Ryder Cup Captain's Picks ... Designed Golf Courses
Our favourite golf courses designed and redesigned by Ryder Cup Captains
Ryder Cup Captain Golf Courses
From Tour venues to championship layouts across the globe, Ryder Cup captains have left their mark on some of the world’s most celebrated golfing destinations. These legendary figures haven’t just led their teams, many have helped shape the very golf courses we play on today.
Across Europe and the USA, Ryder Cup captains have designed entirely new golf courses and taken on ambitious redesign projects, bringing improvements such as clever re-routing, new bunkering, and complete layout changes to elevate play. These updates often blend strategic challenge with visual drama, ensuring the courses remain exciting for amateurs and professionals alike.
At GolfKings, we’ve picked some of our favourite layouts featuring the creative fingerprints and pencil strokes of past captains. Whether it’s a course originally designed from scratch or one carefully reimagined to modern standards, these venues carry the spirit of Ryder Cup leadership in every fairway and green.
Luke Donald
Luke Donald captained Europe in 2023, leading them to a 16½–11½ win at Marco Simone. Set in one of Da Nang’s most unique locations, Ba Na Hills delivers a memorable 18‑hole experience. Five‑star service meets stylish practice facilities, with covered range bays, relaxed ambience, and a superb short‑game area. All framed by native forest and engaging shot values throughout.
Find out more >Paul McGinley
Paul McGinley captained Europe in 2014, guiding them to a 16½–11½ win at Gleneagles. Nestled in Algarve pines, Quinta do Lago North channels McGinley’s strategic finesse. Immaculate fairways, sculpted bunkers, and subtle contours reward both boldness and precision, while the surrounding woodland adds an air of contemplative calm to every memorable hole.
Find out more >Nick Faldo
Nick Faldo was European Ryder Cup captain in 2008, but his team lost 16½–11½ to the U.S. at Valhalla. Perched on Vietnam’s central coast, Laguna Lang Co blends tropical drama with Faldo’s architectural clarity. Expansive views, bold bunkering, and sweeping risk‑reward corridors invite you to plot your own matchplay strategy under Asian skies.
Find out more >Colin Montgomerie
Colin Montgomerie captained Europe in 2010, securing a tight 14½–13½ victory at Celtic Manor. Set against the Turkish Riviera, Montgomerie Maxx Royal reflects his competitive spirit. The routing forces thought, with elevation shifts, dramatic waste bunkers, and greens that demand surgical precision—each hole an invitation to duel with the layout.
Find out more >Seve Ballesteros
Seve Ballesteros captained Europe in 1997 (win 14½–13½) and 1999 (win 14½–13½). Perched on volcanic cliffs, Buenavista showcases Seve’s flair. Dramatic sea vistas, undulating fairways, and green complexes that shift subtly with the land. Every hole whispers imagination and visual poetry in his legacy.
Find out more >Bernhard Langer
Bernhard Langer captained Europe in 2004, leading to an 18½–9½ rout over the U.S. at Oakland Hills. Set amid Mauritius lagoon and islets, Île Aux Cerfs plays like a Langer masterstroke. Water-laced holes, fine lines between fate and error, and a sense of serenity weave together in a design that marries beauty and precision.
Find out more >José María Olazábal
José María Olazábal captained Europe in 2012 and led them to a 14½–13½ win over the U.S. at Medinah. Rising above the Messinian coastline, Hills Course channels Olazábal’s introspective elegance. Broad fairways, dramatic elevation, and strategic bunkering demand finesse, while the views across olive‑terraced hills reward every advance.
Find out more >Tony Jacklin
Tony Jacklin captained Europe in 1983, 1985, and 1987; most notably, in 1987 he led Europe to a 15–13 win over the U.S. at Muirfield Village. Tucked in Cyprus’s hills near Paphos, Secret Valley channels Jacklin’s classic simplicity. Rolling terrain, generous target lines, and natural drainage make every shot feel honest, where strategy and straightforward beauty meet without fuss.
