The 50 greatest courses built since 2000 – Australian Golf Digest

When the century began, golf course design and development were in a very different place.

Hundreds of new courses were opening annually, including dozens of stand-alone, upscale daily-fee facilities (sometimes termed “country clubs for a day”), a segment of new construction that’s all but extinct today.

The industry was coming off a blockbuster decade in which the top private courses, resorts and real estate developments were distinguished by the size of their budgets and up-market aspirations exemplified by everything from marquee clubhouses to ornate landscaping to fleets of state-of-the-art golf carts.

The architectural field in 2000 was broad, with the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Tom Weiskopf, Rees Jones, Robert Trent Jones II, Arnold Palmer, Arthur Hills, Greg Norman, Pete Dye, Bobby Weed, Steve Smyers, Bob Cupp, Keith Foster, Mike Strantz, Jim Engh and others all competing for the most prestigious national jobs. Even regional architects in Y2K could count on a steady stream of new course work.

And in the background, a counterculture of hands-in-the-dirt, old world designers like Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, Tom Doak, Gil Hanse, David McLay Kidd and Mike DeVries were beginning to make noise.

The story of the 25 years since is one of inversion.

New course construction cratered during the recession of 2010, and even 15 years later it’s remarkable if 10 entirely new courses open in a year. Architectural focus has shifted to quality over quantity, with developers emphasizing great land over great budgets and pure golfing experiences over pure extravagance.

RELATED: Best New Courses of 2025: Thousands of ratings from our experts determined the latest winners

Real estate development courses, the backbone of the industry in the 1990s and early 2000s, also died, though there are signs of revival in Texas and Florida. Most of the vital work remains in remodels and renovations, the vast majority for private clubs, and the big-name firms of the aughts all downsized and remain smaller businesses, if they’re active at all.

And now the most sought-after names in architecture are those former outsider auteurs: Coore, Doak, Hanse, Kidd.

All of these trends are revealed as we look back over the last quarter century of the Golf Digest America’s 100 Greatest Courses rankings. We roared into the century in one architectural paradigm and find ourselves now in another. The residual power of traditional upscale clubs and resorts—specifically those from the aughts—continue to hold sway in our rankings, but no one then could have predicted how people would travel enthusiastically and at supreme cost to strange, desolate, sandy landscapes where it would have been laughable to build golf on 25 years ago.

MORE: The 13 most fun golf courses in the U.S., according to our expert

To determine the 50 Greatest Courses of the 21st Century, we analyzed the 105 new courses that appeared on our America’s 100 Greatest and America’s Second 100 Greatest Courses ranking since 2001 (the rankings are published in odd years, and we expanded our list to 200 courses for the first time in 2013).

Next, we determined the average ranking of each of them over its tenure, so if a course appeared twice, once at No. 170 and once at No. 190, its ranking average would be 180. The lower the average ranking, the closer to the top of the list it appears.

It’s also important for relevancy to consider each course’s ranking trajectory. Some designs came into the 100 Greatest hot and then witnessed a tempering of excitement, and others have become appreciated only more recently. We’ve applied a Heat Index value to each design to reflect how courses are being scored in 2026 compared to how they were scored initially, tracking who is trending upward and who is not.

To make that calculation, we measured the overall movement from the course’s initial ranking to its current ranking. Points were added to courses that have fallen in the rankings (resulting in a higher total score, and thus a lower ranking), and points were subtracted for courses that have risen.

The more a course has risen, the more it benefits. Designs that have gained 5 to 10 places overall in the America’s 100/200 Greatest ranking since their inclusion received a reduction of 10 points from their average ranking (remember, the lower the score the better). We cut 15 points for courses that jumped 11 to 20 positions, and so on.

RISING HEAT INDEX

Ranking increase 0-4: 0 points5-10: -10 points11-20: -1520-30: -20+31: -25

We applied a similar scale in the reverse for courses that have fallen in the ranking, though have been more lenient to those that have lost ground since competition increases over time.

FALLING HEAT INDEX

Ranking decrease 0-4: 0 points5-10: +511-20: +1021-30: +1531+: +20Courses that have fallen out of the top 200: +30

The final tabulation factors each course’s average ranking over its tenure on the 100 Greatest list together with its positive or negative momentum.

RELATED: 6 new courses on our bucket list for 2026

The results reflect how our course ranking panelists have viewed each course generally over the course of the last 25 years as well as where they see things now—a historical record of the 21st century alongside a more concentrated estimation of the architecture that’s most relevant today.

50. SHELTER HARBOR G.C.

Shelter Harbor

Charlestown, R.I. Michael Hurdzan & Dana Fry (2005) Rankings: 4, 2019 to current Initial Ranking: 177 Current: 153 Average: 164 Heat Index: -20 Total Score: 144

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LC Lambrecht

Previous Next Pause Play false Private Shelter Harbor Golf Club Charlestown, RI 4.5 13 Panelists

Second 100 Greatest
Best In State

Shelter Harbor, a lovely course built over difficult terrain, has been trending continually upward, and there’s no reason to think the engaging design old New England vibe won’t continue to push it inside the top 150.

Explore our course review 49. THE CONCESSION

The Concession

Russell Kirk

Bradenton, Fla. Jack Nicklaus & Tony Jacklin (2006) Rankings: 7, 2013 to current Initial Ranking: 105 Current: 127 Average: 128.3 Heat Index: +15 Total Score: 143.3

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Daniel Wagner

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Russell Kirk

Previous Next Pause Play false Private The Concession Golf Club Bradenton, FL 4.4 17 Panelists

Second 100 Greatest
Best In State

Though Concession has fallen overall since its debut, dipping to No. 141 in 2021, it’s actually climbed 14 spots since then and is experiencing momentum. It’s reasonable to believe there is more room to advance.

