More and more events on the PGA Tour schedule have been hosted at municipal venues in recent years, including four of the first fourteen events this year–The Farmers and The Genesis at Torrey Pines in California, The Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, and the Texas Children’s Houston Open at Memorial Park
The Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, NY (#1 on our top 35), has hosted the U.S. Open Championship twice (2002 and 2009), a PGA Championship (2019) and will be the site of the 2025 Ryder Cup in the Fall.
Torrey Pines South Course (#3) was selected for the 2008 and 2021 U.S. Open, Chambers Bay (#5) in University Place, WA held the 2005 Open, and TPC Harding Park in San Francisco was the site of the 2020 PGA Championship.
Robert Trent Jones, Sr. designed 8 of our Top-35, 6 of which can be found along the RTJ Golf Trail in Alabama—including Cambrian Ridge (#7) and Grand National (#9). RTJ also designed the courses at Incline Village (#8) near Lake Taho in NV (renovated by Robert Trent Jones II) as well as the courses at Tanglewood Park (#19) in North Carolina.
Jack Nicklaus weighed in with design at two of the Top-35 (#10–Bally’s in NY, and #27—Breckenridge in Colorado). Jack also did a complete re-design of North Palm Beach Country Club in 2006 (#20)
Donald Ross is also represented among the Top 35, with 2 North Carolina courses—Monroe Country Club (#31) and Mooresville Golf club (#34).
You can also click Top US Municipal Courses for the Top-200 (includes City and County owned courses, as well as State and National Park golf facilities)—shown by GolfDay Rating.
To view courses by location, use the GolfDay Search Engine and enter the city where you plan to be.
- Bethpage State Park/Farmingdale, NY
New York State Parks
- Holes: 90 (5 Eighteen Hole Regulation Course: Black/Blue/Green/Red/Yellow)
- 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: 74.4 Rating/133 Slope
Red: 74.4 Rating/133 Slope
Yellow: 69.6 Rating/120 Slope - Practice Facilities: Driving Range and Putting Green.
- Course Description
- Junior Golf
- GolfDay Rating: 100.0
- Location
- Torrey Pines/San Diego, CA
City of San Diego
- 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 Bunker.
- Course Descriptions
- GolfDay Rating: 100.0
- Location
- Gold Mountain Golf Club/Bremerton, WA
City of Bremerton
- Holes: 36 (2-Eighteen Hole Courses: Olypmic/Cascades)
- Course Architects: Ken Tyson/John Harbottle III
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Olympic: 74.9 Rating/148 Slope
Cascades: 73.4 Rating/134 Slope - Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Wedge Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Descriptions
- Junior Golf
- GolfDay Rating: 100.0
- Location
- TPC Harding Park/San Francisco, CA
City of San Francisco/PGA Tour Properties
- Holes: Eighteen Hole Regulation Course (TPC) and Nine Hole Executive Course (Fleming)
- Course Architects: Willie Watson/Sam Whiting/Jack Flemming/Chris Gray
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Olympic: 74.9 Rating/148 Slope
Cascades: 73.4 Rating/134 Slope - Practice Facilities: Driving Range with Targets and Toptracer Technology, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker (Chipping Green and Bunker closed on Wednesdays).
- Course Description-TPC
- Course Description-Fleming 9
- GolfDay Rating: 100.0
- Location
- Chambers Bay/University Place, WA
Pierce County/KemperSports
- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.3 Rating/139 Slope
- Practice Facilities: Driving Range with Targets (Grass April-October/Mats November-March, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
- Course Description
- Junior Golf
- GolfDay Rating: 99.2
- Location
- TPC Scottsdale/Scottsdale, AZ
City of Scottsdale/PGA Properties
- Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses: Stadium/Champions)
- Course Architects: Tom Weiskopf/Jay Morrish/Phil Smith/Randy Heckenkemper
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Stadium: 74.7 Rating/142 Slope
Champions: 73.2 Rating/135 Slope - Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Descriptions
- Photos
- GolfDay Rating: 98.9
- Location
- Cambrian Ridge/Greenville, AL
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail/SunBelt Golf
- Holes: 36 (3 Nine Hole Regulation Courses: Loblolly/Sherling/Canyon and Nine Hole Par 3 “Short Course”)
- Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Roger Rulewich
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Loblolly: 37.0 Rating/142 Slope
Sherling: 37/5 Rating/135 Slope
Canyon: 37.3 Rating/152 Slope - Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Descriptions
- GolfDay Rating: 98.8
- Location
- Incline Village/Incline Village, NV
Incline Village and Crystal Bay/General Improvement District
- Holes: 36 (Eighteen Hole Regulation Course (Championship) and Eighteen Hole Executive Course (Mountain))
- Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Robert Muir Graves/Robert Trent Jones, Jr./Kyle Phillips
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Championship: 73.6 Rating/144 Slope
Mountain: 59.3 Rating/105 Slope - Practice Facilities: Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker
- Course Description-Championship
- Course Description-Mountain
- GolfDay Rating: 98.2
- Location
- Grand National/Opelika, AL
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail/SunBelt Golf
