GOLF

Golfweek's Best 2020: Top 200 Modern Courses

Jason Lusk
USA TODAY Sports
July 31, 2020, 1:05 a.m. ET
Sand Hills Golf Club in Mulllen, Nebraska. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

Welcome to Golfweek's Best list of top 200 Modern courses, built in or after 1960 (pictured atop this story is No. 1 Sand Hills).

Each year we publish three lists that are the foundation of our course-ratings program: Golfweek’s Best Modern CoursesGolfweek’s Best Classic Courses, Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play, state by state. We also have Golfweek's Best 2020: Top 100 Best Courses You Can Play.

The members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them based on our 10 criteria. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings on each course are averaged together to produce a final rating for each course. Each course is then ranked against other courses to produce the final rankings.

To make these lists more up-to-date, Golfweek’s Best has altered how the individual ratings are compiled into the rankings. Only ratings from rounds played in the past 10 years are now included in the compilations within these pages. This will help ensure that any course in the rankings still measures up.

[jwplayer rVyIpw8p-vgFm21H3]

With the change from previous Golfweek’s Best rankings, in which ratings older than 10 years were accepted, there were a few courses that shuffled, and that’s as it should be. Golf courses are never static, and these rankings should not be, either.

Any course that appears on the top 200 Modern or Classic lists has been reviewed by at least 3 percent of Golfweek’s Raters, which works out to 25 entries. The benchmark for the Best Courses You Can Play list doesn’t require as many votes, so you might notice a few discrepancies on courses that appear on those lists but not on the top 200 Modern or Classic lists. 

We hope you enjoy poring over these rankings, and we look forward to hearing your thoughts on this Best Modern Courses list.

Key: p - private; r - resort; d - daily fee; c - casino; re - real estate; * new or returning to the rankings.

RankCourse (2019)LocationArchitect(s);

