These 10 Places Named The Best Golf Destinations in The United States
Forty-four percent of U.S. players surveyed by Buffalo Groupe plan to spend more on golf travel this year than they did in 2024. How are these golfers deciding where to go? They are driven by the chance to play a course they haven’t yet and immerse themselves in scenic or unique landscapes. Luckily, that doesn’t require a trip outside America.
The United States is filled with course-rich destinations surrounded by stunning natural landscapes that also offer luxe accommodations, a dining scene, and additional outdoor activities for a well-rounded, and even family-friendly golf getaway.
How Was This List Made?
USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards are comprised of destinations nominated by a panel of experts and then voted on by the general public. These 10 places received the most votes for best U.S. golf destination.
How many have you visited and played at?
1. Boyne Golf (Michigan)
BOYNE Golf, one of the largest golf resort destinations in North America, adds another award to its mantle. Already recognized as one of North America’s premier resorts by GOLF Magazine, and the number one Golf Resort for Value by Golf.com, it also contains 2019’s National Golf Course of the Year and Best Courses You Can Play in America accolades.
BOYNE Golf is home to multiple resorts that offer 11 courses, many designed by renowned architects such as Robert Trent Jones Sr., Donald Ross, and Arthur Hills. Golf is so varied and vast, and the accommodation is so unique that each trip is an entirely new experience. It’s why golfers come back again and again and voted in droves for USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by USA Today 10BEST, alongside some of the best golf destinations in the country,” said Josh Richter, PGA, Senior Vice President of Golf Operations for BOYNE Golf. “To be ranked No. 1 among these great destinations is a testament to our BOYNE Golf teams from golf professionals, agronomy, lodging, and food and beverage who ensure that our guests have the best golf experience when visiting BOYNE Golf.”
Lake of The Ozarks (Missouri)
The Lake of the Ozarks in central Missouri believes their courses and golf trail are way above par. And it looks like players and USA Today 10Best voters agree. Also voted The Midwest’s Best Golf Trail by AAA Midwest Traveler, these scenic courses are set waterfront and among the region’s rolling Ozark Hills. Arnold Palmer, Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Tom Weiskopf, Bruce Devlin, and Robert Von Hagge challenges await.
Beyond golf, the region has numerous lakeside resorts, over 200 restaurants, and endless activities on “The Best Recreational Lake in the Nation.”
St. George and Greater Zion (Utah)
Located in the southwest corner of Utah, Greater Zion is a destination that offers more than
2,400 square miles of adventure and inspiration, including golf. With 12 world-class greens against red rock cliffs, coral sand dunes, and black lava rocks, you’ll find a once-in-a-lifetime experience. No wonder six Greater Zion courses are on Utah’s list of top courses on its “2019 Best Courses You Can Play.”
Don’t miss Soldier Hollow Golf Course’s Gold Course, named best in the state by recreational golfers’ reviews.
‘Golf Coast’ (Mississippi)
Coastal Mississippi, known for southern charm, delicious food, and beautiful beaches, is also starting to be known as a premier golf destination with nearly 20 top-tier, year-round courses. Legendary course designers Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Davis Love III, Mark McCumber, Jerry Pate, and Tom Fazio created courses so stunning that players often get distracted by the surrounding scenery.
Upper Peninsula (Michigan)
Stunning beauty, available tee times, affordable green fees, 50 public courses, and a variety of challenges for players of all types—what more can you ask for in a golf destination?
It’s not just the scenery that keeps visitors coming back. “Our clubhouses are welcoming, the staff is top-notch, and you’ll find everything from expert instruction to mouthwatering meals and refreshing drinks,” Tom Nemacheck, executive director of the Upper Peninsula Travel and Recreation Association added. “Add in the variety of nearby lodging — from cozy forest cabins to upscale hotels — and you have the full package.”
What truly sets Upper Peninsula golf apart, Nemacheck said, is the harmony between play and place. “Every round comes with views you can’t find anywhere else — brilliant fall foliage, lush summer greens, and the serenity of the Northwoods. It’s golf the way it was meant to be.”
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach (Alabama)
There’s a place in America with 32 miles of white sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico and 20 miles of golf. It’s not a mirage; it is Alabama’s Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Spend the morning avoiding white sand bunkers and the afternoon sinking into the tranquility of white sand beaches and blue-green waters.
