Jacob Sjoman
GOLF Magazine’s inaugural ranking of the best courses in the Asia-Pacific region is long overdue. Not only does the area boast an eclectic mix of architecture, but it is also home to some of the best designs built this century.
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Wondering which Asia-Pacific country has the most top 100 courses in the inaugural GOLF ranking?
Turns out he wasn’t even close. Out of a total representation of 13 different countries, Australia won overwhelmingly, with 38 Top 100s, and an impressive 5 Top 10s.
Japan was next on the list with 15, followed by a two-way tie for third with New Zealand and China.
Check out the full breakdown of how the top 100 is distributed in each Asia Pacific country below.
More GOLF Course Rankings: World’s Top 100 Courses | Top 100 Courses in the US | Top 100 Courses You Can Play | Top 100 Worth Studying Courses in the USA | America’s Best Municipal Courses | Top 100 UK and Ireland Courses | Top 100 short courses in the world
Methodology: How we classify courses | Get to know our valuation experts
Top 100 Courses in Asia Pacific by Country
Australia (38)
1 – Royal Melbourne (West)
Blackrock, Australia
Alister Mackenzie, 1926
2. Kingston Heath
Cheltenham, Australia
Dan Souttar, 1925; Alister Mackenzie, 1926
5. Barnbugle Dunes
Bridport, Australia
Tom Doak / Mike Clayton, 2004
8. Royal Melbourne (East)
Blackrock, Australia
Alex Russell / Mick Morcom, 1932
9. Victoria
Cheltenham, Australia
Alister Mackenzie, 1927; Ogilvy Clayton Cooking & Mead, 2019
10. New South Wales
La Perouse, Australia
Alastair Mackenzie / Eric Apperly, 1947
15. Cape Wickham
King Island, Australia
Mike DeVries / Darius Oliver, 2015
16. The Lost Barnbugle Farm
Bridport, Australia
Bill Core / Ben Crenshaw, 2010
18. Ellerston
Hunter Valley, Australia
Greg Norman / Bob Harrison 2001
20. Royal Adelaide
Adelaide, Australia
H Rimmel/C. Gardner, 1906; Alister Mackenzie, 1926
22. Peninsula Kingswood (North)
Frankston, Australia
Sloan-Morpeth, 1965; Ogilvy Clayton Cocking & Mead, 2018
24. St. Andrews Beach
St Andrews Beach, Australia
Tom Doak / Mike Clayton, 2004
25 Galilee.
Cape Shank, Australia
Greg Norman/Bob Harrison, 2000
27. The National (Gunnamatta)
Cape Shank, Australia
Thomson, Wolferidge & Perrett, 2000; Tom Doc, 2019
29- Newcastle
Fern Bay, Australia
Fred Popplewell Sr., 1915; Eric Apperly, 1932
31. Metropolitan
South Oakley, Australia
J.B. Mackenzie, 1908; Dick Wilson, 1960
36. Carineop Lake
Carignop, Australia
Alex Russell, 1928; Mike Clayton, 2007
39. Ocean Dunes
King Island, Australia
Graeme Grant, 2016
41. Forests
Mordialock, Australia
JDH Scott, 1919
43 – Koyonga
Lockles, Australia
Herbert Rimmel, 1923; Neil Crafter / Paul Mugford, 2012
44. Yara Yara
Bentley, Australia
Alex Russell, 1929; Tom Doak, 2021
46. Peninsula Kingswood (South)
Frankston, Australia
Sloan-Morpeth, 1965; Ogilvy Clayton Cocking & Mead, 2018
48- Commonwealth
Oakley South, Australia
Sam Bennett, 1921; Charles Lane, 1927; Sloan-Morpeth, 1938
58. Baron’s Heads
Barron Heads, Australia
Victor East, 1921; Neil Crafter / Paul Mugford, 2005
60. Royal Canberra
Yarralumla, Australia
John Harris, 1961; Ogilvy Clayton Cocking & Mead, 2016
62. Grange (West)
Grange, Australia
Herbert Rimmel, 1927; Verne Morcom, 1965; Mike Clayton, 2008
65. The Lake District
Eastlakes, Australia
Von Haag / Bruce Devlin, 1968; Mike Clayton, 2007
78- Time.
