Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just love the thrill of a well-placed drive on the fairway, the USA is home to some of the most iconic and breathtaking golf courses in the world. In this 2025 guide, we’ve carefully selected and ranked the top 5 best golf courses in the USA, based on expert opinions, player reviews, historic prestige, course design, and overall playing experience. So, if you’re planning your next golf getaway or looking to tick legendary courses off your bucket list, this list is your ultimate tee-off point.
1. Pine Valley Golf Club – New Jersey
Location: Pine Valley, NJ
Course Designer(s): George Crump & Harry S. Colt
Green Fees: Private (Guest access by invitation only)
Why It’s #1 in 2025:
Pine Valley continues to dominate expert rankings for a reason — it’s simply unmatched in design complexity, shot-making challenge, and raw natural beauty. Each hole feels like a perfectly sculpted puzzle, demanding not just skill, but strategy. The secluded, pine-laden surroundings only heighten the mystique of this ultra-private course.
Course Highlights:
Ranked #1 in the world by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine multiple times.
Exceptionally maintained fairways and lightning-fast greens.
Hosts the prestigious Crump Cup annually.
- Expert Note: If you ever get invited, don’t say no. It’s golf’s version of stepping onto sacred ground.
2. Augusta National Golf Club – Georgia
Location: Augusta, GA
Course Designer(s): Bobby Jones & Alister MacKenzie
Green Fees: Private (Invitation-only membership)
Why It’s Still a Legend in 2025:
Home of the Masters Tournament, Augusta is golf royalty. While access remains extremely exclusive, its impact on the game is universal. The meticulous landscaping, iconic holes (Amen Corner, anyone?), and unmatched prestige make Augusta a dream course for golfers around the world.
Course Highlights:
Host of The Masters, one of golf’s four majors.
Azaleas, perfectly manicured greens, and legendary traditions.
Upgrades in 2024 preserved tradition while enhancing sustainability.
- Fun Fact: The famous green jacket is custom-tailored for each champion and never leaves Augusta National’s premises.
3. Pebble Beach Golf Links – California
Location: Pebble Beach, CA
Course Designer(s): Jack Neville & Douglas Grant (redesigned by Arnold Palmer & others)
Green Fees: $625+ (Public access)
Why It’s a Must-Play in 2025:
Few public courses in the world offer the drama of Pebble Beach. Hugging the rugged cliffs of California’s Monterey Peninsula, the Pacific Ocean is your backdrop on nearly every hole. It’s not just a course — it’s a cinematic experience. In 2025, Pebble Beach is hosting the U.S. Women’s Open, adding even more buzz to its legacy.
Course Highlights:
Regular PGA Tour host and 6-time U.S. Open site.
Ranked as the best public golf course in America.
Hole #7 is only 106 yards, but wind makes it wildly unpredictable.
- Pro Tip: Book tee times up to a year in advance. Stay at Pebble Beach Resorts for guaranteed access.
4. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club – New York
Location: Southampton, NY
Course Designer(s): William Flynn (original by Willie Davis)
Green Fees: Private (Member guest only)
Why It’s Elite in 2025:
One of the oldest golf clubs in America (est. 1891), Shinnecock Hills blends timeless tradition with fierce championship challenge. It’s a true test of links-style golf, known for high winds, firm fairways, and punishing rough. The USGA continues to favor Shinnecock for major tournaments due to its demanding layout.
Course Highlights:
Host of 5 U.S. Opens, with another planned for 2026.
Rolling terrain mimics Scottish links courses.
Historic clubhouse adds charm and history.
- Insider Insight: Bring your short game — the greens are brutally fast and well-protected.
5. Whistling Straits (Straits Course) – Wisconsin
Location: Kohler, WI
Course Designer: Pete Dye
Green Fees: $555+ (Public access)
Why It’s Trending in 2025:
Whistling Straits feels like it was plucked from the coast of Ireland, complete with rugged dunes, fescue grasses, and wind-swept bluff views. But it’s right in the Midwest. This Pete Dye masterpiece is no stranger to big events — the PGA Championship, Ryder Cup, and more — and continues to rise in global recognition.
Course Highlights:
Over 1,000 bunkers (yes, seriously).
