The Best Golf Courses in Every State

[dennyjones]

Link to Golf digest article

[HJJ003]

Great List. Actually one of my Golf Bucket Lists is to play the #1 ranked course in every state. Using Golf Digest as the primary ranking and the Golf.com ranking as needed. That be a pretty cool thing to pull off, but I imagine difficult and expensive as well. Working on my first one this fall...Kiva Dunes in Alabama. 

[mcanadiens]

Meet the new list .... Same as the old list. 

No love for the mighty Miami Shores.

Edited January 4, 2018 by mcanadiens

[HJJ003]

31 minutes ago, HJJ003 said:

Great List. Actually one of my Golf Bucket Lists is to play the #1 ranked course in every state. Using Golf Digest as the primary ranking and the Golf.com ranking as needed. That be a pretty cool thing to pull off, but I imagine difficult and expensive as well. Working on my first one this fall...Kiva Dunes in Alabama. 

oops I meant to say every top rated public course per state. 

[jamo]

I've played the following:

Massachusetts:

• TPC Boston

New York:

• Bethpage Black

California:

• Torrey Pines South

[DaveP043]

I've got at least a few of these:

Delaware, #2 Bayside Resort

Hawaii, #2 Prince, #3 Plantation, 4 more of 15 listed

Maryland, #1 Congressional Blue, #5 Congressional Gold

Michigan #1, Crystal Downs

North Carolina, #2 Pinehurst 2, 4 more of 25 listed

Virginia, #6 Trump National

Wisconsin, #1 Whistling Straits, #4 Blackwolf Run River, #9 Blackwolf Run Meadow Valley

Its like any Best of... list, so much interpretation and opinion, but its fun to read through.

 

[billchao]

I didn't expect to have played any of the courses on the list, but I was pleasantly surprised. I've played Hollywood GC in Deal, NJ (#15 on the list) with @SavvySwede.

[Ty_Webb]

I've played 5 each in Arizona, New York and New Jersey. 3 in CT, 2 in SC and 1 in Florida. I think that's it.

[jsgolfer]

I’ve played a few.  I’m with @DaveP043, the list is nice but subjective but cool to talk about the courses.  

Arizona - Quintero, We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro) and Troon North (Monument)

California - Torrey Pines (South Course)

Florida - Calusa Pines

Hawaii - Kapalua Plantation Course, Makai Golf Club

Maine - Sugarloaf Golf Course

Maryland - Congressional Blue, BCC (East Course), Caves Valley, Whiskey Creek

North Carolina - Pinehurst #2, Tobacco Road

Nevada - Wolf Creek

Pennsylvania - Stonewall (Old Course), Nemacolin (Mystic Rock)

Virginia - Omni Homestead Cascades, Ballyhack, Trump Nat’l (Championship), Golden Horseshoe (Gold), Full Cry at Keswick, Mattaponi Springs, Bay Creek - Nicklaus

[DeadMan]

Golf Digest's rankings are, uh, not great. Read this if you're curious: http://www.friedegg.co/golf-courses/golf-digest-bad-ratings. Biggest problem - nearly 40% of the rating has nothing to do with how "great" the course is, in my opinion. An "ambience" rating should not be on a golf course ranking. Also, resistance to scoring? A great golf course does not have to be difficult (see the Old Course without wind).

That said, I've played a couple of these:

• Pinehurst #2 (2nd in NC)
• Ballyneall (2nd in CO)
• A few others in Colorado, not worth mentioning
• Torrey Pines South (22nd in CA)

Ballyneal and Pinehurst were great, a little shocked they're both #2 in the state. I haven't played the #1 course in either state, and probably never will, but I really doubt a Jack Nicklaus design should be ahead of the masterpiece that is Ballyneal.

[MrGolfguy67]

I've played the following on the list:

 

 

[coachjimsc]

I've played (more than I thought):

•     New Jersey
  •     Forsgate C.C. (Banks), Monroe Township
•     North Carolina
  •     Old North State Club, New London
•     South Carolina
  •     Harbour Town G. Links, Hilton Head Island
  •     Greenville C.C. (Chanticleer)
  •     Musgrove Mill G.C., Clinton
  •     The Cliffs At Keowee Vineyards G.C., Sunset
  •     The Dunes G. & Beach Club, Myrtle Beach
  •     Haig Point Club (Signature), Daufuskie Island
•     Virginia
  •     Kingsmill Resort & G.C. (River), Williamsburg
     

[dennyjones]

14 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

Michigan #1, Crystal Downs

@DaveP043, How were you able to play here?   I hear it's pretty exclusive..

[HJJ003]

man some of you guys have played some great courses...I must admit I am a little jealous!

[DaveP043]

46 minutes ago, dennyjones said:

@DaveP043, How were you able to play here?   I hear it's pretty exclusive..

I wish I knew!  I was in college at the time, so it was in the late 70s, and my uncle, a retired hospital administrator, pulled some strings somehow.  I wish I remembered it better, or had a chance to play it now, as I have a lot more experience.  

[NM Golf]

I have played a few:

Colorado

• #3 Cherry Hills CC
• #5 Sanctuary
• #6 The Broadmoor

North Carolina

• #2 Pinehurst #2
• #20 Pinehurst #8

South Carolina

• #4 Harbor Town Golf Links

Michigan

• #16 Grand Traverse Resort (The Bear)

New Mexico

• I have played 9 of the top 10 the only one I haven't played is Rockwind

 

Pretty subjective, obviously, but the best of the courses I have played of the above are:

1. Pinehurst #2 (NC)
2. The Bear (MI)
3. Sanctuary (CO)
4. Las Campanas (NM)

 

There is a course on the NM list that is an absolute travesty thats its on there. Black Mesa Golf Club is one of the worst courses I have played. In fact I have never met anyone that liked it. 

Edited January 5, 2018 by NM Golf

[HJJ003]

2 minutes ago, NM Golf said:

I have played a few:

Colorado

• #3 Cherry Hills CC
• #5 Sanctuary
• #6 Broadmore

North Carolina

• #2 Pinehurst #2
• #20 Pinehurst #8

South Carolina

• #4 Harbor Town Golf Links

Michigan

• #16 Grand Traverse Resort (The Bear)

New Mexico

• I have played 9 of the top 10 the only one I haven't played is Rockwind

 

Pretty subjective, obviously, but the best of the courses I have played of the above are:

1. Pinehurst #2 (NC)
2. The Bear (MI)
3. Sanctuary (CO)
4. Las Campanas (NM)

 

There is a course on the NM list that is an absolute travesty thats its on there. Black Mesa Golf Club is one of the worst courses I have played. In fact I have never met anyone that liked it. 

@NM Golf how is the Broadmoor Course? Did you enjoy it? My in-laws live in Colorado Springs now, and my wife and I are hoping to stay at that resort at some point while they live up there. 

[NM Golf]

@HJJ003 It's a good course it was a lot of fun. We played a few weeks after the US Women's Open there in 2011. It was in pristine shape. It is not as difficult as you would think for a course that hosts US Opens. I played the back tees and shot right around par. Like I said it was good but IMO there was nothing all that memorable about it.

Too bad Sanctuary is so difficult to get on, now that is a cool golf course. Know anyone at ReMax?

Edited January 5, 2018 by NM Golf