If there’s one thing for certain in this life, it is that when it’s almost over, most people look back at missed opportunities. That girl they never pursued, the job opportunity they turned down, and in our case the epic golf greens we never explored.

Oh dear, we shudder to think of missing out on a single one of these gems. At a recent work BBQ, my colleagues and I discussed the best golf courses we’d ever been to outside of Australia.

Of course, if you’re looking for the finest golf experience in Australia, we all agree that includes a visit to Murray Downs. Murray Downs Golf Packages can be found on their website.

We compiled this list to deliver to you our all time, must-see-before-you-die golf course experiences.

8. San Francisco Golf Club

With much of the landscape routing dating back to the clubs’ origins back in the year 1916, and remodeled again in the year 1923, the San Francisco Golf Club provides an excellent golfing experience.

The San Francisco Golf Club is a pleasant 6,828 yards, Par 71.

7. St. George’s Golf and Country Club

This Canadian gem located in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada and boasts a heaping 7,145 yards, Par 71. Its design was crafted by none other than Stanley Thompson, who worked with the natural beauty of the glacier-cut land to sculpt tightly bunkered putting surfaces and sweeping lines.

6. Pacific Dunes

The Pacific Dunes located in Bandon, Oregon, are the second course built by Bandon Dunes Resort and an excellent example of what can be done with ocean frontage.

The somewhat unorthodox landscape of the Pacific Dunes include 4 par 3’s on the back nine and are framed by sand dunes and nightmarish bunkers.

5. Turnberry Resort

Located in Turnberry, Ayrshire, Scotland, this golf course has as dramatic a back nine as it does a story.

Re-engineered back in World War II as a landing strip for warplanes, these links have been reclaimed to their former glory by Phillip Mackenzie Ross, with modifications made throughout the years by Peter Alliss, Dave Thomas, and Martin Ebert.

4. Hirono Golf Club

Beautifully designed by C.H. Alison and laid out during the 1930’s, this prestigious Japanese golf course is enveloped by breathtaking pines and ridge crests.

Known for its bunkering, this course has diagonal cross bunkers, challenging carry bunkers, and many more ragged edged bunkers lining the entire course.

3. National Golf Links of America

America takes its golf links quite seriously, and few other courses prove this point as well as the National Golf Links of America. The 2013 Walker Cup gave the world a clear view at this 6,935 yard Southampton New York course which boasts a par 72.

A modern spin on the links of old British golf holes, this rendition proves far superior than its inspiration.

2. Oakmont Country Club

With the upcoming 2016 U.S. Open being hosted in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, all eyes will soon be on this bunker-rich green.

In recent years this course has been evolving with redevelopment and upgrades, and possesses some of the sport’s swiftest putting surfaces.

1. Pine Valley Golf Club

New Jersey’s Pine Valley Golf Club is the archetype for premier golf greens. This course exemplifies all three key golf design themes; penal, heroic, and strategic. Sometimes, even all on the same hole. There really is nothing like Jersey.