Golfweek's Best 2025: Top 100 public-access courses in the U.S., ranked

Looking to score a tee time at the best public-access courses in the United States? We’ve got you covered with Golfweek’s Best 2025 list of the Top 100 Best Courses You Can Play. 

Each year we publish many course rankings lists, and this selection of public-access layouts is among the premium offerings. The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them based on 10 criteria on a points basis of 1 through 10. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings are averaged to produce these rankings. The top handful of courses in the world have an average rating of above 9, while many excellent layouts fall into the high-6 to 8 range.

• How we rank courses

All the courses on this list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or by staying at an affiliated hotel. If there’s a will, there’s a tee time.

* Indicates new to or returning to this list. For courses with a number preceding the Modern or Classic as noted by era, that is where the course ranks on Golfweek’s Best 2025 lists for top 200 Modern or Classic courses in the U.S.

1. Pebble Beach Resorts (Pebble Beach Golf Links)

2024 ranking: 1

Average rating: 8.74

Location: Pebble Beach, CA

Architect(s): Jack Neville, Douglas Grant

Era: No. 10 Classic

2. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Pacific Dunes)

2024 ranking: 2

Average rating: 8.53

Location: Bandon, OR

Architect(s): Tom Doak

Era: No. 3 Modern

3. Pinehurst (No. 2)

2024 ranking: 3

Average rating: 8.29

Location: Pinehurst, NC

Architect(s): Donald Ross

Era: No. 20 Classic

4. Kohler Whistling Straits (Straits)

2024 ranking: T4

Average rating: 8.13

Location: Mosel, WI

Architect(s): Pete Dye

Era: No. 6 Modern

5. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Bandon Trails)

2024 ranking: 6

Average rating: 8.08

Location: Bandon, OR

Architect(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw

Era: No. 9 Modern

6. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Old Macdonald)

2024 ranking: T4

Average rating: 8.06

Location: Bandon, OR

Architect(s): Tom Doak, Jim Urbina

Era: No. 10 Modern

7. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Bandon Dunes)

2024 ranking: 7

Average rating: 8.04

Location: Bandon, OR

Architect(s): David McLay Kidd

Era: No. 12 Modern

8. Bethpage State Park (Black)

2024 ranking: 9

Average rating: 7.99

Location: Farmingdale, NY

Architect(s): A.W. Tillinghast

Era: No. 26 Classic

9. Shadow Creek

2024 ranking: 8

Average rating: 7.98

Location: North Las Vegas, NV

Architect(s): Tom Fazio

Era: T13 Modern

10. Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Ocean)

2024 ranking: 10

Average rating: 7.96

Location: Kiawah Island, SC

Architect(s): Pete Dye

Era: No. 15 Modern

11. Pasatiempo

2024 ranking: 11

Average rating: 7.81

Location: Santa Cruz, CA

Architect(s): Alister MacKenzie

Era: No. 39 Classic

12. Sand Valley (Lido)

2024 ranking: 15

Average rating: 7.76

Location: Nekoosa, WI

Architect(s): Charles Blair Macdonald, Tom Doak, Brian Schneider

Era: No. 26 Modern

13. Pebble Beach Resorts (Spyglass Hill)

2024 ranking: T13

Average rating: 7.71

Location: Pebble Beach, CA

Architect(s): Robert Trent Jones Sr.

Era: T27 Modern

14. TPC Sawgrass (Players Stadium)

2024 ranking: 12

Average rating: 7.67

Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Architect(s): Pete Dye

Era: No. 30 Modern

15. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Sheep Ranch)

