America’s 10 Best Golf Courses You Have To Play Before You Die
There are estimated to be over 15,000 golf courses in America, so trying to find the best 10 for a bucket list was tough. You can find pristine courses all over the country and they all offer something a little different.
Some courses are visually stunning, whereas others are steeped in history. Then there are a special few that have it all. These are the perfect places to play golf where you’ll be spoilt for choice when driving on the green.
While there may be a wide range of courses, some are better than others. We’ve found 10 that are renowned for their excellent play along with epic scenery. There’s also the added factor of playing some of the most famous courses in the world.
For this list, we’re looking at those that can be played quite easily so the likes of members-only Augusta miss out. If you love your golf then these are the 10 courses you have to play before you die. Let’s get started with the best of them all!
1. Pebble Beach, California
Credit: Isogood_patrick / Shutterstock.com
There’s nothing quite like playing on the Californian coast and nowhere is this more true than Pebble Beach. The Golf Links course has hosted the US Open six times in its history and will do so again in 2027.
If you’re a golf lover you’ll be constantly walking around with goosebumps as you remember the iconic events from each hole with famous winners such as Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
Many holes around the course are fit for a postcard, so don’t be surprised if you get lost in the majesty of it all. Being right on the coast, it simply adds up to one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world, let alone America.
The par 72 has many memorable holes, but most notably the 7th is particularly breathtaking. It should be number one on your golfing bucket list as once you’ve played here, you’ll be proudly telling anyone who listens. The green fees are expensive but you’re not going to regret it.
2. Pacific Dunes, Oregon
Credit: Golf Pass
In this list, you’ll see a few courses that are a part of fantastic golf resorts, and Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is just that. There are five courses in total but there are two in total that are truly fantastic – Pacific Dunes and Bandon Dunes.
Bandon Dunes hugs the Pacific coastline and is the epitome of a shotmaker’s course as it has fairly wide landing areas with minimal undulation on the greens. Pacific Dunes is the ultimate links course but beware of the hugely intimidating bunkers.
You’re also at risk of any stray balls rolling off the course and down the cliffs that border the greens. The course has been designed with excellent golf in mind, but also allowing for unforgettable views to give you one of the best rounds of golf you’ll ever have.
If you love the Pacific Dunes golf course then it’s a great idea to stay a few days and sample the rest of the courses in the wonderful resort.
3. Pinehurst No. 2, North Carolina
Credit: BAF Photography / Shutterstock.com
The Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina is home to nine brilliant golf courses and is one of the grandest and most well-established courses in the United States, having opened in 1895. Along with fantastic golf, you get plenty of history to go with it.
On the resort, the #4 and #8 courses are particularly great but none of the other eight can quite match the #2 course. Throughout its history, it’s hosted the Ryder Cup, PGA Championship, and the US Open so you’ll be walking in the footsteps of some of the greatest golfers to have played the game.
It’s unique in there being no specific bunkers but sandy waste on each side of your approach. The greens are particularly notorious due to their heavy undulation. It can frustrate you at times, but overall it’s a pleasure to play on one of the most beloved courses in America.
4. Whistling Straits, Wisconsin
There are a few memorable golf courses in America that seem to be inspired by the many links courses that adorn the British coast. Whistling Straits has that rugged feel you’d associate with the likes of St. Andrews, Royal Birkdale, or Carnoustie.
You also get the wind that links courses are famous for as it whips off Lake Michigan. There are plenty of difficult waste areas to negotiate that provide a great challenge. There are two courses here, with the Straits Course is the main one at 7,790 yards long.
The course was designed by Pete Dye in 1998. He took an old airfield and changed it into one of the world’s most memorable courses. The course is a throwback in many ways as it’s walking-only. There is minimal maintenance on the bunkers and most of the mounds are left uncut.
5. Kiawah Island, South Carolina
The Ocean Course on Kiawah Island is another that has breathtaking beauty. It’s as gorgeous as it is challenging, so you’ll have to bring your A-game to get anywhere close to the par of 72 on the 7,849 yards course.
