Editor’s note: This is an opinion piece about memorable golf courses.
Some bucket-list golf trips are easy to imagine. Play Bethpage Black. Play TPC Sawgrass. Both are punishing and iconic. Both will be remembered. What if, though, the best bucket-list golf trip is one that combines challenging, memorable holes with a journey? One where the course is just as important as the drive there or the story of a certain shot or swing? Add these public and private courses to your golf-travel wish list, with the private courses saved for if you get the chance.
50. Furnace Creek Golf Course, California
The first bucket-list golf dare. The heat of Death Valley. The desert mountains. It’s below sea level.
You wouldn’t rank Furnace Creek high based on the golf, but its location makes it unforgettable. Add it to a Death Valley itinerary.
49. Wild Horse Golf Club, Nebraska
It’s not like TPC Sawgrass where you’ll get recognition for walking through the gates. It’s not Bethpage Black. But the wind, the firm conditions, the Nebraska prairie: There’s something special and memorable about playing Wild Horse that will leave you wishing others could see it.
It’s another bucket-list course that’s been sitting under-radar waiting to be discovered. Read more: public-access golf courses where the scenery steals the round.
48. Redlands Mesa Golf Course, Colorado
Colorado golf is an underrated component to any western states’ trips. Redlands Mesa offers views and elevation changes plus color found nowhere else outside of the high-desert.
Add it to a western states’ driving trip.
47. The Quarry At Giants Ridge, Minnesota
Who would’ve thought former mining land would be one of the greatest public courses? The Quarry at Giants Ridge features some of the most memorable holes thanks to creative use of the property.
Carries of water, tees built up to provide views, rock lining the fairways: It’s bucket-list golf trip material. Add a round here during a northern Minnesota trip.
46. The Links At Lawsonia, Wisconsin
Forget the flash of a resort or exclusive private-club. Lawsonia’s Links golf course offers memorable holes thanks to bold designs like raised greens, massive bunkers and unique angles.
Bucket-list golf trips aren’t always modern: Sometimes you’ve got to play courses that’ve been around for years to appreciate what’s been created.
45. Fossil Trace Golf Club, Colorado
Golden’s Fossil Trace course is bucket-list golf trip material thanks to its location in Colorado’s foothills. Add in sandstone outcroppings and Fossil Trace becomes unforgettable.
It’s the ultimate in a one-day Denver golf outing that can be combined with canyon drives or Denver’s world-class craft-brewery scene.
44. Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course, Idaho
If you’re visiting Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, you’ve gotta make a bucket-list golf trip. A blue-chip golf course with beautiful views of blue water. It’s piney all around.
There’s even a boat ride to the green. The floating green will be talked about for years.
43. Gamble Sands, Washington
It’s wide-open, it’s scenic, it’s perfect for a golf-trip with friends. Gamble Sands’ holes roll down hills for views of the Columbia River.
It’s bucket-list golf trip material. Combine it with scenic drives in the area to make a relaxing and memorable golf-trip. Read more: scenic drives that are better when you stop often.
42. Sand Hollow Resort Championship Course, Utah
Sand Hollow offers bucket-list golf trip memories with the red rock cliffs and black lava rock. It’s a course that’s best represented by photographs.
Add in the desert’s brutal conditions of heat and wind and Sand Hollow becomes even more memorable. Bright fairways against dark rock make it unforgettable.
41. Wolf Creek Golf Club, Nevada
Wolf Creek reminds me of a golf video game. The elevation changes are extreme: You’d think you’re on another planet when you’re playing some of the holes.
Add in a unique use of Mesquite desert and it’s bucket-list golf trip material.
40. Princeville Makai Golf Club, Hawaii
The trip to Princeville Makai starts well before the first tee.
The golf vacation mood is established by the green and the golf course’s perch on ocean cliffs, a striking backdrop in any lighting, but especially pronounced in Hawaii’s north-shore shadows.
39. Mauna Kea Golf Course, Hawaii
Mauna Kea Golf Course offers a different slice of Hawaii on the Big Island with carries over the ocean, lava rock and other reminders of the island’s fiery birth.