Find out more >Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus captained the U.S. multiple times; notably he was U.S. captain in 1987 when Europe won 15–13. Fringing the Caribbean at Cap Cana, Punta Espada glistens with Nicklaus’s precision. Bold fairways carved from coastal reef, sculpted waste areas, and water-hugging corridors beckon strategic ambition, always with punch and elegance.
Find out more >Davis Love III
Davis Love III served as U.S. captain in 2016; the U.S. won 17–11 at Hazeltine. On South Carolina’s low dunes, Atlantic Dunes embraces Love’s American-modern vocabulary. Broad risk/reward passages, dune-backed greens and rugged native grasses frame a course that feels both free and fiercely tactical.
Find out more >Tom Watson
Tom Watson captained the U.S. in 2014, when the U.S. lost 16½–11½ to Europe. Overlooking Monterey Bay, Links at Spanish Bay evokes Old Links spirit through Watson’s lens. Native dunes, seaside wind corridors, and subtle hollows reward imagination and shotmaking, especially when wind becomes an ally or adversary.
Find out more >Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer was U.S. playing captain in 1963 and also captained later teams. Surrounded by Florida pines and oaks, Bay Hill channels Palmer’s classic sensibility. Generous driving corridors, sculpted water hazards, and polished green complexes reward both bold strategic insight and graceful shot execution.
Find out more >Ben Crenshaw
Ben Crenshaw captained the U.S. in 1999, famously leading a 14½–13½ comeback win at Brookline. At Pinehurst No. 2, Crenshaw’s design spirit whispers. Deep turtle-back greens, subtle swales, and wide fairways invite finesse, while the sandy soil and native surroundings keep every round honest and full of nuance.
Find out more >Lee Trevino
Lee Trevino captained the U.S. in 1985 at The Belfry, where Europe triumphed 16½–11½ to reclaim the Cup. Set amid Vietnam’s undulating terrain, his layout channels Trevino’s unpredictable streak. Arcing fairways, bunker placement that teases risk, and greens with personality make every round a journey of surprises and character.
Find out more >Raymond Floyd
Raymond Floyd was U.S. captain in 1989, when the matches ended in a 14–14 tie, with Europe retaining the Cup. On the famed layout in Florida, Blue Monster reflects Floyd’s competitive edge. Water edges every hole, dramatic carry zones demand guts, and the finishing stretch tests your nerve, an exciting matchplay golf course in full force.
Find out more >
Mauritius
Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort
7 nights | Half Board | Unlimited Golf
- Play on Heritage Golf Club - Le Chateau Golf Course (Unlimited)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
- Airport transfers included
Mauritius
Constance Belle Mare Plage Mauritius
7 nights | Half Board | Unlimited Golf
- Play on Links Belle Mare Plage Golf Course (Unlimited) and Legend Belle Mare Plage Golf Course (Unlimited)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
- Airport and golf transfers included
Paphos, Cyprus
Aphrodite Hills Resort
7 nights | Bed and Breakfast | 4 rounds
- Play on PGA National Cyprus Golf Course - Aphrodite Hills (x4)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
La Romana, Dominican Republic
Casa de Campo Resort & Villas
7 nights | All Inclusive | 5 rounds
- Play on Dye Fore Golf Course - Casa de Campo (x2), The Links Golf Course - Casa de Campo (x1) and Teeth of the Dog Golf Course - Casa de Campo (x2)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
- Airport and golf transfers included
North Lisbon, Lisbon
Marriott Praia del Rey
4 nights | Bed and Breakfast | 3 rounds
- Play on Praia D'El Rey Golf Course (x1), West Cliffs Golf Course (x1) and Royal Obidos Golf Course (x1)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
- Golf transfers included
Navarino Dunes, Costa Navarino
The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino
7 nights | Bed and Breakfast | 5 rounds
- Play on The Bay Golf Course (x1), The Dunes Golf Course (x2), The Hills Golf Course (x1) and International Olympic Academy Golf Course (x1)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
- Airport and golf transfers included
Limerick, South West Ireland
Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Ireland tour
Islay, West Coast and Islands
Another Place, The Machrie
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Scotland tour
Maspalomas, Gran Canaria
Salobre Hotel Resort & Serenity
7 nights | Bed and Breakfast | Unlimited Golf
- Play on Salobre Golf - Old Course (Unlimited) and Salobre Golf - New Course (Unlimited)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
