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Golf Digest’s new ranking, the World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses 2026–2027, names 14 Irish links among the globe’s elite. The list, compiled by Derek Duncan and Stephen Hennessey, reinforces Ireland’s continuing reputation in championship coastal golf.
County Down remains unrivalled
Royal County Down in Northern Ireland again tops the list, a distinction it has now held for six consecutive rankings. The publication praises the club’s sweeping views, gorse-strewn dunes and bunkers guarded by what it calls “impenetrable clumps of heather.”
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Portrush and other Northern highlights
Royal Portrush Golf Club falls one place to fifth after recent restoration work. Duncan and Hennessey note that much of H.S. Colt’s original greens were retained — described as “one of the best set of putting surfaces in the world” — while other greens were altered to improve the course layout.
Also in the north, Portstewart Golf Club climbed from 92 to a tie at 87, sharing that position with Jack’s Point in New Zealand. The result keeps several Ulster links firmly in the international conversation.
Shifts and newcomers across the Republic
Several Republic courses moved noticeably in the rankings. Ballybunion Golf Club in County Kerry held steady at tenth. Lahinch Golf Club in County Clare rose from 27 to 21, while Portmarnock Golf Club in County Dublin slipped from 37 to 45.
Further down the list, Waterville Golf Links (Co. Kerry) nudged up from 53 to 52, its “superb dunes holes” singled out. St. Patrick’s Links in Donegal fell from 49 to 58.
New arrivals and notable recoveries
One fresh addition is Carne Golf Links in County Mayo, included for the first time and described by the writers as a top hidden gem. Old Head of Kinsale moved up from 77 to 72, while Brittas Bay Golf Club in County Wicklow rose from 90 to 83, credited for its untamed landscape and a routing that explores “diverse coastal dunes.”
The famed Adare Manor in County Limerick appears on the list for the first time following a recent full redesign. Golf Digest highlights the installation of SubAir systems beneath the greens and says the course now offers “engaging holes that should produce excitement during the 2027 Ryder Cup.”
Final placements and broader impact
Other movement includes Rosses Point (Co. Sligo), which dropped from 88 to 90, and Tralee Golf Club (Co. Kerry), shifting from 89 to 91 and recognised for being among Arnold Palmer’s finest designs.
Golf Digest’s complete ranking is available on its website. For Irish clubs, the list is a reminder of the country’s importance in international links golf and the potential draw for players and visitors alike.