Explore our course review 48. THE DYE COURSE AT WHITE OAK

The Dye Course at White Oak

Yulee, Fla. Pete Dye & Allan MacCurrach (2020) Rankings: 2, 2023 to current Initial Ranking: 142 Current: 143 Average: 142.5 Heat Index: 0 Total Score: 142.5

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Brian Oar

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The Dye Course at White Oak’s par-3 17th.

Brian Oar

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The par-5 12th.

Brian Oar

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White Oak’s par-4 fifth.

Brian Oar

Previous Next Pause Play false Private The Dye Course at White Oak Yulee, FL

Second 100 Greatest
Best In State

It’s difficult to see how White Oak, one of the most exclusive courses in the U.S. built for Los Angeles Dodgers owner and conservationist Mark Walter, can climb higher since so few people, including our panelists, play it. It takes data to change data.

Explore our course review T-46. CLEAR CREEK TAHOE

Clear Creek Tahoe

Carson City, Nev. Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2009) Rankings: 2, 2023 to current Initial Ranking: 131 Current: 137 Average: 134 Heat Index: +5 Total Score: 139

1 / 9 2 / 9 3 / 9 4 / 9 5 / 9 6 / 9 7 / 9 8 / 9 9 / 9 Previous Next Pause Play false Private Clear Creek Tahoe Carson City, NV 4.5 20 Panelists

Second 100 Greatest
Best In State

Though the numbers were always strong, Coore & Crenshaw’s “mountain” course was late to the rankings, primarily because the club was slow to garner the 50 ballots needed to qualify.

Explore our course review T-46. KIAWAH ISLAND CLUB (CASSIQUE)

The Cassique Course

USGA/Russell Kirk

Kiawah Island, S.C. Tom Watson & Bob Gibbons (2000) Rankings: 9, 2007-2010; 2013 to current Initial Ranking: 98 Current: 198 Average: 119 Heat Index: +20 Total Score: 139

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Previous Next Pause Play false Private Kiawah Island Club: Cassique Kiawah Island, SC 4.5 13 Panelists

Second 100 Greatest
Best In State

Kiawah Island Club’s Tom Fazio-designed River Course faded from the Second 100 Greatest in 2025 while Cassique clings to its position, the novelty of this lowcountry links full of humps and moguls eclipsed by 25 years’ worth of newer architecture.

Explore our course review 45. CHAMBERS BAY

Courtesy of the club

University Place, Wash. Robert Trent Jones, Jr. & Bruce Charlton (2007) Rankings: 7, 2013 to current Initial Ranking: 121 Current: 132 Average: 128.3 Heat Index: +10 Total Score: 138.3

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Previous Next Pause Play false Public Chambers Bay University Place, WA 4.4 45 Panelists

Second 100 Greatest
100 Greatest Public
Best In State

I would make the case that Chambers Bay should be ranked considerably higher given its incredible setting, unique design and U.S. Open host status. It should score higher in Shot Options and Character. However, there’s been enough scoring dispersion to prevent it from cracking the top 100 thus far, so this position feels about right.

Explore our course review 1 / 3 2 / 3 3 / 3

LC Lambrecht

Previous Next Pause Play false Private 153. Shelter Harbor Golf Club Charlestown, RI 4.5 13 Panelists

Second 100 Greatest
Best In State

Previous rank: 156 Though the late club founder and northeastern financier Finn Caspersen was not an avid golfer, he was intrigued by the idea of building a club near his summer home in Rhode Island. But the property he had was challenging and quite severe in places, strewn with wetlands and studded with huge boulders. He ultimately determined that Hurdzan/Fry was the firm that had the environmental chops and creative juice to make the most of it. Though the holes were limited in where they could go, they achieve a desired “old New England” flavor that mixes well with the more historic courses in the neighborhood and possess a dynamic range of strategic lines, carry options and green sizes. The early 1900s bunkering, crafted by Coore & Crenshaw shaper Jeff Bradley, is icing on the cake. View Course 44. STREAMSONG (Fla.) (RED)

Streamsong Red

LC Lambrecht

Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2012) Rankings: 6, 2015 to current Initial Ranking: 100 Current: 133 Average: 115.3 Heat Index: +20 Total Score: 135.3

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Previous Next Pause Play false Public Streamsong Resort: Red Streamsong, FL 4.5 47 Panelists

Second 100 Greatest
100 Greatest Public
Best In State

The courses at Streamsong would have to qualify among the most popular in the U.S. built this century, but only the Red has had, briefly, the scores to touch the 100 Greatest, showing how difficult it is to garner the consensus opinion needed to remain in that rarified company.

Explore our course review 43. SAGE VALLEY G.C.

Courtesy of the club

Graniteville, S.C.Tom Fazio (2001)Rankings: 8, 2005-2011; 2013-2017; 2023Initial Ranking: 78Current: OFFAverage: 105.1Heat Index: +30Total Score: 135.1

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Stephen Hennessey

Previous Next Pause Play false Private Sage Valley Golf Club Graniteville, SC 4.3 8 Panelists

The ranking trajectory of Sage Valley, a beautiful and highly exclusive private club in the model of nearby Augusta National, shows how architectural attitudes the past 25 years have shifted away from composed landscapes toward more rugged, natural designs.

