1. The Cascades at Soma Bay, Hurghada, Egypt

The stunning desert links course, designed by Gary Player and measuring 6,991 yards with a par of 72, features verdant fairways, several water hazards, and the Red Sea on five holes, as well as a sequence of artificial lakes on four other holes, all of which could pose problems.

While playing this stunning and difficult golf course, you’ll need to be wary of the palm palms that line the fairways, the fairway bunkers that are carefully positioned on the majority of holes, the green-side bunkers that are plentiful and, of course, the enormous desert of sand that awaits you on every hole if you go off course.

The Cascades also has a nine-hole par-3 course that was also designed by Player, a large selection of modern golf clubs for rent, and a golf academy that has a sixty-bay driving range, multiple practice greens for putting and pitching, and a staff of PGA pros that are available 24/7 to help you perfect your swing.

2. Heritage Golf Club, Bel Ombre, Mauritius

There are now seven stunning championship golf courses on the island of Mauritius, and a ninth is due to open in the coming years.

Of them, the Heritage Golf Club course, created by Peter Matkovich, is the finest. It is over 7,000 yards long and has a par of 72 from the back tees.

From holes 1–5, 7-9, and 17–18, which ascend into the foothills of Bel Ombre in the island’s southern region, one may enjoy magnificent views of the Indian Ocean glistening in the sunshine.

On holes seven, nine, eleven, thirteen, and eighteen, picturesque lakes present a challenge to players.

A magnificent clubhouse greets golfers after their rounds, and the course’s already breathtaking and difficult appearance is further enhanced by strategically placed stones and course markers on rocks.

Despite the tremendous feeling of freedom Matkovich has given the golfer by making good use of the available space and placing many holes in close proximity to one another, the verdant vetiver grass that borders many fairways and the jungle of mango, papaya, and palm trees that lines a few holes make it easy to swallow errant shots.

In addition to the Heritage course, there are a number of practice facilities available, such as a nine-hole par-three course, a driving range with two ends and a short game facility that is second to none.

Historical Le Telfair Golf & Spa Resort and Heritage Awali Golf & Spa Resort are two five-star all-inclusive hotels that are conveniently located across the street from the course.

Guests of the aforementioned all-inclusive hotels are entitled to complimentary green fees at the Heritage Golf Club. Guests of other hotels are required to pay $205 per round.

3. Le Touessrok, Ile Aux Cerfs, Mauritius

Le Touessrok, an exquisite golf course located on its own island at Ile Aux Cerfs on the east coast of Mauritius, is the sole course I have experienced that is accessible exclusively by boat or helicopter, not by road.

This course, designed by Bernhard Langer, spans 7,115 yards and features a par of 72 (from the back tees), presenting a layout that must be experienced to be appreciated.

The course features numerous holes adjacent to the pristine beaches and turquoise waves of the Indian Ocean, presenting a masterpiece of design, enriched by a diverse array of exotic flora and animals, including scarlet cardinals that flutter around the golf course.

The course is exceptionally challenging, with black volcanic rock formations on several holes, mangrove swamps on numerous others, water hazards that assess accuracy on 13 holes, and strategic bunkers on many more.

Green fees are incorporated into the accommodation prices for resort guests; however, a fee of $32 per person is required for a cart, which is optional. The green charge for external visitors during the high season is Rs8700 ($281), which includes boat transfer and cart rental.

4. Mazagan Golf Club, El Jadida, Morocco

The course at Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, built by South African icon Gary Player, was inaugurated in 2009 and has since been ranked as the premier course in Morocco by “Golf Digest” magazine.

Designed as a links course by Player, this par-72 layout extends along the coastline and dunes next to the Atlantic Ocean, with a maximum length of 7,484 yards from the back tees.

Fortunately for amateur golfers, multiple tee sets enable the course to be played at distances between 6,142 and 6,647 yards.

The course’s consistently excellent condition is primarily attributed to the management business Troon Golf and the course’s agronomy team.

The primary problem arises from the course’s full exposure to strong winds originating from the Atlantic.

The area features numerous deep green-side bunkers, sand dunes, and characteristically challenging links-style rough.

The golf course is exceptional, consistently challenging while providing ample opportunity to appreciate its splendour.

The green fees at Mazagan are MAD 550 ($65) per round for day visitors and MAD 450 for resort guests.

5. Windhoek Golf & Country Club, Namibia

Although Namibia is not widely recognised for golf in Africa, this southern African country boasts 15 courses, with “Golf Digest” recently designating the 18 holes at Windhoek Golf & Country Club as the finest among them.

Spanning 72 hectares of natural Namibian bushveld and vegetation on the periphery of Windhoek, the capital city, the course is 6,675 yards, par 71, including verdant fairways that meander among the trees.

Alongside the trees and rough, wetlands are incorporated on three holes, and numerous deep bunkers round the majority of the greens.

A visit is highly recommended for golfers in Namibia, featuring an adjacent luxury four-star resort hotel at the club.

The green fees at Windhoek are NAD 330 ($33) for guests of the resort hotel and NAD 410 for general visitors.

