Golf lovers, get ready to tee off at some of America’s finest public courses. The US boasts many top-notch golf destinations open to all players.
You don’t need a pricey membership to experience world-class golf.
The best public golf courses in the US offer amazing designs, stunning scenery, and challenging play for golfers of all skill levels. From coastal links to mountain layouts, you’ll find incredible public courses across the country.
Many have even hosted major tournaments.
Planning a golf trip? Consider adding some of these stellar public courses to your itinerary. You can find great options near you or plan a special golf getaway to play bucket-list courses.
Let’s explore 10 of the best public golf experiences America has to offer.
Understanding Public Golf Courses
Public golf courses are open to everyone. You don’t need a membership to play.
These courses offer a chance for all golfers to enjoy the sport.
Public-access courses come in many types. Some are run by cities or counties. Others are privately owned but open to the public. You’ll find courses for all skill levels.
Green fees are what you pay to play. They can vary a lot. Some courses charge under $50, while others cost over $500 per round. Fees often change based on the time of day or season.
Golf course architecture is key to a great public course. Top designers create layouts that challenge and excite players. They use the land to make each hole unique.
Signature holes are standout features on many courses. These holes might have stunning views or tricky shots. They’re what you’ll remember most after your round.
Course descriptions help you know what to expect. They tell you about the length, difficulty, and special features. This info helps you pick a course that fits your game.
When you play public courses, you get to experience different designs. Each one tests your skills in new ways. It’s a great way to improve your golf and have fun.
Top 10 Public Golf Courses in the US
The United States boasts some of the world’s most impressive public golf courses. These venues offer breathtaking scenery, challenging layouts, and rich histories. You’ll find coastal gems, inland masterpieces, and tournament-tested tracks among America’s finest public courses.
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach Golf Links stands as a crown jewel of American golf. Located on California’s Monterey Peninsula, this course hugs the rugged coastline, offering stunning ocean views.
You’ll face a true test of golf on its famous holes, including the par-3 7th and the challenging par-5 18th.
The course has hosted six U.S. Opens, with another scheduled for 2027. Its blend of natural beauty and golfing challenge makes it a bucket-list destination for players worldwide. Green fees are steep, but the experience is unforgettable.
Pebble Beach’s history, design, and setting combine to create a golfing experience unlike any other. You’ll walk in the footsteps of legends on this iconic course.
If you want a more comprehensive travel guide to Pebble Beach, this is a good one I found.
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon revolutionized American golf travel. This links-style paradise offers five distinct 18-hole courses, each with its own character. The original Bandon Dunes course set the tone, but Pacific Dunes often receives the highest praise.
You’ll face firm fairways, deep bunkers, and coastal winds reminiscent of Scottish golf. The resort’s remote location adds to its allure, creating a golf-focused getaway. Walking is encouraged, enhancing the traditional golf experience.
Bandon Dunes proves that great golf can thrive in unexpected locations. Its success has inspired other destination resorts across the country.
Pinehurst No. 2
Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina is a masterpiece of golf course architecture. Designed by Donald Ross, this inland course has hosted multiple U.S. Opens. Its crowned greens present a unique challenge, often repelling approach shots.
A 2011 restoration by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw returned the course to its roots. You’ll find wider fairways framed by natural sandy areas instead of thick rough. The strategic options off the tee and around the greens make every round a new puzzle to solve.
Pinehurst No. 2’s timeless design continues to challenge and delight golfers of all skill levels. Its place in golf history is secure, yet it remains relevant to modern players.
Bethpage State Park’s Black Course
Bethpage Black in New York gained fame as the first truly public course to host a U.S. Open in 2002. This long, demanding layout is not for the faint of heart. A sign near the first tee warns that it’s recommended only for highly skilled golfers.
You’ll face narrow fairways, thick rough, and large, undulating greens. The course’s difficulty is matched by its accessibility. As a state park course, green fees are remarkably affordable, especially for New York residents.
Bethpage Black has hosted major championships and a Ryder Cup. It proves that world-class golf can be available to the public at reasonable prices.
Whistling Straits’ Straits Course
Whistling Straits in Wisconsin offers a links-style experience along Lake Michigan. The Straits Course, designed by Pete Dye, features rugged terrain and over 1,000 bunkers. Its faux-links style provides a taste of Irish golf in the American Midwest.
You’ll find stunning lake views on nearly every hole. The course has hosted PGA Championships and the 2021 Ryder Cup. Its difficulty is matched by its beauty, with each hole presenting a unique challenge.
Whistling Straits showcases how modern design can create instant classics. Its dramatic setting and design have quickly established it as one of America’s premier public courses.