club type 

Year opened Avg. rating
1Sand Hills (1)Mullen, NebraskaBill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; p19959.16
2Bandon Dunes (Pacific Dunes) (2)Bandon, OregonTom Doak; r20018.76
3Friar's Head (3)Baiting Hollow, New YorkBill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; p20038.62
4Ballyneal (4)Holyoke, ColoradoTom Doak; p20068.39
5Bandon Dunes (Old Macdonald) (5)Bandon, OregonTom Doak and Jim Urbina; r20108.35
6Sebonack GC (6)Southampton, New YorkTom Doak, Jack Nicklaus; p20068.29
7Whistling Straits (Straits) (7)Mosel, WisconsinPete Dye; r19978.19
8Ohoopee Match Club*Cobbtown, GeorgiaGil Hanse; p20188.19
9Bandon Dunes (Bandon Dunes) (8)Bandon, OregonDavid McLay Kidd; r19998.14
10Wade Hampton Club (10)Cashiers, North CarolinaTom Fazio; p, re19888.14
11Shadow Creek (9)North Las Vegas, NevadaTom Fazio; p19908.07
12Muirfield Village (11)Dublin, OhioJack Nicklaus; p19748.05
13Kiawah Island (Ocean) (13)Kiawah Island, South CarolinaPete Dye; r19917.89
14Alotian Club (15)Roland, ArkansasTom Fazio; p20057.86
15Bandon Dunes (Bandon Trails) (14)Bandon, OregonBill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; r20057.86
16The Golf Club (12)New Albany, OhioPete Dye; p19677.84
17Nanea (27)Kona, HawaiiDavid McLay Kidd; p20047.83
18Estancia (30)ScottsdaleTom Fazio; p, re19957.80
19Old Sandwich Golf Club (20)Plymouth, MassachusettsBill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; p20047.74
20Kingsley Club (23)Kingsley, MichiganMike DeVries; p20017.74
21Whispering Pines (24)Trinity, TexasChet Williams; p20007.74
22TPC Sawgrass (Players Stadium) (22)Ponte Vedra Beach, FloridaPete Dye; r19817.71
23Honors Course (19)Ooltewah, TennesseePete Dye; p19837.71
24Calusa Pines (25)Naples, FloridaMichael Hurdzan, Dana Fry; p20017.71
25Rock Creek Cattle Company (17)Deer Lodge, MontanaTom Doak; p, re20087.71
26Boston Golf Club (26)Hingham, MassachusettsGil Hanse; p20057.70
27Pikewood National (18)Morgantown, West VirginiaJohn Raese, J. Robert Gwynne; p20097.68
28Kinloch Golf Club (21)Richmond, VirginiaLester George; p20007.67
29Monterey Peninsula (Shore) (34)Pebble Beach, CaliforniaRobert Baldock, Jack Neville, Michael Strantz; p19617.67
30Sand Valley (Mammoth Dunes) (28)Nekoosa, WisconsinDavid McLay Kidd; r, d20187.61
31Congaree*Ridgeland, South CarolinaTom Fazio; p20177.57
32Sand Valley (Sand Valley) (33)Nekoosa, WisconsinBill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; r, d20167.55
33Spyglass Hill (29)Pebble Beach, CaliforniaRobert Trent Jones Sr.; r, d19667.55
34Colorado GC (35)Parker, ColoradoBill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; p, re20077.55
35Dismal River Club (Doak) (31)Mullen, NebraskaTom Doak; p20137.54
36Galloway National (32)Galloway Township, New JerseyTom Fazio; p19957.54
37Pete Dye GC (16)Bridgeport, West VirginiaPete Dye; p19947.53
38Dallas National GC (40)DallasTom Fazio; p20027.53
39Streamsong (Red) (37)Bowling Green, FloridaBill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; r20127.50
40Gamble Sands (42)Brewster, WashingtonDavid McLay Kidd; r, d20147.49
41Gozzer Ranch (36)Arrowpoint, IdahoTom Fazio; p, re20077.49
42Oak Tree National (41)Edmond, OklahomaPete Dye; p, re19757.47
43Butler National (59)Oak Brook, IllinoisTom Fazio, George Fazio; p19747.45
44Kapalua (Plantation) (45)Maui, HawaiiBill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; r19917.44
45Dunes Club (39)New Buffalo, MichiganDick Nugent; p19957.44
46Streamsong (Black) (38)Bowling Green, FloridaGil Hanse; r20177.43
47Shooting Star (46)Teton Village, WyomingTom Fazio; p, re20097.40
48Desert Forest (48)Carefree, ArizonaRed Lawrence; p19627.40
49Martis Camp (62)Truckee, CaliforniaTom Fazio; p, re20077.39
50The Tributary (formerly Huntsman Springs) (43)Driggs, IdahoDavid McLay Kidd; p, re20107.37
RankCourse (2019)LocationArchitect(s);

