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From Tee to Green: Exploring the Greatest Public Golf Courses in America

Public golf courses offer golfers of all skill levels the opportunity to experience the joys of the game without the need for private club memberships. These courses are open to the public and often feature a wide range of facilities and amenities, from challenging fairways and greens to pro shops and driving ranges.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Public Golf Course

When selecting a public golf course, golfers should consider several key factors, such as course difficulty, facilities, and tee time availability. It's essential to choose a course that matches your skill level and provides the amenities you need to enjoy your round and improve your game.

Course Difficulty and Challenge

Public golf courses come in a variety of difficulties, from beginner-friendly layouts to championship-level tests of skill. Golfers should assess their own abilities and select a course that offers the right balance of challenge and enjoyment. Many public courses feature multiple tee boxes, allowing players to adjust the difficulty based on their handicap.

Facilities and Amenities

The best public golf courses offer a range of facilities and amenities to enhance the golfing experience. These may include well-maintained fairways and greens, strategically placed bunkers and water hazards, and top-quality golf carts. Off the course, golfers can benefit from amenities such as pro shops, driving ranges, and clubhouses with dining and social areas.

Tee Time Availability and Booking Process

Public golf courses can be popular destinations, especially during peak seasons. Golfers should research tee time availability and booking processes in advance to ensure they can secure a spot at their desired course. Many courses offer online booking systems, allowing players to easily reserve tee times and plan their golf outings.

Best Alabama Public Golf Courses

Pursell Farms (FarmLinks), Sylacauga - Known for its pristine landscapes and impressive course layout, Pursell Farms offers an enjoyable and challenging experience for golfers of all levels. The course is celebrated for its innovative agronomic practices and beautiful, rolling terrain.

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Capitol Hill (Judge), Prattville - This course is a jewel in the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Known as "The Judge," it boasts 14 holes alongside the Alabama River, offering stunning vistas and demanding play, especially praised for its spectacular par-3s.

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Grand National (Lake), Opelika - Part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, the Lake Course at Grand National is noted for its scenic lake views and challenging holes that wrap around Lake Saugahatchee. It is frequently described as one of the most picturesque courses in the South.

Best Alaska Public Golf Courses

Anchorage GC, Anchorage - This course provides breathtaking views of the mountains surrounding Anchorage. Its layout offers a mix of challenging and forgiving holes, suitable for golfers seeking both competition and leisure.

Chena Bend, Fairbanks - Nestled in the heart of military grounds, Chena Bend is known for its well-maintained greens and fairways, offering a serene golfing experience amidst the northern wilderness.

Moose Run (Creek), Fort Richardson - The Creek course at Moose Run is the longest course in Alaska and challenges golfers with its diverse terrain and natural hazards. Its layout through the Alaskan wilderness makes it uniquely challenging.

Best Arizona Public Golf Courses

We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro), Fort McDowell - This course is highly regarded for its traditional desert golf experience without any adjacent residential areas, offering unobstructed panoramic views of the Sonoran Desert.

Wickenburg Ranch (Big Wick), Wickenburg - This newer course has quickly gained acclaim for its excellent conditions and challenging layout. The course's elevation changes and scenic vistas make it a memorable play.

Quintero Golf Club, Peoria - Set in a secluded mountain area, Quintero offers a pure golf experience with dramatic elevations and pristine conditions. It's often rated as one of the top courses in Arizona for its design and playability.

Best Arkansas Public Golf Courses

Diamante Golf Club, Hot Springs Village - A private membership club known for its exclusivity and challenging layout. Diamante boasts some of the finest greens in Arkansas and is known for its strategic hole designs.

Mystic Creek Golf Club, El Dorado - This club is frequently praised for maintaining tournament-level conditions and features a challenging layout that stretches through rolling hills and native wetlands.

Glenwood Country Club, Glenwood - Known for its friendly atmosphere and well-kept course, Glenwood Country Club provides a relaxed golfing experience with enough challenges to keep the game interesting, including natural streams and mature woodland.

Best California Public Golf Courses

Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach - Iconic for its breathtaking coastal views and rich tournament history. This public course challenges golfers with its rugged coastline and narrow fairways, making it a must-play for enthusiasts worldwide.

Pasatiempo Golf Club, Santa Cruz - A historic course designed by Alister MacKenzie, offering a challenging layout with spectacular views. It's known for its exceptional green complexes and strategic design.

