The 26 Oldest Golf Courses in the World

You probably know that the Old Course at St Andrews, also known as the home of golf, is the oldest golf course in the world. Golf at St Andrews officially dates back to 1552, but unoffically, golf historians believe golf was played on the grounds at St Andrews in the 1400s.

The 1562 Championship Course at Montrose Golf Links was, of course, built in 1562. In the early 1900s, Harry Colt redesigned the course as well as another 18-hole track on the property, offering guests a historical Scotish golf experience that includes one of the most influential golf course designers of the 20th century with roots to the 1500s, all along the Scotish coastline.

If you're looking for proof that the slice is as old as golf itself, Musselburgh Links has it. While the course officially opened in 1672, it's documented that Mary, Queen of Scots played golf on the grounds back in 1567. Golfers would often slice their ball onto the road to the right of the course. From there, an all-wood club wasn't enough, and in 1885 the brass plate to reinforce the club was invented, bringing golf the "brassie."

With official roots dating to 1793, Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Club is among the oldest in the world, and as with several other courses on this list, there's evidence of golf taking place on the grounds long before the official beginning. At Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Club, golf was likely played as early as 1702.

Golf was played at Kinghorn starting in 1812, and in 1887, Old Tom Morris laid out the original 9-hole track. A fascinating letter from John Hutton to Alexander Orrock dated May 2, 1812, discusses golf on the land, saying in part "As to Golfing on the Links, I am clear of [the] opinion that the public has acquired a right to Golf on them from long possession. Mr Shanks must take such steps as he may be advised to present [preserve?] them. For my own part, I do not give a penny about it. I like the Company to spend an afternoon [at golf?]."

Scotscraig Golf Course was founded in 1817 when members of the group that later became the R&A (Royal & Ancient) needed a place to play more golf. Two of the game's legendary course designers, Old Tom Morris and James Braid, guided the design of the championship course.

Proud to be the world's oldest golf course outside of Scotland, Ratho Farm Golf Links in Bothwell, Tasmania, Australia, was established in 1822. Alexander Reid emmigrated from Scotland to Bothwell, Australia with his family, and laid out the Australia's first golf course. Though it has undergone renovations and modernizations through its nearly two-century history, some of the original, square greens remain. Following Scottish tradition, Ratho Farms is not only a completley public course, but you can play it for about $50 a round.

Officially founded in 1832, North Berwick Weset Links was built as a six-hole course, since that's all the available land could accommodate. In 1868 it was expanded to nine holes with the Redan becoming the West Links most famous hole.

Montifieth Links isn't only one of the oldest golf courses in the world, but the course itself was designed by the world's first professional golfer. Allan Robertson laid out the original 9-hole track in 1845, although there's documentation of people playing golf at Montifieth as early as 1639.

With golf played as early as 1846, Leven Links is the 11th-oldest golf course in the world. The original nine-hole course was expanded to 18 holes in 1868, when Young Tom Morris won the club's first 36-hole competition. The course still hosts top-notch competition to this day, including six Open Championship final qualifying tournamnets in the last 50 years.

Built in 1851, Lanark is the world's oldest "inland" golf course. The original course was just six holes, and in 1897 Old Tom Morris laid out an 18-hole course, which was renovated by James Braid in 1927. The course still resembles Braid's nearly 100-year old work today, with some updated bunkering and added length.

Old Tom Morris has his hands all over this list, and Dunbar East Links is no exception. Morris expanded the original 15-hole layout, opened in 1856, to 18 holes in 1897. The likes of Harry Vardon, Ted Ray, Willie Park have competed at Dunbar GC.

While Scotland owns more than the top dozen spots on the list of the oldest golf courses in the World, France's Pau Golf Club checks in as the second-oldest golf course outside of Scotland. Ignoring Ratho Farm in Australia, Pau was one of four golf courses in the world outside of Scotland when it was built, but the other three courses have since changed locations and names.

Golf at the Curragh is said to have taken place as early as 1852, and the course was officially established in 1858. Either way, it's the oldest golf course in Ireland, and one of the oldest in the world.

Old Tom Morris desgined the Perth North Inch Golf Course, and while the official histroy dates back to 1860, Perth North Inch will tell you golf has been played there for more than 500 years.

Built in 1864, Royal North Devon at Westward Ho! wasn't the first golf course built in England, but today, it's the oldest. John Henry (JH) Taylor grew up at Royal North Devon before winning five Open Championships and joining Harry Vardon and James Braid as a dominant force in golf known as the Great Triumvirate.

Hoylake, also known as Royal Liverpool, opened in 1869 as a nine-hole course designed by Rober Chambers and George Morris, and two years later the course was extended to 18 holes. The golf course doubled as a horse racing track until 1876.

Hoylake has a rich tradition in elite amateur golf, hosting the first Amateur Championship in 1885, the first Home Internationals (amateur match between England and Scotland) in 1902 and the first Walker Cup (international match between Great Britain and the USA). Hoylake has hosted 12 Open Championships, including the 2006 Open, won by Tiger Woods.

Tenby Golf Club is the oldest and first golf course in Wales, having hosting golf since 1875 and officially establishing in 1888. James Braid created the course, which was lengthend to 18 holes by 1907.

Pontnewydd Golf course was also established in Wales and dates back to 1875. The course plays as a nine-hole track, but offers various tee boxes and green alternatives to give 18-hole players plenty of variation throughout their round.

Despite hosting golf on the land since about 1650, Gullane Links was officially established in 1884. In the early 1800s a group of local farmers regularly met to play golf, but never formalized a club. Gullane is a traditional links course, complete with sea breezes, pot bunkers, moguls and fescue.

The prestiguous course has hosted several men's and women's Scottish Opens, Scottish Amateur Championships and Open Championship Final Qualifying.

It should come as no surprise that it took nearly two dozen courses before arriving at the first course in the United States. Vermont's Dorest Field Club is the oldest golf course in the United States, opening in 1886. 

It's no coinciedence that Dorset Field is also the first private club on out list, as private golf overseas is much more rare than in the U.S. Dorset Field Club was a nine-hole course for a century-plus before its latest renovation turned it into an 18-hole course in 1999.

When Joseph Fox designed Foxburg Country Club in Foxburg, Pennsylvania in 1887, he attempted to re-create another famous course, The Old Course at St Andrews, but the site and the land did not cooperate. 

Fox met and befriended Old Tom Morris during a trip to Scotland to play cricket in 1874, and, although Fox couldn't replicate St Andrews, Old Tom Morris' influence is part of Foxburg CC nonetheless.