Best Dave Thomas Golf Courses

Few post-war architects have shaped as many memorable golf experiences across Europe as Dave Thomas. A Ryder Cup player turned designer, Thomas combined tour-level insight with a flair for the dramatic, producing layouts that are bold, strategic, and visually striking.

From the fairways of The Belfry to the mountain vistas of Tenerife, his courses are built for golfers who love risk-reward theatre and photogenic landscapes. Here’s our guide to some of the best Dave Thomas courses.

Regularly ranked among the Top 10 golf resorts in Continental Europe and widely considered one of France’s finest modern championship layouts.

Location: Provence (Tourrettes) | Designer: Dave Thomas | Par: 72 | Yards: ~7,235 | Opened: 2004

Why Play Here?

Set in the rolling hills of Provence, the Château Course is a showcase of Thomas’s elegant but demanding design philosophy. Wide landing areas tempt aggressive tee shots, but the challenge stiffens dramatically into elevated, contoured greens that reward precision and intelligent club selection.

The routing blends effortlessly with vineyards, oak forests, and rugged Provençal countryside, delivering both strategic substance and cinematic beauty. Its conditioning and polished resort experience keep it firmly among Europe’s elite venues.

Signature Hole

Par 4, 13th - A downhill tee shot framed by oaks sets up a dramatic approach to a perched, multi-tiered green. Miss in the wrong spot and par becomes improbable.

Key Features

• One of France’s top-ranked modern championship courses
• Elevated, highly contoured greens requiring precise approach play
• Set within a luxury five-star resort with Michelin-starred dining
• Immersive Provençal scenery featuring vineyards and oak woodlands

Bonus Fact

Terre Blanche uses advanced SubAir and humidity-control systems on its greens - some of the most technologically sophisticated surfaces in Europe.

Great for golfers who want pristine conditioning, luxury resort comfort, and a stern but fair championship challenge.

Frequently listed among Scotland’s best inland courses and celebrated for its refined parkland character and scenic Borders setting.

Location: Scottish Borders (Kelso) | Designer: Dave Thomas | Par: 72 | Yards: ~7,111 | Opened: 1997

Why Play Here?

Roxburghe delivers a beautifully rolling parkland experience defined by natural water features, elevation changes, and wide-screen views across the Borders countryside. Thomas’s strategic shaping gives every hole a distinctive frame, rewarding placement over power.

The closing stretch is especially compelling, with risk-reward tee shots and demanding approaches that sharpen the pulse. Combined with a world-class resort hotel and spa, this is one of Scotland’s finest non-links venues.

Signature Hole

Par 5, 14th (“The Viaduct”) - A sweeping three-shotter played towards a dramatic Victorian railway viaduct, with bunkering that narrows the ideal landing zones.

Key Features

• One of Scotland’s premier inland layouts
• Beautiful parkland shaping with natural water hazards
• Stunning Borders countryside vistas
• A luxury SCHLOSS hotel steps from the first tee

Bonus Fact

The course was originally commissioned by the Duke of Roxburghe, who wanted a championship-calibre golf offering to complement the historic estate.

Great for golfers who enjoy elegant parkland golf paired with a luxury country-house stay.

A storied venue often ranked among Andalusia’s top championship courses and formerly host of the European Tour Qualifying School Finals.

Location: Sotogrande, Andalusia | Designer: Dave Thomas & Seve Ballesteros (renovations/influence) | Par: 72 | Yards: ~7,101 | Opened: 1990

Why Play Here?

San Roque Old is pure Thomas: broad fairways, sculpted bunkering, immaculate presentation, and constant strategic decision-making. Co-developed with Seve Ballesteros, the layout winds gracefully through cork oaks and gentle rolling land, placing a premium on angles and trajectory rather than brute distance.

It remains one of the most complete golfing experiences in southern Spain - playable for resort guests, yet stern enough to test elite players.

Signature Hole

Par 4, 18th – A thrilling finishing hole with water guarding the left and a subtly contoured green. Approach shots demand total commitment.

