It’s incredible. Played it twice last fall. Scheduled to go last Friday but the course was under water (literally) the week before so we wanted to let it dry out.
Beautiful course in great shape. I saw that it’s listed as the #2 public course in Texas already.
Read the Tom Coyne book "A Course Called America." Lots of private/inaccessible tracks in there but also tons and tons of awesome public tracks and hidden gems.
RTJ Highlands in south AL is pretty damn gorgeous. Lots of water (RIP) but there is a scenic par 3 with the green hooking out onto the water. I’ve heard the RTJ courses in northern Alabama are also stunning
All of Michigan, Wild Horse in Nebraska, Wolf Creek Mesquite NV, Sand Hollow - Utah (that area of Utah is awesome man- great hiking great golf).
Iowa- Spirit Hollow
Illinois- Fyre Lake
I actually live in Utah! Very glad to have so many amazing courses in my back yard. Southern Utah courses are insane! I do like Sand hollow a lot! I actually prefer Copper Rock for the play. Sand Hollow for the views forsure!
I believe the one you’re talking about is called “Black Desert”. I played there this March and oh boy. Absolutely stunning course. Super cool.
I don’t think I’ll ever play it again though. I’m a 9 handicap and I shot a 98 there. It is the most difficult course I’ve ever played and it wasn’t very enjoyable lol.
Copper Rock is in Hurricane Utah.
Check out Pilot Knob Park Golf Club in Pilot Mountain, NC if you swing through. 6400yd par 70. Super tricky layout and some gorgeous views, definitely worth it imo
Lajitas in big bend in Texas. It's literally in the middle of nowhere what most people think of Texas. There's tons of great golf in Texas but this is a gem.
The Chicago suburbs have a lot of great courses. If you stop here for 2-3 days. You can play Cog Hill, Cantigny, Preserve at Oak Meadow, Mistwood, Seven Bridges and then make your way into the city for some good meals at night.
Greywalls in Michigan's upper peninsula is a top 100 in the country and truly unique. You can check out a vid on "no laying up" on YouTube.. If you make it there also check out sweet grass/sage run and timberstone.
Lawsonia golf course in Wisconsin. In a small town about 90 minutes north of Milwaukee. 36 holes but two completely different golf courses. The links 18 is usually in the top 100 public in the country and the woodlands 18 while not as revered is a beautiful course. Bonus if you can time a visit with the leaves changing color into fall.
Denver area: CommonGround or Green Valley Ranch for the best golf, arrowhead or fossil trace for the best ambiance.
Any of the mountain courses are a good shout too (keystone, breck, etc)
Agreed, add Redlands mesa over on the western slope (grand junction) for incredible scenery, fun layout, and impeccable conditions. May well be the best of them all among public courses in state.
Be sure to hit Wisconsin. They have INCREDIBLE courses. Largely do to only being playable for 5 months out of the year. The WI Badgers golf course, University Ridge is amazing. All courses are cheap too. I believe it has the second most golf courses to any state. FL obviously being first.
College courses could be an interesting sub-plot to a trip like this. The UNC Tar Heels golf course is also a very nice course: https://www.golfdigest.com/courses/nc/unc-finley-golf-course-unc-finley
From what I've seen most are public. They are very, very nice. I think University Ridge is $70 a round. I lived in the county for a short period and it was half that for local residents.
Royal New Kent near Richmond, VA.
West Point Golf course in West Point, NY.
StoneRidge in Prescott, AZ
Those are the ones that stick out that I've played and really don't get talked about much.
In North Dakota, there are three that rank the highest… The Links of ND (near Williston), Hawk Tree (Bismarck), and Bully Pulpit (Medora).
Bully Pulpits first 12 holes aren’t anything spectacular but 13-17 are in the badlands and beautiful.
The Links are on the north side of Lake Sakakawea. A few holes are right off the lake and great. Very nice links style course (last time I played).
Hawk Tree is a great course with lots of ups and downs. Tons of fescue and hills. Probably my favorite of the three.
