Tag: Toughest Golf Courses

Toughest Golf Courses: U.S. Public Top 40

The Pfau Course: Indiana University

If you’ve put in the range time and your game is razor sharp, take a spin through our Top 40 toughest courses open to public play. Tracks have been ranked on the basis of  USGA course and slope rating from the tips with a GolfDay Rating of 90 or higher (Resort courses not included).  

Jack Nicklaus designs are always a difficult test, and 7 of his toughest are among our Top 40 including Emerald Hills (#7) and Old Corkscrew (#8) in Florida, Bayside Resort Club (#10) in Delaware and Old Work (#12) in Montana.

Nicklaus: Crafting Tough Tracks

In addition to renovations at Bethpage Black prior to the 2002 U.S. Open, assuring an even stiffer test on a course that Tillinghast built for maximum difficulty, Rees Jones also laid out Echelon (#15) in Georgia and updated already tough Robert Trent Jones, Sr. tracks at The Dunes (#19) in SC and Duke University (#38) in NC.

Rees Jones and Pete Dye

5 of our Top 40 are Pete Dye creations, including the Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech (#14), Pound Ridge (#20) in NY, and Bull Rock (#22) in Maryland.

Tom Fazio (with renovations by Andrew Green) contributed a brute with Karsten Creek at Oklahoma State, and the duo of Steve Smyers and Fuzzy Zoeller laid out The Pfau Course at Indiana University—hands down the toughest University course in the country.

While these difficult tracks are spread throughout 23 states, New York is home to the most with 5, including The Links at Greystone (#24), Saratoga National (#33) and Seven Oaks at Colgate University–in addition to Bethpage Black and Pound Ridge.

Check out the GolfDay Top 500 public courses, and when you want to find the best courses near you or where you plan to be, click the GolfDay Search Engine and save a lot of time and aggravation.

