Geography and culture don’t get much more diverse than in Aisa, especially when it comes to golf. The style of golf from one country to the next—even from one region to the next—can vary as much as the cuisine. Even separating out the major golf markets of Japan, South Korea and China (as we’ve done by listing their rankings apart from the rest of Asia), the range of architecture, settings and outlook on how the game is played is remarkable—there’s no comparing an environment like that of the Himalayan Golf Club in Nepal with the tropical backdrops of the Philippines or Malaysia, or the oceanfront dunes of Vietnam.
That said, for all its admirable size and variety, the Asian continent overall lacks the architectural power of North America, Europe and Australia. Just 10 courses from all Asian countries make our latest World’s 100 Greatest Courses ranking, with Hirono Golf Club in Japan leading the way at No. 26. From countries outside of Japan, China and South Korea, there are only three representatives: The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip in Vietnam (No. 68); and Amata Spring Country Club in Thailand (98). Part of the reason for this is the historical headstart of other countries in golf development—aside from Japan, most of the courses in the Asia country-by-country rankings did not exist 40 years ago. It also speaks to the predominantly Western outlook and tastes of our course ranking panel, further reflecting how golf culture differs in each part of the world: These individual rankings of courses highlights the favorite styles of golf in each country, which don’t always align with American or British ideals. That should be celebrated. Whatever the reasoning, golf in Asia is strong, and the ceiling for future development is nearly limitless.
We urge you to click through to each individual course page for bonus photography, drone footage and expanded reviews. Plus, you can now leave your own ratings on the courses you’ve played … to make your case why your favorite should be ranked higher.
Editor’s Note: Our Best Courses in Asia ranking is part of Golf Digest’s rollout of the Best Courses in Every Country. Check back over the next few weeks for more of our rankings of the best golf around the world.
Afghanistan
1. Kabul G. Cse., Kabul
Azerbaijan
1. National Azerbaijan G.C., Baku 2. Dreamland G.C., Baku
Bangladesh
1. Kurmitola G.C., Dahka
Bhutan
1. Royal Thimphu G.C., Thimphu
Brunei
1. Empire Golf Course, Bandar Seri Begawan 2. Brunei Golf & Country Club, Bandar Seri Begawan
Cambodia
1. Vattanac Golf Resort (East), Phnom Penh 2. Vattanac Golf Resort (West), Phnom Penh 3. Angkor G. Resort (Faldo), Siem Reap 4. Garden City G.C., Phnom Penh 5. Phokeethra C.C., Siem Reap
China
Courtesy of Shanqin Bay G.C.
30. Wind Valley Golf Club (Public) 29. Weihai Point Hotel & Golf Resort 28. Heshan Golf Club 27. Beijing CBD International Golf Club 26. Lake Malaren Golf Club Shanghai (Masters)
VIEW THE FULL RANKINGS FOR CHINA HERE.
