Top 10: Craziest courses on Planet Earth
Most golf courses are set back in pristine parkland, or lovingly placed on in a beautiful seaside location.
But there are exceptions! So let’s look at some of the weirdest, hottest, coolest, dangerous and most of all strangest golf courses in the world.
10. The golf course on an airport
Don Mueang International airport in Bangkok looks like any other airport from a distance…but on approach and right in-between the two busy runways is an 18-hole golf course.
Imagine a 747 disrupting your backswing!
9. The world’s most dangerous golf course
The U.S. Army offers it’s troops a great way to unwind whilst maintaining the border between North and South Korea at Camp Bonifas, in the Korean Demilitarised Zone.
It’s the only course in the entire world that requires all players be armed, and the caddies are trained counter-snipers.
The ‘course’ itself consists of a single 192-yard par-3 hole.
No word on whether ‘Dear Leader’ Kim Jong-Un has made a hole-in-one though…
8. The golf course in a prison
Those looking for immaculate greens and well tended fairways can rely on the inmates at the Louisiana State Penitentiary to ensure their round lives up to all the billing it deserves.
The Prison View 9-hole golf course is located in the grounds of the maximum security prison, with golfers having to request a tee-time 48 hours in advance – so that a screening process can take place.
All weapons, maps and cameras have to be held at the prison gate before your round commences though. So no final hole selfies unfortunately.
Before you book your tickets, prison riots and attempted breakouts have suspended play on several occasions…
7. The golf course in a safari park (and with the world’s longest par-3)
Before you say that Leopard Creek is also technically on safari, hear me out. The Legend Golf & Safari resort offers one of the most breathtaking tees in the world of golf.
The aptly named Extreme 19th hole offers the longest par-3 in the world. Only accessible by helicopter, the tee sits 400m up on the Hanglip Mountain and played to a green shaped like the continent of Africa.
Former Open champion Padraig Harrington famously became the first person to make par on the hole in 2008.
6. The world’s most remote golf course
Imagine playing golf in the Himalayas. Well you need imagine no more.
The small country of Bhutan – wedged (pun most definitely intended) between India and China – a mere 14 hour flight from the UK, now lays claim to the most remote golf course on the planet.
Royal Thimphu golf club is a mere 6394 miles from London, or 15 hours of travel culminating in a two hour drive along a dirt road that is almost entirely hairpin turns through rocky mountains.
We can’t think of many better pay-off’s for the time invested…
5. The easiest golf course in the world (and the most exclusive)
Hailed as “the most exclusive golf course in the world”, Pyongyang Golf Course may also be the easiest on the planet (if reports are to be believed). Kim Jong Il claimed to shoot a 38 with a record 11 aces during a round in 1994.
The par-72 course also hosts and amateur tournament each year, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Amateur Open.
But just remember, if you’re chosen, you have to spend some time in North Korea…
4. The golf course for nudists
Are clothes not your thing, of does chafing affect you massively? Then maybe the La Jenny Naturist golf club in France is the place for you.
One of the only places in the world where you can shed your clothes and play nude, La Jenny has various tournaments over the course of the year.
Just make sure it’s not too chilly…
3. The world’s longest golf course
If I’m honest, by about the 14th hole I’m flagging. I’ve had enough of hacking around and not making much progress.
But imagine playing the Nullarbor Links Course in southern Australia which measures at a staggering 848 miles!
Each holes is situated in a different town, so at least there is some respite…
2. The world’s coldest golf course
Greenland is home to the only golf course (at present) played on massive icebergs.
At the makeshift course in Greenland’s Uummannaq you can expect sub-zero temperatures (often as low as -20 degrees).
Players use orange or brightly coloured golf balls, which makes sense with the entire course being white.
Just watch out for those polar bears…
1. The world’s hottest golf course
Imagine the hottest place you’ve ever been. Then imagine that place being next to an active volcano. Finally plonk a golf course there.
And that is what has happened at the Merapi Golf Course in Indonesia, right on the rim of the active Mount Merapi volcano, this is one of the most breathtakingly dangerous and beautiful places to place golf on the planet.
We can’t guarantee that Tommy Lee Jones won’t be there…
Honourable mentions
The easiest commutable golf course
Sri Lanka’s Royal Colombo Golf Club has a fully operational steam railroad running directly through the middle. So an opportunity to recreate Seve’s Open putt all those years ago…
The golf course on top of a Skoda
Golf nut John McArthur decided in his infinite wisdom to turn the top of his Skoda Felicia into a one hole course. Complete with a bonnet bunker! Good effort John.
The only golf course located in two countries
Green Zone or Tornio Golf Club is one of the most unique courses for the special reason of having 9 holes in one country and 9 holes in another. Straddling both Finland and Sweden, the course also offers the unique ability for players to golf at any time of day or night during the summer season – due to the sun not setting.
