This section will highlight what golf nerds worship the most, outside of maybe Tom Doak’s Confidential Guide(s): a Top 100 list.
There are some courses, like the famed Lake Course at The Olympic Club, that have gone under renovations since I last played. Included in this ranking in parenthesis is the year I last played so nobody comes at me with any hate as to why a certain course is ranked where it could just be a matter of not having visited the most recent and most likely better version.
Below is the rating criteria in which I used to put together my top 100. In total, 100 points are obtainable.
Variety of Holes: For an 18 hole course, two points per hole.
Interest of Green Contours and Surrounds: How much fun and variety the green contours provide on a hole-by-hole basis.
Quality and Use of Land: how good is the land and how well does the design of the course accentuate the natural features.
Resistance AND Playability: How playable for a higher handicapper yet still a challenge for a lower handicap.
Ambience and Aesthetics: The feeling of being on the course and how pleasing to the eye are the surroundings. Also included in this section are points taken away for too many cart paths in play or homes intruding.
Feel like I got courses in the wrong order? Head to my contact info and let me know your thoughts. Notable golf courses missing from my top 100:
- The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island
- Old Macdonald
- The Honors Course
- Butler National Golf Club
- Aronimink Golf Club
- Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower
- Congressional Country Club, Blue
- Hudson National Golf Club
- Castle Pines Golf Club
- Kingsley Club
- Erin Hills
- Dallas National Golf Club
- Oak Hill Country Club, East (played prior to the most recent renovations)
Each golf course with a purple title will have a review for you to read if you’re interested in learning more. Total number of courses ranked: 653
100. Moraine Country Club (2019)
Dayton, Ohio
-Alex Campbell (1936), Keith Foster (2007)
99. Shelter Harbor Golf Club (2013)
Westerly, Rhode Island
-Dr. Michael Hurdzan & Dana Fry (2004)
98. Blackwolf Run, Championship (2010)
Kholer, Wisconsin
-Pete Dye (1988)
97. Plainfield Country Club (2018)
Plainfield, New Jersey
-Donald Ross (1916)
96. Valhalla Golf Club (2015)
Louisville, Kentucky
-Jack Nicklaus (1986)
95. The Creek (2014)
Locust Valley, New York
-C.B. Macdonald & Seth Raynor (1925)
94. Sage Valley Golf Club (2013)
Graniteville, South Carolina
-Tom Fazio (2001)
93. Fox Chapel Golf Club (2016)
Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania
-Seth Raynor (1925)
92. Golf Club of Tennessee (2016)
Kingston Springs, Tennessee
-Tom Fazio (1991)
91. Newport Country Club (2013)
Newport, Rhode Island
-A.W. Tillinghast (1924)
90. Bandon Trails (2012)
Bandon, Oregon
-Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2005)
89. White Bear Yacht Club (2012)
White Bear Lake, Minnesota
-Donald Ross (1916)
88. The Preserve Golf Club (2013)
Carmel, California
-Tom Fazio & Sandy Tatum (2001)
87. Mayacama Golf Club (2013)
Santa Rosa, California
-Jack Nicklaus (2001)
86. Crooked Stick Golf Club (2015)
Carmel, Indiana
-Pete Dye (1964)
85. Sleepy Hollow Country Club, Upper (2013)
Scarborough-on-Hudson, New York
-C.B. Macdonald & Seth Raynor (1913)
84. Inverness Club (2016)
Toledo, Ohio
-Donald Ross (1919)
83. The Course at Yale (2013)
New Haven, Connecticut
-C.B. Macdonald & Seth Raynor (1926)
82. Galloway National Golf Club (2018)
Galloway, New Jersey
-Tom Fazio (1995)
81. Cherry Hills Country Club (2014)
Englewood, Colorado
-William Flynn (1923)
80. Forest Highlands Golf Club, Canyons (2011)
Flagstaff, Arizona
-Tom Wieskopf & Jay Morrish (1987)
79. Mountain Lake Country Club (2011)
Lake Wales, Florida
-Seth Raynor (1916)
78. Spring Hill Golf Club (2017)
Orono, Minnesota
-Tom Fazio (1999)
77. The Estancia Club (2017)
Scottsdale, Arizona
-Tom Fazio (1995)
76. Bluejack National Golf Club (2019)
Montgomery, Texas
-Tiger Woods (2015)
75. Quaker Ridge Golf Club (2013)