Complete Rankings Golf Digest Logo The best golf courses in China Christmas Island
1. Christmas Island G.C., The Settlement
Cocos Islands
1. Cocos Islands G.C., West Island
Hong Kong
Shots of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Golf Course East after the course’s groundbreaking ceremony
South China Morning Post
1. Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau (North), New Territories 2. Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau (South), New Territories 3. Clearwater Bay G. & C.C., New Territories 4. Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau (East), New Territories 5. Hong Kong G.C. (Eden), Fanling 6. Discovery Bay G.C. (Ruby and Diamond), Lantau Island 7. Shek O C.C., Hong Kong 8. Hong Kong G.C. (New), Fanling 9. Hong Kong G.C. (Old), Fanling
India
1. Delhi G.C. (Lodhi), New Delhi 2. Karnataka Golf Association G.C., Bangalore 3. DLF Golf and Country Club, Gurgaon 4. Jaypee Greens G. Resort, Greater Noida 5. Classic G. Resort, New Delhi 6. Kalhaar Greens and Blues Golf Club, Ahmedabad 7. Bombay Presidency G.C., Mumbai8. Royal Calcutta G.C., Calcutta
Indonesia
General view of Royale Jakarta Golf Club
Arep Kulal/Asian Tour
1. Royale Jakarta G.C. (West/South), Jakarta, West Java 2. Ria Bintan G.C. (Ocean), Lagoi, Bintan 3. Bali National Golf Club (pictured), Nusa Dua, Bali 4. Damai Indah G. (Bumi Serpong Damai), Jakarta, West Java 5. Damai Indah G. (Pantai Indah Kapuk), Jakarta, West Java 6. Imperial Golf Klub, Banten 7. Parahyangan Golf Club, West Java 8. Rancamaya Golf & Country Club, Jakarta, West Java 9. Riverside G.C., Bogor, West Java 10. Emeralda G.C. (River/Lake), Bogor, West Java 11. Rainbow Hills G.C. (Forest/Mountain/Stone Hill), Bogor, West Java 12. Pondok Indah G.C., Jakarta, West Java 13. Taman Dayu G.C. & Resort, Pasuruan, West Java 14. New Kuta G., Jimbaran, Bali 15. Gunung Geulis C.C., Bogor, West Java
Japan
Hirono Golf Club
David Alexander/Getty Images
15. Narita Golf Club 14. Abiko Golf Club 13. Kawaguchiko Country Club 12. Taiheiyo Club: Gotemba 11. Yokohama Country Club (East)
VIEW THE FULL RANKINGS FOR JAPAN HERE.
Complete Rankings Golf Digest Logo The best golf courses in Japan Kazakhstan
1. Nurtau G.C., Almaty
Kyrgyzstan
1. Maple Leaf G. & C.C., Bishkek
Laos
1. Lakeview Vientiane Golf Club, Vientiane 2. Long Thanh-Vientiane Golf Club, Dongphosy
Macau
1. Macau G. & C.C., Ilha de Coloane
Malaysia
1. The Els Club Desaru Coast: Valley 2. Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club: East 3. Kota Permai Golf & Country Club 4. The Els Club Teluk Datai 7.315 5. Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club: West 6. Saujana G. & C.C.: Palm 7. Sungai Long Golf & Country Club 8. The Els Club Desaru Coast: Ridges/Lakes 9. Templer Park Golf & Country Club 10. The Mines Resort & G.C. 11. Dalit Bay Golf & Country Club 12. Forest City (Nicklaus) 13. Royal Selangor G.C.: New 14. Glenmarie Golf & Country Club: Valley 15. The Els Club Desaru Coast: Coast/Lakes 16. Royal Selangor G.C.: Old 17. The Els Club Desaru Coast: Coast/Ridge 18. Forest City (Classic) 19. Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club 20. Palm Garden G.C.
Maldives
1. Villingili G. Cse., Villingili Island
Mongolia
1. Mount Bogd G.C., Ulaanbaatar
Myanmar
1. Pun Hlaing G.C., Yangon
Nepal
1. Gokarna Forest G. Resort, Kathmandu2. Himalayan G.C., Pokhara3. Royal Nepal Golf Course, Kathmandu
North Korea
Pyongyang Golf Course
NK News
1. Pyongyang G. Cse., Pyongyang
Pakistan
1. Royal Palm G. & C.C., Lahore
1. Santa Elena Golf Club, Makiling, Santa Rosa, Laguna 2. The Orchard G. & C.C. (Palmer), Dasmarinas, Cavite 3. The Orchard G. & C.C. (Player), Dasmarinas, Cavite 4. The Country Club, Santa Rosa, Laguna 5. Manila Southwoods G. & C.C. (Legends), Carmona, Cavite 6. Sherwood Hills G. & CC 7. Anvaya Cove G.C., Central Luzon 8. Mimosa G. & C.C. (Acacia/Lakeview), Clark Air Base, Angeles City, Pampanga 9. Eagle Ridge G. & C.C. (Nick Faldo), Cavite 10. Riviera Golf Club (Langer): Langer, Cavite 11. Tagaytay Midlands G.C. 12. Mimosa G. & C.C.: Mountainview, Clark Air Base, Angeles City, Pampanga 13. Mt. Malarayat Golf & Country Club 14. Manila Southwoods G. & CC: Masters, Carmona, Cavite 15. Wack-Wack G. & C.C. (East), Manila
Singapore
Sentosa Golf Club
Lionel Ng
1. Sentosa G.C. (Serapong)2. Sentosa G.C. (New Tanjong)3. Tanah Merah C.C. (Tampines)4. Laguna National G. & C.C. (World Classic)5. Singapore Island C.C. (Millennium/Peirce/Forest)6. Laguna National G. & C.C. (Masters)7. Tanah Merah C.C. (Garden)8. Singapore Island C.C. (Bukit)9. Marina Bay G.C.10. Seletar C.C.11. National Service Resort & C.C. (Changi)12. Orchid C.C. (Dendro/Aranda/Vanda)13. Singapore Island C.C. (Bukit*) (course currently undergoing renovations, scores based on pre-construction)14. National Service Resort & C.C. (Kranji)15. Sembawang C.C.
