Golf is more than a sport—it’s a journey across landscapes shaped by artistry, challenge, and tradition. From windswept coastal links to tree-lined parkland classics, the United States is home to some of the most iconic and architecturally brilliant courses in the world.

This list of the Top 100 Golf Courses in America celebrates the very best: places where strategy meets scenery, where legends are made, and where every round tells a story. Whether you’re a purist chasing Golden Age design or a traveler seeking bucket-list experiences, these courses represent the pinnacle of American golf.

Top 100 Golf Courses in the U.S.

1. Pine Valley (NJ)

A masterpiece of strategic design, Pine Valley blends rugged terrain with flawless routing. Its penal hazards and complex greens challenge even elite players. Revered for its isolation and purity, it’s often called the most complete test in golf—where every shot demands precision, creativity, and courage.

2. Cypress Point (CA)

Cypress Point is a visual symphony of forest, dunes, and ocean. Alister MacKenzie’s genius shines in its seamless transitions and iconic 16th hole over the Pacific. Exclusive and ethereal, it’s a bucket-list experience that feels like walking through a dream carved into California’s coastline.

3. Augusta National (GA)

Home of The Masters, Augusta National is golf’s cathedral. Its immaculate conditioning, dramatic elevation changes, and storied holes like Amen Corner make it legendary. Though private, its influence is global—blending tradition, innovation, and Southern charm in one of the most recognizable settings in sport.

4. Shinnecock Hills (NY)

A timeless links-style course with wind-swept fairways and bold bunkering, Shinnecock Hills is a U.S. Open favorite. Its natural terrain and strategic demands reflect classic design principles, while its history and prestige make it a cornerstone of American golf heritage.

5. Oakmont (PA)

Oakmont is brutally brilliant. With lightning-fast greens, deep bunkers, and a no-frills layout, it’s a pure test of nerve and skill. Host to more major championships than any other U.S. course, it’s where legends are made—and mistakes are punished without mercy.

6. National Golf Links of America (NY)

C.B. Macdonald’s tribute to British golf, National Golf Links is a tapestry of template holes like Redan and Eden. Set on Peconic Bay, it’s both cerebral and scenic—where strategy reigns and every hole tells a story. A pilgrimage for architecture aficionados.

7. Sand Hills (NE)

Remote and revered, Sand Hills is minimalist magic. Coore & Crenshaw sculpted it into Nebraska’s dunes with minimal earth movement. Its natural flow, firm conditions, and solitude create a spiritual golf experience—proof that greatness doesn’t need grandeur.

8. Merion (East) (PA)

Compact but mighty, Merion East packs championship pedigree into a tight footprint. Its iconic wicker baskets, precision demands, and historic moments (like Ben Hogan’s 1-iron) make it unforgettable. A cerebral course that rewards finesse over brute force.

9. Fishers Island (NY)

Accessible only by ferry, Fishers Island is a coastal gem with Seth Raynor’s geometric brilliance. Its seaside vistas and bold green complexes offer both beauty and bite. Exclusive and enchanting, it’s a hidden treasure for those lucky enough to play.

10. Pebble Beach (CA)

America’s most famous public course, Pebble Beach hugs the Pacific with jaw-dropping views and dramatic holes like the par-3 7th and cliffside 18th. It’s a blend of accessibility and awe—where everyday golfers walk in the footsteps of champions.

11. Chicago Golf Club (IL)

One of the five founding clubs of the USGA, Chicago Golf Club is a historic gem. Seth Raynor’s redesign adds strategic depth to its classic layout. With wide fairways, subtle greens, and timeless charm, it’s a cerebral course that rewards thoughtful play over brute strength.

12. Los Angeles Country Club (North) (CA)

LACC North is a Golden Age treasure tucked into the heart of LA. George Thomas’s design blends elevation, barranca hazards, and bold bunkering. Recently restored, it hosted the 2023 U.S. Open, showcasing its strategic brilliance and understated elegance on a global stage.

13. Seminole Golf Club (FL)

Seminole is a wind-swept Donald Ross masterpiece hugging the Atlantic. Its routing maximizes coastal breezes and elevation changes, demanding precision and creativity. Exclusive and revered, it’s a favorite among pros for its subtle difficulty and timeless design.

