36 Must-Play Golf Courses Across the U.S. Worthy of Your Next Vacation
Did you know the United States has over 16,000 golf courses, or 43% of the world’s total courses? That’s more locations than McDonald’s. While Florida, California, and Texas are often players’ go-tos for golf getaways, America has many stellar, varied options across the country worthy of your next trip.
How This List Was Made
Brand USA, America’s official destination marketing organization, spotlights destinations beyond New York City, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles to encourage international visitors to explore lesser-known destinations across the United States.
They gathered trip-worthy golf courses known for hosting international tournaments, top-notch golf resorts, and local gems across the country. Why not plan your next vacation around one of these golf courses across America?
Bethpage State Park Golf Course (New York)
Though Bethpage State Park Black (or Bethpage Black as it’s commonly referred to) is a public golf course, it is almost sure to challenge golfers of any skill level. First opened for public play in 1936, it was designed by legendary architect A.W. Tillinghast, who was part of an exploratory meeting in New York City to create The PGA of America in January 1916.
Having hosted the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship, the course is no longer the patchy track of years past. While it will host the 2025 Ryder Cup in September, it will remain the ‘The People’s Country Club’ where a round of 18 holes is less than $100.
Morgan Hill Golf Course (Pennsylvania)
Are you an experienced golfer looking for your next big challenge? This course, located in the high mountains of eastern Pennsylvania, 90 minutes from both Philadelphia and New York City, might just be it.
Since opening in 2004, Morgan Hill has received numerous accolades on both state and national levels and has a reputation as challenging, to say the least. Not for the faint of heart, players say the only enjoyment comes from the stunning vistas. Yet 84% of everyday players recommend it on GolfPass, giving it a 4.1 out of 5 stars.
Skytop Lodge Golf Resort (Pennsylvania)
Nestled in this 5,500-acre iconic Poconos resort is the Skytop Golf Course, designed by Robert W. White during the Roaring Twenties. Awarded #17 by Golfpass in 2025 Golfers’ Choice Best Public Golf Course, this mountain-style track plays over rolling terrain and boasts wide, tree-lined fairways and small greens that challenge players of all levels.
Staying in the area but not at the resort? No problem. This public golf course is open to all.
George Wright Golf Course (Massachusetts)
Located in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Boston, it is what many consider the best low-cost golf course in America. For less than $65, you’ll enjoy Donald Ross’ routing, private course-level maintained greens, elevation changes, and tree-lined corridors that burst with color during the fall foliage season.
Don’t wait to book your tee time at this city-run course as it is popular with players. In fact, 94% of GolfPass reviews recommend it.
Omni Mount Washington Hotel and Resort (New Hampshire)
Centered around a landmark 1902 Spanish Renaissance building and set just north of the White Mountain National Forest’s 800,000 acres of preserved forest, it is the home of the number-one course in New Hampshire for nine years. The timeless 110-year-old layout carved by Donald Ross’s brilliance, the Mount Washington Course offers 27 holes of classic mountain golf.
TPC Sawgrass Stadium (Florida)
Home of the nerve-wracking do-or-die 17th par three island green, TPC Sawgrass’s Stadium Course is the epitome of target golf and precision striking. Almost all the greens have random lumps and hollows (that Dye calls his “grenade attack architecture”), and the windy Atlantic coast winds make the already tough course even more challenging.
Now that the pros have departed, experience a brag-worthy golf getaway with Marriott’s TPC Sawgrass Experience package. Nestled amid 65 oak-lined acres and 34 miles of Atlantic coastline, this North Florida resort oozes Old Florida charm. With family-friendly rooms, four pools, a beach club, and a luxe spa, there’s no need to leave the family at home.
Streamsong Resort (Florida)
Initially, the site of a phosphate strip mine Streamsong Golf Course (Red), offers players a unique mix of links-style holes (where you can bump and run your approach shots up to the green) and water holes (where the only option you have is to play target golf). If you decide to visit Streamsong, don’t forget to check out its companion courses (the Blue course, ranked 26th best public course, and the black course, ranked 34th).
The only course by legendary duo Coore and Crenshaw, Streamsong Red, is perennially within America’s top 20 golf courses. While the fairways are wide, you must be on the right side of the short grass to attack pins. The architects also provided some classic blueprint holes, like the Biarritz 16th. Enjoy the ride if you can play Streamsong Red, as Coore and Crenshaw never disappoint.