Scarsdale, New York
-A.W. Tillinghast (1918)
74. Eastward Ho! Country Club (2018)
Chatham, Massachusetts
-Herbert Fowler (1922), restoration by Keith Foster
73. Sand Valley (2017)
Nekoosa, Wisconsin
-Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (2017)
72. Yeamans Hall Club (2016)
Hanahan, South Carolina
-Seth Raynor (1925)
71. The Olympic Club, Lake (2013)
San Francisco, California
-Sam Whiting (1924)
70. TPC Sawgrass, PLAYERS Stadium (2019)
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
-Pete and Alice Dye (1982)
69. Winged Foot Golf Club, East (2018)
Mamaroneck, New York
-A.W. Tillinghast (1923), Robert Trent Jones, Sr. (1948), Dick Wilson (1956), George and Tom Fazio (1973), Tom Fazio (1089 and 2003), Gil Hanse (2018)
68. Muirfield Village Golf Club (2019)
Dublin, Ohio
-Jack Nicklaus (1974)
67. Calusa Pines Golf Club (2019)
Naples, Florida
-Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry (2001)
66. The Country Club, Brookline (2013)
Brookline, Massachusetts
-Willie and Alex Campbell (1895), William Flynn (1927), Restoration: Gil Hanse (2012)
65. Quail Hollow Club (2015)
Charlotte, North Carolina
-George Cobb (1961), Tom Fazio (2003 and 2017)
64. Shadow Creek (2011)
North Las Vegas, Nevada
-Tom Fazio (1990)
63. Whistling Straits, Straits Course (2009)
Haven, Wisconsin
-Pete Dye (1998)
62. The Olde Farm (2015)
Bristol, Virginia
-Bobby Weed (2001)
61. Spyglass Hill Golf Links (2013)
Pebble Beach, California
-Robert Trent Jones, Sr. (1966)
60. San Francisco Golf Club (2013)
San Francisco, California
-A.W. Tillinghast (1918), Restoration: Tom Doak (2001)
59. The Golf Courses of Lawsonia, Links (2018)
Green Lake, Wisconsin
-William Langford and Theodore Moreau (1929)
58. Colorado Golf Club (2014)
Parker, Colorado
-Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (2007)
57. Myopia Hunt Club (2013)
Hamilton, Massachusetts
-Herbert Leeds (1899)
56. Pete Dye Golf Club (2017)
Bridgeport, West Virginia
-Pete Dye (1994)
55. Victoria National Golf Club (2016)
Newburgh, Indiana
-Tom Fazio (1998)
54. Mammoth Dunes (2018)
Nekoosa, Wisconsin
-David McLay Kidd (2018)
53. Piping Rock Club (2018)
Locust Valley, New York
-C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor (1916), Restoration: Bruce Hepner (2016)
52. Pasatiempo Golf Club (2016)
Santa Cruz, California
-Dr. Alister Mackenzie and Marion Hollins (1929), Restoration – Tom Doak and Jim Urbina (2007)
51. Pikewood National Golf Club (2016)
Morgantown, West Virginia
-John Raese and Robert Gwynne (2009)
49. Whispering Pines Golf Club (2015)
Trinity, Texas
-Chet Williams (2010)
48. Philadelphia Cricket Club, Wissahickon (2014)
Flourtown, Pennsylvania
-A.W. Tillinghast (1922), Restoration: Keith Foster
47. Gozzer Ranch Golf & Lake Club (2019)
Harrison, Idaho
-Tom Fazio (2007)
46. Maidstone Club (2013)
East Hampton, New York
-Willie Park, Jr. and Jack Park (1924), Restoration: Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (2013)
45. Milwaukee Country Club (2017)
River Falls, Wisconsin
-Harry Colt and Charles Alison (1910), Restoration: Tom Doak (ongoing work)
44. Kittansett Club (2018)
Marion, Massachusetts
-William Flynn and Frederic Hood (1922)
43. Garden City Golf Club (2014)
Garden City, New York
-Devereaux Emmett (1899), Walter Travis (1909)
42. ShoreAcres (2013)
Lake Bluff, Illinois
-Seth Raynor (1921), Restoration: Tom Doak (1993)
41. Congaree Club (2018)
Ridgeland, South Carolina
-Tom Fazio (2016)
40. Bandon Dunes (2012)
Bandon, Oregon
-David McLay Kidd (1999)
39. California Golf Club of San Francisco (2013)
South San Francisco, California
-Willie Locke, A. Vernon Macan and Dr. Alister Mackenzie (1928), Restoration: Kyle Phillips (2007)
38. Southern Hills Country Club, Championship (2018)
Tulsa, Oklahoma
-Perry Maxwell (1936), Restoration: Gil Hanse (2019)
37. Monterey Peninsula Country Club, Shore (2013)
Pebble Beach, California
-Bob Baldock and Jack Neville (1959), Mike Strantz (2004)
36. Boston Golf Club (2013)
Hingham, Massachusetts
-Gil Hanse (2015)
35. Camargo Club (2015)
