Continental Europe's Top 20 golf courses: Monte Rei, Barseback and Sporting Club Berlin

18. Monte Rei (North)

Architect: Jack Nicklaus GF: €125-€190 W: monte-rei.com

This beautiful and lush Jack Nicklaus course is set in the rugged hills to the east of Faro, away from the hustle and bustle of the Algarve’s busier developments. The course is unusual for Portugal in that holes are not overlooked by sprawling developments and, even though there are some impressive properties being built onsite, housing densities will be kept relatively low ensuring the sense of space remains. Less than two years old, this is a fine upmarket course with a clubhouse, practice facilities and service levels to match.

19. Barseback (Masters)

Architect: Ture Bruce GF: €47

Situated on the west coast of Sweden a few miles to the north of Malmo, the first seven holes at Barseback run through undulating woodland before a dramatic change of scenery as the course opens out towards the sea. The descent over water to the 8th green is followed by three more holes along the shore before a return to the forest.

20. Sporting Club Berlin   

Architect: Nick Faldo GF: €70-€90 W: sporting-club-berlin.de

This is another inland links, carved over relatively flat land and created from the imagination of Nick Faldo, his first design in continental Europe. With thick rough and very fast greens, the course is reckoned to be the toughest in the country and boasts no fewer than 133 bunkers.

Monte Rei is the newest course on our list