You have the closest thing to golfing in Scotland when you visit the world-class resort, Bandon Dunes.

Travel a few hours to Bend, and you have high desert golf and a collection of some wonderfully unique golf courses and resorts.

Then up and down the Willamette Valley, you have a bunch of great parkland layouts.

You could make the argument that Oregon is one of the best states for public golf considering it has 5 of the top 100 golf courses in the world – all publicly accessible down at Bandon.

And 11 of our 18 best golf courses in Oregon are publicly accessible

But there are some well-regarded private courses as well.

So what are the best golf courses in Oregon? Let’s see how things shake out.

The Best Golf Courses in Oregon 2024

These rankings are averages of the Best in State Rankings from Golf Digest, Top 100 Golf, Golf Magazine and Golfweek. For ties, where possible we ranked based on our personal experience.

To be included there needed to be a minimum of two inclusions in one of the publications listed above, and if there was a course with only one, and I’ve played it, I added my own vote to make this list.

Click the links for our detailed thoughts on these courses.

1. Pacific Dunes (Bandon)*
2. Bandon Dunes (Bandon)*
3. Old Macdonald (Bandon)*
4. Bandon Trails (Bandon)*
5. Sheep Ranch (Bandon)*
6. Pronghorn (Fazio) (Bend)
7. Eugene Country Club (Eugene)
8. Waverley Country Club (Portland)
9. Pumpkin Ridge (Witch Hollow) (Portland)
10. Silvies Valley Ranch (Craddock) (Seneca)*
11. Silvies Valley Ranch (Hankins) (Seneca)*
12. Pronghorn (Nicklaus) (Bend)*
13. Crosswater (Bend)*
14. Portland Golf Club (Portland)
15. Pumpkin Ridge (Ghost Creek) (Portland)*
16. Tetherow Golf Club (Bend)*
17. Columbia Edgewater Country Club (Portland)
18. Astoria Golf Club (Astoria)

* Denotes public course

How Other Publications Ranked the Top Golf Courses in Oregon

If you’re anything like us, you can never get too many opinions about golf courses when you’re trying to plan a trip. So we wanted to include the lists from other publications as well, so that you can get a sense of where everything stacks up.

Below you’ll find the current rankings for Best in State and Top 100 lists across some of the biggest golf publications. The idea was to not only include the composite ranking that you see above, but also give you one place where you can find all of the major information you’re seeking out when it comes to the best golf courses in Oregon.

Golf Digest Best in State – Oregon

1. Pacific Dunes
2. Bandon Dunes
3. Old Macdonald
4. Bandon Trails
5. Sheep Ranch
6. Pronghorn (Fazio)
7. Eugene Country Club
8. Pronghorn (Nicklaus)
9. Silvies Valley Ranch (Craddock)
10. Silvies Valley Ranch (Hankins)
11. Pumpkin Ridge (Witch Hollow)
12. Crosswater
13. Waverley Golf Club
14. Tetherow Golf Club
15. Pumpkin Ridge (Ghost Creek)

Top 100 Golf Courses Ranking for Oregon

1. Pacific Dunes
2. Bandon Dunes
3. Old Macdonald
4. Bandon Trails
5. Pronghorn (Fazio)
6. Waverley Country Club
7. Pronghorn (Nicklaus)
8. Silvies Valley Ranch (Craddock)
9. Pumpkin Ridge (Witch Hollow)
10. Silvies Valley Ranch (Hankins)
11. Eugene Country Club
12. Tetherow Golf Club
13. Bandon Preserve
14. Portland Golf Club
15. Crosswater
16. Pumpkin Ridge (Ghost Creek)
17. Columbia Edgewater
18. Astoria Golf and Country Club
19. Broken Top
20. Bandon Crossings

#Bandon Preserve is a 13 hole course so we didn’t include it on our rankings

##Broken Top and Bandon Crossings were not included in any other list, so we didn’t use these.

Golf Magazine – Best in Oregon

1. Pacific Dunes
2. Bandon Trails
3. Bandon Dunes
4. Old Macdonald
5. Sheep Ranch
6. Eugene Country CLub
7. Waverley Country Club
8. Crosswater
9. Silvies Valley Ranch (Hankins/Craddock)
10. Pumpkin Ridge (Witch Hollow)
11. Pronghorn (Fazio)
12. Pronghorn (Nicklaus)
13. Portland Golf Club
14. Astoria Golf and Country Club
15. Tetherow Golf Club

# Golf Magazine considered Hankins and Craddock at Silvies as one course.

Best Oregon Public Golf Courses – Golfweek

1. Pacific Dunes
2. Old Macdonald
3. Bandon Dunes
4. Sheep Ranch
5. Bandon Trails
6. Silvies Valley Ranch (Hankins)
7. Crosswater
8. Silvies Valley Ranch (Craddock)
9. Pumpkin Ridge (Ghost Creek)
10. Pronghorn (Nicklaus)

Best Oregon Private Golf Courses – Golfweek

1. Eugene Country Club
2. Pronghorn (Fazio)
3. Waverley Country Club
4. Pumpkin Ridge (Witch Hollow)
5. Portland Golf Club

Top 100 Courses in Oregon for 2024

I know many of you base your travels on top 100 courses, so I wanted to include all of the courses in Oregon ranked in any Golf Magazine or Golf Digest top 100 list.

Golf Digest Top 100 in America (Oregon Courses)

• #18 – Pacific Dunes
• #37 – Bandon Dunes
• #56 – Old Macdonald
• #67 – Bandon Trails

Golf Digest Top 100 Public (Oregon Courses)

• #2 – Pacific Dunes
• #7 – Bandon Dunes
• #12 – Old Macdonald
• #13 – Bandon Trails
• #15 – Sheep Ranch
• #40 – Pronghorn (Nicklaus)
• #61 – Crosswater
• #82 – Tetherow

Is Pacific Dunes the best public course in the country? Watch it face off against two other stalwarts of public golf.

Golf Magazine Top 100 Public (Oregon Courses)

• #3 – Pacific Dunes
• #8 – Bandon Trails
• #9 – Bandon Dunes
• #15 – Old Macdonald
• #20 – Sheep Ranch
• #93 – Pronghorn (Nicklaus)

Golf Magazine Top 100 America (Oregon Courses)

• #19 – Pacific Dunes
• #38 – Bandon Trails
• #44 – Bandon Dunes
• #66 – Old Macdonald
• #80 – Sheep Ranch

Golf Magazine Top 100 World (Oregon Courses)

• #28 – Pacific Dunes
• #80 – Bandon Dunes
• #91 – Bandon Trails

Breaking Eighty Top 100 (Oregon Courses)

These are the Oregon courses from my personal top 100 list that I update every year. It only includes courses I’ve personally played.

• #5 – Bandon Trails
• #17 – Bandon Dunes
• #35 – Pacific Dunes
• #44 – Pronghorn (Fazio)
• #48 – Pumpkin Ridge (Witch Hollow)
• #49 – Crosswater Golf Club
• #54 – Pronghorn (Nicklaus)
• #68 – Eugene Country Club
• #69 – Waverley Country Club
• #71 – Sheep Ranch 
• #76 – Tetherow Golf Club
• #82 – Old Macdonald 

Oregon Golf Trips: Dream Itineraries 

In this section, we’ll look at a handful of “Dream Itineraries” to consider if you’re planning a trip to Oregon.

1) Bandon Dunes

There’s nothing more to say that hasn’t already been said thousands of times across the world of golf. Bandon Dunes is objectively the best golf resort on the planet. 

Depending on where you’re from, it can take some effort to get there, but once you arrive on property, you’ll find yourself in golf heaven.

Do your best to play every course on the property, it’s well worth it.

Everything you need to know: The Ultimate Guide to Bandon Dunes

2) Central Oregon: Most Underrated Golf Destination in the US?

We believe Bend and Redmond is one of the most underrated golf destinations in the United States. You’ve got 3 top 100 public courses within 45 minutes of each other, that provide wildly different golf experiences.

The Nicklaus Course at Pronghorn is a true championship, high desert experience.

Tetherow is a wild links-style golf course in the desert, with some of the most fun golf holes in the state.

Crosswater is the most “northwest” golf course I’ve played with forest, river, and mountain views abound.

How to Do It

If visiting, I’d try and play those three courses. If you can get access to the Fazio at Pronghorn (which is a tough tee time to get), it’s well worth it as well. 

Often they have stay-and-play deals if you stay at Pronghorn, that can get you access to a round on the Fazio.

To play Crosswater without a member, you’ll need to stay at the resort. Fortunately, Sunriver Resort has one of the best stay-and-play deals in golf.

If you want to stay in one place without moving around, rooms at Tetherow are the most centrally located, and arguably the nicest as well.

Other courses to consider in the area:

• Brasada Canyons
• Juniper 
• Aspen Lakes

3) Portland Privates: Both Modern and Golden Age History

While most of the best golf is publically accessible in Oregon, with a single trip to Portland you can play some excellent private golf courses if you have the connections.

The ones on your list should be:

• Waverley Country Club
• Pumpkin Ridge (Witch Hollow)
• Columbia Edgewater
• Portland Golf Club

If you only had two, I’d prioritize Waverley and Witch Hollow. 

The former is the most beautiful club in Oregon, situated right on the Willamette River.

And the latter has some of the best modern history in the state, as it’s where Tiger won his 3rd US Amateur, and it hosted the Korn Ferry regular-season finale for years.

Between Columbia and Portland, I’d argue both are equally good golf courses. Portland has the prestige of hosting the Ryder Cup and PGA Championship back in the 40s, while Columbia Edgewater is a current host of the LPGA Cambia Classic.

Columbia Edgewater is also only a few minutes away from PDX, making it an easy course to hit on the way in or out of town.

While if you’re just playing one round this likely won’t matter to you, but Columbia has arguably the best practice facilities in the state.

Oregon Golf Hidden Gems

Every state has a few under-the-radar courses that people on a national level usually haven’t heard of, and Oregon is no different.

If looking for some hidden gems, I’d consider:

• Tokatee Golf Club – Tokatee is about an hour from Eugene up the McKenzie River. To me, this is the very definition of a hidden gem. There are nice mountain views, wonderful greens, some very enjoyable holes. Peter Jacobson has been quoted as saying it’s among his favorite golf courses.
• Aspen Lakes Golf Club – Located about 30 minutes from Bend in Sisters, the course is notable for its red cinder cone bunkers. I think the routing is incredibly fun with 18 unique and diverse holes. The major knock on it is that maintenance has been a little subpar over the past years, but still a very enjoyable round.
• Gearhart Golf Links – Less than 90 minutes from Portland, Gearhart is one of the oldest golf courses west of the Mississippi. Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle has invested a few million dollars recently to improve the course, and it shows. If you’re a history and architecture geek, it’s worth the trip. And while you’re there, try and play the quirky, and equally as enjoyable Astoria Country Club.
• Bar Run Golf Course – Located in Roseburg, which is out of the way of most Oregon golf hot spots, this Dan Hixson design is making waves amongst Oregon golfers in the know. It’s a fun course with some cool nods to old links courses like North Berwick. If you’re driving down I5 and need a fun place to stop – this is definitely one to consider.

Our Comments on the Best Golf Courses in Oregon

We’re based out of Oregon, so more so than many other states, we have some strong opinions. A few things that jump out based on the composite best Oregon golf course rankings above:

• I think the two courses at Pronghorn are phenomenal and are very much worth experiencing. The biggest thing I disagree with in how these rankings turned out is that the Nicklaus Course should easily be in the top 10 in Oregon, and is certainly better than the Silvies Valley Ranch courses.
• Eugene Country Club just finished a major renovation, and none of these rankings account for that. This used to be a Top 100 America mainstay, and after this recent work, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it return there.
• I’d argue Witch Hollow is the best golf course in Portland, if you judge it solely by the course itself. However, Waverley wins for best overall experience. If you’re a scratch golfer, play Pumpkin. If you’re more about the whole experience, play Waverley.
• The whole experience at Silvies Ranch is unlike any I’ve ever seen. I don’t personally think the two primary golf courses there Hankins/Craddock are better than some of the courses these publications have ranked above it. Specifically, I personally think Pronghorn (Nicklaus), Crosswater, and Tetherow are (much) better than the courses at Silvies. It’s very difficult to get to, but is also very much worth going to experience the whole package. Any course with a “Beer Tree” is my kind of place.
• Bandon is every bit as good as it’s made out to be. 

Questions about anything here or an upcoming trip to Oregon? Drop a comment and we’ll do our best to help.

Going someplace else? Check out all of our other best-in-state golf rankings.

Member of a private club and love to travel and meet other golf nuts? Check out our Eighty Club Golf Society.

Recent Updates:

September 3rd, 2024: Added video of Crosswater Golf Club. Minor updates and refinements.

The post Best Golf Courses in Oregon: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

More than that, you could make the argument that the region within two hours of New York City is the best spot on the planet for world-class golf.

There are simply so many phenomenal courses to choose from.

There’s just one problem, while it’s a Mecca for golf, it’s more accurately a mecca for private golf.

Of our combined list of the top 30 golf courses in New York? Just 1 is public (but it’s a really good one).

New York is interesting because if you’re trying to play the best golf courses in New York, there are also many other world class courses within a short drive to New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania.

That said, there’s a lot to cover, so let’s jump in.

Best Golf Courses In New York 2024

These rankings are averages of the Best in State Rankings from Golf Digest, Top 100 Golf, Golf Magazine, and Golfweek. We listed the nearest major city to make planning easier.

To be included there needed to be a minimum of two inclusions in one of the publications listed above. Make sure you read the whole post, as there are some very good courses that didn’t get included by this methodology. I’ll discuss some of them below

1. Shinnecock Hills G.C., Southampton
2. National G. Links of America, Southampton
3. Fishers Island Club, Fishers Island
4. Friar’s Head G.C., Baiting Hollow
5. Winged Foot G.C. (West), Mamaroneck
6. Garden City G.C. Garden City
7. Bethpage State Park (Black), Farmingdale
8. Maidstone Club, East Hampton
9. Oak Hill C.C. (East), Rochester
10. Winged Foot G.C. (East), Mamaroneck
11. Quaker Ridge G.C., Scarsdale
12. Sebonack G.C., Southampton
13. Sleepy Hollow C.C., Scarborough-On-Hudson
14. Piping Rock Club, Locust Valley
15. The Creek, Locust Valley
16. Glens Falls, Queensbury
17. St. George’s Golf & CC, Setauket
18. Wykagyl C.C., New Rochelle
19. Whippoorwill Club, Armonk
20. Westchester C.C. (West), Rye
21. Atlantic G.C., Bridgehampton
22. Meadow Brook Club, Jericho}
23. Hudson National G.C., Croton-On-Hudson
24. Fenway G.C., Scarsdale
25. Oak Hill C.C. (West), Rochester
26. Engineers, Glen Head
27. The Bridge, Bridgehampton
28. Country Club of Buffalo
29. Monroe G.C., Pittsford
30. Southampton, Southampton
31. Crag Burn G.C., East Aurora
32. Deepdale G.C., Manhasset
33. Teugega, Rome
34. Westhampton C.C., Westhampton Beach
35. Century C.C., Purchase
36. East Hampton G.C., East Hampton
37. NorthShore CC, Glen Head
38. Silo Ridge Field Club, Amenia
39. Leatherstocking, Cooperstown
40. Bethpage State Park (Red), Farmingdale
41. Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point, Bronx
42. Sunningdale CC, Scarsdale
43. Glen Oaks Club (White/Blue), Old Westbury
44. Huntington, Huntington
45. C.C. of Rochester
46. Old Oaks C.C., Purchase
47. Manhattan Woods G.C., West Nyack
48. Rockaway Hunting Club, Lawrence
49. Turning Stone (Atunyote), Verona
50. Pound Ridge, Pound Ridge
51. Turning Stone (Kaluhyat), Verona
52. Saratoga National, Saratoga Springs
53. Sagamore, Bolton Landing
54. Montauk Downs State Park, Montauk Point
55. Turning Stone (Shenendoah), Verona

Golf Digest Best In New York

1. Shinnecock Hills G.C., Southampton
2. National G. Links of America, Southampton
3. Fishers Island Club, Fishers Island
4. Winged Foot G.C. (West), Mamaroneck
5. Friar’s Head G.C., Baiting Hollow
6. Oak Hill C.C. (East), Rochester
7. Sebonack G.C., Southampton
8. Bethpage State Park (Black), Farmingdale
9. Winged Foot G.C. (East), Mamaroneck
10. Garden City G.C., Garden City
11. Sleepy Hollow C.C., Scarborough-On-Hudson
12. Maidstone Club, East Hampton
13. Quaker Ridge G.C., Scarsdale
14. Hudson National G.C., Croton-On-Hudson
15. Piping Rock Club, Locust Valley
16. The Creek, Locust Valley
17. Atlantic G.C., Bridgehampton
18. Wykagyl C.C., New Rochelle
19. Westchester C.C. (West), Rye
20. Meadow Brook Club, Jericho}
21. The Bridge, Bridgehampton
22. Silo Ridge Field Club, Amenia
23. Westhampton C.C., Westhampton Beach
24. Glen Oaks Club (White/Blue), Old Westbury
25. Deepdale G.C., Manhasset
26. Fenway G.C., Scarsdale
27. Oak Hill C.C. (West), Rochester
28. Crag Burn G.C., East Aurora
29. Whippoorwill Club, Armonk
30. Country Club of Buffalo
31. East Hampton G.C., East Hampton
32. Century C.C., Purchase
33. Turning Stone (Atunyote), Verona
34. Turning Stone (Kaluhyat), Verona
35. Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point, Bronx
36. Manhattan Woods G.C., West Nyack
37. C.C. of Rochester, Rochester
38. Monroe G.C., Pittsford
39. Rockaway Hunting Club, Lawrence
40. Old Oaks C.C., Purchase