2024 ranking: T13

Average rating: 7.66

Location: Bandon, OR

Architect(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw

Era: No. 31 Modern

16. Four Seasons Resort Lanai (Manele)

2024 ranking: 16

Average rating: 7.65

Location: Lanai, HI

Architect(s): Jack Nicklaus

Era: No. 34 Modern

17. Chambers Bay

2024 ranking: T20

Average rating: 7.56

Location: University Place, WA

Architect(s): Robert Trent Jones Jr., Bruce Charlton, Jay Blasi

Era: T40 Modern

18. Landmand

2024 ranking: T20

Average rating: 7.55

Location: Homer, NE

Architect(s): Tad King, Rob Collins

Era: No. 42 Modern

19. Streamsong (Red)

2024 ranking: T18

Average rating: 7.52

Location: Bowling Green, FL

Architect(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw

Era: No. 44 Modern

T20. Sand Valley (Sand Valley)

2024 ranking: T18

Average rating: 7.50

Location: Nekoosa, WI

Architect(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw

Era: T45 Modern

T20. Sand Valley (Mammoth Dunes) 

2024 ranking: 17

Average rating: 7.50

Location: Nekoosa, WI

Architect(s): David McLay Kidd

Era: T45 Modern

22. Kapalua (Plantation)

2024 ranking: T20

Average rating: 7.45

Location: Maui, HI

Architect(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw

Era: No. 49 Modern

23. Pinehurst (No. 10)*

Average rating: 7.42

Location: Pinehurst, NC

Architect(s): Tom Doak, Angela Moser

Era: No. 52 Modern

24. Gamble Sands

2024 ranking: 23

Average rating: 7.41

Location: Brewster, WA

Architect(s): David McLay Kidd

Era: T53 Modern

25. Sand Valley (Sedge Valley)*

Average rating: 7.39

Location: Nekoosa, WI

Architect(s): Tom Doak

Era: No. 57 Modern

26. Streamsong (Blue)

2024 ranking: 24

Average rating: 7.37

Location: Bowling Green, FL

Architect(s): Tom Doak

Era: T62 Modern

27. Erin Hills

2024 ranking: 27

Average rating: 7.35

Location: Erin, WI

Architect(s): Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry, Ron Whitten

Era: T65 Modern

28. Lawsonia (Links)

2024 ranking: 25

Average rating: 7.31

Location: Green Lake, WI

Architect(s): William B. Langford, Theodore J. Moreau

Era: T74 Classic

29. Sea Pines Resort (Harbour Town Golf Links)

2024 ranking: 26

Average rating: 7.29

Location: Hilton Head Island, SC

Architect(s): Pete Dye

Era: T73 Modern

30. Sea Island (Seaside)

2024 ranking: T29

Average rating: 7.27

Location: St. Simons Island, GA

Architect(s): Charles H. Alison, Harry S. Colt, Joe Lee, Tom Fazio

Era: T76 Modern

31. Streamsong (Black)

2024 ranking: 28

Average rating: 7.23

Location: Bowling Green, FL

Architect(s): Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner

Era: T81 Modern

32. Arcadia Bluffs (Bluffs)

2024 ranking: 31

Average rating: 7.17

Location: Arcadia, MI

Architect(s): Warren Henderson, Rick Smith

Era: No. 91 Modern

33. Karsten Creek

2024 ranking: T33

Average rating: 7.16

Location: Stillwater, OK

Architect(s): Tom Fazio

Era: T92 Modern

34. Black Desert Resort

2024 ranking: 32

Average rating: 7.11

Location: Ivins, UT

Architect(s): Tom Weiskopf, Phil Smith

Era: No. 96 Modern

T35. Pinehurst (No. 4)

2024 ranking: 39

Average rating: 7.10

Location: Pinehurst, NC

Architect(s): Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner

Era: T97 Modern

T35. Fallen Oak

2024 ranking: T33

Average rating: 7.10

Location: Saucier, MS

Architect(s): Tom Fazio

Era: T97 Modern

37. Omni Homestead Resort (Cascades)

2024 ranking: T37

Average rating: 7.09

Location: Hot Springs, VA

Architect(s): William S. Flynn

Era: T102 Classic

T38. Sweetens Cove

2024 ranking: 35

Average rating: 7.08

Location: South Pittsburg, TN

Architect(s): Tad King, Rob Collins

Era: T100 Modern

T38. The Park West Palm

2024 ranking: T29

Average rating: 7.08

Location: West Palm Beach, FL

Architect(s): Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner

Era: T100 Modern

40. Primland (Highland)

2024 ranking: 36

Average rating: 7.05

Location: Meadows of Dan, VA

Architect(s): Donald Steel

Era: No. 107 Modern

41. Princeville (Makai)

2024 ranking: 62

Average rating: 7.04

Location: Princeville, HI

Architect(s): Robert Trent Jones Jr.