Benahavis, Costa del Sol
The Westin La Quinta Golf Resort & Spa
4 nights | Bed and Breakfast | 3 rounds
- Play on La Quinta Golf Course (x2) and Los Naranjos Golf Club (x1)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
Belek
Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort & Spa
7 nights | All Inclusive | 4 rounds
- Play on Cornelia Championship Golf Course (x4)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
- Airport and golf transfers included
Mauritius
The Bay Club at Anahita
7 nights | Half Board | Unlimited Golf
- Play on Ile Aux Cerfs Golf Club (Unlimited) and Anahita Golf Course (Unlimited)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
- Airport and golf transfers included
Guia de Isora, Tenerife
The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama
7 nights | Bed and Breakfast | 3 rounds
- Play on Abama Golf (x3)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
- Airport and golf transfers included
Belek
Voyage Belek Golf & Spa
7 nights | All Inclusive | 4 rounds
- Play on Montgomerie Maxx Royal Golf Course (x2), Kaya Palazzo Golf Course (x1) and Nobilis Golf Course (x1)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
- Airport and golf transfers included
Belek
Gloria Serenity Resort
7 nights | All Inclusive | 4 rounds
- Play on Gloria Golf Old Course (x2) and Gloria Golf New Course (x2)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
- Airport and golf transfers included
Buenavista, Tenerife
Hacienda del Conde member of Melia Collection
7 nights | Half Board | 4 rounds
- Play on Buenavista Golf (x4)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
Quinta do Lago, The Algarve
Hotel Quinta do Lago
4 nights | Bed and Breakfast | 3 rounds
- Play on Quinta do Lago South Golf Course (x1), Quinta do Lago North Golf Course (x1) and Quinta do Lago Laranjal Golf Course (x1)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
Kerry, South West Ireland
Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Ireland tour
Marbella, Costa del Sol
Anantara Villa Padierna
4 nights | Bed and Breakfast | 3 rounds
- Play on Alferini Golf (x1) and Flamingos Golf (x1)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
Dundee, Dundee and Carnoustie
Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Scotland tour
North Berwick, East Lothian and Edinburgh
Archerfield House Hotel
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Scotland tour
Scottsdale, Arizona
Boulders Resort & Spa
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your USA tour
Carnoustie, Dundee and Carnoustie
Carnoustie Golf Hotel
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Scotland tour
Kildare, Dublin & East of Ireland
Carton House - a Fairmont Managed Hotel
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Ireland tour
Praslin, Seychelles
Constance Lemuria
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
Wicklow, Dublin & East of Ireland
Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Ireland tour
Marrakech
Fairmont Royal Palm
7 nights | Bed and Breakfast | 5 rounds
- Play on Samanah Golf Club (x1), Royal Palm Golf Course (x3) and Assoufid Golf Club (x1)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
- Airport and golf transfers included
St Andrews, St Andrews and Fife
Fairmont St Andrews
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Scotland tour
Benalup, Cadiz
Fairplay Golf & Spa Resort
7 nights | Semi All Inclusive | 4 rounds
- Play on Fairplay Golf Club (x4)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
Waterford, Dublin & East of Ireland
Faithlegg House Hotel & Golf Club
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Ireland tour
Garden Route, Cape Town and Western Cape
Fancourt Hotel
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your South Africa tour
Casares, Costa del Sol
Finca Cortesin Hotel
5 nights | Bed and Breakfast | 3 rounds
- Play on Finca Cortesin Golf Club (x3)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
Cork, South West Ireland
Fota Island Resort
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Ireland tour
Mauritius
Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
Ballymena, North West Ireland & Northern Ireland
Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Ireland tour
Auchterarder, Perthshire
Gleneagles Hotel
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Scotland tour
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Half Moon Resort
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
Palmeraie, Marrakech
Iberostar Club Palmeraie
7 nights | All Inclusive | 4 rounds