Golf Magazine Best In New York

1. Shinnecock Hills G.C., Southampton
2. National G. Links of America, Southampton
3. Fishers Island Club, Fishers Island
4. Friar’s Head G.C., Baiting Hollow
5. Winged Foot G.C. (West), Mamaroneck
6. Garden City G.C., Garden City
7. Maidstone Club, East Hampton
8. Bethpage State Park (Black), Farmingdale
9. Sleepy Hollow C.C., Scarborough-On-Hudson
10. Quaker Ridge G.C., Scarsdale
11. Oak Hill C.C. (East), Rochester
12. Winged Foot G.C. (East), Mamaroneck
13. Piping Rock Club, Locust Valley
14. The Creek, Locust Valley
15. Glens Falls, Queensbury
16. Sebonack G.C., Southampton
17. Whippoorwill Club, Armonk
18. St. George’s Golf & CC, Setauket
19. Atlantic G.C., Bridgehampton
20. Wykagyl C.C., New Rochelle
21. Fenway G.C., Scarsdale
22. Oak Hill C.C. (West), Rochester
23. Westchester C.C. (West), Rye
24. Monroe G.C., Pittsford
25. Hudson National G.C., Croton-On-Hudson
26. Century C.C., Purchase
27. Westhampton C.C., Westhampton Beach
28. Southampton, Southampton
29. The Bridge, Bridgehampton
30. Engineers, Glen Head

“Top 100 Golf”  Best in New York

1. Shinnecock Hills G.C., Southampton
2. National G. Links of America, Southampton
3. Fishers Island Club, Fishers Island
4. Friar’s Head G.C., Baiting Hollow
5. Winged Foot G.C. (West), Mamaroneck
6. Garden City G.C., Garden City
7. Bethpage State Park (Black), Farmingdale
8. Maidstone Club, East Hampton
9. Winged Foot G.C. (East), Mamaroneck
10. Quaker Ridge G.C., Scarsdale
11. Piping Rock Club, Locust Valley
12. Oak Hill C.C. (East), Rochester
13. Sebonack G.C., Southampton
14. Whippoorwill Club, Armonk
15. The Creek, Locust Valley
16. Sleepy Hollow C.C., Scarborough-On-Hudson
17. Wykagyl C.C., New Rochelle
18. St. George’s Golf & CC, Setauket
19. Glens Falls, Queensbury
20. Monroe G.C., Pittsford
21. Westchester C.C. (West), Rye
22. Engineers, Glen Head
23. Meadow Brook Club, Jericho}
24. Country Club of Buffalo, Williamsville
25. Fenway G.C., Scarsdale
26. Hudson National G.C., Croton-On-Hudson
27. Oak Hill C.C. (West), Rochester
28. Atlantic G.C., Bridgehampton
29. The Bridge, Bridgehampton
30. Southampton, Southampton

Top 100 Golf Courses in New York

It should come as no surprise that New York is a hotbed of top 100 courses, featuring some of the very best places to play golf on the planet.

Golf Digest Top 100 America (New York Courses)

• #4 – Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
• #7 – National Golf Links of America
• #9 – Fishers Island Club
• #12 – Winged Foot Golf Club (West)
• #16 – Friars Head Golf Club
• #20 – Oak Hill (East Course)
• #38 – Sebonack Golf Club
• #40 – Bethpage State Park (Black Course)
• #41 – Winged Foot Golf Club (East)
• #61 – Garden City Golf Club
• #62 – Sleepy Hollow Country Club
• #64 – Maidstone Club
• #76 – Quaker Ridge Golf Club
• #89 – Hudson National Golf Club

Golf Digest Top 100 Public (New York Courses)

• #8 – Bethpage State Park (Black Course)

Golf Magazine Top 100 Public (New York Courses)

• #5 – Bethpage State Park (Black Course)
• #66 – Bethpage State Park (Red Course)
• #95 – Ferry Point Golf Links

Golf Magazine Top 100 America (New York Courses)

• #3 – Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
• #4 – National Golf Links of America
• #9 – Fishers Island Club
• #13 – Friars Head Golf Club
• #15- Winged Foot Golf Club (West)
• #25 – Garden City Golf Club
• #29 – Maidstone Club
• #30 – Bethpage State Park (Black Course)
• #36 – Sleepy Hollow Country Club
• #39 – Quaker Ridge Golf Club
• #40 – Oak Hill (East Course)
• #46 – Winged Foot Golf Club (East)
• #56 – Piping Rock Golf Club
• #62 – The Creek Club
• #86 – Glens Falls Country Club
• #97 – Sebonack Golf Club

Golf Magazine Top 100 World (New York Courses)

• #4 – Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
• #5 – National Golf Links of America
• #16 – Fishers Island Club
• #21 – Friars Head Golf Club
• #25- Winged Foot Golf Club (West)
• #45 – Garden City Golf Club
• #52 – Bethpage State Park (Black Course)
• #56 – Maidstone Club
• #68 – Winged Foot Golf Club (East)
• #71 – Sleepy Hollow Country Club
• #76 – Oak Hill (East Course)
• #87 – Quaker Ridge Golf Club

Breaking Eighty Top 100 (New York Courses)

Worth noting here, this is the list of my favorite courses. Not a list of which courses I think are the best.

• #2 – National Golf Links of America
• #11 – Fishers Island Club
• #12 – Maidstone Club
• #20 – Hudson National Golf Club
• #23 – Quaker Ridge Golf Club
• #29 – Winged Foot Golf Club (East)
• #36 – Sleepy Hollow Country Club
• #51 – The Creek
• #58 – Bethpage State Park (Black Course)
• #60 – Winged Foot Golf Club (West)
• #62 – Ferry Point Golf Links
• #94 – Garden City Golf Club

New York Golf: Dream Itineraries

Normally in this section of these “Best in State” golf lists, I have a section called “Dream Itineraries.”

The problem with New York? There are so many courses in the area, it’s difficult to nail down a specific itinerary.

Part of the reason this is so difficult is because getting access to many of these courses is very challenging. So often it becomes a case of taking what you can get.

For instance, on one trip, I had a 48 hour period that looked like this:

• Get picked up in NYC
• Drive to East Hampton
• Play Maidstone in the morning
• Play Atlantic G.C. in the afternoon.
• Take Jitney the following morning back to Manhattan. Take cab to friends house. 
• Change clothes. Hop on Subway to Penn Station
• Hop on train to New Jersey.
• Get on city bus.
• Get dropped off 1/2 mile from Plainfield Country Club. 
• Walk to make late afternoon tee time.

This was also when I was broke before the days of Uber….

With New York area courses, it’s often “when you get the invite, you make it work.”

Noteworthy Courses Close to New York

Rather than try and put together a dream itinerary of courses you’re likely not going to be able to perfectly line up, I figured I’d share some of the courses that are very close to NYC that might not have shown up were you just looking for New York golf courses.

If you’re trying to play the best golf courses in the area, or tick off top 100 courses, there are some courses in New Jersey and Connecticut that are within a short drive or train ride.

Also worth noting that many Philadelphia courses are also only within 2.5 to 3 hours – so if you were up for a road trip, many of those are accessible as well. But we’ll save those for another post.

NYC Area New Jersey Courses

• Baltusrol (Upper/Lower) – One of the only private clubs in the country to feature two top 100 courses
• Somerset Hills Country Club – This is a Tillinghast course that is much less brutal than some of his more well-known courses. The very definition of a hidden gem. Or at least it was until social media came around.
• Ridgewood (West/East) – Another very challenging Tillinghast course. The club has 27 holes, but the West/East combo is the most highly rated.
• Plainfield Country Club – One of my favorite Donald Ross courses, and has some fun PGA Tour pedigree.
• Mountain Ridge Country Club – A huge renovation was done a few years ago, that made this Ross track truly start getting more recognition. It just recently popped into the Golf Magazine Top 100 in America.

NYC Area Connecticut Courses

While Connecticut doesn’t have a ton of courses it does have one very notable one, which is not only one of the best golf courses in the world, it’s also one of the most underrated. 

The Golf Course at Yale is a Macdonald/Raynor collaboration that for years hasn’t got the praise it deserves due to lackluster conditioning. 

But with a Gil Hanse restoration in the works, Yale is only going to get better moving forward.

Check out: Best Golf Courses in Connecticut

Some Additional Thoughts on the Best New York Golf Courses

With so many New York golf courses out there, I still have a long ways to go to play all of the ones I’d like to see.

That said, I’ve played quite a few of them, and I figured I’d give some insight for those interested.

Any of the Hamptons Courses Will Provide an Unbelievable Experience

If you have the opportunity to play any other the courses in the Hamptons that are listed anywhere above, GO.

Some might be more highly ranked than others, but ALL of them will provide a wonderful golf experience that is tough to replicate elsewhere.

I’ve played National Golf Links of America, Maidstone, Friar’s Head, and Atlantic Golf Club. I count all of them among the most memorable golf days of my life.

Westchester is a Hotbed of Amazing Classic Courses

Winged Foot and Quaker Ridge get all of the love in Westchester, but there are a few dozen courses in this area that would get far more recognition if they were anywhere else in the country. 

Wykagyl, Rye, Westchester CC, Old Oaks and so many others are in this area. If you can’t get on one of the most famous, you’ll have a wonderful round at many others.

The first time I played Old Oaks for instance, I couldn’t believe this course didn’t get more attention. It was simply outshined by more famous neighbors.

Turning Stone Will Make for a VERY Fun Weekend

For years the Atunyote and Kaluhyat golf courses at Turning Stone near Ithaca, NY were mainstays on top 100 public lists.

We’ve seen them fall off in recent years, but if you’re looking for a fun weekend getaway in New York state? This is a fantastic option.

Atunyote is one of the most well-manicured courses I’ve ever played, and I enjoyed Kaluhyat even more. 

The resort is much bigger than expected with bars, restaurants, and clubs galore.

World-Class Public Golf is Limited, But What Is There is GREAT

As you can tell above, New York is full of a ton of world-class private golf courses.

They’re a bit more limited on the public side. But what they do have? It’s fantastic.

A trio of Bethpage Black, Bethpage Red, and Ferry Point would make for a very good few rounds of golf.

I didn’t know what to expect about Ferry Point, but honestly? It exceeded all of my expectations and then some. It’s extremely fun with some world-class views as well.

Want to head further east? Go play Montauk Downs.

Pound Ridge is also a high-end public course that might not be nationally ranked, still has some very fun holes.

Other Fantastic Courses that Might Be Overlooked

Some of my favorite golf experiences have been in this area, but often get overlooked, once again, because of the sheer number of good golf courses in the area.

• The Creek Club – This was originally a Macdonald course that had a recent overhaul done by Gil Hanse. In a word? Spectacular. Golf Magazine has recognized it in the Top 100, but you rarely hear it get mentioned much outside of super nerdy golf circles.
• Hudson National Golf Club – While the architecture aficionados may like to hate on Fazio, he has some of my favorite courses of all time. Hudson National is near the top of the list. There are some quirky holes, but man is this course fun. And with a full revamp set to open in 2024, it’s only going to get better.
• Old Oaks Country Club – A Tillinghast course that’s nearly as good as any other more famous design Tilly has done.

Our New York Golf Course Recaps

In putting this page together, I realized there are a lot of courses I haven’t properly written about in New York. I have some work to do.

But here are the ones I have done:

• Winged Foot Golf Club: The Best 36 Hole Golf Club in the World?
• Hudson National Golf Club: One of New York’s Best Golf Experiences
• Bethpage Black: The Best Municipal Course in the Country?
• Maidstone Club: An Unforgettable Experience
• Turning Stone Resort: Kaluhyat Is My Favorite of the 3
• Fishers Island Club: A *Very* Remote and Memorable Experience
• Baltusrol Golf Club: Unparalleled Championship History
• Oak Hill Country Club: Is it Donald Ross’ Best?
• Friar’s Head Golf Club: One of the Best Golf Days of My Life

Other Best-In-State Recaps

• Best Golf Courses in Arizona
• Best Golf Courses in California
• Best Golf Courses in Colorado
• Best Golf Courses in Connecticut
• Best Golf Courses in Georgia
• Best Golf Courses in Massachusetts
• Best Golf Courses in North Carolina
• Best Golf Courses in Oregon

Member of a private club and love to travel and meet other golf nuts? Check out our Eighty Club Golf Society.

Where to Eat and Drink in New York

I’ve spent a lot of time in New York, so to go along with the “where to play” section of this post, I figured I’d also highlight a few favorite spots to eat and drink.

Here are a few favorites:

• Madre NYC – Located in Greenpoint in Brooklyn, this is honestly one of the best meals I’ve ever had. Times two. Both times I’ve been there it’s been absolutely insane. Chef Bryan Noury knows his stuff.
• Dante – Once voted the best bar in the world. This neighborhood Italian cafe in the West Village will make you one of the best cocktails you’ve ever had.
• Flatiron Room – One of the best whiskey selections in NYC, phenomenal food, and fantastic live jazz.
• Dead Rabbit – It’s been considered among the best bars in the world for nearly a decade running, and if you find yourself in the financial district, this is a must go.
• Osteria Danny (Saratoga Springs) – Should you find yourself up in Saratoga, perhaps to play Glens Falls or Saratoga National, Osteria Danny is absolutely the spot you should make reservations at.
• Good Luck (Rochester) – We did a group Eighty Club dinner here during our Oak Hill event, it was fantastic and worth stopping by if golfing in Rochester.

Obviously, there are thousands of other good spots, but these are a few of my favorites.

Where to Stay in NYC

If you’re looking to splurge on a nice place to stay in New York, there are no shortage of places to do it.

• Peninsula NYC – The Peninsula is one of the most highly regarded luxury hotel brands in the world. It’s location is perfect for most tourists and its service is second to none. Check out my Pensinsula NYC review from a recent stay.
• Park Hyatt NYC – Among the best Park Hyatt’s in the world. This is also the perfect place to stay if you have Chase reward points. You may have to break into your points piggy bank, but from the second you walk in, you’ll agree it’s worth it.
• NYC Hilton Midtown – Not nearly as fancy as the previous two, but not as expensive either. It’s central location makes it easy to get pretty much anywhere, the rooms are standard Hilton quality, and it’s huge, so there’s likely to be plenty of availability. 

I could add dozens of other spots to eat, drink, and stay – but we’ll keep it here for now.

The post Best Golf Courses In New York: It’s (Private) Golf Mecca appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

Possibly even the best (although New York might have something to say about that.)

Part of what makes it such a great state for golf is the fact it’s so diverse.

You have some of the best private courses in the world.

You have some of the best public courses in the world.

You have phenomenal oceanside golf courses, desert courses, mountain courses, and parkland courses.

California golf has it all.

California is also a massive state, so this shouldn’t come as a surprise.

So where should you play when you’re visiting?

Let’s take a look. 

Best Golf Courses In California 2024

These rankings are averages of the Best in State Rankings from Golf Digest, Top 100 Golf, and Golf Magazine. For ties, where possible we ranked based on our personal experience. We didn’t include Golfweek because the public/private breakdown skewed the results.

To be included there needed to be a minimum of two inclusions in one of the publications listed above, and if there was a course with only one, and I’ve played it, I added my own vote to make this list.