Era: Modern

42. Prairie Club (Dunes)

2024 ranking: T37

Average rating: 7.03

Location: Valentine, NE

Architect(s): Tom Lehman, Chris Brands

Era: T112 Modern

43. Wild Horse

2024 ranking: 41

Average rating: 6.97

Location: Gothenburg, NE

Architect(s): Dave Axland, Dan Proctor

Era: T122 Modern

T44. Torrey Pines (South)

2024 ranking: 42

Average rating: 6.96

Location: San Diego

Architect(s): William F. Bell, Rees Jones

Era: No. 124 Classic

T44. Mystic Creek

2024 ranking: 43

Average rating: 6.96

Location: El Dorado, AR

Architect(s): Ken Dye

Era: Modern

46. Marquette Golf Club (Greywalls)

2024 ranking: 40

Average rating: 6.94

Location: Marquette, MI

Architect(s): Mike Devries

Era: T130 Modern

T47. Mossy Oak

2024 ranking: 46

Average rating: 6.93

Location: West Point, MS

Architect(s): Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner

Era: T132 Modern

T47. Giants Ridge (Quarry)

2024 ranking: T44

Average rating: 6.93

Location: Biwabik, MN

Architect(s): Jeff Brauer

Era: T132 Modern

49. Lajitas (Black Jack’s Crossing)

2024 ranking: T50

Average rating: 6.92

Location: Lajitas, TX

Architect(s): Lanny Wadkins

Era: T139 Modern

50. Forest Dunes (The Loop Red & Black)

2024 ranking: T47

Average rating: 6.91

Location: Roscommon, MI

Architect(s): Tom Doak

Era: T143 Modern

51. PaaKo Ridge

2024 ranking: 49

Average rating: 6.90

Location: Sandia Park, NM

Architect(s): Ken Dye

Era: T146 Modern

T52. Kohler Blackwolf Run (River)

2024 ranking: T50

Average rating: 6.87

Location: Kohler, WI

Architect(s): Pete Dye

Era: T149 Modern

T52. Rustic Canyon

2024 ranking: T52

Average rating: 6.87

Location: Moorpark, CA

Architect(s): Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner, Geoff Shackelford

Era: T149 Modern

T52. Yocha Dehe at Cache Creek Casino

2024 ranking: 55

Average rating: 6.87

Location: Brooks, CA

Architect(s): Brad Bell

Era: Modern

55. Wine Valley

2024 ranking: 47

Average rating: 6.86

Location: Walla Walla, WA

Architect(s): Dan Hixson

Era: T157 Modern

56. Mid Pines

2024 ranking: T52

Average rating: 6.85

Location: Southern Pines, NC

Architect(s): Donald Ross, Kyle Franz

Era: T137 Classic

57. Cabot Citrus Farms (Karoo)*

Average rating: 6.84

Location: Brooksville, FL

Architect(s): Kyle Franz

Era: T166 Modern

T58. Big Cedar Lodge (Ozarks National)

2024 ranking: T55

Average rating: 6.83

Location: Hollister, MO

Architect(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw

Era: T170 Modern

T58. Sand Hollow (Championship)

