The United States has more great golf courses than any country on earth. With over 16,000 courses spread across 50 states, the challenge is not finding somewhere to play.
The challenge is knowing which courses are worth the trip, which ones you can actually book, and what each one will cost you.
We have played courses across 28 states. This guide covers the best golf courses in the US by category: bucket list public courses you can book today, the greatest private courses in the world, the best courses by region, and a state-by-state directory linking to our full guides for every major golf destination in America.
Quick Answer: The best public golf course in the US is Pebble Beach Golf Links in California ($625 green fee), consistently ranked the top accessible course in the country. For bucket list resort golf, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon offers five world-class courses from $130 to $325. The best value public course in the US is Bethpage Black in New York ($95 for New York residents). For the full ranked list by region and budget, read on.
The Best Public Golf Courses in the US You Can Book Right Now
Every course in this section is accessible to the public. You do not need a membership or an invitation.
You need a tee time and a green fee. We have included the current pricing and direct-booking guidance for each one.
| Course | State | Green Fee | Best For | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pebble Beach Golf Links | California | $625 | Bucket list ocean golf | Book Tee Times |
| Bandon Dunes (Pacific Dunes) | Oregon | $130–$325 | Links golf, multi-day trips | Book Tee Times |
| Bethpage Black | New York | $75–$95 | Best value championship course | Book Tee Times |
| Pinehurst No. 2 | North Carolina | $200–$550 | Classic Donald Ross design | Book Tee Times |
| Chambers Bay | Washington | $250–$450 | Links-style, 2015 US Open host | Book via GolfNow |
| TPC Sawgrass (Stadium Course) | Florida | $225–$595 | Home of The Players, island green 17th | Book via GolfNow |
| Whistling Straits (Straits Course) | Wisconsin | $110–$420 | Links-style, Ryder Cup host 2021 | Book Tee Times |
| Torrey Pines (South Course) | California | $55–$258 | Municipal course, US Open host | Book Tee Times |
| Kiawah Island (Ocean Course) | South Carolina | $250–$650 | Coastal links, Ryder Cup and PGA host | Book Tee Times |
| Troon North (Monument Course) | Arizona | $99–$249 | Desert golf, Pinnacle Peak backdrop | Book |
Green fees vary by season and time of day. All prices correct at time of publishing. Book via GolfNow or directly on their websites for live availability and the best available rates.
Full Course Reviews: The Best Golf Courses in the US
1. Pebble Beach Golf Links — Pebble Beach, California
Pebble Beach is the most famous public-access golf course in the world. That reputation is entirely earned.
We played Pebble Beach on a clear morning in November. The first six holes wind through the Del Monte Forest. Then the course turns to the coastline, and everything changes.
Holes seven through ten run along the cliffs above Stillwater Cove—the par-3 seventh plays straight at the Pacific from an elevated tee.
The approach on the eighth requires a carry over a 100-foot cliff with the ocean filling the left side of the green.
These are not scenic touches. They are golf holes where the ocean is a genuine hazard.
The green fee is $625. That is a significant sum. For a golfer who has dreamed of walking those fairways, it is not overpriced.
For a golfer who has not, we would recommend Torrey Pines first at a fraction of the cost to understand what California coastal golf offers before committing to Pebble.
Need to know: Resort guests at The Lodge at Pebble Beach get booking priority. Outside players book 30 days in advance at pebblebeach.com. Morning tee times disappear fastest. Book at first light of your 30-day window.
Green fee: $625 | Par: 72 | Yardage: 6,828 yards | Designer: Jack Neville and Douglas Grant (1919)
2. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort — Bandon, Oregon
Bandon Dunes is not a course. It is a destination that happens to contain five of the best courses in the world.
Pacific Dunes, designed by Tom Doak, is consistently ranked among the top five courses on earth. Sheep Ranch, the newest addition, plays along dramatic clifftops above the Pacific.
Bandon Dunes itself, the original course, remains one of the purest links experiences in North America. Old MacDonald and Bandon Trails round out a collection that no other resort in the country comes close to matching.
The resort is remote by design. Bandon, Oregon, is not on the way to anywhere else. You fly into North Bend or Eugene and drive.
The remoteness is the point. When you arrive, there is nothing to do except play golf, eat well, and sleep.
Most guests play 36 holes a day for three or four days. The cumulative experience of playing all five courses across a long weekend is the finest golf trip available anywhere in the United States.