- Play on Al Maaden Golf Club (x1), Samanah Golf Club (x1), Assoufid Golf Club (x1) and Noria Golf Club (x1)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
- Airport and golf transfers included
Miami, Florida
JW Turnberry Miami
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your USA tour
Kerry, South West Ireland
Killarney Plaza Hotel
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Ireland tour
Inverness, Highlands
Kingsmills Hotel
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Scotland tour
Ayr, Ayrshire
Lochgreen House Hotel
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Scotland tour
North Berwick, East Lothian and Edinburgh
Marine Hotel & Spa
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Scotland tour
Belek
Maxx Royal Belek Golf Resort
7 nights | All Inclusive | 4 rounds
- Play on Montgomerie Maxx Royal Golf Course (x2), Kaya Palazzo Golf Course (x1) and Nobilis Golf Course (x1)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
- Airport and golf transfers included
Kilkenny, Dublin & East of Ireland
Mount Juliet Estate & Golf Club
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Ireland tour
City Centre, Marrakech
Movenpick Marrakech
7 nights | Bed and Breakfast | 4 rounds
- Play on Samanah Golf Club (x1), Assoufid Golf Club (x1), Noria Golf Club (x1) and Al Maaden Golf Club (x1)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
- Airport and golf transfers included
Cork, South West Ireland
Old Head Golf Links Suites and Spa
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Ireland tour
Sintra, Lisbon
Penha Longa
4 nights | Bed and Breakfast | Unlimited Golf
- Play on Penha Longa Atlantic Golf Course (Unlimited)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
Dublin, Dublin & East of Ireland
Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Ireland tour
Wicklow, Dublin & East of Ireland
Powerscourt Hotel and Spa
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Ireland tour
Marbella, Costa del Sol
Puente Romano Hotel
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
Belek
Regnum Carya
7 nights | All Inclusive | 4 rounds
- Play on Carya Golf Course (x2) and National Golf Course (x2)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
- Airport and golf transfers included
Costa Caleta, Fuerteventura
Sheraton Fuerteventura
7 nights | Bed and Breakfast | Unlimited Golf
- Play on Fuerteventura Golf Club (Unlimited)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
- Golf transfers included
County Down, North West Ireland & Northern Ireland
Slieve Donard Resort and Spa
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Ireland tour
Provence
Terre Blanche Hotel & Spa
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
Wisconsin
The American Club
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your USA tour
Kildare, Dublin & East of Ireland
The K Club
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Ireland tour
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
The Marcliffe Hotel and Spa
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Scotland tour
Troon, Ayrshire
The Marine Hotel
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Scotland tour
Dublin, Dublin & East of Ireland
The Merrion Hotel
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Ireland tour
Scottsdale, Arizona
The Phoenician, A Luxury Collection Resort
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your USA tour
Charleston, South Carolina
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your USA tour
Scottsdale, Arizona
The Westin, Kierland Resort & Spa
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your USA tour
Clare, South West Ireland
Trump International & Hotel Doonbeg
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your Ireland tour
Miami, Florida
Trump National Doral
- Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
- Include this hotel as part of your USA tour
Turnberry, Ayrshire
Trump Turnberry
3 nights | Bed and Breakfast | 3 rounds
- Play on Turnberry King Robert the Bruce (x2) and Turnberry Ailsa Course (x1)
Sicily
Verdura Resort
7 nights | Bed and Breakfast | 4 rounds
- Play on Verdura Links (x2) and Verdura Shore (x2)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
- Airport transfers included
Vilamoura, The Algarve
Victoria Golf Resort and Spa Managed by Accor
4 nights | Bed and Breakfast | 3 rounds
- Play on Pinhal Vilamoura (x1), Millennium Vilamoura (x1) and Laguna Vilamoura (x1)
- Golf Holidays with Flights included
- Golf transfers included
Our team of experts are on hand to help tailor-make your golf trip
Call us on 0800 756 7715