Torrey Pines Golf Course, San Diego - Famous for its scenic cliffside setting and hosting major tournaments, including the U.S. Open. Both the North and South Courses provide a tough test against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean.

Best Colorado Public Golf Courses

Red Sky Golf Club (Norman), Wolcott - Offers a Greg Norman-designed course with mountain vistas and challenging holes. The course is well-regarded for its preservation of the natural landscape and luxurious amenities.

Broadmoor Golf Club (East), Colorado Springs - A historic venue that has hosted several major championships. The East Course is famous for its wide fairways, challenging greens, and stunning views of Cheyenne Mountain.

Keystone Resort (River), Keystone - Known for its river and mountain settings, this course provides a picturesque yet challenging experience with elevation changes and water hazards.

Best Connecticut Public Golf Courses

Mohegan Sun Golf Club, Baltic - Provides a blend of scenic views and challenging play, known for its excellent condition and friendly staff.

Lake of Isles (North), North Stonington - This public course is highly rated for its challenging layout and pristine conditions amidst stunning natural landscapes.

Wintonbury Hills Golf Course, Bloomfield - A Pete Dye design that offers a fair test with its rolling terrains and strategic bunkering, making it one of the state's top public courses.

Best Delaware Public Golf Courses

Bayside Resort Golf Club, Selbyville - Features a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course known for its dramatic holes along the Assawoman Bay coastline, offering both beauty and challenge.

Rehoboth Beach Country Club, Rehoboth Beach - This private club offers a well-kept, traditional layout with scenic views of the bay, known for its tight fairways and strategic play.

Deerfield Golf Club, Newark - A public course celebrated for its excellent condition and challenging design, providing a good mix of hole varieties.

Best Florida Public Golf Courses

TPC Sawgrass (Stadium), Ponte Vedra Beach - Home to the famous 17th-hole island green, this course is a bucket list destination for its challenging layout and status as host to the PGA TOUR's Players Championship.

Streamsong Resort (Red), Bowling Green - Offers a unique, links-style experience with sprawling sand dunes and expansive waste areas, providing a rugged and memorable challenge.

Streamsong Resort (Blue), Bowling Green - Designed by Tom Doak, it complements its sister Red course with its creative design and natural aesthetics, offering wide fairways and large, undulating greens.

Best Georgia Public Golf Courses

Reynolds Lake Oconee (Oconee), Greensboro - Known for its picturesque lake views and lush greenery, this course offers a mix of challenging holes and relaxing scenery, ideal for golfers who appreciate both beauty and technical layout.

Barnsley Resort (Fazio), Adairsville - A Tom Fazio design that weaves through the rolling hills and historic landscape of North Georgia, providing a compelling challenge with beautifully maintained greens and fairways.

Savannah Quarters Country Club, Savannah - This club features a modern design that tests a golfer's skill through strategic placement of hazards and undulating greens, all set within a charming Southern setting.

Best Hawaii Public Golf Courses

Kapalua Golf (Plantation), Lahaina - Famous for hosting the PGA Tour's Tournament of Champions, this course offers dramatic elevation changes and views of the Pacific. Its expansive fairways and challenging greens appeal to professionals and amateurs alike.

Wailea Golf Club (Gold), Wailea - Offers a luxurious golfing experience with spectacular ocean views from every hole. Known for its strategic layout and exceptional upkeep, the course challenges all skill levels.

Princeville Makai Golf Club, Princeville - Renowned for its stunning ocean and mountain views, this course provides a lush, tropical golfing experience with a layout that caters to both challenging and enjoyable play.

Best Idaho Public Golf Courses

Circling Raven Golf Club, Worley - Set among 620 acres of wetlands, woodlands, and Palouse grasses, this course is celebrated for its integration with nature and offers a secluded and immersive golf experience.

Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course, Coeur d'Alene - Famous for its floating green on the 14th hole, this course combines innovation with luxury, offering stunning lake views and meticulously groomed fairways.

Teton Reserve Golf Club, Victor - Provides a mountain golf experience with a layout that takes advantage of natural terrain to challenge golfers, offering scenic views of the Teton range.

Best Illinois Public Golf Courses

Cog Hill Golf & Country Club (Dubsdread), Lemont - This course has hosted several professional tournaments and is known for its challenging layout and deep bunkers, demanding precision from even the most skilled golfers.

