Solid Golf Courses

Family-owned Sisters course famous for its red cinder-rock bunkers and big mountain backdrop

The 'Poor Man's Pebble' — a lighthouse and ocean dunes on the back nine for a fraction of the price

Alister MacKenzie 9-holer among the Russian River redwoods — a unique bucket-list curiosity

Iconic Phoenix muni nestled between the Papago Buttes — where the locals play and the views punch way above the green fee

Affordable public course 10 min from the resort — great warm-up round or budget-friendly complement to the Dunes experience

Brian Whitcomb design through high desert lava flows — unique volcanic landscape 15 min north toward Bend

Robert Trent Jones II design — best public course value inside Portland city limits

Well-kept 18 in Bonners Ferry with mountain views, mature pines, and a friendly small-town vibe

Companion course at Gold Mountain — excellent value with mature trees and rolling terrain

Shorter but sneaky; more open layout with Flathead Valley views

Don Knott design through meadows and ponderosa pines in the Long Valley — mountain views and wildlife everywhere

Jim Engh design in Montrose; links-style through desert mesa terrain — totally different from Telluride GC

Jack Nicklaus-designed city course with dramatic red rock outcroppings and Horsetooth Reservoir views

Historic Bob Baldock design with mature cottonwoods and Shoshone River views; the social hub of Cody golf

State park course with Eagle Bluff views over Green Bay — one of the most scenic budget rounds in the Midwest

South Milwaukee county course with Lake Michigan views — excellent value with surprisingly good greens

City of Omaha's best muni — hilly and fun with mature trees and the best budget green fees in the metro

Mountaintop course at the University of the South. Stunning views and absurd value.

Tom Fazio design open to public play. Lush conditioning and great value for the quality.

Clyde Johnston design that punches above its price. Good value round to balance the splurge days.

Bob Moore design on Roanoke Sound. True links experience with ocean winds and sound views.

Top-rated municipal course consistently ranked among the best public tracks in Massachusetts

Cumberland municipal course ranked among Maine's best public tracks — outstanding value

Shorter companion course with more forgiving fairways — great second-day round for the group

Cornwall course with nice elevation changes and woods — punches above its weight for the price

Bayfront muni with skyline and Coronado Bridge views — unbeatable value if you can get on

Palos Verdes muni with ocean and Catalina views — the best public-course value in LA

Walkable Ojai muni with the same mountain backdrop at a fraction of the price — the value play

RTJ Jr. canyon course along the Santa Ynez River in the foothills — scenic and quiet

Sycamore-lined ranch course in Solvang wine country — a great combo with a Santa Ynez tasting day

Hilltop public course with ocean views over the coastal flower fields — a solid value round

Tom Jackson design across rolling plantation land near North Augusta — three scenic nines

An 18-hole par-3 that's a legit challenge — the afternoon side-bet round

Earl Stone design across Fairhope's rolling pines — a scenic Eastern Shore fourth round

Hilly West Knoxville club with views to the Smokies — book limited guest play for a private-club feel

An 18-hole public course framed by red sandstone cliffs — among the most scenic value rounds in the Southwest

Hilltop course with some of the best panoramic lake views in the region — fun, scenic, and a fair value

Scenic, walkable Rangeley-area course with lake-and-mountain views — a relaxed second round

America's oldest continuously operating golf club (1886) — classic, walkable, and a piece of history

Pete Dye design along the New River — affordable, scenic, and surprisingly demanding

Hilly, tree-lined value track in Blanchard — the affordable third round near the casino

Robert Trent Jones Jr. design near Saguaro National Park — great desert golf at mid-range pricing

27 holes with three distinct 9s — great value and the Black Rock 9 has dramatic lava rock scenery

Muni-priced links course with panoramic Sangre de Cristo mountain views — best value in Santa Fe

Pete Dye design for ASU — sneaky tough college course with great conditioning for the price

Public mountain course with ponderosa pines lining every fairway — gorgeous and affordable

