We have been counting down the courses that have made it into the top 100 of Golf Course Architecture’s Architects’ Choice Top 100 Golf Courses in the World, as voted for by over 240 golf course architects from 28 countries across the globe.

Today we’re revealing the top two courses on the list, and confirm that number two of our Top 100 is:

Cypress Point
California, USA
Alister MacKenzie, Robert Hunter, 1928

By some distance, Cypress Point was the highest ranked American course in our Top 100. Mike Benkusky says: “Cypress Point Club is just an amazing golf course on a great piece of property. Nowhere else could you find a mix of ocean, dunes and forest. MacKenzie broke all the rules of architecture. Back to back par fives (and three par fives in the first six holes), back to back par threes, even teeing off over 17-Mile Drive on the opening hole. He let the land dictate the routing and produced one of the finest courses on the planet. Hands down my favourite!”

Cypress Point to me is unrivalled in its combination of beauty, unique design and unparalleled ‘fun factor,” says Todd Eckenrode.

“MacKenzie and Hunter crafted a brilliant course on the Pacific coast that takes the golfer on an enticing journey through pines, into dunes, back to pines, then dunes again before the fabulous and famous coastal holes. Routing royalty,” says Neil Crafter.

Ken Moodie of Creative Golf Design says: “As a real fan of Alister MacKenzie I had to include the course where I believe he achieved the peak of his design prowess, and particularly the fine detailing of the bunkers and greens which blend beautifully with the landscape character of the Monterey Peninsular.”

Mike Hurdzan says: “Fills every human sensory faculty, repeatedly with pleasurable memories and damn fun to play.”

In case you haven’t already guessed it, check the site again later today as we finally reveal the number one course in our Architects’ Choice Top 100 Golf Courses ranking. Also today, a full report of the Top 100 – including the observations of golf course architects – will be sent to Golf Course Architecture monthly e-mail newsletter subscribers. Sign up for free by entering your email address in the e-mail newsletter box on the home page of this website.

Architects’ Choice: 100-91| 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | the full report