Explore our course review 42. SAND VALLEY

Sand Valley

Courtesy of Jeffrey R. Bertch

Nekoosa, Wis. Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2017) Rankings: 4, 2019 to current Initial Ranking: 110 Current: 134 Average: 118 Heat Index: +15 Total Score: 133

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6 / 7 7 / 7 Previous Next Pause Play false Public Sand Valley Nekoosa, WI 4.5 52 Panelists

Second 100 Greatest
100 Greatest Public
Best In State

Coore and Crenshaw’s original course at Sand Valley has followed a similar path as their design at Streamsong, built five years earlier. It’s receded slightly as more courses have entered this space, but it remains arguably the best expression of the resort’s riveting sand and pine landscape.

Explore our course review 41. OLD BARNWELL

Old Barnwell

Jeff Marsh

Aiken, S.C. Brian Schneider & Blake Conant (2023) Rankings: 1, 2025-2026 Initial Ranking: 131 Heat Index: 0 Total Score: 131

Jeff Marsh false Private Old Barnwell Golf Club Aiken, SC 4.4 36 Panelists

Second 100 Greatest
Best In State

New courses generally come in hot and then cool off, but the continued and growing admiration among architecture purists for this new design that entered the ranking in 2025 makes us think this number will improve.

Explore our course review 40. THE TREE FARM

The Tree Farm

Jeff Marsh

Aiken, S.C. Kye Goalby, Zac Blair & Tom Doak (2023) Rankings: 1, 2025-2026 Initial Ranking: 130 Heat Index: 0 Total Score: 130

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Previous Next Pause Play false Private The Tree Farm Aiken, SC 4.5 25 Panelists

Second 100 Greatest
Best In State

Because of their proximity and overlapping construction and opening timelines, Tree Farm and Old Barnwell will always be linked together even as several new courses are set to debut around Aiken. Their ranking status is also likely to follow a similar trajectory.

Explore our course review

The Dye Course at French Lick

Pete Dye (2009) Rankings: 7, 2013 to current Initial Ranking: 93 Current: 129 Average: 109.1 Heat Index: +20 Total Score: 129.1

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courtesy of French Lick Resort

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Brian Walers Photography

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Brian Walers Photography

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Courtesy of Jon Cavalier

Previous Next Pause Play false Public French Lick Resort: Pete Dye Course French Lick, IN

Second 100 Greatest
100 Greatest Public
Best In State

At French Lick, Pete Dye did what Pete Dye did best, giving resort players thrills in the extreme, and our panelists have rewarded that. I’m curious to know if the modest slide is a trend or if it’s settling into a more appropriate tier. Will Dye’s style become more, or less, appreciated the farther we get from his career?

Explore our course review 38. MOUNTAINTOP G. & LAKE C.

Mountaintop

Courtesy of Jon Cavalier

Cashiers, N.C. Tom Fazio (2006) Rankings: 8, 2011 to current Initial Ranking: 74 Current: 116 Average: 99.5 Heat Index: +20 Total Score: 119.5

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Braedon Fox

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Previous Next Pause Play false Private Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club Cashiers, NC 4.5 14 Panelists

Second 100 Greatest
Best In State

Sometimes clubs are upset or confused to see their ranking fall, even through no fault of their own. Mountaintop is still the exciting, scenic joyride it’s always been even though other courses that play to a different architectural imperative have nudged it.

Explore our course review 37. MAYACAMA G.C.

Mayacama

Courtesy of Mayacama GC

Santa Rosa, Calif. Jack Nicklaus (2001) Rankings: 11, 2005 to current Initial Ranking: 67 Current: 147 Average: 98 Heat Index: +20 Total Score: 118

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Previous Next Pause Play false Private Mayacama Golf Club Santa Rosa, CA 4.4 9 Panelists

Second 100 Greatest
Best In State

Mayacama has been a staple in our rankings since its debut in 2005, and though it’s dropped from its high early positions it remains one of Nicklaus’ best accomplishments—a stellar example of his move toward more playable, aesthetically complete designs. Our prediction is that it stabilizes in its current range.

Explore our course review 36. EAGLE POINT G.C.

Courtesy of Eagle Point GC

Wilmington, N.C. Tom Fazio (2000) Rankings: 9, 2009 to current Initial Ranking: 83 Current: 119 Average: 91.7 Heat Index: +20 Total Score: 111.7

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Photo by Eagle Point G.C.

Previous Next Pause Play false Private Eagle Point Golf Club Wilmington, NC 4.4 13 Panelists

Second 100 Greatest
Best In State

This course, beloved by good players for its intense challenge on a windy site, rose as high as No. 48 in 2011 and is an example of how early rankings can skew how courses are perceived. No. 48 was always too generous for Eagle Point, and its fall of over 70 places also paints a false picture. The truth is somewhere in the middle.

Explore our course review 35. BIG EASY RANCH (THE COVEY)

The Covey at Big Easy Ranch

Brian Oar

Columbus, Texas Chet Williams (2023) Rankings: 1, 2025-2026 Initial Ranking: 111 Heat Index: 0 Total Score: 111

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Previous Next Pause Play false Private Big Easy Ranch: The Covey Columbus, TX 4.6 18 Panelists

Second 100 Greatest
Best In State

A surprise winner for 2024 Best New Private Course, The Covey is also a surprisingly interesting and cohesive design that debuted just outside the top 100. It will be interesting to see if panelists from around the country continue to be surprised by it and judge it at this high level as time goes by.