Best muni value in Central Oregon with views of eight Cascade peaks

Robert Trent Jones Jr. redesign with Cascade Mountain views and wide fairways

John Harbottle design in Eagle with canyon views and challenging elevation changes

Charming course right in Hood River with Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams views from nearly every hole

Hidden gem on the Kitsap Peninsula with a fly-fishing pond and excellent conditioning

Long challenging layout near the harbor with water features and mountain views

Classic mountain muni with ponderosa pines, a creek running through, and views of the surrounding peaks; walkable and well-conditioned

Hidden gem in the Bitterroot Valley with mountain views and a challenging layout

Classic mountain course between Vail and Beaver Creek; great conditioning and more affordable than Vail GC

High mesa course near Ridgway with sweeping views of the Sneffels Range; excellent value alternative

Charming city course perched above the Colorado River with panoramic valley views; great value

27-hole facility with mountain and meadow holes; three distinct nine-hole loops at 7,300 feet

Well-maintained course in Buena Vista with 14,000-foot peaks as the backdrop; the ball absolutely flies at altitude

Rapid City's best muni; long, mature, and always well-conditioned with Rapid Creek running through

Play golf with a view of Devils Tower in the distance; worth the drive for the novelty and solid course

Arnold Palmer design through cedar forests and wetlands — outstanding value for the quality

36 holes — the Como Crossings links-style nine is the hidden gem in the Lake Geneva area

Jeff Gorney design with wide fairways and great conditioning — excellent value for northern Michigan

Longest of the four courses — wide fairways through meadows, great for scoring

Built on reclaimed sand mine land — unique elevation changes and wide fairways make it fun for all skill levels

Sturgeon Bay's solid daily-fee course — well-conditioned with a friendly pace for a fun round

Cottage Grove's well-conditioned track through oak groves — great value and excellent greens

Social par-67 layout perfect for a warm-up round — walking-friendly with cold beers at the turn

Westerville's best public track — mature trees and well-maintained greens in a residential setting

Metro Parks course along Big Darby Creek — excellent value with scenic creek-side holes

Lebanon's best public course — well-groomed with strategic bunkering and good pace of play

Best Indy Parks muni — a Gary Kern design with more character than you'd expect from a city course

Carmel's public gem — Robert Trent Jones Jr. design with rolling terrain and top-notch conditioning for the price

Polk County course along Saylorville Lake — scenic water views and a great practice facility

Classic 1926 course through mature pines — the 'other' Marquette course is still excellent golf at a fraction of Greywalls' price

Escanaba area track through northern hardwoods — well-maintained and affordable UP golf

Arthur Hills design south of the city — well-conditioned with interesting routing through farmland and woods

Raymore's hidden gem — rolling terrain through creeks and hardwoods with excellent conditioning for the price

Grafton's best public course — links-parkland hybrid with excellent conditioning and challenging green complexes

Gary Player redesign hugging the Kiawah River. Beautiful marsh views and excellent conditioning.

Greg Norman design in Pooler. Well-maintained, generous fairways, and excellent value.

Jack Ridge design in Georgetown. Wide fairways, mature trees, and excellent public-course conditioning.

Robert Trent Jones II mountain design near Cherokee. Dramatic mountain scenery and excellent value. Worth the drive.

Arnold Palmer design along the Wando River. Challenging and well-conditioned. Great group outing track.

Jack Nicklaus design on Chickamauga Lake. State park course with championship pedigree.

Lee Trevino design with generous fairways and fun risk-reward par 5s.

Best value in the Sarasota area. Well-maintained with some nice water features.

Best value on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Well-maintained muni with mature oaks.

Tom Clark design with mature pines and good variety. Solid value and walkable.

