Ranked by Golf Digest’s 2025-26 America’s 100 Greatest, the best golf courses by state start with Pine Valley in New Jersey, Augusta National in Georgia, Cypress Point in California and Shinnecock Hills in New York. New York has the most courses in the top 100 (15), then California (14). Eighteen states have none.
Almost all of those state No. 1s are private, so a list of the best course in each state tells you very little about where you can play. That’s why this guide gives two answers for every state: the highest-ranked course, and the best course a golfer without a membership can actually book. Some states, such as Oregon, Nevada, North Carolina and Washington, have a public course at or near the very top. In others, such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the gap between the famous clubs and the rest is enormous.
How we built this. For each state’s top course, we use Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses (2025-26), the most widely cited national ranking, which we’ve cached and checked for our guide to every major national ranking. A state’s top course here is its highest-ranked course on that national list. Golf Digest also ranks every state separately, and its state order doesn’t always match the national one, though at the top it usually does: in North Carolina, for example, Wade Hampton is No. 1 on both. For the 18 states with no course in the national top 100, we give the No. 1 from Golf Digest’s state list as reported in published coverage, and say “reported”, because Golf Digest’s pages block automated reading. The best course you can play comes from GOLF’s Top 100 Courses You Can Play (2024-25) state breakdown unless we say otherwise. Course counts are from the FairwayDB directory’s 2026 count, and they’re approximate. We haven’t played all of these courses, and where a note leans on rankings and published data rather than our own rounds, we say so.
At a glance
- Best golf course in America: Pine Valley Golf Club, New Jersey, No. 1 on Golf Digest’s 2025-26 list (private)
- State with the most top-100 courses: New York, 15; California, 14; New Jersey, 6
- States with a top-100 course you can book: California (Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, Pasatiempo), Oregon (Bandon Dunes’ courses), Nevada (Shadow Creek, for MGM hotel guests), New York (Bethpage Black), North Carolina (Pinehurst No. 2, with a stay), South Carolina (the Ocean Course at Kiawah), Wisconsin (Whistling Straits, Erin Hills and the Lido, with a stay), Florida (TPC Sawgrass)
- States where the No. 1 course is public: Oregon (Pacific Dunes), Nevada (Shadow Creek, hotel guests only) and South Carolina (the Ocean Course)
- Best state for public golf: Wisconsin, with 10 courses on Golf Digest’s 2025-26 public top 100, then California and Michigan with 9 each
- States with the most courses: Florida (about 1,036), California (about 793) and New York (about 777), according to FairwayDB’s 2026 count
- Cheapest golf state: the plains and the Midwest; Supreme Golf’s booking data put the average round at $14 in Alaska and $31 in Oklahoma, against more than $100 in Hawaii and Nevada
The best golf courses by state: the full table
The table lists all 50 states alphabetically. “Top course” is the state’s highest-ranked course on Golf Digest’s 2025-26 national top 100, with its rank, or, where the state has none, the No. 1 on Golf Digest’s state list as reported. “Best you can play” is the best course a golfer without a membership can book, which may mean staying at a resort.
