Golfweek's Best 2025: Top 100 public-access courses in the U.S., ranked

USA Today

30-06-2025

Looking to score a tee time at the best public-access courses in the United States? We've got you covered with Golfweek's Best 2025 list of the Top 100 Best Courses You Can Play.
Each year we publish many course rankings lists, and this selection of public-access layouts is among the premium offerings. The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them based on 10 criteria on a points basis of 1 through 10. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings are averaged to produce these rankings. The top handful of courses in the world have an average rating of above 9, while many excellent layouts fall into the high-6 to 8 range.
All the courses on this list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or by staying at an affiliated hotel. If there's a will, there's a tee time.
* Indicates new to or returning to this list. For courses with a number preceding the Modern or Classic as noted by era, that is where the course ranks on Golfweek's Best 2025 lists for top 200 Modern or Classic courses in the U.S.
1. Pebble Beach Resorts (Pebble Beach Golf Links)
2024 ranking: 1
Average rating: 8.74
Location: Pebble Beach, CA
Architect(s): Jack Neville, Douglas Grant
Era: No. 10 Classic
2. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Pacific Dunes)
2024 ranking: 2
Average rating: 8.53
Location: Bandon, OR
Architect(s): Tom Doak
Era: No. 3 Modern
3. Pinehurst (No. 2)
2024 ranking: 3
Average rating: 8.29
Location: Pinehurst, NC
Architect(s): Donald Ross
Era: No. 20 Classic
4. Kohler Whistling Straits (Straits)
2024 ranking: T4
Average rating: 8.13
Location: Mosel, WI
Architect(s): Pete Dye
Era: No. 6 Modern
5. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Bandon Trails)
2024 ranking: 6
Average rating: 8.08
Location: Bandon, OR
Architect(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw
Era: No. 9 Modern
6. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Old Macdonald)
2024 ranking: T4
Average rating: 8.06
Location: Bandon, OR
Architect(s): Tom Doak, Jim Urbina
Era: No. 10 Modern
7. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Bandon Dunes)
2024 ranking: 7
Average rating: 8.04
Location: Bandon, OR
Architect(s): David McLay Kidd
Era: No. 12 Modern
8. Bethpage State Park (Black)
2024 ranking: 9
Average rating: 7.99
Location: Farmingdale, NY
Architect(s): A.W. Tillinghast
Era: No. 26 Classic
9. Shadow Creek
2024 ranking: 8
Average rating: 7.98
Location: North Las Vegas, NV
Architect(s): Tom Fazio
Era: T13 Modern
10. Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Ocean)
2024 ranking: 10
Average rating: 7.96
Location: Kiawah Island, SC
Architect(s): Pete Dye
Era: No. 15 Modern
11. Pasatiempo
2024 ranking: 11
Average rating: 7.81
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Architect(s): Alister MacKenzie
Era: No. 39 Classic
12. Sand Valley (Lido)
2024 ranking: 15
Average rating: 7.76
Location: Nekoosa, WI
Architect(s): Charles Blair Macdonald, Tom Doak, Brian Schneider
Era: No. 26 Modern
13. Pebble Beach Resorts (Spyglass Hill)
2024 ranking: T13
Average rating: 7.71
Location: Pebble Beach, CA
Architect(s): Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Era: T27 Modern