Municipal gem named after the 1941 Masters champ — affordable mountain golf with tight tree-lined fairways

Gene Bates design in Killington with rolling Green Mountain terrain, elevation changes, and gorgeous fall foliage views

South Portland's best public course — tight fairways through mature pines, challenging for all levels

Semi-private Portsmouth course with challenging layout and Narragansett Bay views on the back nine

Trenton course with great views of Cadillac Mountain — solid value round right outside town

Links-style course on former farmland in Essex — open layout with solid conditioning and great value

Shelburne course with Lake Champlain views — well-maintained semi-private club with public tee times

Donald Ross design overlooking the Thames River and Long Island Sound — a public treasure with ocean views

27-hole Pawcatuck facility with three distinct nines — great value and good conditioning for the price

Municipal course named for Branson's most famous golfer — great value with well-maintained fairways and mountain views

Arnold Palmer design in Fort Worth with elevation changes, creek crossings, and a challenging back nine through mature oaks

Tulsa's best-kept public secret — mature trees, elevation changes, and excellent conditions at rock-bottom prices

Semi-private club with public tee times available — rolling terrain through mature pines with a country club feel at public prices

Two solid municipal-style 18s minutes from downtown — the value play of central Palm Springs

Two affordable 18s in Cathedral City — the par-3 Pebble course is a fun group warm-up

Former Nationwide Tour host north of Santa Rosa — well-conditioned and a great value

Links-style city course near the Ventura coast — windy, walkable, and a fun change of pace

Hillside Goleta course with ocean and island views and a popular Frog Bar & Grill

Long, well-conditioned public course with a strong value reputation — a fun second round

Scenic valley course tucked in the hills — quiet, pretty, and a reliable value

Tree-lined mountain course winding through the pines — a scenic, walkable-friendly second round

RTJ Jr. resort course at the Northstar ski village — tight front nine in the trees, open meadow back

Scenic course above the Crystal Springs Reservoir over the hill — tree-lined and quiet

Alister MacKenzie seaside muni in Pacifica — a walkable, dirt-cheap bucket-list curiosity

Links-ish public course near the airport with wide fairways — easy first-day round, great value

Popular Lincoln public course with good conditioning and a lively grill — reliable group pick

Gary Player and Bobby Weed contrasting nines — 27 holes of well-conditioned value

1903 in-town classic and walkable budget round near Five Points South

John LaFoy design through Auburn rolling hills — a worthy non-Trail fourth round

Lakeside George Cobb design in Killen — a scenic non-Trail change of pace

The shorter, tighter Grandover 18 — a fun, scoreable second resort round

27 holes of championship golf in Leland — good value and host of qualifying events

Pete Dye–routed mix of mountain and valley holes — the best value in the valley

Friendly public championship course plus a nine-hole par-3 for the casual crowd

Gunnison's friendly riverside public course — the value round to pair with the Club

Mature tree-lined layout with the Bookcliffs as a backdrop — a fair, classic test

Craig Cherry links-style design in the Cobble Creek community — fair, fun, and a great value

City-owned course with Bighorn views — the value round to pair with the Powder Horn

Classic Lawrence-designed North course — mature, walkable, and a strong value with dynamic pricing

Longer Gary Panks design with more water and length than the North — great 36-hole day

Shorter Fred Couples–signature desert layout — the fun value round in Dove Mountain

Arthur Hills desert design in nearby Marana with mountain views and strong conditioning

Top-rated executive/short course tucked in the pines — a fun, walkable round for the crew

City-run course against the red hills with five par-5s — one of the best golf values in the West

Long, mature university course with Organ Mountain views — a strong, affordable test

Family-run Adirondack track in Warrensburg — relaxed, walkable, and budget-friendly

Scenic, affordable mountain track near Chester — easy value round

Walkable municipal course along the spring-fed Comal River in town — a fun, cheap value round

Scenic Hill Country layout near Blanco with big elevation and few crowds

Walkable valley course along the Upper Truckee River — the affordable everyday round in town

SF's oldest muni with knockout Golden Gate Bridge views from the cliffs above Lands End

Alister MacKenzie seaside layout in Pacifica — a rare MacKenzie design you can play for muni money

Hilly, tree-lined Santa Cruz muni with a famous canyon-carry 'Top of the World' par-5

Links-style Richland course with live music and food at Rewsters Bar & Grill

Robert Trent Jones Sr. design with creek crossings and red rock views at a fraction of the price

