Guru's Top 100 Golf Courses in the United States

Below is the Gurus list of the top 100 golf courses we've played. What makes a course great is one of the great debates in this fantastic game. The criteria that the Gurus value most include conditioning, fun/wow factor, setting/visuals, architectural merits, and variety. Also taken into consideration, but with less weight, include test of skill, replay power, playability, and routing. Ultimately, playing golf should be fun! Great conditioning, attractive scenary, and exciting shots all contribute to the overall enjoyment of golf. Conversely, little value is given to history, exclusiveness, and tradition. A major consideration is how reproducible the course is. As such, courses that enjoy spectacular/unique settings and terrain tend to rank higher. Courses marked with an * indicate public access courses (including private clubs with limited public access).

Top 10 Courses

1. Pine Valley Golf Club (George Crump and H.S. Colt 1918; Clementon, New Jersey)
2. Cypress Point Golf Club (Dr. Alister MacKenzie 1928; Pebble Beach, California)
3. National Golf Links of America (C.B. Macdonald 1908; Southampton, New York)
4. Fishers Island Club (Seth Raynor 1926; Fishers Island, New York)
5. Pebble Beach Golf Links (Jack Neville and Douglas Grant 1919; Pebble Beach, California)*
6. Oakmont Country Club (Henry Fownes 1904; Oakmont, Pennsylvania)
7. Merion Golf Club (East) (Hugh Wilson 1912; Ardmore, Pennsylvania)
8. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club (William Flynn 1937 (Willie Davis 1891, C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor 1901); Southampton, New York)
9. Los Angeles Country Club (North) (George Thomas 1921; Los Angeles, California)
10. Riviera Country Club (George Thomas 1927; Pacific Palisades, California)

Courses 11–20

11. Pacific Dunes (Tom Doak 2001; Bandon, Oregon)*
12. Chambers Bay Golf Club (Robert Trent Jones Jr. 2007; University Place, Washington)*
13. Monterey Peninsula CC (Shore) (Bob Baldock 1961/Mike Strantz 2004; Pebble Beach, California)
14. Seminole Golf Club (Donald Ross 1929; Juno Beach, Florida)
15. Friars Head (Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw 2003; Riverhead, New York)
16. Country Club (Brookline), The (Willie Campbell 1895 (Rees Jones 1988); Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts)
17. Muirfield Village Golf Club (Jack Nicklaus 1974; Dublin, Ohio)
18. California Golf Club of San Francisco, The (Vernon Macan 1926; Alister Mackenzie 1927 bunkers, Kyle Phillips renovation 2007; South San Francisco, California)
19. North Shore Preserve (Prince) (Robert Trent Jones Jr. 1990; Princeville, Hawaii)
20. Eastward Ho! (Herbert Fowler 1921; Chatham, Massachusetts)

Courses 21–30

21. Crystal Downs Country Club (Alister Mackenzie 1931; Frankfort, Michigan)
22. Old Town Club (Perry Maxwell 1939; Winston-Salem, North Carolina)
23. Sleepy Hollow Country Club (C.B. Macdonald 1914; Scarsborough, New York)
24. Yale Golf Course (C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor 1926; New Haven, Connecticut)
25. Bandon Dunes (David McLay Kidd 1999; Bandon, Oregon)*
26. Myopia Hunt Club (Herbert C. Leeds 1896 (back nine added 1901); South Hamilton, Massachusetts)
27. Rock Creek Cattle Company (Tom Doak 2008; Deer Lodge, Montana)
28. Manele Golf Course (Jack Nicklaus 1993; Lanai, Hawaii)*
29. Gozzer Ranch Golf and Lake Club (Tom Fazio 2007; Coeur d'Alene, Idaho)
30. Honors Course (Pete Dye 1983; Ooltewah, Tennessee)