14. TPC Sawgrass (Players Stadium)
2024 ranking: 12
Average rating: 7.67
Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Architect(s): Pete Dye
Era: No. 30 Modern
15. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Sheep Ranch)
2024 ranking: T13
Average rating: 7.66
Location: Bandon, OR
Architect(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw
Era: No. 31 Modern
16. Four Seasons Resort Lanai (Manele)
2024 ranking: 16
Average rating: 7.65
Location: Lanai, HI
Architect(s): Jack Nicklaus
Era: No. 34 Modern
17. Chambers Bay
2024 ranking: T20
Average rating: 7.56
Location: University Place, WA
Architect(s): Robert Trent Jones Jr., Bruce Charlton, Jay Blasi
Era: T40 Modern
18. Landmand
2024 ranking: T20
Average rating: 7.55
Location: Homer, NE
Architect(s): Tad King, Rob Collins
Era: No. 42 Modern
19. Streamsong (Red)
2024 ranking: T18
Average rating: 7.52
Location: Bowling Green, FL
Architect(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw
Era: No. 44 Modern
T20. Sand Valley (Sand Valley)
2024 ranking: T18
Average rating: 7.50
Location: Nekoosa, WI
Architect(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw
Era: T45 Modern
T20. Sand Valley (Mammoth Dunes)
2024 ranking: 17
Average rating: 7.50
Location: Nekoosa, WI
Architect(s): David McLay Kidd
Era: T45 Modern
22. Kapalua (Plantation)
2024 ranking: T20
Average rating: 7.45
Location: Maui, HI
Architect(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw
Era: No. 49 Modern
23. Pinehurst (No. 10)*
Average rating: 7.42
Location: Pinehurst, NC
Architect(s): Tom Doak, Angela Moser
Era: No. 52 Modern
24. Gamble Sands
2024 ranking: 23
Average rating: 7.41
Location: Brewster, WA
Architect(s): David McLay Kidd
Era: T53 Modern
25. Sand Valley (Sedge Valley)*
Average rating: 7.39
Location: Nekoosa, WI
Architect(s): Tom Doak
Era: No. 57 Modern
26. Streamsong (Blue)
2024 ranking: 24
Average rating: 7.37
Location: Bowling Green, FL
Architect(s): Tom Doak
Era: T62 Modern
27. Erin Hills
2024 ranking: 27
Average rating: 7.35
Location: Erin, WI
Architect(s): Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry, Ron Whitten
Era: T65 Modern
28. Lawsonia (Links)
2024 ranking: 25
Average rating: 7.31
Location: Green Lake, WI
Architect(s): William B. Langford, Theodore J. Moreau
Era: T74 Classic
29. Sea Pines Resort (Harbour Town Golf Links)
2024 ranking: 26
Average rating: 7.29
Location: Hilton Head Island, SC
Architect(s): Pete Dye
Era: T73 Modern
30. Sea Island (Seaside)
2024 ranking: T29
Average rating: 7.27
Location: St. Simons Island, GA
Architect(s): Charles H. Alison, Harry S. Colt, Joe Lee, Tom Fazio
Era: T76 Modern
31. Streamsong (Black)
2024 ranking: 28
Average rating: 7.23
Location: Bowling Green, FL
Architect(s): Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner
Era: T81 Modern
32. Arcadia Bluffs (Bluffs)
2024 ranking: 31
Average rating: 7.17
Location: Arcadia, MI
Architect(s): Warren Henderson, Rick Smith
Era: No. 91 Modern
33. Karsten Creek
2024 ranking: T33
Average rating: 7.16
Location: Stillwater, OK
Architect(s): Tom Fazio
Era: T92 Modern
34. Black Desert Resort
2024 ranking: 32
Average rating: 7.11
Location: Ivins, UT
Architect(s): Tom Weiskopf, Phil Smith
Era: No. 96 Modern
T35. Pinehurst (No. 4)
2024 ranking: 39
Average rating: 7.10
Location: Pinehurst, NC
