The United States is home to many of the world’s best and most beautiful golf courses. Many have hosted numerous national and international championships. Here are the 30 greatest golf courses in America.
30. Cypress Point Club
Cypress Point, designed by Alister MacKenzie, tops the list as being one of the most beautiful courses in the world. It’s located along the coast at Pebble Beach. It has a reputation for its unique core structure and dramatic holes. This course was once part of the annual PGA Tour. It runs 6,554 yards and has a par of 72.
29. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
Shinnecock Hill in Southampton, New York, was established in 1891. According to Golf Digest: “There might not be a better collection of par-3s in the world. And three par-4s are all-worlders… This is an American classic as fair of a test to play for tour pros and amateur players alike.” The course runs 7,445 yards with a par of 70.
28. Maidstone
The Maidstone Club in East Hampton, New York, features both an 18-hole and nine-hole private golf course. It was designed by Willie Dunn in 1894 and had a design restoration in 2012 by Ben Crenshaw. It stands out for its exceptional set of greens. The course runs 6,560 yards with a slope of 139 and a par of 72.
27. Oakmont Country Club
Oakmont Country Club was established in 1903, designed by Henry Fownes, and renovated by Tom Fazio in 2015. The course sits across the Allegheny River Valley and was built on old farmland. Oakmont has hosted the U.S. Open more times than any other course in America. It runs 7,254 yards with a par of 71.
26. Sand Hills Golf Club
Sand Hills Golf Club is newer than most courses on this list. While its Mullen, Nebraska location is remote, it attracts golfers worldwide. Known for its minimalist design by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, it’s considered one of “the most natural courses” in America, delivering a variety of hazards. The course runs 7,089 yards and has a par of 71.
25. National Golf Links of America
National Golf Links of America sits on 250 acres in Southampton, New York, on Long Island, and overlooks Peconic Bay. It’s right next to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. Charles B. Macdonald had played many rounds of golf at St. Andrews and designed it to feel like a vintage British course. It runs 6,873 yards and has a par of 72.
24. Merion Golf Club East
While Merion Golf Club has two courses, the East Course is one of the best in America. It sits in the suburbs of Philadelphia and first opened in 1912. Bobby Jones completed a Grand Slam there. It’s one of the more challenging courses in the US, thanks to several obstacles. It runs 6,946 yards and has a par of 70.
23. Fishers Island Golf Club
Fishers Island Golf Club is located on Fishers Island, New York — an island that sits off the coast of Connecticut. Its designer, Seth Raynor, died before his vision was completed in 1926. The design of the course is stunningly beautiful. However, it’s also quite challenging. The course is 6,616 yards and has a par of 72.
22. San Francisco Golf Club
One of America’s premier courses, the San Francisco Golf Club, was founded in 1895. It boasts one of the most exclusive private memberships in the US. Designed by A.W. Tillinghast, this hidden gem is quietly tucked away in the Bay Area. This 18-hole course runs 6,828 yards and has a par of 71.
21. Prairie Dunes
Located in Kansas, Prairie Dunes Country Club opened in 1937 with nine original holes and expanded to 18 holes in 1957. The swells, ripples, and rolling hills of this links-style course are not unlike seaside courses in Scotland and will test any golfer’s skills. The course runs 6,759 yards with a par of 70.
20. Seminole Golf Club
Seminole Golf Club in North Palm Beach, Florida, was designed by Donald Ross and established in 1929. It sits along the Atlantic Ocean. Due to its design, each hole experiences different directions of coastal winds. It’s known for its elite membership, which has included presidents, kings, dukes, and businessmen. It runs 7,265 yards with a par of 72.
19. Crystal Downs
Located in Frankfurt, Michigan, Crystal Downs opened in 1929 and is considered one of the finest golf courses in America. Its combination of expert design by Alister MacKenzie and Perry Maxwell, as well as natural elements, make it one of the more difficult courses. It runs 6,600 yards and has a par of 70.
18. Riviera Country Club
The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, was established in 1926. The design by architects George Thomas and Billy Bell is considered a masterpiece for its angled greens and innovative bunker placement. Despite the small size of this 18-hole course, it forces players to use strategy. It runs 7,322 yards and has a par of 71.
17. Friar’s Head Golf Club
One of the newest courses on this list, the Friar’s Head Golf Club, was designed in 2003 by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. The scenery is breathtaking, with sprawling Meadows and tree-covered dunes. This picturesque course is located in Riverhead, New York, on Long Island Sound. It runs 7,071 yards and has a par of 71.
16. Pacific Dunes
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Brandon, Oregon, has seven courses. Its best is Pacific Dunes, designed by Tom Doak. It opened in 2001 and offers views of the Pacific Ocean and a unique layout that departs from traditional designs. It’s considered one of the premier golfing destinations in America. The course runs 6,633 yards and has a par of 71.
