Golfweek’s Best 2021: Best private golf courses in every state

Where’s the best private golf in each state? With this list of Golfweek’s Best Private Courses, we present the best such layouts, as judged by our nationwide network of raters.

The members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them based on our 10 criteria. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings on each course are averaged together to produce a final rating for each course. Each course is then ranked against other courses in its state to produce the final rankings.

KEY: (m) modern, built in 1960 or after; (c) classic, built before 1960. (For courses with a number preceding the (m) or (c), that is where the course ranks on Golfweek’s Best lists for top 200 modern and classic courses in the U.S.) * Indicates new or returning to the rankings.

SEE ALSO

Golfweek’s Best 2021: Best public golf courses you can play, state by state

Golfweek’s Best 2021: Top 100 public golf courses across the U.S.

Golfweek’s Best 2021 Classic Courses: From Augusta National to Pebble Beach, these are the top 200 courses that were built before 1960

Golfweek’s Best 2021 Modern Courses: From Bandon Dunes to Shadow Creek, these are the top 200 courses that were built after 1960

Alabama

1. Shoal Creek
Birmingham (No. 79 m)

2. CC of Birmingham (West)
Birmingham (c)

3. The Ledges
Huntsville (m)

4. Turtle Point Yacht & CC
Killen (m)

5. Old Overton
Birmingham (m)

Arizona

1. Estancia
Scottsdale (No. 17 m)

2. Desert Forest
Carefree (No. 48 m)

3. Scottsdale National (The Other Course)
Scottsdale (m)

4. Forest Highlands (Canyon)
Flagstaff (T97 m)

5. The Rim
Payson (m)

6. Stone Canyon
Tucson (m)

7. Whisper Rock (Lower)
Scottsdale (m)

8. Whisper Rock (Upper)
Scottsdale (m)

9. Desert Highlands
Scottsdale (m)

10. Silverleaf
Scottsdale (m)

11. Pine Canyon
Flagstaff (m)

12. Forest Highlands (Meadow)
Flagstaff (m)

13. Mirabel
Scottsdale (m)

14. Torreon (Cabin)
Show Low (m)

15. Superstition Mountain (Prospector)
Gold Canyon (m)

16. Desert Mountain (Cochise)
Scottsdale (m)

17. Troon CC
Scottsdale (m)

18. Flagstaff Ranch
Flagstaff (m)

19. GC at Dove Mountain (Saguaro/Tortolita)
Marana (m)

20. The Gallery (North)
Marana (m)

Arkansas

1. Alotian Club
Roland (m)

2. Texarkana CC
Texarkana (c)

3. The Blessings
Fayetteville (m)

4. Hardscrabble
Fort Smith (c)

5. Big Creek
Mountain Home (m)

California

1. Cypress Point
Pebble Beach (No. 3 c)

2. Los Angeles CC (North)
Los Angeles (No. 14 c)

3. San Francisco GC
San Francisco (No. 17 c)

4. Riviera
Pacific Palisades (No. 18 c)

5. California GC
South San Francisco (No. 33 c)

6. Olympic Club (Lake)
San Francisco (T34 c)

7. Valley Club of Montecito
Santa Barbara (T36 c)

8. Monterey Peninsula (Shore)
Pebble Beach (T27 m)

9. Monterey Peninsula (Dunes)
Pebble Beach (No. 56 c)

10. Bel-Air
Los Angeles (T57 c)

11. Martis Camp
Truckee (No. 47 m)

12. Madison Club
La Quinta (m)

13. Mayacama
Santa Rosa (No. 75 m)

14. Quarry at La Quinta
La Quinta (m)

15. Tradition
La Quinta (T97 m)

16. Meadow Club
Fairfax (c)

17. Wilshire
Los Angeles (c)

18. Stone Eagle
Palm Desert (m)

T19. Santa Lucia Preserve
Carmel (m)

T19. Bridges at Rancho Sante Fe
Rancho Santa Fe (m)

Colorado

1. Ballyneal
Holyoke (No. 4 m)

2. Colorado GC
Parker (T33 m)

3. Castle Pines
Castle Rock (T55 m)

4. Cherry Hills
Englewood (T78 c)

5. CC of the Rockies
Edwards (m)

T6. Frost Creek
Eagle (m)

T6. Maroon Creek
Aspen (m)

8. Glacier Club (Mountain)
Durango (m)

9. Roaring Fork Club
Basalt (m)

10. Sanctuary
Sedalia (m)

Connecticut

1. Yale Golf Course
New Haven (No. 55 c)
Editor’s note: Yale began allowing public play from Connecticut residents only in 2021. Call the course for details. 