| State | Courses (approx.) | Top course (national rank or state No. 1) | Access | Best course you can play |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 209 | Shoal Creek (state No. 1, reported) | Private | RTJ Golf Trail, Grand National (Links) |
| Alaska | 20 | Anchorage Golf Course (state No. 1, reported) | Public | Anchorage Golf Course |
| Arizona | 319 | Estancia (No. 70) | Private | We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro) |
| Arkansas | 160 | The Alotian Club (No. 37) | Private | Not on our source lists |
| California | 793 | Cypress Point (No. 3) | Private | Pebble Beach (No. 9) |
| Colorado | 236 | Ballyneal (No. 34) | Private | The Broadmoor (East), hotel guests |
| Connecticut | 161 | The Stanwich Club (state No. 1, reported) | Private | Yale Golf Course |
| Delaware | 40 | Wilmington Country Club, South (state No. 1, reported) | Private | Not on our source lists |
| Florida | 1,036 | Seminole (No. 12) | Private | TPC Sawgrass, Stadium (No. 41) |
| Georgia | 364 | Augusta National (No. 2) | Private | Sea Island (Seaside), guests |
| Hawaii | 74 | Nanea (No. 59) | Private | Kapalua (Plantation) |
| Idaho | 102 | Gozzer Ranch (No. 43) | Private | Not on our source lists |
| Illinois | 566 | Chicago Golf Club (No. 11) | Private | Cog Hill, Dubsdread (Golf Digest) |
| Indiana | 363 | Victoria National (No. 60) | Private | French Lick (Ross Course) |
| Iowa | 345 | Davenport Country Club (state No. 1, reported) | Private | Not on our source lists |
| Kansas | 230 | Prairie Dunes (No. 25) | Private | Not on our source lists |
| Kentucky | 236 | Valhalla (No. 94) | Private | Not on our source lists |
| Louisiana | 136 | Squire Creek (state No. 1, reported) | Private | Not on our source lists |
| Maine | 130 | Boothbay Harbor Country Club (state No. 1) | Semi-private | Cape Arundel |
| Maryland | 168 | Congressional, Blue (No. 67) | Private | Not on our source lists |
| Massachusetts | 353 | The Country Club (No. 17) | Private | George Wright (Boston muni) |
| Michigan | 708 | Crystal Downs (No. 15) | Private | Forest Dunes (The Loop) |
| Minnesota | 416 | Interlachen (No. 64) | Private | The Quarry at Giants Ridge (Golf Digest) |
| Mississippi | 147 | Fallen Oak (state No. 1, reported) | Hotel guests | Mossy Oak |
| Missouri | 313 | St. Louis Country Club (state No. 1, reported) | Private | Ozarks National |
| Montana | 94 | Rock Creek Cattle Company (No. 65) | Private | Wilderness Club |
| Nebraska | 198 | Sand Hills (No. 8) | Private | The Prairie Club (Dunes) |
| Nevada | 94 | Shadow Creek (No. 24) | MGM hotel guests | Shadow Creek |
| New Hampshire | 111 | Baker Hill (state No. 1, reported) | Private | Not on our source lists |
| New Jersey | 294 | Pine Valley (No. 1) | Private | Not on our source lists |
| New Mexico | 78 | Paa-Ko Ridge (state No. 1, reported) | Public | Black Mesa |
| New York | 777 | Shinnecock Hills (No. 4) | Private | Bethpage Black (No. 38) |
| North Carolina | 475 | Wade Hampton (No. 27) | Private | Pinehurst No. 2 (No. 32), with a stay |
| North Dakota | 111 | Not confirmed | – | Not on our source lists |
| Ohio | 592 | Muirfield Village (No. 19) | Private | Firestone (South) |
| Oklahoma | 179 | Southern Hills (No. 28) | Private | Karsten Creek |
| Oregon | 170 | Pacific Dunes (No. 23) | Public (resort) | Pacific Dunes |
| Pennsylvania | 572 | Oakmont (No. 5) | Private | Not on our source lists |
| Rhode Island | 61 | Newport Country Club (state No. 1, reported) | Private | Not on our source lists |
| South Carolina | 319 | Kiawah Island, Ocean Course (No. 30) | Public (resort) | Ocean Course |
| South Dakota | 114 | Sutton Bay (state No. 1, reported) | Private | Not on our source lists |
| Tennessee | 266 | The Honors Course (No. 29) | Private | Hermitage, President’s Reserve (Golf Digest) |
| Texas | 745 | Whispering Pines (No. 66) | Private | PGA Frisco, Fields Ranch East |
| Utah | 113 | Glenwild (state No. 1, reported) | Private | Sand Hollow |
| Vermont | 66 | Ekwanok (state No. 1, reported) | Private | Not on our source lists |
| Virginia | 308 | Kinloch (No. 79) | Private | Omni Homestead (Cascades) |
| Washington | 247 | Gamble Sands (state No. 1, reported) | Public | Gamble Sands |
| West Virginia | 98 | Pikewood National (No. 31) | Private | The Greenbrier (Old White TPC) |
| Wisconsin | 439 | Whistling Straits, Straits (No. 26) | Public (resort) | The Lido, resort guests |
| Wyoming | 52 | Shooting Star (state No. 1, reported) | Private | Not on our source lists |
Rankings: Golf Digest America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses (2025-26) and state lists as reported; GOLF Top 100 Courses You Can Play (2024-25) state breakdown for playable courses unless marked Golf Digest. Course counts: FairwayDB, February 2026 (approximate). “Not on our source lists” means neither source named a public course for that state; it doesn’t mean the state has no good public golf.