Trump National Doral Miami (Florida)
Trump Doral has four courses, the most famous of which is the Blue Monster. It hosted PGA Tour events for 55 years and has undergone a recent renovation by Gil Hanse. Though it might not seem like it at first glance, only the best golfers dare challenge this 7,600-yard beast. You’ll finish your challenging round on the 475-yard 18th, arguably the most demanding hole.
Tobacco Road Golf Club (North Carolina)
Once a tobacco farm and a sand quarry, Mike Strantz chiseled this land into his best solo course design. Even with a higher fee of $174, players return to this artist’s masterpiece repeatedly, not only for the game’s challenge but to see something new in the landscape and design.
Jekyll Island Golf Club (Georgia)
The Jekyll Island Club Resort on Jekyll Island, Georgia, began as an exclusive Gilded Age private retreat for America’s wealthiest families in 1886. Today, the resort community is open to all and welcomes golfers to play on its four grassy, windswept courses.
The most historic golf course still in play on the island is the nine-hole, par-36 Great Dunes Course, designed by Walter “Old Man” Travis in 1926, who built the best course money could buy.
Whistling Straits (Wisconsin)
Players dream of this sculpted Wisconsin coastline where champions play. Home of four majors and the 43rd Ryder Cup, their two Pete Dye-designed lakefront courses are reminiscent of Ireland’s raw, windswept greens.
The appropriately named Irish course combines links and target golf that crisscross players across Seven Mile Creek and a challenging yet gorgeous landscape. The walking-only Straits course blends the game’s tradition, panoramic links, and stunning Lake Michigan coastline.
Erin Hills (Wisconsin)
Only 35 minutes from Milwaukee, but a world away, is a 652-acre property with no houses or condos along the course. Want to play in solitude? This is the place. It’s not unusual to feel like you’re the only one playing. The serenity is made greater by their no-carts policy.
No wonder it was ranked as one of the top 10 public golf courses by Golf Digest.
Sand Valley Golf Resort (Wisconsin)
Located on a thousand acres of rolling hills in central Wisconsin, it is often referred to as the
Bandon Dunes of the Midwest. A walking-only course that pays homage to the heathland courses of London, it features 80-foot sand dunes rolling across 1,700 acres. Once the lakebed of an ancient glacial lake, its sandy base makes for firm and fast playing conditions.
Blackwolf Run (Wisconsin)
Part of Destination Kohler, one of the world’s foremost golf resorts, Dye-designed Blackwolf Run sits on the bend of the Sheboygan River. The River course is known for its challenging yet beautiful experience, and the Meadow Valleys course is described as subtle yet devilish.
In 2021, the Baths of Blackwolf Run was added, an entertaining 10-hole, par-3 course. Spread across 27 acres, it offers holes ranging from 60 to 160 yards and four strategic water features, or “Baths,” situated throughout. While a 10-hole course, imaginative routing allows for shorter or longer golf experiences.
SentryWorld Golf Club (Wisconsin)
SentryWorld Golf Club, known for its use of colorful flower beds as hazards on its par-3 Flower Hole, is more than just another pretty face. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and opened in 1982, it was one of the state’s original destination courses and has withstood the test of time. Expect plenty of water hazards, bunkers, and lush fairways on this former marsh and woodland. SentryWorld is also home to a full-scale restaurant, indoor tennis and volleyball courts, and an indoor driving range for the cooler Wisconsin days.
Giants Ridge Golf & Ski Resort (Minnesota)
Offering value and thrilling holes, Giants Ridge continues to shine as one of Minnesota’s best golf destinations. It has received Golf Digest’s Best Golf Resorts in the Midwest honor for the fourth year running, lofty status in Golfweek’s latest public course rankings, and accolades from GOLF Magazine, MyGolfSpy, and GolfPass.
Set amongst the beauty of Minnesota’s northwoods, this four-season, family-oriented resort is a one-hour drive from Duluth and three hours from the Twin Cities. Giants Ridge features two nationally recognized 18-hole championship-caliber golf courses and also offers miles of year-round recreation trails, including an expanding mountain bike trail system, water recreation, unbeatable lodging accommodations, dining, shopping, and much more.
TPC Deere Run (Illinois)
TPC Deere Run is an award-winning championship golf course nestled between the Mississippi and Rock rivers in the Quad Cities. Just a two-hour drive from Chicago, this championship course was designed by former PGA TOUR professional D.A. Weibring.
Don’t miss the chance to play the best course in the state, according to TripAdvisor reviews.
French Lick Resort (Indiana)
Golf and history enthusiasts are in for a treat at French Lick Resort, which boasts three courses designed by three greats of 20th-century golf course design. Notably, the resort’s most historic one is The Donald Ross Course, designed by the icon himself, considered one of the greatest and most influential course architects of the game’s Golden Age.