Cantigny Golf, Wheaton - Offers 27 holes of championship golf that meander through woodlands, lakes, and gardens, providing a beautiful and diverse challenge for all levels of golfers.

Kemper Lakes Golf Club, Kildeer - A regular host for major championships, this course is famous for its water hazards that come into play on 11 holes, offering a demanding test of golf.

Best Indiana Public Golf Courses

Brickyard Crossing Golf Club, Indianapolis - Unique for having four holes inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, this course combines history with modern golf design, providing an unforgettable experience.

The Fort Golf Resort, Indianapolis - Built on a historic army post, this course offers a mix of natural beauty and challenging play with a layout that takes advantage of the hilly landscape.

Purgatory Golf Club, Noblesville - Known for its length and the strategic use of sand bunkers, Purgatory provides a stern test to golfers, with a design that emphasizes precision over power.

Best Iowa Public Golf Courses

Ames Golf & Country Club, Ames - This club offers a classic golf experience with a well-maintained course that challenges golfers through strategic layout and varied terrain.

Spirit Hollow Golf Club, Burlington - Rated as one of the best in the state, this course is known for its challenging play and beautiful, undisturbed natural setting.

Amana Colonies Golf Club, Amana - Features rolling hills and expansive fairways framed by mature forests, offering a peaceful yet challenging round of golf.

Best Kansas Public Golf Courses

Sand Creek Station Golf Club, Newton - This course is known for its links-style design that incorporates natural sand dunes and native grasses, offering a challenging yet fair golfing experience reminiscent of traditional Scottish courses.

Colbert Hills Golf Club, Manhattan - Built on the rolling hills of Manhattan, Kansas, this public course is noted for its elevation changes and breathtaking views. It's a demanding course that uses the natural landscape to challenge golfers.

Prairie Dunes Country Club, Hutchinson - A classic course that blends Scottish links with American prairie-style design. Known for its rugged beauty and tough, wind-shaped dunes, it's a top-ranked course nationally with a rich history.

Best Kentucky Public Golf Courses

Valhalla Golf Club, Louisville - This prestigious club has hosted multiple PGA Championships and is known for its challenging layout designed by Jack Nicklaus. It offers a stern test for the best golfers, with a beautiful yet strategic design.

Keene Trace Golf Club (Champion Trace), Nicholasville - Known for its championship-quality course that features rolling terrain, water hazards, and large, undulating greens that demand precision and strategy.

Olde Stone, Bowling Green - Offers a luxurious golf experience with a course designed by Arthur Hills. The layout demands strategic thinking and skill, set against the backdrop of Kentucky's natural beauty.

Best Louisiana Public Golf Courses

TPC Louisiana, Avondale - Host of the PGA Tour's Zurich Classic of New Orleans, this course is celebrated for its challenging Pete Dye design, featuring over 100 bunkers and numerous water hazards that provide a tough yet enjoyable test.

Carter Plantation, Springfield - A David Toms design that showcases the beauty of the Louisiana landscape with cypress wetlands, live oaks, and rolling terrain. It provides both scenic beauty and golfing challenge.

Audubon Park Golf Course, New Orleans - A shorter course known for its accessible play and stunning views of historic oak trees and picturesque landscapes, ideal for a quick, enjoyable round.

Best Maine Public Golf Courses

Sugarloaf Golf Club, Carrabassett Valley - Recognized for its Robert Trent Jones Jr. design, this mountain course offers dramatic elevation changes and stunning views, making it one of the most visually spectacular courses in New England.

Sunday River Golf Club, Newry - Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., this course is famed for its challenging layout and impressive vistas of the Mahoosuc Range. It's a favorite among golfers looking for a mountain golf experience.

Belgrade Lakes Golf Club, Belgrade Lakes - Offers a natural, laid-back Maine woods experience with a course that winds through forests and over hilly terrain, providing scenic views and a peaceful golf setting.

Best Maryland Public Golf Courses

Bulle Rock Golf Club, Havre de Grace - Often ranked as one of the best public courses in the country, this Pete Dye design challenges golfers of all levels with its mixture of strategic play and aesthetic beauty.

Whiskey Creek Golf Club, Ijamsville - Co-designed by Ernie Els, this course features natural elevation changes and rugged terrain, incorporated into a layout that challenges thoughtful play over sheer power.

Queenstown Harbor Golf Links, Queenstown - Located on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, this course offers 36 holes of scenic golf with water views and well-maintained fairways and greens.