Three patterns stand out. First, the Northeast dominates the national top 100 because it has the old clubs: New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania account for 29 of the 100 courses, nearly all of them private and most built before 1935. Second, the best new golf in America is in unexpected places. Sand Hills in Nebraska, Ballyneal in Colorado, CapRock Ranch in Nebraska and Rock Creek in Montana are all in the national top 75, and all are remote. Third, some of the states with the fewest courses, including Oregon and Nevada, have the most accessible top courses, because those courses were built as destinations.
Which state has the best golf courses?
New York, by the numbers: 15 courses on Golf Digest’s 2025-26 America’s 100 Greatest, including Shinnecock Hills, the National Golf Links and Bethpage Black. California has 14 and the best course you can play in America, Pebble Beach. For public golf, Wisconsin leads Golf Digest’s 2025-26 public top 100 with 10 courses.
It depends on what you mean by “best”. Here are three ways to measure it.
| Measure | Leader | Runner-up | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Courses on Golf Digest’s 2025-26 top 100 | New York (15) | California (14) | New Jersey (6) |
| Courses on Golf Digest’s 2025-26 public top 100 | Wisconsin (10) | California and Michigan (9 each) | – |
| Number of golf courses (FairwayDB, 2026) | Florida (about 1,036) | California (about 793) | New York (about 777) |
| Cheapest average round (Supreme Golf data, 2023 rounds) | Alaska ($14) | Oklahoma ($31) | Ohio ($35) |
For private golf, New York is the answer. Long Island alone has Shinnecock Hills, the National Golf Links of America, Friar’s Head, Maidstone, Sebonack, Garden City and Bethpage Black, and Westchester has both Winged Foot courses and Quaker Ridge.
For public golf, Wisconsin is the surprise leader. Whistling Straits, Erin Hills, the Sand Valley courses, Blackwolf Run and Lawsonia Links give it more top public courses than any other state, and most of them are within three hours of each other.
For year-round golf, Florida, Arizona, California and Hawaii are the obvious choices, with Texas and South Carolina close behind. See the season table further down.
For value, the Midwest and the plains win. Nebraska has Sand Hills (private) but also the Prairie Club and Wild Horse; Kansas has Buffalo Dunes; Michigan has dozens of excellent daily-fee courses under $100.
The Northeast: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New England
The Northeast is where American golf began, and it still has the highest concentration of great courses in the country. Almost all are private; the public exceptions are mostly munis and a handful of resort and daily-fee courses. The season runs from April or May to October or November.
New York has Shinnecock Hills (No. 4), host of the 2026 U.S. Open, at the top, and 15 courses on the national list, more than any other state. Bethpage Black (No. 38) is the best you can play, at $70 on weekdays for New York residents and $140 for non-residents. Our guide to the best golf courses in New York State covers the rest.
New Jersey has Pine Valley, No. 1 in America on Golf Digest’s list for most of the ranking’s history, plus Baltusrol’s two courses, Somerset Hills, Plainfield and Essex County. It has six courses in the top 100, all private, and neither of our public-course sources names a public standout. We cover the best golf courses in New Jersey in their own guide.
Pennsylvania has Oakmont (No. 5), which Golf Digest’s state panel now puts ahead of Merion (No. 6), and Aronimink (No. 100). All three are private. Our guide to the best golf courses in Pennsylvania has the public options.
Massachusetts has The Country Club in Brookline (No. 17), plus Myopia Hunt, Old Sandwich, Kittansett and Boston Golf Club. Boston’s city course, George Wright, a Donald Ross design, is the best you can play; see the best golf courses in Massachusetts and our wider look at the best golf courses in New England.
Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine have no courses on the national top 100. Their state No. 1s, reported as the Stanwich Club, Newport Country Club, Ekwanok, Baker Hill and Boothbay Harbor, are all private or semi-private. Connecticut’s best public round is the Yale Golf Course, which opened to the public in 2026 for non-affiliated golfers booking ten days ahead.
The Southeast: Georgia, the Carolinas, Florida and Virginia
The Southeast has two of the three most famous courses in America (Augusta National and Pinehurst No. 2), year-round golf in Florida and a long season elsewhere.