Courses 31–40

31. The Golf Club (Pete Dye 1967; New Albany, Ohio)
32. Whispering Pines Golf Club (Chet Williams of Nicklaus Designs 2000.; Trinity, Texas)
33. Bandon Trails (Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore 2005; Bandon, Oregon)*
34. Kapalua Plantation (Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore 1991; Lahaina, Hawaii)*
35. Monterey Peninsula CC (Dunes) (Seth Raynor 1926; Alister Mackenzie and Robert Hunter 1927, Rees Jones 1999, Tom Fazio 2016; Pebble Beach, California)
36. Prairie Club (Dunes), The (Tom Lehman and Chris Brands 2010; Valentine, Nebraska)*
37. Landmand Golf Club (Rob Collins and Tad King 2022; Homer, Nebraska)*
38. Ballyneal Golf Club (Tom Doak 2005; Holyoke, Colorado)
39. Sand Hills Golf Club (Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore 1995; Mullen, Nebraska)
40. Prairie Dunes Country Club (Perry Maxwell 1937; Hutchinson, Kansas)

Courses 41–50

41. Chicago Golf Club (C.B. Macdonald 1894; Wheaton, Illinois)
42. Sebonack Golf Club (Tom Doak and Jack Nicklaus 2006; Southampton, New York)
43. Arcadia Bluffs (Bluffs) (Warren Henderson and Rick Smith 2000; Arcadia, Michigan)*
44. Peachtree Golf Club (Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Bobby Jones 1948; Atlanta, Georgia)
45. Old Macdonald (Tom Doak and Jim Urbina 2010; Bandon, Oregon)*
46. Kinloch Golf Club (Lester George and Vinny Giles 2001; Manakin-Sabot, Virginia)
47. Blessings Golf Club (Robert Trent Jones Jr. 2004; Fayetteville, Arkansas)
48. Tobacco Road Golf Club (Mike Strantz 1998; Sanford, North Carolina)*
49. Erin Hills Golf Course (Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry, and Ron Whitten 2006; Hartford, Wisconsin)*
50. Kiawah Island Resort (Ocean) (Pete Dye 1991; Johns Island, South Carolina)*

Courses 51–60

51. Whistling Straits (Straits) (Pete Dye 1998; Sheboygan, Wisconsin)*
52. Bethpage State Park (Black) (A.W. Tillinghast 1936; Farmingdale, New York)*
53. Kingsley Club (Mike DeVries 2001; Kingsley, Michigan)
54. Kirtland Country Club (H. S. Colt and C. H. Allison 1921; Willoughby, Ohio)
55. Nanea Golf Club (David McLay Kidd 2003; Kailua-Kona, Hawaii)
56. Harvester Club, The (Keith Foster 2000; Rhodes, Iowa)
57. Maidstone Club (Willie Park Jr. 1922, William Tucker 1891 original nine, Coore & Crenshaw 2012-14 renovation; East Hampton, New York)
58. Sheep Ranch (Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw 2020; Bandon, Oregon)*
59. Streamsong Resort (Black) (Gil Hanse 2017; Bowling Green, Florida)*
60. Streamsong Resort (Red) (Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw 2012; Streamsong, Florida)*

Courses 61–70

61. Black Rock, The Club at (Jim Engh 2003; Coeur d'Alene, Idaho)
62. Boston Golf Club (Gil Hanse 2005; Hingham, Massachusetts)
63. Victoria National (Tom Fazio 1998; Newburgh, Indiana)
64. Wade Hampton Golf Club (Tom Fazio 1987; Cashiers, North Carolina)
65. Kukio Golf and Beach Club (Tom Fazio 2003; Kailua-Kona, Hawaii)
66. Congaree Golf Club (Tom Fazio 2017; Ridgeland, South Carolina)
67. Tree Farm, The (Zac Blair/Tom Doak/Kye Goalby 2023; Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina)
68. Old Sandwich Golf Club (Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore 2004; Plymouth, Massachusetts)
69. Valley Club of Montecito (Alister MacKenzie, 1929; Montecito, California)
70. Somerset Hills Country Club (A.W. Tillinghast 1917; Bernardsville, New Jersey)