Bethpage State Park, NY
  1. Black Course
    Bethpage State Park/Farmingdale, NY
  • Holes: 90 (5-Eighteen Hole Courses)
  • Course Architects: A. W. Tillinghast/Francis Duane/Devereux Emmet/Alfred Tull/Rees Jones/Desmond Muirhead
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
    Black:        77.5 Rating/155 Slope
    Blue:          72.3 Rating/130 Slope
    Green:       70.2 Rating/129 Slope
    Red:           74.4 Rating/133 Slope
    Yellow:      69.6 Rating/120 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Driving Range and Putting Green.
  • Course Descriptions
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 100
  • Location
The Pfau Course
  1. The Pfau Course/Bloomington, IN
    Indiana University
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Steve Smyers/Fuzzy Zoeller
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 80.2 Rating/155 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Double Sided Grass Driving Range with Targets, Wedge Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 100
  • Location
RainDance National Golf Course, CO
  1. RainDance National Golf Course/Windsor, CO
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Harrison Minchew/Fred Funk
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 79.9 Rating/155 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Double-sided Grass Driving Range with Targets (Funk Yard), Wedge Range, Expansive Putting and Chipping Green with Bunkers (G.O.A.T Ranch).
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 96.4
  • Location
Karsten Creek Golf Club, OK
  1. Karsten Creek Golf Club/Stillwater, OK
    Oklahoma State University
Royal New Kent Golf Club, VA
  1. Royal New Kent Golf Club/Providence Forge, VA
TPC Treviso Bay, FL
  1. TPC Treviso Bay/Naples, FL
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Steve Smyers/Fuzzy Zoeller
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 77.3 Rating/153 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Grass Wedge Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker, Indoor Golf Simulator with TrackMan Technology.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 99.1
  • Location
Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course), CA
  1. South
    Torrey Pines Golf Course/San Diego, CA
  • Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses: North/South)
  • Course Architects: William F. Bell/David Rainville/Stephen Halsey/Jack Daray, Jr./Rees Jones
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
    North:                                             75.8 Rating/134 Slope
    South:                                             78.8 Rating/148 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 100
  • Location
The Club at Emerald Hills, FL
  1. The Club at Emerald Hills/Hollywood, FL
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Robert von Hagge/Bruce Devlin/Charles Ankrom/Jack Nicklaus
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 78.6 Rating/148 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.5
  • Location
Old Corkscrew Golf Club, FL
  1. Old Corkscrew Golf Club/Estero, FL
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Steve Smyers/Fuzzy Zoeller
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 76.6 Rating/151 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 95.6
  • Location
Dragonfly Golf Club, CA
  1. Dragonfly Golf Club/Madera, CA
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Gary Roger Baird
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 78.6 Rating/144 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Lighted and Covered Grass Driving Range with Target Greens, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 94.6
  • Location
Bayside Resort Golf Club, DE
  1. Bayside Resort Golf Club/Selbyville, DE
Purgatory Golf Club, IN
  1. Purgatory Golf Club/Noblesville, IN
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Ron Kern
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 78.3 Rating/148 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (2).
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 93.3
  • Location
Old Works Golf Course, MT
  1. Old Works Golf Course/Anaconda, MT
  • Holes: 21
  • Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 76.4 Rating/153 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and 3 Hole “Little Bear” Practice Course.
  • GolfDay Rating: 98.1
  • Location
Eagles Nest Golf Club, SC
  1. Eagles Nest Golf Club/Little River, SC
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Gene Hamm
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 78.2 Rating/147 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 91.6
  • Location
Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech, VA
  1. Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech/Radford, VA
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Tom Clark/Dan Schlegel/Pete Dye
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 77.3 Rating/145 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 95
  • Location
Echelon Golf Club, GA
  1. Echelon Golf Club/Alpharetta, GA
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Rees Jones/Steve Weisser
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 77.2 Rating/149 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (2).
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 95.8
  • Location
Mystic Creek Golf Club, AR
  1. Mystic Creek Golf Club/Eldorado, AR
Coyote Springs Golf Club, NV
  1. Coyote Springs Golf Club/Coyote Springs, NV
    RedHawk Golf and Resort
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 76.8 Rating/149 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Expansive Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Accommodations
  • GolfDay Rating: 97.5
  • Location
Golf Club of Houston (Tournament Course), TX
  1. Tournament
    Golf Club of Houston/Humble, TX
  • Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses: Tournament/Member
  • Course Architects: Rees Jones/David Toms/Greg Muirhead/Jim Hardy/Peter Jacobsen
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
    Tournament:                                76.4 Rating/148 Slope
    Member:                                         76.5 Rating/138 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Double Sided Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers, Wedge Range (Member Only)
  • Course Description
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 99.2
  • Location
The Dunes Golf & Beach Club, SC
  1. The Dunes Golf & Beach Club/Myrtle Beach, SC
Pound Ridge Golf Club, NY
  1. Pound Ridge Golf Club/Pound Ridge, NY
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Pete Dye/Perry Dye
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.9 Rating/148 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets (weekends)/Mats (Weekdays), Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 94.1
  • Location
White Bluff Golf Club (New Course), TX
  1. New Course
    White Bluff Golf Club/Whitney, TX
  • Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses: New/Old)
  • Course Architects: Bruce Lietzke
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
    New:                                              75.5 Rating/147 Slope
    Old:                                                74.0 Rating/141 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets Greens, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 97.0
  • Location
Bulle Rock Golf Club, MD
  1. Bulle Rock Golf Club/Havre de Grace, MD
Prestwick Country Club, SC
  1. Prestwick Country Club/Myrtle Beach, SC
    Myrtle Beach Golf Trail
The Links at Greystone, NY
  1. The Links at Greystone/Walworth, NY
    New York Golf Trail
American Dunes Golf Club, MI
  1. American Dunes Golf Club/Grand Haven, MI
Jimmie Austin Golf, OK
  1. Jimmie Austin Golf Club/Norman, OK
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Perry Maxwell/Press Maxwell/Bob Cupp/Tripp Davis
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 77.9 Rating/142 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 99.5
  • Location
Crumpin-Fox Club, MA
  1. Crumpin-Fox Club/Bernardston, MA
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Roger Rulewich
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.1 Rating/147 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets and TopTracer Technology, Putting and Chipping Greens.
  • Course Description
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.6
  • Location
Eagle Eye Golf Club, MI
  1. Eagle Eye Golf Club/Bath, MI
  • Holes: 36 (Eighteen Hole Championship Course and Eighteen Hole Putting Course (Little Hawk)
  • Course Architects: Pete Dye/Chris Lutzke
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.5 Rating/146 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers. Range Balls included with full Greens Fee.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 97.6
  • Location
Beaufort Club, NC
  1. Beaufort Club/Beaufort, NC
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architect: Bob Moore
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.4 Rating/146 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets and Putting Green. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
  • GolfDay Rating: 90.4
  • Location
Stonewall Orchard Golf Club, IL
  1. Stonewall Orchard Golf Club/Grayslake, IL
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.0 Rating/150 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Wedge Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
  • Course Description
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.7
  • Location
Colbert Hills Golf Course, KS
  1. Colbert Hills Golf Course/Manhattan, KS
    Kansas State University
  • Holes: 27 (Eighteen- Hole Course and Nine-Hole Par 3)
  • Course Architects: Jeffrey Brauer/Jim Colbert
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 77.6 Rating/143 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Wedge Range with Fairway Bunker, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 98.0
  • Location
Brickshire Golf Club, VA
  1. Brickshire Golf Club/Providence Forge, VA
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Tom Clark/Curtis Strange
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.3 Rating/148 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 93.4
  • Location
Saratoga National Golf Club, NY
  1. Saratoga National Golf Club/Saratoga Springs, NY
    New York Golf Trail
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Roger Rulewich
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.3 Rating/144 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets and Fairway Bunker, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • GolfDay Rating: 97.7
  • Location
Gold Mountain Golf Club, WA
  1. Olympic
    Gold Mountain Golf Club/Bremerton, WA
    City of Bremerton
  • Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen-Hole Courses)
  • Course Architects: Ken Tyson/John Harbottle III
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
    Olympic:              74.9 Slope/148 Slope
    Cascades:            73.4 Rating/134 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Wedge Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 100
  • Location
Seven Oaks Golf Club, NY
  1. Seven Oaks Golf Club/Hamilton, NY
    Colgate University
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Ron Forse
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.5 Rating/145 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets and Putting Green.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 95.7
  • Location
Old Greenwood Golf Club, CA
  1. Old Greenwood Golf Club/Truckee, CA
    Tahoe Mountain Club
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.5 rating/144 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Extensive 5 Acre Facility including Two-Tiered Driving Range with Targets and Fairway Bunker, Wedge Range, Putting and Chipping Greens and Keith Lyford Golf Academy.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 98.3
  • Location
Palouse Ridge Golf Club, WA
  1. Palouse Ridge Golf Club/Pullman, WA
    Washington State University
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Robert Muir Graves/John Harbottle III
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.5 Rating/144 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Double Sided Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 93.8
  • Location
Duke University Golf Club, NC
  1. Duke University Golf Club/Durham, NC
    Duke University
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Rees Jones
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.2 Rating/145 Slope
  • Practice Facilities: Expansive Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 96.7
  • Location
Great River Golf Club, CT
  1. Great River Golf Club/Milford, CT
    Sacred Heart University
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Tom Fazio
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.6 Rating/146 Slope
  • 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).
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.1
  • Location