1. Cypress Point Club
2. Pebble Beach G. Links
3. Los Angeles C.C. (North)
4. Riviera C.C.
5. The Olympic Club (Lake)
6. San Francisco G.C.
7. Spyglass Hill G.C.
8. Monterey Peninsula C.C. (Shore)
9. The Valley C. of Montecito
10. Monterey Peninsula C.C. (Dunes)
11. The Quarry at La Quinta
12. Pasatiempo G.C.
13. The California G.C. of San Francisco
14. The Preserve G.C.
15. The Madison Club
16. Mayacama G.C.
17. Stone Eagle G.C.
18. Bel-Air C.C.
19. Martis Camp G.C.
20. Sherwood C.C.
21. Tradition G.C.
22. Bighorn G.C. (Mountains)
23. The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe
24. The Vintage Club (Mountain)
25. Bighorn G.C. (Canyons)
26. Torrey Pines G. Cse. (South)
27. Meadow Club
28. CordeValle G.C.
29. The Links at Spanish Bay
30. Lahontan G.C.
31. PGA West (Stadium)
32. Shady Canyon G.C.
33. The Olympic Club (Ocean)
34. Lakeside G.C.
35. The Plantation G.C.
36. Rancho Santa Fe G.C.
37. Los Angeles C.C. (South)
38. Toscana C.C. (North)
39. Wilshire C.C.
40. Toscana C.C. (South)
41. Poppy Hills G. Cse.
42. Grizzly Ranch
43. Rams Hill G.C.
44. Torrey Pines G. Cse. (North)
45. Pelican Hill G.C. (Ocean North)

Golf Magazine Best In California

1. Cypress Point Club
2. Pebble Beach G. Links
3. Los Angeles C.C. (North)
4. Riviera C.C.
5. San Francisco G.C.
6. The California G.C. of San Francisco
7. The Olympic Club (Lake)
8. The Valley C. of Montecito
9. Pasatiempo G.C.
10. Monterey Peninsula C.C. (Shore)
11. Bel-Air C.C.
12. Monterey Peninsula C.C. (Dunes)
13. Spyglass Hill G.C.
14. Meadow Club
15. Stone Eagle G.C.
16. Rustic Canyon
17. Wilshire C.C.
18. The Madison Club
19. Torrey Pines G. Cse. (South)
20. Martis Camp G.C.
21. The Preserve G.C.
22. San Diego C.C.
23. Mayacama G.C.
24. PGA West (Stadium)
25. Borona Creek
26. Lakeside G.C.
27. The Olympic Club (Ocean)
28. Hacienda
29. Oak Quarry

“Top 100 Golf Courses” Website (California)

1. Cypress Point Club
2. Pebble Beach G. Links
3. Los Angeles C.C. (North)
4. Riviera C.C.
5. San Francisco G.C.
6. The California G.C. of San Francisco
7. The Olympic Club (Lake)
8. The Valley C. of Montecito
9. Pasatiempo G.C.
10. Monterey Peninsula C.C. (Dunes)
11. Bel-Air C.C.
12. Monterey Peninsula C.C. (Shore)
13. Martis Camp G.C.
14. Spyglass Hill G.C.
15. Stone Eagle G.C.
16. Rustic Canyon
17. Mayacama G.C.
18. Meadow Club
19. The Quarry at La Quinta
20. The Preserve G.C.
21. Los Angeles C.C. (South)
22. CordeValle G.C.
23. Borona Creek
24. PGA West (Stadium)
25. Shady Canyon G.C.
26. Torrey Pines G. Cse. (South)
27. Menlo
28. Rams Hill G.C.
29. Lahontan G.C.
30. Sherwood C.C.
31. Tradition G.C.
32. The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe
33. The Vintage Club (Mountain)
34. La Quinta (Mountain)
35. Vintage (Desert)
36. The Madison Club
37. Bighorn G.C. (Canyons)
38. El Dorado
39. Wilshire C.C.
40. Pelican Hill G.C. (Ocean North)
41. The Olympic Club (Ocean)
42. Pelican Hill G.C. (Ocean South)
43. La Costa (Champions)
44. Stanford University
45. Copper Valley
46. The Links at Spanish Bay
47. TPC Harding Park
48. Rancho Santa Fe G.C.
49. The Farms
50. PGA West (Nicklaus)

Does California Have Any Top 100 Courses?

Does a bear s^%^ in the woods? 

Yes, as you can imagine, California has a number of top 100 courses across, well pretty much any top 100 golf list that’s out there.

California, probably more than any other state, has pretty wild variances from one list to another. For instance, the Golf Magazine and Golf Digest Top 100 public lists look nothing like each other when it comes to Cali.

All that to say, there are a ton of great options for good golf.

Here are the current top 100 rankings as of 2023.

Golf Digest Top 100 America (California Courses)

• #3 – Cypress Point Club
• #8 – Pebble Beach Golf Links
• #19 – Los Angeles Country Club (North Course)
• #22 – Riviera Country Club
• #34 – The Olympic Club (Lake Course)
• #36 – San Francisco Golf Club
• #51 – Spyglass Hill
• #53 – Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Shore Course)
• #78 – Valley Club of Montecito
• #80 – Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Dunes Course)
• #85 – The Quarry at La Quinta
• #98 – Pasatiempo Golf Club

Golf Digest Top 100 Public (California Courses)

• #1 – Pebble Beach Golf Links
• #10 – Spyglass Hill
• #17 – Pasatiempo Golf Club
• #42 – Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course)
• #51 – Cordevalle Golf Club
• #53 – The Links at Spanish Bay
• #55 – PGA West (Stadium)
• #86 – Edgewood Tahoe Golf Club
• #92 – Poppy Hills Golf Course
• #95 – Grizzly Ranch
• #98 – Rams Hill Golf Club

Golf Magazine Top 100 Public (California Courses)

• #1 – Pebble Beach Golf Links
• #13 – Pasatiempo Golf Club
• #30 – Spyglass Hill
• #47 – Rustic Canyon Golf Club
• #67 – PGA West (Mountain Course)
• #72 – Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course)
• #76 – Barona Creek
• #89 – Oak Quarry
• #91 – La Quinta Resort (Mountain)

Golf Magazine Top 100 America (California Courses)

• #2 – Cypress Point Club
• #10 – Pebble Beach Golf Links
• #12 – Los Angeles Country Club (North Course)
• #17 – Riviera Country Club
• #21 – San Francisco Golf Club
• #27 – California Golf Club of San Francisco
• #54 – The Olympic Club (Lake Course)
• #55 – Valley Club of Montecito
• #59 – Pasatiempo Golf Club
• #67 – Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Shore Course)
• #68 – Bel Air Golf Club
• #85 – Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Dunes Course)

Golf Magazine Top 100 World (California Courses)

• #2 – Cypress Point Club
• #14 – Pebble Beach Golf Links
• #20 – Los Angeles Country Club (North Course)
• #27 – Riviera Country Club
• #34 – San Francisco Golf Club
• #48 – California Golf Club of San Francisco
• #96 – The Olympic Club (Lake Course)

Breaking Eighty Top 100 (California Courses)

• #1 – Pebble Beach Golf Links
• #7 – Los Angeles Country Club (North Course)
• #28 – Pasatiempo Golf Club
• #42 – Riviera Country Club
• #50 – The Preserve Golf Club
• #55 – California Golf Club of San Francisco

Best California Golf Itineraries: Where You Should Play

The Ultimate Monterey Trip:

If you’re heading to Monterey and you want to do it all? Then these 6 courses will make for one of the most epic golf trips you can possible have.

The three at Pebble Beach Resort are easy enough with some planning and deep pockets. But getting either the MPCC or CPC invites are certainly going to be more challenging…

• Cypress Point Club – Cypress Point is the pinnacle of golf. That’s it. It’s one of the ultimate bucket list golf experiences and is on par with Pine Valley, Augusta, and the Old Course. Good luck getting an invite. But if you do? Shoot me a note and ‘ll buy the drinks
• Pebble Beach Golf Links – There are few courses more famous than Pebble Beach. In my opinion? It’s every bit as good as advertised and then some.
• Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Shore Course) – Designed by the late Mike Strantz, this is one of the coolest golf courses on the planet. Imagine, a private Tobacco Road, right on 17 Mile Drive? Pretty special.
• Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Dunes Course) – While the Shore is generally more highly regarded, the Dunes is a top 100 course in it’s own right. This makes MPCC one of only 2 other 36 hole private clubs to feature both of their courses within a top 100 list (Winged Foot and Baltusrol being the others)
• Spyglass Hill – The more I play Spyglass Hill, the more I enjoy it. It has one of the best opening holes in golf, and one of the coolest greens on the planet.
• Spanish Bay Golf Links – Generally playing third fiddle to Pebble and Spy, I actually know more than one person who likes Spanish best. It has views, fun holes, and is definitely an underrated gem.
• The Preserve Golf Club – This might be the most peaceful round of golf you’ll ever play. It’s a private club, but if you have access, it’s the ultimate compliment to the seaside courses in Monterey, and it’s only about 30 minutes away from Carmel.

Still want more golf and you’ve got the connections to get you on these courses? Head nearby to The Preserve Golf Club at Santa Lucia Preserve.

Playing the resort courses and looking for a more affordable public access option? Go play Pacific Grove, the “Poor Man’s Pebble.”

Bay Area Top 100s

The San Francisco Bay area has some wonderful courses. 

And if you’re working on any of the top 100 lists, then you should try and hit:

• San Francisco Golf Club – SFGC is one of the only west coast Tillinghas courses and is much more player friendly than his most famous courses. SFGC is one of the most unique and special experiences in golf.
• The Olympic Club (Lake Course) – The Lake Course is going to kick your butt. But with beautiful views, PGA pedigree, and an impressive clubhouse, it’s one of those “must play” courses for the golf traveler.
• California Golf Club of San Francisco – After a Kyle Phillips renovation, the affectionately called “Cal Club” continues to get more and more love. And why shouldn’t it? You could make the argument it’s the best course in SF.
• Pasatiempo Golf Club – This one is a little bit farther away out in Santa Cruz, but it’s worth the extra trip.

If you’re open to venturing out a little farther, I’d try and go play Mayacama for a private experience, and Cordevalle for a more accessible course, that still feels like a private club.

Los Angeles Top 100s

To this day one of the best golf trips I’ve taken was to LA. Let’s ignore the fact that we got rained out a couple days with FOUR INCHES of rain in a matter of hours, but we did get some solid golf in the process.

I’d play:

• Los Angeles Country Club (North) – One of the best routings of a golf course I’ve ever played. I hope to see it when it’s not covered in water sometime soon.
• Riviera Country Club – Riv is an incredible course. But it’s hard to understand just why it’s so good until you’ve played it. And even since then, I have a hard time articulating why it’s so good. But it exceeded my expectations. Oh, and the par 4 10th is about as fun as it gets.
• Bel Air Country Club – A good course turned into a great course recently after Tom Doak finished his renovation of it recently.
• Valley Club of Montecito – This one is a couple hours north of LA near Santa Barbara, but it’s one of the most undisturbed Alistair Mackenzie courses left in existence. 

Looking for a few more rounds to play? Try Wilshire or Hillcrest. 

Prefer a public option? Rustic Canyon has an incredible routing, and is among my picks for most underrated golf courses in the world.

The Ultimate Desert Trip: Public or Private

The Palm Springs area is kind of like Arizona when it comes to golf course rankings. There are a ton of courses and a ton of very expensive clubs, but not necessarily many that make most top 100 lists.

That said, the experience at many of these high-end clubs is among the coolest you’ll have anywhere.

If you have serious connections? These are the courses I’d try and go play:

• Stone Eagle – Most golf courses in the area were built decades ago, so you don’t see much from the current “en vogue” architects. Stone Eagle on the other hand is an incredible Tom Doak course that is very different from other courses in the area.
• The Quarry – Widely considered the best course in the Palm Springs area, this is one invite you shouldn’t pass up when you get it.
• Madison Club – Some of the most high-end, unique, and fun golf clubs in the country are owned by Discovery Land Company. The experience at the Madison Club is unparalleled. 
• Bighorn Golf Club – Bighorn has two courses in the Canyons and Mountains course. But the club bills itself as “The Most Innovative, Imaginative Club in the World.” If you visit, ask for a tour of “The Vault” and you’ll see that maybe there’s some truth to that statement.

Looking to play some spots that are a bit more accessible?

• Sensei Porcupine Creek – Using the word “accessible” to describe Sensei Porcupine Creek feels like a stretch, but what was once the most private golf course in California, is now open to the public – if you’re willing to pay. And the experience? It’s absolutely spectacular. 
• PGA West Stadium Course – This is arguably the most famous course in the area, and is the one with the PGA pedigree. It’ll kick your butt. Like, really kick your butt. But it’s the one people will ask you about after visiting.
• PGA West Mountain Course – The Mountain Course at PGA West makes Golf Magazine’s top 100 public list, and will likely be a more fun round of golf than its brutal sibling the Stadium Course.
• The Lights at Indio – When was the last time you played a legit round of golf at night? Under the lights? 

Some Additional Thoughts on the Best Golf Courses in California

I’ve covered a lot about California golf above, but I wanted to either hammer home a few points here, or also mention a few places that may not have been overshadowed based on the amazing courses above.

Consider Visiting Half Moon Bay

Don’t care as much about playing top 100 courses, but want to take an amazing luxury vacation with your significant other?

Go to Half Moon Bay.

The Old Course has one of the best finishing holes in golf, and the Ocean Course has some nice views as well.

But the Ritz Carlton at Half Moon Bay is one of the most enjoyable hotels I’ve ever visited.

Pebble Beach is Truly a Bucket List Experience

I’ve heard people call Pebble Beach overrated many times.

For me? It’s the best golf course I’ve ever played.

Or if not the best objectively speaking, it’s at least my favorite course.

4-10 is the most incredible stretch of golf I’ve played, and no other golf course has given me the vibes Pebble has.

It’s a spendy trip, but it’s well worth it. 

And Spyglass Hill and Spanish Bay? Not exactly terrible supporting acts.

And if you’re looking for a really fun and charitable way to go about it? Consider the Lexus Champions for Charity:

A Few Other Courses to Consider

Here are a few courses on my radar that I’d be looking to play if I found myself in the area:

• Northwood Golf Club (Monte Rio)- There aren’t many places you can play a 9 hole Alistair Mackenzie design through Russian River forest.
• Clear Creek Tahoe (Lake Tahoe) – This Coore Crenshaw design is one you should definitely try and play if in the Tahoe area. As is Edgewood Tahoe.
• Goat Hill Park (San Diego) – Want the most casual, SoCal vibe imaginable? Go play John Ashworth’s Goat Hill Park. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s a ton of fun.
• TPC Harding Park (San Francisco) – An excellent course that recently got the TPC moniker. It’s hosted a handful of Tour events and if you’re looking for a high end public course in the Bay Area, this may be it.
• Presidio Golf Course (San Francisco) – Looking for a public Olympic Club experience? This might be as close as you get in the Bay Area.
• Pelican Hill (Newport Beach) – It isn’t as well regarded architecturally, but if you’re looking for a well-maintained resort course with incredible views in SoCal? Check out Pelican Hill.
• Torrey Pines Golf Course (San Diego) – Another course that some have called overrated, there’s no denying it’s still one of the best municipal courses in the country, and certainly one with the best views.

All of Our Content from California Golf Courses

Honestly? There is so much good golf in California, it’s impossible to cover them all in one golf course.

But regardless of what style of course, what golfing landscape, or what region of the state you’re in – you’ll find excellent options for both public and private golf.

• How to Club Twirl (From Spyglass Hill).
• The Spyglass Putting Challenge: Insane 100 Foot+ Green
• Pebble Beach, a Camaro, and an MVP
• Why the Lexus Champions for Charity is the Best Charity Golf Event 
• Yep, the Lexus C4C is as Good as Ever.
• Los Angeles Golf Trip Recap
• Olympic Club: It’s Going to Kick Your Butt
• The Preserve Golf Club – As Peaceful as Golf Gets

Other Best-in-State Recaps

See all of our best golf courses by state.

• Best Golf Courses in Arizona
• Best Golf Courses in Connecticut
• Best Golf Courses in Colorado
• Best Golf Courses in Georgia
• Best Golf Courses in Massachusetts
• Best Golf Courses in New York
• Best Golf Courses in North Carolina
• Best Golf Courses in Oregon
• Best Golf Courses in Wisconsin

Member of a private club and love to travel and meet other golf nuts? Check out our Eighty Club Golf Society.

The post Best Golf Courses In California: The Best Golf State in America? appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

That’s not to say there aren’t some great private courses in Wisconsin, but the quality of public and resort golf in the State is nearly unparalleled across the country.

From Kohler, to Sand Valley, to Lawsonia, and Erin Hills – there are so many good options for the public golfer.

That said, where should you be trying to play on a golf trip to Wisconsin? 

This post will tell you everything you need to know.

The Best Golf Courses in Wisconsin

As we’ve done with our other Best in State rankings, we’ve done our best to combine the rankings for best Wisconsin golf courses from the other major publications into one aggregate, more definitive list.

These rankings are averages of the Best in State Rankings from Golf Digest, Top 100 Golf, Golf Magazine, and Golfweek. We listed the nearest major city to make planning easier.