2024 ranking: 54

Average rating: 6.83

Location: Hurricane, UT

Architect(s): John Fought, Andy Staples

Era: T170 Modern

60. French Lick Resort (Pete Dye)

2024 ranking: T55

Average rating: 6.82

Location: French Lick, IN

Architect(s): Pete Dye

Era: T176 Modern

61. Mauna Kea Resort

2024 ranking: 61

Average rating: 6.81

Location: Kohala Coast, HI

Architect(s): Robert Trent Jones Sr., Rees Jones

Era: T179 Modern

62. Pine Needles

2024 ranking: 67

Average rating: 6.80

Location: Southern Pines, NC

Architect(s): Donald Ross, John Fought, Kyle Franz

Era: T146 Classic

63. The Greenbrier (Old White)

2024 ranking: T55

Average rating: 6.79

Location: White Sulphur Springs, WV

Architect(s): Charles Blair Macdonald, Seth Raynor, Lester George

Era: No. 149 Classic

64. Silvies Valley Ranch (Hankins)

2024 ranking: T44

Average rating: 6.77

Location: Seneca, OR

Architect(s): Dan Hixson

Era: T184 Modern

T65. Pebble Beach Resorts (Links at Spanish Bay)

2024 ranking: T73

Average rating: 6.76

Location: Pebble Beach, CA

Architect(s): Robert Trent Jones Jr., Sandy Tatum, Tom Watson

Era: T185 Modern

T65. The Dunes Golf & Beach Club

2024 ranking: T65

Average rating: 6.76

Location: Myrtle Beach, SC

Architect(s): Robert Trent Jones Sr., Rees Jones

Era: No. 155 Classic

T67. Firestone (South)

2024 ranking: T78

Average rating: 6.75

Location: Akron, OH

Architect(s): Bert Way, Robert Trent Jones Sr.

Era: T156 Classic

T67. Omni PGA Frisco Resort (Fields Ranch East)

2024 ranking: T63

Average rating: 6.75

Location: Frisco, TX

Architect(s): Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner

Era: T189 Modern

69. Big Cedar Lodge (Buffalo Ridge)

2024 ranking: T70

Average rating: 6.73

Location: Hollister, MO

Architect(s): Tom Fazio

Era: No. 196 Modern

T70. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club

2024 ranking: T63

Average rating: 6.72

Location: Pawleys Island, SC

Architect(s): Michael Strantz

Era: T197 Modern

T70. Golden Horseshoe (Gold)

2024 ranking: T65

Average rating: 6.72

Location: Williamsburg, VA

Architect(s): Robert Trent Jones Sr., Rees Jones, Greg Muirhead

Era: T197 Modern

T72. Keswick Hall and GC (Full Cry)

2024 ranking: T70

Average rating: 6.71

Location: Keswick, VA

Architect(s): Pete Dye

Era: Modern

T72. Links of North Dakota

2024 ranking: T83

Average rating: 6.71

Location: Ray, ND

Architect(s): Stephen Kay

Era: Modern

T72. Minot Country Club 

2024 ranking: 59

Average rating: 6.71

Location: Minot, ND

Architect(s): Jim Engh

Era: Modern

75. Tobacco Road

2024 ranking: T83

Average rating: 6.70

Location: Sanford, NC

Architect(s): Michael Strantz

Era: Modern

76. Cascata

2024 ranking: T68

Average rating: 6.69

Location: Boulder City, NV

Architect(s): Rees Jones

Era: Modern

77. Sunriver Resort (Crosswater)

2024 ranking: T91

Average rating: 6.66

Location: Sunriver, OR

Architect(s): Bob Cupp, John Fought

Era: Modern

T78. Forest Dunes (Weiskopf)

2024 ranking: T68

Average rating: 6.65

Location: Roscommon, MI

Architect(s): Tom Weiskopf

Era: Modern

T78. Rams Hill

2024 ranking: T73

Average rating: 6.65

Location: Borrego Springs, CA

Architect(s): Tom Fazio

Era: Modern

T78. CordeValle

2024 ranking: T73

Average rating: 6.65

Location: San Martin, CA

Architect(s): Robert Trent Jones Jr.

