Tag: Donald Ross Municipal

Classic Courses: Donald Ross–Top 35 Public 2024

Bedford Springs Resort, PA

Donald Ross was by far the most prolific of the classic golf course architectural masters, having designed or remodeled more than 300 courses in the United States that are still open for play.

Many of the most famous courses designed by Ross are private, including Oak Hill, Seminole, and Oakland Hills, but there are 100 Donald Ross courses that are open to the public–starting with Pinehurst #2.

Pinehurst #2, Pinehurst Resort NC

Pinehurst #2, site of the 2024 U.S. Open, is perhaps the most famous Donald Ross design, having previously hosted the Open in 2014, 2005 and 1999 as well as the 2014 Women’s Open, 1936 PGA Championship and the 1951 Ryder Cup.

Donald Ross

Donald Ross also designed courses 1 and 3 at Pinehurst Resort, and a great many of his classic course designs were conceived in his home adjacent to #2, Dornoch Cottage, where Ross lived from 1925 until his death in 1948.

Dornoch Cottage, Pinehurst Resort

Ross left us with a wealth of wonderful golf courses, and we are fortunate indeed that so many are available for everyone to enjoy. We have selected our Top 35, but you can also spin through a comprehensive list of all public Donald Ross courses.

Since Donald Ross made his home in North Carolina, it is not a surprise that 11 of the Top 35 public Ross courses are located in NC. Florida is second with 4, followed by Ohio and New Hampshire with three each.  

It is also notable that 11 of our Top 35 are Municipal courses, with Monroe Country Club (No. 10) and Mooresville Golf Club (No. 11) leading the list.

In addition to Pinehurst, premier golf resort locations with Donald Ross courses include French Lick in Indiana, Pine Needles (also in NC), and The Broadmoor in Colorado.

Should you wish to delve deeper into the life and work of this remarkable man, The Donald Ross Society is a fantastic resource.

And if you’re just looking for great public golf where you are or where you’re going, the GolfDay Search Engine makes it easy to find the best courses and a better bang for your buck.

Pinehurst Resort, NC
  1. Pinehurst Resort/Pinehurst, NC (Resort)
  • Holes: 180 (10-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: Donald Ross/Walter Travis/Richard Tufts/Tom Fazio/Tom Marzolf/Ellis Maples/George Fazio/Rees Jones/Jack Nicklaus/Tom Doak
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating

#1:  69.1/123

#2:  77.9/149

#3:  66.1/123

#4:  74.9/138

#5:  73.1/135

#6:  74.5/140

#7:  75.6/142

#8:  73.9/139

#9:  74.8/143

#10 74.1/142         

French Lick Resort, IN

2. French Lick Resort/French Lick, IN (Resort)

  • Holes: 45 (2-Eighteen Hole Courses and Nine Hole Regulation Course)
  • Course Architects: Tom Bendelow/Hal Purdy/Pete Dye/Donald Ross/Dandy Alves/Allan MacCurrach
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating

Dye:                       80.5/151

Ross:                     75.7/149

Valley Links:       35.4/121

Pine Needles, NC

3. Pine Needles/Southern Pines, NC (Resort)

  • Holes: 36 (2-Eighteen Hole Courses)
  • Course Architects: Donald Ross/John Fought/Kyle Franz
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:

Pine Needles:       74.7/141

Mid Pines:              72.9/138

The Broadmoor, CO

4. The Broadmoor/Colorado Springs, CO (Resort)

  • Holes: 36 (2-Eighteen Hole Courses/Mountain Course Closed for Renovation)
  • Course Architects: Donald Ross/Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Jack Nicklaus/Ron Forse
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:

East:           73.8/141

West:          73.0/138

Bedford Springs Resort, PA

5. Bedford Springs Resort/Bedford, PA (Resort)

       Omni Hotels & Resorts

  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Spencer Oldham/Donald Ross/A. W. Tillinghast/Ron Forse
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.7/140
  • Grass Driving Range with Target Greens, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
  • Course Description
  • Accommodations
  • GolfDay Rating: 97.1
  • Location
The Homestead, VA

6. The Homestead/Hot Springs, VA (Resort)

      Omni Hotels & Resorts

  • Holes: 36 (2-Eighteen Hole Courses)
  • Course Architects: Donald Ross/William Flynn/Tom Clark/Bill Love
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating

Cascades:            72.9/135

Old Course:         69.6/128

  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker (at both Cascades and Old Course).
The Lancaster Golf Club, SC

7. Lancaster Golf Club/Lancaster, SC (Public)

  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Donald Ross/Russell Breeden/Clyde Johnston
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 71.7/137
  • Practice Facilities: Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Video Tour
  • GolfDay Rating: 95.5
  • Location
Southern Pines Golf Club, NC

8. Southern Pines Golf Club/Southern Pines, NC (Public)

  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Donald Ross/William Mitchell/John LaFoy/Kyle Franz
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.0/135
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Restoration
  • GolfDay Rating: 94.9
  • Location
Forest Hills Golf Club, GA

9. Forest Hills Golf Club/Augusta, GA (Public)

  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Donald Ross/Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay/Harrison Minchew
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.6/141
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets and Fairway Bunker, Putting and Chipping Green.
  • Course Description
  • Photos
  • GolfDay Rating: 94.2
  • Location
Monroe Country Club, NC

10. Monroe Country Club/Monroe, NC (Muni)   

        City of Monroe

  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Donald Ross/Tom Jackson/Richard Mandell/Tyler Rae
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.6/133
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Photos
  • GolfDay Rating: 94.2
  • Location
Mooresville Golf Club, NC