Notah Begay III design at Casino Del Sol — great value with a casino and resort next door

Well-maintained resort course at the CasaBlanca hotel — great value with casino and dining attached

Hilly desert layout with canyon views and some dramatic forced carries

Hale Irwin design at Buffalo Thunder Resort with juniper-studded mountain terrain and casino on-site

Tree-lined mountain course with elk sightings and pine-scented fairways at 7,000 feet

Robert Trent Jones II design with an island green par-3 — best value in the Reno area

Ken Kavanaugh design in Mesa with water on 13 holes and mountain backdrops — great value

Well-maintained desert muni with mountain views — the best value in town

Semi-private course in Bullhead City with mature trees and a well-maintained layout

Robert Muir Graves design with Mt. Bachelor views and tree-lined fairways

Juniper-lined fairways with Cascade views at a resort-friendly price point

Tree-lined classic layout through the ponderosa pines — forgiving but fun

Robert Muir Graves design with Cascade Mountain views — solid resort course between Sunriver and Bend

Affordable and well-maintained parkland course that plays fast — solid value round

Historic muni perched on a basalt canyon rim — routinely named one of the best municipal courses in America

Best-conditioned Spokane muni with Latah Creek winding through the layout

Robert Muir Graves design in Liberty Lake — long, well-maintained, and affordable

More forgiving resort course with wide fairways and the same stunning mountain backdrop

Well-kept resort course with mountain views and a relaxed pace of play

Well-maintained muni with mature trees and Blue Mountain views — great value for the money

Semi-private course that welcomes outside play — classic parkland layout in wine country

Semi-private club welcoming outside play with well-conditioned fairways and reasonable rates

Mature parkland layout with excellent conditioning and views of the Coast Range foothills

Well-maintained East Wenatchee course with Columbia River views and excellent value

Scenic coastal course near the Columbia River with views of the Astoria-Megler Bridge

Resort course near Columbia Falls with wide fairways and mountain panoramas

Classic Bozeman club along the Gallatin River; walkable and well-conditioned with mountain backdrop

Robert Trent Jones Jr. muni owned by the city — championship mountain golf at public prices with Yampa Valley views

Classic muni perched above town at Fort Lewis College; cheap, walkable, and stunning panoramic views

Muni course right in town with walkable terrain and mountain views; incredible value for the area

Affordable public course in Rexburg with Teton views — the budget round between bucket-list splurges

Well-kept 18 in Lead with Black Hills pines, creek crossings, and gorgeous canyon views — the best full-length option near Deadwood

Best full 18 in the area; well-maintained Rapid City course with a links feel on the back nine

Best public value in the valley; Bridger Mountain views from every hole and a fun, rolling layout

Tight tree-lined fairways with a links-style finish; the most centrally located course in Bozeman

Well-conditioned course through ponderosa pines with a great practice facility and affordable rates

Fort Carson military course open to public; outstanding mountain views and incredible value

More forgiving sister course along the Snake River; great mountain scenery with less intimidation

Copper Mountain's Pete and Perry Dye design; short but tricky with stunning Gore Range views

Pete Dye design in Gypsum with great valley views; less crowded and more affordable alternative to Vail courses

Fort Collins' best muni; mature trees, tight fairways, and always in great shape

Beautiful Black Hills course winding through ponderosa pines and red rock canyons; the best public track in the area

Best public course in the Black Hills; ponderosa pines and red rock canyons create a stunning layout

Arnold Palmer design at a full-service resort — Cedar River and Schuss Mountain courses also available

Tight fairways through hardwood forest — the toughest of the four courses for some

The most playable of the four — wide fairways with rolling hills and lake views

Lives up to its name — a brawny resort course with tight fairways and demanding greens

Links-inspired layout with Scottish-style mounding — more playable than The Brute

Harry Bowers design through hardwood forest with dramatic elevation changes — overlooking Little Traverse Bay

Tribute to classic Ross design — replica holes from Pinehurst, Seminole, and Oakland Hills

Best public value in the GR metro — mature trees, rolling terrain, and consistently excellent greens