Courses 71–80

71. Omaha Country Club (Langford and Moreau 1927, Perry Maxwell redesign 1951 and Keith Foster restoration 2007; Omaha, Nebraska)
72. Country Club (Pepper Pike), The (William Flynn 1928; Pepper Pike, Ohio)
73. Shadow Creek Golf Club (Tom Fazio 1989; North Las Vegas, Nevada)*
74. TPC Sawgrass (Stadium Players) (Pete Dye 1980; Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida)*
75. Old Barnwell (Brian Schneider and Blake Conant 2023; Aiken, South Carolina)
76. 21 Golf Club (Brian Zager 2026; Jackson, South Carolina)
77. Baltimore Country Club (East) (A.W. Tillinghast 1924 (Keith Foster restoration 2015); Lutherville, Maryland)
78. Spring Hill Golf Club (Tom Fazio 1999; Wayzata, Minnesota)
79. Big Easy Ranch (The Covey) (Chet Williams 2023; Columbus, Texas)
80. Sage Valley Golf Club (Tom Fazio 2001; Graniteville, South Carolina)

Courses 81–90

81. Diamond Creek (Tom Fazio 2003; Banner Elk, North Carolina)
82. San Francisco Golf Club (A.W. Tillinghast 1915; San Francisco, California)
83. Sedge Valley (Tom Doak 2024; Nekoosa, Wisconsin)*
84. Shoreacres (Seth Raynor 1921; Lake Bluff, Illinois)
85. Mauna Kea Resort (Robert Trent Jones Sr. 1965; Kohala Coast, Hawaii)*
86. Mammoth Dunes (David McLay Kidd 2018; Nekoosa, Wisconsin)*
87. Sand Valley (Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw 2017; Nekoosa, Wisconsin)*
88. Brookside Country Club (Donald Ross 1922; Canton, Ohio)
89. NCR Country Club (South) (Dick Wilson 1954; Kettering, Ohio)
90. Lawsonia, The Golf Courses of (Links) (William Langford and Theodore Moreau 1930 (Ron Forse restoration 2014); Green Lake, Wisconsin)*

Courses 91–100

91. Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club (Ken Dye 2000 (Holes 19-27 2005); Sandia Park, New Mexico)*
92. Estancia Club (Tom Fazio 1995; Scottsdale, Arizona)
93. Hawks Ridge Golf Club (Bob Cupp 1999; Ball Ground, Georgia)
94. Atlanta Country Club (Willard Byrd 1965 (Modifications by Bob Cupp, Jack Nicklaus, and Mike Riley); Marietta, Georgia)
95. Castle Pines Golf Club (Jack Nicklaus 1981; Castle Rock, Colorado)
96. Bluejack National (Tiger Woods 2016; Montgomery, Texas)
97. Sea Island Golf Club (Seaside) (H.S. Colt and Charles Alison 1928/Tom Fazio 1999; St. Simons Island, Georgia)*
98. Darmor Club (Hal Sutton 2024, co-designed by Doug Wright; Columbus, Texas)
99. Moonlight Basin, The Reserve at (Jack Nicklaus 2016; Big Sky, Montana)
100. Bayonne Golf Club (Eric Bergstol 2006; Bayonne, New Jersey)

Courses 101–110

101. Dismal River Golf Club (Red) (Tom Doak 2013; Mullen, Nebraska)
102. Pinehurst Resort No.2 (Donald Ross 1907 and Ben Crenshaw/Bill Coore 2011; Pinehurst, North Carolina)*
103. Fox Chapel Golf Club (Seth Raynor and Charles Banks 1925; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
104. St. Louis Country Club (C.B. Macdonald 1914; St. Louis, Missouri)
105. Pasatiempo Golf Club (Alister MacKenzie 1929; Santa Cruz, California)*
106. Oakland Hills Country Club (South) (Donald Ross 1918; Bloomfield Hills, Michigan)
107. Camargo Club (Seth Raynor 1927 (bunker work by Robert von Hagge 1983 and restoration by Tom Doak 2000); Indian Hill, Ohio)
108. Cedar Rapids Country Club, The (Donald Ross 1915 and Restoration by Ron Prichard 2015; Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
109. Davenport Country Club (H.S. Colt and C.H. Alison 1924 / Ron Forse 2014 renovation; Pleasant Valley, Iowa)
110. Pinehurst Resort No.10 (Tom Doak 2024; Aberdeen, North Carolina)*