The GolfDay Resort Rating is based on a variety of criteria, including the stature of the architect who did the original design, updates that have been done since the course was built, the variety of courses located at the property, USGA Course and Slope Ratings, current local and national rankings by Golf Digest and Golfweek (as well as other authoritative sources), the quality and diversity of practice facilities, general course conditioning and current course reviews, as well as the quality of accommodations and level of service.

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Toughest Courses: U.S. Resorts Top 30

French Lick Resort; Dye Course, IN

If you are a scratch player determined to challenge your game on the hardest golf courses open to public play, perhaps the best place to start is at a resort—and we have assembled the toughest 30 resort courses in the country based on USGA course rating from the tips.

Not surprisingly, Pete Dye crafted seven of them—including #1 (Dye Course at French Lick), #2 (Harbour Town with Jack Nicklaus at Sea Pines), and #3 (The Ocean Course at Kiawah).

Nicklaus, renowned for designing a stiff test of golf, laid out 4 of the 30—The Reserve at Moonlight Basin (#5), The Bear Course at Grand Traverse (#25), Great Waters at Reynolds Lake Oconee (#28) as well as collaborating with Pete Dye at Harbour Town.

2 Robert Trent Jones, Sr. designs are among the thirty (Judge at Capitol Hill on the RTJ Golf Trail–#6 and Mauna Kea in Hawaii–#15) while Rees Jones contributed a pair (Blue Top Ridge–#13 and the North Course at Lake of Isles–#21).

Masters of difficulty: Pete Dye and Rees Jones

While these difficult resort tracks are spread throughout 22 states, Wisconsin boasts the greatest number with 4 (Straits course at Whistling Straits, River course at Blackwolf Run, Erin Hills, and Wild Rock at The Wilderness Resort). And by the way, these big boys are all part of the fantastic collection of courses to be found on Wisconsin Golf Trail as well.

When it’s time to start planning a golf trip, take a look at the GolfDay Top 250 Resorts; and for finding a great golf course where you are or where you’re going, the GolfDay Search Engine makes it easy to get a better bang for your buck.

