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So I started golfing this summer. If you can call it that. I’m still in the “pathetically hitting buckets while eight-year-olds laugh at me” stage, not even close to the “let’s play the back nine and have a few drinks” stage. Yeah, I’m nowhere near actually playing a game, let alone playing any of these. But maybe they are something to aspire to, at least some of them. Here are 10 of the most unique golf courses in the world.
1. Prison View Golf Course, Angola, Louisiana. Have you ever wanted to play a round in the shadow of one of the most formidable prisons in the United States? You can! The nine-hole course was built and is maintained by prisoners, who aren’t allowed to play on it. It was designed by the prison dentist and appears to be much like any other golf course… except for some of the rules. Anyone wanting to play must apply 48 hours in advance so they can be screened, and play may be suspended at any time “due to institutional need or at the Warden’s discretion.”
2. Kabul Golf Club, Kabul, Afghanistan. The greens are brown (even nearly black), but that doesn’t stop people from playing. Originally opened in 1967, the Kabul Golf Club has had a spotty history ever since. It closed in 1978 because it was considered a symbol of Western capitalism, but reopened in 2004. Since it was used as a military training site during those non-golfing decades, it had to be swept for landmines before anyone could play on it again. I’d still be a little wary about playing on it, personally!
3. Mosul, Iraq. It may not be there anymore, but in 2004, some homesick soldiers made a makeshift hole using an antenna and an oil rag as a flag. It was so popular that five more holes were added and the impromptu Mosul golf course was born.
4. McMurdo Station, Antarctica. You might remember from my post a few weeks ago that McMurdo boasts Antarctica’s only ATM. Well, it also boasts the only golf course on the continent. OK, OK, it’s a disc golf course, but I thought it was worth a mention. It warns that the “varied” terrain includes snow, ice, drifts and high winds. You think?
5. The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. It’s not so much the location that makes this interesting, it’s the 14th hole. It floats, it moves, and you can only get to it by taking “The Putter Boat Shuttle.”
6. Camp Bonifas, South Korea. There’s a reason Sports Illustrated called this the most dangerous hole in golf – the rough is full of land mines, and unlike the course in Kabul, these have definitely not been removed. One of the SI reporter’s shots actually set one off. But there’s only one hole, so your flirtation with danger will be brief.
7. Furnace Creek, Death Valley, California. It’s the lowest golf course in the world at 218 feet below sea level, and you’re definitely going to want to bring something to keep yourself cool: summer temperatures can exceed 130 degrees Fahrenheit. They used to close the place during the summer, turning it over to a cattle rancher and letting his sheep keep their fairways tended. But now it’s available year-round in case you really feel like breaking a good sweat. Oh, and you have to watch out for the coyotes that are prone to wandering onto the course. There’s also the Devil’s Golf Course in Death Valley, but you won’t be able to play it – it’s just a large salt pan that made weird salt crystal formations. It was nicknamed in a 1934 guide book that claimed “Only the Devil could play golf” on its surface.
8. Uummannaq, Greenland. It’s home to the World Ice Golf Championship and offers stunning views of icebergs and formations; it also offers frostbite and hypothermia if you’re not careful. It’s a lot like normal golf, except the greens are called whites and the golf balls are red – obviously, you’re going to lose track of a typical white orb. The course changes every year based on the position of the fjords and icebergs. Interestingly, Rudyard Kipling used to play snow golf during the Vermont winters in the later 1800’s to keep himself amused while writing The Jungle Book.
9. Golf Merapi, Mount Merapi, Indonesia. On the day in 1994 when the construction started on this course, Mount Merapi volcano erupted. It’s a mere five miles away, so this could have been a cause for concern. It was a minor affair, though, and locals saw it as a blessing from the Gods. The Sultan calls it his home course, and it is said that it never rains when he plays. Another eruption did occur in 2006, big enough to send golfers scurrying for home. “That is the risk of putting a club here,” the owner casually said.
10. La Paz Golf Club, La Paz, Bolivia. If you’re going to golf the lowest course the world, you might as well golf the highest course as well. La Paz Golf Club is 10,650 feet above sea level and takes golfers some time to get used to. But once they do, they’re singing the praises of the course: most golfers report that balls seem to go straighter and fly higher than they do anywhere else. True, or psychological? Either way, the view is amazing. Some of the terrain is referred to as moonscape because of the appearance of the eroded sandstone that surrounds it. Other scenery includes snow-capped mountains in the distances and, sometimes, condors circling overhead.
What about you? Have you ever golfed a course with particularly cool scenery or an interesting hole? Share in the comments! And if you’re a pathetic golfer like I am, share that too… make me feel better.
Comments (24)
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highland links in truro mass it over looks the alantic ocean and has its own light house and is the old style links with no fairways, a great place to play in the summer
posted by capecoddan on 7-10-2009 at 3:55 pm
I still have only been to one frisbee (or disc) golf course. It was at a school near my home in Baltimore Maryland. They have since taken it down (within the last 10 years), but it was fun while it lasted.
posted by Ian on 7-10-2009 at 4:08 pm
Why the thinly veiled hate for disc golf? A much more down-to-earth sport for people who just like hangin out and having a good time. And I would love to play that course in Antarctica.
posted by Johnny Cat on 7-10-2009 at 4:08 pm
Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland. In addition to being a world-class golf course, the entire course is on a cliff peninsula. Google it and you’ll see what I mean.
