Of all the states in the country, South Carolina has the highest percentage of public courses receiving a GolfDay Rating of 90 or higher (Excellent), and a very large number received a rating over 80 (very good), so it’s certainly no surprise that some of the best golf resorts in the country can be found in SC as well.
The Resorts below are listed by their GolfDay Rating, and we have included links for course description, accommodations and golf academy (if available). A link to the Resort website is also provided, as well as a link to Google Maps for each location.
Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Fazio dominate the landscape at the premier golf destinations in South Carolina. Dye and Nicklaus collaborated to create the iconic Harbour Town Links at Sea Island Resort, and each contributed their signature to the spectacular courses at Kiawah Island—Pete Dye with the Ocean Course and Jack with Turtle Point. Nicklaus also laid out the wonderful track at Montage-Palmetto (May River.)
Tom Fazio contributed his architectural genius at Kiawah with Osprey Point, designed one of the terrific courses at Barefoot Resort, and both courses at Wild Dunes Golf Links.
Davis Love III has also continued to burnish his reputation among the top modern day course architects with his work at Sea Pines Resort (Atlantic Dunes), Barefoot Resort and Fripp Island Resort (Ocean Creek)
The GolfDay Resort rating is based on a variety of criteria, including the stature of the architect(s) who did the original design(s), the variety of courses located at the property, updates that have been done on the course(s), USGA Course and Slope Ratings, current local and national rankings by Golf Digest and Golfweek, the quality and diversity of practice facilities, general course conditioning and current reviews, as well as the quality of accommodations and level of service.
Click Top 10 South Carolina Resorts for a map overview of the resort locations (hover over a flag and the resort name will come up, and click for details).
Course Architects: Pete Dye/Jack Nicklaus/George Cobb/Clyde Johnston/Davis Love III/Scot Sherman
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Harbour Town Links: 79.5/152
Heron Point: 74.8/140
Atlantic Dunes: 74.3/143
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Ranges with Targets (Harbour Town and Heron Point/Ocean), Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers. Range Balls and Fore Caddie (Harbour Town) included with Greens Fee.
Practice Facilities: Lighted and Covered Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Dyer and Greg Norman Golf Academies.
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Wedge Range with Target Greens, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (6). ProV1 Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Fripp Island Golf & Beach resort/Seascape Hospitality
Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses)
Course Architect: George Cobb/John LaFoy/Davis Love III/Paul Cowley
USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Ocean Point: 74.0/140
Ocean Creek: 72.1/139
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker (Creek). Irons Only Grass Driving Range with Putting Green (Point).
Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Arthur Hills/George Fazio/Roger Rulewich/John Harvey
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Jones: 74.8/141
Hills: 73.5/139
Fazio: 74.2/145
Practice Facilities: Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker (Hills/Fazio)/Driving Range with Bunker and Toptracer Technology (Jones).
When you think about a winter golf get-away, Florida always comes to mind. The Resorts below are listed by their GolfDay Rating, and we have also included links for Golf Academies, as well as Accommodations and Golf Packages (if available). A link to the Resort website is also provided, as well as a link to Google Maps for each location.
Arnold Palmer leads the list for great Florida course architecture with original design or updates at courses for 5 of the top 25 resorts, including PGA National and Bay Hill. Jack Nicklaus is at the top as well with design at 4 of the leading resorts (including PGA National’s Champion course and the iconic “Bear Trap,” as well as Hammock Beach in Palm Coast).
And of course, the architectural genius of Pete Dye is on display at both TPC Sawgrass and PGA Village, as well as 2 additional courses among the Top 25 (Gasparilla Inn and Amelia Island).
The crown jewel of Florida golf is undoubtedly Streamsong however, with 3 fantastic layouts designed by Tom Doak, Coore & Crenshaw and Gil Hanse (our No. 1 Florida golf resort).
The GolfDay Resort rating is based on a variety of criteria, including the stature of the architect(s) who did the original design(s), the variety of courses located at the property, updates that have been done on the course(s), USGA Course and Slope Ratings, current local and national rankings by Golf Digest and Golfweek, the quality and diversity of practice facilities, general course conditioning and current reviews, as well as the quality of accommodations and level of service.
Click Top 25 Florida Resorts for a map overview of the resort locations (hover over a flag and the resort name will come up, and click for details).