11. Mooresville Golf Club/Mooresville, NC (Muni)

      Town of Mooresville

  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architect: Donald Ross/J. Porter Gibson/Kris Spence
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.0/135
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
  • Course Description
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 93.9
  • Location
Denison Golf Club at Granville , OH

12. Denison Golf Club at Granville/Granville University, OH (Public)

        Denison University

Fort Mill Golf Club, SC

13. Fort Mill Golf Club/Fort Mill, SC (Public)

  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Donald Ross/George Cobb/Clyde Johnston
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.9/136
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Target Greens, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Video Tour
  • GolfDay Rating: 93.3
  • Location
Delaware Golf Club, OH

14. Delaware Golf Club/Delaware, OH (Public)

  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Donald Ross/Michael Hurdzan/Fuzzy Zoeller
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.3/135
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens.
  • Course Description
  • Photos
  • GolfDay Rating: 93.1
  • Location
Seaview Hotel & Golf Club, NJ

15. Seaview Hotel & Golf Club/Galloway Township, NJ (Resort)  

        Dolce Hotels

  • Holes: 36 (2-Eighteen Hole Courses)
  • Course Architects: Donald Ross/A. W. Tillinghast/William Flynn/Howard Toomey/William F. Gordon/David W. Gordon/Alyn Janis/Bob Cupp
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating

Bay:                       69.8/125

Pines:                    72.4/123

Ravisloe Country Club, IL

16. Ravisloe Country Club/Homewood, IL (Public)

New Smyrna Golf Club, FL

17. New Smyrna Golf Club/New Smyrna Beach, FL (Muni)

        City of New Smyrna

Shennecossett Golf Club, CT

18. Shennecossett Golf Club/Groton, CT (Muni)

       City of Groton

The Waynesville Inn & Golf Club, NC

19. The Waynesville Inn & Golf Club/Waynesville, NC (Resort)

  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Donald Ross/Tom Jackson/Bobby Weed
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 71.5/139
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, “Wedge Park” Short Course, Lighted Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Accommodations
  • GolfDay Rating: 91.4
  • Location
Mill Creek Golf Course, OH

20. Mill Creek Golf Course/Boardman, OH (Muni)

        Mill Creek MetroParks

  • Holes: 36 (2-Eighteen Hole Courses)
  • Course Architect: Donald Ross
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:

North:  71.2/123

South:  71.7/126

Pinecrest Golf Club, FL

21. Pinecrest Golf Club/Avon Park, FL (Public)

George Wright Golf Course, MA

22. George Wright Golf Course/Hyde Park, MA (Muni)

Biltmore Golf Course, FL

23. Biltmore Golf Course/Coral Gables, FL (Resort)

        The Biltmore Hotel

  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Donald Ross/William Langford/Mark Mahannah/Brian Silva
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.3/132
  • Practice Facilities: Driving Range (Grass Thursday-Sunday/Mats Monday-Wednesday) with Targets, Putting Greens (3) and Chipping Greens with Bunker and Jim McLean Golf Academy.
  • Course Description
  • Accommodations
  • GolfDay Rating: 91.1
  • Location
Jeffersonville Golf Club, PA

24. Jeffersonville Golf Club/Jeffersonville, PA (Muni)

        West Norton Township

Chautauqua Golf Club, NY

25. Chautauqua Golf Club/Chautauqua, NY (Public)

  • Holes: 36: (2-Eighteen Hole Courses: Lake/Hill
  • Course Architects: Seymour Dunn/Donald Ross/Xenophon Hassenplug/Chris Wilczynski
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:

Lake (Ross): 71.2/123

Hill:              71.7/125

Grove Park Golf Course, NC

26. Grove Park Golf Course/Ashville, NC (Resort)

        Omni Hotels & Resorts

Crotched Mountain Golf Club, NH

27. Crotched Mountain Golf Club/Francestown, NH (Public)

  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Donald Ross/Dick Tremblay/Mark Gagne/Lyman Doane II
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 70.3/132
  • Practice Facilities: Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Green.
  • Photos
  • Indoor Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 90.0
  • Location
Poland Spring Resort, ME

28. Poland Spring Resort/Poland, ME (Resort)

Mount Washington Resort, NH

29. Mount Washington Resort/Bretton Woods, NH (Resort)

        Omni Hotels & Resorts

  • Holes: 27 (Eighteen- and Nine-Hole Courses)
  • Course Architects: Arthur Fenn/Alex Findlay/Donald Ross/Geoffrey Cornish/Brian Silva/Ross Forbes
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:

Mount Washington: 73.7/135

Mount Pleasant: 34.7/116

Kingswood Golf Club, NH

30. Kingswood Golf Club/Wolfeboro, NH (Public)

Sagamore Golf Course, NY

31. Sagamore Golf Course/Bolton Landing, NY (Resort)

        Sagamore Resort   

Fort Myers Country Club, FL

32. Fort Myers Country Club/Fort Myers, FL (Muni)

        City of Fort Myers

Triggs Memorial Golf Course, RI

33. Triggs Memorial Golf Course/Providence, RI (Muni)

        City of Providence

Belmont Golf Course, VA

34. Belmont Golf Course/Henrico, VA (Muni)

        Henrico County Recreation & Parks

  • Holes: 18 (Twelve Hole Regulation Course/Belmont and Six Hole Executive Course/Little Bell)
  • Course Architects: A. W. Tillinghast/Donald Ross/David W. Gordon/Edmund Ault/Davis Love III
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 65.5/121
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Target Greens, Wedge Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (3) and Eighteen Hole Putting Course (The Ringer).
  • Course Description
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 89.3
  • Location
Wilmington Golf Course, NC

35. Wilmington Golf Course/Wilmington, NC (Muni)

        City of Wilmington

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