THREE SCOTTISH LINKS FIGURE IN WORLD'S TOP EIGHT - GOLFER'S DIGEST

Royal County Down Golf Club's links is the best golf course in Europe, according to a poll by Golf Digest Magazine. Pictured above is the imposing clubhouse at the Newcastle, Northern Ireland venue. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

Neither Augusta National, the home of the Masters, nor the Old Course at St. Andrews, the home of golf, took top honours in a recent ranking of the world's 100 greatest courses.

The exclusive Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey came in at No. 1 on Golf Digest's list, with Cypress Point and its magnificent views of the Northern California coast near Pebble Beach ranking No. 2.

Augusta National was third while the Old Course at St. Andrews rated seventh. Royal County Down (Northern Ireland) was fourth, Shinnecock Hills on Long Island was fifth.

Of the courses from Nos. 6-10, three -- St. Andrews, Muirfield and Oakmont -- all host major championships while a fourth -- Royal Melbourne -- recently held the World Cup of Golf and includes the Presidents Cup in 2011 on its résumé.

Forty of the top 100 courses are in the U.S. The panelists, according to the magazine, included more than 800 "knowledgeable, well-travelled" golfers.

Here's a list of the top 10 courses:

• No. 1 Pine Valley Golf Club (Pine Valley, New Jersey.)

• No. 2 Cypress Point Club (Pebble Beach, California)

• No. 3 Augusta National (Augusta, Georgia.)

• No. 4 Royal County Down (Newcastle, N. Ireland)

• No. 5 Shinnecock Hills (Southampton, New York State)

• No. 6 Royal Dornoch (North of Scotland)

• No. 7 St Andrews Old Course (Fife).

• No. 8 Muirfield (Gullane, East Lothian)

• No. 9 Royal Melbourne West (Australia) 

• No. 10 Oakmont (Oakmont, Pennsylvania)

EDITOR'S NOTE: Not a mention of any courses in England, even though the Open is played at Royal St George's, Royal Lytham and St Annes, Royal Liverpool and Royal Birkdale.

Nor do any courses on the Continent figure.  Which suggests that the  800 "knowledgeable and well-travelled" panellists should get out and about more.

    Royal Dornoch's sea of golden broom at a particular time of the year.