The World Top 100 proves UK & Ireland's golf dominance is only getting stronger

For the sixth consecutive year, Royal County Down has been crowned the world's best golf course in Golf Digest's 2026 World Top 100 rankings. Yet while the iconic Northern Irish links continues to sit atop the global game, the latest list tells a much bigger story about golf in the UK & Ireland.

The result is a region that is doing something few golf destinations can achieve. The UK & Ireland remains home to many of the courses that define greatness in the game, but they are also creating the next generation of bucket-list experiences. Through major investment, championship hosting and ambitious new developments, the region is proving that its success is not built on history alone.

For golfers, that means the dream trip is no longer limited to a handful of legendary names. The bucket list is getting bigger, and many of the most exciting additions can still be found in the landscapes that have shaped the game for generations. Discover our three main takeaways from the most recent rankings:

While the latest rankings highlight exciting movement elsewhere in the list, the very top of the World Top 100 remains a familiar place. Royal County Down's sixth consecutive year at number one is a reminder that, despite the emergence of new contenders around the globe, the benchmark for great golf remains firmly rooted in the UK & Ireland.

It is a theme that runs throughout the rankings. Courses such as St Andrews, Royal Portrush, Ballybunion and Lahinch continue to feature among the world's elite, their reputations strengthened by generations of golfers who have made the pilgrimage to experience them. These are not simply great courses. They are the venues that have well and truly shaped how golfers think about links golf, architecture and what constitutes a truly memorable golf trip.

Their enduring success is particularly impressive given the increasing competition from modern resort destinations and high-profile new developments around the world. While many regions are investing heavily to create the next must-play venue, the UK & Ireland continues to be home to courses that golfers compare everything else against.

For travelling golfers, that prestige matters. A trip to St Andrews or Royal County Down is still viewed as a rite of passage, while rounds at Royal Portrush, Ballybunion and Lahinch remain among the most sought-after experiences in the game. Long before rankings were published each year, these courses had already secured their place on golf's ultimate bucket list.

Many of the highest-ranked courses in the UK & Ireland are also among the most sought-after golf trip destinations in the world.

Some of the best golf experiences in the UK & Ireland include:

• Royal County Down, Location: Northern Ireland | Golf Digest ranking: No. 1 in 2026 Golf Digest's world number one course for the sixth consecutive ranking, Royal County Down combines dramatic links terrain, towering dunes and stunning views of the Mourne Mountains to create one of golf's most iconic experiences.
• St Andrews Old Course, Location: Scotland | Golf Digest ranking: No. 2 in 2026 Widely regarded as the Home of Golf, the Old Course remains one of the most recognisable and influential layouts ever created. From the Swilcan Bridge to the Road Hole, it delivers a golfing experience unlike anywhere else in the world.
• Royal Portrush (Dunluce Links), Location: Northern Ireland | Golf Digest ranking: No. 5 in 2026 Fresh from hosting The Open Championship and continuing to climb the list of must-play courses, Royal Portrush blends spectacular coastal scenery with a championship-calibre test highlighted by famous holes such as Calamity Corner.
• Ballybunion Old Course, Location: Ireland | Golf Digest ranking: No. 10 in 2026 Consistently ranked among the world's finest links courses, Ballybunion is celebrated for its massive dunes, rugged Atlantic setting and thrilling routing along Ireland's south-west coast.
• Lahinch Golf Club, Location: Ireland | Golf Digest ranking: No. 21 in 2026 One of Ireland's most beloved links experiences, Lahinch pairs breathtaking ocean views with quirky design features and a rich history that continues to captivate golfers from around the globe.

If Royal County Down's continued dominance confirms Ireland's place at the summit of world golf, the country's wider representation in Golf Digest's World Top 100 highlights something equally significant: there has never been more depth to an Irish golf trip.

