Undoubtedly, this is the most improbable place to play golf on Earth, save for the South Pole. It opened in 1987 at the foot of Mount Sokchon near Lake Thaesong; the occasion was the 75th birthday of Kim Il-Sung, the country's supreme dictator. Today, it is one of only two courses in the DPRK.

Reports suggest that the course is a good challenge, although the par-3s are described as being disappointing and conditioning is, predictably, not pristine; fairways are gang-mowed and greens are woolly. However, it is one of the precious few facilities available to keep Pyongyang's small international diplomatic community sane. If you can make it to Pyongyang (and out again!), the experience should very much be worth the travel.

The course hosted the first-ever North Korean Amateur Open in 2011, which was won by a pair of golfers from Finland; the annual event has continued ever since.