Golf World's 2021 Europe Top 100 rankings included the following description:

A magnificent piece of work by Kyle Phillips on what we know was an average piece of land. Phillips – who has the two at Verdura plus significant work at Valderrama, Penha Longha and Hilversumsche to his name on the continent – has really worked some magic here to produce a course already rated so highly by us.

Bernardus has a wonderful landscape character. In time, it could develop into a proper heathland and is well on the way already. The grasses and textures are wonderful, and the course plays as hard as it looks. The setting and climate are different, obviously, but it is a lot like Yas Links in the challenge it sets. A notable new entry to this seriously competitive list of continental Europe's best golf courses.