The Best Ryder Cup Courses: UK vs USA

Let’s take a look at some of the greatest Ryder Cup golf courses of all time, including Ryder Cup golf courses in the UK and USA – all of which are now open for play for the public so you can put your skills to the test and follow in the footsteps of some of the world’s greatest golfing legends.

 

Ryder Cup Golf Courses UK

 

1. The Belfry Brabazon Course, Warwickshire 
2. Celtic Manor Twenty Ten Course, Cardiff
3. The PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles, Perthshire
4. Walton Heath Golf Club, Surrey

 

Ryder Cup Golf Courses USA

 

1. Whistling Straits Course, Wisconsin
2. Ocean Course, Charleston 
3. Pinehurst No.2 Course, North Carolina
4. Champion Course at PGA National, Miami

 

What is the Ryder Cup?

 

Before we begin, let’s give you a little background about the Ryder Cup. Established in 1927, The Ryder Cup is a biennial competition that originally involved only US and UK teams. The first Ryder Cup teed off at Worcester Country Club in Worcester, Massachusetts. It was not until 1979 that the competition opened up to the rest of continental Europe, making it one of the largest golf tournaments in the world.

 

The Best Golf Courses in the UK

 

The Belfry Brabazon Course, Warwickshire

 

The Belfry Brabazon Course first hosted the Ryder Cup in 1985 but has since staged the event on numerous occasions, including 1989, 1993 and 2002. This makes it the only club to have hosted the tournament more than three times and it is scheduled to host the cup in 2026, too. For this reason, The Brabazon Course has become the most popular Ryder Cup Course in the world and a must-visit for all golfers.

The Belfry is located just outside of Birmingham in Warwickshire and offers beautiful parkland views. Despite its tranquil ambience, players should not be fooled; this course features some of the most challenging and iconic holes in the country. Combining tight fairways, stark bunkers, fast greens and tricky water hazards, The Belfry offers a difficult game for all players.

Book a stay at The Belfry Hotel & Resort and swing your club on the same grounds as some of the greats, including Seve, Torrance and O’Connor. 

 

 

Celtic Manor Twenty Ten Course, Newport

 

Celtic Manor’s Twenty Ten Golf Course was the 38th host of the Ryder Cup. It’s a fabulous contemporary course that was built especially for the 2010 competition, which incidentally, was the first ever Ryder Cup to take place in Wales. Set among a historic 19th-century manor house and beautiful natural scenery, this championship course offers an impressive backdrop, the perfect match for golf’s greatest tournament.

The Celtic Manor Ryder Cup Golf Course features a lake-lined track with plenty of treacherous water hazards. Along with numerous risk-and-reward shots and swales, Twenty Ten serves up a real test of golfing precision and skill. 

Check yourself into the 5-star Celtic Manor Resort and try the Twenty Ten Course for yourself. 

 

 

The PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles, Perthshire

 

In 2014, The PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles staged the 40th Ryder Cup, making it the second time the cup was hosted in Scotland. The PGA Centenary Course was designed by Jack Nicklaus, one of the greatest golf course architects in the world. He described it as  the “finest parcel of land in the world I’ve been given to work with”.

Located just outside of Edinburgh, the course incorporates the natural Scottish landscape within its design, up the Ochil Hills and sweeping towards Ben Shee summit and Glendevon valley. Players can also enjoy spectacular countryside views of Ben Vorlich mountains and the Troassachs national reserve. Stretching nearly 7,000 yards over undulating greens, The PGA Centenary Course offers a stern challenge for golfers of all abilities.

Stay at The Gleneagles Hotel and enjoy rounds of golf at The PGA Centenary Course.

 

 

Walton Heath Golf Club, Surrey

 

In 1981, the 24th Ryder Cup was held at Walton Heath Golf Club in Walton-on-the Hill in Surrey. This was the year that Europe experienced their biggest defeat against the US. The club is now home to two fantastic courses: The Old Course and The New Course, which are both consistently ranked in the top 100 courses in the UK and Ireland. Both courses offer a challenging game with large expanses of heather, textured fairways and well-placed bunkers. 

Walton Heath Golf Club is considered one of the most esteemed courses in the UK with some famous guests across the years including former Prime Ministers Winston Churchill, Lloyd George and Bonar Law, and renowned golfer, James Braid. Not to mention, HRH the Prince of Wales was Walton’s first captain!

Browse our golf breaks in Surrey and enjoy a round of golf at Walton Heath Golf Club.

 

 

The Best Golf Courses in the USA

 

Whistling Straits Course, Wisconsin

 

Originally scheduled for 2020 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Whistling Straits Golf Course is now set to host the 43rd Ryder Cup in 2021. Well worth the wait,  the beautiful flagship course has been ranked third in Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses and 21st in America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses.

Set along the rugged shores of Lake Michigan, The Straits Course is a true golfers’ paradise, complete with breathtaking views and terrific links-style golf. Given its open-water setting, players can expect strong winds across the course which make for an even greater challenge.

Make your way across the Atlantic and put your skills to the test on The Whistling Straits Flagship Course. Golf Travel Centre offers unbeatable package golf breaks without the hassle with direct return flights from all major UK airports and splendid accommodation.

 

 

Ocean Course, Charleston 

 

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort first hosted the 29th Ryder Cup in 1991 and has since hosted numerous other prestigious tournaments, including the PGA Championship in 2012 and 2021. 

Best known for its unparalleled seaside setting, The Ocean Course is located in front of towering sand dunes in effort to provide the best ocean view possible from every hole. On the flipside, without the dunes for shelter, players can experience unpredictable sea winds from the Atlantic which is sure to humble even the most seasoned golfer.

Book a trip to South Carolina and make your way round some of the most stunning subtropical seaside courses on the southeastern coast.

 

 

Pinehurst No.2 Course, North Carolina

 

The Pinehurst No.2 Course hosted the 9th Ryder Cup in 1951 and has staged more golf championship competitions than any other course in the USA. Designed by Donald Ross in 1907, the magnificent course was then redesigned once in 1974 by R.T. Jones and once more in 2010 by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw – all renowned professional golfers and golf architects. 

The Pinehurst No.2 Course is now ranked as one of the best in North Carolina, serving crowned greens, difficult chip shots, and sand and native shrub-lined fairways. The refurbished 18-hole course is now open for play and welcomes golfers of all levels. 

Take a golf trip to the USA and stop off at North Carolina to tick Pinehurst No.2 off your golf bucket list. 

 

Champion Course at PGA National, Miami

 

The 26th Ryder Cup competition was hosted in 1983 at The Champion Course at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. PGA National Resort and Spa boasts five 18-hole golf courses, of which The Champion is the most famous. 

The Champion was originally designed by Tom Fazio before undergoing a $4 million renovation in 2002 and being reworked by Jack Nicklaus in 2014. Well-known for its ‘Bear Trap’, The Champion Course includes a set of 3 tricky holes which were described by Nicklaus himself as “one of the toughest stretches in golf”.

Think you’ve got what it takes? Enjoy the ultimate golf experience in Miami and stay at The PGA National Resort & Spa. 

 

Whether you’re looking for a weekend staycation or deluxe golf holiday to the USA, book a golf break with Golf Travel Centre’s and play at some of the best Ryder Cup golf courses in the world.