Pebble Beach Courses (California)
Pebble Beach, a coastal community located along the rugged shoreline, offers not just one of the most famous golf courses in the world, but also plenty of public, more affordable options.
Don’t let the fact that Spyglass Hill has never hosted any significant events fool you; it may very well be Trent’s finest work. Situated next to Pebble Beach, instead of being the “Greatest Meeting of Land and Sea,” Spyglass Hill is the “Greatest Meeting of Sand and Trees.” Within the first five holes, golfers encounter the beautiful Pacific coast. Then, they are taken back into the hills where Monterey Pines and cypress trees cover the land. A combination of Pine Valley and Augusta National, Spyglass Hill is a golf course like no other.
Torrey Pines (California)
The Torrey Pines Golf Course near San Diego is a true gem. You can look forward to challenging gameplay against some unforgettable (but potentially distracting) ocean views. The South Course is a test for golfers of all skill levels, with a demanding layout and strategically placed bunkers. The North Course is slightly more forgiving but certainly not boring—it’s an engaging experience in play and view.
Rams Hill Golf Club (California)
This Borrego Springs Club is no stranger to accolades. In the Golf Advisor’s rating index, it earned the number six position in the Top 100 Golf Courses of All Time, averaging a near-perfect overall rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars, taking into consideration value, pace of play, staff friendliness, course layout, course conditions, and off-course amenities.
“Rams Hill is one of the rare Tom Fazio-designed courses open to the public. Golfers have marveled at the magnificent playing conditions, especially how we maintain our bentgrass greens in such pristine condition. Rams Hill is blessed by the magic that is Borrego Springs, with just the right amount of heat, very low humidity, and sufficient airflow… all masterfully leveraged by our superintendent Steve Gregory,” said Harry Turner, Rams Hill COO.
Singing Hill Golf Resort (California)
In the Dehesa Valley, only 20 minutes from San Diego International Airport, lies a relaxing property with 54 holes of Ted Robinson-designed golf nestled among 425 acres of resort grounds. Each of their 100 guest rooms and suites features a view of the golf courses or swimming pools for a true getaway feel. After operating for 66 years, the property recently underwent a significant refresh back to its roots to revive the style and nostalgia of its mid-century glory days.
Marriott’s Shadow Ridge Golf Club (California)
Against the beautiful backdrop of the Santa Rosa Mountains in Palm Desert sits the first course pro-golfer Nick Faldo designed in the U.S., in partnership with golf architect Brian Curley.
Faldo describes it: “The fairways are typically generous, but our bunkering style is impressively bold.” Meaning the sprawling fairways are ideal for beginners; however, the intricately designed bunkers challenge even the most experienced players.
Silverado Resort & Spa (California)
A California icon since 1870, it was built originally as a private estate. Today, it is a luxe getaway in the heart of Napa, surrounded by hundreds of wineries, tree-lined roads, rolling hills and stately oak trees. The award-winning resort features 345 guest rooms and suites, nine tennis courts, three bocce and pickleball courts, three swimming pools, a 16,000-square-foot spa and fitness center for true getaway.
A long-renowned destination for golfers, it also contains two championship par-72, 18-hole golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr, and later redesigned by golf Hall-of-Famer and former Silverado Resort owner, Johnny Miller. With oak-lined fairways, dozens of water crossings, and notable elevation changes, Silverado’s 6,793-yard North Course and 6,685-yard South Course offer a challenge for professionals but are designed to accommodate golfers of all levels.
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Oregon)
Located on the rugged Oregon coast with grassy dunes that roll to the sea, Bandon Dunes is known as one of the best golf destinations in the world. The resort features six distinct award-winning links courses conceived harmoniously with the natural environment, all designed for a walk-only, soul-stirring golf experience.
Book a stay and play to enjoy The Lodge and a collection of 10 onsite dining venues. Additional activities include a massage center, fitness center, spa, six miles of hiking trails, fishing, and The Labyrinth, a soapstone replica of an 11th-century maze found on the floor of the Chartres Cathedral in France.
Gamble Sands (Washington)
With two 18-hole McLay Kidd-designed championship courses, a fun-to-play 14-hole Kidd-designed short course, a 100,000 square-foot Cascades Putting Green, multiple food and beverage options, and 40 brand-new double-king luxury rooms opening in 2025, it’s the perfect time to finally visit.
Big expansive views are a hallmark trait of Gamble Sands, so too are the large sand bunkers on the original course. McLay Kidd and Schaan took a different approach with the bunkering on the new Scarecrow, opening in August of 2025.
