Erin HillsErin · Wisconsin · PublicDesigned by Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry and Ron Whitten; opened in 2006. A walking-only, par-72 championship course routed across glacial terrain and fescue, stretching beyond 7,700 yards; host of the 2017 U.S. Open.9.8
Shadow Creek (MGM Resorts)Las Vegas · Nevada · PublicDesigned by Tom Fazio and opened in 1990, then substantially rebuilt by Fazio in 2008. A par-72 desert oasis known for dramatic elevation changes, waterfalls and immaculate conditioning; hosted The Match in 2018 and the 2020 CJ Cup.9.8
Bandon Dunes (Bandon Dunes Resort)Bandon · Oregon · PublicDesigned by David McLay Kidd and opened in 1999 as the resort’s original course. A traditional walking links on coastal dunes, playing to par 72 with firm turf, ocean views and a routing intended to reward ground-game creativity.9.7
Manele Golf CourseLanai · Hawaii · ResortJack Nicklaus Signature design opened in 1993. A par-72 layout playing roughly 7,000 yards, with three holes routed along Pacific cliffs and the signature par-3 12th carrying over an ocean inlet.9.7
Pasatiempo Golf ClubSanta Cruz · California · PublicDesigned by Alister MacKenzie and opened in 1929. A strategic par-70 course featuring bold greens and barranca hazards, with the renowned par-4 16th among its signature holes; MacKenzie made his American home beside the sixth fairway.9.7
Pebble Beach Golf Links (Pebble Beach Resorts)Pebble Beach · California · PublicDesigned by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant; opened in 1919. A par-72 coastal layout along Carmel Bay, famous for holes 7–10 and the finishing par 5; a multiple U.S. Open venue and annual host of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.9.7
Silvies Valley RanchSeneca · Oregon · PublicDesigned by Dan Hixson and opened in 2017. The Hankins and Craddock courses use a reversible routing across high-desert ranchland, allowing the same landscape to play in opposite directions with expansive fairways and firm conditions.9.7
The Ocean Course (Kiawah Island Resort)Kiawah Island · South Carolina · PublicDesigned by Pete and Alice Dye and opened in 1991. A windswept, par-72 seaside course with views of the Atlantic from every hole; host of the 1991 Ryder Cup and the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championships.9.7
The Straits Course (Whistling Straits)Mosel · Wisconsin · PublicDesigned by Pete Dye and opened in 1998. A walking, links-inspired par-72 course along Lake Michigan with massive dunes and more than 1,000 bunkers; host of three PGA Championships and the 2021 Ryder Cup.9.7
Arcadia Bluffs (Bluffs Course)Arcadia · Michigan · PublicDesigned by Warren Henderson and Rick Smith; opened in 1999. A par-72 links-style course set on bluffs about 180 feet above Lake Michigan, with expansive lake views, rugged bunkering and wind as a constant strategic factor.9.6
Belgrade Lakes Golf ClubBelgrade Lakes · Maine · PublicDesigned by Clive Clark and opened in 1998. A scenic par-71 course routed through rolling Maine woodland and exposed granite, noted for elevation changes, views toward the Belgrade Lakes and large, contoured greens.9.6
Bethpage Black (Bethpage State Park)Farmingdale · New York · PublicDesigned by A.W. Tillinghast and opened in 1936. The demanding par-71 municipal course is known for its warning sign, deep bunkering and severe elevation changes; host of two U.S. Opens, the 2019 PGA Championship and the 2025 Ryder Cup.9.6
Big Wick (Wickenburg Ranch)Wickenburg · Arizona · PublicDesigned by Bill Brownlee and Wendell Pickett and opened in 2015. A par-71 desert course with generous landing areas, dramatic elevation changes and broad views of the surrounding Sonoran landscape.9.6
CordeValleSan Martin · California · PublicDesigned by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened in 1999. A par-72 course set in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, blending oak-lined valleys, elevation changes and vineyard scenery; host of the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open.9.6
French Lick (Dye Course)French Lick · Indiana · PublicDesigned by Pete Dye and opened in 2009. A rugged par-72 mountaintop course that can stretch beyond 8,000 yards, featuring dramatic elevation changes, volcano-style bunkers and long views across southern Indiana.9.6