2. CC of Fairfield
Fairfield (T95 c)

3. Stanwich Club
Greenwich (No. 94 m)

4. Tamarack
Greenwich (c)

5. Round Hill
Greenwich (c)

Delaware

1. Bidermann
Wilmington (m)

2. Wilmington CC (South)
Wilmington (m)

3. Fieldstone
Greenville (m)

4. The Peninsula
Millsboro (m)

5. Wilmington CC (North)
Wilmington (m)

Florida

1. Seminole
Juno Beach (No. 12 c)

2. Calusa Pines
Naples (T25 m)

3. John’s Island Club (West)
Vero Beach (No. 64 m)

4. Mountain Lake
Lake Wales (T70 c)

5. Jupiter Hills Club (Hills)
Tequesta (T85 m)

6. Indian Creek
Miami Beach (c)

7. Naples National
Naples (m)

8. The Bear’s Club
Jupiter (m)

9. Concession
Bradenton (T100 m)

10. High Ridge
Lantana (m)

11. McArthur
Hobe Sound (m)

12. Loblolly
Hobe Sound (m)

13. Pine Tree
Boynton Beach (m)

14. Medalist
Hobe Sound (m)

15. Boca Rio
Boca Raton (m)

16. Coral Creek
Placida (m)

17. Trump International
West Palm Beach (m)

18. Old Memorial
Tampa (m)

19. Pablo Creek
Jacksonville (m)

20. Floridian
Palm City (m)

Georgia

1. Augusta National
Augusta (No. 2 c)

2. Ohoopee Match Club
Cobbtown (No. 7 m)

3. Peachtree
Atlanta (T21 c)

4. Augusta CC
Augusta (No. 65 c)

5. Cherokee Town (South)
Dunwoody (m)

6. East Lake
Atlanta (T87 c)

7. Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee
Eatonton (T100 m)

8. Ocean Forest
Sea Island (m)

9. Cherokee Town (North)
Dunwoody (c)

10. Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands)
John’s Creek (m)

11. Frederica
St. Simons Island (m)

12. The Farm
Rocky Face (m)

13. Ford Field & River Club
Richmond Hill (m)

14. Lookout Mountain
Lookout Mountain (c)

15. Atlanta CC
Marietta (m)

Hawaii

1. Nanea
Kona (m)

2. Kukio Golf & Beach Club
Kailua-Kona (m)

3. Kohanaiki
Kailua-Kona (m)

4. Kukui’ula
Koloa (m)

5. Hokulia
Kailua-Kona (m)

Idaho

1. Gozzer Ranch
Harrison (T35 m)

2. The Tributary
Driggs (T49 m)

T3. Whitetail
McCall (m)

T3. Black Rock
Coeur d’Alene (m)

T5. SpurWing
Meridian (m)

T5. Rock Creek
Coeur d’Alene (m)

Illinois

1. Chicago GC
Wheaton (No. 8 c)

2. Shoreacres
Lake Bluff (No. 19 c)

3. Butler National
Oak Brook (T42 m)

4. Beverly
Chicago (c)

T5. Old Elm
Highland Park (T59 c)

T5. Olympia Fields (North)
Olympia Fields (No. 61 c)