Era: Modern

T81. Bay Hill Club and Lodge

2024 ranking: T78

Average rating: 6.64

Location: Orlando

Architect(s): Dick Wilson, Arnold Palmer

Era: Modern

T81. Prairie Club (Pines)

2024 ranking: T94

Average rating: 6.64

Location: Valentine, NE

Architect(s): Graham Marsh

Era: Modern

T81. Pumpkin Ridge (Ghost Creek)

2024 ranking: T83

Average rating: 6.64

Location: North Plains, OR

Architect(s): Bob Cupp, John Fought

Era: Modern

T84. Arcadia Bluffs (South)

2024 ranking: T87

Average rating: 6.63

Location: Arcadia, MI

Architect(s): Dana Fry, Jason Straka

Era: Modern

T84. Hawktree

2024 ranking: 72

Average rating: 6.63

Location: Bismarck, ND

Architect(s): Jim Engh

Era: Modern

T84. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

2024 ranking: T94

Average rating: 6.63

Location: Kailua-Kona, HI

Architect(s): Jack Nicklaus

Era: Modern

T87. Kohler Whistling Straits (Irish)

2024 ranking: T78

Average rating: 6.62

Location: Mosel, WI

Architect(s): Pete Dye

Era: Modern

T87. Old Waverly

2024 ranking: T81

Average rating: 6.62

Location: West Point, MS

Architect(s): Bob Cupp, Jerry Pate

Era: Modern

T87. Silvies Valley Ranch (Craddock)

2024 ranking: 60

Average rating: 6.62

Location: Seneca, OR

Architect(s): Dan Hixson

Era: Modern

T87. Leatherstocking

2024 ranking: 77

Average rating: 6.62

Location: Cooperstown, NY

Architect(s): Devereux Emmet

Era: T175 Classic

T87. Hideout

2024 ranking: T81

Average rating: 6.62

Location: Monticello, UT

Architect(s): Forrest Richardson

Era: Modern

T92. We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro)

2024 ranking: T87

Average rating: 6.61

Location: Fort McDowell, AZ

Architect(s): Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw

Era: Modern

T92. Big Cedar Lodge (Payne’s Valley)

2024 ranking: T94

Average rating: 6.61

Location: Hollister, MO

Architect(s): Tiger Woods

Era: Modern

T92. Reynolds Lake Oconee (Great Waters)

2024 ranking: T89

Average rating: 6.61

Location: Greensboro, GA

Architect(s): Jack Nicklaus

Era: Modern

T92. Breezy Point Resort (Deacon’s Lodge)

2024 ranking: T91

Average rating: 6.61

Location: Brainerd, MN

Architect(s): Arnold Palmer

Era: Modern

T96. Omni Bedford Springs (Old)*

Average rating: 6.59

Location: Bedford, PA

Architect(s): Donald Ross, A.W. Tillinghast, Spencer Oldham, Ron Forse

Era: No. 182 Classic

T96. Cog Hill (No. 4 - Dubsdread)

2024 ranking: T73

Average rating: 6.59

Location: Lemont, IL

Architect(s): Dick Wilson, Rees Jones

Era: Modern

T96. Cape Cod National

2024 ranking: T89

Average rating: 6.59

Location: Brewster, MA

Architect(s): Brian Silva

Era: Modern

T99. Omni Barton Creek (Fazio Canyons)*

Average rating: 6.57

Location: Austin

Architect(s): Tom Fazio

Era: Modern

T99. Belvedere

2024 ranking: T94

Average rating: 6.57

Location: Charlevoix, MI

Architect(s): William Watson, Bruce Hepner

Era: T185 Classic

T99. The Broadmoor (East)*

Average rating: 6.57

Location: Colorado Springs, CO

Architect(s): Donald Ross, Robert Trent Jones Sr.

Era: T185 Classic

T99. Madden’s on Gull Lake (Classic)

2024 ranking: T91

Average rating: 6.57

Location: Brainerd, MN

Architect(s): Scott Hoffman

Era: Modern