Robert Trent Jones Jr. design on Gull Lake — resort golf with teeth, especially the back nine

Hilltop municipal gem with panoramic city skyline views — best public value in Hamilton County

Denis Griffiths design through North Bend's river bluffs — long, challenging, and well-maintained

Clermont County's best daily-fee course — hilly terrain through wooded ravines

Links-style layout in New Albany — open fairways, pot bunkers, and firm conditions

Ankeny municipal that plays way above its price point — rolling terrain with well-maintained greens

Pleasant Hill's well-designed public course — good mix of challenge and playability through Iowa prairie

Tom Fazio design on the Missouri River bluffs — dramatic holes with 200-foot elevation drops

KC Northland's best public course — strategically bunkered with elevation changes through native Missouri landscape

Lenexa, KS course with dramatic elevation and mature trees — plays long and challenging from the tips

Spring Hill, KS course with wide fairways and fast greens — great for scoring and group-friendly pace

Hales Corners county course with mature oaks and tight fairways — the most challenging of the Milwaukee county tracks

Arthur Hills design through Kettle Moraine terrain — glacial ridges create unique elevation changes you don't expect in Wisconsin

27 holes in west Omaha — three distinct nines with good variety and consistently well-maintained greens

Clyde Johnston design just off-island. Great value play with Kiawah-caliber conditioning at lower rates.

Smaller greens and tighter fairways than its RTJ neighbor. A thinking player's course.

Excellent value with top-notch conditioning. The island's best-kept secret.

Arnold Palmer design with wide fairways and generous greens. The most forgiving of the area courses.

Bruce Devlin design north of town. Consistently well-maintained and the best pure value in the area.

Mike Young design with rolling terrain and mature trees. Solid daily-fee option.

P.B. Dye links-style muni with great bones. Rolling terrain, fescue, and the best value in Lexington.

Rees Jones design at the Marriott resort. Convenient location and solid conditioning. Good for day 1.

Robert Trent Jones Jr. design at Sandestin Resort. Mature oaks, rolling terrain, and resort convenience.

Harbor views and the USS Yorktown as your backdrop. Great twilight rate for arrival day golf.

Scenic mountain layout with dramatic elevation changes and valley views.

Walking-friendly resort course steps from the beach. Good value warm-up round.

27 holes of Ron Garl design. Three distinct nines with excellent conditioning and value.

David Harman design near the convention center. Great value with resort-quality conditioning.

Willard Byrd design through ancient oaks. Classic lowcountry layout at a great price.

Russell Breeden design in Powells Point. Good value with sound-side views.

Joe Lee design on St. Simons. Great value round to balance the Sea Island splurge days.

Longest public course on the Cape — tight, tree-lined fairways that demand accuracy

Shorter companion course at LPC — great for an afternoon round with forgiving fairways

Classic state park course inside Saratoga Spa State Park — great value with mature tree-lined fairways

Semi-private club with public tee times — tight, strategic layout that rewards shot-making

Well-conditioned public course in Victor with a links-style back nine and solid pace of play

Hidden gem near Watkins Glen — hilly terrain, well-maintained greens, very affordable

Williamstown gem in the shadow of the Green Mountains — friendly layout with excellent fall foliage

Waterbury semi-private course — solid value with rolling terrain and mountain views

Well-maintained Scarborough course with water features and a fair test of golf at a good price

Friendly public course in Portsmouth with solid conditioning and a good pace of play

Affordable links-style course right in Egg Harbor Township — great value to round out the trip

Affordable links-inspired public course — good warmup round with open fairways

Clive Clark design with dramatic water carries and coastal wind — excellent value for the quality

Classic Catskills resort course in Greenville with rolling mountain terrain, mature trees, and a throwback vibe that fits the region perfectly

Freehold public course with rolling terrain and a great layout for the price

Classic White Mountains course in Jefferson with Presidential Range views — a well-maintained 18 that complements the resort rounds

Donald Ross design from 1898 — one of the oldest courses in NH with classic mountain golf charm