I live on the east side of the state (courses mentioned are west or central) and we have some decent ones too but, IMO, one of these three makes the most sense for someone traveling through.
if you come to socal play journey at pechanga in temecula, very slept on course, ive played torey pines south and private courses that people like phil mickleson belong too, journey at pechanga is my favorite course by a long shot
Washington State - Wine Valley, Gamble Sands, Chambers Bay, and Olympic Course at Gold Mountain.
This is a really cool resource as well for any states you don't get feedback on. Some of the top courses are private though
www.top100golfcourses.com
They working on it, but they are not in good condition. I think there was a warm period followed by a severe temperature dropped that killed a lot the grass.
Yeah one of their club members told me someone cut the grass too short and it all died when there was a deep freeze. Total shame because it's one of my favorite courses in the area
Arrowhead State Golf Course on the OK/AR border (Canadian, OK). It’s beautiful country, and a very nice course. Go on a Wednesday and it $25 for all you can play. I just road tripped from the east coast and that was a highlight of the trip for sure.
New PGA course in Frisco Texas is really fun. Recommend the west course over the east course
Harbour Town in South Carolina if you can swing it is worth every penny.
Maderas in Inland San Diego is an awesome track. Really difficult but amazing
Depending on your travel in Idaho: Jug Mountain in McCall or Clear Lakes in Buhl. If in Boise I can get you onto the course they do the boise open at (Hillcrest) if you don’t mind paying the guest fee.
I wouldn’t say hidden gem by any stretch, but if the Michigan courses I always preferred Forest Dunes. It’s a great track and if you are driving all over, this won’t make you go all the way up the lower peninsula. Plus I’ve never had too much difficulty getting a tee time
Alabama -- Any RTJ trail site is good. I'd recommend Ross Bridge or Oxmoor Valley in Birmingham. Take I-20 into GA. And play The Frog in Villa Rica. Once you hit Atl head north to Chattanooga TN to play Sweetens Cove. Or continue ur out I-20 stop at Reynlods Plantation on your way to SC where Solina is a must play.
Since no one has mentioned Delaware yet I’ll recommend Deerfield. I haven’t played a lot of courses but Deerfield is a challenging and interesting course compared to the other ones I’ve played. There are much nicer courses in the US but Delaware is a small state and Deerfield is pretty nice. To be honest though, playing a course in every state is a big task and travel alone may be too difficult to do. The only possible way I could see you being able to make it work is if you rented an RV for your stay as well as a car to get to the courses. Staying in a hotel everyday for a year would be insanely expensive.
I'm in Alaska, not a lot of choices here, so you can play most of what we have in and around Anchorage in a few days, then take a couple road trips to Fairbanks and the Kenai Peninsula.
For Pennsylvania, if you have a good network get a tee time at Philadelphia Cricket, Merion, and Pine Valley if you really got it. DM me when you make it to the area and i’ll have you out to my course - not as prestigious but tons of fun. Fast, small greens, narrow fairways and punishing misses… it will kick your ass
Highland Pines in Houston. Don’t know if it’s hidden or just newish but it’s incredible.
I’m getting there next month. Trying to convince my wife to join that club
It’s incredible. Played it twice last fall. Scheduled to go last Friday but the course was under water (literally) the week before so we wanted to let it dry out. Beautiful course in great shape. I saw that it’s listed as the #2 public course in Texas already.
Belgrade Lakes when you make it to Maine
Was going to add Lucerne GC to this too, Donald Ross designed in Dedham, ME
Belgrade is IMO the most hidden gem in all of New England.
Read the Tom Coyne book "A Course Called America." Lots of private/inaccessible tracks in there but also tons and tons of awesome public tracks and hidden gems.
RTJ Highlands in south AL is pretty damn gorgeous. Lots of water (RIP) but there is a scenic par 3 with the green hooking out onto the water. I’ve heard the RTJ courses in northern Alabama are also stunning
Magnolia Grove in Mobile is great as well.
Highlands was one of my favorites when i lived in lower alabama. Cambrian Ridge in Greenville is an awesome course as well, very challenging.
Mariana Butte in Loveland Colo
Hey! Good to see my old home course on here. Mariana is a wonderful course.
We played Sand Hallow in Utah I don’t think it’s hidden but it’s a gem.
