2026
Top 100 US Public Courses
Photo: Gary Lisbon
The USA Public Top 100 proves that world-class golf doesn't require membership. From Pebble Beach and Whistling Straits to Erin Hills, and TPC Sawgrass, these are courses that combine architectural greatness with public access.
The best public golf course in the US
The best public golf course in the US, according to TheGrint's 2026 Top 100 US Public Courses, is Erin Hills Golf Course in Erin, WI, followed by Kiawah Island Golf Resort: The Ocean Course and Whistling Straits: Straits. The list is ranked by golfers who played the courses, from millions of real reviews and head-to-head rankings, not by a panel.
1Erin Hills Golf Course
Erin, WI
18 holesPar 72PublicPlays harder than 99% of rated courses
2Kiawah Island Golf Resort: The Ocean Course
Johns Island, SC
18 holesPar 72PrivatePlays harder than 99% of rated courses
3Whistling Straits: Straits
Sheboygan, WI
18 holesPar 72PublicPlays harder than 99% of rated courses
- 4
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach, CA
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 97% of courses - 5
Shadow Creek Golf Club
North Las Vegas, NV
18 holesPar 72PrivateHarder than 99% of courses - 6
Pinehurst Resort: #2
Pinehurst, NC
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 99% of courses - 7
TPC Sawgrass: Stadium Course
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 99% of courses - 8
Bethpage State Park: Black
Farmingdale, NY
18 holesPar 71PublicHarder than 99% of courses - 9
Pasatiempo Golf Club
Santa Cruz, CA
18 holesPar 70Semi-PrivateHarder than 97% of courses - 10
Bandon Dunes Resort: Bandon Dunes
Bandon, OR
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 96% of courses - 11
Bandon Dunes Resort: Pacific Dunes
Bandon, OR
18 holesPar 71Semi-PrivateHarder than 90% of courses - 12
Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club: The Bluffs
Arcadia, MI
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 96% of courses - 13
Bandon Dunes Resort: Bandon Trails
Bandon, OR
18 holesPar 71PublicHarder than 96% of courses - 14
Sand Valley Golf Resort: Mammoth Dunes
Nekoosa, WI
18 holesPar 73Semi-PrivateHarder than 43% of courses - 15
Big Cedar Lodge: Payne's Valley
Hollister, MO
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 87% of courses - 16
Sand Valley Golf Resort: Sand Valley
Nekoosa, WI
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 64% of courses - 17
Kapalua Resort: The Plantation
Lahaina, HI
18 holesPar 73Semi-PrivateHarder than 97% of courses - 18
Spyglass Hill Golf Course
Pebble Beach, CA
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 99% of courses - 19
Streamsong Resort: Red
Bowling Green, FL
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 85% of courses - 20
The Pete Dye Course
French Lick Resort
West Baden Springs, IN
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 99% of courses - 21
Manele Golf Course
Lanai City, HI
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 64% of courses - 22
Edgewood Tahoe Resort Golf
Stateline, NV
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 99% of courses - 23
Firestone Country Club: South Course
Akron, OH
18 holesPar 70PrivateHarder than 91% of courses - 24
Bandon Dunes Resort: Old Macdonald
Bandon, OR
18 holesPar 71Semi-PrivateHarder than 67% of courses - 25
Nicklaus Course
Hualalai Golf Club
Kailua Kona, HI
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 59% of courses - 26
Sweetens Cove Golf Club
South Pittsburg, TN
9 holesPar 36Semi-PrivateHarder than 50% of courses - 27
Belgrade Lakes Golf Club
Belgrade Lakes, ME
18 holesPar 71PublicHarder than 90% of courses - 28
Boothbay Harbor Country Club
Boothbay, ME
18 holesPar 71Semi-PrivateHarder than 66% of courses - 29
SentryWorld Golf Course
Stevens Point, WI
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 99% of courses - 30
Norman Course
Red Sky Golf Club
Wolcott, CO
18 holesPar 72PrivateHarder than 99% of courses - 31
Forest Dunes Golf Club: Forest Dunes
Roscommon, MI
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 97% of courses - 32
Blackwolf Run: River
Kohler, WI
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 99% of courses - 33
The Links At Spanish Bay
Pebble Beach, CA