7. Medinah CC (No. 3)
Medinah (T76 c)

8. Black Sheep
Sugar Grove (T82 m)

9. Skokie
Glencoe (T90 c)

10. Olympia Fields CC (South)
Olympia Fields (c)

11. Chicago Highlands
Westchester (m)

12. Conway Farms
Lake Forest (m)

13. Flossmoor GC
Flossmoor (c)

14. Merit Club
Libertyville (m)

15. Medinah CC (No. 1)
Medinah (c)

Indiana

1. Victoria National
Newburgh (No. 46 m)

2. Crooked Stick
Carmel (T61 m)

3. Culver Academies
Culver (No. 97 c)

4. Sycamore Hills
Fort Wayne (m)

5. South Bend CC
South Bend (c)

Iowa

1. Cedar Rapids CC
Cedar Rapids (T67 c)

2. Davenport
Pleasant Valley (T70 c)

3. Harvester
Rhodes (T69 m)

4. Des Moines G&CC (South)
West Des Moines (m)

5. Des Moines G&CC (North)
West Des Moines (m)

Kansas

1. Prairie Dunes
Hutchinson (No. 11 c)

2. Flint Hills National
Andover (m)

3. Kansas City CC
Mission Hills (c)

4. Wolf Creek
Olathe (m)

5. Shadow Glen
Olathe (m)

Kentucky

1. Valhalla
Louisville (T80 m)

2. Olde Stone
Bowling Green (m)

3. Idle Hour
Lexington (c)

4. Hurstbourne
Louisville (m)

5. Audubon
Louisville (c)

Louisiana

1. Squire Creek
Choudrant (m)

2. Baton Rouge CC
Baton Rouge (c)

3. CC of Louisiana
Baton Rouge (m)

4. New Orleans CC
New Orleans (c)

5. LaTour
Mathews (m)

Maine

1. Prouts Neck
Scarborough (c)

2. Portland CC
Falmouth (c)

3. York Golf & Tennis Club
York (c)

4. Woodlands Club
Falmouth (m)

Maryland

1. Baltimore CC (East)
Timonium (T39 c)

2. Congressional (Blue)
Bethesda (T87 c)

3. Woodmont (North)
Rockville (c)

4. Caves Valley
Owings Mills (m)

5. Columbia
Chevy Chase (c)

6. Chevy Chase CC
Chevy Chase (c)

7. Burning Tree
Bethesda (c)

8. Congressional (Gold)
Bethesda (m)

9. TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm
Potomac (m)

10. Four Streams
Beallsville (m)

Massachusetts

1. The Country Club (Composite)
Brookline (No. 25 c)

2. Myopia Hunt Club
Hamilton (No. 32 c)

3. Old Sandwich
Plymouth (T19 m)

4. Boston GC
Hingham (T21 m)

5. Essex
Manchester-by-the-Sea
(T39 c)

6. Eastward Ho!
Chatham (No. 44 c)

7. Kittansett Club
Marion (T47 c)

8. Salem CC
Peabody (T74 c)

9. Whitinsville GC
Whitinsville (No. 82 c)

10. Sankaty Head
Siasconset (T83 c)

T11. Taconic
Williamstown (c)

T11. Nantucket GC
Siasconset (m)

13. Winchester CC
Winchester (c)

14. Hyannisport Club

Hyannis Port (c)

15. Worcester CC
Worcester (c)

Michigan

1. Crystal Downs
Frankfort (No. 13 c)

2. Oakland Hills (South)
Bloomfield Hills (T23 c)

3. Kingsley Club
Kingsley (No. 18 m)

4. Dunes Club
New Buffalo (T44 m)

5. Franklin Hills
Franklin (T72 c)

6. Indianwood (Old)
Lake Orion (c)

7. Lost Dunes
Bridgman (m)

8. Meadowbrook
Northville (c)

T9. Wuskowan Player’s Club
West Olive (m)

T9. Orchard Lake CC
Orchard Lake (c)