With 14 courses featured in the rankings, Ireland boasts one of the strongest collections of world-class golf anywhere on the planet. While iconic names such as Royal County Down, Ballybunion, Lahinch and Royal Portrush continue to attract golfers from around the globe, the latest rankings suggest that travellers are increasingly looking beyond the traditional household names.

Courses that were once considered hidden gems are now becoming destinations in their own right. Old Head Golf Links has transformed from a spectacular curiosity into one of the most sought-after rounds in the world Meanwhile, Adare Manor's rise ahead of the 2027 Ryder Cup has elevated the luxury resort into the conversation alongside some of Ireland's most established landmarks.

For golfers planning a trip to Ireland, this growing recognition has fundamentally changed what a bucket-list itinerary looks like. A decade ago, many visitors built their trips around a handful of famous names. Today, there are countless ways to experience Ireland's world-class landscape, whether that's following the legendary links of Northern Ireland, exploring the famous Wild Atlantic Way, discovering Donegal's collection of acclaimed courses, or combining championship golf with five-star luxury at Adare Manor.

The result is a destination that continues to evolve without losing what made it special in the first place. Ireland's greatest courses still set the standard, but the list of must-play venues keeps growing, giving golfers more reasons than ever to return.

Discover some of the Irish courses earning global recognition

Ireland's strength in the World Top 100 extends far beyond its most famous names. Some of the highest-ranked Irish courses outside the traditional headliners include:

• Old Head Golf Links, Location: Cork | Golf Digest ranking: No. 33 in 2026 Perched on a dramatic peninsula stretching into the Atlantic Ocean, Old Head offers one of the most spectacular settings in world golf, with ocean views visible from virtually every hole.
• Waterville Golf Links, Location: Killarney | Golf Digest ranking: No. 42 in 2026 A favourite among golf purists, Waterville combines championship pedigree with a remote setting on the Ring of Kerry, delivering one of Ireland's most authentic links experiences.
• Rosapenna (St Patrick's Links), Location: Donegal | Golf Digest ranking: No. 55 in 2026 Ireland - One of the newest additions to Ireland's collection of elite courses, St Patrick's Links has quickly established itself as a modern masterpiece and a major draw for golfers visiting Donegal.
• Adare Manor, Location: Limerick | Golf Digest ranking: No. 84 in 2026 Set to host the 2027 Ryder Cup, Adare Manor showcases how investment and championship ambitions can elevate a course into the global spotlight, combining immaculate conditioning with five-star luxury.
• County Sligo (Rosses Point), Location: North West Ireland | Golf Digest ranking: No. 89 in 2026 Ireland - Overlooking Sligo Bay and the Benbulben mountains, this classic links is one of Ireland's most scenic and historic golfing destinations.

Together, these courses demonstrate the remarkable depth of Irish golf. Beyond the world-famous names, golfers now have an ever-growing list of globally recognised venues to add to their next Ireland golf trip.

One of the most striking takeaways from the latest World Top 100s is that the UK & Ireland's success is not simply a product of history. While the region remains home to many of golf's most iconic courses, it is also producing some of the game's most exciting modern success stories.

Few examples illustrate this better than St Patrick's Links at Rosapenna. Opened in 2021 following a major redesign by acclaimed architect Tom Doak, the course has rapidly established itself among the world's elite, earning a place in the World Top 100 and becoming one of Ireland's most sought-after golf experiences. Its rise demonstrates that golfers are just as willing to travel for exceptional new courses as they are for century-old legends.

Castle Stuart Golf Links provides another compelling example. Since opening in 2009, the Highlands layout has become one of Scotland's most celebrated modern courses, hosting multiple DP World Tour events and earning global acclaim for its dramatic setting overlooking the Moray Firth. Its success shows that contemporary course design can sit comfortably alongside some of the sport's oldest and most revered venues.

The success of these venues highlights an important shift. For decades, the UK & Ireland's appeal was built largely on heritage, history and championship pedigree. Those qualities remain as important as ever, but today's rankings show that investment, innovation and ambitious development are also shaping the future of golf travel across the region.