Explore our course review

The Preserve

Joann Dost/Courtesy of The Preserve GC

Carmel, Calif. Tom Fazio, Michael Poellet & Sandy Tatum (2000) Rankings: 11, 2005 to current Initial Ranking: 83 Current: 115 Average: 90.9 Heat Index: +10 Total Score: 110.9

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Allen Kennedy/Courtesy of The Preserve GC

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Allen Kennedy/Courtesy of The Preserve GC

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Joann Dost/Courtesy of The Preserve GC

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Previous Next Pause Play false Private The Preserve Golf Club Carmel, CA 4.2 22 Panelists

Second 100 Greatest
Best In State

It might not be in our 100 Greatest any longer, but we don’t expect The Preserve to drift much farther than it has—its setting is too entirely enchanting. The holes play through a landscape so attractive and majestic that one architect approached to build the course declined. He thought it should be left to nature.

Explore our course review 33. KINGSLEY (MICH.) CLUB

The Kingsley Club

LC Lambrecht

Mike DeVries (2001) Rankings: 7, 2013 to current Initial Ranking: 114 Current: 109 Average: 119.1 Heat Index: -10 Total Score: 109.1

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LC Lambrecht

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Andy Johnson/The Fried Egg

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Andy Johnson/The Fried Egg

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Courtesy of Jon Cavalier

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Andy Johnson/The Fried Egg

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Andy Johnson/The Fried Egg

Previous Next Pause Play false Private Kingsley Club Kingsley, MI 4.6 22 Panelists

Second 100 Greatest
Best In State

It took Kingsley Club a decade to crack the rankings, and it slid back to No. 133 before achieving its highest position in 2025-2026. This is one of the most unique courses in the U.S., striking an unlikely balance between intense fun and intense challenge, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see it ascend higher—it deserves it.

Explore our course review 32. THE MADISON CLUB

The Madison Club

Courtesy of Randy O’Rourke

La Quinta, Calif. Tom Fazio (2006) Rankings: 6, 2015 to current Initial Ranking: 131 Current: 123 Average: 117.1 Heat Index: -10 Total Score: 107.1

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Courtesy of Henebry

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Channing Benjamin

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Courtesy of Mark Davidson

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Previous Next Pause Play false Private The Madison Club La Quinta, CA 4.7 12 Panelists

Second 100 Greatest
Best In State

Madison Club is one of only a handful of Fazio designs that have earned bonus points for moving up in the ranking since it opened. It achieved a high position of No. 108 in 2017, a sign of respect for the way the design team carved the course into uninteresting desert, blending it artistically within the surrounding real estate.

Explore our course review 31. STONE EAGLE (CA.) G.C.

Courtesy of Evan Schiller

Tom Doak (2005) Rankings: 6, 2013-2015; 2019 to current Initial Ranking: 166 Current: 117 Average: 131.7 Heat Index: -25 Total Score: 106.7

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Previous Next Pause Play false Private Stone Eagle Golf Club Palm Desert, CA 4.4 30 Panelists

Second 100 Greatest
Best In State

The designs of Tom Doak from the early 2000s often received the anti-Fazio treatment: They were dramatically underrated by our panelists out of the gate. But the scores for courses like Stone Eagle, sitting in the rocky foothills south of Palm Springs, have been rapidly catching up to their architectural merits.

Explore our course review

The Club at Black Rock

Rob Perry/Courtesy of The Golf Club at Blackrock

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Jim Engh (2003) Rankings: 9, 2009 to current Initial Ranking: 27 Current: 160 Average: 85.7 Heat Index: +20 Total Score: 105.7

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Courtesy of the club

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Courtesy of Black Rock

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Rob Perry/Courtesy of The Golf Club at Blackrock

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Courtesy of Black Rock

Previous Next Pause Play false Private The Golf Club At Black Rock Coeur D Alene, ID 4.3 16 Panelists

Second 100 Greatest
Best In State

Jim Engh had an Icarus-like career, flying into the sun with nationally ranked courses before plummeting toward the back end of the rankings. Black Rock, his only remaining course on our Second 100 Greatest list, debuted inside the top 30 but symbolizes a highly deliberate vision for design that’s been penalized in the era of naturalism.

Explore our course review 29. SHOOTING STAR G.C.

Courtesy of Evan Schiller

Teton Village, Wyo. Tom Fazio (2009) Rankings: 5, 2017 to current Initial Ranking: 123 Current: 104 Average: 114.6 Heat Index: -15 Total Score: 99.8

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evan schiller

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Courtesy of Evan Schiller

Previous Next Pause Play false Private Shooting Star Golf Club Teton Village, WY 4.5 14 Panelists

Second 100 Greatest
Best In State

Shooting Star is a relatively lowkey Fazio design where the alpine vibe and valley views of the Tetons are the center of attention. Like its name, it streaked 25 places into the top 100 in 2023 before leaving orbit in 2025. Whether or not that was the bright spot, time will tell.

Explore our course review 28. COLORADO G.C.

Courtesy of Jon Cavalier

Parker, Colo. Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2006) Rankings: 7, 2013 to current Initial Ranking: 131 Current: 105 Average: 118.3 Heat Index: -20 Total Score: 98.3

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Previous Next Pause Play false Private Colorado Golf Club Parker, CO 4.4 19 Panelists

Second 100 Greatest
Best In State

The holes at this Coore & Crenshaw design on Colorado’s Front Range southeast of Denver chug up and down foothill slopes, crossing through meadows and upland pine forests. It’s also been chugging up the ranking—does it have the power to crack the top 100?

