Pine Valley Golf Club

Pine Valley Golf Club is home to the world's greatest golf course, so say many golf writers and course raters. The stunningly handsome layout presents as tough a test of golf as you'll find anywhere. "Penal, uncompromising and strategic" partly describe its attributes. "Big, bold and beautiful" are also frequently ascribed.

The layout's routing through the sandy pine barrens of southwest Jersey was conceived by its owner George Crump, who worked on the detail of each hole with English architect Harry Colt. Together Crump and Colt forged Pine Valley's indomitable character, based on an excellently crafted array of tree-lined "heathland' holes that test your game to the full, and most likely every club in your bag. In this wonderfully natural and tranquil woodland environment, there are long carries to be made over sandy waste areas. Sand in abundance also features alongside many fairways and around the well-defended greens, often in the form of small deep bunkers.

Two of Pine Valley's most feared holes are the par-3 5th and 10th. One long, one short, both require accurate tee-shots, supported by a nerveless touch with the putter. "On in one, down in ten" has oft been said of the long par-3 5th, which is played from an elevated tee, across a wide valley to a slightly higher shelf green. The much shorter par-3 10th leaves no margin for error; its array of greenside bunkers includes one deep pot-bunker from which the hole gets its name, "the Devil's Asshole."

Inland golf courses don't get any better than the big, bold and grand design of Pine Valley. It may not have stunning views over oceans, mountains or lakes, but on this course such vistas would constitute an unnecessary distraction from the sublime splendour of Crump and Colt's design. As with many of America's top courses however, this is a private club, only playable by its members and their guests.