The United States has more than 14,000 golf courses open to the public, spread across deserts, coastlines, mountains, prairies, and everything in between. Choosing just one standout public course per state is a difficult exercise, but it forces a useful question: if you had a single round to play in each state, where would you go? The 50 courses below are all accessible without a private membership. Some are resort courses with green fees north of $200, while others are municipal gems where a round costs less than dinner. All of them reward the trip.

Northeast

The northeastern states pack a lot of golf history and terrain variety into a small geographic footprint. Coastal links, mountain resort courses, and classic parkland layouts built by Donald Ross and A.W. Tillinghast are all within a few hours’ drive of each other.

Connecticut: Keney Park Golf Course – This 1927 Jack Ross design in Hartford has been called one of the best municipal courses in New England. The layout runs through mature hardwoods with firm, undulating greens that reward careful approach play. Green fees stay affordable, making it a genuine public treasure.

Delaware: Baywood Greens – An 18-hole championship course in Long Neck with over 80,000 flowers and plants incorporated into the landscaping. The conditioning here routinely draws praise from visitors, and the layout has enough teeth at 6,983 yards to test low-handicap players.

Maine: Kebo Valley Golf Club – One of the oldest clubs in America (1888), Kebo Valley sits at the edge of Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor. The course is semi-private with public tee times available. The front nine runs through rolling terrain with views of Cadillac Mountain, and the back nine tightens considerably.

Maryland: Bulle Rock Golf Course – Pete Dye designed Bulle Rock in Havre de Grace, and it hosted the LPGA Championship from 2005 to 2009. The course features Dye’s signature railroad ties and optical illusions, with a routing that plays through wooded corridors and along wetland edges.

Massachusetts: Granite Links – Built on former quarry land in Quincy, just south of Boston, Granite Links offers 27 holes with sweeping views of the Boston skyline and the harbor. The dramatic elevation changes set it apart from typical New England parkland courses.

New Hampshire: The Shattuck – A Brian Silva design at the base of Mount Monadnock in Jaffrey. Open since 1991, the course plays through meadows and forests with distinctive green complexes that reward strategic thinking over raw power.

New Jersey: Crystal Springs Resort Ballyowen Course – Roger Rulewich designed Ballyowen as an open, links-inspired layout in the hills of northern New Jersey. Wind plays a real factor on most holes, a rarity in the Mid-Atlantic. The absence of trees on much of the course makes it feel transported from the British Isles.

New York: Bethpage State Park Golf Course – The Black Course at Bethpage is the most famous public course in America. It hosted U.S. Opens in 2002 and 2009, with another on the calendar for 2025. A.W. Tillinghast designed the brutally long layout in the 1930s, and the sign on the first tee still warns that the course is “recommended only for highly skilled golfers.” It is a New York State park, and green fees for residents remain remarkably reasonable.

Pennsylvania: Nemacolin – The Mystic Rock course at Nemacolin resort in Farmington was designed by Pete Dye and hosted the 84 Lumber Classic on the PGA Tour. The layout carves through the Laurel Highlands with significant elevation changes and forced carries over ravines.

Rhode Island: Triggs Memorial Golf Course – Donald Ross designed Triggs Memorial in 1932 on a hilltop site in Providence. It plays 6,522 yards with a slope rating of 128 and remains a fully public municipal course. The Ross green complexes, with their subtle crowns and falloffs, make Triggs a thinking player’s course at a city-park price.

Vermont: Sugarbush Resort Golf Club – Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed this 18-hole course in Warren, playing 6,464 yards through the Green Mountains. The par-72 layout follows the natural contours of the Mad River Valley, with mountain views on nearly every hole and a slope rating of 128.

Southeast

The Southeast is where golf becomes a year-round pursuit. The warm climate supports longer playing seasons and more aggressive turf programs, and the region’s resort destinations in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida draw golf travelers by the millions.

Alabama: Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Capitol Hill – The RTJ Trail is Alabama’s signature golf contribution, and the 54-hole Capitol Hill complex in Prattville is the crown jewel. The Judge course in particular offers dramatic elevation changes, Alabama River views, and an island green at the par-3 sixth. Green fees across the Trail remain well below comparable resort courses.

