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From stunning ocean views to odd set-ups, we all have a golf course that’s particularly memorable to us. Some of the UK’s best golf courses have their quirks, like the fast-eroding Royal North Devon Golf Club, but there’s stranger sights to be had around the globe. From walking with free-roaming leopards to playing a tee 1,000 feet above ground, here’s the golf courses we’d really like to try…
Nullarbor Links, Australia
Nullarbor Links is also known as the longest course in the world, and it certainly is – by a long way. The 850-mile run passes through participating towns along the Eyre Highway, starting at Kalgoorlie in Western Australia and finishing in South Australia’s Ceduna. With an average distance of 50 miles between each hole, it’s definitely an undertaking – but you’ll be proud once you’ve finished the course.
Legend Golf & Safari Resort, South Africa
The main run of this course is fairly standard. It’s the longest golf course in South Africa, sure, but there’s little to shout about – that is, until you reach the 19thhole. This optional hole is a par-three, but the catch is that you need a helicopter to reach the tee – a whopping 1,410 feet up in the air on Hanglip Mountain. Luckily, there’s tracking equipment and video cameras to follow the ball.
Prison View Golf Course, Angola
You’d normally expect stunning countryside views or dramatic coastline while you’re golfing, but at this Louisiana course, nothing is ordinary. As the name suggests, the Prison View course is set in the grounds of the Louisiana State Penitentiary, which was once known as the ‘bloodiest prison in America’. If you fancy a go on this course, you’ll need to book at least 48 hours in advance and undergo a background check – and be prepared to evacuate if the warden insists.
Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course, Idaho
From helicopters to boats, this course is best known for its 14th hole, which floats 150 yards offshore. It’s the only floating green in the world, and players must take the Putter Boat shuttle to take a shot from the 15,000-square-feet surface.
Merapi Golf Course, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Want to add an element of mild peril to your game? How about playing around a live volcano? This course sits within lava-reaching range of Mount Merapi, an active volcano that last erupted in 2013, sending ash a mile into the air and blanketing the area in a layer of dust. The adrenaline rush might just make this the most memorable course ever – and the mountain makes an excellent backdrop, too.
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Uummannaq, Greenland
Forget the miles of green grass you’re used to – Uummannaq offers ice golf at its finest. This winter-white course is the setting for the World Ice Golf Championships, held every year, and the game involves some simple changes to normal golf, including orange balls (they’re easier to see) and larger holes.
Hans Merensky Golf Club, Phalaborwa, South Africa
Take a walk with nature’s most marvellous creatures during your next game of golf on this course, which is set along the edge of the Kruger National Pak, a wild animal preserve. You’ll be joined by predators and prey alike – giraffes roam freely around the park, leopards hang their fresh kill from trees and crocodiles hide out in the lakes.
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