“Gamble Sands has this big, open-expanse sandy character to it — it’s so massive that if we replicated that again in the same fashion, that alone would make the golf courses look similar. But doing that in the steeper terrain becomes cumbersome, so the sand areas are broken into chunks, smaller pieces, and compositions of clusters instead of these massive sand areas,” said Nick Schaan.
Sedona Golf Resort (Arizona)
Located in the heart of one of the most captivating regions of the Southwest, the thrilling 6,646-yard, par-71 Sedona Golf Resort is widely considered among the world’s most unforgettable golf experiences. Winding around the famed red rocks of Sedona, each hole provides a unique adventure and varied angles of the stunning views.
Ventana Canyon Golf and Racquet Club (Arizona)
Ventana Canyon offers two 18-hole Tom Fazio championship courses surrounded by the beautiful Santa Catalina Mountains and the flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert. Their Mountain Course’s 107-yard par 3 is considered one of the most photographed holes west of the Mississippi, uniquely tucked into the mountainside and playing across a canyon of cacti. Add it to your bucket list!
Rio Secco Golf Club (Nevada)
Nestled within the Black Mountains of Nevada and overlooking the Las Vegas Strip, this Rees Jones design is one of the finest golf courses in the area, illustrating today’s modern spirit of the game.
With impeccable conditions and awe-inspiring elevation changes, players would never know Rio Secco’s stunning landscape is only 14 miles from The Strip. Steep canyon walls flank the front nine while the back nine begins with a climb to a plateau featuring commanding views of The Strip and the entire Las Vegas valley below.
Bahia Beach Resort & Golf Club (Puerto Rico)
Already known for its first-class service with luxury touches, even on the greens, this resort and golf club will become a Four Seasons property in late 2025. Its Robert Trend Jones II’s course is known as one of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean’s best.
How many courses have you played with a comfort station? You can order lunch, and an attendant will bring it to you early in the back nine. And to top it off, the food is outstanding. What a way to start the stunning closing holes of your game.
Wyndham Rio Mar Beach Resort (Puerto Rico)
Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Rainforest Beach and Golf Resort annually hosts collegiate tournaments on its demanding River Course. Resort guests prefer the Ocean Course due partly to one particular long par-three hole with a stunning, beautiful view.
Bring the whole family along to explore the spot where the tropical rainforest meets the ocean.
Royal Isabela (Puerto Rico)
A hidden gem on the island’s Northwest tip, this boutique resort offers standalone casita accommodations with private plunge pools, a lauded farm-to-table restaurant, stunning grounds, and a David Pfaff eco-friendly designed course. Say goodbye to the crowds and hello to unforgettable holes atop 150-foot-high cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
The Championship at Grand Reserve Island (Puerto Rico)
Step on the same greens and play the same holes as Viktor Hovland, Tony Finau, Bryson DeChambeau, Jordan Spieth, and Jason Day. Kept in immaculate condition, this 18-hole championship course was designed by World of Golf Hall of Famer Tom Kit and hosts the annual Puerto Rico Open.
Challenging as it is stunning, the wind is constant, and so are the El Yunque Rainforest and ocean views.
Dorado Beach East Golf Club (Puerto Rico)
Forty minutes west of San Juan is a 36-hole golf club operated by the PGA Tour, so popular that it is now restricted to club members and Ritz-Carlton Reserve overnight guests. Originally owned and developed by Rockefeller, it is the most famous Puerto Rico course.
Plan a trip later this year to be one of the first to tee off on the West Course, which is currently undergoing renovation and reimagining.
El Conquistador (Puerto Rico)
El Conquistador Resort is big on fun. Whether it’s taking the all-window incline plane to reach the marina, accommodations, or shops, racing down the waterslides at the on-site waterpark, or tackling the 18-hole Arthur Hills-designed golf course with holes trundling up and down, you’ll have an exciting vacation in this island paradise.
Buccaneer Golf Course (US Virgin Islands)
For 75 years, this legendary, family-owned, and run resort has blended timeless charm with modern luxuries. On the eastern end of St. Croix, only 10 minutes from the historic town of Christiansted, it offers three soft white sand secluded beaches, an 18-hole golf course, an 8-court tennis club, two pools, shoreside snorkeling, and three ocean-inspired restaurants. A challenging and fun 18-hole, par 70 course designed by Bob Joyce is 5,668 yards and shows off the spectacular Caribbean Sea views.
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The Top Public Golf Courses in Each State According to Everyday Players
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