The course also has some lovely, classic, resort-style holes with well-tended lawns. The course breathes ocean air. Read more: Hawaii resort mistakes first-time visitors notice too late.
38. Kapalua Plantation Course, Hawaii
The Plantation Course at Kapalua has a distinct, instantly recognizable style with downslope shots that defy logic and fairways that defy gravity. Wide open views of Maui’s shore serve as constant reminders of the island’s natural beauty.
Add in the trade winds, the challenge and Kapalua is an obvious bucket-list entry. Its fame is well-deserved, helped by Kapalua’s prominent place in golf’s TV-friendly events.
37. Streamsong Blue, Florida
In a region of flat-lying housing developments and water hazards, Streamsong Blue stands apart with scale, texture, sand, contours. Streamsong Blue is an outlier and an obvious golf-trip destination in a region of sameness.
Planning a trip to Streamsong? Consider the season, accommodations, walking, etc.
36. Streamsong Red, Florida
Streamsong Red is the classic case of a strong companion course at a resort.
Distinctive and demanding in its own way, Red’s width and hazards offer new decisions when planning multiple rounds during a trip.
35. Mammoth Dunes At Sand Valley, Wisconsin
Wisconsin can get a bad rap when it comes to golf. Mammoth Dunes corrects that notion with a bold and occasionally punishing look at the state’s sandy regions.
Mammoth Dunes fairways are wide open, the greens are large and the holes have a sense of fun. Scale is Mammoth Dunes’ message, tempered by a sense of whimsy.
34. Arcadia Bluffs, Michigan
Few bucket-list golf trips combine coastal conditions with big skies. The Bluffs Course at Arcadia Bluffs achieves that combination. The views over Lake Michigan are expansive.
Arcadia Bluffs’ elevated position above the water reminds visitors of other famous seaside courses. Plan to spend time in nearby Michigan-side communities. Read more: coastal small towns worth the drive.
33. Pasatiempo Golf Club, California
Pasatiempo is semi-private but has been open to the public. Check on that before visiting.
Either way, this is a special course with classic California elements. The undulation, the barrancas, the bunkers: Pasatiempo is a must-visit with plenty of texture to satisfy even the most demanding golfer.
32. TPC Harding Park, California
Some of the game’s greatest rounds happened at TPC Harding Park, one of San Francisco’s great treasures. The course is open to the public and offers tournament-caliber golf bordered by Lake Merced.
Harding Park is perfect as a stop in a broader San Francisco bucket-list golf trip with its own collection of sights and moments. Cypress trees frame the course. The atmosphere is unbeatable.
31. Harbour Town Golf Links, South Carolina
The Harbour Town experience has little to do with length. Harbour Town’s narrow fairways, live oak trees, marshes and famous lighthouse on the back nine distinguish the course and make Harbour Town a must-see.
Harbour Town thrives on memorable moments that golfers share with friends. Harbour Town has plenty of those.
30. Chambers Bay, Washington
Chambers Bay’s rolling fescue and Puget Sound vistas make it infinitely more than just another munie.
Its sheer size adds to the experience. Read more: train rides worth booking for the view.
29. Erin Hills, Wisconsin
Erin Hills is for when you want to stand in the presence of greatness, see vistas larger than life and soak up championship course atmosphere.
It is all glacially formed there, no mountains or ocean required.
28. The Prairie Club Dunes Course, Nebraska
In a category of one, The Prairie Club’s Dunes Course is a bucket-list gem for golfers who love the idea of golf courses tucked away from it all. It’s sandhills, native grasses, big skies and an aura of mystery.
Add in an isolated setting where the nearest paved road is silent, and you’ve got a magical bucket-list gem for golfers who love the journey as much as the destination and aren’t always looking for immaculate surrounds. Read more: overlooked American West stops.
27. Old Macdonald, Oregon
At Bandon Dunes Resort, Old Macdonald has plenty of reasons to earn its keep as a bucket-list course.
The same gorgeous scenery that entices golfers to Pacific Dunes can be had at MacD, but you’ll find some of the country’s boldest holes with huge greens and landing areas that reward imagination.
