Tom Fazio has no peer among modern-day golf course architects when you consider the number of his designs that have received national recognition over a 50 plus year career. Currently, 14 courses originally designed or remodeled by Tom are included in the Golf Digest Top 100 courses in the U.S, and 30 are among the Top 200—by far the most of any course designer.
Golf was in his blood from an early age, with uncle George Fazio a successful PGA Tour pro in the 1940’s and 50’s. Tom grew up just outside of Philadelphia in Montgomery County, home to iconic Merion Golf Club (and where George finished 3rd in the 1950 U.S. Open behind Ben Hogan).
When George Fazio became the first tour pro to try his hand at golf course architecture in the early 60’s, Tom soon joined his firm and gathered hands-on experience as well as intimate knowledge of course construction and architecture. By the early 70’s, Tom had become a full partner in the firm and his career began its meteoric rise.
In addition to his award-winning private club designs, 10 Tom Fazio courses are among the Golf Digest Public Top 100, and award-winning Fazio courses are found in just about every region of the country—from Red Sky Ranch in the mountains of Colorado to Pelican Hill on the Pacific coast and Sea Island Resort in Georgia.
Tom Fazio designed well over 200 courses throughout his illustrious career, and more than 50 of them are open to public play (Tom Fazio-Public). Below we have assembled the top public golf facilities where Tom Fazio’s amazing work can be enjoyed—and his designs always provide a test for the scratch player while also remaining playable and fun for golfers of every skill level.
If you are looking for great public golf, or planning a vacation, the GolfDay Search Engine makes it easy to find the best courses and a better bang for your buck.
1. Pinehurst Resort/Pinehurst, NC
- Holes: 180 (10 Eighteen Hole Courses)
- Course Architects: Donald Ross/Walter Travis/Richard Tufts/Tom Fazio/Tom Marzolf/Ellis Maples/George Fazio/Rees Jones/Jack Nicklaus/Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw/Tom Doak
- USGA Course/Slope Rating (No. 6): 74.5/140
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Wedge Range and Multiple Chipping Greens with Bunkers, Thistle Dhu Putting Course.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
2. Kiawah Island Golf Resort/Kiawah Island, SC
- Holes: 90 (5 Eighteen Hole Courses): Ocean/Cougar Point/Oak Point/Osprey Point/Turtle Point
- Course Architects: Pete Dye/Alice Dye/Gary Player/Clyde Johnston/Tom Fazio/Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating (Osprey Point): 73.6/140
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Ranges with Targets, Chipping and Putting Greens at each course. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
3. Reynolds Lake Oconee/Greensboro, GA
Ritz-Carton-Reynolds Lake Oconee
- Holes: 99 (4 Eighteen Hole Courses (Great Waters/Oconee/Landing/Preserve) and Twenty-seven Hole Course (National)
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus/Tom Fazio/Rees Jones/Bob Cupp/Fuzzy Zoeller/Hubert Green
- USGA Course/Slope Rating
National-Bluff: 37.0/143
National-Cove: 37.4/143
National-Ridge: 37.2/143
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and TaylorMade Kingdom of Golf Academy.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
4. Big Cedar Lodge/Ridgedale, MO
Top of the Rock Preserve
- Holes: 76 Holes (3 Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses (Buffalo Ridge Springs/Ozarks National/Payne’s Valley), Thirteen Hole Executive Course (Mountain Top) and Nine Hole Par 3 Course (Top of the Rock). Buffalo Ridge Springs located at 1001 Branson Creek Blvd, Hollister MO 65672/Ozarks National and Payne’s Valley Mountain Top located at 1250 Golf Club Drive, Hollister MO 65672)
- Course Architects: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker designed by Arnold Palmer.
- USGA Course/Slope Rating (Buffalo Ridge Springs): 73.4/130
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and TaylorMade Kingdom of Golf Academy.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
5. Barefoot Resort & Golf/North Myrtle Beach, SC
- Holes: 72 (4 Eighteen Hole Courses: Norman/Love/Fazio/Dye)
- Course Architects: Greg Norman/Tad Burnett/Davis Love III/Tom Fazio/Pete Dye
- USGA Course/Slope Rating (Fazio): 73.4/144
- Practice Facilities: Lighted and Covered Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Dyer and Greg Norman Golf Academies.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
6. Turning Stone/Verona, NY
- Holes: 63 (3 Eighteen Hole Courses: Atunyote/Kaluhyat/Shenendoah, Nine Hole Regulation Course (Pleasant Knolls) and Nine Hole Par 3 (Sandstone Hollow)
- Course Architects: Tom Fazio/Robert Trent Jones, Jr./Ty Butler/Edward Peters/Rick Smith
- USGA Course/Slope Rating (Atunyote): 75.7/135
- 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/Shanendoah and Kaluhyat). Domed Indoor facility with two-tiered hitting stations, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Performance Center with Club Fitting and Golf Academy.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
7. Sea Island Resort/Sea Island, GA
Georgia Golf Trail
- Holes: 54 (3 Eighteen Hole Courses: Plantation/Seaside/Retreat)
- 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 (Seaside): 73.8/138
- Practice Facilities: Expansive Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers and Performance Center with Club Fitting.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- Georgia Golf Trail
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
8. Shadow Creek Golf Club/North Las Vegas, NV
MGM Resorts
- Holes: 18 (Par 72/7,560 Yards from Championship Tees)
- Course Architect: Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: Not Rated
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens.
