Guide to the Best Public Golf Courses in the U.S.

The Best Public Golf Courses in the U.S.

We've made the list. Now you make the tee time!

Golfers like to make and debate golf lists in conversations at the 19th hole: greatest golfer in the modern era, best to never win a major, most challenging hole, best golf courses in the U.S. and so on. Well fellow golfers, the debate over the ranking of the best public golf course in each state is over!

Use Tripping.com's Best Public Golf Courses in the U.S. list below to plan golf trips and help you start crossing courses off of your golf bucket list!

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Best Public Golf Courses in the Mid Atlantic

Best Public Golf Course in Delaware

Back Creek Golf Club

Middletown, Delaware

Highlight: This relatively short links course offers very forgiving and walkable fairways.

Best Public Golf Course in Maryland

Whiskey Creek Golf Course

Ijamsville, Maryland

Highlight: Whiskey Creek is a great risk-reward golf course designed by PGA professional, Ernie Els.

Best Public Golf Course in New Jersey

Ballyowen Golf Club

Hamburg, New Jersey

Highlight: Don’t be fooled by this challenging treeless links-style course! The bunkers, rolling dunes, and long fescue grasses will swallow up errant balls with ease.

Best Public Golf Course in New York

Bethpage State Park - Black Course

Farmingdale, New York

Highlight: The Black Course has hosted two U.S. Open Championships and is extremely difficult, boasting narrow fairways and high roughs. Be aware, this course is for walkers only.

Best Public Golf Course in Pennsylvania

Nemacolin Woodlands Resort - Mystic Rock

Farmington, Pennsylvania

Highlight: Take advantage! A caddie is included with your green fee to assist you as you negotiate this tremendously challenging layout.

Best Public Golf Courses in the Midwest

Best Public Golf Course in Illinois

Cog Hill Golf and Country Club - No. 4

Lemont, Illinois

Highlight: The facilities at Cog Hill specialize in golf outings, tournaments, and golf instruction.

Best Public Golf Course in Indiana

Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort

French Lick, Indiana

Highlight: The 2015 Senior PGA Champion, Colin Montgomerie, called the Pete Dye Course at French Like Resort "one of the iconic courses" in America.

Best Public Golf Course in Iowa

The Harvester Golf Club

Rhodes, Iowa

Highlight: Interested in playing until the sun goes down? The Harvester Golf Club offers a “play all day” rate and a variety of lodging options.

Best Public Golf Course in Kansas

Firekeeper Golf Course

Mayetta, Kansas

Highlight: The “stay & play” packages let you enjoy both the Firekeeper Golf Course and the Prairie Band Casino & Resort just a short distance away.

Best Public Golf Course in Michigan

Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club

Arcadia, Michigan

Highlight: This links-style course is set on the coastline of Lake Michigan with rolling terrain and windswept natural frescos.

Best Public Golf Course in Minnesota

The Quarry at Giants Ridge

Biwabik, Minnesota

Highlight: The Quarry was designed to maximize the beauty of reclaimed mine lands and is part of a year round family-friendly resort.

Best Public Golf Course in Missouri

Buffalo Ridge Golf Course

Hollister, Missouri

Highlight: Don’t be alarmed! There is a chance you’ll spot free-ranging buffalo from nearby Dogwood Canyon Nature Park during your round of golf.

Best Public Golf Course in Nebraska

The Prairie Club - Pines Course

Valentine, Nebraska

Highlight: This fun golf course boasts stunning natural beauty, as grand pines frame majestic canyon views.

Best Public Golf Course in North Dakota

Hawktree Golf Club

Bismarck, North Dakota

HIghlight: This open links-style design is set amongst gorgeous native grasses and rugged, rolling prairie lands.

Best Public Golf Course in Ohio

The Longaberger Golf Club

Nashport, Ohio

Highlight: The Longaberger Golf Club offers an extensive player development program. Its wide rolling fairways make it a perfect golf course for golfers of all skill levels.