TPC Sawgrass’ Stadium Course
The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Florida is home to golf’s “fifth major,” The Players Championship. Designed by Pete Dye, it’s best known for the island green 17th hole. This short par-3 has become one of golf’s most recognizable and intimidating holes.
You’ll find a balanced test of golf, with no two consecutive holes playing in the same direction. The course favors strategy over power, with water hazards and strategic bunkering throughout. Its closing stretch, particularly holes 16-18, provides one of golf’s most exciting finishes.
TPC Sawgrass combines championship pedigree with public accessibility. It’s a chance to play where the pros compete each year.
The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island
The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, gained instant fame by hosting the 1991 Ryder Cup. This Pete Dye design hugs the Atlantic coastline, offering breathtaking views and a stern test of golf. Wind plays a major factor, with all 18 holes exposed to coastal breezes.
You’ll face wide sandy areas, large waste bunkers, and elevated greens. The course can stretch to over 7,800 yards, making it one of the longest in major championship history. Its blend of beauty and challenge has made it a popular major venue.
The Ocean Course embodies the best of coastal golf. Its natural setting and strategic design create a memorable experience for all who play it.
Pacific Dunes
Pacific Dunes, part of the Bandon Dunes Resort, often ranks as the best course at this acclaimed property. Designed by Tom Doak, it takes full advantage of its coastal Oregon setting. The course weaves through dunes and along cliff tops, offering stunning ocean views.
You’ll find a non-traditional layout with four par-3s on the back nine. The greens are large and undulating, requiring careful approach shots. Wind is a constant factor, adding to the challenge and links-like feel.
Pacific Dunes showcases minimalist design at its finest. It proves that great golf courses can be found in harmony with their natural surroundings.
Chambers Bay
Chambers Bay in Washington state burst onto
Notable Course Designers
Golf course architects shape the playing experience. Their designs challenge and delight players. Two designers stand out for their contributions to public courses in the US.
Kyle Franz’s Contributions
Kyle Franz has made a name for himself renovating classic courses. He breathed new life into Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina. Franz restored Donald Ross’s original vision while adapting it for modern play.
His work brings out the natural beauty of the land. You’ll find Franz’s touches in the rugged edges and native areas. He creates strategic options that reward thoughtful play.
Franz also designed the acclaimed Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club. His style blends classic principles with contemporary flair. When you play a Franz course, you experience golf as it was meant to be.
Pete Dye’s Signature Design
Pete Dye revolutionized golf course architecture. His designs are both loved and feared by players. You’ll find Dye’s courses prominently featured on lists of top public courses.
Dye’s TPC Sawgrass is perhaps his most famous creation. The island green 17th hole is iconic in golf. But Dye’s genius extends beyond single holes. His courses use visual trickery and strategic bunkering to challenge players.
When you play a Dye course, expect the unexpected. Forced carries, deep bunkers, and dramatic mounding are hallmarks of his style. Dye believed golf should be a test of skill and nerves. His public courses give everyday players a taste of championship-level design.
Bucket List Golf Experiences
Many golfers dream of playing the top 100 courses in the U.S. These bucket list experiences offer unforgettable moments on some of the best public courses in America.
You can start your journey at the renowned Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon. This coastal gem features four 18-hole courses, all ranked in the top 15 public courses nationwide.
Next, head to the Carolinas to play Pine Needles and Mid Pines. These classic Donald Ross designs offer a taste of golf history and challenging play.
For a seaside adventure, visit Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina. The Ocean Course, host of major championships, provides stunning views and a tough test of golf.
Don’t miss these other bucket list worthy courses:
- Pebble Beach Golf Links (California)
- TPC Sawgrass (Florida)
- Whistling Straits (Wisconsin)
- Pinehurst No. 2 (North Carolina)
Remember, playing these courses isn’t just about golf. It’s about creating lasting memories and experiencing some of the best golf America has to offer.
Signature Tournaments and Championships
Many top public golf courses in the US have hosted major tournaments. These events showcase the world’s best players competing on challenging layouts. Let’s look at some of the most prestigious championships held at public courses.
The Majestic U.S. Open
The U.S. Open is one of golf’s four major championships. It has been played at several public courses over the years.
Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina has hosted the U.S. Open three times. The course will welcome the championship again in 2024.
Pebble Beach Golf Links in California is another frequent U.S. Open venue. Its coastal setting provides a stunning backdrop for the tournament.
Bethpage Black in New York hosted the U.S. Open in 2002 and 2009. The course is known for its difficulty and “Warning” sign on the first tee.
PGA Tour’s Finest Moments
The PGA Tour holds events at public courses throughout the year. These tournaments give fans a chance to see pros play on courses they can access too.