Best Massachusetts Public Golf Courses

The Country Club, Brookline - One of the oldest and most prestigious clubs in the United States, known for its rich history and challenging courses that have hosted numerous major championships, including the U.S. Open.

Pinehills Golf Club (Nicklaus), Plymouth - This Nicklaus-designed course offers wide fairways and strategically placed hazards, providing a fun and engaging round for golfers of all skills.

Pinehills Golf Club (Jones), Plymouth - A Rees Jones design that complements its sister Nicklaus course with a different challenge, focusing on natural topography and strategic bunkering.

Best Michigan Public Golf Courses

Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club, Arcadia - Situated on the shores of Lake Michigan, this course offers stunning lake views and a links-style layout that mimics Scottish coastal courses, making it a visually spectacular and challenging experience.

Forest Dunes Golf Club, Roscommon - Known for its unique reversible course, allowing golfers to play it in different directions on alternate days. The course features dramatic sand dunes, sprawling forests, and intricate greens.

Tullymore Golf Resort, Stanwood - This resort features two courses, but Tullymore is the standout with its scenic beauty and strategic layout that has garnered it numerous accolades as one of the finest public courses in the country.

Best Minnesota Public Golf Courses

Bully Pulpit Golf Course, Medora - Set in the rugged North Dakota Badlands, this course offers a dramatic landscape with changes in elevation and natural formations that create a visually stunning and challenging game.

Wilderness at Fortune Bay, Tower - Located by Lake Vermilion, this course is celebrated for its beautiful woodland setting and impeccable condition. The layout is designed to blend seamlessly with the natural environment, offering a tranquil yet challenging round.

Cragun's Legacy Courses, Brainerd - With multiple courses to choose from, Cragun’s Legacy offers varied play that caters to all skill levels, featuring large bentgrass greens, natural hazards, and beautiful Minnesota landscapes.

Best Mississippi Public Golf Courses

Fallen Oak, Saucier - An exclusive course open only to guests of the Beau Rivage Resort, offering a high-end golf experience with a meticulously maintained course that rivals the best of the country’s private golf clubs.

Shell Landing Golf Club, Gautier - Known for its beauty and challenging play, this course is a local favorite, featuring marshlands and pine forests that require strategic play.

Dancing Rabbit Golf Club (Azaleas), Philadelphia - This course, designed by Tom Fazio and Jerry Pate, is noted for its natural beauty and challenging layout that blends into the rolling hills of Mississippi woodland.

Best Missouri Public Golf Courses

Buffalo Ridge Springs, Hollister - Redesigned by Tom Fazio, this course is part of a larger resort area known for its natural water features and beautiful Ozarks scenery, providing both challenge and aesthetics.

Branson Hills Golf Club, Branson - Often rated as the top public course in Missouri, this course offers a challenging layout through the Ozark Mountains with natural rock outcroppings and water features.

Ozarks National, Hollister - Designed by Coore & Crenshaw, this course is celebrated for its minimalist design that emphasizes playability and natural beauty, offering expansive views of the Ozarks.

Best Montana Public Golf Courses

The Reserve at Moonlight Basin, Big Sky - Offers one of the most scenic golf experiences in the U.S. with its high-elevation views and challenging layout that requires strategic play to navigate its rugged terrain.

Wilderness Club, Eureka - Known for its relaxed atmosphere and stunning course design, which includes natural forests and a layout that caters to all skill levels.

Yellowstone Club, Big Sky - An exclusive private club that offers luxury alongside a Tom Weiskopf-designed course set in the mountains, providing breathtaking views and impeccable course conditions.

Best Nebraska Public Golf Courses

Wild Horse Golf Club, Gothenburg - Widely regarded as one of the best value courses in the United States, this links-style course offers natural sand dunes and firm playing surfaces that make it a favorite among purists.

Dismal River Golf Club (White), Mullen - Set in the sandhills of Nebraska, this Jack Nicklaus design is noted for its challenging layout and remote beauty, offering a pure golf experience.

Awarii Dunes Golf Club, Kearney - Inspired by Irish links courses, this course features undulating fairways and challenging greens set against a minimalist landscape, emphasizing the natural beauty and strategic play.

Best Nevada Public Golf Courses

Shadow Creek, North Las Vegas - Known for its exclusivity and breathtaking beauty, Shadow Creek is a lush oasis in the desert, designed by Tom Fazio. This course offers meticulously crafted landscapes and a premier golfing experience.