The Dye Course, French Lick Resort IN

1. Dye Course

French Lick Resort/French Lick, IN   

Pete Dye Golf Trail

  • 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

Harbour Town Links, Sea Pines Resort SC

2. Harbour Town Links

The Sea Pines Resort/Hilton Head Island, SC

  • Holes: 54 (3-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses)
  • 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

The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island Golf Resort SC

3. The Ocean Course

Kiawah Island Golf Resort/Kiawah Island, SC

  • Holes: 90 (5-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: Pete Dye/Alice Dye/Gary Player/Clyde Johnston/Tom Fazio/Jack Nicklaus
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating

Ocean:                    79.1/152

Cougar Point:      72.7/134

Oak Point:             72.1/137

Osprey Point:       73.6/140

Turtle Point:         73.0/134

Fighting Joe, The Shoals AL

4. Fighting Joe

The Shoals/Muscle Shoals, AL

       Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa/Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

  • Holes: 35 (2-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: Roger Rulewich/Bobby Vaughn
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating

Fighting Joe:          78.6/146

Schoolmaster:       77.6/148

The Reserve at Moonlight Basin, MT

5. The Reserve at Moonlight Basin/Big Sky, MT   

Judge, Capitol Hill AL

6. Judge, Capitol Hill AL

Capitol Hill/Prattville, AL   

        Montgomery Marriott/Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

  • Holes: 54 (3-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Roger Rulewich
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating

Judge:         78.5/147

Legislator: 76.9/149

Senator:     77.4/132                     

Ross Bridge, AL

7. Ross Bridge/Hoover, AL   

      Renaissance Birmingham/Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

# 2, Pinehurst Resort NC

8. Pinehurst #2

Pinehurst Resort/Pinehurst, NC   

  • 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/Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw/Tom Doak
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating

#1:      69.1/124

#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

Erin Hills, WI

9. Erin Hills/Erin, WI 

      Wisconsin Golf Trail

  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Michael Hurdzan/Dana Fry/Ron Whitten
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 77.9/145
  • 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.
  • Course Description
  • Accommodations
  • Wisconsin Golf Trail
  • GolfDay Rating: 98.0
  • Location
Blue Monster, Trump National Doral FL

10. Blue Monster

Trump National Doral/Miami, FL  

  • Holes: 72 (4-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: Dick Wilson/Gil Hanse/Greg Norman/Raymond Floyd/Jerry Pate
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating

Blue Monster:      77.4/146

Red Tiger:              71.8/136

Silver Fox:              74.9/148

Golden Palm:       74.2/139

Straits Course, Whistling Straits WI

11. Straits (Whistling Straits)

The American Club Resort Hotel/Sheboygan, WI

Kohler Golf/Wisconsin Golf Trail 

  • Holes: 81 (4-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses and 9-Hole Par 3)
  • Course Architect: Pete Dye/Chris Lutzke
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating

Whistling Straits

Straits:                    77.2/152

Irish:                        75.6/146

Blackwolf Run

River:                       76.2/151

Meadow Valleys:  75.3/141

The Baths:              27.1/87

Mystic Rock, Nemacolin Resort PA

12. Mystic Rock

Nemacolin, Farmington, PA

  • Holes: 36 (2-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: Pete Dye/Tim Liddy
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating

Mystic Rock:          77.2/146

Shepherd’s rock: 75.2/140

Blue Top Ridge, IA

13. Blue Top Ridge/Riverside, IA

       Riverside Casino & Golf Resort  

  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architect: Rees Jones
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 77.2/143
  • 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.
  • Accommodations
  • Performance Studio
  • GolfDay Rating: 95.1
  • Location
Crosswater, Sunriver Resort OR

14. Crosswater

Sunriver Resort/Sunriver, OR   

  • Holes: 63 (3-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses and 9 Hole Par 3)
  • Course Architects: John Fought/Robert Trent Jones, Jr./Jim Ramey/Bob Copp
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating

Crosswater:          76.8/147

Meadows:              73.7/143

Woodlands:          73.9/144         

Mauna Kea Resort, HI

15. Mauna Kea

Mauna Kea Resort/Kohala Coast, HI  

Mariott Resorts

  • Holes: 36 (2-Eighteen Hole Courses)
  • Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Rees Jones/Neil Haworth
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:

Mauna Kea:      76.8/141

Hapuna:            74.7/134

Wild Rock, Wilderness Resort WI

16. Wild Rock Golf Club/Wisconsin Dells, WI

       Wilderness Resort/Wisconsin Golf Trail   

  • Holes: 27 (Eighteen Hole Regulation Course and Nine Hole Executive Course)
  • Course Architects: Michael Hurdzan/Dana Fry
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating

Wild Rock:             76.8/142

Woods:                   29.9/102

AK-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, AZ

17. AK-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club/Maricopa, AZ

       Harrah’s Casino Resort

  • Holes: 27
  • 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” Par 3 Course (Open Dec. 15-April 1).
  • Course Description
  • Accommodations
  • GolfDay Rating: 93.3
  • Location
Sage Run Golf Club, MI