Donald Ross mountain layout in Bethlehem — 1903 design with stunning White Mountain panoramas and classic New England charm

St. George course with rolling terrain and Green Mountain views — reliable and affordable

Affordable local course with well-maintained greens and classic upstate New York golf charm

Bob Hendricks design in Swainton with coastal wind and well-maintained greens — solid shore golf

27-hole facility in Hopewell Junction — three distinct nines with good variety and solid conditioning

Companion course at HSCC — more open and forgiving than the Arlington with some of the same mountain views

Public course in Bee Cave with Hill Country terrain, well-maintained conditions, and a challenging layout at a reasonable price

North Austin public course with elevation changes, canyon crossings, and some of the best-maintained greens in the city

Former NCAA Championship venue in Euless — strong public course with mature trees and excellent conditioning at a fair price

Peter Jacobsen design in Cypress — big, bold course with rolling terrain and excellent conditions for the price

Jacobsen design in Galveston with coastal breezes, marshland views, and pelicans — unique Texas Gulf Coast golf

Charming par-62 in Uptown New Orleans — perfect for a hangover round under live oaks draped in Spanish moss

Horseshoe Casino's course across the river in Indiana — challenging Fuzzy Zoeller/Clyde Johnston design at a great price

Perry Maxwell design from 1929 — the oldest course in OKC with historic bones, good greens, and a walkable layout at municipal prices

Well-maintained municipal course with tree-lined fairways, solid greens, and good value for the money

Classic Little Rock muni on the Arkansas River — mature trees, good greens, and the best value in the city

Semi-private club with public access — rolling Ozark-edge terrain through pines with reasonable green fees

Robert Trent Jones Sr. design and Baton Rouge's best municipal course — solid layout with mature oaks and good greens

Ken Kavanaugh design companion to the Cove — more forgiving but still scenic with ridge-top views of the lake

Jacobsen design on Galveston Island with coastal marshland, Gulf breezes, and pelicans — unique Texas Gulf Coast golf

Pete Dye hillside layout climbing the oak-studded valley — quirky and scenic

Robert Trent Jones Jr. links-style desert layout — windswept and the best value gem in the valley

Rolling 18 surrounded by actual vineyards south of Napa — the value round in wine country

Vineyard-lined public course near the Napa airport — wide and fun for a mixed-handicap crew

Well-conditioned Camarillo public course — a solid third round if you want more golf

San Mateo muni over the hill — walkable, affordable, and an easy second round

27 holes of affordable Folsom golf — flexible tee times and a fun mixed-handicap layout

Bobby Weed design named for Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen, wrapping the World Golf Hall of Fame village

Surprisingly good value university course near downtown — the budget round of the trip

Tree-lined daily-fee with rolling terrain — a solid second course in town

Kevin Tucker-designed in-town favorite near the University of Memphis — a walkable budget round

City-run course bordered by the Colorado National Monument — great value with water in play

Green Valley desert course with Santa Rita Mountain views — the value second round

Show Low public course winding through ponderosa pines — friendly and walkable

Affordable, walkable city course operating since 1936 with wide fairways and two lakes

Affordable, walkable 1947 course in the pines right in town — the value round

Semi-private hillside layout overlooking the Mesilla Valley — accepts public play

George Fazio / Tom Fazio design in Chester County — mature, tree-lined, and a fair value

Solid, fun member-style track at the Bethpage complex — easy second round of the day

Semi-private parkland course south of the lake — easy second round of the day

Mature, walkable Stonington course near the shore — easy second round of the day

Solid local daily-fee course in Frisco — easy value round to balance the resort fees

Breezy coastal course up the bay in Rockport — easy second round paired with a fishing day

Rolling Ozark daily-fee course near downtown Rogers — easy second round

Tribe-owned tree-lined course in Lincoln City tied to the Chinook Winds Casino — easy second round

Bakersfield's best public daily-fee — well-kept links-style layout with water in play

Tree-lined Lompoc layout (formerly Village CC) — the easier, scenic second round in town

Rolling Santa Maria course with valley views — a value third round on the way up the coast