6. Lemuria Golf Course, Praslin Island, Seychelles

The 5,827-yard, par-70 course at the Lemuria Resort on Praslin Island in the Seychelles is the sole 18-hole course in this Indian Ocean archipelago. What an exceptional golf course!

This exquisite layout compensates for its brevity with the formidable challenge it offers.

Conceived by Rodney Wright and Marc Farry, and inaugurated in 2000, the initial 12 holes traverse tight, palm-fringed fairways next to the resort, featuring abundant water hazards and sand traps for errant shots.

The final six holes ascend into the island’s hills, offering sweeping vistas of the course, the island, and other islands, while the fairways narrow and the difficulty increases.

The current record for the highest number of lost balls in a single round is 40; thus, bring ample supplies with you.

Should you have the opportunity to play here, seize it, since this is undeniably one of the most exquisite golf courses I have encountered globally.

Green fees are incorporated into the hotel prices for golfers residing at the resort; however, mandatory cart fees must be paid separately (SCR 760/$64).

The green costs for non-resort guests are SCR 1,610, which includes a cart.

7. Fancourt Links, George, Western Cape, South Africa

The Fancourt Links course, one of three exceptional courses at Africa’s leading golf resort, was ranked as the top course in South Africa by “Golf Digest” earlier this year. Additionally, Fancourt’s other two courses, the Montagu and the Outeniqua, were included in the top 20 of the “Golf Digest” list of the best courses in South Africa.

All three were conceived by Gary Player.

The former two courses commenced in the early 1990s, whereas the Links was inaugurated in 2000.

The Links course measures 6,919 yards with a par of 72 from the club tees and may be extended to 7,535 yards from the back tees to cater to elite players, a configuration utilised on multiple occasions.

In 2003, it hosted the Presidents Cup, culminating in a historic tie following a dramatic playoff between Tiger Woods and Ernie Els.

Additional significant championships hosted here comprise the 2005 Women’s World Cup of Golf, the 2006 South African Open, and the 2012 Volvo Golf Champions tournament on the European Tour.

Access to the Links course is exclusive to guests of the Fancourt Resort, with green fees set at ZAR 1,600 ($163) a round, inclusive of refreshments and snacks at the halfway house.

8. Gary Player Golf Course, Sun City, South Africa

The Gary Player Country Club (GPCC) course, one of two constructed by Player at Sun City, is superior to the other.

The Nedbank Golf Challenge has been held every December for the past 32 years, since its inception in 1981 as The Million Dollar Challenge, a 12-golfer invitational event.

This esteemed tournament has included Tiger Woods, Sergio Garcia, Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, Lee Westwood, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Seve Ballesteros, hence when you play a round here, you are treading in the footsteps of renowned golfers.

The elite competitors navigate the course from an impressive 8,000 yards, par 72, while average players can choose from several tees ranging from 5,881 to 6,535 yards.

It is undoubtedly worthwhile to play, including Augusta-speed putting surfaces, numerous elevation variations, five water hazards, and an abundance of both large and little bunkers to challenge every aspect of your game.

The kikuyu fairways and bentgrass greens offer optimal playing conditions.

The green fees at GPCC are ZAR 790 ($80) each round during weekdays and ZAR 890 on weekends.

9. Flamingo Golf Course, Monastir, Tunisia

This 6,698-yard, par-72 design by Ronald Fream, situated almost five kilometres inland from Monastir on the Mediterranean, traverses crests and hills on a plateau, with fairways interspersed among olive groves.

The lengthy holes, such as the 447-yard par-four third and the 578-yard par-five sixth, challenge both strength and skill, particularly when contending with the very strong prevailing wind atop the plateau.

A variety of tees enables you to “play it forward,” allowing for reductions of up to 50 yards on many holes, including the sixth, when selecting the appropriate tees.

Flamingo offers stunning vistas from the clubhouse to the Mediterranean and consistently maintains first-class conditions with exceptional greens and fairways.

It has been a pleasure each time I have engaged with it.

Green fees at Flamingo range from $56 to $230 per round during the low season (June to September) and from $70 to $290 per round during the high season (November to May).

10. Leopard Rock Golf Resort, Mutare, Zimbabwe

This 1993 Peter Matkovich design, one of 30 courses in Zimbabwe, is consistently ranked as the top course in the country by “Golf Digest.”

Leopard Rock, measuring 6,724 yards and par 72, is situated in verdant subtropical environs approximately 180 miles southeast of Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, and features exceptional bent grass greens according to USGA standards.

The course has been established within a dense woodland beneath Leopard Rock mountain, however some trees continue to border the fairways.

As is appropriate for a course situated in the foothills, there are significant elevation changes on most holes.

Additional hazards comprise aesthetically pleasing water features safeguarding various greens, boulders bordering certain fairways, and ravines that must be traversed to complete a hole.

Throughout the region, wild orchids, tree ferns, and other native plants flourish, while the underbrush abounds with avian life.

Green costs are $30 per round for resort guests and $40 per round for day visitors.