World's Most Beautiful Waterfront Golf Courses

May 15, 2013 // By Lydia Schrandt

By Lydia Schrandt
May 15, 2013

El Camaleón Riviera Maya Golf Club Photo courtesy of Fairmont Mayakoba

El Camaleón Riviera Maya Golf Club

The Greg Norman-designed course at El Camaleón Riviera Maya Golf Club takes you on a tour of three distinct Playa Del Carmen landscapes: the sandy oceanfront, the lush tropical jungle and the mangrove forest. It's one of the only courses in the world to incorporate a natural cenote into the fairway of the first hole, but for ocean views, it doesn't get much better than the 7th and 15th.

View over the green at Pebble Beach Photo courtesy of Christina Lauren

Pebble Beach Golf Links

Pebble Beach is deservedly one of the most famous courses on the planet, and all of golf's legends have teed off here. The championship course, opened in 1919, has hosted the US Open five times (with a sixth on the way) and often finds itself at the top of many a golfer's bucket list of courses.

Pacific Dunes Photo courtesy of pacificcoastamateur

Pacific Dunes

The Pacific Dunes course at Oregon's Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is reminiscent of classic Scottish links, with rippling fairways and natural bunkers surrounded by undulating coastal sand dunes. The short, rugged course tests your game with unpredictable winds necessitating an accurate approach.

Tom Weiskopf Golf Course - 4th hole Photo courtesy of One & Only Ocean Club

One & Only Ocean Club

The Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island is one of the best in the Caribbean, and while crosswinds make the course challenging for players of all levels, the views of the stunning Bahama coastline and its cerulean blue waters make it well worth the frustration.

15th Green at Cape Kidnappers Photo courtesy of Cape Kidnappers

Cape Kidnappers

If you're taking your game to the Asia Pacific region, Cape Kidnappers should be at the top of your list, as it's ranked as one of the best courses outside the US. The 7,119-yard course, built in 2004, lets you play along the precipitous cliffs of Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, and the 15th hole is considered one of the most scenic in the world.

Photo courtesy of Golf Course at Mauna Kea

Golf Course at Mauna Kea

Hawaii is a golfer's paradise with dozens of beautiful coastal courses, but if you're vacationing on the Big Island, the course at Mauna Kea is your best bet. Built atop a barren lava outcropping, the Golf Course at Mauna Kea offers views right at sea level at holes 3 and 11, and others from nearly 300 feet above. The signature third hole requires driving across a bay onto a green surrounded by seven large bunkers — beautiful and challenging.

Half Moon Bay Ocean Course Photo courtesy of Marc van der Chijs

Half Moon Bay Ocean Course

Set on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Half Moon Bay Ocean Course offers 18 holes of beautiful views. The 6,914-yard course is fashioned after a classic Scottish links, where the natural terrain plays a major part in the game. While you can see the ocean from every hole, you won't believe the views from 16, 17 and 18.

Teeth of the Dog Photo courtesy of Casa de Campo

Teeth of the Dog

The Caribbean is quickly becoming a favorite vacation destination for golfers, and one of the best waterfront courses in the area is the Teeth of the Dog course in the Dominican Republic. Located in the Casa de Campo resort, Pete Dye's course includes plenty of natural and man-made obstacles in addition to tricky trade winds. Prepare to get bit.

10th Hole Photo courtesy of Gary Denham

Ailsa Course at Turnberry

While it's hard to choose which of Turnberry's three courses is the most beautiful, Ailsa stands out for its storied history as host to numerous British Opens. The signature ninth hole brings you to the top of a stony ridge with views of the ruins of Bruce's Castle and the lighthouse in the distance.

Turtle Hill Golf Club Photo courtesy of Robyn Fleming

Turtle Hill Golf Club

The 2,684-yard course at the Turtle Hill Golf Club on the beautiful island of Bermuda has been ranked as one of the best places in the world to play golf, thanks in part to its panoramic views over the Atlantic Ocean. While the course certainly challenges with strong winds and elevation changes, each hole has three tee offerings, making for an enjoyable outing for beginners and experts alike.

Torrey Pines Photo courtesy of Ben Grey

Torrey Pines

Both Torrey Pines championship courses sits perched on a seaside cliff in La Jolla, near San Diego, California, and is recognized as one of the world's best public courses. When you play here, you'll be teeing off on the same ground where many of the world's best players have competed, including Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate in a sudden-death playoff in the 2008 US Open.

Next Up

8 amazing programs for neurodivergent individuals that aim to make traveling easier

About Lydia Schrandt

Lydia, Senior Photo Editor and Readers' Choice Production Manager for USA TODAY 10Best, has traveled to more than 40 countries in Europe, Asia and North and South America, and has lived in Albuquerque, Galveston, Austin, Thailand, Korea, China, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Spain and now Houston. When she's not at her computer in a cafe, she's out photographing the city, writing fiction or cheering on Barça.