Golf has been one of the most revered sports in the nation as far as can be remembered, usually being enjoyed by the elite at one of the most expensive golf courses in the world. The sport was discovered several centuries ago, and ever since, has enjoyed tremendous popularity, especially in the United States, which contains over 50% of the world’s golf courses.
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As mentioned earlier, golf is usually considered to be a sport for the elite. You wouldn’t be amiss imagining the mayor of a major city enjoying a round of golf with his rich, retired friends on a nice, sunny weekend. This may be because of how advertisers mention a golf course whenever a new luxury residential scheme is being introduced.
This has even been espoused by 2016 presidential candidate Donald Trump, who stated that golf should remain a sport for the elite. Of course, one reason for that is that golf courses are really expensive to build, and can cost over a $100 million to build, which is why rounds can be pretty expensive for people. It is logical to assume that huge baseball stadiums, as evidenced in 11 most expensive baseball stadiums ever built, would cost hundreds of millions, but a patch of grass filled with holes? You might be surprised with the 5 most expensive golf courses in the world:
5. Bayonne Golf Club
Cost of golf course: 160 million dollars
This luxurious golf course has been built on 147 acres, and is often called as one of the wonders of the golf word. It features some of the world’s most stunning holes, and is often considered to be an engineering marvel, made from a landfill which was filled with tons of sludge. In an age where more golf clubs are being closed rather than opened, this is truly one of the best golf courses out there, and it very well should be, considering that it has a $200,000 initiation fee, meaning most people have already been priced out of playing there.
4. Trump Golf Links
Projected cost of golf course: $236 million
While the costs were expected to be significantly less for this golf course, the truth seems to be anything but. This is the only golf course in this list which is being financed by taxpayer dollars, which is why the cost seems astronomical. However, it is important to note that the cost has been estimated by the Independent Budget Office, while the Park Departments officers have expressed their disagreement with the amount, stating that it is more likely to cost just $127 million. Trump overtook the project in 2012 after the initial developer dropped out and the golf course if being touted to host major tournaments once it is completed.
3. Liberty National Golf Club
Cost of golf course: 250 million dollars
Built with the expertise of renowned golf course architect Bob Cupp while using the knowledge offered by gold legend Tom Kite to design the holes, the Liberty National Golf Club is a one of a kind golf course. The site has been built while considering the cultural heritage of the area, and golfers can enjoy incredible views of the New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty, the Verrazano Narrows Bridge and the Manhattan Skyline as well. It also features an incredible driving range of over 300 yards while the tees provide various targets for the golfers to practice on.
2. Trump National Golf Club
Cost of golf course: $260 million
Based on the belief that golf is a luxury sport for the elite to indulge in, the Trump National Golf Club is, in its own words, the pinnacle of nature and opulence, and is also currently the most expensive golf club in the world which has already been built. The club features an incredible ballroom, a pro-shop, a variety of dining options and even conference rooms.
The golf course has further coordinated with the relevant environmental agencies in order to ensure that instead of damaging the environment, the golf course can coexist peacefully with it. It further features public trails which lead to a beach as well as a public park too.
1. Dutch Docklands Golf Course
Estimated cost of golf course: $500 million
The Dutch Docklands is a company which creates floating buildings and grounds. Yes, that is their specialty. And they have currently announced that they will create the world’s first floating golf course, which will cost nearly half a billion dollars. The idea is for three islands in the Maldives to host 45 holes, while the clubhouse will be linked to the islands via underwater tunnels. These features are all set to make the Dutch Docklands Golf Course to become the most expensive golf course in the world.