- Holes: 54 (2 Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses (Links/Lake) and Eighteen Hole Par 3 Course (Short Course)
- Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Roger Rulewich
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Links: 75.2 Rating/142 Slope
Lake: 73.8 Rating/132 Slope - Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- GolfDay Rating: 98.1
- Location
- Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point/Bronx, NY
City of New York/Bally’s Corporations
- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 76.1 Rating/141 Slope
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and Michael Breed Golf Academy. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
- Course Description
- Photos
- GolfDay Rating: 97.8
- Location
- The Highlands of Elgin/Elgin, IL
City of Elgin
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Larry Packard/Dick Nugent/Ken Killian/Keith Foster/Arthur Schaupeter
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.7 Rating/139 Slope
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and Michael Breed Golf Academy. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
- Video Tour
- Junior Golf
- GolfDay Rating: 97.6
- Location
- Rockwind Golf Course/Hobbs, NM
City of Hobbs/Rockwind Community Links
- Holes: 27 (Eighteen Hole Regulation Course and Nine Hole Par 3 Course (L’il Rock)
- Course Architect: Andy Staples
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Links: 73.3 Rating/130 Slope
Li’L Rock: 25.9 Rating/72 Slope - Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description-Eighteen Hole
- Course Description/Scorecard- Li’l Rock
- Junior Golf
- GolfDay Rating: 97.3
- Location
- Magnolia Grove/Mobile, AL
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail/SunBelt Golf
- Holes: 54 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses (Falls/Crossings) and Eighteen Hole Par 3 Course)
- Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Roger Rulewich
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Falls: 74.6 Rating/130 Slope
Crossings: 73.7 Rating/139 Slope - Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- GolfDay Rating: 97.1
- Location
- Capitol Hill/Prattville, AL
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail/SunBelt Golf
- Holes: 54 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses (Falls/Crossings) and Eighteen Hole Par 3 Course)
- Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Roger Rulewich
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Judge: 78.5 Rating/147 Slope
Legislator: 76.5 Rating/149 Slope
Senator: 77.4 Rating/132 Slope - Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- GolfDay Rating: 97.1
- Location
- Riverdale Golf Courses/Brighton, CO
Adams County
- Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses: Dunes/Knolls)
- Course Architects: Pete Dye/Perry Dye
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Dunes: 73.0 Rating/136 Slope
Knolls: 70.9 Rating/125 Slope - Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description-Dunes
- Course Description-Knolls
- Junior Golf
- GolfDay Rating: 96.2
- Location
- Ross Bridge/Hoover, AL
Renaissance Birmingham/Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Roger Rulewich/Bobby Vaughn
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 78.4 Rating/147 Slope
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- GolfDay Rating: 96.1
- Location
- Laurell Hill Golf Club/Lorton, VA
Fairfax County Park Authority
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Bill Love/Matt Lohmann
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.6 Rating/146 Slope
- Practice Facilities: Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range Target Greens, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- Junior Golf
- GolfDay Rating: 96.1
- Location
- The Fort Golf Course/Indianapolis, IN
Pete Dye Golf Trail/Indiana State Parks
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Pete Dye/Tim Liddy
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.0 Rating/143 Slope
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- Photos
- GolfDay Rating: 95.7
- Location
- Tanglewood Park/Clemmons, NC
Forsyth County/Brown Management
- Holes: 54 2 Eighteen Hole Courses (Championship/Reynolds) and Eighteen Hole Par 3 Course
- Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Roger Rulewich/Allan MacCurrach/Robert Trent Jones, Jr./Richard Mandell
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Championship: 74.5 Rating/139 Slope
Reynolds: 73.2 Rating/136 Slope - Practice Facilities: Lighted Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- Junior Golf
- GolfDay Rating: 95.4
- Location
- Oxmoor Valley/Birmingham, AL
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail/Sunbelt Golf
- Holes: 2 Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses: Ridge/Valley and Nine Hole Par 3 “The Back Yard”
- Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Roger Rulewich
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Ridge: 74.3 Rating/141 Slope
Valley: 75.6 Rating/147 Slope
Practice Facilities: Driving Range (Mats-Monday through Friday/Grass Saturday-Sunday), Putting and Chipping Greens. - Course Descriptions
- GolfDay Rating: 95.3
- Location
- Bryan Park Golf Club/Browns Summit, NC
City of Greensboro/Pinnacle Golf Management
- Holes: 36 Holes (2 Eighteen Courses: Champions/Players Course)
- Course Architects: Rees Jones/George Cobb/John LaFoy