Indian Hill, Ohio
-Seth Raynor (1925)
34. Wade Hampton Golf Club (2015)
Cashiers, North Carolina
-Tom Fazio (1987)
33. Pacific Dunes (2012)
Bandon, Oregon
-Tom Doak (2001)
32. Bethpage State Park, Black (2018)
Farmingdale, New York
-A.W. Tillinghast and Joseph Burbeck (1935), Rees Jones (2002 and 2015)
31. Dismal River Club, Red (2014)
Mullen, Nebraska
-Tom Doak (2013)
30. Baltimore Country Club, East (2018)
Timonium, Maryland
-A.W. Tillinghast (1924), Restoration: Keith Foster (2015)
29. Old Town Club (2018)
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
-Perry Maxwell (1939), Restoration: Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (2014)
28. Sebonack Golf Club (2014)
Southampton, New York
-Jack Nicklaus and Tom Doak (2006)
27. Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, No. 2 (2018)
Pinehurst, North Carolina
-Donald Ross (1907), Restoration: Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (2011)
26. Oakland Hills Country Club, South (2011)
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
-Donald Ross (1918), Robert Trent Jones, Sr. (1950)
25. Seminole Golf Club (2015)
Juno Beach, Florida
-Donald Ross (1929), Restoration: Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (2017)
24. Old Sandwich Golf Club (2018)
Plymouth, Massachusetts
-Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (2004)
23. Somerset Hills Country Club (2014)
Bernardsville, New Jersey
-A.W. Tillinghast (1918)
22. Riviera Country Club (2016)
Pacific Palisades, California
-George C. Thomas and W.P. Bell (1926), Tom Fazio (2012)
21. Old Elm Club (2018)
Lake Forest, Illinois
-Harry Colt and Donald Ross (1913), Restoration: Drew Rogers (ongoing since 2010)
20. Winged Foot Golf Club, West (2018)
Mamaroneck, New York
-A.W. Tillinghast (1923), Tom Fazio (2003), Restoration: Gil Hanse (2018)
19. Valley Club of Montecito (2016)
Santa Barbara, California
-Dr. Alister Mackenzie and Robert Hunter (1928)
18. Peachtree Golf Club (2011)
Atlanta, Georgia
-Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and Robert Tyre Jones, Jr. (1947), Bob Cupp (2005)
17. The Golf Club (2016)
New Albany, Ohio
-Pete Dye (1967)
16. Ballyneal Golf & Hunt Club (2014)
Holyoke, Colorado
-Tom Doak (2006)
15. Rock Creek Cattle Company (2019)
Deer Lodge, Montana
-Tom Doak (2008)
14. Pebble Beach Golf Links (2016)
Pebble Beach, California
-Jack Neville and Douglas Grant (1919)
13. The Los Angeles Country Club, North (2016)
Los Angeles, California
-George C. Thomas and (1927), Restoration: Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner and Geoff Shackleford (2010)
12. Chicago Golf Club (2014)
Wheaton, Illinois
-C.B. Macdonald (1894) Seth Raynor (1923), Restoration: Tom Doak (2002)
11. Friar’s Head Golf Club (2018)
Riverhead, New York
-Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (2003)
10. Prairie Dunes Country Club (2017)
Hutchinson, Kansas
-Perry Maxwell (1937), Press Maxwell (1957), Restoration: Dave Axland (2014)
9. Crystal Downs Country Club (2015)
Frankfort, Michigan
-Dr. Alister Mackenzie and Perry Maxwell (1931), Restoration: Tom Doak
8. Fishers Island Club (2018)
Fishers Island, New York
-Seth Raynor and Charles Banks (1926), Restoration: Gil Hanse (2000)
7. Merion Golf Club, East (2019)
Ardmore, Pennsylvania
-Hugh Wilson (1912), Restoration: Gil Hanse (2019)
6. Oakmont Country Club (2018)
Oakmont, Pennsylvania
-Henry C. Fownes and William C. Fownes (1903)
5. Sand Hills Golf Club (2014)
Mullen, Nebraska
-Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (1994)
4. National Golf Links of America (2018)
Southampton, New York
-C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor (1911)
3. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club (2019)
Southampton, New York
-William Flynn (1931), Restoration: Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (2012)
2. Cypress Point Club (2016)
Pebble Beach, California
-Dr. Alister Mackenzie and Robert Hunter (1928)
1. Pine Valley Golf Club (2019)
Pine Valley, New Jersey
-George Crump and Harry Colt (1913)