Architect(s): Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner
Era: T97 Modern
T35. Fallen Oak
2024 ranking: T33
Average rating: 7.10
Location: Saucier, MS
Architect(s): Tom Fazio
Era: T97 Modern
37. Omni Homestead Resort (Cascades)
2024 ranking: T37
Average rating: 7.09
Location: Hot Springs, VA
Architect(s): William S. Flynn
Era: T102 Classic
T38. Sweetens Cove
2024 ranking: 35
Average rating: 7.08
Location: South Pittsburg, TN
Architect(s): Tad King, Rob Collins
Era: T100 Modern
T38. The Park West Palm
2024 ranking: T29
Average rating: 7.08
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
Architect(s): Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner
Era: T100 Modern
40. Primland (Highland)
2024 ranking: 36
Average rating: 7.05
Location: Meadows of Dan, VA
Architect(s): Donald Steel
Era: No. 107 Modern
41. Princeville (Makai)
2024 ranking: 62
Average rating: 7.04
Location: Princeville, HI
Architect(s): Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Era: Modern
42. Prairie Club (Dunes)
2024 ranking: T37
Average rating: 7.03
Location: Valentine, NE
Architect(s): Tom Lehman, Chris Brands
Era: T112 Modern
43. Wild Horse
2024 ranking: 41
Average rating: 6.97
Location: Gothenburg, NE
Architect(s): Dave Axland, Dan Proctor
Era: T122 Modern
T44. Torrey Pines (South)
2024 ranking: 42
Average rating: 6.96
Location: San Diego
Architect(s): William F. Bell, Rees Jones
Era: No. 124 Classic
T44. Mystic Creek
2024 ranking: 43
Average rating: 6.96
Location: El Dorado, AR
Architect(s): Ken Dye
Era: Modern
46. Marquette Golf Club (Greywalls)
2024 ranking: 40
Average rating: 6.94
Location: Marquette, MI
Architect(s): Mike Devries
Era: T130 Modern
T47. Mossy Oak
2024 ranking: 46
Average rating: 6.93
Location: West Point, MS
Architect(s): Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner
Era: T132 Modern
T47. Giants Ridge (Quarry)
2024 ranking: T44
Average rating: 6.93
Location: Biwabik, MN
Architect(s): Jeff Brauer
Era: T132 Modern
49. Lajitas (Black Jack's Crossing)
2024 ranking: T50
Average rating: 6.92
Location: Lajitas, TX
Architect(s): Lanny Wadkins
Era: T139 Modern
50. Forest Dunes (The Loop Red & Black)
2024 ranking: T47
Average rating: 6.91
Location: Roscommon, MI
Architect(s): Tom Doak
Era: T143 Modern
51. PaaKo Ridge
2024 ranking: 49
Average rating: 6.90
Location: Sandia Park, NM
Architect(s): Ken Dye
Era: T146 Modern
T52. Kohler Blackwolf Run (River)
2024 ranking: T50
Average rating: 6.87
Location: Kohler, WI
Architect(s): Pete Dye
Era: T149 Modern
T52. Rustic Canyon
2024 ranking: T52
Average rating: 6.87
Location: Moorpark, CA
Architect(s): Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner, Geoff Shackelford
Era: T149 Modern
T52. Yocha Dehe at Cache Creek Casino
2024 ranking: 55
Average rating: 6.87
Location: Brooks, CA
Architect(s): Brad Bell
Era: Modern
55. Wine Valley
2024 ranking: 47
Average rating: 6.86
Location: Walla Walla, WA
Architect(s): Dan Hixson
Era: T157 Modern
56. Mid Pines
2024 ranking: T52
Average rating: 6.85
Location: Southern Pines, NC
Architect(s): Donald Ross, Kyle Franz
Era: T137 Classic
57. Cabot Citrus Farms (Karoo)*
Average rating: 6.84
Location: Brooksville, FL
Architect(s): Kyle Franz
Era: T166 Modern
T58. Big Cedar Lodge (Ozarks National)
2024 ranking: T55
Average rating: 6.83