Courses 111–120

111. Garden City Golf Club (Devereux Emmet 1899; Garden City, New York)
112. Essex County Club (Donald Ross 1917 (original nine 1893); Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts)
113. Kittansett Club, The (William Flynn and Fredric Hood 1922; Marion, Massachusetts)
114. Inverness Club (Donald Ross 1919, Andrew Green 2018 restoration/renovation; Toledo, Ohio)
115. Lido, The (Tom Doak 2023; Nekoosa, Wisconsin)*
116. Brook Hollow Golf Club (A. W. Tillinghast 1924, Keith Foster restoration 2019; Dallas, Texas)
117. Moraine Country Club (Alex Nipper Campbell 1930; Keith Foster renovation 2016; Dayton, Ohio)
118. Oak Hill Country Club (East) (Donald Ross 1925; Rochester, New York)
119. Congressional Country Club (Blue) (Devereux Emmet 1924/Robert Trent Jones 1957/Rees Jones 1989-2010; Bethesda, Maryland)
120. Cherry Hills Country Club (William Flynn 1922; Englewood, Colorado)

Courses 121–130

121. Plainfield Country Club (Donald Ross 1921; Edison, New Jersey)
122. Shelter Harbor Golf Club (Charlestown, Rhode Island)
123. Oak Tree National (Pete Dye 1976; Edmond, Oklahoma)
124. Southern Hills Country Club (Perry Maxwell 1936; Tulsa, Oklahoma)
125. Ridgewood Country Club (Championship) (A. W. Tillinghast 1929; Paramus, New Jersey)
126. Black Desert Resort (Tom Weiskopf 2023; Ivins, Utah)*
127. Makai Golf Club (Robert Trent Jones Jr. 1971, remodeled 2010; Princeville, Hawaii)*
128. Ballyhack Golf Club (Lester George 2009; Roanoke, Virginia)
129. Robert Trent Jones Club (Robert Trent Jones Sr. 1991; Gainesville, Virginia)
130. Milwaukee Country Club (H.S. Colt and C.H. Alison 1929; River Hills, Wisconsin)

Courses 131–140

131. Blue Mound Golf and Country Club (Seth Raynor 1926; Wauwatosa, Wisconsin)
132. CapRock Ranch (Gil Hanse 2021; Valentine, Nebraska)
133. Ladera Golf Club (Gill Hanse 2023; Thermal, California)
134. Mossy Oak Golf Club (Gil Hanse 2016; West Point, Mississippi)*
135. Stone Canyon Club (Jay Morrish 2000; Oro Valley, Arizona)
136. Ocean Forest Golf Club (Rees Jones 1995; Sea Island, Georgia)
137. Quarry at La Quinta, The (Tom Fazio 1994; La Quinta, California)
138. Summit Club, The (Tom Fazio 2017; Las Vegas, Nevada)
139. Dallas National Golf Club (Tom Fazio 2002; Dallas, Texas)
140. Bridge Golf Club, The (Rees Jones 2002; Sag Harbor, New York)

Courses 141–150

141. Paynes Valley Golf Course (Tiger Woods 2020; Hollister, Missouri)*
142. Rich Harvest Golf Links (Jerry Rich and Greg Mart1998; Sugar Grove, Illinois)
143. Kohanaiki Golf and Ocean Club (Rees Jones 2013; Kailua-Kona, Hawaii)
144. Kukui'ula Golf Club (Tom Weiskopf 2011; Koloa, Hawaii)
145. Hokuli'a, The Club at (Jack Nicklaus 2002; Kealakekua, Hawaii)
146. Calusa Pines Golf Club (Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry 2001; Naples, Florida)
147. Edgewood Tahoe (George Fazio 1968; Lake Tahoe, Nevada)*
148. Piping Rock Country Club (C.B. Macdonald 1912; Locust Valley, New York)
149. Sutton Bay (Graham Marsh 2003; renovation 2013; Agar, South Dakota)
150. Streamsong Resort (Blue) (Tom Doak 2012; Streamsong, Florida)*

Courses 151–154

151. St. Georges Golf & Country Club (NY) (Devereux Emmet 1917, Gil Hanse restoration 1999 - Present; Setauket- East Setauket, New York)
152. Colorado Golf Club (Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw 2007; Parker, Colorado)
153. Dismal River Golf Club (White) (Jack Nicklaus 2006; Mullen, Nebraska)
154. True Blue Golf Club (Mike Strantz 1998; Pawleys Island, South Carolina)*