Unearth The Voyage
Some of the world’s most exclusive golf courses aren’t owned by corporations or resorts. They belong to celebrities who wanted something truly special.
From NBA legends to country music icons, famous names have poured millions into creating one-of-a-kind golf destinations that most people will never get to play. Here’s a look at 12 absurdly luxurious golf courses owned or developed by some of the biggest stars in sports and entertainment.
1. Grove XXIII, Hobe Sound, Florida (Michael Jordan)
When Michael Jordan builds a golf course, you can bet it comes with his signature competitive edge and love for the finer things. Grove XXIII in Hobe Sound, Florida, is so exclusive that even finding confirmed details about it feels like a challenge.
The club was reportedly designed specifically for Jordan and his handpicked circle of guests.
What sets it apart is the kind of over-the-top luxury you’d expect from a six-time NBA champion. The course is rumored to feature drone delivery of snacks and refreshments right to players on the fairway.
Fast play is encouraged, keeping rounds moving at a brisk, enjoyable pace.
Very few outsiders have ever set foot on the property, making it one of the most secretive golf clubs in the country. For Jordan, this course is less a business and more a personal playground built for elite competition and relaxation.
2. Bluejack National, Montgomery, Texas (Tiger Woods)
Tiger Woods is widely considered the greatest golfer of all time, so it makes sense that his first completed U.S. course design would turn heads. Bluejack National in Montgomery, Texas, opened in 2016 and quickly earned rave reviews from golfers and critics alike.
The championship layout challenges players of all skill levels with thoughtful design and beautiful scenery.
One of the most talked-about features is the Playgrounds, a par-3 short course that Woods designed to capture the feel of Augusta National’s famous Par 3 Contest. It’s a fun, lower-pressure way to enjoy the property alongside the main championship track.
Families and casual golfers especially love this feature.
Membership at Bluejack National is private and comes with upscale amenities including a clubhouse, pool, and luxury accommodations. It stands as proof that Woods brings the same level of precision to course design that he brought to tournament golf.
3. Tehama Golf Club, Carmel, California (Clint Eastwood)
Clint Eastwood has spent decades playing tough, no-nonsense characters on screen, but his approach to golf is anything but rough around the edges. Tehama Golf Club, tucked into the rolling hills near Carmel, California, is one of the most private and picturesque courses in the entire country.
Eastwood developed the property himself, and the result is stunning.
The club sits in California’s famous wine country, surrounded by natural oak woodlands and dramatic coastal terrain. Membership is by invitation only, meaning you won’t stumble across an application online.
Eastwood has reportedly been very selective about who gets to enjoy the property alongside him.
The course layout works beautifully with the natural landscape, offering breathtaking views at nearly every turn. Tehama isn’t trying to be the flashiest golf club in the world.
Instead, it feels refined, quiet, and deeply personal, much like the man who created it. It’s understated luxury at its finest.
4. Mirimichi Golf Course, Millington, Tennessee (Justin Timberlake)
Before Justin Timberlake was a global pop icon, he was a kid growing up in Tennessee with a love for golf. When the chance came to purchase Mirimichi Golf Course, the very course he played as a child in Millington, Tennessee, he jumped at it.
Timberlake bought the property in 2007 and poured significant resources into transforming it.
What made his vision unique was a strong focus on environmental responsibility. He worked to reduce the course’s chemical use, improve water conservation, and create a more sustainable operation overall.
At the time, it was one of the greenest golf facilities in the southeastern United States.
Timberlake eventually sold the course, but his impact on the property was lasting. Mirimichi became a welcoming community destination rather than an ultra-exclusive hideaway, which reflected his goal of giving back to the area where he grew up.
It was a genuinely thoughtful project from a surprisingly passionate golfer.
5. Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort, Boerne, Texas (George Strait)
George Strait has sold more albums than almost any artist in country music history, and he’s always had a deep connection to the Texas Hill Country. At one point, the King of Country invested in Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort near Boerne, Texas, a historic property with a golf course that perfectly matches the rugged beauty of the region.
It was a natural fit for a man so rooted in Texas culture.
The resort features a golf course that winds through classic Hill Country terrain, with elevation changes, native grasses, and stunning views that feel authentically Texan. It’s the kind of place where the scenery alone is worth the trip.
Strait’s involvement helped bring renewed attention to this beloved destination.
He later sold his stake in the property, but the resort continues to draw visitors from across the country. Tapatio Springs remains a celebrated example of Texas hospitality wrapped in a luxurious golf experience.
6. Trout National, The Reserve, Vineland, New Jersey (Mike Trout)
Mike Trout is one of the most talented baseball players of his generation, but his passion for golf runs almost as deep as his love for the game he plays professionally. His ambitious project, Trout National: The Reserve, is being developed in Vineland, New Jersey, just miles from where he grew up.
It’s a deeply personal venture for the three-time AL MVP.
What makes this project especially exciting is the involvement of Tiger Woods as course designer. Having the world’s most famous golfer design a course for one of baseball’s biggest stars is a collaboration that golf fans can’t stop talking about.
The result is expected to be a world-class private facility.
Trout has spoken openly about wanting to create something special for his home state, a place where elite golf meets community pride. Construction has been underway, and anticipation continues to build around what promises to be a truly remarkable destination.
