Gary Player's Choice: "What Are the World's Top 10 Courses?"

The Only Non-American 'Career Grand Slammer' Names the Top 3 Courses: St Andrews Old Course, Augusta National, Trump Turnberry

The golf sanctuary, St Andrews Old Course, is a links golf course that preserves the natural environment as it is.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] "A legendary course chosen by a golf legend."

Gary Player (South Africa) is the third 'Career Grand Slammer' in global golf history. He received even more spotlight as the only non-American. Starting with his Open Championship win in 1959, he completed the puzzle with the Masters in 1961, the PGA Championship in 1962, and the US Open in 1965. Alongside Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer (both from the United States), he ushered in the 'Big 3 era' of the PGA Tour, accumulating a total of 24 wins including 9 major championships.

It is interesting that Player achieved a total of 73 wins while playing on tours worldwide, including South Africa and Australia. Based on his extensive experience conquering various courses, he recently announced the 'Top 10 Courses in the World' through Golf.com. The number one spot went to the 'golf sanctuary,' the Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland. It is famous as the battleground for the 'oldest major,' the Open Championship. Most of its 112 bunkers are shaped like pot bunkers, said to be where shepherds took shelter from the wind.

The Masters venue, Augusta National, is notorious as a 'snobby club' operated under a strict member-centric system.

The second place is Augusta National in Georgia, USA, the venue of the Masters. 'Golf Saint' Bobby Jones (USA) purchased 450,000 square meters of Indian farmland near Augusta in 1930 and developed the course with designer Alister MacKenzie. It operates under a strict member-only policy, earning the notorious nickname 'snobby club.' In fact, you cannot even pass through the main gate without being accompanied by a member. The glassy greens and perfect fairways are 'art.' It is a dream course for amateur golfers.

Trump Turnberry in Scotland ranks third. It has also hosted the Open Championship four times. The 2009 Open was a highlight, drawing golf fans' attention with Tom Watson's (USA) 'sixtieth birthday fighting spirit.' In 2014, it made news again when real estate mogul and then US President Donald Trump acquired it. The fantastic scenery harmonizing with the nearby Craighead across the sea remains memorable. The lighthouse used in Turnberry's logo is also an unmissable landmark.

Pine Valley is highly praised as "the most beautiful course in the world."

The Links South Africa is fourth. Player is a player with a special affection for his homeland South Africa. He swept an incredible 13 wins at the South African Open, the 'national title,' and endured over 15 million miles of travel going back and forth between South Africa and the PGA Tour. Pine Valley in New Jersey, USA, ranked fifth, was praised as the 'most beautiful course in the world,' created to preserve nature as it is while allowing golfers to fully enjoy the game.

Bulgaria's Thracian Cliffs is sixth, noted as a "luxury course by the seaside." Australia's Kingston Heath in Melbourne, Northern Ireland's Royal Portrush, and England's Royal Lytham & St Annes took seventh to ninth places respectively. Scotland's Muirfield is tenth. It was established in 1744 in East Lothian and renovated in 1891 by Tom Morris Sr. (Scotland). The fact that it has accumulated 276 years of history alone makes it a legendary course.