Cape Shank, Australia
Robert Trent Jones Jr., 1988
79. The Dunes
Rye, Australia
Tony Cashmore, 1995
81. The Thirteenth Beach (The Beach).
Barron Heads, Australia
Tony Cashmore, 2001
83. Cathedral Lodge
Thornton, Australia
Greg Norman, 2017
84. Lonsdale Links
Point Lonsdale, Australia
Ogilvy Cooking & Mead, 2020
92. Glenelg
Novar Gardens, Australia
Herbert Rimmel, 1927; Verne Morcom, 1954; Neil Crafter / Bob Twohy, 1998
93. Port Fairy
Port Ferry, Australia
Members, 1963; Kevin Hartley, 1985; Mike Clayton 2002
95. Royal Queensland
Brisbane, Australia
Carnegie Clark, 1921; Mike Clayton 2005
96. Australian
Rosebery, Australia
Jack Nicklaus, 1976, 2013
98- Abdul Majeed.
Connolly, Australia
Robert Trent Jones Jr., 1985
100- Burcy
Portsea, Australia
Jock Young, 1926; Sloan Morpeth / Jack Howard, 1960; Mike Clayton 2000
Japan (15)
4. Hirono
Miki Chi, Japan
C.H. Allison/Chozo Ito, 1932; Martin Ebert, 2019
6 – Kawana (Fuji)
This is Japan
C. H. Allison / Komio Ohtani / Kenya Fujita, 1936
19. Tokyo
Sayama City, Japan
Komio Ohtani, 1940; Jill Hansi, 2018
21. Naruto
Kawanishi, Japan
Joe Crane / Harry Crane / Bertie Crane, 1930; C. H. Allison, 1931
26 – Yokohama (West)
Yokohama, Japan
Takeo Ayama, 1958; Bill Core/Ben Crenshaw, 2016
28. Kasumigaseki (East)
Kawagoe, Japan
Kenya Fujita / Shiro Akaboshi, 1929; Tom Fazio / Logan Fazio, 2016
32. Uno
This, Japan
Osamu Ueda, 1961
35. Apricot
Abeko, Japan
Rokuro and Shiro Akaboshi, 1931; Brian Silva/Ki Julby, 2013
40. Osaka
Misaki, Japan
Osamu Ueda, 1937
45. Nico
Nikko, Japan
Seiichi Inoue, 1955; Taizo Kawata, 2001
67. Koga
from Japan
Osamu Ueda, 1953; Shuichi Suzuki, 1996; Ko Tanehira, 2005
68. Oarai
Ourai, Japan
Seiichi Inoue, 1953
70. Shimonoseki
Ahimonoseki, Japan
Osamu Ueda, 1956
80. Hokkaido Classic
Abera, Japan
Jack Nicklaus, 1991
85- Kasumigaseki (West).