Georgia has Augusta National (No. 2), Peachtree (No. 22) and Ohoopee (No. 36), all private. Sea Island’s Seaside Course is the best you can play, for hotel guests and members; see our guide to the best golf courses in Georgia.
North Carolina has Wade Hampton (No. 27), No. 1 on Golf Digest’s state list too, followed by Pinehurst No. 2 (No. 32), Old Town (No. 39) and Diamond Creek (No. 95). Pinehurst No. 2 is the best you can play, with a two-night stay. Our guide to the best golf courses in North Carolina covers Pinehurst and the mountains.
South Carolina is one of the few states where the top course is public: the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island (No. 30), which non-guests can book 60 days ahead. Congaree (No. 40) is private. See our guide to South Carolina’s best courses.
Florida has more golf courses than any other state and three on the national list: Seminole (No. 12), TPC Sawgrass (No. 41) and Calusa Pines (No. 68). TPC Sawgrass’s Stadium Course is the best you can play, from $550 in summer to $775 the rest of the year. See our guide to Florida’s best courses.
Virginia has Kinloch (No. 79), private; the Omni Homestead’s Cascades Course is the best you can play. West Virginia has Pikewood National (No. 31) and the Pete Dye Golf Club (No. 92), both private, and the Greenbrier’s Old White TPC, open to the public from $205 for non-guests. See the best golf courses in Virginia.
Maryland has Congressional’s Blue Course (No. 67), a private club in Bethesda that has hosted three U.S. Opens; neither of our sources names a standout public course.
Tennessee has The Honors Course (No. 29), private; Golf Digest’s pick for the best you can play is the President’s Reserve at the Hermitage near Nashville. Our guides cover the best golf courses in Tennessee and the best public golf courses in Nashville.
Alabama has no course on the national list; Shoal Creek is reported as the state No. 1. The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, a chain of public courses across the state, is its public strength, led by the Grand National’s Links Course; we also have guides to the best golf courses in Alabama and Gulf Shores golf courses. Mississippi’s reported No. 1 is Fallen Oak, open only to Beau Rivage hotel guests, and its best public course is Gil Hanse’s Mossy Oak. Atlanta’s public courses have their own guide to the best public golf courses in Atlanta.
The Midwest: Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and Minnesota
The Midwest has the best public golf in America relative to its price, a short, intense summer season and some of the country’s greatest private clubs.
Wisconsin has Whistling Straits (No. 26), Erin Hills (No. 49), the Lido (No. 69) and Milwaukee Country Club (No. 97). Whistling Straits and Erin Hills are open to the public; the Lido is for resort guests at Sand Valley.
Michigan has Crystal Downs (No. 15) and Oakland Hills (No. 20), both private, and nine courses on Golf Digest’s public top 100, from Arcadia Bluffs above Lake Michigan to Forest Dunes, whose reversible Loop course is GOLF’s pick as the state’s best you can play.
Illinois has Chicago Golf Club (No. 11), Shoreacres (No. 47), Medinah No. 3 (No. 74), Canyata (No. 86) and Butler National (No. 87), all private; Cog Hill’s Dubsdread is Golf Digest’s pick for the best you can play. We cover the best golf courses in Illinois and the best public golf courses in Chicago separately.
Ohio has Muirfield Village (No. 19), Jack Nicklaus’s club and home of the Memorial Tournament, plus The Golf Club, Camargo, Inverness and Scioto: five on the list, all private. Firestone’s South Course is GOLF’s pick for the best you can play. See the best golf courses in Ohio.
Minnesota has Interlachen (No. 64), private; the Quarry at Giants Ridge, in the Iron Range, is Golf Digest’s pick for its best public course. See the best golf courses in Minnesota.
Indiana has Victoria National (No. 60) and Crooked Stick (No. 99), both private; the Ross Course at French Lick is GOLF’s pick for the best you can play. Missouri’s reported No. 1 is St. Louis Country Club, and Ozarks National at Big Cedar Lodge is the best you can book. Kentucky has Valhalla (No. 94). Iowa’s reported No. 1 is Davenport Country Club. For the region as a whole, see our guide to the best golf courses in the Midwest.
The Plains and the Mountain West
This is where the great modern golf of the last 30 years has been built, on sand, prairie and mountain ground far from big cities.
