The world’s strangest golf courses

Getting trapped in a bunker is taken to a whole new level at the Mexican El Camaleón course at the Fairmont Mayakoba.

With huge subterranean caverns on the fairway, if your ball goes down one of these, you won’t be getting it back.

Greg Norman may lay claim to the course design, but he has to thank Mother Nature for the giving him the tools like the mangrove trees and the stunning Caribbean sea.
 

A very French dress code

La Jenny is not for the feint-hearted golfer. But it’s not the slick greens and narrow fairways that might put some off. It’s because La Jenny is based in a naturist resort.

That’s right – there are no golf gloves, plus fours or classic polo shirts here. Everything is au natural.

While it doesn’t have the full 18 holes, it does have a water hazard, a large putting green and driving range. You can learn from a pro or take lessons in a group. Either way, remember to take your sun tan lotion. 

One for squares

Golf courses are often designed to reflect and adapt to the natural surroundings. Hills, clumps of trees and water features become part of the game.

But at the Robert Cupp Course on Palmetto Hall Plantation they’ve done things a little differently.

While most courses are now designed using computers, this South Carolinan one looks like it was as well. Think sharp angles, unnatural squares, and other unusual shapes not normally found in nature.

Designed in 1993, despite the gimmicky nature of the design, the course is actually very playable and offers something different to look at. 

You’ll need a long drive

The Australian outback is somewhere you’d usually choose to avoid thanks to its high temperatures, lack of water and many dangerous creatures.

It’s not the sort of place you’d think about putting a golf course, never mind one that stretches for a massive 1,365 kilometres like the Nullarbor Links – the world’s longest golf course. For comparison that’s longer than Land’s End to John O’Groats.

Don’t worry though, you won’t have to chip your way across this vast landscape. The 18 holes are dotted between towns along the way. Though the terrain tends to be quite rocky, so make sure to pack your pitching irons. 
 

One for the bucket list

The Extreme 19^th at the Legend Golf & Safari Resort in South Africa isn’t the kind of hole you just play when passing through. It takes a bit of organisation – such as a helicopter ride to the tee.

That’s right; you tee off 400 metres above the pin, driving your opening shot down the Hanglip Mountain onto a green in the shape of Africa. It takes a whole 20 seconds for the ball to land after the drive.

Padraig Harrington was the first person to make a Par 3, but has since been beaten with many managing the tricky hole in just 2 shots. No one has managed a hole in one – yet.
 

Going long

While the Nullarbor Links might be the longest in terms of total distance covered, the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Club in China has the longest playable surface – measuring a massive 8,548 yards. That’s nearly 2,000 yards longer than the Old Course in St Andrews.

While it’s a 72-par course, few manage to get under 80 thanks to its 735-yard par 5, the 525-yard par 4 and 270-yard par 3.

Not only will the length take it out of you physically, so will the air you breathe. Set at over 3,000 metres above sea level, the air is thin.

Pin point accuracy

Think your drive is sorted and your approach play pretty good?  Then why not try the 5^th hole at the West Essex Golf Club?

With the smallest championship green in England, the ‘frying pan’ poses a challenge to even the best golfers.

Measuring just 14 yards across, the circular green covers a total area of 154 square yards, nearly half the size of the narrower, but longer, ‘postage stamp’ green at Royal Troon, which measures 300 square yards.