Kawagoe, Japan
Kinya Fujita / Seiichi Inoue, 1932; Taizo Kawata, 1994
New Zealand (10)
3. Your country
Te Arai, New Zealand
Tom Doak, 2015
7 – Te Arai (South)
Tomarata, New Zealand
Bill Core/Ben Crenshaw, 2022
11. The Cape Snatchers
Te Awanga, New Zealand
Tom Doak, 2004
17. Praparaumu Beach
Paraparaumu Beach, New Zealand
Alex Russell, 1949
34. Kauri Cliffs
Matori Bay, New Zealand
David Harman, 2000
52- Titirangi
Auckland, New Zealand
Alister Mackenzie, 1927
54. Kinloch
Kinloch, New Zealand
Jack Nicklaus, 2007
56. Jack Point
Queenstown, New Zealand
John Darby, 2008
69. Arrowtown
Arrowtown, New Zealand
Reg Romans/BV Right, 1936; By the right, 1971
82. Waverly
Waverley, New Zealand
Ernie Southern, 1965
China (10)
13- Shenqin Bay
Hainan, China
Bill Core / Ben Crenshaw, 2012
30 – Lanhai Int’l (Yangtze Dunes)
Chongming Island, China
Jack Nicklaus, 2011; Ogilvy Clayton Cocking & Mead, 2018
42. Mission Hills (Blackstone)
Haikou, China
Brian Curley, 2010
61. Dunes in eastern Shenzhou
Wanning, China
Tom Weiskopf / Phil Smith, 2012
63. Mission Hills (Hainan Lava Fields)
Haikou, Hainan, China
Brian Curley, 2011
64. Lake Mälaren (Masters)
Shanghai, China
Jack Nicklaus, 2011
66. Shanghai Links
Shanghai, China
Jack Nicklaus, 1999
89. Dunes in Western Shenzhou
Wanning, China
Tom Weiskopf / Phil Smith, 2010
91- Royal Hong Kong (composite)
Sheung Shui, China
Eden: LS Greenhill, 1931; John Hopkins / Peter Thompson, 1968; New: John Hopkins / Peter Thompson / Michael Wolfridge, 1970
94. Nicklaus Club Beijing
Beijing, China
Jack Nicklaus, 2014
Vietnam (8)
33. Hoiana Shores
Quang Nam, Vietnam
Robert Trent Jones Jr., 2020
49. FLC Quang Binh (Forest Dunes)
Hai Ninh, Quang Binh, Vietnam
Brian Curley, 2018
55.FLC Quy Nhon (Ocean-Nicklaus)
Binh Dinh, Vietnam
Jack Nicklaus, 2016
57. The Bluffs Grand at Ho Tram BA
Ria Vung Tau, Vietnam
Greg Norman, 2010
59. BRG Da Nang (Nicklaus)
Da Nang, Vietnam
Jack Nicklaus, 2020
71. FLC Quang Binh (Ocean Dunes)
Hai Ninh, Vietnam
Brian Curley, 2019
73. Stone Valley
Kim Bang, Hanam, Vietnam
Brian Curley, 2018
87. Laguna Lang Inc
Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam
Nick Faldo, 2013
South Korea (7)
12. The Nine Bridges Club
Jeju Island, South Korea
Ron Frame / David Dale, 2001
14. Southern Cape Owners Club
Namhae-gun, South Korea
Kyle Phillips, 2013
37. Whistle Whistle (Temple / Cocoon).
Chuncheon, South Korea
Ted Robinson Jr., 2011; Eric Iverson, 2017
50. Pine Beach (Pine / Beach).
Haenam, South Korea
JR Bird/David Dell, 2009
74. Jack Nicklaus JC
Incheon, South Korea
Jack Nicklaus, 2010
88. Haesley Nine Bridges
Yeoju-jun, South Korea
David Dale, 2009
97. Proverb
Gunpo-Si, South Korea
Chuhei Miyazawa, 1968; Robert Trent Jones, Jr., 1997
Thailand (6)
38. Ayodhya
Poh Talu, Thailand
Thompson & Perrett, 2007; Pitak Intrawityanunt, 2012
47. Stonehill
Sam Khok, Thailand
Kyle Phillips, 2022
51. Ballyshear
Tambun Bang Po, Thailand
Jill Hansi, 2022
76. Amata Rabie
Tambon Nong Mae Daeng, Thailand
Lee Schmidt / Brian Curley, 2005
90. Blue Canyon (Canyon).
Tambun Mai Khao, Thailand
Yoshikazu Kato, 1991
99 – Fasting (old)
Tambunpong, Thailand
Ishisuke Izumi, 1971; Lee Schmidt, 2007
Indonesia (1)
65 – Jajurawi (old)
Putri Mountain, Indonesia
Thomson Wolfridge, 1979
Malaysia (1)
86 – Saujana (Palm)
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Ron Frame, 1986
Myanmar (1)
72. Meowtha National
Sagaing, Myanmar
Lee Schmidt/Brian Curley, 2018
Nepal (1)
23- The Himalayas
Pokhara, Nepal
R.B. Jurong, 1994
Singapore (1)
53 – Sentosa (Serapong)
Singapore
Ronald Frame, 1982
Sri Lanka (1)
77 – Victoria
Digana, Sri Lanka
Donald Steele / Martin Ebert, 1999