You’ll need plenty of strategies to get around the course, and difficulty is added to by the blustery winds that usually sweep across the playing field. It was the scene of the 1991 Ryder Cup and America’s narrow victory, along with the PGA Championship in 2012.
There are four other fantastic courses on Kiawah Island but the Ocean Course is undoubtedly the best and most famous. Don’t be surprised if you lose a few balls here, especially considering 10 of the holes touch the Atlantic coast. However you play, this course is one that will leave you with many special memories.
December through February is an idyllic time to visit Kiawah Island. For those that are looking for accommodations and rentals, Kiawah Island rentals offers the perfect accommodations for your next visit.
See more about - The 10 biggest sports rivalries in history
6. Spyglass Hill, California
Credit: LINKS Magazine
Just down the road from Pebble Beach is its sister course, Spyglass Hill. It’s another one of these courses that grace the coastline. There’s something special about playing golf with a view of the ocean, along with the challenges that can come from the wind.
As you continue through the course, you’ll move away from the coast and see some holes which are beautifully lined with trees and perfectly manicured landing areas. If you’re in the area, then doubling-up with this course and Pebble Beach can be a dream come true.
The water hazards at Spyglass hill are as beautiful as they are deadly. It’s a surprise that it’s never hosted a major tournament as it’s usually the bridesmaid to its more illustrious sibling. Spyglass Hill isn’t to be missed and you’ll adore everything about it.
7. Torrey Pines, California
About 400 miles south of Pebble Beach you’ll find Torrey Pines, which is home to one of the most memorable moments in golf. It was the scene of Tiger Wood’s last major title before his long drought. He won the US Open despite suffering from a torn ACL and a stress fracture.
Hopefully, you’re not in that much pain when you go to play the course! It’s another one which has great views over the Pacific with the elevation of the course giving it particularly impressive views of the landscape.
Both the north course and the south course are excellent with the annual Farmers Insurance Open using the north for the first couple of days before switching to the south. The south course is generally seen as the prettiest and best of the two.
8. Bethpage Black, New York
Credit: David W. Leindecker / Shutterstock.com
If you wanted to play golf on the East coast then there’s nowhere better to do that than at Bethpage Black. Part of Bethpage State Park, the Black is by far the most famous of their five courses, especially considering it has hosted three majors.
Tiger Woods won the U.S. Open here in 2002 and recently, Brooks Koepka won the PGA Championship in 2019. The prestigious course will also host the 2025 Ryder Cup. It shows how highly rated this course is and why it should be on your bucket list.
The only issue with Bethpage Black could be your skill level. It’s a very difficult course and one that will challenge all aspects of your play. The course is perfectly maintained and has a dazzling array of bunkers that litter the course.
9. TPC Sawgrass, Florida
Credit: Isogood_patrick / Shutterstock.com
The Players Championship is often seen as the unofficial 5th major championship and it has been played on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass since 1982. It’s another one which is known for its extreme difficulty, especially for novice players.
There are some epic water hazards and hellish bunkers which can drive even experienced golfers mad. It’s also impossible to talk about the Stadium Course without mentioning its 17th hole which has an island green, where it’s impossible to play it safe.
You’ll also find the greens very tricky and you can probably forget about making the par of 72. It’s one of the most memorable courses in the world. You’ll get goosebumps knowing you’re playing on the same course as the world’s best players do every year.
10. Kapalua Golf – The Plantation Course, Hawaii
We’ve looked at many beautiful golf courses on this list but we’ve perhaps saved the best for last. The Plantation Course at the Kapalua Resort mixes in ocean views with dramatic mountain ranges. Mix that in with huge changes in elevation and you get something truly special.
If you’ve never been to Hawaii before then it should be on your bucket list anyway. You can enjoy the holiday of a lifetime while also spending a day at this special venue. Since 1999 it has held the Sentry Tournament of Champions and is unique in the fact that par here is 73.
If you enjoy walking a course, however, then this is not for you. Due to the constant elevation changes, it’s highly recommended that you use a cart. Not only is it exhausting, but walking also causes pace of play issues. On a cart, you can sit back, have a few beers, and enjoy your golf while being surrounded by extreme natural beauty.
See more about - The 10 best surf spots in the world