MakaiPrinceville · Hawaii · PublicOriginally designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. in 1971 and extensively renovated in 2009. A par-72 course on Kauai’s north shore featuring ocean, mountain and waterfall views, with several holes exposed to Pacific trade winds.9.6
Mammoth Dunes (Sand Valley Golf Resort)Nekoosa · Wisconsin · PublicDesigned by David McLay Kidd and opened in 2018. A player-friendly par-73 course with enormous fairways, inventive contours and oversized greens, built to emphasize fun, options and the use of slopes around sandy Wisconsin terrain.9.6
Paako RidgeSandia Park · New Mexico · PublicDesigned by Ken Dye; the original 18 opened in 2000 and a third nine followed in 2005. A 27-hole high-desert facility known for dramatic elevation changes, granite outcrops and panoramic views of the Sandia Mountains.9.6
Pacific Dunes (Bandon Dunes Resort)Bandon · Oregon · PublicDesigned by Tom Doak and opened in 2001. A par-71 walking links of about 6,600 yards, celebrated for natural blowout bunkers, seaside holes and a routing that changes direction frequently with the coastal wind.9.6
Pete Dye Golf ClubBridgeport · West Virginia · PublicDesigned by Pete Dye and opened in 1993 on a reclaimed coal-mining site. A demanding par-72 layout featuring railroad ties, deep bunkers, elevation changes and strategic hazards that reflect Dye’s signature style.9.6
Pinehurst No. 2 (Pinehurst Resort)Pinehurst · North Carolina · PublicDesigned principally by Donald Ross and opened in 1907; restored by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw in 2011. Famous for crowned “turtleback” greens, sandy native areas and exacting approaches; host of multiple U.S. Opens, including 2024.9.6
Sand Valley (Sand Valley Golf Resort)Nekoosa · Wisconsin · PublicDesigned by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw and opened in 2017. A par-72 course routed through native sand barrens and rolling dunes, with wide fairways, strategic angles and firm conditions that encourage creative ground shots.9.6
SentryWorldStevens Point · Wisconsin · PublicDesigned by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened in 1982; comprehensively renovated in 2014. A par-72 parkland course known for the flower-framed par-3 16th and championship conditioning; host of the 2023 U.S. Senior Open.9.6
The Prairie Club (Dunes Course)Valentine · Nebraska · PublicDesigned by Tom Lehman and Chris Brands and opened in 2010. A sprawling par-73 layout through Nebraska’s Sandhills, featuring broad fairways, blowout bunkers, firm turf and sweeping views across the native dunes.9.6
Makai Golf Club — WoodsPrinceville · Hawaii · PublicOriginally designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. in 1971 and extensively renovated in 2009. A par-72 course on Kauai’s north shore featuring ocean, mountain and waterfall views, with several holes exposed to Pacific trade winds.9.6
Bandon Trails (Bandon Dunes Resort)Bandon · Oregon · PublicDesigned by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw and opened in 2005. A par-71 walking course that moves from dunes into meadow and coastal forest before returning to the sand, emphasizing natural landforms and varied shotmaking.9.5
Bay Harbor Golf Club Links/QuarryBay Harbor · Michigan · PublicDesigned by Arthur Hills. This par-72 combination pairs the Links nine along Lake Michigan with the Quarry nine through a former shale quarry, where 40-foot gorges, stone cliffs, ponds and a waterfall shape play.9.5
Blackwolf Run (River Course)Kohler · Wisconsin · PublicDesigned by Pete Dye and opened in 1988. A demanding par-72 river-valley course with sculpted landing areas, water hazards and elevation changes; host of the 1998 and 2012 U.S. Women’s Opens.9.5
Boothbay Harbor Country ClubBoothbay · Maine · PublicOriginally established in 1921 and comprehensively redesigned by Bruce Hepner. A scenic par-71 course across rolling coastal Maine terrain, featuring substantial elevation changes, exposed rock and views toward Boothbay Harbor.9.5
Cascades Course (Omni Homestead Resort)Hot Springs · Virginia · PublicDesigned by William Flynn and opened in 1924. A classic par-70 mountain course shaped by natural streams, elevation changes and small strategic greens; it has hosted numerous Virginia and national championships.9.5
