Golf’s greatest charm often lies beyond the challenge of the game itself. When a course is perched along dramatic coastlines, each swing comes with a side of spectacular scenery that can distract even the most focused players. While inland courses have their own beauty, there’s something magical about the marriage of manicured fairways and the wild, untamed ocean that creates an unforgettable golfing experience.
Here is a list of 18 oceanfront golf courses around the world that offer truly breathtaking views alongside world-class play. Each combines the technical challenge of coastal winds with vistas so stunning you might forget your score altogether.
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Hugging the rugged coastline of California’s Monterey Peninsula, Pebble Beach features nine holes directly alongside the Pacific Ocean. The par-3 7th hole might be golf’s most photographed single hole, with players hitting across an ocean cove to a tiny green perched on a cliff.
The course’s final stretch from the 16th to 18th holes delivers a crescendo of ocean views with waves crashing against the rocky shore just feet from the fairways.
Old Head Golf Links
Built on a 220-acre diamond-shaped headland extending two miles into the Atlantic Ocean in County Cork, Ireland, Old Head surrounds players with 300-foot cliffs on nearly every hole. The lighthouse that stands guard over the course has witnessed countless shipwrecks throughout history, a reminder of the wild power of the sea that frames every shot.
When fog rolls in, players experience an almost mystical round as the boundary between sea and sky disappears completely.
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Kauri Cliffs
Situated on a cliff top overlooking New Zealand’s Matauri Bay, fifteen holes at Kauri Cliffs offer views of the Pacific Ocean, with six playing directly along the cliff edges. The 150-foot vertical drop from the course to the ocean creates a dramatic backdrop for every shot, especially on the par-3 7th, where the green seems to hover between earth and sea.
During whale migration season, players regularly spot breaching humpbacks from multiple vantage points across the course.
Teeth of the Dog
Carved from the rocky Dominican Republic coastline at Casa de Campo resort, Pete Dye’s masterpiece features seven holes directly on the Caribbean Sea. The course earned its name from the jagged coral formations that resemble canine teeth, which Dye incorporated into the design rather than removing them.
The stunning contrast between the azure waters and emerald fairways creates a visual feast that has made this the undisputed jewel of Caribbean golf since its opening in 1971.
Turnberry (Ailsa Course)
With the iconic lighthouse and ruins of Robert the Bruce’s castle as companions, Scotland’s Turnberry gained additional fame when Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus battled in their legendary ‘Duel in the Sun’ in 1977. Recent renovations have pulled the 9th and 10th holes even closer to the craggy coastline, creating one of the most dramatic stretches in golf.
The course offers clear views across the Firth of Clyde to the granite dome of Ailsa Craig, creating a quintessentially Scottish seascape that changes with every shift in weather.
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Manele Golf Course
Designed by Jack Nicklaus on Hawaii’s private island of Lanai, Manele offers cliffside holes where the Pacific Ocean serves as a water hazard on three sides. The signature 12th hole requires a tee shot over 200 yards of churning ocean to reach the fairway, testing both skill and courage.
The contrast between black lava rock outcroppings, emerald fairways, and the deep blue Pacific creates a visual palette that epitomizes Hawaiian golf at its most spectacular.
Cape Kidnappers
Perched atop sheer 500-foot cliffs on New Zealand’s North Island, Cape Kidnappers features several fingers of land extending into the Pacific Ocean that create natural peninsula greens. The par-5 15th hole, aptly named ‘Pirate’s Plank,’ narrows dramatically as it stretches toward the cliff edge, creating both an exhilarating and terrifying approach shot.
The course’s elevated position allows players to spot massive gannet colonies on the rocky outcroppings below, adding a unique wildlife experience to the round.
Quivira Golf Club
Jack Nicklaus’s cliffside creation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, takes players on a journey from desert to sea with such dramatic elevation changes that comfort stations are positioned throughout the course to combat the intensity. The course begins with a climb up a massive dune and features several holes along sheer granite cliffs where the Pacific crashes below.
The par-3 6th hole sits on a rocky outcrop surrounded by ocean on three sides, creating one of golf’s most intimidating tee shots.
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Cabot Cliffs
The newer of two courses at Cabot Links in Nova Scotia, Cabot Cliffs, lives up to its name with several holes perched along 100-foot cliffs above the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The par-3 16th has drawn comparisons to Cypress Point’s famous 16th, requiring a heart-stopping carry over an ocean cove to a green that appears to be floating above the water.
The entire back nine delivers a crescendo of increasingly spectacular ocean views that peak with the cliff-hugging final three holes.