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 96% of courses - 34
Tobacco Road Golf Club
Sanford, NC
18 holesPar 71PublicHarder than 94% of courses - 35
Whistling Straits: Irish
Sheboygan, WI
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 99% of courses - 36
Links/Quarry
Bay Harbor GC
Bay Harbor, MI
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 97% of courses - 37
The Prairie Club: Dunes
Valentine, NE
18 holesPar 73Semi-PrivateHarder than 96% of courses - 38
Streamsong Resort: Blue
Bowling Green, FL
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 85% of courses - 39
We-Ko-Pa Golf Club: Saguaro
Fort Mcdowell, AZ
18 holesPar 71Semi-Private - 40
Fallen Oak Golf Club
Saucier, MS
18 holesPar 72PrivateHarder than 96% of courses - 41
CordeValle Golf Club
San Martin, CA
18 holesPar 72PrivateHarder than 94% of courses - 42
Harbour Town Golf Links
Sea Pines Resort
Hilton Head Island, SC
18 holesPar 71Semi-PrivateHarder than 99% of courses - 43
Sea Island Golf Club: Seaside
Saint Simons Island, GA
18 holesPar 70Semi-PrivateHarder than 99% of courses - 44
Giants Ridge Golf Course: The Quarry
Biwabik, MN
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 98% of courses - 45
Paiute Resort Golf Club: Wolf
Las Vegas, NV
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 98% of courses - 46
We-Ko-Pa Golf Club: Cholla
Fort Mcdowell, AZ
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 88% of courses - 47
Gamble Sands Golf Course
Brewster, WA
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 56% of courses - 48
TPC of Scottsdale: Stadium Course
Scottsdale, AZ
18 holesPar 71Semi-PrivateHarder than 82% of courses - 49
Pinehurst Resort: #10
Pinehurst, NC
18 holesPar 70Semi-PrivateHarder than 82% of courses - 50
Wynn Golf Club
Las Vegas, NV
18 holesPar 70Semi-PrivateHarder than 44% of courses - 51
Pinehurst Resort: #4
Pinehurst, NC
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 94% of courses - 52
Paako Ridge GC: 1 & 2
Sandia Park, NM
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 99% of courses - 53
Monument Course
Troon North Golf Club
Scottsdale, AZ
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 95% of courses - 54
Streamsong Resort: Black
Bowling Green, FL
18 holesPar 73PublicHarder than 77% of courses - 55
Quintero Golf Club
Peoria, AZ
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 98% of courses - 56
Tiburon Golf Club: Gold
Naples, FL
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 94% of courses - 57
Paiute Resort Golf Club: Sun Mountain
Las Vegas, NV
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 87% of courses - 58
The Prairie Club: Pines
Valentine, NE
18 holesPar 73Semi-PrivateHarder than 98% of courses - 59
The Coeur D'alene Resort Golf Course
Coeur D Alene, ID
18 holesPar 71Semi-PrivateHarder than 60% of courses - 60
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa: Mystic Rock
Farmington, PA
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 98% of courses - 61
Bandon Dunes Resort: Sheep Ranch
Bandon, OR
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 35% of courses - 62
Black Desert Resort Golf Course
Ivins, UT
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 95% of courses - 63
Black Jack's Crossing Golf Course At Lajitas
Terlingua, TX
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 97% of courses - 64
Chambers Bay Golf Course
University Place, WA
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 81% of courses - 65
Ozarks National
Big Cedar Lodge
Hollister, MO
18 holesPar 71Semi-PrivateHarder than 95% of courses - 66
Sunriver Resort: Crosswater
Sunriver, OR
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 99% of courses - 67
Deacons Lodge Golf Course
Pequot Lakes, MN
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 99% of courses - 68
Landmand Golf Club
Homer, NE
18 holesPar 73PublicHarder than 85% of courses - 69
Bedford Springs Resort: Old Course
Bedford, PA
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 87% of courses - 70
Mauna Lani Resort Golf Course: South
Kamuela, HI
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 87% of courses - 71
Big Cedar Lodge: Buffalo Ridge Springs
Hollister, MO
18 holesPar 71PublicHarder than 95% of courses - 72
Sand Valley Golf Resort: The Lido
Nekoosa, WI