- Course Description
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
9. PGA Village/Port St. Lucie, FL
- Holes: 70 (3 Eighteen Hole Courses: Wanamaker/Dye/Ryder and 6 Hole Par 3 Course)
- Course Architects: Tom Fazio/Pete Dye
- USGA Course/Slope Rating (Wanamaker): 75.2/145
- Practice Facilities: Extensive including Lighted Grass Range with Targets, Wedge Range, Putting Greens, Chipping Greens with Multiple Bunkers and PGA Golf School.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
10. Red Sky Ranch & Golf Club/Wolcott, CO
- Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses: Norman/Fazio)
- Course Architects: Greg Norman/Matthew Dusenberry/Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating (Fazio): 72.3/141
- Practice Facilities: Double Ended Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and Larry Rinker Golf Academy.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
11. Pronghorn/Bend, OR
Juniper Preserve
- Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses: Nicklaus/Fazio)
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus/Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating (Fazio): 74.8/141
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
12. Rams Hill Golf Club/Borrego Springs, CA
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Ted Robinson, Sr./Tom Fazio/Tim Jackson
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.4/141
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. ProV1 Range Balls included with Greens Fee. Public Play from October 18 through June 1.
- Course Description
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
13. Karsten Creek Golf Club/Stillwater, OK
Oklahoma State University
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Tom Fazio/Andrew Green
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 77.2/152
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Range Balls Included with Greens Fee.
- Course Description
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
14. Firestone Country Club/Akron, OH
Invited Club Management
- Holes: 54 (3 Eighteen Hole Courses: North/South/Fazio)
- Course Architects: Tom Fazio/Andrew Green
- USGA Course/Slope Rating (Fazio): 73.1/132
- Practice Facilities: Driving Range with Target Greens, Putting and Chipping Greens with Performance Center.
- Course Description
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 99.2
- Location
15. PGA National Resort/Palm Beach Gardens, FL
- Holes: 108 (6 Eighteen Hole Courses: Champion/Palmer/Fazio/Estate/Match/Staple)
- Course Architects: Tom Fazio/Andrew Green
- USGA Course/Slope Rating (Fazio): 74.4/138
- Practice Facilities: Double Sided Grass Driving Range with Targets, Wedge Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers, Leadbetter Academy and Pelz Golf School.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 98.6
- Location
16. Barton Creek Resort/Austin, TX
Omni
- Holes: 72 (4 Eighteen Hole Courses: Canyons/Foothills/Cliffside (Coore & Crenshaw)/Lakeside)
- Course Architects: Tom Fazio/Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw/Arnold Palmer
- USGA Course/Slope Rating (Canyons): 74.4/144
- Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Additional Grass Range with Targets and Short Game facility at Fazio Course.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 98.6
- Location
17. Ventana Canyon & Racquet Club/Tucson, AZ
Ventana Canyon Club and Lodge
- Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses: Canyon/Mountain)
- Course Architect: Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating
Canyon: 71.7/137
Mountain: 72.8/143
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 97.7
- Location
18. Treetops Resort/Gaylord, MI
- Holes: 81 (4 Eighteen Hole Courses: Masterpiece/Premier/Signature/Tradition and Nine Hole Par 3 Course (Threetops)
- Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Tom Fazio/Rick Smith
- USGA Course/Slope Rating (Premier/Fazio): 73.3/139
- 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.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 97.0
- Location
19. Fallen Oak Golf Club/North, Saucier, MS
Mississippi Golf Trail/Beau Rivage
- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 76.5/142
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- Accommodations
- Mississippi Golf Trail
- GolfDay Rating: 96.6
- Location
20. Independence Golf Club/Midlothian, VA
- Holes: 27 (Eighteen Hole Regulation Course (Championship) and Nine Hole Par 3 Course (Bear)
- Course Architects: Tom Fazio/Lester George
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.3/141
- Practice Facilities: Expansive Double Ended Driving Ranges (Grass and Mats), Wedge Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
- Course Description
- GolfDay Rating: 96.0
- Location
21. Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course/Lake Tahoe, NV
Edgewood Tahoe Resort
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: George Fazio/Ronald Fream/Peter Thomson/Michael Wolveridge/Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.5/145
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
- Course Description
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 95.2
- Location
22. The Resort at Pelican Hill/Newport Beach, CA
Irvine Company Resort Properties
- Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses: Ocean North/Ocean South)
- Course Architect: Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Ocean North: 73.5/137
Ocean South: 72.0/133
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets and Putting Green.