Arkansas: Tannenbaum Golf Club – Tucked into the foothills of the Ozarks near Drasco, Tannenbaum plays through dense forest with dramatic elevation changes. The course has earned a loyal following among Arkansas golfers for its conditioning and the natural beauty of the routing.

Florida: Streamsong Resort Red & Blue – Streamsong opened in 2012 on a former phosphate mining site in central Florida, and the terrain looks nothing like the flat peninsula golf most people expect. The Red (Coore/Crenshaw) and Blue (Doak) courses feature sandy waste areas, dramatic bunkers, and firm, fast playing surfaces that feel more like the Sand Hills of Nebraska than Bowling Green.

Georgia: Sea Island – The Seaside Course at Sea Island on St. Simons Island has hosted the RSM Classic on the PGA Tour since 2010. Tom Fazio redesigned the layout in 1999, and the ocean-side holes offer some of the best coastal golf in the Southeast. Resort guests have full access to tee times.

Kentucky: Kearney Hill Golf Links – A Pete Dye design in Lexington operated by the University of Kentucky. The links-style layout is unusual for the Bluegrass region, with pot bunkers, tall fescue, and mounding that create a windswept feel on the gently rolling terrain.

Louisiana: TPC Louisiana – Home of the Zurich Classic on the PGA Tour, TPC Louisiana in Avondale was designed by Pete Dye on reclaimed wetland south of New Orleans. The course features Dye’s characteristic tight landing areas and creative bunkering, and the annual PGA Tour event keeps the conditioning sharp.

Mississippi: Fallen Oak at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino – Tom Fazio designed Fallen Oak in the pine forests north of Biloxi, and it consistently ranks as the top course in the state. The layout weaves through towering pines with generous fairways but demanding approach shots into well-protected greens. Access comes through the Beau Rivage resort.

North Carolina: Pinehurst – Pinehurst No. 2 is the most storied resort course in the country. Donald Ross designed it in 1907, and a Coore/Crenshaw restoration in 2011 returned the native sandy waste areas that Ross originally intended. The course hosted back-to-back U.S. Opens and U.S. Women’s Opens in 2014 and is set for more USGA events ahead.

South Carolina: Kiawah Island Golf Resort Ocean Course – Pete Dye built the Ocean Course for the 1991 Ryder Cup, and the wind off the Atlantic can turn this 7,356-yard layout into a course that plays over 8,000 yards in feel. Ten holes run directly along the ocean, more than any other course in North America. Resort guests can book tee times, though green fees are steep.

Tennessee: The Course at Sewanee – A Gil Hanse design on the campus of the University of the South in Sewanee, sitting atop the Cumberland Plateau at 2,000 feet. The nine-hole layout opened in 2013 and has drawn attention for its creative green complexes and affordable walking-only format.

Virginia: The Highland Course at Primland – Donald Steel designed this mountaintop course on a 12,000-acre resort property in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Highland Course sits at 2,800 feet with long views across the Dan River Gorge. It is isolated by design, and the remoteness adds to the appeal.

West Virginia: The Greenbrier – The Old White TPC at The Greenbrier dates to 1914, when C.B. Macdonald designed the layout in White Sulphur Springs. The course has hosted PGA Tour events and remains the centerpiece of one of America’s oldest resort properties. Access requires a resort stay or membership.

Midwest

The Midwest is home to some of the finest public golf in the country, thanks to sandy soil deposits left by glaciers, affordable land, and a culture of accessible municipal and daily-fee golf.

Illinois: Cog Hill Golf & Country Club – The Dubsdread course (No. 4) at Cog Hill in Lemont hosted the PGA Tour’s Western Open and BMW Championship for decades. Dick Wilson and Joe Lee designed the original layout, and a Rees Jones renovation in 2008 added length and difficulty. All four Cog Hill courses are open to the public.