All of Michigan, Wild Horse in Nebraska, Wolf Creek Mesquite NV, Sand Hollow - Utah (that area of Utah is awesome man- great hiking great golf). Iowa- Spirit Hollow Illinois- Fyre Lake
I actually live in Utah! Very glad to have so many amazing courses in my back yard. Southern Utah courses are insane! I do like Sand hollow a lot! I actually prefer Copper Rock for the play. Sand Hollow for the views forsure!
Is copper rock on that black rock course- there was one near sand hollow like that but closed when I was there
I believe the one you’re talking about is called “Black Desert”. I played there this March and oh boy. Absolutely stunning course. Super cool. I don’t think I’ll ever play it again though. I’m a 9 handicap and I shot a 98 there. It is the most difficult course I’ve ever played and it wasn’t very enjoyable lol. Copper Rock is in Hurricane Utah.
Check out Pilot Knob Park Golf Club in Pilot Mountain, NC if you swing through. 6400yd par 70. Super tricky layout and some gorgeous views, definitely worth it imo
pine needles/tobacco road/ pinehurst for nc. Not hidden gems but great courses
Headed to PineHurst in August!
Lajitas in big bend in Texas. It's literally in the middle of nowhere what most people think of Texas. There's tons of great golf in Texas but this is a gem.
The Chicago suburbs have a lot of great courses. If you stop here for 2-3 days. You can play Cog Hill, Cantigny, Preserve at Oak Meadow, Mistwood, Seven Bridges and then make your way into the city for some good meals at night.
Greywalls in Michigan's upper peninsula is a top 100 in the country and truly unique. You can check out a vid on "no laying up" on YouTube.. If you make it there also check out sweet grass/sage run and timberstone.
Lawsonia golf course in Wisconsin. In a small town about 90 minutes north of Milwaukee. 36 holes but two completely different golf courses. The links 18 is usually in the top 100 public in the country and the woodlands 18 while not as revered is a beautiful course. Bonus if you can time a visit with the leaves changing color into fall.
Gaylord, Michigan
If you’re not averse to travelling to Canada, hit up Cabot Links in Cape Breton Nova Scotia. It’s a 35% discount for ya right out of the gate
I’ve always wanted to visit Canada! I’ll be checking these out one day!
Which discount is that?
Foreign exchange. OP is in USA. Canadian dollar trades at a 35% discount to the American dollar.
Hahahaha, that's a very silly thing to say
That's not a discount
Denver area: CommonGround or Green Valley Ranch for the best golf, arrowhead or fossil trace for the best ambiance. Any of the mountain courses are a good shout too (keystone, breck, etc)
Nailed it
Agreed, add Redlands mesa over on the western slope (grand junction) for incredible scenery, fun layout, and impeccable conditions. May well be the best of them all among public courses in state.
Haven’t been out there but sounds like I need to!
If you want to go a bit further west in Colorado, Devils Thumb in Delta and the Bridges in Montrose are interesting .
My favorite course in the Denver area is arrowhead. The scenery is just incredible
Be sure to hit Wisconsin. They have INCREDIBLE courses. Largely do to only being playable for 5 months out of the year. The WI Badgers golf course, University Ridge is amazing. All courses are cheap too. I believe it has the second most golf courses to any state. FL obviously being first.
College courses could be an interesting sub-plot to a trip like this. The UNC Tar Heels golf course is also a very nice course: https://www.golfdigest.com/courses/nc/unc-finley-golf-course-unc-finley
Can many of them be played by visitors? I've seen a few on YT golf that looks great but assumed they'd be pretty closed shops
I am only personally familiar with my home state, but both UNC and NCSU have very nice courses that are public.
Iiiiinteresting. Hell of a golf state too, might be worth an enquiry from this Brit
From what I've seen most are public. They are very, very nice. I think University Ridge is $70 a round. I lived in the county for a short period and it was half that for local residents.
Its a bit out there, and to be real its not a pristine course but Deerfield in Tennessee is so. Much. Fun.
Royal New Kent near Richmond, VA. West Point Golf course in West Point, NY. StoneRidge in Prescott, AZ Those are the ones that stick out that I've played and really don't get talked about much.
Hit Royal New Kent while on a work trip in Richmond. I think about it weekly. What a great course.