To be included there needed to be a minimum of two inclusions in one of the publications listed above. Make sure you read the whole post, as there are some very good courses that didn’t get included by this methodology. I’ll discuss some of them below

1. Whistling Straits (Straits), Haven
2. Milwaukee C.C., River Hills
3. Sand Valley (Sand Valley), Nekoosa
4. Erin Hills G.C., Hartford
5. Sand Valley (Mammoth Dunes), Nekoosa
6. The G. Courses at Lawsonia (Links), Green Lake
7. Blackwolf Run (River), Kohler
8. Blue Mound G. & C.C., Wauwatosa
9. Whistling Straits (Irish), Haven
10. Sentryworld G.C., Stevens Point
11. Blackwolf Run (Meadow Valleys), Kohler
12. Oneida, Green Bay
13. Troy Burne G.C., Hudson
14. West Bend, West Bend
15. University Ridge G.C., Madison
16. The Bull at Pinehurst Farms, Sheboygan Falls
17. Pine Hills C.C., Sheboygan
18. Minocqua, Minocqua
19. Wild Rock at Wilderness, Wisconsin Dells
20. Geneva National (Arnold Palmer), Lake Geneva
21. Geneva National (Gary Player), Lake Geneva

Golf Digest Best in State: Wisconsin

1. Whistling Straits (Straits), Haven
2. Erin Hills G.C., Hartford
3. Milwaukee C.C., River Hills
4. Blackwolf Run (River), Kohler
5. Sand Valley (Sand Valley), Nekoosa
6. Sand Valley (Mammoth Dunes), Nekoosa
7. Whistling Straits (Irish), Haven
8. Sentryworld G.C., Stevens Point
9. Blue Mound G. & C.C., Wauwatosa
10. The G. Courses at Lawsonia (Links), Green Lake
11. Blackwolf Run (Meadow Valleys), Kohler
12. The Bull at Pinehurst Farms, Sheboygan Falls
13. Pine Hills C.C., Sheboygan
14. Troy Burne G.C., Hudson
15. University Ridge G.C., Madison

Top 100 Golf Courses – Wisconsin

1. Whistling Straits (Straits), Haven
2. Milwaukee C.C., River Hills
3. Sand Valley (Sand Valley), Nekoosa
4. The G. Courses at Lawsonia (Links), Green Lake
5. Erin Hills G.C., Hartford
6. Sand Valley (Mammoth Dunes), Nekoosa
7. Blue Mound G. & C.C., Wauwatosa
8. Blackwolf Run (River), Kohler
9. Whistling Straits (Irish), Haven
10. Sentryworld G.C., Stevens Point
11. Troy Burne G.C., Hudson
12. Blackwolf Run (Meadow Valleys), Kohler
13. Pine Hills C.C., Sheboygan
14. University Ridge G.C., Madison
15. West Bend, West Bend
16. Grand Geneva (Brute), Lake Geneva
17. The Bull at Pinehurst Farms, Sheboygan Falls
18. Green Bay, Green bay
19. Oneida, Green Bay
20. Wild Rock at Wilderness, Wisconsin Dells
21. Strawberry Creek, Kenosha
22. Minocqua, Minocqua
23. North Hills, Menomonee Falls
24. Horseshoe Bay, Egg Harbor
25. Ozaukee, Mequon
26. Geneva National (Arnold Plamer), Lake Geneva
27. The Bog, Saukville
28. Lac La Belle, Oconomowoc
29. Lawsonia (Woodlands), Green Lake
30. Westmoor, Brookfield
31. LaCrosse, Onalaska
32. Hawks View (Como Crossings), Lake Geneva
33. Geneva National (Gary Player), Lake Geneva
34. Kenosha, Kenosha
35. Big Fish, Hayward
36. Tuckaway, Franklin
37. Bishops Bay, Middleton
38. Trappers Turn (Lake & Canyon), Wisconsin Dells
39. Eagle Springs Golf Resort, Eagle
40. House On The Rock (Springs), Spring Green

Golf Magazine – Best in Wisconsin

1. Whistling Straits (Straits), Haven
2. Milwaukee C.C., River Hills
3. The G. Courses at Lawsonia (Links), Green Lake
4. Sand Valley (Sand Valley), Nekoosa
5. Sand Valley (Mammoth Dunes), Nekoosa
6. Erin Hills G.C., Hartford
7. Blackwolf Run (River), Kohler
8. Blue Mound G. & C.C., Wauwatosa
9. West Bend, West Bend
10. The Bull at Pinehurst Farms, Sheboygan Falls

Best Public Golf Courses in Wisconsin – Golfweek

1. Whistling Straits (Straits), Haven
2. Sand Valley (Mammoth Dunes), Nekoosa
3. Sand Valley (Sand Valley), Nekoosa
4. The G. Courses at Lawsonia (Links), Green Lake
5. Erin Hills G.C., Hartford
6. Blackwolf Run (River), Kohler
7. Whistling Straits (Irish), Haven
8. University Ridge G.C., Madison
9. Sentryworld G.C., Stevens Point
10. Blackwolf Run (Meadow Valleys), Kohler
11. Troy Burne G.C., Hudson
12. Wild Rock at Wilderness, Wisconsin Dells
13. The Bull at Pinehurst Farms, Sheboygan Falls
14. Geneva National (Gary Player), Lake Geneva
15. Geneva National (Arnold Palmer), Lake Geneva

Best Private Golf Courses in Wisconsin – Golfweek

1. Milwaukee C.C., River Hills
2. Blue Mound G. & C.C., Wauwatosa
3. Oneida, Green Bay
4. Minocqua, Minocqua
5. North Shore, Menasha

Are There Any Top 100 Golf Courses in Wisconsin?

Yep, it doesn’t matter which major list you’re going to go off, there are courses in Wisconsin that will be on the top 100 public, US, and world lists.

Golf Magazine Top 100 World

• #82 – Whistling Straits (Straits Course)

Golf Magazine Top 100 America

• #54 – Whistling Straits (Straits Course)
• #75 – Milwaukee Country Club
• #79 – Lawsonia (Links)
• #98 – Sand Valley (Sand Valley)

Golf Magazine Top 100 Public

• #11 – Whistling Straits (Straits)
• #23 – Lawsonia (Links)
• #25 – Sand Valley (Sand Valley)
• #29 – Sand Valley (Mammoth Dunes)
• #31 – Erin Hills
• #38 – Blackwolf Run (River)

Golf Digest Top 100 America

• #23 – Whistling Straits (Straits)
• #46 – Erin Hills
• #70 – Milwaukee Country Club
• #95 – Blackwolf Run (River)

Golf Digest Top 100 Public

• #3 – Whistling Straits (Straits)
• #9 – Erin Hills
• #16 – Blackwolf Run (River)
• #18 – Sand Valley (Sand Valley)
• #29 – Sand Valley (Mammoth Dunes)
• #47 – Whistling Straits (Irish)
• #50 – SentryWorld
• #68 – Lawsonia (Links)
• #74 – Blackwolf Run (Meadow Valleys)
• #91 – The Bull at Pinehurst Farms

Yes, a full 10% of Golf Digest’s top 100 public courses are in Wisconsin. 

How does Whistling Straits compare to it’s two biggest competitors on this list, Pacific Dunes, and Pebble Beach?

Suggested Wisconsin Golf Itineraries

The Kohler Swing

The most well-known golf resort in Wisconsin is Destination Kohler, which features 4 courses in total.

Two courses at Whistling Straits (Straits and Irish) and two courses about 15 minutes away at Blackwolf Run (River and Meadow Valleys).

Both the Straits and River have some big tournament history, and what’s so cool about having both of these clubs at one resort is that you get two wildly different golf experiences all in one trip.

I personally prefer the River Course to the Straits, but they’re absolutely both worth playing.

As are the secondary courses at each club, the Meadow Valleys at Blackwolf Run and Irish Course at Whistling Straits.

Bonus Courses on a Kohler Trip

Chances are if you’re doing Kohler you’re going as part of a stay-and-play and staying at one of the hotels on property.

But there are a couple other fantastic courses you can play if you want to mix it up a bit.

The easiest is The Bull at Pinehurst Farms. It’s literally across the street from Blackwolf Run, and is a great (and challenging) Nicklaus course. It popped back into the top 100 public courses on Golf Digest’s most recent list.

The other more well-known course to play would be Erin Hills, host of the 2017 US Open. It’s about 1:15 minutes from Kohler, but it’s back South and a bit closer to Milwaukee if you’re flying out of there.

Sand Valley Trip

Sand Valley is more of a hike to get to from the Milwaukee airport, but by all accounts is worth the trip. Bandon Dunes showed us that people are willing to drive to very remote places in order to play good golf, and Sand Valley is a testament to that.

If you’re there both the Sand Valley and Mammoth Dunes Courses are obviously worth playing (probably multiple times).

Opening in 2023 is the 3rd course at Sand Valley, Gil Hanse’s homage to the CB Macdonald’s Lido Course. This will be a private club, and it’s unclear if there will be any resort play.

Bonus Courses on a Sand Valley Trip

Depending on your travel route and timing, there are some other options for golfing on your way to Sand Valley.

The obvious one would be to hit the Links Course at Lawsonia.

It’s about 2:45 to Sand Valley from Milwaukee, and about halfway into the drive you’ll find the classic Lawsonia layout, which has gotten very high praise from Golf Magazine as of late.

If you really want to get after it, you can head about 45 minutes North of Sand Valley and hit SentryWorld and take in its famous 16th “Flower Hole.”

Wisconsin Privates

As I said earlier, Wisconsin isn’t necessarily super well known for its private courses, but there are a number of them that are very good.

The ones I’d try and hit are:

• Milwaukee Country Club – A Colt and Allison Gem that is widely regarded as one of the best courses in the country.
• Blue Mound Golf and Country Club – A old-school Seth Raynor-designed course that has done some great restoration efforts recently.
• Pine Hills Country Club – Multiple Eighty Club members have told me this might be the most underrated courses they’ve ever played. It’s located closer to Kohler, north of Milwaukee in Kohler.

The Epic Wisconsin and Michigan Road Trip

Way back in 2013, about a year after I started Breaking Eighty, I decided I was going to take my first-ever proper golf trip. I spent two weeks hitting all of the top 100 public courses of the time in both Wisconsin and Michigan.

A lot of people who aren’t from the area don’t realize that Milwaukee is only an hour-ish away from Chicago – which opens up a whole slew of other golf options.

You can play solid public courses like Cog Hill #4, or a huge number of privates, like Medinah for instance.

It’s a hike to get up into Northern Michigan, but it’s one of the most beautiful spots for golf I’ve ever been to. Alternatively, you can hop on a Lake Michigan ferry for a different kind of adventure.

For anyone interested, on that trip my itinerary was:

• The Bull at Pinehurst Farms
• Blackwolf Run Meadow Valleys
• Blackwolf Run River
• Whistling Straits (Straits)
• Whistling Straits (Irish)
• Erin Hills
• Medinah #3
• Arcadia Bluffs (Bluffs)
• Bay Harbor (Links and Quarry)
• The Bear at Grand Traverse
• The Heather at Boyne Highlands
• Threetops
• Forest Dunes
• Oakland Hills (South)

Then I flew to San Francisco to play the Lake Course at the Olympic Club. 

Not bad for my first proper golf trip ever.

All that to say, my point in saying this, is if you’re willing to travel a bit, there are a lot of great options close to Wisconsin.

Other Best-in-State Recaps

• Best Golf Courses in Arizona
• Best Golf Courses in California
• Best Golf Courses in Connecticut
• Best Golf Courses in Colorado
• Best Golf Courses in Georgia
• Best Golf Courses in Massachussets
• Best Golf Courses in New York
• Best Golf Courses in North Carolina
• Best Golf Courses in Oregon

All of our Best-in-State lists.

Have You Golfed in Wisconsin?

Have you golfed in Wisconsin? What courses would you recommend playing (or skipping) drop a comment below and let us know!

The post Best Golf Courses In Wisconsin: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

And for good reason.

Pinehurst is not only one of the biggest resorts in the world, it also has some of the best courses in the country, and a ton of history to boot.

But once you look beyond Pinehurst? 

You discover that North Carolina is home to some excellent golf courses. There are a number of top 100 public and private course across the entire state that are worth visiting.

In this post we’ll give you all the details you need in order to plan a killer North Carolina golf trip.

THE BEST NORTH CAROLINA GOLF COURSES IN 2022

These rankings are averages of the Best in State Rankings from Golf Digest, Top 100 Golf, Golf Magazine, and Golfweek. We listed the nearest major city to make planning easier.

To be included there needed to be a minimum of two inclusions in one of the publications listed above. Make sure you read the whole post, as there are some very good courses that didn’t get included by this methodology. I’ll discuss some of them below

1. Pinehurst Resort (No. 2), Pinehurst
2. Wade Hampton G.C., Cashiers
3. Old Town Club, Winston-Salem
4. Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte
5. Roaring Gap Club
6. Charlotte C.C.
7. Pinehurst (No. 4), Pinehurst
8. Tobacco Road G.C., Sanford
9. Grandfather G. & C.C., Linville
10. Diamond Creek G.C., Banner Elk
11. Mountaintop G. & Lake Club, Cashiers
12. Dormie Club, West End
13. Eagle Point G.C., Wilmington
14. Mid Pines Inn & G.C., Southern Pines
15. Pine Needles Lodge & G.C., Southern Pines
16. Forest Creek G.C. (North), Pinehurst
17. Biltmore Forest C.C., Asheville
18. Sedgefield C.C., Greensboro
19. Linville G.C., Linville
20. Pinehurst Resort (No. 8), Pinehurst
21. Cape Fear C.C., Wilmington
22. Forest Creek G.C. (South), Pinehurst
23. C.C. Of North Carolina (Dogwood), Pinehurst
24. Champion Hills Club, Hendersonville
25. Duke University G.C., Durham
26. The Cliffs At Walnut Cove, Arden
27. Old North State Club, New London
28. Pinehurst (No. 7), Pinehurst
29. Elk River Club, Banner Elk
30. Linville Ridge C.C.
31. UNC Finley Course, Chapel Hill
32. Ocean Ridge Plantation (Leopard’s Chase), Ocean Isle Beach
33. Ocean Ridge Plantation (Tiger’s Eye), Ocean Isle Beach
34. Old Chatham G.C., Durham
35. Bald Head Island Club, Bald Head Island
36. Mid South, Southern Pines
37. Treyburn C.C., Durham
38. C.C. Of North Carolina (Cardinal), Pinehurst
39. Balsam Mountain Preserve, Sylva
40. The Omni Grove Park Inn, Asheville

How Other Publications Ranked the Best Courses in North Carolina

Each of the major publications and their rankings look at course architecture was little bit differently. For instance, Golf Digest places higher values on things like difficulty and shot values compared to other lists.

Golf Magazine has less than 150 panelists, whereas Digest has over 10x that.

So it’s interesting to look at each of the rankings on their own. By all accounts, any club listed in any of these lists is one worth playing.

GOLF DIGEST BEST IN STATE – NORTH CAROLINA

1. Wade Hampton G.C., Cashiers
2. Pinehurst Resort (No. 2), Pinehurst
3. Diamond Creek G.C., Banner Elk
4. Old Town Club, Winston-Salem
5. Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte
6. Eagle Point G.C., Wilmington
7. Mountaintop G. & Lake Club, Cashiers
8. Grandfather G. & C.C., Linville
9. Pinehurst (No. 4), Pinehurst
10. Charlotte C.C.
11. Forest Creek G.C. (North), Pinehurst
12. Biltmore Forest C.C., Asheville
13. Tobacco Road G.C., Sanford
14. Roaring Gap Club
15. Dormie Club, West End
16. C.C. Of North Carolina (Dogwood), Pinehurst
17. Forest Creek G.C. (South), Pinehurst
18. Sedgefield C.C., Greensboro
19. Balsam Mountain Preserve, Sylva
20. Pine Needles Lodge & G.C., Southern Pines
21. Pinehurst Resort (No. 8), Pinehurst
22. Champion Hills Club, Hendersonville
23. Linville Ridge C.C.
24. Old North State Club, New London
25. Mid Pines Inn & G.C., Southern Pines
26. Old Chatham G.C., Durham
27. The Cliffs At Walnut Cove, Arden
28. C.C. Of North Carolina (Cardinal), Pinehurst
29. Elk River Club, Banner Elk
30. Treyburn C.C., Durham

TOP 100 GOLF COURSES – NORTH CAROLINA

1. Pinehurst Resort (No. 2), Pinehurst
2. Old Town Club, Winston-Salem
3. Wade Hampton G.C., Cashiers
4. Roaring Gap Club
5. Charlotte C.C.
6. Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte
7. Grandfather G. & C.C., Linville
8. Tobacco Road G.C., Sanford
9. Mid Pines Inn & G.C., Southern Pines
10. Dormie Club, West End
11. Pine Needles Lodge & G.C., Southern Pines
12. Diamond Creek G.C., Banner Elk
13. Mountaintop G. & Lake Club, Cashiers
14. Sedgefield C.C., Greensboro
15. Pinehurst (No. 4), Pinehurst
16. Forest Creek G.C. (South), Pinehurst
17. Eagle Point G.C., Wilmington
18. Forest Creek G.C. (North), Pinehurst
19. Biltmore Forest C.C., Asheville
20. Cape Fear C.C., Wilmington
21. Raleigh, Raleigh
22. Pinehurst Resort (No. 8), Pinehurst
23. C.C. Of North Carolina (Dogwood), Pinehurst
24. Champion Hills Club, Hendersonville
25. Old North State Club, New London
26. Elk River Club, Banner Elk
27. Carolina G.C., Charlotte
28. Linville G.C., Linville
29. Hope Valley, Durham
30. Highlands C.C., Highlands
31. The Cliffs At Walnut Cove, Arden
32. Saphire Valley, Saphire
33. Linville Ridge C.C.
34. Pinehurst (No. 9), Pinehurst
35. Rock Barn (Robert Trent Jones Jr.), Conover

GOLF MAGAZINE BEST IN NORTH CAROLINA

1. Pinehurst Resort (No. 2), Pinehurst
2. Old Town Club, Winston-Salem
3. Wade Hampton G.C., Cashiers
4. Pinehurst (No. 4), Pinehurst
5. Tobacco Road G.C., Sanford
6. Roaring Gap Club
7. Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte
8. Charlotte C.C.
9. Mid Pines Inn & G.C., Southern Pines
10. Dormie Club, West End
11. Pine Needles Lodge & G.C., Southern Pines
12. Diamond Creek G.C., Banner Elk
13. Grandfather G. & C.C., Linville
14. Eagle Point G.C., Wilmington
15. Forest Creek G.C. (North), Pinehurst
16. C.C. Of North Carolina (Dogwood), Pinehurst
17. Linville G.C., Linville
18. Mountaintop G. & Lake Club, Cashiers
19. Biltmore Forest C.C., Asheville
20. Forest Creek G.C. (South), Pinehurst

BEST PUBLIC GOLF COURSES IN NORTH CAROLINA – GOLFWEEK

1. Pinehurst Resort (No. 2), Pinehurst
2. Pinehurst (No. 4), Pinehurst
3. Mid-Pines Inn & G.C., Southern Pines
4. Pine Needles Lodge & G.C., Southern Pines
5. Linville G.C., Linville
6. Tobacco Road G.C., Sanford
7. Pinehurst Resort (No. 8), Pinehurst
8. Bald Head Island Club, Bald Head Island
9. UNC Finley Course, Chapel Hill
10. Duke University G.C., Durham
11. Pinehurst (No. 7), Pinehurst
12. Ocean Ridge Plantation (Tiger’s Eye), Ocean Isle Beach
13. The Omni Grove Park Inn, Asheville
14. Ocean Ridge Plantation (Leopard’s Chase), Ocean Isle Beach
15. Mid South, Southern Pines

BEST PRIVATE GOLF COURSES IN NORTH CAROLINA – GOLFWEEK

1. Wade Hampton G.C., Cashiers
2. Old Town Club, Winston-Salem
3. Mountaintop G. & Lake Club, Cashiers
4. Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte
5. Grandfather G. & C.C., Linville
6. Roaring Gap Club
7. Charlotte C.C.
8. Diamond Creek G.C., Banner Elk
9. Eagle Point G.C., Wilmington
10. Dormie Club, West End
11. Forest Creek G.C. (North), Pinehurst
12. Biltmore Forest C.C., Asheville
13. Champion Hills Club, Hendersonville
14. Cape Fear C.C., Wilmington
15. The Cliffs At Walnut Cove, Arden

Does North Carolina Have Any Top 100 Courses?

