Golf is a popular sport in the United States, and there are many exceptional golf courses throughout the country. Here are some of the best golf courses in the United States:
Pebble Beach Golf Links, California
Pebble Beach is one of the most famous and picturesque golf courses in the world, situated along the Pacific Ocean coastline. It has hosted numerous major tournaments, including the U.S. Open.
The course was designed by golf course architect Jack Neville and opened for play in 1919. It is situated on the Monterey Peninsula along the Pacific Ocean, with stunning views of the coastline and numerous iconic landmarks such as the Lone Cypress.
Pebble Beach Golf Links is a public course, but it can be quite expensive to play. In addition to the main course, there are several other courses and facilities on the property, including the Links at Spanish Bay and the Spyglass Hill Golf Course. The resort also features several lodging options, restaurants, and other amenities for visitors.
Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia
Augusta National is the home of the Masters tournament, one of the most prestigious events in golf. The course is known for its immaculate condition and challenging layout.
The course at Augusta National was designed by Jones and renowned golf course architect Alister MacKenzie. The club has a strict membership policy and has been criticized in the past for its lack of diversity, particularly with regard to women and people of color. However, in recent years, the club has taken steps to address these concerns, admitting its first female members in 2012 and establishing initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion in golf.
Augusta National Golf Club is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious golf clubs in the world, and the Masters Tournament is considered one of the most prestigious events in professional golf. The club has a storied history and has hosted many legendary players, including Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Tiger Woods.
Pine Valley Golf Club, New Jersey
Pine Valley is consistently ranked as the best golf course in the United States, and is known for its challenging layout and beautiful scenery.
The course at Pine Valley Golf Club is known for its challenging layout, which includes a variety of hazards such as bunkers, water features, and dense forests. The club is also renowned for its exclusivity, as membership is extremely limited and difficult to obtain. Pine Valley Golf Club has consistently been ranked as the number one golf course in the world by various publications and has hosted numerous major golf tournaments over the years.
In addition to its golf course, Pine Valley Golf Club also offers a range of amenities for its members, including a clubhouse, dining facilities, tennis courts, and a swimming pool. The club is known for its strict dress code and rules of conduct, which are designed to maintain the club’s traditions and uphold the highest standards of sportsmanship and etiquette.
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, New York
Shinnecock Hills is one of the oldest golf courses in the United States and has hosted numerous U.S. Open tournaments. It is known for its challenging greens and traditional links-style layout.
Shinnecock Hills has hosted a number of major golf championships, including the U.S. Open five times (in 1896, 1986, 1995, 2004, and 2018), the U.S. Amateur championship three times, and the Walker Cup twice. It is known for its challenging layout, with narrow fairways, deep bunkers, and fast greens, as well as its stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and neighboring Peconic Bay.
The club is private, and membership is by invitation only. It has a storied history and is widely considered one of the most prestigious golf clubs in the world.
Cypress Point Club, California
Cypress Point is located on the Monterey Peninsula and is known for its stunning ocean views and challenging holes. It is consistently ranked as one of the best golf courses in the world.
Cypress Point Club was founded in 1928 and designed by Alister MacKenzie, a well-known golf course architect who also designed Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters Tournament. The course at Cypress Point is known for its stunning coastal scenery, with several holes playing along the Pacific Ocean.
The club has hosted several high-profile golf events, including the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1929, the Walker Cup in 1981 who a friend who does Fabrication Michigan told me he was at, and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am tournament, which is held annually at several courses in the Pebble Beach area, including Cypress Point.
Membership at Cypress Point is extremely limited and is by invitation only. The club has a strict policy of not disclosing its membership list, but it is known to include many high-profile business leaders, politicians, and celebrities.
Merion Golf Club, Pennsylvania
Merion is a classic course that has hosted numerous U.S. Open tournaments. It is known for its narrow fairways and challenging greens.