Wolf Creek Golf Club, Mesquite - Famous for its dramatic elevation changes and stunning vistas, Wolf Creek provides a visually spectacular golfing adventure that feels more like a fantasy landscape.

Cascata, Boulder City - Another exquisite design by Tom Fazio, Cascata offers a luxury golfing experience with features like a 418-foot waterfall and river that runs through the clubhouse, set against the backdrop of rugged terrain.

Best New Hampshire Public Golf Courses

Omni Mount Washington Resort (Mount Washington), Bretton Woods - This historic course offers a scenic golfing experience with views of the Presidential Range. It's known for its traditional design and well-kept fairways and greens.

Wentworth by the Sea Country Club, Rye - A classic New England golfing experience with views of the Atlantic Ocean. The course is both scenic and challenging, with a variety of holes that cater to all skill levels.

Stonebridge Country Club, Goffstown - Known for its picturesque setting and challenging layout, Stonebridge provides a satisfying blend of natural beauty and golfing challenge, featuring water hazards and strategic bunkering.

Best New Jersey Public Golf Courses

Atlantic City Country Club, Northfield - With a rich history and traditional links-style layout, this course has hosted numerous professional events and is famed for its coastal winds that add an extra layer of challenge.

Ballyowen Golf Club, Hamburg - Designed by Roger Rulewich, this course is modeled after Scottish links and offers expansive rolling fairways, rugged bunkers, and beautiful pastoral views.

Twisted Dune Golf Club, Egg Harbor Township - A public course known for its link-style design, featuring twisting landscapes and deep bunkers, making it a formidable test of golf in New Jersey.

Best New Mexico Public Golf Courses

Black Mesa Golf Club, Espanola - Set in the dramatic landscapes of Northern New Mexico, this course is known for its artistic design and challenging natural terrain, offering stunning views and unique golf holes.

Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club, Sandia Park - Often ranked among the best public courses in the country, this course offers 27 holes of high-desert golf with panoramic mountain views and challenging elevation changes.

Pinon Hills Golf Course, Farmington - Renowned for being a high-quality, affordable municipal course, Pinon Hills challenges golfers with its rugged terrain and strategic design elements.

Best New York Public Golf Courses

Bethpage State Park (Black), Farmingdale - Famous for hosting multiple U.S. Opens, Bethpage Black is a public course known for its difficulty, featuring narrow fairways, high rough, and imposing bunkers.

Pound Ridge Golf Club, Pound Ridge - Designed by Pete Dye, this luxury public course offers a stern challenge with its dramatic rock formations, wetlands, and intricate hole designs.

Turning Stone Resort (Atunyote), Verona - This course is known for its parkland setting, impeccable conditioning, and beautiful layout, previously hosting PGA Tour events.

Best North Carolina Public Golf Courses

Pinehurst No. 2, Pinehurst - A legendary Donald Ross design, known for its crowned, undulating greens and strategic layout, it has hosted more single golf championships than any other course in America.

Pinehurst No. 4, Pinehurst - Redesigned by Gil Hanse, it complements its more famous sibling with its own unique challenges, featuring natural ridgelines and stunning aesthetics.

Tobacco Road Golf Club, Sanford - Designed by Mike Strantz, this course is famous for its unconventional and visually intimidating design, offering one of the most unique golfing experiences in the country.

Best Ohio Public Golf Courses

Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin - Designed by Jack Nicklaus, this prestigious course is famous for hosting the Memorial Tournament annually. Known for its meticulous conditioning and challenging layout, it's a true test of golf.

Firestone Country Club (South), Akron - A renowned venue for numerous PGA events, including the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. This historic course is celebrated for its long, narrow layout and challenging par-5s.

Scioto Country Club, Columbus - A classic course with a rich history, having nurtured talents like Jack Nicklaus. It offers a challenging yet traditional layout with well-guarded greens and strategic design.

Best Oklahoma Public Golf Courses

Karsten Creek Golf Club, Stillwater - Home to Oklahoma State University's golf team, this course is known for its rugged beauty and challenging play, featuring natural brush, water hazards, and towering oaks.

Oak Tree National, Edmond - A highly challenging and prestigious course that has hosted several major championships, known for its narrow fairways and punishing greens.

Shangri-La Golf Club (Monkey Island), Monkey Island - Located on Grand Lake, this course offers scenic lake views with a variety of holes that challenge both skill and strategy, making for an enjoyable round.

