Best public golf courses by state: Top 100 Courses You Can Play, 2021-22 edition
A glorious view of the famous par-3 7th at Pebble Beach.
Evan Schiller
When it comes to the number of top courses you can play, which part of North America reigns supreme? If you guessed California, you’re golden. With nine courses honored on our latest list — including numero uno, Pebble Beach, California edged out the runners-up, Oregon and Canada, by two courses.
Florida, Michigan and Wisconsin had a strong showings with six courses each, followed by the Caribbean and Bermuda and North and South Carolina, which each have five.
In total, 37 states and regions are represented on our list. How many are in your area? Check out the full breakdown below.
CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE 2021-22 TOP 100 COURSES YOU CAN PLAY RANKING
Our Top 100 Courses You Can Play 2021-22, sorted by state and region
With overall rank, course name, city, state, architect and year opened.
California (9)
1. Pebble Beach
Pebble Beach, CA
Jack Neville/Douglas Grant, 1919
13. Pasatiempo
Santa Cruz, CA
Alistair MacKenzie, 1929
30. Spyglass Hill
Pebble Beach, CA
Robert Trent Jones Sr., 1966
47. Rustic Canyon
Moorpark, CA
Gil Hanse/Geoff Shackelford/Jim Wagner, 2002
67. PGA West (TPC Stadium)
La Quinta, CA
Pete Dye, 1986
72. Torrey Pines (South)
La Jolla, CA
William Bell, 1957/Rees Jones, 2001
76. Barona Creek
Lakeside, CA
Todd Eckenrode, 2001
89. Oak Quarry
Riverside, CA
Gil Morgan/Schmidt-Curley Design, 2000
91. La Quinta Resort (Mountain)
La Quinta, CA
Pete Dye, 1986
Oregon (7)
3. Pacific Dunes
Bandon, OR
Tom Doak, 2001
8. Bandon Trails
Bandon, OR
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 2005
9. Bandon Dunes
Bandon, OR
David McLay-Kidd, 1999
15. Old Macdonald
Bandon, OR
Tom Doak/Jim Urbina, 2010
20. Sheep Ranch
Bandon, OR
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 2020
60. Silvies Valley Ranch (Craddock/Hankins)
Seneca, OR
Dan Hixson, 2017
93. Pronghorn (Nicklaus)
Bend, OR
Jack Nicklaus, 2003
Canada (7)
4. Cabot Cliffs
Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 2016
12. Cabot Links (Links)
Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada
Rod Whitman, 2012
17. Banff Springs
Banff, Alberta, Canada
Stanley Thompson, 1928
24. Jasper Park Lodge
Jasper, Alberta, Canada
Stanley Thompson, 1925
28. Cape Breton (Highlands Links)
Ingonish Beach, Nova Scotia, Canada
Stanley Thompson, 1941
74. Muskoka Bay
Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada
Doug Carrick, 2007
94. Blackhawk
Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada
Rod Whitman, 2003
Florida (6)
10. TPC Sawgrass (Stadium)
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Pete Dye, 1981
19. Streamsong (Red)
Streamsong, FL
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 2012
27. Streamsong (Blue)
Streamsong, FL
Tom Doak, 2012
39. Streamsong (Black)
Streamsong, FL
Gil Hanse, 2017
75. Trump National Doral (Blue)
Miami, FL
Dick Wilson, 1961/Gil Hanse/Jim Wagner, 2013
79. Bay Hill
Orlando, FL
Dick Wilson, 1961
Michigan (6)
34. Forest Dunes (Loop: Red/Black)
Roscommon, MI
Tom Doak, 2016
46. Arcadia Bluffs (Bluffs)
Arcadia, MI
Warren Henderson/Rick Smith, 1999
56. Arcadia Bluffs (South)
Arcadia, MI
Dana Fry, 2018
65. Marquette (Greywalls)
Marquette, MI
Mike Devries, 2005
73. Forest Dunes (Weiskopf)
Roscommon, MI
Tom Weiskopf, 2002
96. Stoatin Brae
Augusta, MI
Renaissance Golf Design, 2016
Wisconsin (6)
11. Whistling Straits (Straits)
Haven, WI
Pete Dye, 1998
23. Lawsonia (Links)
Green Lake, WI
Bill Langford/Ted Moreau, 1930
25. Sand Valley (Sand Valley)
Nekoosa, WI
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 2017
29. Sand Valley (Mammoth Dunes)
Nekoosa, WI
David McLay-Kidd, 2018
31. Erin Hills
Hartford, WI
Michael Hurdzan/Dana Fry, 2006
38. Blackwolf Run (River)
Kohler, WI
Pete Dye, 1988
Caribbean and Bermuda (5)
7. Casa de Campo (Teeth of the Dog)
La Romana, Dominican Republic
Pete Dye, 1971
18. Cap Cana (Punta Espada)
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Jack Nicklaus, 2006
32. Mid Ocean Club
Tucker’s Town, Bermuda
C.B. Macdonald, 1921/Robert Trent Jones Sr., 1953
81. Royal Blue at Baha Mar
Nassau, Bahamas
Jack Nicklaus, 2017
90. Puntacana (Corales)