11. Barton Hills
Ann Arbor (c)

12. Point O’Woods
Benton Harbor (c)

13. CC of Detroit
Grosse Pointe Farms (c)

14. Detroit GC (North)
Detroit (c)

15. Oakland Hills (North)
Bloomfield Hills (c)

Minnesota

1. Interlachen
Edina (No. 62 c)

2. White Bear Yacht Club
White Bear Lake (T78 c)

3. Hazeltine National
Chaska (T76 m)

4. Spring Hill
Orono (No. 78 m)

5. Minikahda
Minneapolis (T95 c)

6. Windsong Farm
Independence (m)

7. Golden Valley CC
Golden Valley (c)

8. Northland
Duluth (c)

9. Somerset
Mendota Heights (c)

10. Somerby
Byron (m)

Mississippi

1. Annandale
Madison (m)

2. Reunion
Madison (m)

3. CC of Jackson
Jackson (m)

4. Laurel CC
Laurel (c)

5. Hattiesburg CC
Hattiesburg (m)

Missouri

1. St. Louis CC
St. Louis (No. 45 c)

2. Bellerive
Creve Couer (m)

3. Dalhousie
Cape Girardeau (m)

4. Old Warson
Ladue (c)

5. Persimmon Woods
Weldon Springs (c)

Montana

1. Rock Creek Cattle Company
Deer Lodge (T23 m)

2. The Stock Farm
Hamilton (m)

3. Moonlight Basin Ranch (Reserve)
Big Sky (m)

4. Iron Horse
Whitefish (m)

5. Spanish Peaks Mountain Club
Big Sky (m)

Nebraska

1. Sand Hills
Mullen (No. 1 m)

2. Dismal River Club (Doak)
Mullen (T35 m)

3. Omaha CC
Omaha (c)

4. ArborLinks
Nebraska City (m)

5. Dismal River Club (Nicklaus)
Mullen (m)

Nevada

1. Clear Creek Tahoe
Carson City (T97 m)

2. Southern Highlands
Las Vegas (m)

3. Montreux
Reno (m)

4. TPC Summerlin
Las Vegas (m)

5. SouthShore
Henderson (m)

New Hampshire

1. Golf Club of New England
Greenland (m)

2. Bald Peak Colony Club
Melvin Village (c)

3. Baker Hill
Newbury (m)

4. Lake Winnipesaukee
New Durham (m)

5. Montcalm
Enfield (m)

New Jersey

1. Pine Valley GC
Pine Valley (No. 1 c)

2. Somerset Hills
Bernardsville (No. 20 c)

3. Plainfield
Edison (No. 27 c)

T4. Ridgewood (Championship)
Paramus (No. 49 c)

T4. Baltusrol (Lower)
Springfield (No. 50 c)

6. Hollywood
Deal (T57 c)

7. Galloway National
Galloway Township (T42 m)

8. Baltusrol (Upper)
Springfield (T59 c)

9. Bayonne GC
Bayonne (T65 m)

10. Hidden Creek
Egg Harbor Township (T92 m)

T11. Mountain Ridge
West Caldwell (c)

T11. Essex County
West Orange (c)

13. Hamilton Farm
Gladstone (m)

14. Ridge at Back Brook
Ringoes (m)

15. Trump National (Old)
Bedminster (m)

New Mexico

1. Albuquerque CC
Albuquerque (c)

2. Rainmakers
Alto (m)

3. Las Campanas (Sunset)
Santa Fe (m)

4. Las Campanas (Sunrise)
Santa Fe (m)

5. Four Hills
Albuquerque (m)

New York

1. Shinnecock Hills
Southampton (No. 4 c)

2. National Golf Links of America
Southampton (No. 5 c)

3. Fishers Island Club
Fishers Island (No. 10 c)

4. Friar’s Head
Baiting Hollow (No. 3 m)

5. Winged Foot (West)
Mamaroneck (No. 15 c)

6. Sebonack
Southampton (No. 6 m)

7. Maidstone Club
East Hampton (No. 26 c)

8. Quaker Ridge
Scarsdale (No. 28 c)

9. Garden City GC
Garden City (No. 29 c)

10. Winged Foot (East)
Mamaroneck (No. 31 c)

11. Sleepy Hollow
Briarcliff Manor (No. 42 c)

12. Piping Rock
Locust Valley (No. 43 c)

13. Oak Hill (East)
Rochester (T53 c)

14. Creek Club
Locust Valley (T67 c)

15. Brookfield
Clarence (c)

16. Silo Ridge Field Club
Amenia (m)

17. Atlantic GC
Bridgehampton (m)

T18. Hudson National
Croton-on-Hudson (T69 m)