Nebraska has Sand Hills (No. 8), the 1995 Coore and Crenshaw course that started America’s minimalist movement, and CapRock Ranch (No. 72), both private and remote. The Prairie Club’s Dunes Course is the best you can play, reported at about $199.50, and Wild Horse in Gothenburg charges $68 to $85.
Kansas has Prairie Dunes (No. 25), Perry Maxwell’s private links in Hutchinson; Buffalo Dunes in Garden City, a city-owned course at $37 on weekdays, is a remarkable public alternative.
Oklahoma has Southern Hills (No. 28) and Oak Tree National (No. 80), both private; Karsten Creek, Oklahoma State University’s course, is the best you can play.
Colorado has Ballyneal (No. 34), Castle Pines (No. 50) and Cherry Hills (No. 63), all private; the Broadmoor’s East Course is the best you can play, for hotel guests, from $232 to $361. See the best golf courses in Colorado and the best public golf courses in Denver.
Montana has Rock Creek Cattle Company (No. 65), private; the Wilderness Club in Eureka is GOLF’s pick for the best you can play. Idaho has Gozzer Ranch (No. 43), private, on Lake Coeur d’Alene. Utah’s reported No. 1 is Glenwild near Park City, and Sand Hollow in southern Utah is the best you can play; see the best golf courses in Utah and the best golf courses in St George, Utah. Wyoming’s reported No. 1 is Shooting Star in Jackson Hole, and South Dakota’s is Sutton Bay, both private. North Dakota’s No. 1 couldn’t be confirmed from published sources.
The Southwest: Texas, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico
The Southwest has winter golf, desert target golf and the highest resort prices in America outside Hawaii.
Texas has Whispering Pines (No. 66) and Dallas National (No. 96), both private. Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco is the best you can play. See our guide to Texas’s best courses.
Arizona has Estancia (No. 70), private. We-Ko-Pa’s Saguaro Course, a Coore and Crenshaw design, is the best you can play, at about $99 in summer and $309 in peak season. See our guide to Arizona’s best courses.
Nevada has Shadow Creek (No. 24), a Tom Fazio course built in the desert outside Las Vegas, and it’s the best course you can play too, if you stay at an MGM Resorts hotel and pay a reported $1,250. We cover the best golf courses in Nevada, the best golf courses in Las Vegas and cheap golf courses in Las Vegas separately.
New Mexico’s reported No. 1 is Paa-Ko Ridge, a public course in the mountains east of Albuquerque, and GOLF’s pick for the best you can play is Black Mesa, near Espanola.
The West Coast, Alaska and Hawaii
The West Coast has the best public golf in America at the very top, from Pebble Beach to Bandon Dunes.
California has Cypress Point (No. 3), Pebble Beach (No. 9), LACC’s North Course (No. 16), Riviera (No. 18) and ten more on the national list. Pebble Beach is the best course you can play in America, at $695. See our guide to California’s best courses.
Oregon is one of only two states, with South Carolina, where the top-ranked course, Pacific Dunes (No. 23), is a public course anyone can book without a hotel stay, and it has four courses on the national list, all at Bandon Dunes: Pacific Dunes, Bandon Dunes (No. 44), Bandon Trails (No. 61) and Old Macdonald (No. 81). Day guests can book 21 days ahead. See the best golf courses in Oregon.
Washington has no course on Golf Digest’s national top 100, but Gamble Sands, a public David McLay Kidd course in the high desert, is reported as the state No. 1 and is on GOLF’s national list at No. 100. Chambers Bay, the Pierce County course that hosted the 2015 U.S. Open, is the other big name. See the best golf courses in Washington State.
Hawaii has Nanea (No. 59), private; Kapalua’s Plantation Course is the best you can play, at $475. See our guide to Hawaii’s best courses.
Alaska’s reported No. 1 is Anchorage Golf Course, a public course, which makes Alaska one of the few states where anyone can play the top-rated course.
What is the best golf course you can play in each state?
The best public courses in America are Pebble Beach (California), Pacific Dunes (Oregon), Shadow Creek (Nevada, for hotel guests), Whistling Straits (Wisconsin), the Ocean Course at Kiawah (South Carolina) and Pinehurst No. 2 (North Carolina, with a stay). Every state has good public golf, but 18 have no course on either source’s playable list.