Key Features

• Former European Tour Q-School host
• Wide fairways framed by cork oaks
• Seve Ballesteros design influence
• Championship challenge with year-round pristine conditioning

Bonus Fact

The clubhouse at San Roque was once the private residence of the Japanese owners of Yamaha - who originally purchased the estate before transforming it into a golf destination.

Great for golfers who want a strategic championship experience in the heart of Andalusia’s premier golf region.

Home to more Ryder Cup matches (4) than any other course in Europe and consistently featured among the UK’s most iconic tournament venues.

Location: Sutton Coldfield (near Birmingham) | Designers: Dave Thomas & Peter Alliss | Par: 72 | Yards: ~7,255 | Opened: 1977

Why Play Here?

The Brabazon is a masterclass in risk-reward design - bold doglegs, heroic water carries, and perfectly framed approach shots that have staged some of the Ryder Cup’s greatest moments.

Thomas and Alliss crafted a strategic, tournament-ready layout that demands both precision and nerve. Whether you're taking on the drivable 10th or navigating the dramatic approach into 18, the course lets every golfer relive the shots of legends.

Signature Hole

Par 4, 10th - Perhaps the most famous hole on the course: a tempting drive over water to a narrow landing zone, with match-play drama built in.

Key Features

• Host of the Ryder Cup four times
• Iconic risk-reward moments (10th & 18th)
• Championship conditioning
• Excellent accompanying resort, spa, and nightlife scene

Bonus Fact

Seve Ballesteros’s heroic attempt to drive the 10th green in 1978 inspired thousands of golfers who still “have a go” today - making it one of the most replayed shots in televised golf history.

Great for golfers seeking a bucket-list venue soaked in Ryder Cup heritage.

Consistently ranked among Scotland’s most scenic modern courses, blending championship design with unforgettable Highland panoramas.

Location: Aviemore, Scottish Highlands | Designer: Dave Thomas | Par: 72 | Yards: ~7,153 | Opened: 2006

Why Play Here?

Spey Valley is Thomas at his most scenic and dramatic. Routed alongside the River Spey and framed by the Cairngorm mountains, the course combines natural beauty with shot-making challenge: long carries, rumpled fairways, and undulating greens that demand finesse.

It feels wild, peaceful, and distinctly Highland, offering a different flavour from the traditional links that dominate Scottish rankings.

Signature Hole

Par 5, 18th - A sweeping finisher with mountain backdrops and the River Spey in play. One of the most photogenic conclusions in Scotland.

Key Features

• Highland setting with mountain and river views
• Long carries and challenging green complexes
• Host of the European Challenge Tour’s Scottish Challenge
• Wildlife-rich terrain with ancient pines

Bonus Fact

Spey Valley features one of the UK’s longest holes - the 635-yard par-5 5th.

Great for golfers who want dramatic scenery and a championship test without coastal links winds.

A welcoming Borders resort course praised for its playability and balanced challenge.

Location: Near Peebles, Scottish Borders | Designer: Dave Thomas | Par: 72 | Yards: ~6,804 | Opened: 2001

Why Play Here?

Cardrona is built along the River Tweed and offers a friendly yet strategic test. Thomas uses wide fairways to ease golfers off the tee, while tightening the challenge on approaches with well-placed bunkering and subtly sloped greens.

The layout suits all abilities, making it ideal for mixed groups, societies, and relaxed golf breaks - often paired with superb value packages.

Signature Hole

Par 4, 12th - A picturesque hole running alongside the Tweed with a narrow approach that rewards precision.

Key Features

• Resort-friendly but strategically engaging
• River Tweed views throughout
• Wide fairways ideal for all player levels
• Popular value-focused stay-and-play destination

Bonus Fact

Cardrona was one of the first Scottish resorts built specifically to serve both domestic and inbound golf-holiday guests - foresight that made it a long-term favourite for groups.