Location: Hollister, MO
Architect(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw
Era: T170 Modern
T58. Sand Hollow (Championship)
2024 ranking: 54
Average rating: 6.83
Location: Hurricane, UT
Architect(s): John Fought, Andy Staples
Era: T170 Modern
60. French Lick Resort (Pete Dye)
2024 ranking: T55
Average rating: 6.82
Location: French Lick, IN
Architect(s): Pete Dye
Era: T176 Modern
61. Mauna Kea Resort
2024 ranking: 61
Average rating: 6.81
Location: Kohala Coast, HI
Architect(s): Robert Trent Jones Sr., Rees Jones
Era: T179 Modern
62. Pine Needles
2024 ranking: 67
Average rating: 6.80
Location: Southern Pines, NC
Architect(s): Donald Ross, John Fought, Kyle Franz
Era: T146 Classic
63. The Greenbrier (Old White)
2024 ranking: T55
Average rating: 6.79
Location: White Sulphur Springs, WV
Architect(s): Charles Blair Macdonald, Seth Raynor, Lester George
Era: No. 149 Classic
64. Silvies Valley Ranch (Hankins)
2024 ranking: T44
Average rating: 6.77
Location: Seneca, OR
Architect(s): Dan Hixson
Era: T184 Modern
T65. Pebble Beach Resorts (Links at Spanish Bay)
2024 ranking: T73
Average rating: 6.76
Location: Pebble Beach, CA
Architect(s): Robert Trent Jones Jr., Sandy Tatum, Tom Watson
Era: T185 Modern
T65. The Dunes Golf & Beach Club
2024 ranking: T65
Average rating: 6.76
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC
Architect(s): Robert Trent Jones Sr., Rees Jones
Era: No. 155 Classic
T67. Firestone (South)
2024 ranking: T78
Average rating: 6.75
Location: Akron, OH
Architect(s): Bert Way, Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Era: T156 Classic
T67. Omni PGA Frisco Resort (Fields Ranch East)
2024 ranking: T63
Average rating: 6.75
Location: Frisco, TX
Architect(s): Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner
Era: T189 Modern
69. Big Cedar Lodge (Buffalo Ridge)
2024 ranking: T70
Average rating: 6.73
Location: Hollister, MO
Architect(s): Tom Fazio
Era: No. 196 Modern
T70. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club
2024 ranking: T63
Average rating: 6.72
Location: Pawleys Island, SC
Architect(s): Michael Strantz
Era: T197 Modern
T70. Golden Horseshoe (Gold)
2024 ranking: T65
Average rating: 6.72
Location: Williamsburg, VA
Architect(s): Robert Trent Jones Sr., Rees Jones, Greg Muirhead
Era: T197 Modern
T72. Keswick Hall and GC (Full Cry)
2024 ranking: T70
Average rating: 6.71
Location: Keswick, VA
Architect(s): Pete Dye
Era: Modern
T72. Links of North Dakota
2024 ranking: T83
Average rating: 6.71
Location: Ray, ND
Architect(s): Stephen Kay
Era: Modern
T72. Minot Country Club
2024 ranking: 59
Average rating: 6.71
Location: Minot, ND
Architect(s): Jim Engh
Era: Modern
75. Tobacco Road
2024 ranking: T83
Average rating: 6.70
Location: Sanford, NC
Architect(s): Michael Strantz
Era: Modern
76. Cascata
2024 ranking: T68
Average rating: 6.69
Location: Boulder City, NV
Architect(s): Rees Jones
Era: Modern
77. Sunriver Resort (Crosswater)
2024 ranking: T91
Average rating: 6.66
Location: Sunriver, OR
Architect(s): Bob Cupp, John Fought
Era: Modern
T78. Forest Dunes (Weiskopf)
2024 ranking: T68
Average rating: 6.65
Location: Roscommon, MI
Architect(s): Tom Weiskopf
Era: Modern
T78. Rams Hill
2024 ranking: T73
Average rating: 6.65
Location: Borrego Springs, CA
Architect(s): Tom Fazio
Era: Modern