15. Shoreacres
Shoreacres is located in Lake Bluff, Illinois, and rests along Chicago’s North Shore. The course holds its place among America’s greatest, characterized by steep ravines and scenic but challenging play. The standout hole is the 15th, with a 520-yard par-5. The course runs 6,330 yards and has a par of 71.
14. Somerset Hills
Somerset Hills is located in Bernardsville, New Jersey, and is considered among the best courses in America due to its diverse layout. It has had consistent and meticulous restoration efforts spanning 25 years. It has a good blend of challenging yet fair holes. The course runs 6,784 yards and has a par of 71.
13. California Golf Club of San Francisco
California Golf Club of San Francisco (a.k.a. The Cal Club) was founded in 1918. It was designed by Willie Locke and A. Vernon Macan and opened in 1926. It was restored in 2007-2008. It’s known for its fast and firm playing conditions. The 18-hole course runs 7,216 yards, with a slope of 135 and a par of 72.
12. Garden City
The Garden City Golf Club was established in 1899 in Garden City, New York. The course boasts a classic design that challenges golfers of all skill levels. It hosted the U.S. Open in 1902, Walker Cup in 1924, and the US Amateur in 1900, 1908, 1913, in 1936. The course runs 6,926 yards and has a par of 73.
11. The Country Club (Clyde/Squirrel)
Established in 1882, the Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, is America’s oldest golf country club. It’s composed of Clyde and Squirrel nines. Beginning in 1902, it hosted the US Women’s Amateur thrice and the US Amateur six times. It hosted the U.S. Open in 1913, 1963, 1988, and 2022. It runs 7,033 yards and has a par of 71.
10. Chicago Golf Club
One of the five founding clubs of the U.S. Golf Association (USGA), it’s on the National Register of Historic Places. Located in Wheaton, Illinois, it has hosted several US Opens and numerous prestigious tournaments. It opened in 1894 and is believed to be the first 18-hole golf course in America. It runs 6,877 yards with a par of 70.
9. Southern Hills
The Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was established in 1935. It sits on land donated by multimillionaire oilman Waite Phillips (his brothers founded Phillips 66). It has hosted numerous prestigious events, including three US Opens and five PGA Championships. The course runs 7,481 yards and has a par of 71.
8. Oakland Hills (South)
Located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Oakland Hills (South) is the better of its two courses designed by Donald Ross. It was renovated in 2022 to restore its width, playing angles, and the immense scale of its bunkers. The course has hosted six US Opens and three PGA Championships. It runs 7,509 yards and has a par of 72.
7. Los Angeles Country Club (North)
One of America’s top-notch courses, the Los Angeles Country Club in Beverly Hills, California, hosted the U.S. Open in 2023 and the Walker Cup in 2017. The course was revamped in 2010, widening fairways, moving bunkers, and bringing back a natural hazard called barranca. The course runs 7,200 yards with a par of 71.
6. Bethpage (Black)
The Bethpage Black Course is the only public golf course on our list, located at Bethpage State Park on Long Island, New York. Bethpage has hosted numerous tournaments, including two US Opens, the 2019 PGA Championship, two FedEx Cup Playoffs, and two The Barclays. The course runs 7,468 yards, with a 155 slope and a par 71.
5. Winged Foot Golf Club West
Just outside New York City is the Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York, home of two golf courses. The West is considered superior. It opened in 1923 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has hosted the U.S. Open six times in the PGA Championship once. It runs 7,477 yards with a par of 72.
4. Pinehurst Resort Number 2
The Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina features nine 18-hole golf courses. Many experts consider course Number 2 one of the best in the country. Created in 1907, it was designed by Donald Ross. It has hosted three U.S. Opens, multiple top tournaments, and served as several video game backdrops. It runs 7,588 yards with a par of 72.Â
3. Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach is the quintessential golf course, known as being a golf paradise. It hosts several PGA Tour events annually. It’s even served as the backdrop for several video games and movies. Designed by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant, it opened in 1919 and was revised a decade later. The course runs 7,075 yards and has a par of 72.
2. Augusta National Golf Club
Augusta National Golf Club has hosted the Masters Tournament since 1934. Golf legend Bobby Jones and designer Alister MacKenzie set out to mimic the course at St. Andrews in Scotland as closely as possible. Their effort resulted in one of the most notable golf courses in the world. It runs 7,475 yards with a par of 72.
Read More: The 10 Highest-Paid NFL Quarterbacks of All Time
1. Pine Valley Golf Club
Pine Valley Golf Club was established in 1913, designed by George Crump, and completed in 1922. Many experts consider it the top golf course in the country. It has a reputation for being extremely challenging. Golf Digest says: “[It] blends all three schools of golf design—penal, heroic and strategic—oftentimes on a single hole.” The course is 7,181 yards with a par of 70.
Read More: The 20 Greatest Golfers of All Time