It absolutely does, and chances are you can guess at least one of them pretty quickly, as it’s in every single top 100 list we’re covering.

North Carolina is one of the better states for people looking to tick off any of the major top 100 lists, with multiple courses in each of the lists, there’s also some nice differentiation between the public and private lists.

Golf Magazine Top 100 in the US (2022-2023)

• #12 – Pinehurst #2
• #38 – Old Town Club
• #56 – Wade Hampton Club
• #100 – Pinehurst #4

Golf Magazine Top 100 Public in the US

• #2 – Pinehurst #2
• #26 – Pinehurst #4
• #35 – Tobacco Road
• #41 – Mid Pines
• #44 – Pine Needles

Golf Magazine Top 100 in the World

• #17 – Pinehurst #2
• #92 – Old Town Club

Golf Digest Top 100 in the US

• #26 – Wade Hampton
• #29 – Pinehurst #2
• #86 – Diamond Creek Golf Club
• #92 – Old Town Club
• #97 – Quail Hollow Club

Golf Digest Top 100 Public in the US

• #6 – Pinehurst #2
• #32 – Pinehurst #4
• #49 – Tobacco Road
• #73 – Pine Needles
• #76 – Pinehurst #8
• #93 – Mid Pines

As you can see the public lists vs. the Golf Digest Top US and Golf Magazine Top US are all very different. In fact, North Carolina is probably among the top 3 states where the publications are so wildly different from one another.

But you know what that means?

That North Carolina is full of excellent and varied golf experiences.

Suggested Golf Itineraries for North Carolina

Depending on what you’re looking for, there are some great options for golf itineraries within North Carolina. The challenging part of this state, is if you are trying to hit all of the courses on the periphery of the top 100 lists, you’re gonna have to do a lot of driving.

With Eagle Point on the east, Wade Hampton to the west, Diamond Creek up north, and lots of places in between – it’s a lot for even the most seasoned road warrior.

That said, here are the itineraries I’d look at.

Pinehurst Resort

The most obvious trip you can take is to hit Pinehurst, stay at the Carolina Hotel, and experience one of the best resorts in the country.

While you’re there the three courses you’ll want to make sure you play are:

• #2 – Two is the historic Donald Ross design that has continually challenged the best golfers in history when it’s hosted US Opens and countless other golf tournaments.
• #4 – Four recently got an overhaul by Gil Hanse, and many consider it to be the best course at the entire resort.
• #8 – Finally, #8 is my pick for the most fun course at the resort. There are some beautiful holes and great elevation changes in this 1996 Tom Fazio design.

With 9 courses at Pinehurst you have plenty of other options on top of this based on personal preference. You can learn more about the differences between each of the courses here.

What’s great is you can also throw in some nearby courses that aren’t part of the resort, but are still nationally recognized.

Make sure you also hit their par 3 course, The Cradle, as well as the 18 hole putting course, Thistle Dhu, while you’re there as well.

Pinehurst Area (Not at the Resort)

If you’re wanting to go to the Pinehurst area, but not play at the resort, or throw in some alternatives to a resort trip, consider these courses:

• Tobacco Road – Tobacco Road is one of the most polarizing courses in the country. Personally, I think it’s one of the most fun golf courses on the planet. Maybe not a spot you’d want to play every day, but absolutely one you should see if in the area.
• Pine Needles – Often playing second fiddle to Pinehurst is the nearby Southern Pines resort which has two fantastic courses of its own. The Pine Needles course was restored in 2019, and is perenially among the top 100 public tracks in the country.
• Mid Pines – The second course at Pine Needles resort, is considered by some to be the superior course. They brought in Kyle Franz about a decade ago to restore many of the original Donald Ross elements and did a great job.
• Dormie Club – This Coore and Crenshaw design has had a tumultuous history. It was public for a while, but a few years back was acquired by the Dormie Network and is now the flagship club within their network. If you have access, it’s absolutely worth playing.

Best of the Publics

To bring this home, all of the top 100 public courses on both Golf Magazine and Golf Digest’s lists we’ve mentioned, and are less than an hour from each other.

So if you’re trying to hit the top 100 public golf courses in North Carolina on a single trip, you can fulfill your requirements from both publications by hitting:

• Pinehurst #2
• Pinehurst #4
• Pinehurst #8
• Mid Pines
• Pine Needles
• Tobacco Road

Public or private, I don’t care what you’re used to – this is a hell of a line-up.

Best of the West

Once you get outside of the Pinehurst area and head to the other side of the state, you’re treated to some wonderful mountain golf in Cashiers.

The only problem is that both of these courses are notoriously hard to get on. That said, if you have access it’ll be worth the trip.

• Wade Hampton – Considered one of Fazio’s best designs, Wade Hampton is a mainstay in top 100 America lists, and often found among the top 100 in the world. This is one of my personal top 10 bucket list courses in the US.
• Mountaintop – Only 15 minutes away Mountaintop is solidly in the top 200 US lists, and often finds its way onto top 100 in America lists as well.

Best Courses Up North

About a 3.5 hour drive from the west courses and 2 hours north of Charlotte, you’re treated to a trio of fantastic top private clubs. All three of these have been among the top 100 in the US at some point, but currently, Diamond Creek is the only one on either major list.

• Diamond Creek Golf Club – #86 on the most recent Golf Digest list. Another beautiful, if not slightly over the top at times Fazio design. Expect impeccable conditions and beautiful vistas.
• Grandfathers Golf and Country Club – Less than 15 minutes from Diamond Creek, this is another high-end private club with a fun course and wonderful conditions. Has recently been on Golf Digest’s top 100 list.
• Roaring Gap Club – Unlike many of the modern mountain courses in North Carolina, Roaring Gap is an old-school Ross design widely considered one of the state’s best courses. It’s about an hour and a half from the other two courses, but if you’re in the area already, it’s worth the detour.

Charlotte Area

There are a couple of courses I’d like to see on my next trip to Charlotte:

• Quail Hollow Club – This is one of the most famous courses in the state due to it’s PGA Tour pedigree. Whether it’s the regular Wells Fargo tournament, the 2022 Presidents Cup, or the 2017 PGA Championship (among others) – there’s a reason it’s a Tour mainstay.
• Charlotte Country Club – Not quite as well known nationally as many of the other clubs mentioned, this is a Donald Ross private design that looks fantastic. It only got better with its relatively recent restoration as well.

Other Places to Consider on a North Carolina Golf Trip

Eagle Point is a fantastic course in Wilmington 

It’s not necessarily close to any of the other hotbeds of Carolina golf, but if you find your way out to the coast, Eagle Point has routinely been considered one of the best courses in the country.

Consider Honors or Atlanta if You’re Out West

If you’re already out west to see Wade Hampton or Mountaintop, then you’re relatively close to some other Top 100 courses.

You’re about 3 hours from the renowned Pete Dye-designed Honors Course in Tennessee.

Even better, you’re only 2.5 hours from Atlanta where there’s a ton of fantastic golf, including Atlanta Athletic Club.

Where Else Should You Play?

North Carolina is a surprisingly big state, with some (un)surprisingly good golf.

You’re likely not going to hit it all in one trip, but regardless of whether you’re going public or private, you’ve got some wonderful options for some world-class golf.

Other Best-in-State Lists

• Best Golf Courses in Arizona
• Best Golf Courses in Connecticut
• Best Golf Courses in Colorado
• Best Golf Courses in Georgia
• Best Golf Courses in New York
• Best Golf Courses in Oregon

The post Best Golf Courses In North Carolina: One of the Best Golf States in the US appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

The Masters is played at Augusta National Golf Club every April, and so for one week a year, the entire country focuses on the tournament.

And while ANGC is one of the very best (and most exclusive) courses in the world, there’s a lot more to golf in Georgia than that.

We’ve now taken 3 golf trips to Georgia, and played close to a dozen courses there – and it’s easily among the best golf states we’ve seen.

The best golf is a little bit skewed to the private side of things, but there are some very good public options as well.

In this post, we’ll look at all of the best courses in Georgia to help you decide where you should play in the state.

The Best Georgia Golf Courses in 2022

These rankings are averages of the Best in State Rankings from Golf Digest, Top 100 Golf, and Golf Magazine. We listed the nearest major city to make planning easier.

To be included there needed to be a minimum of two inclusions in one of the publications listed above. Make sure you read the whole post, as there are some very good courses that didn’t get included by this methodology. I’ll discuss some of them below

1. Augusta National Golf Club (Augusta)
2. Ohoopee Match Club (Cobbtown)
3. Peachtree G.C. (Atlanta)
4. East Lake G.C. (Atlanta)
5. Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands) (Atlanta)
6. Sea Island G.C. (Seaside) (St. Simons Island)
7. Ocean Forest G.C. (Sea Island)
8. Atlanta C.C. (Atlanta)
9. G.C. at Cuscowilla (Eatonton)
10. Hawks Ridge G.C. (Atlanta)
11. Augusta C.C. (Atlanta)
12. Atlanta Athletic Club (Riverside)
13. Lookout Mountain G.C  (Lookout Mountain)
14. Ansley G.C. (Settindown Creek) (Atlanta)
15. Capital City Club (Crabapple) (Atlanta)
16. The Farm G.C., (Dalton)
17. Frederica G.C., (St. Simons Island)
18. Great Waters at Reynolds Lake Oconee (Eatonton)
19. Champions Retreat G.C. (Bluff/Island), (Augusta)
20. The Ford Field & River Club, (Savannah)
21. Currahee Club (Toccoa)
22. Sea Island G.C. (Plantation), (St. Simons Island)
23. Cherokee Town & C.C. (North) (Atlanta)
24. G.C. of Georgia (Creekside), (Atlanta)
25. Druid Hills G.C.  (Atlanta)
26. The Creek Club at Reynolds Lake Oconee (Greensboro)
27. The McLemore Club, (Rising Fawn)
28. The River Club (Atlanta)

*Not included as they didn’t have enough rankings to list: Rivermont, Cobblestone, GC of Georgia (Lakeside), Old Toccoa Farm, Capital City Club (Brookhaven), Landing Club, Harbor Club, Reynolds (Oconee)

HOW OTHER PUBLICATIONS RANKED THE TOP GOLF COURSES IN OREGON

If you’re like us, you do a lot of due diligence when planning trips to figure out what are the “must play” courses at your destination.

Well here’s what some of the other major golf publications think are the best golf courses in Georgia:

Golf Digest Best in State for Georgia

1. Augusta National Golf Club (Augusta)
2. Ohoopee Match Club (Cobbtown)
3. Peachtree G.C. (Atlanta)
4. East Lake G.C. (Atlanta)
5. Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands) (Atlanta)
6. Ocean Forest G.C. (Sea Island)
7. Sea Island G.C. (Seaside) (St. Simons Island)
8. Atlanta C.C. (Atlanta)
9. Frederica G.C., (St. Simons Island)
10. Hawks Ridge G.C., (Atlanta)
11. Ansley G.C. (Settindown Creek), (Atlanta)
12. Champions Retreat G.C. (Bluff/Island) (Augusta)
13. Atlanta Athletic Club (Riverside) (Atlanta)
14. G.C. at Cuscowilla (Eatonton)
15. Augusta C.C. (Augusta)
16. Great Waters at Reynolds Lake Oconee (Eatonton)
17. The Farm G.C., (Dalton)
18. Capital City Club (Crabapple) (Atlanta)
19. Lookout Mountain G.C. (Lookout Mountain)
20. The McLemore Club, Rising Fawn
21. Cherokee Town & C.C. (North), Atlanta
22. Currahee Club, (Toccoa)
23. The Ford Field & River Club (Savannah)
24. G.C. of Georgia (Lakeside), Alpharetta
25. Sea Island G.C. (Plantation) (St. Simons Island)
26. G.C. of Georgia (Creekside) (Atlanta)
27. Druid Hills G.C., Atlanta
28. The River Club, Suwanee
29. Capital City Club (Brookhaven), Atlanta
30. The Creek Club at Reynolds Lake Oconee, Greensboro

“Top 100 Golf Courses” Website (Georgia)

1. Augusta National Golf Club (Augusta)
2. Peachtree G.C. (Atlanta)
3. Ohoopee Match Club (Cobbtown)
4. East Lake G.C. (Atlanta)
5. G.C. at Cuscowilla (Eatonton)
6. Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands) (Atlanta)
7. Sea Island G.C. (Seaside) (St. Simons Island)
8. Atlanta C.C. (Atlanta)
9. Lookout Mountain G.C. (Lookout Mountain)
10. Ocean Forest G.C. (Sea Island)
11. Augusta C.C. (Augusta)
12. The Farm G.C., (Dalton)
13. Hawks Ridge G.C., (Atlanta)
14. Atlanta Athletic Club (Riverside) (Atlanta)
15. Great Waters at Reynolds Lake Oconee (Eatonton)
16. Ansley G.C. (Settindown Creek), (Atlanta)
17. The Ford Field & River Club (Savannah)
18. Capital City Club (Crabapple) (Atlanta)
19. Sea Island G.C. (Plantation) (St. Simons Island)
20. Champions Retreat G.C. (Bluff/Island) (Augusta)
21. Currahee Club, (Toccoa)
22. Rivermont CC (Atlanta)
23. Cobblestone Golf Course (Atlanta)
24. Frederica G.C., (St. Simons Island)
25. Old Toccoa Farm (Toccoa)
26. G.C. of Georgia (Creekside) (Atlanta)
27. Landings Club (Savannah)
28. Reynolds Lake Oconee – Oconee (Eatonton)
29. Cherokee Town & C.C. (North), Atlanta
30. Harbor Club (Greensboro)

Golf Magazine – Best in Georgia

1. Augusta National Golf Club (Augusta)
2. Ohoopee Match Club (Cobbtown)
3. Peachtree G.C. (Atlanta)
4. East Lake G.C. (Atlanta)
5. Capital City Club (Crabapple) (Atlanta)
6. Ocean Forest G.C. (Sea Island)
7. Sea Island G.C. (Seaside) (St. Simons Island)
8. Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands) (Atlanta)
9. G.C. at Cuscowilla (Eatonton)
10. Augusta C.C. (Augusta)
11. Lookout Mountain G.C. (Lookout Mountain)
12. Atlanta Athletic Club (Riverside) (Atlanta)
13. Frederica G.C., (St. Simons Island)
14. The Farm G.C., (Dalton)
15. The Ford Field & River Club (Savannah)

Does Georgia Have any Top 100 Golf Courses?

There’s obviously one very big top 100 golf course in Georgia, that let’s be honest, none of us will probably ever play.

But what you might not know is that there are a few other top 100s in the state as well.