T18. Fenway
Scarsdale (T76 c)

20. St. George’s
Setauket (T78 c)

North Carolina

1. Wade Hampton Club
Cashiers (No. 11 m)

2. Old Town Club
Winston-Salem (T21 c)

3. Mountaintop
Cashiers (T59 m)

4. Quail Hollow Club
Charlotte (T65 m)

5. Grandfather (Championship)
Linville (T69 m)

6. Roaring Gap Club
Roaring Gap (T78 c)

7. Charlotte CC
Charlotte (T83 c)

8. Diamond Creek
Banner Elk (T76 m)

9. Eagle Point
Wilmington (m)

10. Dormie Club
West End (m)

11. Forest Creek (North)
Pinehurst (m)

12. Biltmore Forest
Asheville (c)

13. Champion Hills
Hendersonville (m)

14. Cape Fear
Wilmington (c)

15. Cliffs at Walnut Cove
Arden (m)

North Dakota

1. Oxbow Country Club
Oxbow (m)

2. Fargo CC
Fargo (c)

3. Apple Creek
Bismarck (c)

4. Grand Forks
Grand Forks (m)

Ohio

1. Muirfield Village
Dublin (No. 12 m)

2. Camargo Club
Indian Hill (T23 c)

3. The Golf Club
New Albany (No. 16 m)

4. Inverness Club
Toledo (T47 c)

5. Scioto
Columbus (No. 52 c)

T6. Brookside
Canton (No. 69 c)

T6. Double Eagle
Galena (No. 57 m)

8. Canterbury
Beachwood (T72 c)

9. Moraine
Dayton (T74 c)

10. Kirtland
Willoughby (T93 c)

11. NCR CC (South)
Kettering (c)

T12. The Country Club
Pepper Pike (c)

T12. Sand Ridge
Chardon (m)

14. Firestone (South)
Akron (c)

15. Pepper Pike Club
Pepper Pike (c)

Oklahoma

1. Southern Hills
Tulsa (No. 38 c)

2. Oak Tree National
Edmond (No. 39 m)

3. Patriot
Owasso (No. 87 m)

4. GC of Oklahoma
Broken Arrow (m)

5. Twin Hills
Oklahoma City (c)

Oregon

1. Eugene CC
Eugene (T95 m)

2. Pronghorn (Fazio)
Bend (m)

3. Waverley
Portland (c)

4. Pumpkin Ridge (Witch Hollow)
North Plains (m)

5. Portland GC
Portland (c)

Pennsylvania

1. Oakmont CC
Oakmont (No. 6 c)

2. Merion (East)
Ardmore (No. 7 c)

3. Philadelphia Cricket Club (Wissahickon)
Flourtown (T36 c)

4. Fox Chapel
Pittsburgh (No. 63 c)

5. Aronimink
Newtown Square (No. 64 c)

6. Lancaster CC
Lancaster (T83 c)

7. CC of Scranton
Scranton (T87 c)

8. Laurel Valley
Ligonier (T90 c)

T9. Stonewall Links (Old)
Elverson (m)

T9. Gulph Mills
King of Prussia (c)

T11. Saucon Valley (Weyhill)
Bethlehem (m)

T11. Rolling Green
Springfield (c)

13. Philadelphia CC (Spring Mill)
Gladwyne (c)

14. Kahkwa Club
Erie (c)

15. Huntingdon Valley CC
Huntingdon Valley (c)

T16. Sunnehanna
Johnstown (c)

T16. Saucon Valley (Old)
Bethlehem (c)

T16. Lehigh
Allentown (c)

19. Longue Vue Club
Verona (c)

20. Pittsburgh Field Club
Pittsburgh (c)

Rhode Island

1. Newport CC
Newport (No. 51 c)

2. Wannamoisett
Rumford (T53 c)

3. Shelter Harbor
Westerly (No. 58 m)

4. Misquamicut
Westerly (T93 c)

5. Rhode Island CC
Barrington (c)

South Carolina

T1. Yeaman’s Hall Club
Charleston (No. 41 c)