Explore our course review 27. THE OLDE FARM

Courtesy of Laurence Lambrecht

Bristol, Va. Bobby Weed (2000) Rankings: 6, 2015 to current Initial Ranking: 128 Current: 103 Average: 110.8 Heat Index: -15 Total Score: 95.8

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Laurence Lambrecht

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Courtesy of Laurence Lambrecht

Previous Next Pause Play false Private The Olde Farm Bristol, VA 4.6 25 Panelists

Second 100 Greatest
Best In State

Given its rural location in south Virginia, Olde Farm might be one of the least-known courses in our ranking, but it consistently earns high marks across each of our scoring categories. The design rewards panelists for the effort it takes to get here, and we don’t anticipate that changing.

Explore our course review 26. DIAMOND CREEK G.C.

Diamond Creek

Courtesy of Diamond Creek GC

Banner Elk, N.C. Tom Fazio (2003) Rankings: 8, 2011 to current Initial Ranking: 87 Current: 95 Average: 88.5 Heat Index: +5 Total Score: 93.5

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Courtesy of Diamond Creek GC

Previous Next Pause Play false Private Diamond Creek Banner Elk, NC 4.6 21 Panelists

100 Greatest
Best In State

Tom Fazio courses have a history of debuting high in the rankings, often inside the 100 Greatest, and then slowly sliding backward as the newness wears off and other courses come on the scene. Diamond Creek, part of his magnificent Western Carolina triptych along with Mountaintop and Wade Hampton, looked like one of his steadier designs until 2025 when it dropped to No. 95.

Explore our course review 25. DALLAS NATIONAL G.C.

Dallas National

Courtesy of Dallas National GC

Tom Fazio (2002) Rankings: 11, 2005 to current Initial Ranking: 65 Current: 96 Average: 67 Heat Index: +20 Total Score: 87

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Previous Next Pause Play false Private Dallas National Golf Club Dallas, TX 4.4 16 Panelists

100 Greatest
Best In State

Until two cycles ago, Dallas National was consistently ranked between No. 59 and No. 71. It dropped the last two periods but is coming off a major rehaul by Fazio’s team, with the hope it can move the 20+ places back its former tier. We’re guessing it comes close.

Explore our course review

Arcadia Bluffs

Nile Young Photography/Courtesy of Arcadia Bluffs GC

Rick Smith & Warren Henderson (2000) Rankings: 10, 2010 to current Initial Ranking: 56 Current: 102 Average: 66.8 Heat Index: +20 Total Score: 86.8

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Photographed by Dom Furore at Arcadia Bluffs in Michigan.

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Nile Young Photography/Courtesy of Arcadia Bluffs GC

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Nile Young Photography/Courtesy of Arcadia Bluffs GC

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Nile Young Photography/Courtesy of Arcadia Bluffs GC

Previous Next Pause Play false Public Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club (Bluffs) Arcadia, MI 4.5 47 Panelists

Second 100 Greatest
100 Greatest Public
Best In State

It’s difficult to explain why the Bluffs’ position has declined in recent years (it’s slipped from No. 68 in 2019-2020 to No. 102 in 2025-2026), other than a general tightening of panelist scoring and the introduction into the market of similarly brilliant aesthetic displays that synchronize more naturally with their settings.

Explore our course review 23. BOSTON G.C.

Boston G.C.

Hingham, Mass. Gil Hanse & Jim Wagner (2004) Rankings: 8, 2011 to current Initial Ranking: T-89 Current: 91 Average: 84 Heat Index: 0 Total Score: 84

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Courtesy of Boston GC

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Previous Next Pause Play false Private Boston Golf Club Hingham, MA 4.5 15 Panelists

100 Greatest
Best In State

You won’t find a more stable course in the 100 Greatest than Boston G.C., the first prominent new design Hanse and Wagner built. That said, it’s likely to remain fixed in this range, while the next Hanse & Wagner design listed, Ladera, has much greater upward potential.

Explore our course review 22. LADERA G.C.

Ladera

Channing Benjamin

Thermal, Calif. Gil Hanse & Jim Wagner (2023) Rankings: 1, 2025-2026 Initial Ranking: 83 Heat Index: 0 Total Score: 83

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Channing Benjamin

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GIVE AND TAKE Ladera holes like the par-4 14th contrast wide fairways with exacting greens.

Previous Next Pause Play false Private Ladera Golf Club Thermal, CA 4.8 20 Panelists

100 Greatest
Best In State

I’m confident this course would have debuted inside the top 50 in the U.S. had it been built 20 years ago. Since then, architectural vision and execution have risen significantly, and dozens of historic courses have also made improvements. The barrier for entry inside the 100 Greatest is as high as it’s ever been, to say nothing of top 50, so this placement for a debut course is notable.

Explore our course review 21. CANYATA G.C.

Canyata

Courtesy of Canyata GC

Marshall, Ill. Bob Lohman & Mike Benkusky (2004) Rankings: 9, 2009 to current Initial Ranking: 42 Current: 86 Average: 61.8 Heat Index: +20 Total Score: 81.8

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Patrick Koenig

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Previous Next Pause Play false Private Canyata Golf Club Marshall, IL 4.3 14 Panelists

100 Greatest
Best In State

Canyata’s challenging, sculpted parkland/meadow design bucks the current fashion of Neoclassical naturalism, making its tenacious cling to a position inside the top 90 impressive. The Escalante group purchased the property last year and is transitioning the once ultra-private club to a national membership, and how the increased play will impact the rankings will be fascinating to see.