Cordvalle Golf ClubSan Martin · California · PublicDesigned by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened in 1999. A par-72 course set in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, blending oak-lined valleys, elevation changes and vineyard scenery; host of the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open.9.5
The Prairie Club — DunesValentine · Nebraska · PublicDesigned by Graham Marsh and opened in 2010. A par-73 course combining Nebraska Sandhills terrain with corridors of ponderosa pine, offering greater definition than the Dunes Course while retaining firm turf and broad strategic choices.9.5
Edgewood Tahoe Resort GolfStateline · Nevada · PublicA Fazio design opened in 1968 on the shoreline of Lake Tahoe. The par-72 course combines lakefront holes, tall pines and mountain elevation, and annually hosts the American Century Championship.9.5
Fallen Oak Golf Club (Beau Rivage Resort & Casino)Saucier · Mississippi · ResortDesigned by Tom Fazio and opened in 2006. A par-72 resort course stretching beyond 7,400 yards through pine forest, wetlands and elevation changes; access is reserved primarily for guests of Beau Rivage.9.5
Firestone Country Club (South Course)Akron · Ohio · PublicOriginally designed by Bert Way in 1929 and extensively redesigned by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1960. The par-70 South Course is a long championship test and a historic host of PGA Championships and elite professional events.9.5
Forest Dunes (Weiskopf Course)Roscommon · Michigan · PublicDesigned by Tom Weiskopf and opened in 2002. A par-72 course blending sandy waste areas, native dunes, wetlands and northern Michigan forest, highlighted by strategic risk-reward holes and exceptional conditioning.9.5
Harbour Town Golf LinksHilton Head Island · South Carolina · PublicDesigned by Pete Dye & Jack Nicklaus. Host of the PGA Tour's RBC Heritage. Famous red-and-white lighthouse hole.9.5
Harbour Town Golf Links (Sea Pines Resort)Hilton Head Island · South Carolina · PublicDesigned by Pete Dye with Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1969. A par-71 shotmaker’s course with small greens, overhanging oaks and the iconic lighthouse finish; annual host of the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage.9.5
Hualalai Golf Club ( Nicklaus Course)Kailua Kona · Hawaii · ResortJack Nicklaus Signature design opened in 1996. A par-72 course routed through black-lava terrain along the Kona coast, featuring ocean views, strategic fairways and the seaside finishing stretch; host of a yearly PGA Tour Champions event.9.5
Kapalua Plantation CourseLahaina · Hawaii · PublicDesigned by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw and opened in 1991, with a major renovation completed in 2019. The par-73 course uses Maui’s steep slopes and trade winds to create dramatic elevation changes; host of The Sentry.9.5
Links at Spanish BayPebble Beach · California · PublicDesigned by Robert Trent Jones Jr., Tom Watson and Sandy Tatum and opened in 1987. A par-72 Scottish-inspired links with rolling dunes, pot bunkers and ocean winds, traditionally accompanied by bagpipers near sunset.9.5
Mystic Rock at NemacolinFarmington · Pennsylvania · PublicDesigned by Pete Dye and opened in 1995. A par-72 mountain layout stretching beyond 7,500 yards, with bold bunkering, wetlands and elevation changes; former host of the PGA Tour’s 84 Lumber Classic.9.5
Old Macdonald (Bandon Dunes Resort)Bandon · Oregon · PublicDesigned by Tom Doak and Jim Urbina and opened in 2010. A par-71 tribute to C.B. Macdonald featuring classic template concepts, immense greens, deep revetted bunkers, firm fescue turf and the landmark Ghost Tree.9.5
Payne's Valley (Big Cedar Lodge)Ridgedale · Missouri · PublicDesigned by Tiger Woods and TGR Design and opened in 2020. A par-72 course with broad Ozarks vistas, multiple strategic routes and a dramatic bonus 19th hole playing to an island green beneath a limestone waterfall.9.5
The Prairie Club — PinesValentine · Nebraska · PublicDesigned by Graham Marsh and opened in 2010. A par-73 course combining Nebraska Sandhills terrain with corridors of ponderosa pine, offering greater definition than the Dunes Course while retaining firm turf and broad strategic choices.9.5