Best Public Golf Course in South Dakota

The Golf Club at Red Rock

Rapid City, South Dakota

Highlight: This South Dakota course has a risk-reward friendly layout with approachable greens and favorable pin locations.

Best Public Golf Course in Wisconsin

Whistling Straits - Straits Course

Haven, Wisconsin

Highlight: The course will host the 2015 PGA Championship and the 2020 Ryder Cup competitions. The links-style course is characterized by fescue fairways and massive sand dune bunkers.

Best Public Golf Courses in the Northeast

Best Public Golf Course in Connecticut

Lake of Isles - North Course

North Stonington, Connecticut

Highlight: Located less than a mile from the Foxwoods Resort Casino, many “stay and play” options are available to visitors to this great golf course.

Best Public Golf Course in Maine

Sugarloaf Golf Club

Carrabassett Valley, Maine

Highlight: Need to improve your golf game? Sugarloaf boasts one of the top golf schools in the United States.

Best Public Golf Course in Massachusetts

Taconic Golf Club

Williamstown, Massachusetts

Highlight: The club’s motto is “medio tutissimus ibis” (translation: you will go most safely in the middle). Be patient and limit aggressiveness on this tough layout.

Best Public Golf Course in New Hampshire

The Mount Washington Course at Bretton Woods

Bretton Woods, New Hampshire

Highlight: Built in 1915, this classic Donald Ross design course celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2015.

Best Public Golf Course in Rhode Island

Newport National Golf Club

Middletown, Rhode Island

Highlight: Finely manicured, wide open fairways and varying tee boxes make Newport National an enjoyable and challenging experience for all ability level golfers.

Best Public Golf Course in Vermont

Green Mountain National Golf Course

Killington, Vermont

Highlight: Tucked into the majestic Green Mountains, this course offers sloping fairways from tee to green.

Best Public Golf Courses in the South

Best Public Golf Course in Alabama
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National - Links Course

Opelika, Alabama

Highlight: This demanding links course offers large, forgiving fairways that are accessible to all golf skill levels.

Best Public Golf Course in Arkansas

Mountain Ranch Golf Club

Fairfield Bay, Arkansas

Highlight: This club has a challenging golf course and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Best Public Golf Course in Florida

TPC Sawgrass - Stadium Course

Ponta Vedra Beach, Florida

Highlight: TPC Sawgrass plays host to the PGA Tour’s THE PLAYERS Championship. The 17th hole boasts a demanding, mesmerizing island green.

Best Public Golf Course in Georgia

Great Waters at Reynolds Plantation

Eatonton, Georgia

Highlight: This enjoyable course played host to TV’s the Big Break Invitational in 2014.

Best Public Golf Course in Kentucky

Dale Hollow State Park Golf Course

Burkesville, Kentucky

Highlight: Expect large, forgiving, bent grass greens here at one of the most scenic courses in the country.

Best Public Golf Course in Louisiana

TPC Louisiana

Avondale, Louisiana

Highlight: TPC Louisiana hosts the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic each year and is characterized by a landscape of lush wetlands and native Cypress trees

Best Public Golf Course in Mississippi

Old Waverly Golf Club

West Point, Mississippi

Highlight: Woven around five lakes, this layout is both picturesque and challenging for all golfing abilities.

Best Public Golf Course in North Carolina

Pinehurst Resort - No. 2

Pinehurst, North Carolina

Highlight: This world renowned course has hosted more golf championships in the U.S. than any other and is known for it’s crowned, complex, and undulating greens.

Best Public Golf Course in Oklahoma

Karsten Creek Golf Club

Stillwater, Oklahoma

Highlight: Offering guest cottages as relaxing accommodations, this course is the home of the Oklahoma State men and women’s golf programs.

Best Public Golf Course in South Carolina

Harbour Town Golf Links

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Highlight: Harbour Town is a links style course that hosts the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage each year, ranking as a perennial favorite among PGA Tour pros.

Best Public Golf Course in Tennessee

Mirimichi - Championship Course

Millington, Tennessee

Highlight: The Championship Course at Mirimichi boasts large, undulating greens which are framed by deep pit bunkers and rolling hills of grassland. This course is as equally challenging as it is appealing to the eye.