Need to know: Book accommodation and tee times together. The resort books out months in advance for peak season (May through October). Off-season rates (November through March) are significantly lower, and conditions are still excellent.
Green fee: $130 to $325 depending on course and season | Designer: Various (Mike Keiser resort)
3. Bethpage Black — Farmingdale, New York
The first tee at Bethpage Black carries a famous warning sign: this course is recommended only for highly skilled golfers. That sign has been there since the 1930s, and it means what it says.
Bethpage Black is a public course owned by the State of New York and operated for any golfer who can book a tee time.
It has hosted two US Opens and a PGA Championship. The green fee for New York residents is $95. For non-residents, it is $75 online.
No other course that has hosted major championships offers remotely comparable public access at that price.
The course is long, relentless, and fair. A.W. Tillinghast designed it in 1936 with no mercy intended. The rough is thick. The fairways are narrow.
The greens are fast. A score of 85 here is a round you tell people about. For golfers who want to understand what major championship golf actually feels like under their feet, Bethpage Black is the most accessible answer in the country.
Need to know: Weekend tee times release online at midnight seven days in advance. They are gone within minutes. Set an alarm.
Green fee: $75 to $95 | Par: 71 | Yardage: 7,468 yards | Designer: A.W. Tillinghast (1936)
4. Pinehurst No. 2 — Pinehurst, North Carolina
Pinehurst No. 2 is the most important golf course in American history. Donald Ross designed it in 1907 using the sandy soil of the North Carolina sandhills as his canvas.
The wiregrass rough, the crowned greens that shed everything short, and the absence of water hazards create a course where every shot demands decision-making rather than just execution.
The 2014 US Open was held here simultaneously with the US Women’s Open, the first time both championships shared the same venue in the same week.
No. 2 passed that test with distinction. It has also hosted US Opens in 1999, 2005, and 2024.
Pinehurst Resort itself contains ten 18-hole courses plus The Cradle, a nine-hole short course.
A multi-day trip centred on No. 2 with rounds on No. 4 (Tom Fazio) and No. 8 (Tom Fazio again) represents some of the best resort golf in the eastern United States.
Need to know: Resort guests get preferred booking access. Book a stay-and-play package for the best tee time options on No. 2.
Green fee: $200 to $550 depending on season | Par: 72 | Yardage: 7,588 yards | Designer: Donald Ross (1907, restored by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw 2010)
5. TPC Sawgrass — Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass is the most recognisable course in American professional golf. It is the permanent home of The Players Championship.
Every serious golfer knows the island green at the par-3 17th hole. Most have nightmares about it.
The island green is 137 yards from the back tee. There is nowhere to miss except water. Roughly 100,000 balls are retrieved from the lake surrounding it each year.
In our round there, three players in our group found water in a single hole. The collective groan was audible from two greens away.
Beyond the 17th, Sawgrass is a Pete Dye design that uses water, railroad ties, and severe elevation changes to create a course that is both challenging and fair.
The Stadium Course experience is also the best-run public golf operation we have played in Florida. The facilities, the pace of play, and the overall service are genuinely exceptional.
Need to know: Book 60 days in advance for the best tee times. The course is significantly cheaper from May through September when Florida’s heat reduces demand.
Green fee: $225 to $595 | Par: 72 | Yardage: 7,189 yards | Designer: Pete Dye (1980)
6. Chambers Bay — University Place, Washington
Chambers Bay hosted the 2015 US Open and divided opinion among professionals. Jordan Spieth won. Dustin Johnson three-putted the 18th from 12 feet to finish one shot back. The course was criticised for its greens.
For recreational golfers, Chambers Bay is a revelation. The layout sits on 930 acres of former industrial land along Puget Sound.
On a clear day, Mount Rainier fills the horizon behind the 14th green. The links-style design uses natural topography, tall fescue rough, and wide fairways to create a course that rewards creativity over power.
In 2026, Chambers Bay topped the GolfPass Golfers’ Choice rankings for the best public course in the US based on golfer reviews across value, conditions, layout, and overall experience.
That rating comes from everyday golfers, not rankings panels, which makes it the most honest endorsement on this list.
Need to know: Walking only — caddies and push carts available. The walk is significant. Book a caddie if you can. The views on the back nine reward the effort.