18. Sage Run Golf Club/Bark River, MI

       Island Resort & Casino  

Fallen Oak Golf Club, Beau Rivage Resort MS

19. Fallen Oak Golf Club/Saucier, MS   

        Beau Rivage/Mississippi Golf Trail

Stadium Course, TPC Sawgrass FL

20. Stadium

TPC Sawgrass/Ponte Vedra Beach, FL   

  • Holes: 36 (2-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: Pete Dye/Alice Dye/Jerry Pate/Steve/Wenzloff/Bobby Weed
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating

Stadium:                76.4/155

Dye’s Valley:         74.0/134

North Course, Lake of Isles Resort CT

21. Lake of Isles North

Lake of Isles/North Stonington, CT   

 Foxwoods/KemperSports

  • Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses)
  • Course Architects: Rees Jones
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating

North:                     76.3/143

South:                     73.2/141

River Course, Blackwolf Run WI

22. River Course (Blackwolf Run)

The American Club Resort Hotel/Sheboygan, WI

Kohler Golf/Wisconsin Golf Trail 

  • Holes: 81 (4-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses and 9-Hole Par 3)
  • Course Architect: Pete Dye/Chris Lutzke
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating

Whistling Straits

Straits:                     77.2/152

Irish:                         75.6/146

Blackwolf Run

River:                       76.2/151

Meadow Valleys:  75.3/141

The Baths:              27.1/87

Koasati Pines, Coushatta Casino Resort LA

23. Koasati Pines/Kinder, LA  

       Coushatta Casino Resort

Firekeeper, Prairie Band Casino & Resort KS

24. Firekeeper/Mayette, KS   

        Prairie Band Casino & Resort

The Bear, Grand Traverse Resort & Spa MI

25. The Bear

Grand Traverse Resort & Spa/Acme, MI 

  • Holes: 54 (3-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus/William Newcomb/Bob Cupp/John Robinson/Gary Player
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating

The Bear:          76.1/150

Spruce Run:     71.2/136

Wolverine:        74.5/140               

Oaks, TPC San Antonio TX

26. Oaks

TPC San Antonio/San Antonio, TX   

JW Marriott

  • Holes: 103 (5-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses and Thirteen Hole Par 3)
  • Course Architects: Greg Norman/Tad Burnett/Sergio Garcia/Pete Dye
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating

Oaks:                      76.1/142

Canyons:               73.6/129

Sandia Resort & Casino, NM

27. Sandia Golf Club/Albuquerque, NM   

       Sandia Resort & Casino

  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architect: Scott Miller
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 76.1/142
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Accommodations
  • GolfDay Rating: 93.2
  • Location
Great Waters, Reynolds Lake Oconee GA

28. Great Waters

 Reynolds Lake Oconee/Greensboro, GA  

 Ritz Carlton

  • Holes: 99 (4-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses and Twenty-Seven Hole Regulation Course)
  • Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus/Tom Fazio/Rees Jones/Bob Cupp/Fuzzy Zoeller/Hubert Green
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating

Great Waters:         76.1/147

National-Bluff:      37.0/143

National-Cove:      37.4/143

National-Ridge:    37.2/143

Oconee:                  75.2/141

Landing:                 74.5/138

Preserve:                72.2/133

Old White, The Greenbrier WV

29.  Old White

The Greenbrier/White Sulphur Springs, WV   

  • Holes: 81 (4-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses Nine Hole Par 3)
  • Course Architects: C. B. Macdonald/Seth Raynor/George O’Neil/Jack Nicklaus/Dick Wilson/Bob Cupp/Tom Fazio/Keith Foster/Kevin Hargrave
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating

Old White: 76.0/142

Greenbrier: 72.5/132

Meadows:  72.0/138

Snead:        74.7/138

Magnolia Course, Walt Disney World FL

30. Magnolia

Walt Disney World/Orlando, FL   

  • Holes: 63 (3-Eighteen Hole Courses and 9-Hole course)
  • Course Architects: Joe Lee/Rocky Roquemore/Ron Garl/Ken Baker
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating

Magnolia:                 76.0/141

Palm:                          73.7/137

Lake Buena Vista:   72.3/133

Oak Trail:                   33.8/126

The GolfDay rating is based on a variety of criteria, including the stature of the architect who did the original design, updates that have been done since the course was built, USGA Course and Slope Ratings, current local and national rankings by Golf Digest and Golfweek (as well as other authoritative sources), the quality and diversity of practice facilities, general course conditioning, and current course reviews.

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