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Tom Fazio, 2010
North Carolina (5)
2. Pinehurst (No. 2)
Pinehurst, NC
Donald Ross, 1907
26. Pinehurst (No. 4)
Pinehurst, NC
Donald Ross, 1919/Gil Hanse, 2017
35. Tobacco Road
Sanford, NC
Mike Strantz, 1998
41. Mid Pines
Southern pines, NC
Donald Ross, 1921
44. Pine Needles
Southern pines, NC
Donald Ross, 1927
South Carolina (5)
6. Kiawah Island (Ocean Course)
Kiawah Island, SC
Pete Dye, 1991
16. Harbour Town
Hilton Head, SC
Pete Dye/Jack Nicklaus, 1969
45. May River (Palmetto Bluff)
Bluffton, SC
Jack Nicklaus, 2004
53. The Dunes
Myrtle Beach, SC
Robert Trent Jones Sr., 1948
84. Caledonia
Pawleys Island, SC
Mike Strantz, 1994
Mexico (4)
69. Cove Club at Cabo del Sol
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Jack Nicklaus, 1994
71. Twin Dolphin
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Fred Couples/Todd Eckenrode, 2018
77. Four Seasons, Punta Mita (Pacifico)
Nayarit, Mexico
Jack Nicklaus, 1999
86. Chileno Bay
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Tom Fazio, 2014
Hawaii (3)
40. Kapalua Resort (Plantation)
Kapalua, HI
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 1991
55. Mauna Kea
Waimea, HI
Robert Trent Jones Sr., 1965
63. Challenge at Manele Bay
Lanai City, HI
Jack Nicklaus, 1993
Indiana (3)
57. French Lick (Ross Course)
French Lick, IN
Donald Ross, 1917
70. Warren Course at Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 2000
85. Pfau Course at Indiana University
Bloomington, IN
Steve Smyers, 2020
New York (3)
5. Bethpage (Black)
Farmingdale, NY
A.W. Tillinghast, 1935
66. Bethpage (Red)
Farmingdale, NY
A.W. Tillinghast, 1936
95. Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point
Bronx, NY
Jack Nicklaus, 2015
Washington (3)
14. Gamble Sands
Brewster, WA
David McLay-Kidd, 2014
37. Chambers Bay
University Place, WA
Robert Trent Jones Jr., 2007
61. Wine Valley
Walla Walla, WA
Dan Hixson, 2009
Arizona (2)
52. We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro)
Fort McDowell, AZ
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 1914
82. Talking Stick (O’odham North)
Scottsdale, AZ
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 1999
Georgia (2)
50. Sea Island (Seaside)
Sea Island, GA
Harry S. Colt/Charles Alison, 1929/Tom Fazio, 1999
88. Reynolds Lake Oconee (Great Waters)
Greensboro, GA
Jack Nicklaus, 1992
Massachusetts (2)
59. George Wright
Boston, MA
Donald Ross, 1936
62. Taconic
Williamstown, MA
Stiles and Van Kleek, 1928/Gil Hanse, 2009
GolfLogix Greens Books
Mississippi (2)
43. Mossy Oak
West Point, MS
Gil Hanse, 2016
97. Old Waverly
West Point, MS
Bob Cupp, 1988
Nebraska (2)
22. Prairie Club (Dunes)
Valentine, NE
Tom Lehman/Chris Brands, 2010
49. Wild Horse
Gothenburg, NE
Dave Axland/Dan Proctor, 1999
Alabama (1)
78. RTJ Golf Trail at Grand National (Links)
Opelika, AL
Robert Trent Jones Sr., 1992
Colorado (1)
58. The Broadmoor (East)
Colorado Springs, CO
Donald Ross, 1919/Robert Trent Jones Sr., 1952
Illinois (1)
92. Cog Hill (No. 4)
Lemont, IL
Dick Wilson/Joe Lee, 1965
Maine (1)
64. Cape Arundel
Kennebunkport, ME
Walter Travis, 1920
Minnesota (1)
68. Giant’s Ridge (Quarry)
Biwabik, MN
Jeff Brauer, 2003
Missouri (1)
54. Ozarks National at Big Cedar Lodge
Holister, MO
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 2019
Montana (1)
36. Wilderness Club
Eureka, MT
Nick Faldo/Brian Curley, 2008
Nevada (1)
21. Shadow Creek
Las Vegas, NV
Tom Fazio, 1990
New Jersey (1)
87. Atlantic City CC
Atlantic City, NJ
Willie Park, 1915/William Flynn, 1925/Tom Doak, 2001
New Mexico (1)
99. Black Mesa
Espanola, NM
Baxter Spann, 2003
North Dakota (1)
100. Hawktree
Bismarck, ND
Jim Engh, 2000
Ohio (1)
83. Firestone (South)
Akron, OH
Robert Trent Jones Sr., 1969
Oklahoma (1)
48. Karsten Creek
Stillwater, OK
Tom Fazio, 1994
Pennsylvania (1)
80. Omni Bedford Springs Resort (Old Course)
Bedford, PA
Spencer Oldham, 1895/A.W. Tillinghast, 1912/Donald Ross, 1923/Ron Forse, 2007
Texas (1)
98. Memorial Park
Houston, TX
John Bredemus, 1936/Tom Doak/Brooks Koepka, 2019
Utah (1)
33. Sand Hollow (Championship)
Hurricane, UT
John Fought/Andrew Staples, 2008
Virginia (1)
42. Omni Homestead (Cascades)
Hot Springs, VA
William S. Flynn, 1923
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