Indiana: French Lick Resort – The Pete Dye Course at French Lick opened in 2009 on a ridge above the historic resort town, with views stretching across the Hoosier National Forest. The course has hosted the Senior PGA Championship and plays at over 8,100 yards from the tips, making it one of the longest public courses in the country.

Iowa: Spirit Hollow – Located in Burlington in southeastern Iowa, Spirit Hollow has been ranked as the top public course in the state by multiple outlets. The layout moves through wooded bluffs and prairie with a routing that takes advantage of the hilly terrain, a surprise to golfers who assume Iowa is flat.

Kansas: Buffalo Dunes Golf Course – A public course in Garden City designed by Frank Hummel in 1975. Buffalo Dunes plays through sand dunes and native grass with a links feel that stands out in western Kansas. The layout regularly appears on lists of the best public courses in the state.

Michigan: Arcadia Bluffs Bluffs Course – Perched 200 feet above Lake Michigan on a bluff in Arcadia, the Bluffs Course delivers views that rival anything on the West Coast. Warren Henderson and Rick Smith designed the links-style layout in 1999, and the firm, fast conditions invite creative shotmaking and ground-game play.

Minnesota: Giants Ridge – The Quarry course at Giants Ridge in Biwabik was carved from an old iron ore mine on Minnesota’s Iron Range. The exposed rock walls and elevation changes give the course a look unlike anything else in the Upper Midwest. The Legend course on the same property is also highly rated.

Missouri: Big Cedar Lodge / Ozarks National & Payne’s Valley – The Big Cedar Lodge complex near Branson offers three courses, with Ozarks National (Coore/Crenshaw) and Payne’s Valley (Tiger Woods) drawing the most attention. Payne’s Valley, which opened in 2020, was the first public course designed by Tiger Woods, and the 19th “bonus” hole is a par-3 island green.

Nebraska: The Prairie Club – The Dunes course at The Prairie Club in Valentine runs through the Sand Hills of north-central Nebraska, one of the most striking natural golf settings in America. Broad fairways, exposed sand, and perched greens create a layout that feels both ancient and unmistakably modern.

North Dakota: Bully Pulpit Golf Course – Michael Hurdzan designed Bully Pulpit in the North Dakota Badlands near Medora, and the dramatic butte-lined holes have earned it recognition as one of the most scenic public courses in the country. USA Today voters named it the No. 1 Best Golf Course in the nation in 2025.

Ohio: Manakiki Golf Course – Donald Ross designed Manakiki in 1929 on a rolling site in Willoughby, east of Cleveland. The Cleveland Metroparks took over operations, and this remains one of the best Ross designs open to the public. The par-3 fifth hole over a ravine is a standout.

Oklahoma: Karsten Creek Golf Club – Tom Fazio designed Karsten Creek in Stillwater as the home course for Oklahoma State University’s golf program, and it has hosted the NCAA Championship multiple times. The course is semi-private with limited public access, but those who get on find a Fazio design that demands accuracy on every shot.

South Dakota: The Golf Club at Red Rock – A Rapid City course with red sandstone outcroppings framing several holes. The layout blends prairie terrain with rugged rock formations, creating a visual contrast that distinguishes it from anything else in the Dakotas.

Wisconsin: Whistling Straits – Pete Dye built Whistling Straits along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Sheboygan for Herb Kohler, and it has hosted three PGA Championships and the 2021 Ryder Cup. The course mimics the rugged links of Ireland with fescue-covered dunes, over 1,000 bunkers (many unmarked), and unimpeded lake winds. It is a resort course with green fees to match its stature.

West

The western third of the country offers the most dramatic backdrops in American golf, with courses set against deserts, volcanic coastlines, mountain ranges, and stretches of Pacific coastline.

Alaska: Anchorage Golf Course – A public 18-hole course on Anchorage’s hillside with views of three mountain ranges, including Denali on clear days. The season runs from May through September, and summer rounds can be played under nearly 24 hours of daylight. Moose occasionally wander the fairways.

Arizona: We-Ko-Pa Golf Club – Two courses on the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation east of Scottsdale, with the Saguaro course (Coore/Crenshaw) and the Cholla course (Scott Miller) both earning top marks. The desert setting features saguaro-studded hillsides and red rock views, and the courses are maintained to a high standard year-round.