14. Crystal Downs (MI)

A Coore & Crenshaw restoration of Alister MacKenzie’s original vision, Crystal Downs is quirky, compact, and wildly fun. With dramatic elevation shifts and unpredictable greens, it’s a rollercoaster of strategic golf that rewards imagination and finesse.

15. Winged Foot (West) (NY)

Winged Foot West is a brute. Designed by A.W. Tillinghast, it’s known for its narrow fairways, deep bunkers, and lightning-fast greens. A frequent major venue, it tests every facet of a player’s game and remains one of the toughest courses in America.

16. Prairie Dunes (KS)

Set among Kansas sand dunes, Prairie Dunes is a windswept blend of links and prairie golf. Perry Maxwell’s design features rolling fairways, native grasses, and deceptive greens. It’s a minimalist masterpiece that proves great golf can thrive in unexpected places.

17. San Francisco Golf Club (CA)

A private sanctuary with a rich history, SFGC is a Tillinghast design that oozes elegance. Its tree-lined fairways, subtle elevation changes, and classic bunkering create a serene yet strategic experience. It’s golf as it was meant to be—pure, quiet, and refined.

18. Baltusrol (Lower) (NJ)

A major championship stalwart, Baltusrol Lower is a Tillinghast brute with wide fairways and demanding greens. Its symmetrical layout and historic pedigree make it a favorite among pros and purists alike. It’s where tradition meets tournament toughness.

19. Kiawah Island (Ocean Course) (SC)

The Ocean Course is dramatic, exposed, and unforgettable. Designed by Pete Dye, it hugs the Atlantic with punishing winds and bold visuals. Host of the 2021 PGA Championship, it’s a modern beast that tests resilience and shot-making under pressure.

20. Whistling Straits (Straits) (WI)

A faux-links marvel by Pete Dye, Whistling Straits mimics the rugged coastlines of Ireland. With over 1,000 bunkers, dramatic lake views, and major championship pedigree, it’s a theatrical test of golf that blends artistry and intimidation.

31. Shoreacres (IL)

Shoreacres is a hidden gem along Lake Michigan, designed by Seth Raynor. Its ravines, bold bunkering, and classic template holes create a strategic playground. Quietly exclusive, it’s revered for its architectural purity and natural flow—where every shot demands thought and precision.

32. Old Town Club (NC)

Old Town is a Donald Ross design recently restored by Coore & Crenshaw. Its rolling terrain and wide corridors offer strategic freedom, while the green complexes challenge creativity. Located in Winston-Salem, it’s a Southern classic that blends charm, history, and architectural brilliance.

33. Pinehurst No. 2 (NC)

Donald Ross’s crown jewel, Pinehurst No. 2 is famed for its turtleback greens and sandy waste areas. Host of multiple U.S. Opens, it’s a cerebral test that rewards precision and short-game mastery. A pilgrimage site for golf purists and championship dreamers alike.

34. Calusa Pines (FL)

Calusa Pines is a modern marvel in Naples, Florida. Designed by Michael Hurdzan, it features dramatic elevation changes, bold bunkering, and pristine conditioning. Private and secluded, it’s a favorite among elite amateurs and pros for its challenge and visual drama.

35. Friar’s Head (NY)

Coore & Crenshaw’s Friar’s Head is a Long Island masterpiece. Routed through dunes and forest, it offers stunning variety and strategic depth. The transitions between holes are seamless, and the views of Long Island Sound elevate the experience. It’s modern architecture at its finest.

36. Wade Hampton (NC)

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Wade Hampton is a Tom Fazio design that blends natural beauty with strategic challenge. Its elevation changes, pristine conditioning, and serene setting make it a favorite among private club connoisseurs. A mountain retreat with championship pedigree.

37. Boston Golf Club (MA)

Boston Golf Club is a minimalist design by Gil Hanse that emphasizes strategy, rhythm, and natural terrain. Located south of Boston, it’s a private sanctuary with firm fairways, rugged bunkers, and subtle greens. It’s a modern classic that rewards thoughtful play and understated elegance.