Best Public Golf Course in Texas

TPC San Antonio

San Antonio, Texas

Highlight: Located a short drive from Austin, this resort is an ideal location for a golf vacation or weekend getaway.

Best Public Golf Course in Virginia

The Highland Course at Primland

Meadows of Dan, Virginia

Highlight: Natural trout streams and rivers run throughout the golf course, while the layout utilizes both bent grass and fescue grasses, to add subtle challenges to the playing surface

Best Public Golf Course in West Virginia

The Old White TPC at the Greenbrier

White Sulphur Springs, Virginia

Highlight: The Old White TPC is known for generous fairways and challenging, undulated greens. This historic course celebrated it’s 100th anniversary in 1914.

Best Public Golf Courses in the West

Best Public Golf Course in Arizona

We-Ko-Pa Golf Club

Fort McDowell, Arizona

Highlight: Located less than a mile from the Fort McDowell Casino, We-Ko-Pa offers tempting “stay and play” options.

Best Public Golf Course in Colorado

The Golf Club at Redlands Mesa

Grand Junction, Colorado

Highlight: This fun layout offers large rock outcroppings and spectacular on-course views of the Grand Mesa and the Colorado National Monument.

Best Public Golf Course in Idaho

The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Highlight: Your round can be made or lost on the signature par 3, 14th hole, which boasts a demanding, floating island green.

Best Public Golf Course in Montana

Old Works Golf Course

Anaconda, Montana

Highlight: Course architect Jack Nicklaus transformed this historic piece of land into a championship layout, while preserving its natural beauty.

Best Public Golf Course in Nevada

Wolf Creek Golf Club

Mesquite, Nevada

Highlight: This beautifully manicured course has been featured in multiple video game titles and has been named a top “favorite” golf course to play by golf fans worldwide.

Best Public Golf Course in New Mexico

Black Mesa Golf Club

Espanola, New Mexico

Highlight: Set amongst the sandstone foothills of New Mexico, this course is always in impeccable shape, especially the greens!

Best Public Golf Course in Utah

Sand Hollow Resort - Championship Course

Hurricane, Utah

Highlight: The impeccable conditions of this links-style course are set amongst the breathtaking views of the Southwest desert landscape.

Best Public Golf Course in Wyoming

Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis Club

Jackson, Wyoming

Highlight: Want to hit the ball longer? No need for additional lessons, the elevation at 6,311 feet will add the extra yardage for you!

Best Public Golf Courses on the West Coast

Best Public Golf Course in California

Pebble Beach Golf Links

Pebble Beach, CA

Highlight: “Pebble” has hosted five U.S. Open championships. The course showcases rugged coastline vistas and cliffside fairways on a challenging layout.

Best Public Golf Course in Oregon

Bandon Dunes

Bandon, Oregon

Highlight: This links-style course was designed by a Scotsman and is as authentic as anything you would find across the pond. Natural vegetation and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean make this course a true beauty.

Best Public Golf Course in Washington

Chambers Bay

University Place, Washington

Highlight: This links-style course hosted the U.S. Open in 2015 and is known for challenging greens and breathtaking views - a wonderful homage to traditional Scottish courses.

The Others

Best Public Golf Course in Alaska

Anchorage Golf Course

Anchorage, Alaska

Highlight: Want to play back-to-back rounds? During the Alaskan summer months, play can last well after midnight.

Best Public Golf Course in Hawaii

Kapalua - Plantation Course

Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii

Highlight: This course is always in impeccable condition and is the site of the PGA Tour’s Hyundai Tournament of Champions every January.

A Note About the List

A variety of criteria were considered when selecting each golf course, including the following: affordability; the layout and uniqueness of the holes; year-round course conditioning and maintenance; club amenities; overall quality of service and golfing experience. The general public canschedule tee times at each of the golf courses on this list.

This list was written by Michael Zozos, who has been a passionate and devoted golfer for the last quarter century and has been a high school golf coach in California for nearly a decade.