Sea Island (Seaside Course)St Simons Island · Georgia · PublicCreated from two historic seaside nines and redesigned by Tom Fazio in 1999. The par-70 course features tidal marshes, exposed coastal winds and small strategic greens; annual host of the PGA Tour’s RSM Classic.9.5
Spyglass Hill (Pebble Beach Resorts)Pebble Beach · California · PublicDesigned by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and opened in 1966. A par-72 championship course whose opening holes cross exposed coastal dunes before the routing enters dense forest, creating two distinctly different playing environments.9.5
Streamsong Blue (Streamsong Resort)Bowling Green · Florida · PublicDesigned by Tom Doak and opened in 2012. A par-72 layout stretching to about 7,276 yards, with broad fairways, strongly contoured greens and abundant ground-game options across Streamsong’s sandy terrain.9.5
Streamsong Red (Streamsong Resort)Bowling Green · Florida · PublicDesigned by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw and opened in 2012. A par-72 course routed through former phosphate-mining dunes, with strategic width, natural bunkering and firm contours that reward thoughtful angles and ground play.9.5
Sweetens CoveSouth Pittsburg · Tennessee · PublicRedesigned by Rob Collins and Tad King and reopened in 2015. A cult-favorite nine-hole, par-36 course with broad fairways, enormous contoured greens and flexible all-day play that encourages creative routes and repeat loops.9.5
Tabacco Road Golf CLubSanford · North Carolina · PublicDesigned by Mike Strantz and opened in 1998 on a former sand quarry. A par-71 course known for dramatic waste areas, blind and semi-blind shots, bold green complexes and unconventional strategic options.9.5
The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf CourseCoeur d'Alene · Idaho · PublicDesigned by Scott Miller and opened in 1991. A 6,803-yard, par-71 lakeside course known for immaculate bentgrass and the movable floating green at the par-3 14th, reached from the resort by mahogany water taxi.9.5
Whistling Straits (Irish Course)Sheboygan · Wisconsin · PublicDesigned by Pete Dye and opened in 2000. A par-72 inland links companion to the Straits, featuring grass-covered dunes, deep pot bunkers, wetlands and streams across a rugged, wind-exposed landscape.9.5
Wynn Golf ClubLas Vegas · Nevada · PublicDesigned by Tom Fazio and opened in 2005, then rebuilt and reopened in 2019. A par-70 course on the Las Vegas Strip featuring waterfalls, streams, mature trees and significant elevation changes despite its urban setting.9.5
Arcadia Bluffs (South Course)Arcadia · Michigan · PublicDesigned by Dana Fry and Jason Straka and opened in 2018. A par-72 course inspired by Chicago Golf Club, with broad fairways, geometric greens, flat-bottomed bunkers and strategic angles across open inland terrain.9.4
Bedford Springs Golf ClubBedford · Pennsylvania · PublicDesigned by Donald Ross and opened in 1912; restored by Ron Forse for its 2007 reopening. A par-72 mountain course with classic bunkering, natural springs and small strategic greens, set at the historic Bedford Springs resort.9.4
Big Cedar LodgeRidgedale · Missouri · PublicBig Cedar Lodge is an Ozarks golf destination with championship courses by Tiger Woods, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, Tom Fazio and Jack Nicklaus. The collection ranges from full-length mountain layouts to scenic short courses.9.4
Black Desert ResortIvins · Utah · PublicThe final design of Tom Weiskopf, completed with Phil Smith and opened in 2023. A par-72 course woven through black lava fields beneath red cliffs, combining wide playing corridors, dramatic contrast and tournament-caliber conditions.9.4
Buffalo Ridge SpringsBranson · Missouri · PublicOriginally designed by Tom Fazio and opened in 1999, then renovated by Fazio in 2014. A par-71 Ozarks course featuring dramatic elevation changes, exposed rock formations, native habitat and wide views across the surrounding hills.9.4
Cholla Course at We-Ko-Pa Golf ClubFort McDowell · Arizona · PublicDesigned by Scott Miller and opened in 2001. A par-72 desert course that crosses arroyos and ridges, presenting clear risk-reward choices, forced carries and panoramic views toward Four Peaks and the Superstition Mountains.9.4