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 99% of courses - 73
Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club: South
Arcadia, MI
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 79% of courses - 74
Dye Course
PGA Golf Club
Port St Lucie, FL
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 97% of courses - 75
Marquette GC: Greywalls
Marquette, MI
18 holesPar 71Semi-PrivateHarder than 82% of courses - 76
Pine Needles Golf Course
Southern Pines, NC
18 holesPar 71Semi-PrivateHarder than 98% of courses - 77
Maderas Golf Club
Poway, CA
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 97% of courses - 78
Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex: Kampen - Cosler
West Lafayette, IN
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 94% of courses - 79
TPC At Deere Run
Silvis, IL
18 holesPar 71PublicHarder than 99% of courses - 80
Primland Resort
Meadows Of Dan, VA
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 96% of courses - 81
Farm Neck Golf Club
Oak Bluffs, MA
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 90% of courses - 82
Bandon Dunes Resort: Bandon Preserve 13 Holes
Bandon, OR
18 holesPar 54PublicHarder than 6% of courses - 83
Poppy Hills Golf Course
Pebble Beach, CA
18 holesPar 71PublicHarder than 96% of courses - 84
Broadmoor Golf Club: East
Colorado Springs, CO
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 98% of courses - 85
The Greenbrier: Old White TPC
White Sulphur Springs, WV
18 holesPar 70Semi-PrivateHarder than 94% of courses - 86
Baywood Greens Golf Course
Millsboro, DE
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 88% of courses - 87
Pinnacle Course
Troon North Golf Club
Scottsdale, AZ
18 holesPar 71Semi-PrivateHarder than 95% of courses - 88
Emerald Course
Wailea Golf Club
Kihei, HI
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 52% of courses - 89
Wild Horse Golf Club
Gothenburg, NE
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 89% of courses - 90
Blackwolf Run: Meadow Valleys
Kohler, WI
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 99% of courses - 91
Paiute Resort Golf Club: Snow Mountain
Las Vegas, NV
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 76% of courses - 92
Grayhawk Golf Club: Talon
Scottsdale, AZ
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 95% of courses - 93
Troy Burne Golf Club
Hudson, WI
18 holesPar 71PublicHarder than 95% of courses - 94
Old Greenwood Golf Course
Truckee, CA
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 99% of courses - 95
Quarry Oaks Golf Club
Ashland, NE
18 holesPar 72PublicHarder than 93% of courses - 96
Newport National Golf Club
Middletown, RI
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 95% of courses - 97
Boyne Resorts: Arthur Hills
Harbor Springs, MI
18 holesPar 73Semi-PrivateHarder than 97% of courses - 98
Cascades Course
The Homestead
Hot Springs, VA
18 holesPar 71Semi-PrivateHarder than 90% of courses - 99
Pete Dye Stadium Course
PGA West
La Quinta, CA
18 holesPar 72Semi-Private - 100
Tetherow Golf Club
Bend, OR
18 holesPar 72Semi-PrivateHarder than 98% of courses
Where they are
Wisconsin has the most courses on the list (10), followed by California (9) and Oregon (8).
Each state links to every golf course we list there, not only the ranked ones.
About the Top 100 US Public Courses
What is the best public golf course in the US?
According to TheGrint's 2026 Top 100 US Public Courses, the best public golf course in the US is Erin Hills Golf Course in Erin, WI, followed by Kiawah Island Golf Resort: The Ocean Course and Whistling Straits: Straits.
Which state has the most courses on TheGrint's Top 100 US Public Courses?
Wisconsin, with 10 of the courses, followed by California (9) and Oregon (8).
How is TheGrint's Top 100 US Public Courses ranked?
By golfers who played the courses: each golfer ranks the courses they have played against one another, and golfers who have played more, and better, courses carry more weight. It is built from tens of millions of real reviews and ranking lists, not a panel.
How often is the Top 100 US Public Courses updated?
It is published as an annual edition. The current edition is 2026.
Playing Top 100 US Public Courses?
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