Wide fairways and gentle layout — a great warm-up round or hangover-recovery course

Wide-open and forgiving layout — the ideal warm-up or hangover round

Shorter sister course — wide open, forgiving, and perfect for a warm-up or hangover round

Hidden gem 18-hole resort course on the Colorado River with waterfront holes and mountain views — worth the drive south

Flat and forgiving course right in Laughlin — cheap, walkable, and perfect for a warm-up round

Long and flat with tree-lined fairways — a good warm-up round at a budget price

Charming 18-hole course in The Dalles with Columbia Gorge views and a welcoming clubhouse — great second-day round

Well-maintained 18 in Goldendale, WA with views of Mt. Adams — worth the drive across the river

Stunning links-style muni near Chambers Bay — best value in Washington state golf

Tight mountain course right in Ketchum — beautiful but bring your A game off the tee

Mountain course right in the village with Cascade peaks on every hole — short but scenic

Beautiful Lake Wenatchee course surrounded by national forest with mountain views in every direction

Well-conditioned daily-fee course through dense Montana forest; great value

Scenic course in Spearfish Canyon; shorter but character-filled with creek crossings and canyon walls

Mature 18-hole course right in Rapid City with tree-lined fairways, well-bunkered greens, and consistent conditioning

Beautiful course through the ponderosa pines of Hot Springs; the best track in the southern Black Hills

Rapid City's top muni; long and mature with Rapid Creek flowing through. Worth the drive.

Executive-length course — great for warm-up rounds or afternoon scrambles

Tim Liddy design through rolling hills and creeks — top public course in Indiana

Semi-private club open to public play — well-maintained fairways and fast greens

Arnold Palmer design on the west side — great for groups with a comfortable layout and strong facilities

Hilly Pataskala track through woods and ravines — feels like Appalachian golf for half the price

Links-style layout across the river in Madison, IL — firm and fast with views of the Gateway Arch

A.W. Tillinghast design in Swope Park — one of the great municipal courses in America, recently restored

Tighter and more demanding than its Cotton Creek sibling. Water on 15 holes keeps you honest.

Earl Stone design with 27 holes in three 9-hole loops. Marshes, lakes, and great value.

Municipal course punching above its weight. Best pure value in the Savannah area.

Tom Jackson links-style design. Open, breezy, and the most walkable course at Sandestin.

Tom Jackson resort course. The shortest and most forgiving at Sandestin. Good warm-up round.

Best value in Metro Nashville. Well-kept, fair layout with some nice elevation changes.

Classic Nashville track with mature trees and tight fairways. Great afternoon round.

Rees Jones design with water on 13 holes. Challenging and well-conditioned daily-fee track.

Tom Clark design with wider fairways — great warm-up round or hangover-day option

Charming semi-private track overlooking Seneca Lake — great views and honest golf

Historic 27-hole facility with Donald Ross roots and solid mountain views at a budget price

Semi-private course in Dalton with tree-lined fairways and a classic New England feel

Arundel municipal course with wide fairways — good warm-up round at a great price

Short but strategic Middletown course right on the island — ocean breezes make it play longer than the card

Charming Seal Harbor course with ocean views — short but strategic, open to the public on select days

27 holes through South Jersey pine barrens — waste bunkers and sandy soil give it a true links feel

Poughkeepsie course with rolling terrain and mature trees — solid public golf at a good price

Affordable municipal course right in town — friendly layout with wildflower-lined fairways in spring

Mountain target golf with dramatic elevation changes — several blind shots over ridgelines keep it interesting

Classic 1920s course with a throwback feel — short but strategic with small, fast greens

Short executive course perfect for an afternoon round or hangover day — fun layout through Ozark hills

27-hole public facility with three distinct 9-hole loops — friendly layout, good conditions, and the best value in Louisville

Shepherdsville public course with well-maintained fairways, reasonable rates, and a solid test without the premium price tag

Two solid 18-hole municipal courses on OKC's south side — well-maintained, affordable, and great for doubling up on rounds