club type 

Year opened Avg. rating
51Four Seasons (Manele) (65)Lanai, HawaiiJack Nicklaus; r19937.37
52Bluejack National (47)Montgomery, TexasTiger Woods; p, re20167.36
53Arcadia Bluffs (Bluffs) (44)Arcadia, MichiganRick Smith; r, d19997.33
54Victoria National (72)Newburgh, IndianaTom Fazio; p19987.33
55Olde Farm (51)Bristol, VirginiaBobby Weed; p20017.31
56Sea Pines (Harbour Town GL) (54)Hilton Head Island, South CarolinaPete Dye; r19707.31
57Streamsong (Blue) (56)Bowling Green, FloridaTom Doak; r20127.31
58Castle Pines (55)Castle Rock, ColoradoJack Nicklaus; p, re19817.31
59Chambers Bay (50)University Place, WashingtonRobert Trent Jones Jr., Bruce Charlton; d20077.31
60Sweetens Cove (49)South Pittsburg, TennesseeRob Collins; d20157.30
61Robert Trent Jones GC (74)Lake Manassas, VirginiaRobert Trent Jones Sr., Roger Rulewich; p19917.30
62Double Eagle GC (53)Galena, OhioJay Morrish, Tom Weiskopf; p19917.30
63Shelter Harbor (64)Westerly, Rhode IslandMichael Hurdzan, Dana Fry; p20057.29
64Mountaintop (52)Cashiers, North CarolinaTom Fazio; p, re20077.28
65Crooked Stick (79)Carmel, IndianaPete Dye; p19647.27
66Quail Hollow Club (60)CharlotteGeorge Cobb, Tom Fazio; p19617.24
67Johns Island (West) (73)Vero Beach, FloridaTom Fazio; p, re19897.24
68Fallen Oak (63)Saucier, MississippiTom Fazio; r20067.23
69Bayonne GC (61)Bayonne, New JerseyEric Bergstol; p20067.23
70Sutton Bay (70)Agar, South DakotaGraham Marsh; p20147.22
71Grandfather G&CC (68)Linville, North CarolinaEllis Maples; p, re19687.21
72Long Cove (77)Hilton Head, South CarolinaPete Dye; p, re19827.20
73Black Sheep (71)Sugar Grove, IllinoisDavid Esler; p20027.19
74Mayacama (66)Santa Rosa, CaliforniaJack Nicklaus; p, re20017.18
75Hudson National (112)Croton-on-Hudson, New YorkTom Fazio; p19967.18
76Karsten Creek (81)Stillwater, OklahomaTom Fazio; p19947.18
77Diamond Creek (78)Banner Elk, North CarolinaTom Fazio; p, re20037.18
78Hazeltine National (93)Chaska, MinnesotaRobert Trent Jones Sr.; p19627.17
79Spring Hill (57)Orono, MinnesotaTom Fazio; p19997.16
80Erin Hills (92)Hartford, WisconsinMichael Hurdzan, Dana Fry, Ron Whitten; r, d20067.14
81Valhalla (76)LouisvilleJack Nicklaus; p19867.13
82Shoal Creek (83)Birmingham, AlabamaJack Nicklaus; p19767.12
83Marquette GC (Greywalls) (82)Marquette, MichiganMike DeVries; d, p20057.11
84Sea Island (Seaside) (86)St. Simons Island, GeorgiaCharles H. Alison, Harry S. Colt, Joe Lee, Tom Fazio; r20007.11
85Jupiter Hills Club (Hills) (96)Tequesta, FloridaGeorge Fazio; p, re20107.09
86The Quarry at La Quinta (69)La Quinta, CaliforniaTom Fazio; p, re19947.08
87Hidden Creek (80)Egg Harbor Township, New JerseyBill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; p20027.07
88Austin GC (98)Spicewood, TexasBill Coore and Ben Crenshaw; p20017.06
89Clear Creek (87)Tahoe, NevadaBill Coore and Ben Crenshaw; p, re20097.05
90Stanwich Club (114)Greenwich, ConnecticutDavid Gordon, William Gordon; p19647.05
91Boot Ranch (103)Fredericksburg, TexasJim Lipe; p, re20067.05
92Secession (91)Gibbes Island, South CarolinaBruce Devlin; p19927.05
93Blackwolf Run (River) (89)Kohler, WisconsinPete Dye; r19887.04
94Wine Valley (116)Walla Walla, WashingtonDan Hixson; d20097.04
95Patriot (95)Owasso, OklahomaRobert Trent Jones Jr.; p, re20107.04
96Tradition at La Quinta (104)La Quinta, CaliforniaArnold Palmer, Ed Seay; p, re19977.03
97Forest Highlands (The Canyon) (90)Flagstaff, ArizonaJay Morrish, Tom Weiskopf; p, re19897.02
98Pronghorn (Fazio) (58)Bend, OregonTom Fazio; p, re20067.02
99Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee (88)Eatonton, GeorgiaBill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; p, re19987.02
100Stonewall Links (Old) (111)Elverson, PennsylvaniaTom Doak; p19937.00
RankCourseLocationArchitect(s);