In a recent survey of golfers, The Gulf Coast’s courses landed in the 10th spot of U.S. destinations players want to visit. The Gulf Shores have five out of the Top 20 Public Golf Courses in Alabama, the 22nd Friendliest Golf Course in the U.S., and the No. 10 Public Golf Course for off-course amenities. And two of the state’s highest-rated courses by everyday players are in Gulf Shores.
So what are you waiting for?
Tucson (Arizona)
For 80 years, professional golfers and PGA Tour events have flocked to Tucson. With over 40 courses in the region and a golf tradition, players are still drawn to the beautiful desert landscape and 350 days of sunshine a year. Add in an impressive food scene, luxurious resorts, and outdoor adventures to fill non-golfing time, and it’s not a surprise people voted it onto this best of list.
Stay and play at Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa, nestled in the Santa Catalina Mountains, The Omni Tucson with one of Arizona’s best courses, or The Lodge at Ventana Canyon.
Pinehurst and Surrounding Areas (North Carolina)
Pinehurst, Southern Pines, and Aberdeen are often called the “Home of American Golf.” With nearly 40 courses in the area, including the legendary Pinehurst No. 2, this destination was the home of Donald Ross, one of golf’s most notable course architects. Beyond golf, visitors can enjoy small-town hospitality, local dining, and luxurious spa experiences.
From humble beginnings as a pasture to one of the premier golf courses in the country, Pinehurst Resort is steeped in the sport’s history and tradition. Historians and golfers today celebrate Pinehurst Resort for its role in popularizing golf and providing blueprints for what a golf course should look like.
Myrtle Beach (South Carolina)
The golf scene at Myrtle Beach is one of the best in America. This perennial South Carolina vacation destination has some of the best, unique, and most challenging golf courses in the United States. It has earned the title of the Golf Capital of the World and a spot on this award list.
“Golf is in our DNA. We do more than three million rounds here annually and are a year-round golf destination. There’s no other location in the world that has more golf courses per capita. Our history, the amount of golf played here, and the number of courses are what has earned Myrtle Beach the title of Golf Capital of the World,” explains Kyle Oland, Director of Marketing at Golf Tourism Solutions in Myrtle Beach.
In Myrtle Beach, there seems to be a golf course around every corner — with over 90 courses in the area, this perception is not far from the truth. Pretty much every notable golf architect has a course in the “Golf Capital of the World,” and a majority are public, making a golf trip to Myrtle Beach an affordable option.
French Lick (Indiana)
French Lick Resort has three distinct golf courses – the Pete Dye Course, the Donald Ross Course, and the Valley Links Course – offering dramatic elevation, memorable holes, and clever layouts. And the Sand Creek Course at French Lick Resort is set to debut on May 1, 2025, making a round of golf possible in a little over an hour here.
Golf and history enthusiasts are in for a treat at French Lick Resort, which boasts 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.
NEXT: The Top Public Golf Courses in Each State According to Everyday Players
Finding a course one that is accessible, affordable, and stellar is like finding a needle in a haystack. However, Golfer’s Choice lists do all the work spotlighting the game’s best playgrounds for everyday players. Created by recreational golfers, for recreational golfers, find out which greens in your state have been deemed the best by players like you.
The Top Public Golf Courses in Each State According to Everyday Players
I’ve Golfed Since the 1970s. Here’s 10 Hidden Global Gems Courses You Must Know
I started playing golf back in the 70s when I was 15. I eventually joined a golf club in Tucson, Arizona, to hone my skills. But one of the best things about golf is that wherever you are in the world, there are bound to be beautiful golf courses nearby. There’s no better way to spend time surrounded by nature and play your favorite game.
If you’re an accomplished golfer, there are certain golf courses that are most likely on your bucket list. Pebble Beach, Shadow Creek, St Andrews, Kiawah Island. But these lesser-known ten courses are also worth a place on your list and perhaps a trip to play them.
I’ve Golfed Since the 1970s. Here’s 10 Hidden Gems Courses You Must Know
Called America’s Best Golf Value: A Guide to The 22 Courses in Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Trail
When it comes to public golf courses, only a handful stand out from the rest. Torrey Pines and Bethpage Black are some stellar ones worthy of pros, but it’s hard to find more than a couple in the same place. Yet, with how hard it is to find great public golf courses, legendary golf course architect Robert Trent Jones somehow managed to create 26 of them in 11 locations in Alabama, called the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.
Debuted in 1992 to increase tourism to Alabama, The Trail has slowly but steadily gained recognition, with Golf Digest recently naming it as the best value in the USA for golf and recognizing two of its courses as some of the best in the country.
Called America’s Best Golf Value: A Guide to The 22 Courses in Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones
