Article Highlights:

  • The Ocean Course and Carnoustie are among the world’s most demanding golf courses.
  • Ko’olau Golf Club and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain push players with extreme terrain and altitude.
  • Some of the most unusual golf courses are found in Greenland, Death Valley and the Australian Outback.
  • The LPGA partnered with Global Rescue to protect players and staff as they travel to international golf tournaments.
  • Golf carries real travel risks. Global Rescue offers evacuation, medical and security services with no activity exclusions.

 

 

For some, golf is a weekend hobby: 18 holes on a sunny course close to home. But for passionate golfers with a sense of adventure, the game can become a global pursuit, leading to some of the most incredible landscapes on Earth. From volcanic fairways to sub-sea level greens, today’s international golf traveler isn’t just looking for the best golf courses, they’re chasing once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

The world is full of legendary layouts and hidden gems that test your swing, your strategy and sometimes even your stamina. As these courses become increasingly remote and extreme, however, travelers are also facing new risks that extend beyond bunker trouble or missed putts. Here’s a look at the golf courses that push the limits, and the safety net you need if you’re going to play them all.

 

The Toughest Golf Courses in the World

The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, South Carolina: Renowned for its seaside winds and relentless layout, the Ocean Course is a championship-level beast. Facing the Atlantic on nearly every hole, this South Carolina gem has punished players in both the Ryder Cup and PGA Championship. With shifting gusts and intimidating views, it’s a masterclass in wind golf.

Carnoustie Golf Links, Dundee, Scotland: Known simply as “Car-nasty,” this historic links course offers brutal bunkers, narrow fairways and unpredictable weather. Considered one of the most challenging courses in the Open Championship rotation, Carnoustie tests not just skill but mental toughness.

Ko’olau Golf Club, Oahu, Hawaii: Once rated with a near-unbeatable slope of 162, Ko’olau winds through a rainforest at the base of the Ko’olau Mountains. It’s a stunning setting, but the vertical ravines and dense jungle make it one of the most punishing golf courses in the United States.

Whistling Straits, Kohler, Wisconsin: Designed to resemble an Irish links course, Whistling Straits features more than 1,000 bunkers and a raw, windswept layout that stretches along Lake Michigan. The course is both beautiful and brutal, perfect for golfers looking to test their limits.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club, Yunnan, China: The highest regulation golf course in the world sits at over 10,000 feet of elevation in the foothills of the Himalayas. At more than 8,500 yards, it’s also one of the longest. Playing here means adjusting your swing to the altitude—and watching for symptoms of altitude sickness between shots.

 

The Most Unusual Golf Courses on Earth

While some golf courses are famous for their difficulty, others earn their place on your travel list through sheer weirdness or wonder.

Furnace Creek Golf Course, Death Valley, California: At 214 feet below sea level, Furnace Creek is the lowest golf course on Earth. And with summer temperatures soaring above 120°F, it might also be the hottest. The air is thick, the ball travels shorter and hydration becomes as crucial as your backswing.

Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, UAE: This desert oasis is surrounded by skyscrapers and sand. With lush greens bordered by arid dunes, playing here feels like a sci-fi golf experience. Just don’t miss your tee time; it’s easy to get distracted by the Burj Khalifa looming on the horizon.

Merapi Golf Course, Yogyakarta, Indonesia: Perched on the slopes of an active volcano, Merapi offers a golf experience like no other. Between holes, you may hear distant rumbling or see volcanic steam. It’s a reminder that nature is the real course designer here.

Nullarbor Links, Australia: Stretching across 848 miles of desolate outback, this is the longest golf course in the world. Each hole is located in a different roadhouse town along the Eyre Highway. Playing the whole course can take several days, and it’s as much a road trip as it is a round.

 

The Hidden Dangers of Golf Travel

Golf might not seem like a high-risk activity, but step outside the club walls and you’ll find hazards beyond water traps and sand bunkers. Heatstroke, dehydration, lightning strikes, insect bites and altitude illness can all affect golfers, especially when playing on remote or international golf courses.

Factor in the travel itself — unfamiliar food, limited access to healthcare or geopolitical instability — and even a dream golf trip can quickly turn into a crisis. And while a sliced drive is annoying, a medical emergency in the mountains of China or the jungles of Indonesia is far more serious.

 

LPGA Partners With Global Rescue

Professional golfers face these challenges every week on tour. To address the realities of international golf travel, the LPGA made a strategic move by partnering with Global Rescue, a leading travel risk and crisis response company.

With events in over a dozen countries, the LPGA needed more than insurance. They needed a partner that could respond in real time. Global Rescue offers exactly that, providing LPGA players, caddies and staff with critical services like medical advisory, field rescue, emergency evacuation and security response.

Through Global Rescue’s GRID platform, LPGA teams receive up-to-date intelligence on every destination. Everything from health risks to political threats. That means safer travel, faster responses and peace of mind that goes beyond just travel coverage.

The decision to work with Global Rescue reflects a growing understanding that international sports travel demands real-world solutions. It shows that even for elite golfers, having expert backup off the course is just as important as their performance on it.

 

The Global Rescue Connection

Whether you’re playing the best golf courses in Scotland or exploring unusual golf destinations in the Australian Outback, the key to a successful trip is being prepared, not just for the game, but for the unexpected. That’s where Global Rescue comes in.

More than just evacuation support, Global Rescue provides comprehensive travel risk management services, including medical advisory support from in-house physicians, 24/7 travel intelligence, on-the-ground field rescue and security response, all with no activity restrictions. You’re protected whether you’re playing desert golf in Dubai or mountain golf in Lijiang.

Unlike traditional travel insurance, which often denies claims based on pre-existing conditions or excluded activities, Global Rescue responds directly and immediately. If you suffer a medical emergency while hiking between holes in the outback, or need emergency care after a fall in a remote jungle course, you don’t call a call center. You call Global Rescue and help is already in motion.

Golfers are explorers by nature. The drive to find new fairways and better challenges pushes players across borders and into unfamiliar terrain. With Global Rescue by your side, you can play boldly, safely and without limits, knowing that wherever the game takes you, you’re never alone.