Best Oregon Public Golf Courses

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Pacific Dunes), Bandon - Designed by Tom Doak, Pacific Dunes is highly regarded for its seaside landscape and minimalist design, often ranked as one of the top courses in the U.S.

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Bandon Dunes), Bandon - The original course at the resort, designed by David McLay Kidd, it offers a true Scottish links experience with natural dunes and ocean winds shaping the play.

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Old Macdonald), Bandon - A tribute to classic Charles MacDonald designs, this course emphasizes strategic choices and large, undulating greens, providing a unique challenge.

Best Pennsylvania Public Golf Courses

Nemacolin Woodlands Resort (Mystic Rock), Farmington - A challenging course designed by Pete Dye, known for its picturesque landscapes and rigorous layout. It has hosted PGA Tour events and offers top-tier amenities.

Hershey Country Club (East), Hershey - Rich in history and tradition, this course has hosted numerous PGA events and offers a classic, challenging golf experience with well-maintained fairways and greens.

Olde Stonewall Golf Club, Ellwood City - A public course noted for its challenging layout and stunning stone work that integrates with the natural landscape, providing a memorable and difficult round of golf.

Best Rhode Island Public Golf Courses

Shelter Harbor Golf Club, Charlestown - Known for its environmental sensitivity and beautiful design, this course offers a blend of woodland and open field holes with strategic bunkering and natural aesthetics.

Misquamicut Club, Westerly - A private, seaside course offering classic New England links play with stunning ocean views and breezy conditions that add an extra layer of challenge.

Warwick Country Club, Warwick - Offers scenic bay views and a competitive layout. The course is known for its fast greens and strategic hole designs that require accurate shot-making.

Best South Carolina Public Golf Courses

Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Ocean), Kiawah Island - Famous for its seaside setting and hosting the 1991 Ryder Cup and 2012 PGA Championship. The Ocean Course is renowned for its beauty and difficulty, with winds off the Atlantic shaping every shot.

Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island - Known for its iconic lighthouse at the 18th hole, this course is a favorite among PGA Tour players, celebrated for its narrow fairways and small greens that demand precision.

Dunes Golf & Beach Club, Myrtle Beach - A classic Robert Trent Jones design, this course is noted for its historic layout, strategic hole locations, and beautiful oceanfront setting, making it a staple of Myrtle Beach golf.

Best South Dakota Public Golf Courses

Sutton Bay Golf Club, Agar - Set on a bluff overlooking Lake Oahe, this course features dramatic elevation changes and expansive views, providing a secluded and premium golf experience.

Spearfish Canyon Golf Club, Spearfish - Nestled in the scenic Spearfish Canyon, this course is known for its picturesque beauty and a layout that requires precision due to its narrow fairways and small greens.

Meadowbrook Golf Course, Rapid City - A municipal course valued for its affordability and challenge, featuring a creek that comes into play on several holes amid mature trees and rolling hills.

Best Tennessee Public Golf Courses

Sweetens Cove Golf Club, South Pittsburg - Highly praised for its unique nine-hole layout, this course has gained a cult following for its creative design and superb conditions, often likened to a "field of dreams" in golf.

Gaylord Springs Golf Links, Nashville - Designed by Larry Nelson, this Scottish links-style course is distinguished by limestone bluffs, spring-fed lakes, and natural wetlands, providing a beautiful and challenging round.

Sevierville Golf Club (River), Sevierville - Features a river that winds through the course, creating natural hazards and scenic beauty, making it a favorite among locals and tourists alike.

Best Texas Public Golf Courses

Barton Creek Resort & Spa (Fazio Foothills), Austin - Known for its dramatic cliffs, waterfalls, and lush fairways nestled in the Texas Hill Country, offering a memorable and challenging golf experience.

TPC San Antonio (Oaks), San Antonio - Home to the PGA Tour's Valero Texas Open, this course is recognized for its strategic bunkering and native vegetation, demanding precision and strategy.

Horseshoe Bay Resort (Ram Rock), Horseshoe Bay - Features narrow fairways and numerous water hazards, making it known as one of the most challenging courses in Texas.

Best Utah Public Golf Courses

Promontory Club (Nicklaus), Park City - Offers breathtaking views of the Wasatch Mountains and features a diverse layout that takes advantage of the natural terrain, providing a premium golfing experience.