7. The Els Club Dubai, Dubai, UAE (Ernie Els)
Ernie Els is a four-time major champion with a game as smooth as his nickname, the Big Easy. When he decided to put his name on a golf course in Dubai, the result had to live up to that reputation.
The Els Club Dubai, located within the Dubai Sports City development, delivers a championship experience that feels right at home in one of the world’s most glamorous cities.
The course stretches across more than 7,500 yards of meticulously maintained turf, offering a serious test for competitive golfers while remaining enjoyable for recreational players. The layout features generous fairways, strategic bunkering, and beautifully manicured greens.
Golfers from around the world travel specifically to play here.
Dubai’s booming luxury golf scene made it a natural home for a signature Els project. The Els Club has hosted professional events and continues to attract high-profile visitors.
It stands as one of the finest celebrity-branded courses anywhere in the Middle East.
8. The Concession Golf Club, Bradenton, Florida (Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin)
The story behind The Concession Golf Club’s name is one of golf’s most sportsmanlike moments. During the 1969 Ryder Cup, Jack Nicklaus conceded a short putt to Tony Jacklin, resulting in a historic tie.
Decades later, the two legends honored that moment by co-creating this extraordinary private club in Bradenton, Florida. The name itself is a tribute to mutual respect.
The course consistently ranks among the best in the United States, drawing praise from golf publications and players who are lucky enough to gain access. Its design challenges skilled golfers while rewarding smart, strategic play from tee to green.
Every hole feels deliberate and memorable.
Membership is strictly private, keeping the experience intimate and exclusive. The Concession hosted the 2021 World Golf Championships and proved it could handle elite professional competition with ease.
Few clubs anywhere can claim both a legendary origin story and a course this consistently impressive.
9. Bear’s Club, Jupiter, Florida (Jack Nicklaus)
Jack Nicklaus has his name attached to hundreds of course designs worldwide, but Bear’s Club in Jupiter, Florida, is the one he built for himself. Founded in 1999, the ultra-private club sits in one of Florida’s most desirable communities and features a championship course that Nicklaus personally shaped to reflect his lifelong philosophy of golf course design.
Every detail reflects his standards.
The club has attracted an extraordinary roster of residents and members over the years, including Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. When two of the greatest athletes in history choose to live and golf in the same neighborhood, it says everything about the quality of the experience.
The community surrounding the course is equally impressive.
Bear’s Club offers a level of privacy and prestige that very few clubs can match. It’s not just a golf course.
It’s a lifestyle destination built by a legend for people who appreciate the very best the game has to offer.
10. Diamond Resorts Tournament Club (formerly Mystic Dunes), Orlando, Florida (Annika Sorenstam)
Annika Sorenstam is widely regarded as the greatest female golfer in history, winning 72 LPGA Tour events and 10 major championships during her career. Her involvement in the redesign of the Diamond Resorts Tournament Club in Orlando brought a world-class perspective to a course that already had plenty going for it.
Her input helped elevate the property to a new standard.
The course, formerly known as Mystic Dunes, plays host to the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions, an LPGA event that brings together tour professionals and celebrity participants each January. Having Sorenstam’s fingerprints on the design adds an authenticity that resonates with serious golfers.
The layout rewards precision and smart course management.
Located in the heart of Orlando’s resort corridor, the club is more accessible than many celebrity-linked courses, welcoming resort guests and public players. It’s a rare example of a celebrity-influenced golf venue that balances prestige with genuine public accessibility.
11. PopStroke Golf Venues, Multiple U.S. Locations (Tiger Woods)
Not every Tiger Woods golf venture involves a championship-length course, and PopStroke is proof that luxury can come in a smaller package. Woods co-owns PopStroke, an upscale putting entertainment concept with locations across the United States.
Think of it as a high-end mini golf experience built for adults who appreciate quality design and a great atmosphere.
Each PopStroke venue features two 18-hole putting courses designed with the same attention to detail you’d expect from a Woods-affiliated project. The greens mimic real golf conditions, making each round genuinely challenging and fun.
A full-service restaurant and bar round out the experience.
PopStroke has been expanding rapidly, appealing to families, date nights, corporate outings, and serious golfers looking for a casual but polished outing. Woods has said he wants to make the sport more accessible and entertaining for a broader audience.
PopStroke is his most approachable bet on the future of golf entertainment.
12. TGR Design Projects, Various International Locations (Tiger Woods)
Tiger Woods hasn’t limited his course design ambitions to the United States. Through his company TGR Design, he has taken on golf projects in destinations including Mexico, the Bahamas, and beyond.
Each project carries his commitment to creating courses that challenge elite players while celebrating the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. His global reach as a designer continues to grow.
One of the most anticipated TGR Design projects is a course planned for Parot Cay in the Turks and Caicos, a destination already known for ultra-luxury tourism. Woods has also been involved in planning courses tied to major resort developments, where the golf experience is just one piece of a larger luxury offering.
These projects attract serious investment and global attention.
TGR Design represents Woods’ long-term legacy beyond playing. Long after his competitive career ends, courses bearing his creative vision will continue to shape how the world’s most affluent golfers experience the game.