Merion Golf Club has a rich history and has hosted several major golf tournaments, including the U.S. Open Championship five times. The East Course is the more famous of the two, and has been ranked as one of the top courses in the world. The course was designed by Scottish-born architect Hugh Wilson, and is known for its challenging layout and deep bunkers.
Some of the most memorable moments in golf history have occurred at Merion Golf Club, including Bobby Jones winning the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1930, and Ben Hogan’s legendary victory at the 1950 U.S. Open, which he won after surviving a near-fatal car accident.
Merion Golf Club has a strict dress code and is only open to members and their guests. It is widely considered to be one of the premier golf clubs in the United States, and has a reputation for being both exclusive and exceptional.
Oakmont Country Club, Pennsylvania
Oakmont is one of the toughest courses in the world and has hosted numerous major tournaments, including the U.S. Open. It is known for its treacherous bunkers and challenging greens.
Oakmont Country Club is known for its challenging layout and fast, undulating greens, which make it a true test for even the best golfers in the world. The course was designed by Henry Fownes, and its unique features, including deep bunkers and narrow fairways, are a testament to his vision and skill.
In addition to the US Open, Oakmont has also hosted a number of other major golf tournaments, including the US Women’s Open, the PGA Championship, and the Ryder Cup. The club has also been recognized for its exceptional course maintenance and was awarded the 2025 US Open in 2018, which will mark the 15th time the tournament has been played at Oakmont.
Winged Foot Golf Club, New York
Winged Foot is a classic course that has hosted numerous major tournaments. It is known for its challenging layout and tough rough.
The West Course at Winged Foot is considered one of the most challenging golf courses in the world, with a slope rating of 144 and a course rating of 75.7. It has hosted five U.S. Open Championships, most recently in 2020, as well as the PGA Championship, the U.S. Amateur Championship, and the U.S. Women’s Open Championship.
The East Course, while also challenging, is considered slightly less difficult than the West Course, with a slope rating of 137 and a course rating of 73.9. It has hosted several major amateur and professional golf tournaments over the years.
In addition to its golf courses, Winged Foot has a clubhouse that dates back to the 1920s and features a dining room, a bar, and various event spaces. The club has a storied history and has hosted some of the most prestigious events in golf.
Bethpage Black, New York
Bethpage Black is a public course that has hosted numerous major tournaments, including the U.S. Open. It is known for its long, challenging layout and tough rough.
Bethpage Black has hosted several high-profile golf events, including the U.S. Open in 2002 and 2009, and the PGA Championship in 2019. It is also a regular venue for the Barclays, which is part of the FedEx Cup playoffs.
The course has a reputation for being one of the toughest in the United States, with narrow fairways, thick rough, and challenging greens. It is a par-71 course that measures over 7,400 yards from the back tees.
In addition to Bethpage Black, the other courses at Bethpage State Park include the Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow courses. These courses are also open to the public and offer a range of different challenges and playing experiences.
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Oregon
Bandon Dunes is a stunning golf resort located on the Oregon coast. It has multiple courses, each with their own unique challenges and stunning views.
The resort features five 18-hole golf courses, each with its own unique design and layout. The courses include Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, Old Macdonald, Bandon Trails, and Sheep Ranch. All of the courses are links-style courses, which means they are designed to simulate the traditional golf courses found in Scotland and Ireland.
In addition to golf, the resort offers other amenities such as lodging, dining, and recreational activities. The lodging options include several different types of accommodations, from single rooms to large group villas. Dining options include several restaurants and bars, with menus that feature locally-sourced ingredients and a variety of cuisine.
Recreational activities at the resort include fishing, hiking, beachcombing, and exploring the nearby state parks and other natural attractions. The resort also offers a variety of spa services and fitness facilities for those who want to relax and stay active during their stay.
Overall, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is a world-renowned destination for golfers and non-golfers alike, with its scenic location, outstanding golf courses, and wide range of amenities and activities.
These are just a few of the many exceptional golf courses in the United States, each offering a unique and challenging golfing experience.