| Nowadays golf is played in just about every | | | | Scotland, of course, is home to many of the |
| country on earth. There are one or two countries | | | | finest courses in the world. Although not one of |
| such as the Ukraine and Yemen that have not | | | | the prettiest or even the most difficult of |
| yet found the delights of golf, but not many. At | | | | courses, the course near Stromness is fascinating, |
| the last count, there were something like 32,000 | | | | situated as it is only a few minutes from the |
| listed courses. | | | | 5,000 year old burial mound of Maes Howe. |
| So, what are some of the more notable courses? | | | | India also boasts a number of very fine golf |
| Well, when it comes to the longest course one | | | | courses including the world's second oldest course |
| contender has to be the International Golf Club in | | | | located in Calcutta. Another delightful course is |
| Boston, Massachusetts which, from the "Tiger | | | | that of the Bangalore Golf Club, founded in 1876, |
| Woods" tees is 8,325 yards long. From the regular | | | | with dry and sandy fairways but lush greens. |
| tees the course is a mere 6,547 yards long. | | | | There is also the Bombay Presidency Club built in |
| Another contender for the world's longest course | | | | 1827, although you have to watch out for the |
| is a course situated in a mountainous region of | | | | hazard at the 16th hole which is an elephant pit. |
| China near the Himalayas which claims to be | | | | Another intriguing trap is that found on the 10th |
| 8,548 yards long. However, at an elevation of | | | | hole of the Kasumigaseki Golf Club in Japan. |
| 10,000 feet, this claim is hard to verify. | | | | Opened in 1929, the hole crosses a deep ravine |
| For those who love sand traps then Hell's Half | | | | and also includes several man-swallowing sand |
| Acre at the Pine Valley Course in New Jersey is a | | | | traps. The holes on this course are separated by |
| must. Similarly, if you love playing on large greens | | | | tall pines so, despite the fact that it's a long way |
| then pop back again to Massachusetts and try | | | | away, it's easy to imagine that you're in Idaho. |
| the green on the 5th at the International Golf Club | | | | Of course if it's scenery you're looking for, then |
| which is a staggering 28,000 square feet. | | | | you cannot do much better than to head for the |
| At 909 yards, the world's longest single hole is to | | | | Beijing Golf Club in China. Just 30 minutes from |
| be found at the Satsuki Golf Club in Japan. Of | | | | Beijing's International Airport you can look out on |
| course by the time you read this a longer hole | | | | the Great Wall as you play the first hole. |
| may well have been built, since nowadays it's | | | | Finally, although it's not the largest, or the oldest, |
| cheaper to build golf courses than it is to build | | | | or the highest or the most difficult of courses the |
| office blocks. | | | | Hidden Hills Resort near Hope, Idaho has some of |
| Or how about the world's highest golf course. This | | | | the loveliest scenery of any course in the world. |
| honor falls to the Tactu Golf Club in Morochocha, | | | | As you play the course wild deer and moose will |
| Peru which, at its lowest point, is 14,335 feet | | | | wander only a few yards away at some of the |
| above sea level. | | | | water traps and, at the conclusion of your round, |
| Now if, rather than being intrigued by statistics, | | | | you can enjoy some of the finest food and drink |
| you're actually looking for something you can play, | | | | for 100 miles around in the enormous log cabin |
| then there are still a number of very interesting | | | | style clubhouse. |
| golf courses around the world to try. | | | | |