Chi Linh Star Golf and Country Club, Vietnam

About an hour and a half from Hanoi, Chi Linh Star Golf and Country Club is generally regarded as the best course in northern Vietnam - admittedly something of a back-handed complment in a country not exactly overflowing with golf. But even if it was, Chi Linh Star would rank near the top. This is a beautiful course, with with a succession of holes that you'll remember later over ca loc nuong trui (grilled fish) and Hanoi Beer, or even when you're on the plane back home.

Chi Linh Star plays up and down the valley, sometimes climbing the hills. Some of the fairways have the kind of slope usually reserved for skiing. It's a very open course, and that's a good thing: The layout - including water, blind landing areas, forced carries and other hazards along with that elevation - are more than enough to keep you focused.