South Korea
The Club at Nine Bridges
15. Seowon Valley Country Club 14. Namchon Country Club 13. Whistling Rock Country Club (Temple/Cocoon) 12. Pinx Golf Club (West/East) 11. Blackstone Jeju
VIEW THE FULL RANKINGS FOR SOUTH KOREA HERE.
Complete Rankings Golf Digest Logo The best golf courses in South Korea Sri Lanka
1. Victoria G. & C. Resort, Kandy
Taiwan
1. Sunrise G. & C.C., Yangmei 2. The Orient G. & C.C., Guishan 3. Miramar G.C.C., Linkou 4. Ta Shee G. & C.C., Daxi 5. Yung Han G.C., Luzhu 6. Palm Lakes Resort, Chayi 7.National G. & C.C Yuanli 8. Nanfong G.C., Nantou 9. Nan Yi G.C.C., Guanmiao 10. Lungtan G.C., Longtan
*Courtesy of Golf Digest’s affiliate in Taiwan
Tajikistan
1. Sogdiana G.C., Dushanbe
View of the green on hole 17 at Amata Spring Country Club
Thananuwat Srirasant/R&A
1. Amata Spring C.C., Chonburi2. Ayodhya Links G.C., Ayutthaya3. Alpine Golf Club, Bangkok4. Siam C.C. (Old), Pattaya5. Ban Rakat Club (Ballyshear), Bang Bo6. Black Mountain G.C., Hua Hin7. Chiangmai Highlands G. and Spa Resort, Chiangmai8. Alpine Golf Resort, Chiangmai9. Thai C.C., Chachoengsao10. Siam C.C. (Rolling Hills), Pattaya11. Siam C.C. (Plantation), Pattaya12. Bangsai Country Club, Ayutthaya13. Lam Luk Ka C.C. (East), Patumthani14. Chee Chan Golf Resort, Chon Buri15. Siam C.C. (Waterside), Pattaya16. Blue Canyon C.C. (Canyon), Phuket17. Nikanti G.C., Nakhon Pathom18. Lam Luk Ka C.C. (West), Patumthani19. Banyan G.C., Hua Hin20. Laem Chabang International Country Club (B&C), Chon Buri
Uzbekistan
1. Tashkent Highlands G.C., Tashkent
Vietnam
1. The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip, Ba Ria, Vung Tau ★2. Hoiana Shores G.C., Hoi An3. Laguna Lang Co, Lang Co, Da Nang4. Legend Danang GC (Norman), Da Nang5. Legend Danang GC (Nicklaus), Da Nang6. Ba Na Hills G.C., Da Nang7. Montgomerie Links, Da Nang8. BRG Kings’ Island G. Resort (Lakeside), Hanoi9. KN Golf Links, Nha Trang10. Sky Lake Resort & G.C. (Lake), Hanoi
• • •
Explore our brand-new course reviews experience with individual course pages for bonus photography, drone footage and expanded reviews of top international courses and all 17,000-plus courses in the United States. Post your own ratings for courses you’ve played … and tell us where it should be ranked.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com