Explore our course review

Calusa Pines

LC Lambrecht/Courtesy of Calusa Pines GC

Naples, Fla. Michael Hurdzan & Dana Fry (2001) Rankings: 10, 2007 to current Initial Ranking: 71 Current: 68 Average: 80.1 Heat Index: 0 Total Score: 80.1

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LC Lambrecht/Courtesy of Calusa Pines GC

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LC Lambrecht/Courtesy of Calusa Pines GC

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Laurence Casey Lambrecht

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Laurence Casey Lambrecht

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Laurence Casey Lambrecht

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Laurence Casey Lambrecht

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Laurence Casey Lambrecht

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Laurence Casey Lambrecht

Previous Next Pause Play false Private Calusa Pines Golf Club Naples, FL 4.6 51 Panelists

100 Greatest
Best In State

Admittedly, our system of tracking overall trajectory does Calusa Pines no favors: it’s climbed 28 places over the last five rankings from a high of 96 in 2017, though only gets credit for climbing three spots. Regardless, it’s one of the most creative and consistent courses built in the last 25 years.

Explore our course review 19. OLD MACDONALD

Old MacDonald

Stephen Szurlej

Bandon, Ore. Tom Doak & Jim Urbina (2010) Rankings: 7, 2013 to current Initial Ranking: 49 Current: 81 Average: 58.6 Heat Index: +30 Total Score: 78.6

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Previous Next Pause Play false Public Old Macdonald Bandon, OR 4.6 53 Panelists

100 Greatest
100 Greatest Public
Best In State

It’s unclear if Old Macdonald’s plunge from No. 56 to No. 81 the last two cycles is a trend or an aberration. Did the opening of Sheep Ranch, which did not make this ranking, dilute the point pool? Did the opening of The Lido at Sand Valley, the literal recreation of the course Old Mac was based on, suck enthusiasm? The next ranking will provide answers.

Explore our course review 18. KINLOCH G.C.

Kinloch

©2009 LC Lambrecht

Manakin-Sabot, Va. Lester George & Vinnie Giles (2001) Rankings: 11, 2005 to current Initial Ranking: 33 Current: 79 Average: 54.6 Heat Index: +20 Total Score: 74.6

false Private Kinloch Golf Club Manakin Sabot, VA 4.6 25 Panelists

100 Greatest
Best In State

The evolution of architectural tastes since Kinloch and the No. 1 course in this ranking opened the same year can be tracked through their 100 Greatest tenures. Kinloch, intensely private, is polished, clean, orchestrated and entered the ranking higher. The other, a resort course, captured attention for its minimalism and a devotion to finding holes in the raw land. Both are remarkable examples of their genre, but one became ascendant and the other, while still elite, regressed.

Explore our course review 17. CAPROCK RANCH G.C.

Brian Oar

Valentine, Neb. Gil Hanse & Jim Wagner (2021) Rankings: 1, 2025-2026 Initial Ranking: 72 Heat Index: 0 Total Score: 72

As was the case with their Ohoopee Match Club, it was never a matter of if Hanse and Wagner’s CapRock would crash the 100 Greatest ranking, only when and where. It nudged their Ladera design in the mutual debuts of both courses by nine spots, but that’s just for now. The competition between this layout on a stunning, natural canyon-side site and the other on a completely created flat desert property will be one to watch for the next decade.

false Private CapRock Ranch Valentine, NE 4.8 18 Panelists

100 Greatest
Best In State

As was the case with their Ohoopee Match Club, it was never a matter of if Hanse and Wagner’s CapRock would crash the 100 Greatest ranking, only when and where. It nudged their Ladera design in the mutual debuts of both courses by nine spots, but that’s just for now. The competition between this layout on a stunning, natural canyon-side site and the other on a completely created flat desert property will be one to watch for the next decade.

Explore our course review 16. THE LIDO AT SAND VALLEY

The Lido

Brandon Carter

Nekoosa, Wisc. Tom Doak, based on an original design by C.B. Macdonald (2023) Rankings: 1, 2025-2026 Initial Ranking: 69 Heat Index: 0 Total Score: 69

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Previous Next Pause Play false Public Sand Valley: The Lido Nekoosa, WI 4.6 49 Panelists

100 Greatest
100 Greatest Public
Best In State

Since 2001, 34 courses have debuted inside the top 100 on the America’s 100 Greatest Courses list, but only six have done it since 2015. Three of those, however, came in 2025 with The Lido leading the way. The feeling here is that there’s potential for this course, one of the most unique in the world, to elevate into the top 50 despite occasional detractors who don’t understand it.

Explore our course review 15. ROCK CREEK CATTLE CO.

Rock Creek Cattle Co.

Courtesy of the club

Deer Lodge, Mont. Tom Doak (2008) Rankings: 7, 2013 to current Initial Ranking: 119 Current: 65 Average: 92.9 Heat Index: -25 Total Score: 67.9

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Previous Next Pause Play false Private Rock Creek Cattle Company Deer Lodge, MT 4.7 20 Panelists

100 Greatest
Best In State

Rock Creek is an example of the merits of the heat index score—few courses have streaked hotter than this off-the-beaten path design in the Rocky Mountain foothills of Montana. It took time for panelists to get there, and a little longer for Rock Creek’s architectural merits to sink in, but it’s a course that has the potential to orbit around the top 50 range indefinitely.

Explore our course review 14. NANEA G.C.