Host of the 2021 Ryder Cup and multiple PGA Championships.
Public course with championship pedigree.
- Local Tip: Pair your round with a spa day at the American Club nearby — golf and relaxation in perfect harmony.
6. Cypress Point Club – California
Location: Pebble Beach, CA
Course Designer: Alister MacKenzie & Robert Hunter
Green Fees: Private (Highly exclusive, invite-only)
Why It’s Still Iconic in 2025:
Cypress Point is often described as “golf heaven on earth.” Tucked along the rocky coastline of the Monterey Peninsula, it offers one of the most scenic and spiritual golf experiences anywhere in the world. Its famous par-3 16th hole — which requires a 230-yard carry over the Pacific Ocean — is nothing short of legendary.
Course Highlights:
Ranked in the top 3 globally by golf historians.
Holes wind through forest, dunes, and oceanfront cliffs.
Limited play keeps the course in pristine condition.
- Note: The odds of playing here are slim — but if you know a member, you might be living every golfer’s dream.
7. Oakmont Country Club – Pennsylvania
Location: Oakmont, PA
Course Designer: Henry Fownes
Green Fees: Private (Guest of member)
Why It’s Ranked High in 2025:
Oakmont is brutal — and proudly so. With its infamous church pew bunkers, brutally fast greens, and no water hazards, it’s a true test of pure golf skill. Oakmont has hosted more major championships than any other U.S. course, including 9 U.S. Opens and counting.
Course Highlights:
Known for having the fastest greens in championship golf.
No frills, no tricks — just tough, honest golf.
A favorite of legends like Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.
- Did You Know? The course was recently restored to its original rugged design, amplifying its already-difficult layout.
8. Bandon Dunes (Pacific Dunes) – Oregon
Location: Bandon, OR
Course Designer: Tom Doak
Green Fees: $345+ (Public access)
Why It’s Trending in 2025:
Set along the rugged Oregon coast, Bandon Dunes has become a bucket-list destination for serious golfers. Pacific Dunes, in particular, is praised for its minimalist, links-style layout that lets the landscape do the talking. 2025 brings a surge of international players thanks to new direct flights and package deals.
Course Highlights:
Pure links golf in the USA — rare and authentic.
Stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.
Ranked #2 public course in America behind Pebble Beach.
- Pro Tip: Bandon has multiple world-class courses — consider a 3-day golf trip to play them all.
9. Sand Hills Golf Club – Nebraska
Location: Mullen, NE
Course Designer: Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw
Green Fees: Private (Guest-only access)
Why It’s Quietly Elite in 2025:
Remote, quiet, and profoundly natural, Sand Hills isn’t just a golf course — it’s an experience of solitude and purity. Built atop Nebraska’s rolling dunes, the course was carved rather than constructed, with minimal shaping. For true design purists and golf architecture lovers, it’s one of the best in the world.
Course Highlights:
Ranked top 10 globally by course designers.
No crowds, no noise — just golf and nature.
Greens are fast, fairways are firm, and wind is a factor.
- Insider Insight: Membership is limited and exclusive, but those who’ve played here consider it life-changing.
10. The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island – South Carolina
Location: Kiawah Island, SC
Course Designer: Pete Dye
Green Fees: $465+ (Public resort course)
Why It’s a Must-Play in 2025:
With sweeping Atlantic Ocean views and wind-whipped conditions, the Ocean Course is one of the most dramatic settings for golf in the USA. It gained worldwide fame during the 1991 Ryder Cup (“The War on the Shore”) and again at the 2021 PGA Championship, where Phil Mickelson made history.
Course Highlights:
Most seaside holes of any U.S. course (10 right on the water).
Designed for wind — and it delivers.
Part of the Kiawah Island Golf Resort (world-class accommodations).
- Traveler Tip: Stay at The Sanctuary Hotel for VIP access, luxury amenities, and priority tee times.
11. Fishers Island Club – New York
Location: Fishers Island, NY
Course Designer: Seth Raynor (1926)
Access: Private (exclusive island club)
Why It Stands Out in 2025:
Tucked away on a remote island just off the Connecticut coast, Fishers Island is a masterclass in timeless golf architecture. Designed by the legendary Seth Raynor, the course features bold geometric bunkering and wide fairways that challenge the strategy of even the most seasoned players. In 2025, it remains one of the most coveted and least accessible tee times in America.