Affordable Osage Beach course with rolling terrain, good greens, and lake-area convenience at budget prices

Mainland course near Galveston in Clear Lake — affordable, well-maintained, and a change of pace from island wind

Two-course public facility in Rohnert Park — the Gold is the tougher, tree-lined test

Ted Robinson public course in the heart of town — wide, friendly, and affordable

Arnold Palmer design with plenty of water — a fair, fun fourth round

Tom Jackson-designed Creekside course — solid, fair, and good value north of town

Easygoing area daily-fee — a fair, affordable fourth round

Pretty 9-holer near the shoreline — quick filler round before the casino

Walkable, well-kept muni along Oso Bay in town — a fun, cheap value round

The Bella Vista club network's hilly Ozark tracks — fun, affordable variety north of town

Second city muni — walkable and cheap, an easy second round of the day

Rolling course near Mammoth Cave — pair it with a cave tour and zipline day

Classic mature parkland muni in Tacoma — affordable, walkable warm-up before the Chambers Bay grind

Well-maintained 18-hole course in Bullhead City with lakes, mature trees, and mountain backdrop — solid value across the river

P.B. Dye resort course with a signature waterfall hole and strong guest-rate value

Two-acre putting course where the after-round beers-and-bets games get serious

Arthur Hills-designed county muni minutes from Erin Hills — a serious, affordable warm-up round

Wisconsin's oldest golf course (1896) on the shore of Green Lake — a charming, walkable classic

Solid value parkland 27-hole facility nearby in Berlin to round out a multi-day trip

Friendly, well-conditioned value track — great for the round where you just want to score

Hillside Harry Bowers design with Lake Michigan views from nearly every hole — strong value round

The original William Newcomb resort course — walkable, fair, and the value round of the trio

Bluff-top course over Torch Lake nearby in Kewadin — stunning water views to round out the trip

Well-conditioned semi-private parkland in Holland — water in play and a strong member-guest feel

Tree-lined Perrysburg layout, a longtime northwest-Ohio favorite for outings

Solid daily-fee value west of Toledo — fair, walkable, and easy to book for a group

Well-regarded Denis Griffiths design in Springboro — a reliable, scoreable value round

Popular daily-fee track east of Dayton — fair and group-friendly

Classic tree-lined semi-private layout — a tidy parkland round to fill the week

Long, well-conditioned public test south of Columbus — strong value second round

Friendly daily-fee track north of Columbus — fair, walkable, and easy to book for a group

Well-regarded public layout in Grove City to round out a multi-day Columbus-area trip

Resort course on Lake Monroe with lodging on site — a self-contained stay-and-play option

Scenic, walkable city muni tucked in a wooded valley — a fun, affordable value round

Classic tree-lined semi-private layout for an outing round to fill the week

Wichita's best muni — long, well-conditioned, and a strong value second round

Well-kept semi-private west-side layout with water in play — a solid outing round

Hutchinson's value muni — a fun, affordable round to fill out the trip around the Prairie Dunes day

Wichita's best muni an hour away — a long, well-kept value round to round out a regional trip

Bismarck's 27-hole tree-lined muni along the Missouri — a strong, affordable value round

Well-kept Mandan muni with water in play — fair, walkable, and great value across the river

Semi-private Bismarck club to round out a multi-day northern-plains trip

4-star Golf Digest muni rambling through rolling hills east of town — scenery plus a fair test

Sioux Falls's classic 27-hole parkland muni — tree-lined, domed greens, and great value

Well-regarded daily-fee track just west of the city to round out a multi-day trip

Nine-hole par-3 short course — perfect for an evening skins game and beers

The third nine for an easy 27-hole day or a relaxed afternoon loop

Play 1884 golf with hickory clubs and gutta-percha balls — America's oldest organized golf course, a bucket-list novelty round

Lit par-3 short course — perfect for a sundown betting game with beers

Short course for a quick betting game before the casino opens up

Short course and academy for a warm-up loop or a quick betting game

Lit 10-hole par-3 course with a putting course and swim-up bar — the ultimate sundown betting game