Rankings: Golf Digest Top 200, Golf Digest Top 100-Public, Golfweek Top 200 Resorts, Golf Digest Florida Top 45, Golfweek Florida Top 30 Public, GolfDay Top 100 Resorts
Rankings: Golf Digest Top 100, Golf Digest Top 100-Public, Golfweek Top 200 Resorts, Golf Digest FL Top 45, Golfweek FL Top 30-Public, GolfDay Top 100 Resorts
Holes: 70 (3 Eighteen Hole Courses and 6 Hole Par 3)
Course Architects: Tom Fazio/Pete Dye
USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Wanamaker: 75.2 Rating/145 Slope
Dye: 75.7 Rating/142 Slope
Ryder: 73.2 Rating/133 Slope
Practice Facilities: Extensive including Lighted Grass Range with Targets, Wedge Range, Putting Greens, Chipping Greens with Multiple Bunkers and PGA Golf School.
Holes: 99 (5 Eighteen Hole Courses and Nine Hole Par 3 (Staple))
Course Architects: Tom Fazio/Jack Nicklaus/Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay/George Fazio/Karl Litten/Andy Staples
USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Champion: 75.4 Rating/144 Slope
Palmer: 74.7 Rating/142 Slope
Fazio: 74.4 Rating/138 Slope
Match: 72.6 Rating/138 Slope
Practice Facilities: Double Sides Grass Driving Range with Targets, Edge Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers, Leadbetter Academy and Pelz Golf School.
Course Architects: Rees Jones/Robert Trent Jones, Jr./Tom Jackson
USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Burnt Pine:74.8 Rating/148 Slope
Raven: 73.2 Rating/137 Slope
Links: 73.7 Rating/141 Slope
Baytowne: 72.7 Rating/139 Slope
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Ranges, Putting and Chipping Greens at each course (Burnt Pine includes Bunker, Baytowne Irons Only) with Sandestin Academy.
If you’ve missed the opportunity to experience desert golf, Arizona offers some of the best courses in the country—particularly as the winter chill starts to set in. The Resorts below are listed by their GolfDay Rating, and we have also included links for Accommodations, Golf Packages and Golf Academies (if available). A link to the Resort website is also provided, as well as a link to Google Maps for each location.
The best Arizona resorts include designs by Tom Fazio (Ventana Canyon), Jack Nicklaus (Dove Mountain and La Paloma), Coore & Crenshaw (Wi-Ko-Pa), Tom Weiskopf (Troon North) and Jay Morish (The Boulders and Troon North).
The GolfDay Resort rating is based on a variety of criteria, including the stature of the architect(s) who did the original design(s), the variety of courses located at the property, updates that have been done on the course(s), USGA Course and Slope Ratings, current local and national rankings by Golf Digest and Golfweek, the quality and diversity of practice facilities, general course conditioning and current reviews, as well as the quality of accommodations and level of service.
Click Top 15 Arizona Resorts for a map overview of the resort locations (hover over a flag and the resort name will come up, and click for details).
Course Architects: Lee Schmidt/Brian Curley/Fred Couples
USGA Course/Slope Rating: 76.5 Rating/142 Slope
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and “Mini Dunes” Nine Hole Par 3 Practice Course (Open Dec. 15-April 1). Range Balls included with Green Fee.
Practice Facilities: Covered Grass Driving Range with Targets, Wedge Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (2). Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Course Architects: Robert Von Hagge/Bruce Devlin/Tom Lehman
USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Catalina: 74.3 Rating/133 Slope
Sonoran: 70.7 Rating/129 Slope
Practice Facilities: Double Sided Grass Driving Range with Targets and Fairway Bunker, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers. Range Balls included with Green Fee.
When you start planning for your next golf get away, take a look at the GolfDay Top 100 U.S. Resorts below. Tom Fazio, with original designs or updates for 20 of the Top 100 resorts, is the leading architect for laying out the very best resort courses. Not surprisingly, Jack Nicklaus (18) and Pete Dye (14) are right there as well.
Looking at magnificent course architecture from a family perspective, however, it’s hard to keep up with the Jones’s, as Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Rees Jones and RTJ II designed or updated 27 of the Top 100 resort courses in the country (including Robert Trent Jones’ ultimate gift–the RTJ Golf Trail).
Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw have also sculpted many of the best resort courses in the U.S (7 in the Top 100—including Sheep Ranch, the latest addition to the wonderful courses at Bandon Dunes).
And speaking of Bandon, a special “thank you” has to go out to Tom Doak and David McLay Kidd for the spectacular layouts at Bandon Dunes, always #1 on the golf retreat bucket list (not to mention their work at Forest Dunes, Streamsong, Sand Valley and Gamble Sands).
The GolfDay Resort rating is based on a variety of criteria, including the stature of the architect(s) who did the original design(s), the variety of courses located at the property, updates that have been done on the course(s), USGA Course and Slope Ratings, current local and national rankings by Golf Digest and Golfweek, the quality and diversity of practice facilities, general course conditioning and current reviews, as well as the quality of accommodations and level of service.
Florida boasts the highest number of golf resorts in the Top 100 with 11 (including 7 in the top 50), followed closely by California with 8.
Wisconsin golf may well be the most spectacular of all with 7 in the Top 100 (4 in the top 50)—along with the amazing courses on the Wisconsin Golf Trail).
Michigan should also catch your attention when planning a trip as the weather starts to warm up in the Spring with 6 resorts in the Top 100 (4 in the Top 50).
Keep in mind that along with Bandon Dunes, the Pacific Northwest offers 5 additional resorts in the Top 100, so you may want to plan an extended stay.
For the best public courses, take a look at the GolfDay Top 500.
Holes: 103 (5-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses and Thirteen Hole Par 3)
Course Architects: Tom Doak/David McLay Kidd/Jim Urbina/Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Pacific Dunes: 72.3/143
Bandon Dunes: 76.3/141
Old Macdonald: 74.4/134
Bandon Trails: 73.6/130
Sheep Ranch: 72.1/122
Practice Facilities: 2 Grass Driving Ranges with Targets (North/South), Wedge Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers and Expansive Putting Course (Punch Bowl).
Holes: 81 (4-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses and Eighteen Hole Par 3)
Course Architects
Pebble Beach: Jack Neville/Douglas Grant/William Herbert Fowler/Chandler Egan/Robert Hunter/Roger Lapham/Sandy Tatum/Ed Connor/Jack Nicklaus
Spyglass Hill: Robert Trent Jones, Sr.
Spanish Bay: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Tom Watson/Sandy Tatum
Del Monte: Charles Maud
The Hay (Par 3): Peter Hay/Jack Neville/Robert McClure/Tiger Woods
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Pebble Beach: 74.9/144
Spyglass Hill: 75.4/145
Spanish Bay: 73.8/143
Del Monte: 71.6/131
Practice Driving Ranges with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (Pebble/Spyglass), Spanish Bay and Del Monte Golf Course-Putting and Chipping Greens
Course Architects: Walter Travis/H. S. Colt/C. H. Alison/Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Dick Wilson/Joe Lee/Rocky Roquemore/Tom Fazio/Davis Love III/Mark Love/Rees Jones
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Plantation: 74.1/130
Seaside: 74.2/141
Retreat: 73.9/133
Practice Facilities: Expansive Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers and Performance Center with Club Fitting.
Holes: 45 (2-Eighteen Hole Courses and Nine Hole Regulation Course)
Course Architects: Tom Bendelow/Hal Purdy/Pete Dye/Donald Ross/Sandy Alves/Allan MacCurrach
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Dye: 80.5/151
Ross: 75.7/149
Valley Links: 35.4/121
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets (Dye and Valley Links), Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Warm Up Net with Putting and Chipping Green (Ross).
Course Architects: Pete Dye/Jack Nicklaus/George Cobb/Clyde Johnston/Davis Love III/Scot Sherman
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Harbour Town Links: 75.6/148
Heron Point: 74.8/140
Atlantic Dunes: 74.3/143
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Ranges with Targets (Harbour Town and Heron Point/Ocean), Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers. Range Balls and Fore Caddie (Harbour Town) included with Greens Fee.
Practice Facilities: Lighted and Covered Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Dyer and Greg Norman Golf Academies.