Course Highlights:
Ocean views on nearly every hole
Rare template holes (Redan, Biarritz, Eden)
Ultra-private, with limited play preserving pristine conditions
- Insider Tip: This is a dream round for architecture purists and collectors of rare experiences.
12. Winged Foot Golf Club (West Course) – New York
Location: Mamaroneck, NY
Course Designer: A.W. Tillinghast
Access: Private (host of 2020 U.S. Open)
Why It’s a National Treasure in 2025:
Winged Foot’s West Course is one of the most demanding tracks ever used in a U.S. Open. Narrow fairways, deep bunkers, and brutal greens define its relentless difficulty. Even pros walk away humbled. Its architectural integrity and U.S. Open pedigree make it one of America’s most iconic venues.
Course Highlights:
Regular host of major championships
Renovated to original Tillinghast specs in recent years
Known for its “par is a great score” mentality
- Fun Fact: Phil Mickelson’s infamous 2006 U.S. Open collapse happened here.
13. The Country Club – Massachusetts
Location: Brookline, MA
Course Designer: William Flynn & TCC Composite
Access: Private (historic and prestigious)
Why It’s Still Elite in 2025:
As one of the five founding clubs of the USGA and the site of the dramatic 1999 Ryder Cup, The Country Club combines rich history with championship-level challenge. Its rolling New England terrain and fast, sloping greens make it a shotmaker’s course with character.
Course Highlights:
Hosted 2022 U.S. Open and multiple U.S. Amateurs
Deep-rooted golf history, dating back to the 1800s
Strategic layout requiring total game control
- Pro Insight: It’s a bucket-list venue for fans of old-school golf traditions.
14. Baltusrol Golf Club (Lower Course) – New Jersey
Location: Springfield, NJ
Course Designer: A.W. Tillinghast
Access: Private (revived for major play)
Why It’s Back in the Spotlight in 2025:
Following a high-profile restoration by Gil Hanse, Baltusrol’s Lower Course has returned to its Tillinghast roots with wider fairways and strategic bunkering. It has hosted numerous majors, including PGA Championships and U.S. Opens, and is once again scheduled for future national championships.
Course Highlights:
Impeccable restoration of a golden-age classic
Tight fairways, tiered greens, and strategic complexity
Often flies under the radar compared to its famous neighbors
- Golf Note: Perfect for purists who value smart design over scenery.
15. Seminole Golf Club – Florida
Location: Juno Beach, FL
Course Designer: Donald Ross
Access: Ultra-private (invitation only)
Why It’s a Legend in 2025:
Seminole is where the titans of golf go to escape the spotlight. The course gained wider recognition when it hosted the 2021 Walker Cup, but its mystique lies in its simplicity: wind, firm turf, and classic Donald Ross greens. It’s revered by pros and architects alike.
Course Highlights:
Fast, firm, and windswept — Florida golf at its purest
Annual host of elite pro-member events
Clubhouse steeped in quiet prestige
- Exclusive Insight: Ranked by insiders as one of the best winter-season golf experiences in the world.
Final Thoughts: What Makes These Courses the Best?
These aren’t just “great” golf courses — they represent the pinnacle of the sport in different ways. From the hushed legends of Pine Valley to the windswept drama of Whistling Straits, each course on this list has been chosen based on:
✅ Course design excellence
✅ Expert and player rankings
✅ Historic significance
✅ Scenic beauty and playing challenge
✅ Access (whether public or private)
If you’re serious about golf, these 15 courses deserve a place on your lifetime itinerary — or at least your dreams.
📌 Planning to Visit One of These Courses?
Here are a few quick tips:
Book early: Tee times, especially at Pebble Beach and Whistling Straits, fill fast.
Check dress codes: Prestigious clubs enforce traditional attire.
Play with intention: These courses are meant to be experienced, not rushed.
I am Sabiq Rasel is an Entrepreneur and broadcaster. I believe that every sip of coffee holds the potential for a moment of inspiration, creativity, and every cup tells a story.