Glenwild Golf Club, Park City - A Tom Fazio design that consistently ranks as one of Utah's top golf courses, known for its meticulously groomed fairways and challenging layout amidst stunning mountain backdrops.

Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club, St. George - Integrates the desert landscape into its design, featuring black lava flows and panoramic vistas, creating both a beautiful and strategic course.

Best Vermont Public Golf Courses

Stowe Mountain Resort (Mountain Course), Stowe - A mountain course known for its hilly layout and spectacular views of the Green Mountains, offering a challenging and scenic golfing experience.

Quechee Club (Lakeland), Quechee - Features two courses, with Lakeland providing water hazards on 10 holes, offering both beauty and challenge amid a picturesque setting.

Okemo Valley Golf Club, Ludlow - Renowned for its well-maintained condition and player-friendly design, this course features wide fairways and scenic vistas, suitable for golfers of all levels.

Best Virginia Public Golf Courses

Kinloch Golf Club, Manakin-Sabot - A prestigious private club known for its pristine conditions and challenging layout that emphasizes strategic play over brute force. The course offers a classic golf experience in a serene setting.

Golden Horseshoe Golf Club (Gold), Williamsburg - A historic course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and restored by his son Rees Jones, known for its beautiful woodland setting and thoughtful use of natural contours and hazards.

Ballyhack Golf Club, Roanoke - This course features a dramatic, hilly landscape with large, undulating greens and expansive views, designed by Lester George to offer a challenging yet enjoyable round.

Best Washington Public Golf Courses

Chambers Bay, University Place - Host of the 2015 U.S. Open, this public links-style course is set along the Puget Sound, offering dramatic vistas and a challenging layout with rolling fairways and firm, fast greens.

Gamble Sands, Brewster - Designed by David McLay Kidd, this course is known for its playability and stunning panoramic views of the Columbia River. It emphasizes fun with wide fairways and large greens.

Salish Cliffs Golf Club, Shelton - An award-winning course that winds through lush forests and offers elevation changes, providing scenic beauty and a test of golf that is both fair and challenging.

Best West Virginia Public Golf Courses

The Greenbrier (Old White TPC), White Sulphur Springs - A classic course that has hosted PGA Tour events, known for its challenging layout and historic design elements that have been preserved through careful restoration.

Glade Springs Resort (Cobb), Daniels - Features a variety of golf experiences with the Cobb Course known for its scenic beauty and playable design that caters to all skill levels.

Pete Dye Golf Club, Bridgeport - A top-rated course nationally, this course offers a rugged, picturesque landscape with innovative design elements that are a hallmark of Pete Dye's challenging layouts.

Best Wisconsin Public Golf Courses

Whistling Straits (Straits Course), Sheboygan - Host to multiple PGA Championships and the 2021 Ryder Cup, this course is famed for its rugged lakeside beauty and links-style design that mimics the ancient seaside courses of the United Kingdom.

Erin Hills Golf Course, Hartford - Known for hosting the 2017 U.S. Open, this course offers a natural, rolling landscape free of residential development, providing a pure golf experience.

Sand Valley Golf Resort (Sand Valley), Nekoosa - Part of a newer resort designed by Coore and Crenshaw, it features sandy soil, firm playing conditions, and vast fairways and greens set amidst picturesque sand dunes.

Best Wyoming Public Golf Courses

Teton Pines Country Club, Wilson - Near Jackson Hole and the Teton Mountains, this Arnold Palmer design offers breathtaking mountain views and a layout that is both challenging and enjoyable for all skill levels.

Paintbrush Golf Club, Dubois - Known for its exclusive, low-density layout, this course provides a serene and intimate golfing experience, integrating naturally into the rugged Wyoming landscape.

Sheridan Country Club, Sheridan - A historic club that combines old-world charm with modern challenges, featuring tree-lined fairways and small, well-bunkered greens.

What makes a public golf course great?

A great public golf course offers a well-maintained layout, challenging yet enjoyable gameplay, and a range of facilities and amenities to enhance the golfing experience.

How do I choose the right public golf course for my skill level?

Consider the course difficulty and choose a layout that matches your skill level. Look for courses with multiple tee boxes and read reviews from golfers of similar abilities.

What amenities should I look for at a public golf course?

The best public golf courses offer amenities such as pro shops, driving ranges, golf carts, and clubhouses with dining and social areas. Well-maintained fairways, greens, and bunkers are also essential.

#golf #golfing #public golf courses #torrey pines #bandon dunes

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