Green fee: $250 to $450 | Par: 72 | Yardage: 7,585 yards | Designer: Robert Trent Jones II (2007)
7. Whistling Straits — Kohler, Wisconsin
Pete Dye built Whistling Straits on 560 acres of reclaimed industrial land along Lake Michigan and created something that looks like it has been there since the Bronze Age.
The Straits Course is a links design with over 1,000 bunkers, wide fescue fairways, and an exposure to wind that can turn a straightforward round into a character-building experience in under three holes.
The course hosted the 2020 Ryder Cup, played in 2021 without crowds due to the pandemic. It has also hosted three PGA Championships.
Dustin Johnson won here in 2010. Brooks Koepka won in 2015. The course has a reputation for rewarding patience and punishing aggression.
Kohler itself is one of the best golf destinations in the Midwest.
The resort also contains the Irish Course, Blackwolf Run’s River and Meadow Valleys courses, and easy access to other top Wisconsin public courses including Erin Hills and Sand Valley.
Need to know: Book stay-and-play packages at The American Club in Kohler for the best access to Whistling Straits tee times.
Green fee: $110 to $420 depending on season | Par: 72 | Yardage: 7,790 yards | Designer: Pete Dye (1998)
8. Torrey Pines South Course — La Jolla, California
Torrey Pines is the best-value major championship course in America. It is a municipal course operated by the City of San Diego.
Residents pay $55. Non-residents pay up to $258. It hosted the 2008 US Open, where Tiger Woods won on one leg in an 18-hole playoff against Rocco Mediate.
It hosted the 2021 US Open too, where Jon Rahm holed a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th to win.
The South Course is carved into the cliffs above the Pacific with several holes offering views of the ocean that rival Pebble Beach at a fraction of the cost.
The course is long and demanding, particularly the stretch from the 11th through the 14th hole where the views and the difficulty peak simultaneously.
Need to know: San Diego residents can book 90 days in advance. Non-residents book 60 days out. Morning weekend times book out immediately on opening day.
Green fee: $55 to $258 | Par: 72 | Yardage: 7,607 yards | Designer: William Bell, renovated by Rees Jones (2001)
9. Kiawah Island Ocean Course — Kiawah Island, South Carolina
The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island is the most exposed golf course in the United States. Pete Dye designed it on a narrow strip of barrier island with ten holes directly on the Atlantic Ocean.
The wind is always there. It changes direction mid-round without warning. Club selection on the back nine is an act of informed guesswork even for scratch players.
The course hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup, the War on the Shore. It hosted the PGA Championship in 2012 and again in 2021. Phil Mickelson became the oldest major champion in history when he won here at 50 years old in 2021.
The Ocean Course is resort access only through Kiawah Island Golf Resort. You must be a resort guest or villa owner to book a tee time.
The green fee is the highest of any course in this guide. Both are justified by the experience.
Need to know: Resort booking required. Spring and fall offer the best conditions. Summer heat and humidity are significant factors on this exposed course.
Green fee: $250 to $650 | Par: 72 | Yardage: 7,876 yards | Designer: Pete Dye (1991)
10. Augusta National Golf Club — Augusta, Georgia
Augusta National is the most famous golf course in the world and the only course on this list that is not accessible to the public.
It is here because no list of the best golf courses in the US is complete without it.
The course hosts the Masters Tournament every April, the only major championship played on the same course each year.
It is a private, members-only club for the remaining 11 months. You cannot buy a tee time. You cannot apply for membership. If you want to stand on the grounds, the Masters ticket ballot is the only legitimate route.
For everything you need to know about Augusta National: the course, the history, Amen Corner, membership, and how to get Masters tickets, read our Complete Augusta National Guide 2026.
The Greatest Private Golf Courses in the US
These courses are not accessible to the public. They appear here because they are the benchmarks against which all American golf is measured. Understanding them gives context to everything else on this list.