Golf Digest Top 100 America (Georgia Courses)

• #2 – Augusta National Golf Club
• #30 – Peachtree Golf Club

*Ohoopee Match Club is not yet included in Golf Digest’s list

Golf Digest Top 100 Public (Georgia Courses)

• #78 – Great Waters at Reynolds Lake Oconee
• #99 – The Mclemore Club

Golf Magazine Top 100 Public (Georgia Courses)

• #88 – Great Waters at Reynolds Lake Oconee

Golf Magazine Top 100 America (Georgia Courses)

• #6 – Augusta National Golf Club
• #32 – Ohoopee Match Club
• #37 – Peachtree Golf Club

Golf Magazine Top 100 World (Georgia Courses)

• #9 – Augusta National Golf Club
• #73 – Ohoopee Match Club
• #90 – Peachtree Golf Club

Breaking Eighty Top 100 (Georgia Courses)

• #18 – Peachtree Golf Club
• #32 – Atlanta Country Club
• #61 – Creek Club at Reynolds Lake Oconee
• #77 – Hawks Ridge Golf Club
• #83 – Great Waters at Reynolds Lake Oconee
• #84 – Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands)

Georgia Golf Trips: Dream Itineraries

The Lottery Winner: World’s Top 100

 

 

 

 

 

 

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If you’re looking to hit all of the Georgia courses that are listed in the world’s top 100 – then you better have some deep pockets and even deeper connections.

The top privates in Georgia are notoriously hard to access (trust me, I’ve tried).

But if you’ve able to make it happen, then you’ll find yourself on a road trip all over the state to hit:

• Peachtree in Atlanta
• Augusta National about 3 hours east in Augusta
• Ohoopee Match Club about 4 hours south of Atlanta in….the middle of nowhere.

The Lakeside Retreat

The quality of golf at Lake Oconee is incredibly under the radar. I’m surprised this place doesn’t get more recognition nationally. 

This is one of the rare golf destinations that works for just about anyone: a family trip with a couple rounds of golf, a romantic retreat, or a full-on buddies trip.

I’d recommend staying at the Ritz-Carlton Lake Oconee for any of those trips, or consider one of the cottages at Reynolds if it’s a buddies trip or you have a larger family.

Suggested Itinerary:

• Great Waters at Reynolds Lake Oconee – A public top 100 course and one of the best back 9s in golf.
• Oconee Course at Reynolds – Some fantastic holes on the water, and one of the best publicly accessible courses in the state
• The National at Reynolds – There are 27 Tom Fazio holes at The National at Lake Oconee and it’s the steepest challenge at Reynolds. If you’re looking for something friendlier, play the Preserve.
• Have connections? Throw in a round at Creek Club or Cuscowilla.

Under-the-radar Atlanta Privates

When it comes to private golf in Atlanta, Peachtree and East Lake get all the love. Both can be tough to access, and if you talk to many locals, the latter may not be worth the effort.

While Peachtree may be the only Atlanta course that is truly among the best in the world, Atlanta has a bunch of very good golf courses that are a tier below and don’t get as much credit as they should. 

If your pro can hook you up with some tee times, these are the courses I’d try and work into your itinerary.

Suggested Itinerary:

• Atlanta Country Club – One of the biggest surprises I’ve had in golf. This course is so much fun. And with an upcoming renovation? It’s only going to get better.
• Hawks Ridge – Speaking of fun. Hawks Ridge takes you up, down, and back again. After a second play recently, I was reminded of just how good it is.
• Ansley Golf Club (Settindown Creek) – Unfortunately scheduling issues got in the way on my last trip and I was unable to play Settindown. But a number of locals have told me that behind Peachtree, it’s their favorite course in the city.

Luxury Retreat: Sea Island

With the exception of ANGC and Ohoopee, the next place on our list to visit in Georgia would be Sea Island.

I’ve continued to hear fantastic things about the courses at the resort, and if you’re looking for a luxury experience? 

The Sea Island Resort has been considered one of the best hotels in the world.

Sign me up.

Suggested Itinerary:

• Sea Island Plantation Course
• Sea Island Seaside Course

And in keeping with true Georgia fashion, Ocean Forest is a very hard-to-access private club, but if you can swing it on a Sea Island trip – you’ll be rewarded with one of the best courses in the State. The same goes for Frederica Golf Club.

Our Thoughts on the Best Georgia Golf Courses

While we wouldn’t call ourselves experts on Georgia golf, we have played a good handful of some of the better courses in the region and have some thoughts from our experience.

• Reynolds Lake Oconee is Worth the Visit – I was blown away by the experience at Reynolds. The golf is very good and diverse, but it’s all of the other outdoor amenities you get access to when staying at the Ritz Carlton that make the experience truly over the top.
• Try Bobby Jones 9 for a Unique Public Experience – I didn’t make it on my most recent trip, but the Bobby Jones 9 in central Atlanta is a reversible course that has been getting a ton of praise lately.
• Is East Lake Worth It? While I haven’t played East Lake, I have yet to hear a single person rave about it. Obviously, there is some great PGA Tour history there, and those courses are always fun to play. But if you’re not concerned about that, and have access to other Atlanta privates, you may be just fine playing somewhere else.
• Looking for the best place to stay in Atlanta? The St. Regis Atlanta ain’t cheap, but it certainly was a nice place to relax for a couple days. The Four Seasons Atlanta is also an excellent Midtown spot.
• Atlanta Athletic Club may have the best one-two punch in the state. With the newly renovated Riverside Course, the club has two fantastic courses, that are very different from one another. Here’s our full Atlanta Athletic Club review.

Other Notable Courses Within a Close Drive

Often times we forget in our planning that there can be some very good courses outside of the state you’re thinking of going to, and that’s certainly the case here. If you’re on a top 100 quest or looking to experience some of the best courses out there, you’ll be rewarded if you can work a little road trip into your itinerary.

• Sage Valley and Palmetto – These are the two most notable spots to play right over the border in South Carolina. If you’re in Augusta you’ll be rewarded with one of the best golden age restorations in Palmetto, and one of the closest golf experiences you’ll get to ANGC outside of the real deal. 
• Wade Hampton and Mountaintop – Cashiers is about a 2.5 hour drive from Atlanta. So it’s not nothing, but if you’re able to access either of these courses in North Carolina, it’s worth it. Wade Hampton is on our short list of places we’d like to experience most. Related: Check out our list of the best golf courses in North Carolina.
• The Honors – Only about two hours north of Atlanta in Tennessee, this Pete Dye classic is routinely listed among the top 100 courses in the country. 

Other Best-In-State Roundups

• Best Golf Courses in Arizona
• Best Golf Courses in Connecticut
• Best Golf Courses in Colorado
• Best Golf Courses in New York
• Best Golf Courses in North Carolina
• Best Golf Courses in Oregon

Member of a private club and love to travel and meet other golf nuts? Check out our Eighty Club Golf Society.

The post Best Golf Courses in Georgia: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

It also has a vast amount of variety, from sea-side courses to mountain courses and everything in between. 

Regardless of where you find yourself in the state, there is great golf to be had. From Cape Cod to to the South and North Shore of Boston, to the hills and valleys of central and western Massachusetts, there is an option for every trip. 

The Country Club in Brookline, MA and host to the 2022 U.S. Open is easily the cream of the crop for the state. An extremely challenging course to get on or become a member of, even for the likes of New England hero, Tom Brady.

THE BEST GOLF COURSES IN MASSACHUSETTS 2022

These rankings are averages of the Best in State Rankings from Golf Digest, Top 100 Golf, Golf Magazine and Golfweek. For ties, where possible we ranked based on our personal experience.

To be included there needed to be a minimum of two inclusions in one of the publications listed above, and if there was a course with only one, and I’ve played it, I added my own vote to make this list.

1. The Country Club (Clyde/Squirrel, Brookline)
2. Old Sandwich Golf Club (Plymouth)
3. Myopia Hunt Club (South Hamilton)
4. Essex Country Club (Manchester-by-the-Sea)
5. Kittansett Club (Marion)
6. Eastward Ho! Country Club (Chatham)
7. Boston Golf Club (Hingham)
8. Sankaty Head Golf Club (Siaconset)
9. Salem Country Club (Peabody)
10. Hyannisport Club (Hyannisport)
11.  Vineyard Golf Club (Martha Vineyard)
12. Whitinsville Golf Club (Whitinsville)
13. Nantucket Golf Club (Siasconset)
14. TPC Boston (Norton)
15. Taconic Golf Club (Willamstown)
16. Winchester Country Club (Winchester)
17. Worcester Country Club (Worcester)
18. Charles River Country Club (Newton)
19. Cape Cod National Golf Club* (Brewster)
20. Concord Country Club (Concord)
21. Longmeadow Country Club (Londmeadow)
22. GreatHorse (Hampden)
23. Oyster Harbors Club (Osterville)
24. Dedham Country & Polo Club (Dedham)
25. Brae Burn Country Club (Newton)
26. Vesper Country Club (Tynsboro)
27. George Wright Golf Course (Hyde Park)
28. The Orchards Golf Course (Hadley)
29. Miacomet Golf Club (Nantucket)
30. Tedesco Country Club (Marblehead)

HOW OTHER PUBLICATIONS RANKED THE TOP GOLF COURSES IN MASSACHUSETTS

If you’re anything like us, you can never get too many opinions about golf courses when you’re trying to plan a trip. So we wanted to include the lists from other publications as well.  This way you can get a sense of where everything stacks up.

Below you’ll find the current rankings for the best in state across some of the biggest golf publications. The idea was to not only include the composite ranking that you see above, but also give you one place where you can find all of the major information you’re seeking out when it comes to the best golf courses in Connecticut.

GOLF DIGEST BEST IN STATE – MASSACHUSETTS

1. The Country Club (Clyde/Squirrel)
2. Old Sandwich Golf Club
3. Myopia Hunt Club
4. Kittansett Club
5. Essex Country Club
6. Boston Golf Club
7. Eastward Ho! Country Club
8. Sankaty Head Golf Club
9. Hyannisport Club
10. Salem Country Club
11.  Nantucket Golf Club
12. Worcester Country Club
13. Taconic Golf Club
14. TPC Boston 
15. Winchester Country Club
16. Cape Cod National Golf Club*
17. Concord Country Club
18. GreatHorse
19. Deadham Country & Polo Club
20. Charles River Country Club
21. Longmeadow Country Club
22. Oyster Harbors Club
23. Brae Burn Country Club
24. Miacomet Golf Club
25. Vesper Country Club

TOP 100 GOLF COURSES – MASSACHUSETTS

1. The Country Club (Clyde/Squirrel)
2. Old Sandwich Golf Club
3. Essex Country Club
4. Myopia Hunt Club
5. Eastward Ho! Country Club
6. Boston Golf Club
7. Kittansett Club
8. Sankaty Head Golf Club
9. Salem Country Club
10. Vineyard Golf Club
11.  Winchester Country Club
12. Taconic Golf Club
13. TPC Boston
14. Hyannisport Club
15. Whitinsville Golf Club
16. Charles River Country Club
17. Nantucket Golf Club
18. Worcester Country Club
19. Longmeadow Country Club
20. GreatHorse
21. Vesper Country Club
22. Oyster Harbors Club
23. Brae Burn Country Club
24. Dedham Country & Polo Club
25. Cape Cod National Golf Club*

* Public Course

GOLF MAGAZINE – BEST IN MASSACHUSETTS

1. The Country Club (Clyde/Squirrel)
2. Myopia Hunt Club
3. Old Sandwich Golf Club
4. Eastward Ho! Country Club
5. Kittansett Club
6. Essex Country Club
7. Boston Golf Club
8. Sankaty Head Golf Club
9. Salem Country Club
10. Charles River Country Club
11.  Whitinsville Golf Club
12. Nantucket Golf Club
13. George Wright Golf Club*
14. Longmeadow Country Club
15. Vineyard Golf Club
16. Taconic Golf Club
17. Winchester Country Club
18. Orchards Golf Club
19. Oyster Harbors Golf Club
20. Brae Burn Country Club

BEST MASSACHUSETTS PUBLIC GOLF COURSES – GOLFWEEK

1. Cape Cod National Golf Club
2. Miacomet Golf Course
3. The Ranch Golf Club
4. Crumpin-Fox Club
5. George Wright Municipal Golf Course
6. Pinehills Golf Club (Nicklaus)
7. Pinehills Golf Club (Jones)
8. Red Tail Golf Club
9. Blackstone National Golf Club
10. The International (Oaks)

BEST MASSACHUSETTS PRIVATE GOLF COURSES – GOLFWEEK

1. The Country Club (Composite)
2. Myopia Hunt Club
3. Old Sandwich Golf Club
4. Boston Golf Club
5. Essex Country Club
6. Eastward Ho! Country Club
7. Kittansett Club
8. Salem Country Club
9. Whitinsville Golf Club
10. Sankaty Head Golf Club

TOP 100 COURSES IN MASSACHUSETTS FOR 2022

A number of courses appear on the various publications’ Top 100 lists, both for public and public/private lists. 

Golf Magazine Top 100 Public boasts George Wright Municipal Golf Course at #59 and Taconic Golf Club not far behind at #62. 

Located in the northwest corner of the state in the Berkshire mountains, Taconic Golf Club is home to Williams College golf teams and is considered one of the best collegiate golf courses in the country, ranking third on Golfweek’s top collegiate course list.

I know many of you base your travels on top 100 courses, so I wanted to include all of the courses in Massachusetts ranked in any Golf Magazine or Golf Digest top 100 list.

GOLF DIGEST TOP 100 IN AMERICA (MASSACHUSETTS COURSES)

• #17 The Country Club (Clyde/Squirrel)
• #58 Old Sandwich Golf Club
• #69 Myopia Hunt Club
• #77 Kittansett Club
• #79 Essex Country Club
• #84 Boston Golf Club

GOLF DIGEST TOP 100 PUBLIC (MASSACHUSETTS COURSES)

• N/A

GOLF MAGAZINE TOP 100 PUBLIC (MASSACHUSETTS COURSES)

• #59 George Wright
• #62 Taconic Golf Club

GOLF MAGAZINE TOP 100 AMERICA (MASSACHUSETTS COURSES)

• #22 The Country Club (Clyde/Squirrel)
• #43 Myopia Hunt Club
• #52 Old Sandwich Golf Club
• #53 Eastward Ho! Country Club
• #64 Essex Country Club

GOLF MAGAZINE TOP 100 WORLD (MASSACHUSETTS COURSES)

• #40 The Country Club (Clyde/Squirrel)
• #72 Myopia Hunt Club 

BREAKING EIGHTY TOP 100 (MASSACHUSETTS COURSES)

• #25 Boston Golf Club
• #45 Myopia Hunt Club
• #88 The Country Club (Clyde/Squirrel)

MASSACHUSETTS GOLF: DREAM ITINERARIES

 If you are planning a trip to Massachusetts, we certainly would recommend the following options, if you have the right connections.

MASSACHUSETTS GOLF COURSES: BEST OF THE BEST

The great thing about this best-of-the-best itinerary is that all of the courses are relatively close by to Boston, giving you access to a major airport. 

The tougher task will be getting access to these courses. But I know many of us are chasing top 100 lists would love this best of best itinerary:

• The Country Club
• Boston Golf Club
• Essex Country Club
• Myopia Hunt Club

BEST PUBLIC ITINERARY

Depending on where you are going in the state, would determine the route you want to go. 

George Wright Municipal leading the pack as a Donald Ross design in the Boston metro area. Looking north of Boston, Red Tail Golf Club is a great option within an hour of the airport. Tewksbury Country Club may prove to be a must-visit after it was recently purchased by the wildly popular Treehouse Brewery

Cape Cod National in Brewster, MA dominates the public courses on Cape Cod but Bass River Golf Course is a public 9-hole track with stunning water views and a fantastic layout. If you are planning a Cape trip and need public access, I would make sure these two make your list. 

If you head out to the western part of the state, you’ll find yourself in less

A Solid Nantucket Duo

There’s some wonderful golf in the area out near Cape Cod. 

On the island of Sankaty Head you can play the fantastic Nantucket Golf Club and Sankaty Head Golf Club, which both fly a little under the radar nationally, but are well-worth playing if you find yourself in the area.

I once had a well-traveled golf friend tell me he thought Nantucket was one of the best hidden gems in golf.

A Trio of East Side Top 100s

We mentioned our dream itinerary above, but there’s another itinerary that would be equally as appealing and features 3 more courses that have been included among the top 100 in the country.

What are they?

• Old Sandwich 
• Eastward Ho!
• Kittansett Club

Eastward Ho! is a little bit farther out near the cape, but you can get to all of these in less than a 90-minute drive from each other, and so if you’re able to get the access, it’s worth heading to Mass to play even one of these gems.

One nice thing about a Boston area golf trip is that travel times aren’t that bad. So if you’re trying to play the more reputable privates, even if you’re only able to get on say Boston Golf Club and Eastward Ho! you can still make the drives work.

Our Thoughts on the Best Golf Courses in Massachusetts

I’ve played a number of the courses mentioned here, and figured I’d share my thoughts on a few of them.