T78. CordeValle
2024 ranking: T73
Average rating: 6.65
Location: San Martin, CA
Architect(s): Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Era: Modern
T81. Bay Hill Club and Lodge
2024 ranking: T78
Average rating: 6.64
Location: Orlando
Architect(s): Dick Wilson, Arnold Palmer
Era: Modern
T81. Prairie Club (Pines)
2024 ranking: T94
Average rating: 6.64
Location: Valentine, NE
Architect(s): Graham Marsh
Era: Modern
T81. Pumpkin Ridge (Ghost Creek)
2024 ranking: T83
Average rating: 6.64
Location: North Plains, OR
Architect(s): Bob Cupp, John Fought
Era: Modern
T84. Arcadia Bluffs (South)
2024 ranking: T87
Average rating: 6.63
Location: Arcadia, MI
Architect(s): Dana Fry, Jason Straka
Era: Modern
T84. Hawktree
2024 ranking: 72
Average rating: 6.63
Location: Bismarck, ND
Architect(s): Jim Engh
Era: Modern
T84. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
2024 ranking: T94
Average rating: 6.63
Location: Kailua-Kona, HI
Architect(s): Jack Nicklaus
Era: Modern
T87. Kohler Whistling Straits (Irish)
2024 ranking: T78
Average rating: 6.62
Location: Mosel, WI
Architect(s): Pete Dye
Era: Modern
T87. Old Waverly
2024 ranking: T81
Average rating: 6.62
Location: West Point, MS
Architect(s): Bob Cupp, Jerry Pate
Era: Modern
T87. Silvies Valley Ranch (Craddock)
2024 ranking: 60
Average rating: 6.62
Location: Seneca, OR
Architect(s): Dan Hixson
Era: Modern
T87. Leatherstocking
2024 ranking: 77
Average rating: 6.62
Location: Cooperstown, NY
Architect(s): Devereux Emmet
Era: T175 Classic
T87. Hideout
2024 ranking: T81
Average rating: 6.62
Location: Monticello, UT
Architect(s): Forrest Richardson
Era: Modern
T92. We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro)
2024 ranking: T87
Average rating: 6.61
Location: Fort McDowell, AZ
Architect(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw
Era: Modern
T92. Big Cedar Lodge (Payne's Valley)
2024 ranking: T94
Average rating: 6.61
Location: Hollister, MO
Architect(s): Tiger Woods
Era: Modern
T92. Reynolds Lake Oconee (Great Waters)
2024 ranking: T89
Average rating: 6.61
Location: Greensboro, GA
Architect(s): Jack Nicklaus
Era: Modern
T92. Breezy Point Resort (Deacon's Lodge)
2024 ranking: T91
Average rating: 6.61
Location: Brainerd, MN
Architect(s): Arnold Palmer
Era: Modern
T96. Omni Bedford Springs (Old)*
Average rating: 6.59
Location: Bedford, PA
Architect(s): Donald Ross, A.W. Tillinghast, Spencer Oldham, Ron Forse
Era: No. 182 Classic
T96. Cog Hill (No. 4 - Dubsdread)
2024 ranking: T73
Average rating: 6.59
Location: Lemont, IL
Architect(s): Dick Wilson, Rees Jones
Era: Modern
T96. Cape Cod National
2024 ranking: T89
Average rating: 6.59
Location: Brewster, MA
Architect(s): Brian Silva
Era: Modern
T99. Omni Barton Creek (Fazio Canyons)*
Average rating: 6.57
Location: Austin
Architect(s): Tom Fazio
Era: Modern
T99. Belvedere
2024 ranking: T94
Average rating: 6.57
Location: Charlevoix, MI
Architect(s): William Watson, Bruce Hepner
Era: T185 Classic
T99. The Broadmoor (East)*
Average rating: 6.57
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Architect(s): Donald Ross, Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Era: T185 Classic
T99. Madden's on Gull Lake (Classic)
2024 ranking: T91
Average rating: 6.57
Location: Brainerd, MN
Architect(s): Scott Hoffman
Era: Modern