| Course | State | Designer | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pine Valley Golf Club (Book Tee Time) | New Jersey | George Crump (1919) | Consistently ranked the #1 course in the world. Members-only with a single guest policy. No phone signal permitted. |
| Cypress Point Club (Book Tee Time) | California | Alister MacKenzie (1928) | Considered by many architects to be the finest routing ever conceived. The par-3 16th plays over 220 yards of Pacific Ocean. |
| Shinnecock Hills | New York | William Flynn (1931) | Five-time US Open host. The most pure links experience on the American East Coast. |
| Augusta National Golf Club | Georgia | Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie (1933) | Home of the Masters. The most watched golf course on earth every April. |
| Oakmont Country Club | Pennsylvania | Henry Fownes (1903) | The hardest course in the US. Nine US Opens hosted. The Church Pew bunkers are the most famous hazard in American golf. |
| Merion Golf Club (East) | Pennsylvania | Hugh Wilson (1912) | Where Bobby Jones completed the Grand Slam in 1930. Where Ben Hogan walked 18 holes on a broken leg in 1950. Five US Opens hosted. |
| Sand Hills Golf Club | Nebraska | Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (1995) | The most authentic links course in America. Built on natural sand dunes in the Nebraska Sandhills with almost no earth moved during construction. |
Best Golf Courses in the US by Region
The United States divides naturally into golf regions. Each has its own season, its own style, and its own must-play courses.
Here is where to go by region with links to our full state guides.
Southeast — Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina
The Southeast is the most golf-rich region in the country. Florida alone has over 1,500 courses. North Carolina has Pinehurst. Georgia has Augusta National.
South Carolina has Kiawah Island and the Myrtle Beach resort corridor.
The best playing window is October through May. Summer temperatures and humidity make afternoon golf in Florida and South Carolina uncomfortable for most visitors.
Book morning tee times if travelling in summer.
- Best Golf Courses in Florida 2026 — GolfNow tee times available
- Best Golf Courses in Georgia 2026 — Home of Augusta, strong public course scene
- Best Golf Courses in North Carolina 2026 — Pinehurst, Myrtle Beach, Erin Hills-level value
- Best Golf Courses in South Carolina 2026 — Kiawah, Sea Pines, Harbour Town
Southwest — Arizona, Texas, Nevada
The Southwest offers year-round desert golf at its best. Arizona’s Scottsdale and Phoenix areas have the highest concentration of top public courses of any metropolitan area in the country.
Las Vegas has grown into a serious golf destination. Texas has both urban resort golf and remote Hill Country experiences.
- Best Golf Courses in Arizona 2026 — Scottsdale, Phoenix, Sedona
- Best Golf Courses in Texas 2026 — Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas
West Coast — California, Oregon, Washington
The West Coast contains the greatest concentration of world-class public courses in the United States. California alone has Pebble Beach, Torrey Pines, Pasatiempo, and Riviera.
Oregon has all five Bandon Dunes courses. Washington has Chambers Bay.
- Best Golf Courses in California 2026 — Pebble Beach, Torrey Pines, Riviera
Northeast — New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts
The Northeast has the longest golf history in America. Shinnecock Hills hosted the second US Open in 1896.
Bethpage Black and Bethpage Red offer major-championship conditions at municipal prices. The Berkshires and Cape Cod offer excellent public golf at accessible green fees.
- Best Golf Courses in New York 2026 — Bethpage, Saratoga, The Hamptons
- Best Golf Courses in New Jersey 2026
- Best Golf Courses in Massachusetts 2026
Midwest — Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois
The Midwest is the most underrated golf region in America. Wisconsin has Whistling Straits, Erin Hills, and Sand Valley.
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has courses carved into the Great Lakes landscape that rival anything on the coasts. Minnesota’s northern lake country offers distinctive wilderness golf.
- Best Golf Courses in Minnesota 2026
- Best Golf Courses in Illinois 2026
- Best Golf Courses in Colorado 2026
How to Book the Best Golf Courses in the US
Most golfers wait too long to book and miss the courses they actually want to play. Here is how to avoid that.
Book 30 to 90 days in advance
The best tee times at top public courses release 30, 60, or 90 days in advance, depending on the facility.
Set a calendar reminder for the exact release date and book the moment the window opens. Waiting a day means choosing between whatever is left.
Use GolfNow for tee time availability
GolfNow aggregates live tee time availability across thousands of US courses.
For courses where you do not know the direct booking process, GolfNow is the fastest way to find available slots and compare prices across nearby options.
GolfPass members get access to waived booking fees and tee time credits.
Consider shoulder season
The best value golf in America happens in the shoulder seasons. Pebble Beach in February is significantly cheaper than Pebble Beach in August.
Pinehurst in November offers full course access with no summer heat premium. TPC Sawgrass from May through September sees green fees fall by 40 to 50% from peak season rates.
Stay on the property where possible
At resort courses Bandon Dunes, Pinehurst, Kiawah Island, and Whistling Straits, staying on property gives you priority tee times that outside players cannot access.
