Castletown Golf Links has been ranked among the top 30 most beautiful golf courses in the world.

It appears in a listing compiled in a blog for golfscape, an online golf reservation service.

The championship course comes in at number 28 in a list that ranges from the tropical beaches of Bali to the desert courses of Dubai.

Among those featured are Emirates Golf Club and Sentosa Golf Club. It describes Castletown Golf Links as unique, having views off the Irish Sea from all tees and fairways.

The entry states: ’The coast brings its own variety of wildlife, birds, and plants.

’The backdrop of the golden gorse flower and the purple heather, adds to the colourful island experience.

’Basking sharks, seals, and dolphins are often visitors to the Castletown Bay.’

The blog was compiled by Jenna Heidstrom who grew up in the Isle of Man.

She previously worked at TransferTravel.com before moving to Dubai six months ago to take up her new role as marketing manager at golfscape.com, which describes itself as the ’Expedia of the golfing industry’.

Jenna says at the start of her blog: ’Planning a golf vacation?

’Whether you are looking to play alongside the sea, a rainforest, or an iconic city skyline, these are the 30 stand out courses that promise a magical experience.’

Castletown Golf Links comes ahead of VF Golf in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Ghala Golf Club, Oman, and just behind the LaLiT Golf & Spa Resort in Goa.

No UK courses are featured. Tralee Golf Club, Ireland comes in at number seven.

Topping the list is the Robert Trent Jones Sr-designed Sperone Golf Club in Corsica.

Set on the dramatic Langness peninsula, Castletown links was originally laid out in the early 1900s by Old Tom Morris, widely regarded as the modern pioneer of golf. After the Second World War, the course was re-designed and restored by respected architect Mackenzie Ross.