26. Shadow Creek, Nevada
The concept of an exclusive, forested golf course plopped smack-dab in the middle of the Las Vegas desert is enough to keep Shadow Creek firmly entrenched as a bucket-list course for many. Sure, Shadow Creek is a spectacle that doesn’t need to rely on views of the surrounding desert.
The price and restricted access keep it out of reach for many golfers. Still, it’s fun to dream.
25. Torrey Pines South, California
You can’t get much better than Torrey Pines’ South Course for a bucket-list public course.
The course that hosted major championships is tough to book, but its Pacific-cliffside vistas are unrivaled on the West Coast and memories of famous moments from major championships at Torrey keep the mystique alive.
24. TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course, Florida
You can’t talk about bucket-list golf trips without a trip to Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Sawgrass’ signature island green is arguably golf’s most famous shot, one that inspires pressure unlike anything else.
Add in a few other Florida classics in the area, and a pilgrimage to Ponte Vedra is a must-do before you die.
23. Bethpage Black, New York
Some courses become bucket-list gems because of their surroundings. Others, like Bethpage Black, earn their stripes through sheer terror.
Add in thick rough, difficult-to-book tees and a stern test of stamina and Black becomes a bucket-list gem.
22. Bandon Dunes, Oregon
Bandon Dunes changed destination golf forever. Suddenly, bucket-list courses didn’t need immaculate surrounds or cushy lies. All they needed was firm and fast conditions, stunning vistas, an out-of-the-way location and a walkable format.
Bandon was a dream that seemed beyond reach for most of us. But, with advance planning and a few dollars tucked away, Bandon is a bucket-list course within reach.
21. Pacific Dunes, Oregon
Just north of Bandon, the intimate and boldly-routed Pacific Dunes is a bucket-list gem for golfers who can’t get enough of the Oregon coast and want to be as close to the action as humanly possible.
Mother Nature can dial up the experience, too, making trips to Bandon bucket-list worthy for golfers across the country.
20. The Ocean Course At Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Few courses integrate weather as a key element into their design as successfully as The Ocean Course. If you want to have a relaxing afternoon at a seaside resort, The Ocean Course isn’t for you.
But if you’re looking to be greeted by elements including wind, dunes, marsh, exposed holes and Atlantic weather that buck parkland convention and defy golfers to find solutions to problems, then this is the place for you.
19. Pinehurst No. 2, North Carolina
Pine, sand, greens with crowns and a relaxed pace make Pinehurst No. 2 a quintessential golfing pilgrimage.
Planning the round may be the biggest challenge, whether that entails access through a member or booking a stay at Pinehurst Resort. Read more: popular U.S. national parks.
18. The Straits At Whistling Straits, Wisconsin
A visit to The Straits Course pairs well with staying nearby and having a steak after the round.
Wind off Lake Michigan, undulation, fescue, stone, a walk-only policy, Straits is theater at its finest, and pairs perfectly with other classics. Read more: historic U.S. hotels worth the splurge.
17. Winged Foot West, New York
Few places exude golf like Winged Foot West. The combination of the setting and the championship pedigree make this course special, but Winged’s reputation for punishing better golfers who don’t bring their A-game has made it one of the ultimate “if you got the chance” courses.
Getting in is no easy task though, this is as private and exclusive as it gets.
16. Los Angeles Country Club North, California
One of the ultimate “what if” courses, Los Angeles Country Club’s North Course is the ultimate insider’s course.
Barrancas and short, dry turf make this course quintessentially Californian, but its greatest asset is its relative obscurity and its sense of doing things quietly and with restraint, an oasis away from the frenetic pace of LA.
15. Riviera Country Club, California
Like LACC North, the great secret is out. Hosting televised tournaments, it has a reputation that precedes it, but getting in remains no easy feat.
Kikuyu, eucalyptus and the undulation of the canyons make this course unlike any other in America.
14. The Country Club, Brookline, Massachusetts
Getting into Brookline is no easy task, but imagine walking through those gates: It’s a glimpse into golf’s history, a trip down memory lane for many.
