Eight Australian golf courses have made it to the latest ‘Golf’ magazine list of the world’s top 100 courses for 2020-21.

They are headed as ever by Royal Melbourne’s iconic west course at No. 7 in the world.

The American-based ‘Golf’ magazine has what is widely regarded as the most credible – but by no means the only – top 100 list, published every three years and most recently this week.

Royal Melbourne’s composite course, a selection of 12 holes from the west course and six from the east, is not judged as a single course for the purposes of the rankings.

But the east course also made the top 100.

The composite course is hosting the Presidents Cup from December 12, becoming the only club outside the United States to have hosted the event three times.

Kingston Heath, another Sandbelt classic, is just outside the top 20, at No. 22 on the list.

Among those that could be considered unlucky to have missed out are Victoria and Metropolitan, the Cape Schanck courses of The National, Royal Adelaide and Lake Karrinyup.

THE TOP 10, GOLF MAGAZINE RANKINGS 2020-21

1. Pine Valley (USA)

2. Cypress Point (USA)

3. St Andrews (Old) (Scotland)

4. Shinnecock Hills (USA)

5. National Golf Links of America (USA)

6. Royal County Down

7. Royal Melbourne (West) (Australia)

8. Oakmont (USA)

9. Augusta National (USA)

10. Royal Dornoch (Championship) Scotland

THE AUSTRALIANS

• 7 Royal Melbourne (west)

• 22 Kingston Heath

• 35 Barnbougle Dunes

• 46 New South Wales

• 60 Cape Wickham

• 77 Ellerston

• 89 Barbougle Lost Farm

• 96 Royal Melbourne (east)