Old Head Golf Links in Kinsale, Ireland: The most scenic golf course in the world?

KINSALE, Ireland -- These words won't do justice to the the beauty of Old Head Golf Links, the remote natural wonder set upon a 220-acre, diamond-shaped promontory jutting into the Atlantic Ocean in southeast Ireland. Neither will these photos, as gorgeous as they are.

Old Head must be experienced in person to understand how the heart beats a little faster standing on the terrifying tees that clutch the 300-foot cliffs and how the views of the Atlantic Ocean and lighthouse keep your head on a swivel. There might not be a more scenic course in the world on a sunny day than Old Head.

Recent changes -- a new cliff-side par 3 at no. 13 and a reshaped fairway on the par-5 17th hole -- bring the last remaining sections of the cliff not used during the original routing into play. The layout, consisting of five par 5s and five par 3s, was dreamed up by multiple men, most noteworthy being Ron Kirby and Irishman Eddie Hackett, and opened in 1997.

Taking a caddie makes for a memorable walk. The tee shots on the par-4 fourth, the par-5 12th and the drivable, par-4 15th hole are unforgettable cliffhangers. The five-star experience at Old Head continues off the golf course with luxury suites, a patio overlooking the links and the Lusitania Bar and de Courcey Restaurant inside the classy stone clubhouse.