In 1766, a decade before the Declaration of Independence was signed, a former military cadet named Thomas Bullitt became a founding father of a different kind. He built a lodge.
Then, as now, location was a key consideration, and Bullitt chose a prime one, in the Allegheny Mountains of Virginia, where mineral springs bubbled from the earth, drawing travelers who believed in their healing powers. Bullitt’s lodge, which he called the Homestead, gave them a place to stay.
Its guest list grew illustrious. In the summer of 1818, Thomas Jefferson spent 18 nights there, seeking relief for rheumatism. Nearly a century later, William Howard Taft arrived to treat something else: a golf addiction. By then, the Homestead had added a course, opened in 1892, establishing itself as America’s first golf resort. But hardly the last.
Today there are some 800 golf resorts in the United States and hundreds more around the world. Their diversity matches their geographic range, from intimate retreats built around a single celebrated course to sprawling destinations with enough holes, hotel rooms and amenities to resemble small towns. Some are designed for buddies’ trips. Others cater to families or couples, complementing golf with world-class cuisine, outdoor adventure, elaborate kids’ programs, indulgent spas and more.
That breadth is reflected in GOLF’s all-new list of Top 100 Resorts in the World. (You’ll need to be an InsideGOLF member to view.) Spanning every continent where the game is played, the roster captures an unprecedented moment for golf travel. Participation is at record highs. Competition for traveling golfers is fiercer than ever. Travelers aren’t simply searching for great places to play. They’re seeking memorable stays, and resorts have responded in kind — with new courses, ambitious restorations, expanded clubhouses, reimagined restaurants, upgraded amenities and accommodations and increasingly refined service.
The results can be seen across the globe. Luxury standards continue to rise throughout Asia. European golf resorts, once associated with creaky floorboards and cramped accommodations, increasingly rival their counterparts anywhere in the world for comfort and hospitality. Caribbean destinations have broadened their appeal well beyond sunshine and seaside fairways. Wherever golfers travel, expectations continue to climb, and the best resorts continue to rise with them.
Casa de Campo’s Teeth of the Dog has been sharpened.
courtesy Casa de Campo
More than a quarter century after Bandon Dunes rewrote the old rule book about proximity to major population centers, developers continue to act on the same lesson: Build an exceptional destination in a sublime spot and golfers will make the journey, no matter how remote. Increasingly, though, that destination encompasses much more than the golf itself.
This year’s Top 100 — which, unlike our strictly panelist-driven Top 100 U.S. and Top 100 World course lists, was drawn up by the staff of GOLF — includes more than dozen new entries while also highlighting another defining trend: the emergence of global resort brands with expanding reach. Cabot has grown from a single destination in Nova Scotia into an international collection stretching from Scotland to the Caribbean, France, Norway and, soon, western Canada, expanding not only through new developments but also by revitalizing existing properties. Omni has assembled one of the country’s broadest collections of golf resorts. The Trump portfolio spans multiple continents; three of its resorts are new to the Top 100 list. Different brands. Different philosophies. But all rooted in the same calculus: Golfers aren’t simply reserving tee times. They’re chasing singular experiences.
The oldest great resorts point to another immutable truth. History can’t be purchased, but it requires investment. While the most enduring destinations leverage their heritage, they don’t stay relevant by remaining trapped in amber.
Adare Manor is among Ireland’s most luxurious golf properties.
Courtesy Adare Manor
Few places illustrate that better than the Homestead. What began as a six-hole course in 1892 has given rise to two venerated 18-hole layouts, while the resort itself has evolved with the times. Under Omni’s ownership, nearly every corner of the property has been refreshed, from the Great Hall and guest rooms to the golf courses and amenities.
And yet the property still carries echoes of the past. Or, should we say, currents? The same waters Jefferson looked to as a balm for his rheumatism provide wonderfully soothing respite after a round.
To browse and search our lists in map form, check out our Course Finder tool.
Experience it all with 8AM Travel
Picture waking in a GOLF Top 100 Resort in the World, playing superbly conditioned courses, dining at the finest tables — golfers and nongolfers alike, all traveling in style.
8AM Travel makes this dream a reality. Our network is global; our knowledge is local. We’ve spent years building relationships in Spain, the Algarve, Lisbon and beyond, learning the subtle differences that separate a good experience from an exceptional one. Our travel specialists prepare your bespoke itinerary — the elegance of Puente Romano, the test of Valderrama, a spa day for those who’d rather not play. Together, we craft a journey that’s entirely yours. Once your itinerary is set, the planning ends and the service begins. We arrange accommodations, secure tee times, organize luxury transportation, curate dining and provide concierge support throughout. You simply enjoy.
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