Nanea

Laurence C Lambrecht

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii David McLay Kidd (2003) Rankings: 2, 2023 to current Initial Ranking: 49 Current: 59 Average: 54 Heat Index: +5 Total Score: 59

Laurence C Lambrecht false Private Nanea Golf Club Kailua Kona, HI 4.7 15 Panelists

100 Greatest
Best In State

It took 20 years for enough Golf Digest panelists to find their way to Nanea for it to qualify for the ranking, and the wait resulted in a debut inside the top 50. The extreme low number of panelist rounds it receives means this position should be relatively stable.

Explore our course review 13. BANDON TRAILS

Bandon Trails

Stephen Szurlej

Bandon, Ore. Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2005) Rankings: 9, 2009 to current Initial Ranking: 80 Current: 61 Average: 68.8 Heat Index: -15 Total Score: 53.8

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Stephen Szurlej

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Stephen Szurlej

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Stephen Szurlej

Previous Next Pause Play false Public Bandon Trails Bandon, OR 4.6 53 Panelists

100 Greatest
100 Greatest Public
Best In State

Golf’s greatest parlor game is which course at Bandon Dunes is the best, because everyone has their own top 5 (or top 7 if you count the short courses). Trails has long been a solid “3” in our rankings (note that the original Bandon Dunes course, opened in 1999, predates this ranking), though there seems to be a creeping inevitability toward “2” as it’s inched higher in every poll since 2015.

Explore our course review

Old Sandwich

Plymouth, Mass. Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2005) Rankings: 8, 2011 to current Initial Ranking: T-89 Current: 73 Average: 68.1 Heat Index: -15 Total Score: 53.1

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The Henebrys/Courtesy of Old Sandwich GC

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Courtesy of Old Sandwich GC

Previous Next Pause Play false Private Old Sandwich Golf Club Plymouth, MA 4.6 16 Panelists

100 Greatest
Best In State

Old Sandwich peaked as high as No. 56 in 2017, and had it stayed there it would have charted inside the top 10. This is one of Bill Coore’s best routings through sublime New England woods and is part of a particularly remarkable stretch of golf architecture he and his team produced between 2002 and 2006 (including Bandon Trails, Friar’s Head and Colorado Golf Club.).

Explore our course review 11. SEBONACK G.C.

Stephen Szurlej

Southampton, N.Y. Tom Doak & Jack Nicklaus (2005) Rankings: 8, 2011 to current Initial Ranking: 39 Current: 51 Average: 41.8 Heat Index: +10 Total Score: 51.8

Stephen Szurlej false Private Sebonack Golf Club Southampton, NY 4.4 16 Panelists

100 Greatest
Best In State

Some profess Sebonack’s location adjacent to Shinnecock Hills and National Golf Links hurts its standing, but it’s worth considering whether it would have entered the 100 Greatest ranking at No. 39 if it didn’t benefit from sharing land with those neighbors, including 2/3 of a mile atop Great Peconic Bay. Regardless, we get the feeling that the design might be clinging to this position having slipped outside the top 50 for the first time.

Explore our course review

Explore Golf Digest’s new Course Reviews section where you can submit a star rating and evaluation on all the courses you’ve played. We’ve collected tens of thousands of reviews from our course-ranking panelists to deliver a premium experience, which includes course rankings, experts’ opinions, bonus course photography, videos and much more. Check it out here!

10. WHISPERING PINES G.C.

Whispering Pines

Courtesy of the club

Trinity, Texas Chet Williams (2000) Rankings: 7, 2013 to current Initial Ranking: 75 Current: 66 Average: 60.6 Heat Index: -10 Total Score: 50.6

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Previous Next Pause Play false Private Whispering Pines Golf Club Trinity, TX 4.7 19 Panelists

100 Greatest
Best In State

It took Whispering Pines over a decade to make it into the ranking, but it came in like a boss and proceeded to rise 24 places to No. 51. It took a step back in 2025, to No. 66, and we wonder if Chet Williams’ other major new design, The Covey at Big Easy Ranch, has provoked some reassessment of this one.

Explore our course review 9. ERIN HILLS G.C.

Erin Hills

Dom Furore

Erin, Wis. Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry & Ron Whitten (2006) Rankings: 6, 2015 to current Initial Ranking: 42 Current: 49 Average: 45.1 Heat Index: +5 Total Score: 50.1

1 / 10

Paul Hundley

2 / 10

Dom Furore

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Dom Furore

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Dom Furore

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Dom Furore

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Dom Furore

Previous Next Pause Play false Public Erin Hills Golf Course Erin, WI 4.6 44 Panelists

100 Greatest
100 Greatest Public
Best In State

Erin Hills seems like it’s been with us forever, but the course has only been in the 100 Greatest ranking since 2015, two years before it hosted the U.S. Open. That’s a testament to a routing and landscape that feels timeless. It’s backsliding slightly, but we’ll see if the success of the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open gives the course a boost of energy.

Explore our course review 8. THE ALOTIAN

Alotian

Evan Schiller/Courtesy of the club

Roland, Ark. Tom Fazio (2004) Rankings: 8, 2011 to current Initial Ranking: 14 Current: 37 Average: 28 Heat Index: +15 Total Score: 43

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Evan Schiller/Courtesy of the club

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Courtesy of The Alotian Club

Previous Next Pause Play false Private The Alotian Club Roland, AR 4.5 11 Panelists

100 Greatest
Best In State

No new course since Harbour Town in 1971 has debuted as high at The Alotian, cannonballing in at No. 14. Clearly this is an impressive course with dramatic terrain, lovely panoramas and pristine conditions, but architecturally it’s probably more at home in its current position than ahead of historic venues like The Country Club, Chicago G.C., Riviera and Oakland Hills South, which it bested in 2011.