The total cost of a stay-and-play package is often only marginally more than booking accommodation separately while trying to compete for outside tee times.
How Many Golf Courses Are There in the US?
The United States has approximately 16,000 golf courses. That represents around 40% of all golf courses worldwide.
Florida has the most courses of any state, with over 1,500 across the state. California, Texas, Michigan, and New York all have over 800 courses each.
Of those 16,000 courses, roughly 75% offer some form of public or semi-private access. The United States has more accessible, high-quality golf than any other country on earth.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Golf Courses in the US
Among private courses, Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey is consistently ranked the best course in the United States and often the world.
Among public courses, Pebble Beach Golf Links in California is the most widely recognized as the best accessible course in the country, with Bandon Dunes in Oregon the top destination for multi-course resort golf.
Pebble Beach Golf Links is the most acclaimed public golf course in the US at $625 per round.
For value, Bethpage Black in New York offers US Open-caliber golf at $75 to $95.
For the best overall golf destination, Bandon Dunes in Oregon has five world-class courses accessible to any golfer from $130 to $325 per round.
Florida has the most golf courses of any US state, with over 1,500 courses. California, Texas, Michigan, and New York are the next most golf-rich states.
For the best concentration of top-ranked public courses, California leads nationally with Pebble Beach, Torrey Pines, Pasatiempo, and Riviera all accessible to the public.
Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania is widely considered the hardest golf course in the United States. It has hosted nine US Opens.
The greens are the fastest on any US Open venue. The Church Pew bunkers between the third and fourth holes are the most punishing hazard in American golf.
Among public courses, Bethpage Black’s famous warning sign at the first tee tells golfers everything they need to know.
Bandon Dunes in Oregon is the best week-long golf destination in the US for dedicated golfers.
Five courses, total remoteness, and a resort built entirely around the golf experience. Pinehurst in North Carolina is the best destination for golfers who want variety combined with history, with ten courses on the property, including Mid Pines and Pine Needles nearby.
The Monterey Peninsula in California is the best for golfers who want world-class golf combined with world-class dining and scenery.
Green fees at the best public courses range from $75 at Bethpage Black to $625 at Pebble Beach. Most top resort courses fall in the $200 to $450 range.
Shoulder season rates at most courses are 30 to 50% cheaper than peak season.
Stay-and-play resort packages at destinations like Pinehurst and Whistling Straits often offer the best overall value for multi-round trips.
Final Verdict
The best golf courses in the US span every budget, every landscape, and every style of play. You do not need to spend $625 to play world-class golf in America.
Bethpage Black at $95 and Torrey Pines at $258 both offer US Open conditions at a fraction of the cost of the most famous names on this list.
If you are building a US golf bucket list, start here. Bandon Dunes for a dedicated golf trip. Pebble Beach for the once-in-a-lifetime round. Pinehurst for history and variety.
Bethpage Black for value and challenge. Chambers Bay if you want to understand what links golf feels like without leaving the country.
Use our state-by-state guides below to plan your next trip. Every guide includes GolfNow tee time links for live availability and current pricing.
All US Golf Course Guides
- Best Golf Courses in Florida 2026
- Best Golf Courses in Texas 2026
- Best Golf Courses in Arizona 2026
- Best Golf Courses in Georgia 2026
- Best Golf Courses in North Carolina 2026
- Best Golf Courses in South Carolina 2026
- Best Golf Courses in New York 2026
- Best Golf Courses in New Jersey 2026
- Best Golf Courses in Minnesota 2026
- Best Golf Courses in Illinois 2026
- Best Golf Courses in Colorado 2026
- Best Golf Courses in California 2026
- Best Golf Courses in Massachusetts 2026
- Augusta National Golf Club: The Complete Guide 2026
Pine Valley Golf Club
Pine Valley Golf Club is not only the best golf course in the US but also the world. The ultra-exclusive golf course is famous for being one of the most challenging courses in the world.
Previously, the club only allowed men to be registered as members. Women could only play on Sundays.
With a few premier members, this New Jersey club is one of the most desired golf courses in the world.
-
Location: 1 E Atlantic Ave, Pine Valley, NJ 08021
-
Length: 4,814 yards
-
Par: 66
-
Designed by: Hugh Wilson, A.W. Tillinghast, George C, and Thomas Jr
-
Established: 1913
-
Championships hosted: Walker Cup matches 1936 and 1985, Crump Cup annually