Holes: 63 (3-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses and Nine Hole Regulation Course)
Course Architects: Tom Fazio/Robert Trent Jones, Jr./Ty Butler/Edward Peters/Rick Smith
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Atunyote: 75.7/135
Kaluhyat: 75.2/145
Shenendoah: 74.2/140
Pleasant Knolls: 35.5/119
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets and Fairway Bunker (Atunyote/Shenendoah). Grass Driving Range with Targets (Kaluhyat). Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker (Atunyote/Shenendoah and Kaluhyat). Domed Indoor facility with two-tiered hitting stations, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Performance Center with Club Fitting and Golf Academy.
Holes: 70 (3-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses and 6 Hole Par 3)
Course Architects: Tom Fazio/Pete Dye
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Wanamaker 75.2/134
Dye: 75.7/142
Ryder: 73.2/133
Practice Facilities: Extensive including Lighted Grass Range with Targets, Wedge Range, Putting Greens, Chipping Greens with Multiple Bunkers and PGA Golf School.
Course Architects: Tom Fazio/Jack Nicklaus/Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay/George Fazio/Karl Litten/Andy Staples
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Champion: 75.4/144
Palmer: 74.7/142
Fazio: 74.4/138
Squire: 72.2/137
Estate: 72.6/138
Practice Facilities: Double Sided Grass Driving Range with Targets, Wedge Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers, Leadbetter Academy and Pelz Golf School.
Course Architects: Tom Fazio/Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw/Arnold Palmer
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Canyons: 74.4/144
Foothills: 75.3/141
Cliffside: 72.6/133
Lakeside: 72.4/140
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Additional Grass Range with Targets and Short Game facility at Fazio Course.
Holes: 63 (3-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses and 9 Hole Par 3)
Course Architects: John Fought/Robert Trent Jones, Jr./Jim Ramey/Bob Cupp
Crosswater: 76.8/147
Meadows: 73.7/143
Woodlands: 73.9/144
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and Indoor Golf Simulators. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Course Architects: Michael Hurdzan/Dana Fry/Ron Whitten
USGA Course/Slope Rating: 9/145
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Fairway Bunkers and TopTracer Technology. Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers and Lighted Drumlin Putting Course. TaylorMade Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (at both locations). Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Course Architects: Pete Dye/Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay/Edmund Ault/Brian Ault/Tom Clark/Curtis Strange
USGA Course/Slope Rating
River: 73.2/136
Plantation: 70.9/130
Woods: 72.2/133
Practice Facilities: Driving Range with Targets and Fairway Bunker (Grass Thursday-Sunday, Mats Monday-Wednesday), Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Ranges with Targets (2), Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Golf Academy with GEARS 3-D Body and Club Tracking System and Junior Golf Program. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Roger Rulewich/Jack Nicklaus
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Slick Rock: 73.2/134
Ram Rock: 75.2/139
Apple Rock: 74.6/140
Practice Facilities: 2 Grass Driving Ranges with Targets, Putting and Chipping Green (Apple Rock/Ram Rock and Slick Rock) with Eighteen Hole Natural Grass Miniature Golf Course.
Holes: 81 (4-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses and Nine Hole Par 3)
Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Tom Fazio/Rick Smith
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Masterpiece: 74.8/147
Premier: 73.3/139
Signature: 72.9/140
Tradition: 70.0/130
Practice Facilities: 2 Grass Driving Ranges with Targets (Masterpiece and Treetops North), Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (both facilities). Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Practice Facilities: Double Sided, Two-Tiered Grass Driving Range with Targets and Fairway Bunker, Wedge Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (3). Heated Performance Studio with TrackMan Technology, Flight Scope and comprehensive club fitting facilities. Pinnacle Premium Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Practice Facilities: Expansive Grass Diving Range with Targets, Wedge Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. ProV1 Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets (Irons Only/200 Yard Max), Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus/Tom Weiskopf/Phil Smith
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Nicklaus: 74.1/129
Ke’olu: 74.7/133
Practice Facilities: Expansive Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (unlimited ProV1 Balls and complementary TaylorMade clubs provided).
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Wedge Range with Target Greens, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (6). ProV1 Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Course Architects: Lee Schmidt/Brian Curley/Fred Couples
USGA Course/Slope Rating: 76.5/142
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and “Mini Dunes” Nine Hole Par 3 Practice Course (Open Dec. 15-April 1). Range Balls included with Greens Fee
Course Architects: Fred Findlay/Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay/Pete Dye
USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.9/142
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets and Fairway Bunker, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