38. Yeamans Hall (SC)

Yeamans Hall is a Seth Raynor gem near Charleston, South Carolina. Its classic template holes, oak-lined fairways, and timeless charm make it a Southern treasure. Quietly exclusive, it offers a peaceful, strategic experience that celebrates the roots of American golf architecture.

39. The Dunes Golf & Beach Club (SC)

A Robert Trent Jones Sr. design, The Dunes Club is a Myrtle Beach icon. Its seaside holes, bold bunkering, and classic routing make it a standout in the region. The par-5 13th, “Waterloo,” is one of the most memorable risk-reward holes in the Southeast.

40. Streamsong (Red) (FL)

Streamsong Red, designed by Coore & Crenshaw, is a modern links-style course built on reclaimed mining land. Its firm fairways, dramatic contours, and minimalist aesthetic create a unique Florida golf experience. It’s a bold, strategic layout that challenges players to think creatively on every shot.

41. Somerset Hills (NJ)

A Charles Blair Macdonald design, Somerset Hills blends classic template holes with a rolling, wooded landscape. Its Redan and Alps holes are textbook examples, and the back nine through the forest is pure magic. It’s a quiet, historic club that rewards architectural appreciation and shotmaking finesse.

42. The Olympic Club (Lake) (CA)

Host to multiple U.S. Opens, Olympic’s Lake Course is a stern test nestled in San Francisco’s hills. Tight fairways, sloping terrain, and small greens demand precision. It’s a championship venue with pedigree, history, and a relentless challenge from start to finish.

43. San Francisco Golf Club (CA)

San Francisco Golf Club is a Golden Age gem by A.W. Tillinghast. Its elegant routing, strategic bunkering, and understated charm make it one of the most revered private clubs in the country. The par-3 7th, “The Duel Hole,” adds historical intrigue to its timeless design.

44. The Country Club (Brookline) (MA)

One of the five founding clubs of the USGA, Brookline’s Country Club is steeped in history. Host of the 1999 Ryder Cup and 2022 U.S. Open, it combines classic architecture with championship toughness. Its composite routing showcases the best of its three nines.

45. Oakland Hills (South) (MI)

Recently restored by Gil Hanse, Oakland Hills South is a Donald Ross masterpiece reborn. Known as “The Monster” after the 1951 U.S. Open, it features bold bunkering, strategic angles, and championship pedigree. It’s a Midwestern titan with a fresh architectural edge.

46. Baltusrol (Lower) (NJ)

A classic A.W. Tillinghast design, Baltusrol Lower has hosted multiple majors. Its long par-4s, demanding greens, and symmetrical routing make it a stern test. The recent restoration has revived its original character, blending tradition with modern playability.

47. Old Barnwell (SC)

A rising star in South Carolina, Old Barnwell is a modern design that celebrates strategic variety and community. Routed through sandy soil and pine scrub, it offers bold contours and thoughtful shot options. It’s a newcomer with soul, already climbing the rankings fast.

48. Cherry Hills (CO)

Cherry Hills is a William Flynn design with a rich tournament history. Located near Denver, it features elevation changes, strategic bunkering, and a famous drivable par-4 opener. It’s a classic that blends mountain views with championship grit.

49. The Golf Club (OH)

Pete Dye’s early masterpiece, The Golf Club in Ohio is raw, rugged, and deeply strategic. Its tree-lined fairways, penal hazards, and minimalist aesthetic make it a cult favorite among architecture buffs. It’s private, pure, and unapologetically tough.

50. Southern Hills (OK)

A Perry Maxwell design, Southern Hills has hosted seven majors. Its recent restoration by Gil Hanse has elevated its architectural pedigree. Rolling terrain, challenging greens, and strategic bunkering define this Tulsa titan. It’s a blend of history, elegance, and championship muscle.

Closing

As you explore this elite collection of courses, one truth becomes clear: greatness in golf isn’t just about difficulty or fame—it’s about soul. These 100 courses offer more than scorecards; they offer moments. A perfectly framed tee shot. A green that dares you to dream. A walk that stays with you long after the final putt drops. From historic clubs to modern marvels, these are the places that define golf in America—not just where we play, but where we connect with the game’s deepest rhythms.