Explore our course review 7. GOZZER RANCH G. & LAKE C.

Gozzer Ranch

Harrison, Idaho Tom Fazio (2007) Rankings: 7, 2013 to current Initial Ranking: 27 Current: 43 Average: 32.6 Heat Index: +10 Total Score: 42.6

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Photo by Stephen Szurlej

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Stephen Szurlej

Previous Next Pause Play false Private Gozzer Ranch Golf and Lake Club Harrison, ID 4.8 17 Panelists

100 Greatest
Best In State

Tom Fazio’s best courses rank highly in the 100 Greatest because they tend to balance diverse landscapes, playability and beauty, factors that enable high scores in our Aesthetics, Layout & Variety and Shot Options categories. Gozzer Ranch displays these qualities as well as any of his designs, which is why it continues to thrive inside our top 50.

Explore our course review 6. CONGAREE G.C.

Congaree

James Haefner Photography, Inc.

Ridgeland, S.C. Tom Fazio (2018) Rankings: 3, 2021 to current Initial Ranking: 39 Current: 40 Average: 40.3 Heat Index: 0 Total Score: 40.3

James Haefner Photography, Inc false Private Congaree Golf Club Ridgeland, SC 4.8 21 Panelists

100 Greatest
Best In State

This Fazio lowcountry design embraces many of the qualities that make the architecture of contemporaries like Doak, Coore and Hanse so popular—width, links-like turf, greens that roll and run off and lots of sand. The crisp, Australian-like bunkers are also a nice point of distinction. The blend should keep Congaree inside the top 50 for the foreseeable future, though the math of moving higher poses a challenge.

Explore our course review

Ohoopee Match Club

Cobbtown, Ga. Gil Hanse & Jim Wagner (2019) Rankings: 2, 2023 to current Initial Ranking: 34 Current: 36 Average: 35 Heat Index: 0 Total Score: 35

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Dom Furore

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Dom Furore

7 / 8 8 / 8 Previous Next Pause Play false Private Ohoopee Match Club Cobbtown, GA 4.8 16 Panelists

100 Greatest
Best In State

Ohoopee was the highest debuting course since 2013 when it charted two cycles ago. It embodies everything that’s on trend: width, sand, playability, wild greens, a match play ethos, a sense of departure. It will be interesting to observe if the ascension of Hanse and Wagner’s Ladera and CapRock Ranch takes any shine off Ohoopee’s magic. We’re guessing not.

Explore our course review 4. BALLYNEAL G.C.

Evan Schiller

Holyoke, Colo. Tom Doak (2006) Rankings: 8, 2011 to current Initial Ranking: 95 Current: 34 Average: 54.6 Heat Index: -25 Total Score: 29.6

false Private Ballyneal Golf Club Holyoke, CO 4.7 36 Panelists

100 Greatest
Best In State

Along with No. 50 Shelter Harbor, Ballyneal is the only course built in the last 25 years that has risen in every ranking. We infamously awarded the course a 6th place finish in the Best New Private course category in 2006, but its ultimate enshrinement among the greatest courses in the U.S. shows it’s never too late to get right.

Explore our course review 3. PIKEWOOD NATIONAL G.C.

Pikewood National

Jane Greer

Morgantown, W. Va. Robert Gwynne & John Raese (2009) Rankings: 7, 2013 to current Initial Ranking: 45 Current: 31 Average: 37.6 Heat Index: -15 Total Score: 22.6

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Courtesy of the club

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Jane Greer

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Jane Greer

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Jane Greer

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Stephen Szurlej

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Joann Dost

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Joann Dost

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Previous Next Pause Play false Private Pikewood National Golf Club Morgantown, WV 4.6 17 Panelists

100 Greatest
Best In State

Our panelists get the overall scoring correct at Pikewood with high marks in Challenge and Aesthetics, but undersell it in the category of Character that measures how unique the course is compared to others. Created by two first-time designers on a wild and primitive mining site in the Appalachian mountains, Pikewood is nearly without peers in originality.

Explore our course review 2. FRIAR’S HEAD G.C.

Friar’s Head

Evan Schiller

Baiting Hollow, N.Y. Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2002) Rankings: 8, 2011 to current Initial Ranking: 34 Current: 14 Average: 20.5 Heat Index: -15 Total Score: 5.5

Jon Cavalier false Private Friar’s Head Golf Club Riverhead, NY 4.9 20 Panelists

100 Greatest
Best In State

It’s splitting hairs between the top two courses of the 21st century, though both are well ahead of the pack. Every case could be made for Friar’s Head being No. 1, and I’m comfortable with that judgement. In our calculation Friar’s Head loses the photo finish only because its overall leap into the top 20 is slightly less impressive, even as it’s outranked the top course the last four cycles.

View Course 1. PACIFIC DUNES

Pacific Dunes

Bandon, Ore. Tom Doak (2001) Rankings: 12, 2003 to current Initial Ranking: 47 Current: 23 Average: 20.5 Heat Index: -20 Total Score: .5

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Stephen Szurlej

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Previous Next Pause Play false Public Pacific Dunes Bandon, OR 4.9 60 Panelists

100 Greatest
100 Greatest Public
Best In State

No course built this century has charted in more rankings than Pacific Dunes, a testament to the impression and impact it made from the beginning. It leapt from No. 47 to No. 14 in three cycles and camped out in the top 20 until 2023. Because anyone can play it, Doak’s ocean bluff design has done more than any course in American to evangelize walking links golf and lay-of-the-land architecture.

Explore our course review

This article was originally published on golfdigest.com