California: Torrey Pines Golf Course – The South Course at Torrey Pines in La Jolla is a municipal course that has hosted two U.S. Opens (2008 and 2021) and the annual Farmers Insurance Open on the PGA Tour. The course sits on coastal bluffs above the Pacific, and San Diego residents can play it for a fraction of what comparable resort courses charge. For a public muni to host multiple major championships is rare.

Colorado: The Broadmoor Golf Club – The East Course at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs has been a destination since 1918, with a Donald Ross design that was later modified by Robert Trent Jones Sr. The course plays at 6,300 feet of elevation, which adds noticeable distance to every club in the bag. The mountain scenery and the grand Broadmoor hotel complete the experience.

Hawaii: Mauna Kea Beach Hotel Golf Course – Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed Mauna Kea in 1964, making it Hawaii’s first resort course. The par-3 third hole over the Pacific Ocean is one of the most photographed golf holes in the world. The course plays 7,370 yards and delivers both challenge and coastal beauty on the Big Island’s Kohala Coast.

Idaho: The Coeur d’Alene Golf & Spa Resort – Home to the world’s only movable floating green, anchored on Lake Coeur d’Alene. Scott Miller designed the course in 1991, and beyond the famous 14th hole, the rest of the layout offers a strong resort experience with lake and mountain views throughout.

Montana: Whitefish Lake Golf Club – A 36-hole public facility in Whitefish with a 1930s-era North Course and a 1994 South Course. The South Course plays through dense evergreen forest with mountain views, and the entire property benefits from its location near Glacier National Park.

Nevada: Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course – George Fazio designed Edgewood on the south shore of Lake Tahoe, and the course hosts the annual American Century Celebrity Championship each summer. The closing holes along the lake are among the most photogenic in the western states, and the mountain-lake setting provides a welcome change from the desert courses that dominate the rest of the state.

New Mexico: Paako Ridge Golf Club – Ken Dye designed this 27-hole layout at 6,800 feet in the Sandia Mountains east of Albuquerque. Golf Digest named it the No. 1 Best New Course in 2000. The high-desert terrain, with pinon and juniper framing every hole, creates a quiet, isolated golf experience.

Oregon: Bandon Dunes Golf Resort – Bandon Dunes is the most important public golf destination built in the last 30 years. Five full-size courses sit on cliffs above the southern Oregon coast, each designed by a different architect (David McLay Kidd, Tom Doak, Coore/Crenshaw, Gil Hanse, and Rod Whitman). The resort is walking-only, there are no real estate developments lining the fairways, and the focus is entirely on the golf.

Texas: Fields Ranch PGA of America Frisco – The PGA of America’s new headquarters in Frisco includes two Gil Hanse-designed courses that opened in 2023. The East and West courses offer contrasting styles on the same property, and the facility will host the 2027 PGA Championship. Public tee times are available.

Utah: Sand Hollow Resort – The championship course at Sand Hollow in Hurricane plays through red rock desert terrain near Zion National Park. John Fought designed the layout to incorporate the natural sandstone, and several holes feature sandy waste areas that stretch to the horizon. The combination of red rock, blue sky, and green turf is hard to match.

Washington: Chambers Bay – Chambers Bay in University Place hosted the 2015 U.S. Open and sits on a former gravel quarry along Puget Sound. Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed the fescue-covered links course with dramatic elevation changes and views of the Narrows and the Olympic Mountains. It is a public course operated by Pierce County.

Wyoming: Teton Pines – Arnold Palmer designed Teton Pines in Wilson, near Jackson Hole, with the Teton Range providing a backdrop that no amount of course architecture can compete with. The 7,412-yard layout plays through wetlands and meadows, and the mountain views from every tee box make this one of the most scenic rounds in the country.

Start exploring

The 50 courses above are a starting point. Every state has dozens more public courses worth discovering, and the right course for your next trip depends on your budget, skill level, and what kind of scenery you want to play through. Browse all 50 states on FairwayDB to search for courses near your next destination and start building your list.