The local caddies tell you on one hole to aim out over the ocean, and the wind takes your ball onto the fairway. Unbelievable course.
posted by almost on 7-10-2009 at 4:45 pm
Hey Johnny Cat, you could come up here to Alaska and play disc golf, it’s pretty popular.
posted by Hikingmike on 7-10-2009 at 4:47 pm
Thanks Hikingmike. I was just up there, and didn’t see any (Cordova).
posted by Johnny Cat on 7-10-2009 at 4:55 pm
Ian, I think I’ve been there – was the school up on a big hill above most of the course?
posted by PartiallyDeflected on 7-10-2009 at 5:37 pm
While I’ve never played golf anywhere, the most beautiful golf course I’ve ever walked on is on the west coast of Heimaey, an island south of Iceland. The island is a big volcano, and the west coast has these amazing black cliffs. There’s a small mountain that towers above one of the holes as well. Wow – it made me want to play golf! Google it – my description is not doing this justice.
posted by Jennifer on 7-10-2009 at 6:35 pm
Recently on a trip to Egypt I had the pleasure of experiencing 9 holes on a course that once belonged to King Farouk. The Mena House Oberoi Golf Club’s attraction is that it is right under the Great Pyramid. Really quite a memorable game besides how poorly I played ;P
posted by CaitlinB on 7-10-2009 at 6:35 pm
HBO’s Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel recently did a report about Guantanemo Bay and they mentioned that soldiers have built a golf course there. With no grass to cultivate, players carry a small square of astro-turf with them and place the ball on it before every shot.
posted by David on 7-10-2009 at 8:37 pm
I’ve been to the “course” at Camp Bonifas – it’s only a few kilometers from the Demilitarized Zone.
posted by Jonathan on 7-10-2009 at 10:54 pm
Tyee Valley Golf Course in Seattle is adjacent to the south end of the runway at SeaTac International Airport. The big jets are flying right over your head, it is amazing!
posted by Tex on 7-11-2009 at 1:01 am
This one should have made this list… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pUUDf_55KQ
Hope to play it some day…
posted by Nic on 7-11-2009 at 1:31 am
The Legends Golf and Safari course in South Africa should get a nod just for it’s 19th (yes, 19th) hole – a par 3 in which the tee box is 830 meters above the green and requires transportation by helicopter. You really don’t get an idea of just how high 830 meters is without watching the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pUUDf_55KQ
posted by DAve on 7-11-2009 at 5:48 am
@ Jonathan — me too! It was pretty cool to see it on here. We didn’t get to leave the bus to look at it up close, but we did drive by it on the bus tour. It was mandatory for us to go on that tour (I was at Kunsan) but I think that is by far one of the best and most interesting mandatory events I’ve had to do :)
posted by Brandy on 7-11-2009 at 8:17 am
We have a golf course/prison combo in Illinois too, although they are not affiliated. The golf course’s site mentions the rolling hills and lush prairie grasses, but somehow neglects to point out that those fences and water tower and buildings you see just over the horizon? Yeah, that would be Stateville Correctional Center, a maximum security prison.
posted by Pam on 7-11-2009 at 8:33 am
@ Johnny Cat
I don’t see any hate for Disc golf in this article. Don’t be so sensitive.
posted by Fact on 7-11-2009 at 11:20 am
I would like to play golf in the one in South Korea. That sounds fun!! :D
posted by Ellie on 7-11-2009 at 4:07 pm
Oh no, I have nothing against Frolf at all. I’ve never even played. I just said it the way I did because this was supposed to be about regular golf courses and I cheated and included one that wasn’t.
posted by stacy on 7-11-2009 at 8:19 pm
Sorry to cause concern, I was being facetious when I said that. I just wanted to point out that DG is cool, too. I think I “get” Stacy enough to know she’s not a hater. :)
posted by Johnny Cat on 7-11-2009 at 10:12 pm
At the risk of sounding like a moron, Indonesia has a sultan? Who knew?
posted by Gwan on 7-12-2009 at 5:01 pm
Yeah, yeah, although Angola Prison has a really bad reputation, the prison has actually made incredible strides. Along with the golf course, the prison features a rodeo twice a year. Not only do the inmates ride and rope, the event also features art work, furniture and other crafts made by the inmates. Pretty cool place, actually.
posted by Lindsey on 7-12-2009 at 10:00 pm
My favorite golf course (so far) is at the Naval Station Pearl Harbor. I have no idea how good the golfing is, but you can sit on the lanai at Sam Sneade’s and drink and Arnold Palmer, while overlooking the beatiful green course and palm trees, enjoying the breeze and the sun. That’s how I play golf!
posted by Hyacinth on 7-13-2009 at 11:21 am
excuse me… you can drink AN Arnold Palmer.
(I made it sound like Arnold Palmer was somthing you do WHILE drinking!)
posted by Hyacinth on 7-13-2009 at 11:22 am