming out on top for the second of his career.

6. Oakment

Once described as the most difficult golf test in America, Oakment boasts over 200 bunkers across its 18 holes, meaning one errant shot could leave you in serious trouble.
Indebted to golfing heritage from across the pond, Oakment is wild, windy and dangerous for anyone hoping to keep their lost ball count down.

5. Pebble Beach

An absolutely iconic American golf course, Pebble beach offers pristine fairways and forgiven rough all tailored towards hard hitters.
The beautiful coastline scenery offers a stunning backdrop to a truly iconic course.

4. Pine Valley

Flanked by dauntingly tall pines as the name suggests, Pine Valley is a paradise for those who can keep the ball on the short stuff - but there are demons lurking if you veer a little off course.
Steep drop-offs, woodland, and water will greet you if your ball control lets you down but get on a roll and you'll feel like a king.

3. St. Andrews

Into the top three and first up is the historic and iconic Old Course at St. Andrews. The birthplace of golf which is steeped in 600 years of history, this course is truly one of the most difficult to master, especially when you factor in the unpredictable conditions.
However it will all be worth it when you take the stroll up the 18th and over the Swilcan Bridge, where many golfing icons have toasted their wins at the Open

2. Cypress Point

In at number two is genuinely one of the finest golf courses on the planet; indeed on many lists it claims the top spot for itself.

What makes it so special? Well for starters the truly fearsome Pacific Ocean laps the craggy rocks beneath part of the course to offer a sensational backdrop. Factor in the idiosyncratic nature of some of the shorter holes and you have a pretty potent mix for a sensational round of golf.

1. Augusta

Yep, at number one it's Augusta, home of the Masters. Not only is it steeped in history like some of its British counterparts but it also boasts some treacherous holes.
Sky-high trees, pristine white sand and devilish par-fives, this course really does have it all.