Brookline has it all, the setting, the history, the classic New England golfing atmosphere with tree-lined fairways and stone everywhere.
13. Southern Hills Country Club, Oklahoma
Some argue that a great course needs to be by the coast or have an element of tourism to it. Southern Hills dispels that myth.
Hills roll, creeks wind, trees guard fairways and approaches. Precision is key, making this course worthy of its sterling record as a championship venue.
12. Prairie Dunes Country Club, Kansas
Like Southern Hills, Prairie Dunes defies logic as one of America’s best courses. Kansas may not be the first place people think of as a golfing Mecca, but Prairie Dunes changes minds.
Native grasses, natural dunes, wind, sky, all combine to make this course unlike any other. It’s private, difficult to visit, and has become one of the ultimate bucket-list courses in recent years.
11. Crystal Downs Country Club, Michigan
Some courses survive thanks to regular major championships and flashy facilities. Others rely on golfers who love golf courses.
Crystal Downs is a dunes classic done perfectly, relying on woods, undulation and restraint. It doesn’t receive the praise it deserves, but Crystal Downs remains one of America’s great courses.
10. Seminole Golf Club, Florida
If you’re looking for ponds and houses and other cliched signs of a Florida golf course, Seminole’s private club won’t be it. That’s where it becomes exciting, Seminole is a study in subtlety.
The course is windy, sandy, and full of subtle contours. It’s a challenge to see them all let alone play to their strengths.
9. Merion Golf Club East, Pennsylvania
The East Course at Merion may be the most tightly wound gem in golf.
Its small size belies the amount of history and lore contained within its narrow confines. A must-play classic.
8. Oakmont Country Club, Pennsylvania
Oakmont beckons because of its infamy, a golfing challenge like no other. It’s no secret that scores have a tendency to go ugly at Oakmont.
Its greens are swift and its greenside sand can swallow the ball in some situations. The course’s difficulty is part of Oakmont’s appeal.
7. National Golf Links Of America, New York
National Golf Links is a golfer’s pilgrimage of sorts, a trip to Long Island to bear witness to everything from wind and water to bunkers and beauty.
The course is an architecture lesson brought to life.
6. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, New York
A championship-caliber golf course with a rich history, Shinnecock is stunning.
Rolling fescue, an unbeatable setting on Long Island, and a simple but stark beauty make Shinnecock one of the finest rounds of golf in the U.S.
5. Sand Hills Golf Club, Nebraska
Sand Hills is as close to untouched as golf courses get, nestled in the sand hills of Nebraska. The course is as pure as golf gets.
No frilly features here, just dunes and silence. A bucket list classic.
4. Pebble Beach Golf Links, California
Pebble Beach is golf’s ultimate “what if” course. The idea of playing Pebble Beach “if you got the chance” is exciting because it’s an “if” that’s within reach, sort of.
There is a way to book a game at Pebble without invitation, you can play Pebble. But it’s not cheap. Then again, who cares how much it costs to walk along the Pacific Ocean’s rugged coastline? Pebble is stunning.
3. Pine Valley Golf Club, New Jersey
Pine Valley is an American classic. The course’s isolation and difficulty have worked together over time to give Pine Valley a mythical quality.
Its combination of difficulty and beauty, with dense pines and sandy bunkers, make Pine Valley an ultimate dream.
2. Cypress Point Club, California
Cypress Point is Pebble Beach’s equally beautiful sibling. Like Pebble, Cypress Point plays to the rugged Monterey coastline. Its greenside undulations demand precision on carries along the ocean, and the course’s gorgeous cypress trees have inspired awe for decades.
Unlike Pebble though, Cypress Point is more exclusive and fiercely private. It’s difficult to get into Monterey’s inner circle, but if you find a way, you’ll be rewarded with one of the greatest rounds of golf in the U.S.
1. Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia
Augusta National takes the top spot on our list, and deservedly so.
Its storied tournament history, beautiful setting, iconic holes, and gorgeous blooms in the spring make Augusta National a dream come true for many. It’s the course that all golfers dream of playing, no question.
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