- Course Description
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 94.8
- Location
23. The Grand Golf Club/San Diego CA
Fairmont Grand Del Mar
- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.1/141
- Practice Facilities: Double Sided Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 94.6
- Location
24. Finley Golf Club/Chapel Hill, NC
University of North Carolina
- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.6/141
- Practice Facilities: Driving Range with Targets (Grass/Friday-Sunday, Mats/Monday-Thursday), Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- GolfDay Rating: 94.2
- Location
25. Grayhawk Golf Club/Scottsdale, AZ
- Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses: Raptor/Talon)
- Course Architect: Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Raptor: 74.2/140
Talon: 73.3/146
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
- Course Description
- GolfDay Rating: 93.7
- Location
26. TPC Myrtle Beach/Murrells Inlet, SC
Hammock Coast Golf Trail/Founders Group International
- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.3/154
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and Dustin Johnson Golf School.
- Course Description
- Hammock Coast Golf Trail
- GolfDay Rating: 93.7
- Location
27. The Golf Club at Hilton Head Lakes/Hardeeville, SC
- Holes: 24 (Eighteen Hole Championship Course and 6 Hole Par 3)
- Course Architect: Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.7/140
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and Dustin Johnson Golf School.
- Course Description
- GolfDay Rating: 92.7
- Location
28. Great River Golf Club/Milford, CT
Sacred Heart University
- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.4/146
- Practice Facilities: Driving Range with Targets (Mats-Monday/Tuesday, Grass Irons only-Wednesday/Thursday, Full Grass Friday-Sunday), Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (3). Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
- Course Description
- GolfDay Rating: 92.1
- Location
29. Ritz-Carlton Members Club/Sarasota, FL
Ritz-Carlton Sarasota
- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.5/140
- Practice Facilities: Expansive Grass Driving Range with Targets and Fairway Bunkers, Multiple Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
- Course Description
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 92
- Location
30. Stonebriar Hotel & Golf Club/Frisco, TX
Westin Resorts/Clubcorp
- Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses: Country Club/Fazio)
- Course Architect: Joe Finger/Ken Dye/Baxter Spann/Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating (Fazio): 74.2/143
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and Indoor Golf Simulator. Fazio Course available to Hotel Guests, Country Club Course is Members Only.
- Course Description
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 91.6
- Location
31. Wynn Golf Club/Las Vegas, NV
Wynn Las Vegas
- Holes: 18 (Eighteen Hole Regulation Course (Par 70/6,722 Yards)
- Course Architect: Tom Fazio/Logan Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: Not Rated
- Practice Facilities: Warm Up Net and Putting Green.
- Course Description
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 91.3
- Location
32. Champions Club at Summerfield/Stuart, FL
- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.5/130
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range and Putting Green.
- Course Description
- GolfDay Rating: 91.2
- Location
33. Wild Dunes Golf Links/Isle of Palms, SC
Destination Hotel
- Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses: Links/Harbor)
- Course Architect: Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating
Links: 72.1/138
Harbor: 71.1/139
- Practice Facilities: Driving Range (flight restricted balls), Putting and Chipping Greens (Links Course). Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
- Course Description
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 90.7
- Location
34. Belterra Golf Course/Florence, IN
Belterra Casino Resort
- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.8/134
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Range Balls with Greens fee.
- Course Description
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 90.4
- Location
35. Dancing Rabbit Golf Club/Philadelphia, MS
Mississippi Golf Trail/Pearl River REsort
- Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses: Azaleas/Oaks)
- Course Architects: Tom Fazio/Jerry Pate
- USGA Course/Slope Rating
Azaleas: 74.2/134
Oaks: 73.9/134
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting Greens (3), Chipping Green with Bunkers and Golf School.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- Mississippi Golf Trail
- GolfDay Rating: 90.3
- Location
36. The Glen Club/Glenview, IL
KemperSports
- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.9/141
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets and Putting Green.
- Course Description
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 90.3
- Location
37. Amelia Island Plantation/Amelia, FL
- Holes: 46 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses: Long Point/Oak Marsh and Ten Hole Par 3 Course (Little Sandy)
- Course Architects: Tom Fazio/Pete Dye/Bobby Weed/Beau Welling
- USGA Course/Slope Rating (Long Point): 73.3/136
- Practice Facilities: Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and Golf Academy.
- Course Descriptions
- GolfDay Rating: 89.5
- Location
38. Oak Creek Golf Club/Irvine, CA
Irvine Company Resort Properties
- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.5/133
- Practice Facilities: Lighted Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- GolfDay Rating: 89.1
- Location
39. High Hampton/Cashiers, NC
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: J. Victor East/George Cobb/John LaFoy/Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.4/140
- Practice Facilities: Double Ended Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 88.5
- Location
40. The Plantation Course at Edisto/Edisto Beach, SC
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Tom Jackson/Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 69.8/124
- Practice Facilities: Warm Up Bays with Net, Putting and Chipping Green.
- Course Description
- GolfDay Rating: 88.1
- Location
The GolfDay rating is based on a variety of criteria, including the stature of the architect(s) who did the original design(s), 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. The resort rating also includes a factor for the variety of courses located at the property as well as the quality of accommodations and level of service.