Here are the states where the best public course is genuinely among the best in America:
| State | Best course you can play | Golf Digest national rank | Access and price |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | Pebble Beach | No. 9 | Public; $695; non-guests book 24 hours ahead |
| Oregon | Pacific Dunes | No. 23 | Public; day guests $180-$425 |
| Nevada | Shadow Creek | No. 24 | MGM hotel guests; about $1,250 (reported) |
| Wisconsin | Whistling Straits (Straits) | No. 26 | Public; walking only; caddie $90 |
| South Carolina | Kiawah Island Ocean Course | No. 30 | Public; non-guests 60 days ahead |
| North Carolina | Pinehurst No. 2 | No. 32 | Resort guests; two-night minimum |
| New York | Bethpage Black | No. 38 | Public; $70 residents, $140 non-residents |
| Florida | TPC Sawgrass (Stadium) | No. 41 | Public; from $550 in summer |
Fees from each course’s own website, September 2026, except where marked “reported”.
Our guide to the best public golf courses in America ranks the top 30 in detail, and we’re building a separate guide to the best public golf course in every state.
When is golf season in each state?
Golf is year-round in Florida, Arizona, southern California, Hawaii, south Texas and coastal South Carolina. Most of the South plays from March to November with winter golf on mild days. The Northeast, Midwest and mountain states play roughly from April or May to October, with the best conditions from June to September.
| Region | Main season | Best months | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida, Hawaii | Year-round | November to April (Florida); April to October (Hawaii) | Florida summer is hot, wet and cheap |
| Arizona, Nevada, southern California | Year-round | October to April | Desert courses overseed in autumn; summer at dawn is cheap |
| Coastal California, Oregon, Washington | Year-round on the coast | May to October | Bandon and Chambers Bay play all year; wind and rain in winter |
| Texas, Southeast (Georgia, Carolinas, Alabama) | March to November; mild winters | April to May, October | Summer heat; dormant bermuda in winter |
| Mid-Atlantic and Virginia | April to November | May to June, September to October | Some winter play |
| Northeast and New England | April/May to October/November | June to September | Courses close for snow |
| Midwest and Great Lakes | May to October | June to September | Wisconsin and Michigan courses close in winter |
| Plains and Mountain West | May to October (lower elevations longer) | June to September | Altitude adds distance |
General seasons; individual courses vary. Check each course before booking.
How much does golf cost by state?
The average price paid for a round varies more than sevenfold by state. Supreme Golf’s analysis of 5.4 million rounds booked on its app in 2023, published by GOLF, found averages from $14 in Alaska to more than $100 in Hawaii and Nevada.
| State | Average price paid per round (2023) |
|---|---|
| Nevada | $143 |
| Hawaii | $108 |
| Colorado | $80 |
| Arizona | $70 |
| California | $70 |
| South Carolina | $68 |
| Florida | $64 |
| North Carolina | $64 |
| Texas | $53 |
| New York | $47 |
| Ohio | $35 |
| Oklahoma | $31 |
| Alaska | $14 |
Source: Supreme Golf data via GOLF, published September 21, 2024. Averages reflect rounds booked through one app, not every course.
The pattern is simple: destination states cost more, because resort courses set the average, while the Midwest and plains, with lots of courses and a short season, are cheap. Our guide to how much a round of golf costs goes deeper, and our guide to the best municipal golf courses in America shows where the cheapest great rounds are in every region.
How to choose which state to play
Start with when you want to play and what kind of golf you want.
- Pick the season. In winter, go south or west: Florida, Arizona, California, Hawaii or south Texas. In summer, go north: Wisconsin, Michigan, Oregon or the mountains.
- Decide between one great round and many good ones. California and Oregon have the single best public courses; Wisconsin and Michigan have the most great public courses close together.
- Check access before anything else. Most state No. 1s are private. In North Carolina, Nevada and Wisconsin, the best rounds need a hotel stay.
- Look at the resident and city options. Almost every state has a great muni: Bethpage Black in New York, Torrey Pines in California, George Wright in Massachusetts, Chambers Bay in Washington.
- Budget by region. A week of golf in Nebraska or Michigan costs a fraction of a week in Hawaii or Las Vegas.
- Book the hardest round first. Build the rest around it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best golf course in each state?
For the 32 states with a course on Golf Digest’s 2025-26 America’s 100 Greatest, the best is the highest-ranked one, from Pine Valley (New Jersey, No. 1) to Valhalla (Kentucky, No. 94). For the other 18 states, Golf Digest’s state lists name a No. 1, such as Shoal Creek in Alabama. Our table lists all 50.