Boston Golf Club is one of the most fun golf courses in the country

BGC is adventure golf at it’s finest. It’s one of Gil Hanse’s best efforts, and every hole is not only a visual feast, but it’s strategic and fun as well. There are some great elevation changes and memorable holes.

Specifically, the short par 4, 5th named Shipwreck – is one of the most unique golf holes you’ll ever play.

The Country Club Has Insane History

The Country Club is one of the most important and historic clubs in American golf. And it’s even more on people’s radar as it just hosted the 2022 US Open.

It’s widely regarded as the best golf course in the state.

One downside is if you are fortunate enough to play it, you likely won’t be playing the exact course the pros played. The Club has 3 nines, and they use holes from all 3 of the nines to make up the championship routing.

It’s a brutally hard golf course, and is fun to play for the history and the the exclusivity – but many of the other courses mentioned are going to be more fun.

Old Sandwich has some of the most epic accommodations you’ll find

Staying on property at Old Sandwich is a very special experience. From the lit-up putting green, 19th “bye” hole, and one of Coore and Crenshaw’s best designs – it’s an all-around cool experience.

Sitting around the fire pit overlooking the lake, is one of my most memorable golf experiences.

Myopia Hunt is Quirky in the Best Way Possible

Myopia Hunt is the quirkiest golf course I’ve played in America, and may even give North Berwick a run for it’s money.

A short, blind par 4 opening hole? Yes, please.

The club tries to stay off the radar, but this is one golf course I’m dying to go back and see.

Other Best-in-State Recaps

Check out more of our “best in golf” series. 

And if you’re looking for other state recaps? Here you go:

• Best Golf Courses in Arizona
• Best Golf Courses in California
• Best Golf Courses in Connecticut
• Best Golf Courses in Colorado
• Best Golf Courses in Georgia
• Best Golf Courses in New York
• Best Golf Courses in Oregon

The post Best Golf Courses in Massachusetts: New England’s Best Golf? appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

After all, it’s home to some of the most spectacular ski resorts and mountains in the world.

But if you look a little bit closer, you’ll realize that not only is there world-class snowsports, there is also world-class golf to be found as well.

If you’re trying to find the best golf courses in Colorado, then you’ve come to the right place.

Colorado is home to a few of our personal favorites, and some pretty special golf experiences that are unlike anything else you’ll find.

The Best Golf Courses In Colorado 2022

These rankings are averages of the Best in State Rankings from Golf Digest, Top 100 Golf, and Golf Magazine. We also removed Golfweek rankings because the breakdown between public and private skewed our findings.

To be included there needed to be a minimum of two inclusions in one of the publications listed above. Make sure you read the whole post, as there are some very good courses that didn’t get included by this methodology. I’ll discuss some of them below

1. Ballyneal G. & Hunt C. 
2. Colorado G.C.
3. Castle Pines G.C.
4. Cherry Hills C.C.
5. The Broadmoor G.C. (East)
6. Sanctuary
7. Maroon Creek Club
8. Red Sky Ranch & G.C. (Norman)
9. Redlands Mesa
10. Denver C.C.
11. The Golf Club at Ravenna
12. Pradera
13. Roaring Fork Club
14. CommonGround
15. C.C. of the Rockies
16. Red Sky Ranch & G.C. (Fazio)
17. Country Club at Castle Pines
18. Lakota Canyon
19. TPC Colorado
20. Frost Creek G.C. (formerly Adam’s Rib Ranch G.C.)
21. Four Mile Ranch
22. Cornerstone
23. Haymaker
24. The Broadmoor (West)
25. Glacier Club (Mountain)
26. Breckenridge GC (Bear/Beaver)
27. Riverdale (Dunes)

Golf Digest Best In Colorado

1. Ballyneal G. & Hunt C.
2. Castle Pines G.C.
3. Cherry Hills C.C.
4. Colorado G.C.
5. The Broadmoor G.C. (East)
6. Sanctuary
7. Maroon Creek Club
8. Red Sky Ranch & G.C. (Norman)
9. Red Sky Ranch & G.C. (Fazio)
10. C.C. of the Rockies
11. Roaring Fork Club
12. The Golf Club at Ravenna
13. TPC Colorado
14. Frost Creek G.C. (formerly Adam’s Rib Ranch G.C.)
15. Denver C.C.

Golf Magazine Best In Colorado

1. Ballyneal G. & Hunt C.
2. Cherry Hills C.C.
3. Colorado G.C.
4. Castle Pines G.C.
5. The Broadmoor G.C. (East)

“Top 100 Golf” Website (Colorado)

1. Ballyneal G. & Hunt C.
2. Colorado G.C.
3. Castle Pines G.C.
4. Cherry Hills C.C.
5. Denver C.C.
6. The Broadmoor G.C. (East)
7. Sanctuary
8. The Golf Club at Ravenna
9. Maroon Creek Club
10. Redlands Mesa
11. Red Sky Ranch & G.C. (Norman)
12. Pradera
13. CommonGround
14. Roaring Fork Club
15. Country Club at Castle Pines
16. C.C. of the Rockies
17. Lakota Canyon
18. Red Sky Ranch & G.C. (Fazio)
19. Four Mile Ranch
20. Cornerstone
21. Haymaker
22. TPC Colorado
23. Frost Creek G.C. (formerly Adam’s Rib Ranch G.C.)
24. The Broadmoor (West)
25. Breckenridge GC (Bear/Beaver)
26. Riverdale (Dunes)

Does Colorado Have Any Top 100 Golf Courses?

Colorado has a handful of courses that have been off and on various top 100 lists over the years.

Golf Digest Top 100 America (Colorado Courses)

• #44 – Ballyneal Golf Club
• #48 – Castle Pines Golf Club
• #73 – Cherry Hills Country Club

Golf Digest Top 100 Public (Colorado Courses)

• #44 – The Broadmoor Golf Club (East)
• #66 – Red Sky Golf Club (Norman)
• #79 – Red Sky Ranch and Golf Club (Fazio)
• #89 – TPC Colorado

Golf Magazine Top 100 Public (Colorado Courses)

• #58 – The Broadmoor Golf Club (East) 

Golf Magazine Top 100 America (Colorado Courses)

• #34 – Ballyneal Golf and Hunt Club
• #100 – Cherry Hills Country Club re

Golf Magazine Top 100 World (Colorado Courses)

• #54 – Ballyneal Golf and Hunt Club

Breaking Eighty Top 100 (Colorado Courses)

• #43 – Colorado Golf Club
• #50 – Ballyneal Golf and Hunt Club

Colorado Golf Trips: Dream Itineraries

Planning a trip to Colorado? Here are a few itineraries we’d consider based on where you’re going and what kind of access you have.

Colorado Best of the Best

If you’re chasing lists and you want to knock off as many of the most prestigious courses as you can, then awesome, we can’t blame you for that.

Here’s where you’ll want to play:

• Ballyneal
• Cherry Creek
• Castle Pines
• Colorado Golf Club

Those last three are all within the Denver area, so assuming you have the connections they should be easy enough to play over a couple days (although Denver has a surprisingly sprawling metro area).

Ballyneal on the other hand, well, it’s out in the middle of nowhere.

You’re looking at a 3+ hour drive from DIA to get there. I’d personally schedule a round out there first, and then hit the others over a few days at the end of the trip.

Best Public Itinerary 

Colorado has some excellent public golf courses. 

The Broadmoor is one of the most famous resorts in the country, and while you’ll pay for it, it’s among the best golf resort vacations you can have in the US.

After that visit Red Sky and knock off two top 100 publics in one spot. It’s worth noting that this is a “semi-private” club in that there is a private membership, but there’s limited access for resort guests.

Finish up the trip by playing TPC Colorado. Which again isn’t cheap, but is a newcomer to Golf Digest’s Top 100 public.

If you have time consider playing Fossil Trace. It’s an over-the-top Jim Engh design that is high on the “quirk-factor” but has some very memorable holes and is definitely a fun round.

Middle of Nowhere Road Trip

If you’re looking to take a bit of a road trip and hit some notable courses along the way, then you can fly into Denver and head East.

Way East…to hit some very remote, but very impressive courses.

Start with Ballyneal, then along the way you can hit the two courses at Dismal River, a couple accessible options at The Prairie Club, and if you’ve got real serious connections? Swing by Sand Hills to play one of the top 25 best golf courses in the world.

This is a true golf road trip playing courses with landscapes you won’t find anywhere else in the world. It’s a lot of driving (Prairie Club is 6.5 hours from DIA for instance), but it’s well worth the effort.

Our Thoughts on the Best Golf Courses in Colorado

If you’ve spent any time reading my golf reviews, you know that I value one thing more than anything else: fun.

It’s no surprise that mountainous courses generally lend themselves to being fun courses due to insane elevation changes, as well as the fact you’re at a higher altitude so you’ll hit the ball farther.

For this reason, there are a ton of places in Colorado that will make for really enjoyable rounds. Just about any of the courses deep in the Rockies will provide a cool experience.

A few other things I’d mention:

• Colorado Golf Club is severely underrated – This Coore Crenshaw design is one of my favorites I’ve ever played. The club is beautiful, and it’s among the best match play courses I’ve ever played. It’s so good, we included it as one of our 10 most underrated courses in the world.
• Fossil Trace is quirky, but worth it – Fossil Trace is a Denver area public that won’t be on any major lists, but it’s got some nutty elevation changes and some cool features hiding in the fairway on the back 9.
• Ballyneal is the ultimate retreat – When you visit Ballyneal you know that no one just stumbled in there. It has the Bandon effect, where if you’re there, you’re probably really passionate about golf. Between the vibe, phenomenal Tom Doak golf course, and the fun par 3 Mulligan course, it’s worth the trip.

Have a favorite spot in Colorado we should be highlighting? Let us know!

Other Best in State Roundups:

• Best Golf Courses in Arizona
• Best Golf Courses in California
• Best Golf Courses in Connecticut
• Best Golf Courses in Georgia
• Best Golf Courses in New York
• Best Golf Courses in Oregon

Member of a private club and love to travel and meet other golf nuts? Check out our Eighty Club Golf Society.

The post Best Golf Courses In Colorado: The Mountains Aren’t the Only Draw appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

It’s one of the few places in the US where you can get perfect weather in the off-season, and with so many courses (both public and private) available, there’s no shortage of options for places to play.

But what are the best golf courses in Arizona? You might be inclined to think it’s a PGA venue like TPC Scottsdale – as that’s arguably the most visible course.

But based on all of the rankings from major publications? Not the case. 

Let’s take a look.

Best Golf Courses in Arizona 2022

These rankings are averages of the Best in State Rankings from Golf Digest, Top 100 Golf, Golf Magazine and Golfweek. Not a list of our personal favorites.

To be included there needed to be a minimum of two inclusions in one of the publications listed above, and if there was a course with only one, and I’ve played it, I added my own vote to make this list.

Also, a few of the public golf courses get a little bit of a boost because Golfweek separates its rankings into public and private.

1. The Estancia Club
2. Forest Highlands G.C. (Canyon)
3. Desert Forest G.C
4. Whisper Rock G.C. (Upper)
5. Whisper Rock G.C. (Lower)
6. Desert Highlands G.C.
7. We-Ko-Pa G.C. (Saguaro)
8. The Stone Canyon Club
9. Scottsdale National G.C. (The Other Course)
10. Desert Mountain Club (Chiricahua)
11. Quintero G.C.
12. Desert Mountain Club (Renegade)
13. Silverleaf Club
14. Desert Mountain Club (Geronimo)
15. The Rim G.C.
16. Pine Canyon Club
17. Forest Highlands G.C.
18. Talking Stick (O’odham)
19. Scottsdale National G.C. (Mineshaft)
20. Troon C.C.
21. The G.C. at Dove Mountain (Saguaro/Tortolita 9s)
22. The G.C. at Chaparral Pines
23. Wickenburg Ranch G. & Social C.
24. Verrado (Founder’s)
25. Papago
26. Mirabel G.C.
27. Tucson National (Catalina)
28. Ak-chin Southern Dunes
29. Troon North (Monument)
30. Apache Stronghold
31. We-Ko-Pa G.C. (Cholla)
32. Desert Mountain (Outlaw)
33. TPC Scottsdale (Stadium)
34. Ventana Canyon (Mountain)
35. Troon North (Pinnacle)

Golf Digest Best in Arizona

1. The Estancia Club
2. Forest Highlands G.C. (Canyon)
3. Whisper Rock G.C. (Upper)
4. The Stone Canyon Club
5. Whisper Rock G.C. (Lower)
6. Pine Canyon Club
7. Desert Forest G.C
8. Desert Highlands G.C.
9. Desert Mountain Club (Renegade)
10. Forest Highlands G.C.
11. Desert Mountain Club (Chiricahua)
12. Desert Mountain Club (Geronimo)
13. Silverleaf Club
14. The Rim G.C.
15. Quintero G.C.
16. The G.C. at Chaparral Pines
17. Mirabel G.C.
18. We-Ko-Pa G.C. (Saguaro)
19. Scottsdale National G.C. (Mineshaft)
20. Troon C.C.
21. Flagstaff Ranch G.C.
22. Wickenburg Ranch G. & Social C.
23. The Club at Seven Canyons
24. Desert Mountain Club (Cochise)
25. The G.C. at Dove Mountain (Saguaro/Tortolita 9s)
26. The Gallery (South)
27. Desert Mountain (Outlaw)
28. The Gallery (North)
29. TPC Scottsdale (Stadium)
30. Troon North (Monument)
31. We-Ko-Pa G.C. (Cholla)
32. Troon North (Pinnacle)
33. Ak-chin Southern Dunes
34. Ventana Canyon (Mountain)
35. Blackstone C.C.

Golf Magazine Best in Arizona

1. Forest Highlands G.C. (Canyon)
2. Desert Forest G.C
3. The Estancia Club
4. We-Ko-Pa G.C. (Saguaro)
5. Scottsdale National G.C. (The Other Course)
6. Desert Highlands G.C.
7. Whisper Rock G.C. (Upper)
8. Whisper Rock G.C. (Lower)
9. Pine Canyon Club
10. Talking Stick (O’ odham)
11. Desert Mountain Club (Chiricahua)
12. Troon C.C.
13. The Stone Canyon Club
14. The Rim G.C.
15. Apache Stronghold

“Top 100 Golf Courses” Website (Arizona)

1. Forest Highlands G.C. (Canyon)
2. The Estancia Club
3. Desert Highlands G.C.
4. Whisper Rock G.C. (Upper)
5. Whisper Rock G.C. (Lower)
6. We-Ko-Pa G.C. (Saguaro)
7. The Stone Canyon Club
8. Desert Forest G.C
9. Desert Mountain Club (Chiricahua)
10. Silverleaf Club
11. Desert Mountain Club (Geronimo)
12. Desert Mountain Club (Renegade)
13. The Rim G.C.
14. Quintero G.C.
15. Scottsdale National G.C. (Mineshaft)
16. Forest Highlands G.C.
17. Scottsdale National G.C. (The Other Course)
18. Desert Mountain (Outlaw)
19. The G.C. at Chaparral Pines
20. Troon C.C.
21. Pine Canyon Club
22. The G.C. at Dove Mountain (Saguaro/Tortolita 9s)
23. Talking Stick (O’ odham)
24. Verrado (Founder’s)
25. Ak-chin Southern Dunes
26. Troon North (Monument)
27. Wickenburg Ranch G. & Social C.
28. We-Ko-Pa G.C. (Cholla)
29. Ventana Canyon (Mountain)
30. Mirabel G.C.
31. The Club at Seven Canyons
32. Troon North (Pinnacle)
33. TPC Scottsdale (Stadium)
34. La Paloma (Ridge/Canyon)
35. Apache Stronghold
36. Desert Mountain Club (Cochise)
37. Boulder’s Resort (North)
38. The Gallery (North)
39. Flagstaff Ranch G.C.
40. GrayHawk (Raptor)
41. The Gallery (South)
42. Laughlin Ranch
43. Blackstone C.C.
44. Boulder’s Resort (South)
45. GrayHawk (Talon)
46. Starr Pass
47. Legacy G.C.
48. Superstition Mountain (Prospector)
49. Sewailo

Top 100 Arizona Golf Courses for 2022

You’d think simply due to the sheer number of golf courses, and number of people traveling to Arizona to golf that it would be filled to the brim with Top 100 courses.

The reality is actually quite a bit different.

Golf Magazine Top 100 in Arizona

On the Golf Magazine list, there are two Top 100 public courses, and none of the Top 100 in America, which includes privates.

• #52 (Public) – We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro) 
• #82 (Public) – Talking Stick (O’Odham North)

Golf Digest Top 100 in Arizona

On the Golf Digest side of things, we see a little more love on the high-end side of things with Estancia coming in at #72 of their 100 Greatest list.

As for the public side of things, Digest went a different route and included neither We-Ko-Pa or Talking Stick in their rankings, but did list Quintero at #88.

These Rankings Are Very Subjective

After beginning to write this post and looking at all of the best golf courses in Arizona lists, there’s one thing that a state like Arizona makes abundantly clear.

These lists are very subjective. So take it all with a grain of salt. 