T1. Congaree
Ridgeland (No. 30 m)

3. Cherokee Plantation
Yemassee (m)

4. Long Cove
Hilton Head Island (No. 73 m)

5. Colleton River (Pete Dye)
Bluffton (T85 m)

6. Secession
Gibbes Island (T88 m)

7. Sage Valley
Graniteville (m)

8. Spring Island (Old Tabby Links)
Okatie (m)

9. Cliffs at Mountain Park
Travelers Rest (m)

T10. Palmetto
Aiken (c)

T10. Kiawah Island Club (Cassique)
Kiawah Island (m)

T10. Kiawah Island Club (River Course)
Kiawah Island (m)

13. Greenville CC (Chanticleer)
Greenville (m)

14. Chechesee Creek
Okatie (m)

15. Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards
Sunset (m)

South Dakota

1. Sutton Bay
Agar (T65 m)

2. Minnehaha
Sioux Falls (c)

3. Dakota Dunes CC
Dakota Dunes (m)

Tennessee

1. Honors Course
Ooltewah (No. 24 m)

2. Holston Hills
Knoxville (No. 98 c)

3. GC of Tennessee
Kingston Springs (m)

4. Spring Creek Ranch
Collierville (m)

5. Black Creek
Chattanooga (m)

Texas

1. Whispering Pines
Trinity (T19 m)

2. Dallas National
Dallas (T37 m)

3. Bluejack National
Montgomery (T61 m)

4. Colonial
Fort Worth (No. 86 c)

T5. Austin GC
Spicewood (T88 m)

T5. Boot Ranch
Fredericksburg (T88 m)

7. Wolf Point Ranch
Port Lavaca (m)

T8. Brook Hollow
Dallas (c)

T8. Maridoe
Carrolton (m)

10. Trinity Forest
Dallas (m)

11. Club at Carlton Woods (Fazio Championship)
The Woodlands (m)

12. Spanish Oaks
Bee Cave (m)

13. Briggs Ranch
San Antonio (m)

14. Escondido
Horseshoe Bay (m)

15. Oak Hills
San Antonio (c)

Utah

1. Talisker Club at Tuhaye
Kamas (m)

2. Glenwild
Park City (m)

3. Victory Ranch
Kamas (m)

4. Promontory (Painted Valley)
Park City (m)

5. The Country Club
Salt Lake City (c)

Vermont

1. Ekwanok
Manchester (c)

2. CC of Vermont
Waterbury Center (m)

3. Burlington CC
Burlington (c)

4. Quechee Club (Highland)
Quechee (m)

5. Vermont National
South Burlington (m)

Virginia

1. Kinloch
Richmond (T27 m)

2. Olde Farm
Bristol (T61 m)

3. Robert Trent Jones GC
Lake Manassas (No. 74 m)

4. CC of Virginia (James River)
Richmond (c)

T5. The Virginian and Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards
Bristol (m)

T5. Ballyhack
Roanoke (m)

Washington

1. Aldarra
Sammamish (m)

2. Suncadia (Tumble Creek)
Roslyn (m)

3. Sahalee (South/North)
Redmond (m)

4. Tacoma C&GC
Lakewood (c)

5. Seattle GC
Seattle (c)

West Virginia

1. Pikewood National
Morgantown (T25 m)

2. Pete Dye GC
Bridgeport (T33 m)

3. Greenbrier Sporting Club
(Snead)
White Sulphur Springs (m)

4. Williams
Weirton (c)

5. Moundsville
Moundsville (c)

Wisconsin

1. Milwaukee CC
Milwaukee (No. 46 c)

2. Blue Mound
Wauwatosa (c)

3. Oneida
Green Bay (c)

T4. Minocqua CC
Minocqua (m)

T4. North Shore
Menasha (c)

Wyoming

1. Shooting Star
Teton Village (No. 51 m)

2. Snake River Sporting Club
Jackson (m)

3. GC at Devils Tower
Hulett (m)

4. Powder Horn
Sheridan (m)

5. Three Creek Ranch
Jackson (m)