TPC Sawgrass hosts The Players Championship each March. Its island green 17th hole is one of golf’s most famous.
The Sentry Tournament of Champions kicks off the PGA Tour season in Hawaii. It’s played at Kapalua’s Plantation Course on Maui.
Torrey Pines in San Diego hosts the Farmers Insurance Open annually. Tiger Woods has won there eight times as a pro.
The Ryder Cup’s Epic Battles
The Ryder Cup pits American and European teams against each other every two years. Some public courses have provided an exciting stage for this event.
Whistling Straits in Wisconsin hosted the 2021 Ryder Cup. The course’s links-style layout along Lake Michigan created a dramatic setting.
Bethpage Black is set to host the Ryder Cup in 2025. It will be the first time the event is held in New York.
Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota welcomed the Ryder Cup in 2016. The US team won a thrilling victory on home soil.
Emerging Public Golf Destinations
Big Cedar Lodge in Missouri is becoming a top golf spot. You can play Payne’s Valley, a course designed by Tiger Woods. It’s part of a group of new courses in the Ozarks.
Erin Hills in Wisconsin hosted the 2017 U.S. Open. It’s now open for public play. You’ll find big fairways and tough greens here.
Sand Valley in Wisconsin is another new hotspot. It has two main courses and a par-3 course. The sandy soil makes for great golf conditions.
Streamsong in Florida offers three courses. Each one has a different look and feel. You can play on dunes, lakes, and prairies all in one place.
Some other rising stars include:
- Forest Dunes (Michigan)
- Lawsonia (Wisconsin)
- Wild Horse (Nebraska)
- Cabot Citrus Farms (Florida)
These courses offer great value and top-notch design. You’ll find fewer crowds and more chances to play. Many are in areas not known for golf before. This adds to the fun of discovering new places to play.
Maximizing Your Golf Course Finder Tool
Golf course finder tools help you discover great public courses. To get the most out of these tools, follow these tips:
Use filters wisely. Most finders let you narrow results by location, price, and difficulty.
Pick the options that matter most to you.
Read user reviews. These give you real insights into course conditions and overall experience. Look for recent reviews for the most up-to-date info.
Check course details carefully. Pay attention to:
- Yardage
- Par
- Slope rating
- Course type (links, parkland, etc.)
Compare multiple courses. Don’t just pick the first one you see. Look at a few options to find the best fit.
Look for special deals. Many course finders show discounts or off-peak rates. You might snag a great deal on a top course.
Save your favorites. Most tools let you bookmark courses you like. This makes it easy to go back and book later.
Update your preferences. As your golf skills improve, adjust your course finder settings. You might be ready for more challenging courses.
Golf Travel and Accommodations
Planning a golf trip requires careful consideration of travel and lodging options. You’ll want to choose accommodations that are convenient to the courses you plan to play.
Many top public golf courses are part of larger resorts. These offer on-site lodging and amenities for a full golf vacation experience.
Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island is a prime example. You can stay steps away from multiple highly-rated courses.
For destinations without on-site lodging, look for nearby hotels that cater to golfers. Some offer stay-and-play packages with local courses.
When traveling to more remote courses like Wine Valley in Washington state, you may need to stay in a nearby town. Research lodging options within a reasonable driving distance.
Consider these factors when booking accommodations:
- Distance to courses
- Shuttle services
- Golf package deals
- Practice facilities
- Dining options
Renting a house or condo can be ideal for group golf trips. This gives you more space and the ability to cook meals.
Don’t forget to factor in transportation costs. Flying with golf clubs can incur extra fees. Renting clubs at your destination is an option to consider.
Sustainable Golf Course Practices
Golf courses are embracing eco-friendly practices to protect the environment.
Many public courses now focus on sustainability while maintaining excellent playing conditions.
Stone Creek Golf Club in Oregon City is a leader in environmental stewardship.
The superintendent won an award for his eco-conscious approach to course management.
Water conservation is a top priority for sustainable courses.
Los Robles Greens Golf Course in California removed 30 acres of turf grass to reduce water usage. They also redesigned their irrigation system for better efficiency.
Some courses are finding new uses for old spaces.
Closed landfills, which can’t support other developments, can be transformed into golf courses. This practice turns unused land into enjoyable recreation areas.
Waste reduction is another key focus.
Dairy Creek Golf Course in San Luis Obispo aims for zero waste. They use organic composting from both course and food waste.
When you play these eco-friendly courses, you’ll notice:
- Native plant areas
- Wildlife habitats
- Reduced chemical use
- Energy-efficient equipment
By choosing sustainable golf courses, you support environmentally responsible recreation.
You can enjoy your game while knowing the course is working to protect nature.