Pinnacle Point
Carved into the cliffs along South Africa’s Garden Route, Pinnacle Point features seven holes that play directly along the edge of the Indian Ocean. The par-5 13th offers perhaps the most dramatic decision in golf, asking players to either lay up or attempt a heroic second shot across an ocean inlet to a green perched on the cliff’s edge.
The prehistoric caves beneath the course contain some of the earliest evidence of human cognitive development, adding historical significance to the spectacular setting.
Kingsbarns Golf Links
Though relatively new by Scottish standards, having opened in 2000, Kingsbarns immediately joined the ranks of the world’s elite courses with its stunning position along the North Sea. Nearly every hole offers ocean views, with six playing directly alongside the shoreline, where the beach comes into play as a hazard.
The course follows the natural contours of the land so skillfully that it appears to have existed for centuries, with the sea serving as both a scenic backdrop and strategic challenge.
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The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island
Host to the dramatic ‘War by the Shore’ Ryder Cup in 1991, Pete Dye’s masterpiece features more seaside holes than any other course in the Northern Hemisphere. All 18 holes offer Atlantic Ocean views, with the final five playing directly along the shoreline.
The ever-present coastal winds can change direction multiple times during a single round, creating a constantly evolving challenge for players attempting to judge distance and trajectory against the stunning backdrop of dunes and ocean.
Punta Espada
The jewel of Jack Nicklaus’s designs in the Dominican Republic features eight holes playing directly along the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. The signature par-5 2nd requires a tee shot over an ocean cove, followed by an approach to a green surrounded by water on three sides.
The contrast between the white sand bunkers, emerald fairways, and azure waters creates a color palette so vivid it almost appears enhanced, though the natural beauty needs no filter.
Tralee Golf Club
Ireland’s first Arnold Palmer design features a back nine that may be the most scenically dramatic stretch in Irish golf. The par-3 16th, known as ‘Shipwreck,’ plays across a seemingly endless chasm to a green backed by the wild Atlantic and the ancient ruins of Castle Gregory.
Local lore claims the opening scene of the film ‘Ryan’s Daughter’ was filmed along the course, and the cinematic quality of the landscape makes this entirely believable as waves pound the shore throughout the round.
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Four Seasons Punta Mita (Pacifico)
This Jack Nicklaus design in Mexico features the world’s only natural island green, nicknamed ‘Tail of the Whale,’ which is accessible only by amphibious vehicle at low tide. Beyond this signature hole, the course features six other oceanfront holes with panoramic views of Banderas Bay and the distant mountains.
The vibrant colors of the landscape create a sensory experience beyond the golf itself, with deep blues, emerald greens, and golden dunes framing each hole.
Cabot Saint Lucia
The newest addition to the Cabot portfolio offers a dramatic clifftop experience along the Caribbean Sea. Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, the course features nine holes directly along cliff edges with 300-foot drops to the turquoise waters below. The par-3 16th plays across a chasm to a green seemingly suspended between sky and sea, creating one of golf’s most intimidating and beautiful tee shots.
The course’s elevated position provides views of the Pitons, Saint Lucia’s iconic volcanic spires, from multiple vantage points.
Oitavos Dunes
Set within Portugal’s Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, this Arthur Hills design meanders through coastal dunes with the Atlantic Ocean visible from every hole. The course weaves between umbrella pines and natural sand areas, with the ocean providing both scenic backdrops and challenging crosswinds.
The par-4 14th plays directly toward the sea, with the Cabo da Roca lighthouse—marking continental Europe’s westernmost point—visible in the distance, creating a historical and geographical significance beyond the golf experience.
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Nirwana Bali Golf Club
This Greg Norman design on Indonesia’s paradise island intermingles ocean views with rice paddies and ancient temples. Several holes skirt the cliffs above the Indian Ocean, with the par-3 7th playing across a coastal inlet to a green framed by the sacred Tanah Lot temple just offshore.
The course provides a uniquely Balinese experience, where the drama of oceanfront golf blends with the island’s rich cultural heritage, creating a spiritual dimension rarely found in the game.
Where Land Meets Sea: Golf’s Most Dramatic Stage
These oceanfront courses represent the perfect marriage between the natural and designed landscape, where architects have embraced rather than overwhelmed the coastal environments.
While the strategic challenges and playing conditions of these courses evolve with tides, winds, and seasons, their breathtaking views remain the constant that draws golfers from around the world. These special places remind us that golf at its best isn’t just about the score but also about experiencing spectacular natural beauty that no clubhouse painting or photograph could ever fully capture.
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