Which state has the most top-100 golf courses?
New York, with 15 courses on Golf Digest’s 2025-26 America’s 100 Greatest, including Shinnecock Hills, the National Golf Links and Bethpage Black. California is second with 14, and New Jersey third with six.
Which state is best for public golf?
Wisconsin, with 10 courses on Golf Digest’s 2025-26 America’s 100 Greatest Public list, including Whistling Straits, Erin Hills and Sand Valley’s courses. California and Michigan follow with nine each. For the single best public course, California’s Pebble Beach is No. 1 on both major public rankings.
Which state has the most golf courses?
Florida, with about 1,036 courses according to FairwayDB’s 2026 count, followed by California (about 793), New York (about 777), Texas (about 745) and Michigan (about 708). Counts vary between sources depending on whether they count courses or facilities; we explain how many golf courses there are in the US separately.
What is the best golf course in America?
Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey is No. 1 on Golf Digest’s 2025-26 America’s 100 Greatest and on GOLF’s Top 100 in the U.S. It’s private. The best course you can play is Pebble Beach Golf Links in California, at $695.
In which states can you play the top-ranked course?
Oregon (Pacific Dunes, as a day guest), South Carolina (the Ocean Course at Kiawah), Nevada (Shadow Creek, as an MGM Resorts hotel guest) and, by reported state rankings, Washington (Gamble Sands), New Mexico (Paa-Ko Ridge) and Alaska (Anchorage Golf Course).
What is the cheapest state for golf?
On Supreme Golf’s 2023 booking data, Alaska had the lowest average round at $14, followed by Oklahoma at $31 and Ohio at $35. The plains and the Midwest are generally the cheapest regions, and the destination states of Nevada and Hawaii the most expensive, at more than $100.
Does every state have a golf course on the national top 100?
No. Eighteen states have no course on Golf Digest’s 2025-26 America’s 100 Greatest: Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming.
Our verdict
The best golf courses by state tell two stories. The first is about history: the Northeast’s old clubs, from Pine Valley to Shinnecock Hills, still dominate the national rankings, and almost none of them is open to you. The second is about access: the best golf you can play is concentrated on the West Coast, in Wisconsin and Michigan, and at a handful of great destinations such as Pinehurst and Kiawah.
So use the table in two ways. If you’re chasing the rankings, it tells you which states’ No. 1s you’ll need an invitation for. If you’re planning a round, look at the “best you can play” column, check the season and start with Oregon, California, Wisconsin, South Carolina or North Carolina. For the courses in between, our state guides go deeper.
Sources
- America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses, 2025-26, Golf Digest
- The Best Golf Courses in Every State: 2025-’26, Golf Digest
- The best golf courses in North Carolina, Golf Digest
- 2025 N.C. Golf Panel Rankings, Visit Pinehurst
- Top 100 public golf courses: state breakdown, GOLF
- Top 100 Courses in the U.S., GOLF
- How much golf costs in each state, GOLF, September 21, 2024
- How many golf courses are in the United States, FairwayDB, February 2026
- Golf industry research, National Golf Foundation
- The 50 best golf states, LINKS Magazine
- Frequently asked questions, Pebble Beach Resorts
- Green fees, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
- FAQ, TPC Sawgrass
- Golf price list, Bethpage State Park
Image credits
| Image | Photographer | Licence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shinnecock Hills Golf Club at the 2018 U.S. Open (featured image) | Peetlesnumber1 | CC BY-SA 4.0 | Wikimedia Commons |
| Arcadia Bluffs above Lake Michigan | Benscripps | CC BY-SA 3.0 | Wikimedia Commons |
| Congressional Country Club, Blue Course, 10th hole | Carl Lindberg | CC BY 2.5 | Wikimedia Commons |
| Augusta National, 10th hole | Mbrooks | public domain | Wikimedia Commons |
| Pebble Beach Golf Links, 18th green | WilliamFMeyer | CC BY-SA 4.0 | Wikimedia Commons |
| Bandon Dunes Golf Resort | Visitor7 | CC BY-SA 3.0 | Wikimedia Commons |
| Whistling Straits, 11th fairway | User:KevinTR | public domain | Wikimedia Commons |