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Champions: 75.6 Rating/141 Slope
Players: 73.6 Rating/131 Slope - Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Wedge Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers
- Course Description-Champions
- Course Description-Players
- GolfDay Rating: 95.1
- Location
- Rustic Canyon Golf Course/Moorpark, CA
Ventura County
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Gil Hanse/Geoff Shackelford/Jim Wagner
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.9 Rating/135 Slope
- Practice Facilities: Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- Video Tour
- GolfDay Rating: 95.0
- Location
- Thunderhawk Golf Club/Beach Park, IL
Lake County Forest Preserve
- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.6 Rating/143 Slope
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- Photos
- GolfDay Rating: 95.0
- Location
- Silver Lakes/Glencoe, AL
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail/Sunbelt Golf
- Holes: 36 Holes (3 Nine Hole Regulation Courses: Backbreaker/Heartbreaker/Mindbreaker and Nine Par 3 Short Course)
- Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Jr./Roger Rulewich
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Backbreaker: 38.5/143 Slope
Heartbreaker: 38.2 Rating/140 Slope
Mindbreaker: 37.7 Rating/151 Slope - Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- GolfDay Rating: 95.0
- Location
- Arrowhead Golf Club/Wheaton, IL
Wheaton Park District
- Holes: 27 (3 Nine Hole Courses: East/West/South)
- Course Architects: Stanley Pelchar/David Gill/Ken Killian/Greg Martin
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
East: 37.0 Rating/130 Slope
North: 37.5 Rating/137 Slope
South: 37.0 Rating/141 Slope - Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- Junior Golf
- GolfDay Rating: 94.9
- Location
- Breckenridge Golf Club/Breckenridge, CO
Town of Breckenridge
- Holes: 27 (3 Nine Hole Courses: Beaver/Bear/Elk
- Course Architect: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Beaver: 36.9 Rating/155 Slope
Bear: 37.0 Rating/147 Slope
Elk: 36.3 Rating/145 Slope - Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- Junior Golf
- GolfDay Rating: 94.8
- Location
- Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club/Jackson, WY
Grand Teton National Park
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Robert E. Baldock/Robert Trent Jones Sr./Robert Trent Jones Jr.
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.9 Rating/137 Slope
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets and Fairway Bunker (flight restricted balls), Wedge Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Range Balls included with Green Fees.
- Course Description
- GolfDay Rating: 94.8
- Location
- Memorial Park Golf Course/Houston, TX
City of Houston
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: John Bredemus/Joe Finger/Ken Dye/Baxter Spann/Tom Doak
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.2 Rating/128 Slope
- Practice Facilities: Two Level Lighted Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens.
- Course Description
- Junior Golf
- GolfDay Rating: 94.6
- Location
- Pinon Hills Golf Course/Farmington, NM
City of Farmington
- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Ken Dye
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.4 Rating/144 Slope
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- Junior Golf
- GolfDay Rating: 94.6
- Location
- Monroe Country Club/Monroe, NC
City of Monroe
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Donald Ross/Tom Jackson/Richard Mandell/Tyler Rae
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.2 Rating/132 Slope
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- Photos
- GolfDay Rating: 94.5
- Location
- The Wilderness/Lake Johnson, TX
City of Lake Jackson/KemperSports
- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Jeffrey Brauer
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.9 Rating/134 Slope
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets and Fairway Bunker, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Layout
- Junior Golf
- GolfDay Rating: 94.5
- Location
- Neshanic Valley Golf Course/Brachburg, NJ
Somerset County
- Holes: 38 (3 Nine Hole Courses: Lake/Ridge/Meadow and Nine Hole Academy Course)
- Course Architects: Michael Hurdzan/Dana Fry
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Lake: 37.1 Rating/129 Slope
Ridge: 36.4 Rating/133 Slope
Meadow: 36.6 Rating/130 Slope
Academy: 30.2 Rating/94 Slope - Practice Facilities: Expansive Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (2) and Two Practice Holes.
- Layout
- Photos
- GolfDay Rating: 93.9
- Location
- Mooresville/Mooresville, NC
Town of Mooresville
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Donald Ross/J. Porter Gibson/Kris Spence
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.0 Rating/135 Slope
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
- Course Description
- Junior Golf
- GolfDay Rating: 93.9
- Location
- Texas Star Golf Course/Euless, TX
City of Euless
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Keith Foster/Robert McNeil
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.6 Rating/139 Slope
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- Photos
- GolfDay Rating: 93.8
- 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, the quality and diversity of practice facilities, general course conditioning and current reviews.