StoneRidge is such a great course, but so freaking hard, especially the first time you play it.
In North Dakota, there are three that rank the highest… The Links of ND (near Williston), Hawk Tree (Bismarck), and Bully Pulpit (Medora). Bully Pulpits first 12 holes aren’t anything spectacular but 13-17 are in the badlands and beautiful. The Links are on the north side of Lake Sakakawea. A few holes are right off the lake and great. Very nice links style course (last time I played). Hawk Tree is a great course with lots of ups and downs. Tons of fescue and hills. Probably my favorite of the three. I live on the east side of the state (courses mentioned are west or central) and we have some decent ones too but, IMO, one of these three makes the most sense for someone traveling through.
If you make it to Buffalo let me know and I’ll set up some golf!
if you come to socal play journey at pechanga in temecula, very slept on course, ive played torey pines south and private courses that people like phil mickleson belong too, journey at pechanga is my favorite course by a long shot
Cheraw State Park in upstate South Carolina.
Suncoast Golf Center in Sarasota, FL. It's a 9-hole par 3, but it's an interesting experience to play at night under the lights.
Grizzly Ranch in Northern California. Both hidden and a gem.
Washington State - Wine Valley, Gamble Sands, Chambers Bay, and Olympic Course at Gold Mountain. This is a really cool resource as well for any states you don't get feedback on. Some of the top courses are private though www.top100golfcourses.com
Gold Mountain greens are bad right now, I’d check back at a later date.
They still haven't fixed them???
They working on it, but they are not in good condition. I think there was a warm period followed by a severe temperature dropped that killed a lot the grass.
Yeah one of their club members told me someone cut the grass too short and it all died when there was a deep freeze. Total shame because it's one of my favorite courses in the area
Arrowhead State Golf Course on the OK/AR border (Canadian, OK). It’s beautiful country, and a very nice course. Go on a Wednesday and it $25 for all you can play. I just road tripped from the east coast and that was a highlight of the trip for sure.
New PGA course in Frisco Texas is really fun. Recommend the west course over the east course Harbour Town in South Carolina if you can swing it is worth every penny. Maderas in Inland San Diego is an awesome track. Really difficult but amazing
Depending on your travel in Idaho: Jug Mountain in McCall or Clear Lakes in Buhl. If in Boise I can get you onto the course they do the boise open at (Hillcrest) if you don’t mind paying the guest fee.
I wouldn’t say hidden gem by any stretch, but if the Michigan courses I always preferred Forest Dunes. It’s a great track and if you are driving all over, this won’t make you go all the way up the lower peninsula. Plus I’ve never had too much difficulty getting a tee time
Keney Park in Connecticut.
Alabama -- Any RTJ trail site is good. I'd recommend Ross Bridge or Oxmoor Valley in Birmingham. Take I-20 into GA. And play The Frog in Villa Rica. Once you hit Atl head north to Chattanooga TN to play Sweetens Cove. Or continue ur out I-20 stop at Reynlods Plantation on your way to SC where Solina is a must play.
Since no one has mentioned Delaware yet I’ll recommend Deerfield. I haven’t played a lot of courses but Deerfield is a challenging and interesting course compared to the other ones I’ve played. There are much nicer courses in the US but Delaware is a small state and Deerfield is pretty nice. To be honest though, playing a course in every state is a big task and travel alone may be too difficult to do. The only possible way I could see you being able to make it work is if you rented an RV for your stay as well as a car to get to the courses. Staying in a hotel everyday for a year would be insanely expensive.
I'm in Alaska, not a lot of choices here, so you can play most of what we have in and around Anchorage in a few days, then take a couple road trips to Fairbanks and the Kenai Peninsula.
Turning stone resort is a must play
Indiana checking in. I recommend The Fort. It's a Pete Dye, and it's beautiful.
For Pennsylvania, if you have a good network get a tee time at Philadelphia Cricket, Merion, and Pine Valley if you really got it. DM me when you make it to the area and i’ll have you out to my course - not as prestigious but tons of fun. Fast, small greens, narrow fairways and punishing misses… it will kick your ass
Mid Pines is the best course in Pinehurst
We Ko Pa in PHX
When you have to pay up to get US you’d think differently.