In some states, the pecking order is a little more clear. For instance, when looking at the best golf courses in Oregon, you might quibble over what order the Bandon courses come in at, or which Pronghorn course falls where, in the top 10.

But it’s pretty clear what the best 20 or so courses are in the state.

In Arizona? It’s anybody’s guess. There are a few heavy hitters at the top of the list, but after you get away from those? Each publication’s rankings are all over the map.

So more than ever simply go by this rule: If a course looks interesting to you? Go play it.

Dream Arizona Golf Itineraries

Arizona Golf Courses: Best of the Best

Depending on where in the State you’re going, this list may change a little bit. But if you’re looking to hit the best of the best, I’d plan to make Scottsdale your home base.

To be clear, all of these courses are notoriously difficult to get access to. With so many people coming to Arizona to golf, I’ve found the best privates are extra protective of their members, and tend to shun a lot of outside attention. So take that for what it’s worth.

• The Estancia Club – We have The Estancia Club among our favorite courses in our top 100 list. It’s a beautiful, perfectly manicured Tom Fazio design, that has a nice variety of very fun holes.
• Whisper Rock – With two courses you might be able to kill two birds with one stone if you can get out for 36 holes. Both are generally considered among the top 10 in the State. This is a haven for a lot of PGA Tour pros
• Scottsdale National – The new kid on the block, that may not rank quite as high as the other two in traditional rankings, but everyone we know who has played there has raved about the experience. If you’re willing to drop big bucks on a PXG club experience – that might be your foot in the door.
• Desert Highlands – Located on the opposite side of Pinnacle Peak from Estancia, this was the first Nicklaus course in the desert and arguably one of the better routings he’s ever done.

Best Arizona Top 100 Public Golf Courses

Just because these courses are public does not mean they’re necessarily affordable. If you’re heading to Arizona in the winter (along with every other golfer in the country), expect to pay a pretty penny for premium tee times no matter where you go.

But if you’re looking to play the best publics available, here’s where we’d go:1

• We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro Course) – On the Northeast side of Scottsdale, this casino resort course should be easy to access and also provide some extra activities when you’re not on the course. If you’re going for Golf Magazine’s Top 100 You Can Play, this is one you’ll want to hit.
• Talking Stick (O’Odham North) – Less than 30 minutes from We-Ko-Pa is Talking Stick Resort, where you get one of the more rare opportunities to play a public Coore Crenshaw track. With the recently renovated O’odham course making Golf Mag’s Top 100 You Can Play List at #82, this is an easy way to knock off a couple of the best publics in the country.
• Quintero Golf Club – To finish off the trifecta of top 100 public courses, venture across town to Quintero, which is about 45 minutes from Talking Stick. This failed to make the Golf magazine top 100, but is on Golf Digest’s top public list. Digest has it as the best public in Arizona, and Golfweek has it at #2 behind We-Ko-Pa – so this is definitely one worth playing.
• TPC Scottsdale – This one is up to you. It’s more famous than any of the above, but playing it without the Waste Management grandstands up will leave you with, a well-maintained, but generally less interesting course than any of the above. Plus you’ll be playing a steep premium for the PGA pedigree.

Best Non-Scottsdale Golf Courses: The Roadtrip

Don’t mind driving and looking to get out of Scottsdale? These are the best courses in the State that aren’t in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area.

• Forest Highlands (Flagstaff) – Next to Estancia, the most common course you’ll hear in the conversation for “best golf course in Arizona” is the flagstaff gem Forest Highlands. There’s some great golf in Flagstaff, and if access isn’t an issue for you, this one is well worth the effort.
• The Stone Canyon Club (Tucson) – If you’re going to be in Tucson, then Stone Canyon is the place you’ll want to try and check out. 
• Pine Canyon Club (Flagstaff) – If you’re going to be in Flagstaff, another one well worth trying to play is Pine Canyon. 

Gotta say, if there’s one thing Arizona isn’t great at? It’s creating unique names for their golf courses…

What are your favorite Arizona Golf Courses?

Drop a comment and let us know.

Other Best in State Golf Lists

• Best Golf Courses in California
• Best Golf Courses in Colorado
• Best Golf Courses in Connecticut
• Best Golf Courses in Georgia
• Best Golf Courses in New York
• Best Golf Courses in Oregon

Member of a private club and love to travel and meet other golf nuts? Check out our Eighty Club Golf Society.

The post Best Golf Courses in Arizona: So Many Options, So Little Time appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

That being said, this is not a golf state to sleep on.

Some of the top municipal courses in the country reside in Connecticut, one of which, Wintonbury Hills, was built by Tom Fazio. It’s one of the only municipal Tom Fazio designs in the country as far as we know. It’s a fantastic course, full of great holes and meanders through rolling hills, woods and rivers.

Shennecossett Golf Course is another municipal that is famed for being the only public Donald Ross course in the state.

Want to spend your time at a resort?

The best golf resorts in the state are right by each other at the state’s two casinos. Foxwoods Resort & Casino lays fame to a 36-hole golf facility called Lake of Isles Golf Club.

The South course frequents the top in the best in states is private, but the North course isn’t too far behind and is open to resort guests and the public.

The other casino, Mohegan Sun Resorts, is home to Mohegan Sun Golf Club. Both resorts are tucked in the southeast corner of the state, near the Rhode Island border. Both casinos are some of the biggest in the United States and there are plenty of amenities outside of golf to make this a great destination as a Connecticut golf resort.

The state is host to a PGA tournament annually at TPC River Highlands for the Travelers Championship. River Highlands is a private course, and surprisingly it only appears on one list, coming in at #7 on Top 100 Golf Courses – Best of Connecticut list.

THE BEST GOLF COURSES IN CONNECTICUT 2022

These rankings are averages of the Best in State Rankings from Golf Digest, Top 100 Golf, Golf Magazine and Golfweek. For ties, where possible we ranked based on our personal experience.

To be included there needed to be a minimum of two inclusions in one of the publications listed above, and if there was a course with only one, and I’ve played it, I added my own vote to make this list.

1. Yale Golf Course (New Haven)
2. Country Club of Fairfield (Fairfield)
3. Stanwich Club (Greenwich)
4. Tamarack Country Club (Greenwich)
5. Wee Burn Country Club (Darien)
6. Round Hill Club (Greenwich)
7. Brooklawn Country Club (Fairfield)
8. Bull’s Bridge Country Club (South Kent)
9. Country Club of Waterbury (Waterbury)
10. Keney Park Golf Course (Windsor)
11. Lake of Isles Golf Club (South) (North Stonington)
12. Hartford Golf Club (Hartford)
13. Wintonbury Hills (Hartford)
14. Great River Golf Club (Milford)
15. Shennecossett Golf Club (New London)
16. Lake of Isles Golf Club (North) (North Stonington)
17. Shorehaven Golf Club (Norwalk)
18. Mohegan Sun Golf Club (Norwich)
19. Fox Hopyard (New Lond0n)
20. Golf Club of Oxford Greens (Waterbury)
21. Hotchkiss School Golf Club (Millerton)
22. Richter Park Golf Course (Danbury)

HOW OTHER PUBLICATIONS RANKED THE TOP GOLF COURSES IN CONNECTICUT

If you’re anything like us, you can never get too many opinions about golf courses when you’re trying to plan a trip. So we wanted to include the lists from other publications as well.  This way you can get a sense of where everything stacks up.

Below you’ll find the current rankings for the best in state across some of the biggest golf publications. The idea was to not only include the composite ranking that you see above, but also give you one place where you can find all of the major information you’re seeking out when it comes to the best golf courses in Connecticut.

GOLF DIGEST BEST IN STATE – CONNECTICUT

1. The Stanwich Club (Greenwich)
2. Yale Golf Course (New Haven)
3. Country Club of Fairfield (Fairfield)
4. Tamarack Country Club (Greenwich)
5. Wee Burn Country Club (Darien)
6. Bull’s Bridge Country Club (South Kent)
7. Lake of Isles Golf Club, South (North Stonington)
8. Shorehaven Golf Club (Norwalk)
9. Hartford Golf Club, Red/Blue 9’s (West Hartford)
10. Country Club of Waterbury (Waterbury)

TOP 100 GOLF COURSES – CONNECTICUT

1. Country Club of Fairfield
2. Yale Golf Course
3. Tamarack Country Club
4. The Stanwich Club
5. Wee Burn Country Club
6. Round Hill Club
7. TPC River Highlands
8. Country Club of Waterbury
9. Brooklawn Country Club
10. Bull’s Bridge Golf Club
11. Keney Park Golf Course*
12. Shuttle Meadow Country Club
13. Connecticut Golf Club
14. Woodway Country Club
15. Wintonbury Hills Golf Course*
16. Great River Golf Club*
17. Hartford Golf Club (Red & Blue)
18. Lake of Isles (South)
19. Black Hall Club
20. Shennecossett Golf Course*
21. Lake of Isles (North)

* Public Course

GOLF MAGAZINE – BEST IN CONNECTICUT

1. Yale Golf Course
2. Country Club of Fairfield
3. The Stanwich Club
4. Tamarack Country Club
5. Brooklawn Country Club

BEST CONNECTICUT PUBLIC GOLF COURSES – GOLFWEEK

1. Keney Park Golf Course
2. Great River Golf Club
3. Wintonbury Hills
4. Lake of Isles (North)
5. Fox Hopyard
6. Hotchkiss (9 hole)
7. Shennecossett Golf Course
8. Richter Park Golf Course
9. The Club at Oxford Greens
10. Mohegan Sun Golf Club

BEST CONNECTICUT PRIVATE GOLF COURSES – GOLFWEEK

1. Yale Golf Course
2. Country Club of Fairfield
3. The Stanwich Club
4. Tamarack Country Club
5. Round Hill Golf Club

TOP 100 COURSES IN CONNECTICUT FOR 2022

The only current course on one of the major top 100 lists is the Course at Yale, which comes in at #46 on the Golf Digest Top 100 public list.

That being said, Yale is also on the Breaking Eighty Top 100 list at #31. This is the list of my favorite courses I’ve personally played.

Country Club of Fairfield has been on previous Top 100 lists, but is not on one currently.

CONNECTICUT GOLF TRIPS: DREAM ITINERARIES

In this section, we’ll look at a handful of “Dream Itineraries” to consider if you’re planning a trip to Connecticut.

1) THE CASINO TRIP: BEST CONNECTICUT GOLF RESORTS

Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun are two of the biggest casino resorts in the country, and they happen to be found in Connecticut.

Between the two there are 36 holes of resort golf, and 18 holes that are reserved for private play.

Two of the biggest casinos in the country with 36 holes of resort/public access and 18 holes of private access, there is no doubt that a great weekend is to be had at Connecticut’s Foxwoods Resort & Casino and Mohegan Sun surely make for a great golf trip, with plenty to do once the sun goes down.

Lake of Isles North at Foxwoods is routinely considered one of the best public courses in the state, and the South course is considered one of the better private courses in the state.

Mohegan Sun Golf Club rounds out another public resort course.

Both resorts are close to each other, so you could easily knock out both courses in one long weekend. You have the added benefit of all of the other amenities offered at both resorts, so this could be an excellent place to get away with your friends, and play some good golf in the process.

Other courses to consider on this trip would be Shennecossett Golf Course, or if you have the access, Fox Hopyard which recently went private.

2) THE CAPITOL: PUBLIC ACCESS COURSES ABOUND

Hartford is an easily accessible city with a major airport nearby and a number of public and private tracks in the metro area.

Recently renovated, Keney Park Golf Course tops the public courses in the state and can be found on a number of top municipal course lists in the country. The greens were recently re-done and are stand-out features, as well as church pew bunkering. 

Not far up the road is Wintonbury Hills Golf Course, another municipal course that ranks highly amongst municipal courses across the country. A Pete Dye design, this course blends forests, parkland, and even some links style holes to create a unique vibe.

The greens play quick and are challenging, but the course overall is very fair. You could make the argument this is one of the best values in the state.

3) COLLEGE GOLF COURSES: HOME TO COLLEGE GOLF’S TOP COURSE

Great River Golf Club is a semi-private golf course not far from Hartford that boasts pristine conditioning and beautiful holes along the Housatonic River. The course is home to Sacred Heart University men’s and women’s golf teams and frequently tops the state’s best of for public courses. If you are in the New Haven area, this is a must-play.

The Golf Course at Yale is likely the top public course in the state depending on who you talk to. It’s a bit of a long shot to call it a “public” course as you have to have a connection to the university to play.

Going into 2022 it will undergo a complete restoration effort by renowned architect, Gil Hanse.

The course has also been limited to Connecticut residents during the COVID pandemic but will move to a daily-fee model once after Hanse completes his renovation of this classic Seth Raynor and C.B. McDonald design.

Home to the Yale University Golf teams, it’s often considered the best collegiate course in the United States.

4) THE PRIVATES

If you look at the rankings, most of the best golf courses in Connecticut are private. That said, if you have the connections you can play some world-class golf in the state.

Along with Yale, the lineup we’d consider would be:

• Country Club of Fairfield –  Considered one of Seth Raynor’s finest designs, this course is regularly amongst the Top 100 in the country. Slight modifications by A.W. Tillinghast and Robert Trent Jones Sr. make this flat and linksy style course very sought after. Getting a chance to become a member is quite difficult, however.
• Tamarack Country Club –  Just over the Connecticut border from Westchester County, Tamarack is another golf architecture lover’s dream. Designed by Charles Banks, an associate of Seth Raynor, the course features a number of template holes with an Edan, Redan and Biarritz greens. Other template hole features include a Cape, Alps and Road hole, giving nods to some of the most historic holes in golf history.
• The Round Hill Club – Another Greenwich staple, the Round Hill Club was designed by Walter Travis in the early 1920’s and is home to an exclusive membership. Tipping out at just over 6,500 yards, the course has maintained much of its original design with some modest modifications by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in the 1960’s.
• Wee Burn Country Club – This private club gets it’s name from, no surprise, the “Wee Burn” or small creek that runs throughout the property. This is one of the great underrated clubs of the north east that gets outshined by more famous neighbors in nearby states.

CONNECTICUT GOLF HIDDEN GEMS

Every state has a few under-the-radar courses that people on a national level usually haven’t heard of, and Connecticut is no different.

• Manchester Country Club –  Designed in 1917 and then redesigned by A.W. Tillinghast in 1935, this semi-private municipal course is a treat and while on the shorter side, provides plenty of challenges especially around the greens. Although it falls outside of most top lists, it could be a great additional add-on if you are in the greater Hartford area.
• Fox Hopyard: Another course that does not always appear in the state rankings is Fox Hopyard in East Haddam, CT. The course was recently transitioned to private, so it could prove more challenging to get on than previously, but it’s worth the effort. The course has a gorgeous layout, with each hole setting up differently and testing every shot in your bag. Dramatic elevation changes with a par 3 Hole #4 that drops over 70 feet in elevation from the tee box. 

OTHER NOTABLE COURSES NEARBY

For most of us, you’re probably not taking a dedicated golf trip just to Connecticut considering how close it is to so many other states (and fantastic golf courses).

A great example is Westchester County.

It’s only a 16-minute drive from Greenwich, Connecticut to Winged Foot. Add a minute more and you’re at Quaker Ridge.

So despite a shortage of “Top 100” courses in Connecticut, you can very easily travel close by to some of the world’s best courses.

Although, access is another story.

That said, here are a few tracks worth playing that are a stone’s throw from the Connecticut border:

• Westchester Privates (Less than 20 minutes) –  We mentioned Winged Foot and Quaker Ridge above. But there are a few dozen worthy courses in this area within a 30-minute drive of the Connecticut border (if you have the access). Pound Ridge Golf Club is one of the best public courses in Westchester County as well.

• Ferry Point (25 minutes) – Looking for a world-class public option? Ferry Point is a fantastic option, and we found it to be even better than anticipated. If for no other reason, go for the view of the Manhattan skyline on 13.

• Bethpage State Park – The Black and Red certainly come to mind as top public access courses though they can be difficult to get tee times on. Bethpage Black consistently ranks inside the top 10 of any Top 100 Public lists and has a historic pedigree of tournaments. Host of the 2025 Ryder Cup, it could certainly be added onto a trip to Connecticut. The Red course also gets favorable nods in most Top 100 public lists.

• A quick ferry ride from the Connecticut coast puts you in range in some of the best private clubs in the world (Shinnecock Hills, National Golf Links of America, Friars Head, Sebonack Golf Club, Fisher’s Island Club, and Maidstone to name a few). Head out to the end of the island (or world) and land on Montauk Downs State Park Golf Course, another highly ranked municipal course that frequents top public course lists.

Safe to say there are certainly plenty of options to head into other neighboring states for fantastic golf. Whether or not you can access them is a different challenge.

Looking for More Best in State Rankings? We got you.

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• Best Golf Courses in Colorado
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• Best Golf Courses in New York
• Best Golf Courses in Oregon

Check out more of our “Best in golf” content.

Member of a private club and love to travel and meet other golf nuts? Check out our Eighty Club Golf Society.

The post Best Golf Courses in Connecticut: A Small State with Great Golf appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.