Great for golfers seeking excellent value, forgiving tee shots, and a relaxing Borders escape.

Frequently regarded as one of Spain’s most spectacular resort courses, with panoramic Atlantic and La Gomera views.

Location: Guia de Isora, Tenerife | Designer: Dave Thomas | Par: 72 | Yards: ~6,900 | Opened: 2005

Why Play Here?

Perched above the Atlantic, Abama is Thomas’s most theatrical design. Terraced fairways cascade down volcanic slopes, framed by palms, lakes, and subtropical gardens.

The course is generous from the tee but demands precision into greens defended by bold bunkering and water. Views are jaw-dropping from nearly every hole, making a round here as much an emotional experience as a golfing one.

Signature Hole

Par 3, 10th - A dramatic downhill shot to a green backed by ocean views, with swirling winds adding to the challenge.

Key Features

• Volcanic terrain, terraced fairways, and lush landscaping
• Ocean views on almost every hole
• Generous landing areas with challenging green surrounds
• Five-star Ritz-Carlton resort onsite

Bonus Fact

More than 20,000 palm trees were planted during construction - many imported species chosen to complement Thomas’s dramatic routing.

Great for golfers who want unforgettable views and resort luxury paired with exciting shot-making.

A contrasting, more technical challenge within one of Europe’s most famous multi-course resorts.

Location: Murcia, Spain | Designer: Dave Thomas | Par: 72 | Yards: ~6,300 | Opened: 1972

Why Play Here?

Unlike the wider and more forgiving North and South Courses, the West is carved tightly through pine-covered hills and ravines.

Accuracy is essential: narrow corridors, sharp doglegs, and elevation changes test every club in the bag. Elevated tees provide expansive views, while the routing creates a rhythm of precision-first golf that rewards thoughtful play.

Signature Hole

Par 3, 17th – A spectacular shot from an elevated tee across a ravine to a small green framed by pines.

Key Features

• Most technical and scenic of La Manga’s three courses
• Narrow tree-lined corridors
• Dramatic elevation changes and ravine carries
• Excellent contrast to the resort’s other layouts

Bonus Fact

Dave Thomas originally designed the West Course with professional tournaments in mind, though its tighter corridors made it better suited to experienced amateurs than tour setups.

Great for golfers who enjoy strategic, accuracy-driven golf with memorable elevation changes.

A scenic and varied 27-hole complex blending Thomas’s design DNA with modern renovation polish.

Location: Sotogrande | Designer: Dave Thomas (original), renovated by Manuel Piñero | Par: 72 (varies by 9s) | Yards: ~6,800–7,100 | Opened: 1998

Why Play Here?

Set amid lakes, pine woods, and cork oak valleys, The Alto Club Golf & Academy offers three distinct loops that each showcase Thomas’s love of elevation, framing, and natural integration.

The recent redesign has refined bunkering, greens, and routing flow - but the original Thomas character remains unmistakable. It’s a calmer, more relaxed alternative to nearby Valderrama and San Roque, yet still offers enough challenge for accomplished players.

Signature Hole

Par 4, Lagos 6th - A lake-hugging hole that demands a committed line off the tee and a precise approach to a well-protected green.

Key Features

• 27 holes offering multiple routing combinations
• Lakes, wooded valleys, and strong elevation changes
• Recently renovated while retaining Thomas’s core design principles
• Perfect complement to Sotogrande’s world-class golf scene

Bonus Fact

The Alto Club Golf & Academy was one of Thomas’s last major European resort projects before his retirement from design work.

Great for golfers seeking variety, scenery, and a relaxed resort atmosphere in the heart of Sotogrande.

From Scotland to Spain and beyond, Dave Thomas’s courses combine striking landscapes with smart, memorable design. Each venue offers its own blend of strategy, beauty, and playability - whether you want a championship challenge, a resort escape, or a classic scenic round.

Wherever you choose to play, a Dave Thomas layout guarantees thoughtful golf, stunning surroundings, and an experience that stays with you long after the round.