club type 

Avg. rating
101Colleton River (Pete Dye)Bluffton, S.C.Pete Dye; p, re7.00
102The Bear's ClubJupiter, Fla.Jack Nicklaus; p, re6.99
103Naples NationalNaples, Fla.Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry; p6.99
104Eugene CCEugene, Ore.H. Chandler Egan, Robert Trent, Jones Sr.; p6.99
105Forest Dunes (The Loop Red & Black)Roscommon, Mich.Tom Doak; r, d6.98
106Primland (Highland)Meadows of Dan, Va.Donald Steel; r6.98
107Sage ValleyGraniteville, S.C.Tom Fazio; p6.97
108Prairie Club (Dunes Course)Valentine, Neb.Tom Lehman; r6.97
109Eagle PointWilmington, N.C.Tom Fazio; p6.97
110Mossy OakWest Point, Miss.Gil Hanse; r, d6.96
111ConcessionBradenton, Fla.Jack Nicklaus; p, re6.96
112GC of TennesseeKingston Springs, Tenn.Tom Fazio; p6.95
113Ocean ForestSea Island, Ga.Rees Jones; p6.95
114McArthurHobe Sound, Fla.Tom Fazio, Nick Price; p6.94
115Pinehurst No. 4Pinehurst, N.C.Donald Ross, Gil Hanse; r6.94
116Stone CanyonTucson, Ariz.Jay Morrish; p, re6.93
117Whisper Rock (Lower Course)ScottsdalePhil Mickelson, Gary Stephenson; p6.93
118Flint Hills NationalAndover, KansasTom Fazio; p6.93
119Giants Ridge (Quarry)Biwabik, Minn.Jeff Brauer; r, d6.92
120The RimPayson, Ariz.Tom Weiskopf; p, re6.92
121Saucon Valley (Weyhill)Bethlehem, Pa.David Gordon, William Gordon; p6.92
122Mayfield Sand Ridge (Sand Ridge)Chardon, OhioTom Fazio; p6.92
123Club at Carlton Woods (Fazio)The Woodlands, TexasTom Fazio; p, re6.92
124LoblollyHobe Sound, Fla.P.B. Dye; p6.92
125Spring Island (Old Tabby Links)Okatie, S.C.Arnold Palmer, Ed Seay; p, re6.91
126Pine TreeBoynton Beach, Fla.Dick Wilson; p6.91
127Lost DunesBridgman, Mich.Tom Doak; p6.91
128Cliffs at Mountain ParkTravelers Rest, S.C.Gary Player; p, re6.90
129Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands)Johns Creek, Ga.Joe Finger, Rees Jones; p6.89
130Trinity ForestDallasBill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; p6.89
131Silvies Valley Ranch (Hankins)Seneca, Ore.Dan Hixson; r, d6.89
132Stone EaglePalm Desert, Calif.Tom Doak; p, re6.88
133Wild HorseGothenburg, Neb.Dave Axland, Dan Proctor; d6.88
134Whisper Rock (Upper Course)ScottsdaleTom Fazio; p6.88
135Santa Lucia PreserveCarmel-By-The-Sea, Calif.Tom Fazio; p, re6.87
136Windsong FarmIndependence, Minn.John Fought, Tom Lehman; p6.87
137Kiawah Island Club (Cassique)Kiawah Island, S.C.Tom Watson; p, re6.87
138Medalist ClubHobe Sound, Fla.Pete Dye, Greg Norman, Bobby Weed; p6.86
139The Bridges at Rancho Sante FeRancho Santa Fe, Calif.Robert Trent Jones Jr.; p, re6.86
140Paa-Ko RidgeSandia Park, N.M.Ken Dye; d, re6.85
141Dormie ClubWest End, N.C.Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; p6.84
142BelleriveCreve Coeur, Mo.Robert Trent Jones Sr., Rees Jones; p6.84
143FredericaSt. Simons Island, Ga.Tom Fazio; p, re6.84
144Greenville CC (Chanticleer)Greenville, S.C.Robert Trent Jones Sr.; p6.84
145LahontanTruckee, Calif.Tom Weiskopf; p, re6.83
146Nantucket GCSiasconset, Mass.Rees Jones; p6.83
147French Lick (Pete Dye Course)French Lick, Ind.Pete Dye; r, d, c6.82
148The FarmRocky Face, Ga.Tom Fazio; p6.82
149Silvies Valley Ranch (Craddock)Seneca, Ore.Dan Hixson; r, d6.82
150Montage Palmetto Bluff (May River)Bluffton, S.C.Jack Nicklaus; r6.82
RankCourseLocationArchitect(s);