For golfers, this means there are now more reasons than ever to plan a trip. Alongside legendary venues such as Royal County Down, St Andrews and Ballybunion, a new generation of courses and resorts is creating fresh bucket-list experiences and expanding the possibilities of what a golf trip to the UK & Ireland can look like.

The result is a region that continues to honour its past while actively building its future. Rather than relying solely on its reputation, the UK & Ireland are proving they can still set the pace for the rest of the golfing world.

The World Top 100 rankings reinforce what golfers have known for generations: the UK & Ireland remain the benchmark for great golf travel. Yet the rankings also reveal something equally important. These destinations are not standing still.

For golfers planning a trip, that means the dream itinerary is no longer limited to a handful of famous names. Whether you're building a classic links tour through Scotland, exploring Northern Ireland's championship venues, or combining world-class golf with luxury resort stays, the UK & Ireland offer a depth and variety that few destinations can match.

Planning tips

• Prioritise the courses that matter most to your group. Some golfers dream of playing the world's highest-ranked layouts, while others prefer discovering lesser-known gems that offer equally memorable experiences.
• Book early for iconic venues such as Royal County Down and Royal Portrush, where demand often exceeds availability.
• Consider combining established bucket-list courses with emerging destinations such as St Patrick's Links or Adare Manor to experience both the heritage and future of golf in the region.
• Explore beyond a single destination. Ireland and the UK now offer multiple world-class golf regions, each with their own character, landscapes and must-play courses.

Q: What is the highest-ranked golf course in the UK & Ireland? A: Royal County Down in Northern Ireland is ranked the No. 1 golf course in the world by Golf Digest in 2026. It has held the top spot for six consecutive rankings, cementing its reputation as one of the most revered links courses in golf.

Q: Which UK & Ireland golf courses should be on every golfer's bucket list? A: While every golfer's list is different, some of the most celebrated courses include Royal County Down, St Andrews Old Course, Royal Portrush, Ballybunion Old Course and Lahinch Golf Club. Increasingly, golfers are also adding courses such as Old Head Golf Links, St Patrick's Links and Adare Manor to their must-play itineraries.

Q: Are there new golf courses in the UK & Ireland gaining international recognition? A: Yes. One of the best examples is St Patrick's Links at Rosapenna in Ireland, which has quickly earned a place among the world's best courses following its redesign by Tom Doak. The rankings also highlight how investment in destinations such as Adare Manor is helping create the next generation of world-class golf experiences.

Q: Is Ireland or Scotland better for a golf trip? A: Both offer exceptional golf experiences, but they appeal to slightly different types of travellers. Scotland is home to iconic venues such as St Andrews, Muirfield and Royal Dornoch, while Ireland combines legendary links courses with dramatic coastal scenery and a growing collection of modern bucket-list destinations.

Read our article comparing the benefits of the two here!

Q: When is the best time to play golf in Ireland and the UK? A: The most popular period for golf trips is between April and October, when courses are generally in peak condition and daylight hours are longest. Spring and autumn can offer excellent value, fewer crowds and outstanding playing conditions, particularly on links courses.

Q: How do I book a golf trip to the UK & Ireland? A: You can browse golf holiday packages online or speak directly with one of our Golf Travel Experts for personalised recommendations. Whether you are planning a quick golf trip or a bucket-list golfing adventure, we can help you find the right package for your group and budget.

Learn more about how to book a golf holiday here.

If there is one clear takeaway from the latest World Top 100 rankings, it is that the UK & Ireland have achieved something few golf destinations can manage. They continue to produce the courses that define greatness while simultaneously creating the next generation of bucket-list experiences.

The landscapes, traditions and legendary venues that made the UK & Ireland the spiritual home of golf remain as compelling as ever. But alongside them, a new wave of courses and resorts is ensuring that the region's greatest golf stories are not just part of its past, they're still being written today.