What Are the Top 10 Golf Courses in the United States?
Golf is a beloved sport across the United States, with over 15,500 golf courses scattered across the country. Florida, California, and Texas are home to the largest number of courses. But what makes a golf course truly great? Experts consider factors such as the location of tees, green sizes, bunkers, turf types, water hazards, and overall atmosphere. Of course, the balance between challenging and playable is also important. Golf Digest compiles a list of the top 100 golf courses in the country every other year, starting in 1966.
Here are the Top 10 from 2021 and 2022:
1. Pine Valley Golf Course in New Jersey
is a private club designed in 1918 by George Crump and H.S. Colt. It has been consistently ranked among the top 100 courses in the country. The slope is 155, the rating is 72.8, the yardage is 6,532, and the par is 70. It was previously only open to women on Sunday afternoons, but that restriction was removed in 2021.
2. Augusta National Golf Course in Georgia
Augusta National Golf Course in Georgia is a for-profit corporation that hosts the annual Masters Tournament. It was founded by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts and designed by Jones and Alister MacKenzie. It opened in 1932 and is known for its impeccable appearance and the use of inconspicuous speakers to play bird sounds. It also began co-hosting the Augusta National Women's Amateur with Champions Retreat Golf Club in 2019.
3. Cypress Point Club in California
Cypress Point Club in California is a private club on the West Coast known for its dramatic holes along the Pacific Ocean. It was created by designer Alister MacKenzie in 1928 and is known for its natural beauty, with the course allowing the terrain to shape itself organically. It has previously been ranked as the best course in the country.
4. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in New York
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in New York is a private club founded in 1891 and redesigned by William Flynn in 1931. It has previously been ranked as the best course in the country and has hosted the U.S. Open four times. The slope is 147, the rating is 76.3, the yardage is 6,996, and the par is 70.
5. National Golf Links of America in New York
National Golf Links of America in New York is a private club founded in 1908 and designed by Charles Blair Macdonald and Seth Raynor. It has previously been ranked as the best course in the country and has been described as a "template for American golf." The slope is 148, the rating is 74.6, the yardage is 6,737, and the par is 70.
6. Sand Hills Golf Club in Nebraska
Sand Hills Golf Club in Nebraska is a private club founded in 1995 and designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. It has previously been ranked as the best course in the country and is known for its natural terrain and minimal interference from man-made elements. The slope is 145, the rating is 76.6, the yardage is 7,342, and the par is 72.
7. Merion Golf Club (East Course) in Pennsylvania
Merion Golf Club (East Course) in Pennsylvania is a private club founded in 1912 and designed by Hugh Wilson. It has hosted the U.S. Open five times and has previously been ranked as the best course in the country. The slope is 143, the rating is 74.5, the yardage is 6,596, and the par is 70.
8. The Country Club (Clyde/Squirrel) in Massachusetts
The Country Club (Clyde/Squirrel) in Massachusetts is a private club founded in 1882 and designed by Williiam F. Mitchell. It has hosted the U.S. Open four times and has previously been ranked as the best course in the country. The slope is 145, the rating is 74.4, the yardage is 6,798, and the par is 70.
9. Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania
Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania is a private club founded in 1903 and designed by Henry Fownes. It has hosted the U.S. Open a record nine times and has previously been ranked as the best course in the country. The slope is 153, the rating is 77.4, the yardage is 7,253, and the par is 70.
10. Fishers Island Club in New York
Fishers Island Club in New York is a private club founded in 1926 and designed by Seth Raynor. It has previously been ranked as the best course in the country and is known for its natural terrain and stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and Fishers Island Sound. The slope is 150, the rating is 74.8, the yardage is 6,756, and the par is 70.
While these courses are considered among the best in the country, it's important to note that many of them are private and only accessible to members or VIP players. However, there are plenty of public courses that offer top-notch facilities and challenging gameplay for all golf enthusiasts.
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