club type 

Avg. rating
151Rustic CanyonMoorpark, Calif.Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner, Geoff Shackelford; d6.81
152Coral Creek ClubPlacida, Fla.Tom Fazio; p6.81
153Chechessee CreekOkatie, S.C.Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; p6.81
154Forest Dunes (Weiskopf)Okatie, S.C.Roscommon, Mich.; Tom Weiskopf; r, d6.80
155Sand Hollow (Championship)Hurricane, UtahJohn Fought, Andy Staples; r, d6.80
156Forest Creek (North)Pinehurst, N.C.Tom Fazio; p, re6.80
157AldarraSammamish, Wash.Tom Fazio; p6.80
158Trump National (Old)Bedminster, N.J.Tom Fazio; p6.80
159Kukui'ulaKoloa, HawaiiTom Weiskopf; p6.79
160Trump InternationalWest Palm Beach, Fla.Jim Fazio; p6.79
161Ridge at Back BrookRingoes, N.J.Tom Fazio; p6.78
162Metedeconk NationalJackson Township, N.J.Roger Rulewich; p6.78
163Southern HighlandsLas VegasRobert Trent Jones Sr., Robert Trent Jones Jr.; p, re6.78
164Spanish OaksBee Cave, TexasBobby Weed; p, re6.77
165Black RockCoeur d'Alene, IdahoJim Engh; p, re6.77
166Hamilton FarmGladstone, N.J.Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry; p6.77
167Whistling Straits (Irish)Mosel, Wis./td>Pete Dye; r6.75
168The BridgeBridgehampton, N.Y.Rees Jones; p6.75
169Old MemorialTampa, Fla.Steve Smyers; p6.75
170King KamehamehaMaui, HawaiiRobin Nelson; p6.75
171World Woods (Pine Barrens)Brooksville, Fla.Tom Fazio; d6.74
171World Woods (Pine Barrens)Brooksville, Fla.Tom Fazio; d6.74
172Suncadia (Tumble Creek)Cle Elum, Wash.Tom Doak; p6.74
173Cog Hill (No. 4 - Dubsdread)Lemont, Ill.Rees Jones, Dick Wilson; d6.73
174SherwoodThousand Oaks, Calif.Jack Nicklaus; p6.73
175El DoradoIndian Wells, Calif.Tom Fazio; p, re6.73
176FarmLinks at Pursell FarmsSylacauga, Ala.Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry; r, d6.73
177Golden Horseshoe (Gold)Williamsburg, Va.Robert Trent Jones Sr., Rees Jones; r6.73
178Santa Ana CCSanta Ana, Calif.Jay Blasi; p, re6.72
179The Ford PlantationRichmond Hill, Ga.Pete Dye, Tim Liddy; p, re6.72
180Cliffs at Keowee VineyardsSunset, S.C.Tom Fazio; p, re6.72
181Caves ValleyOwings Mill, Md.Tom Fazio; p6.72
182Briggs RanchSan AntonioTom Fazio; p, re6.72
183Caledonia Golf & Fish ClubPawleys Island, S.C.Michael Strantz; r, d6.72
184Desert HighlandsScottsdaleJack Nicklaus; p, re6.71
185Liberty NationalJersey City, N.J.Bob Cupp, Tom Kite; p6.71
186CrosswaterSunriver, Ore.Bob Cupp, John Fought; r, re6.70
187Old WaverlyWest Point, Miss.Bob Cupp, Jerry Pate; r, re6.70
188FloridianPalm City, Fla.Tom Fazio; p6.70
189Atlanta CCMarietta, Ga.Willard Byrd, Joe Finger, Mike Riley; p6.69
190Frost CreekEagle, Colo.Tom Weiskopf; r, re6.68
191EscondidoHorseshoe Bay, TexasTom Fazio; p, re6.68
192CordeValleSan Martin, Calif.Robert Trent Jones Jr.; r6.68
193Keswick Hall (Full Cry)Charlottesville, Va.Pete Dye; r6.67
194Beach HotelKohala Coast, HawaiiRobert Trent Jones Sr.; r6.67
195SilverleafScottsdaleTom Weiskopf; p, re6.66
196ApplebrookMalvern, Pa.Gil Hanse; p6.65
197Victory RanchKamas, UtahRees Jones; p, re6.65
198Rams HillBorrego Springs, Calif.Tom Fazio; r, d, re6.64
199We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro)Fort McDowell, Ariz.Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; r, d, c6.64
200The Wilderness at Fortune BayTower, Minn.Jeff Brauer; r, d, c6.64
Featured Weekly Ad