Top 20 Courses under $100 in the U.S.

Fundamentally, ranking golf courses is a subjective exercise. Better players often prefer more challenging layouts. Less skilled golfers might appreciate wider fairways with fewer forced carries.

That said, the validity of any individual review isn’t tied to whether that golfer has a degree in golf course architecture or a preference for certain types of grasses.

If you’re a golfer, your opinion matters.

 

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About TheGrint’s Rankings

To generate our rankings, we leveraged data from TheGrint, a golf handicap and stat-tracking service that also allows golfers to rate the courses they play. Think of it as something similar to Yelp for golf courses.

Here are the pertinent details:

  • Only considered 18-hole courses with a minimum of 30 reviews in 2021.

  • Only considered public and semi-private courses.

  • Golfers considered course conditions and overall experience as ranking criteria.

  • Rankings derived from more than 600,000 golf course reviews.

  • Some courses are less than $100/round only during off-peak times and/or for residents (e.g. Bethpage State Park | Black Course).

Top U.S. Golf Courses under $100

Observations

  • Only two courses sit on the west coast of the United States.
  • Five of the top twenty courses listed are in Michigan.
  • No other state has more than one course listed.

TOP 10

10. Madden’s On Gull Lake | The Classic (98.13)10

Gull Lake isn’t just another one of Minnesota’s 10,000+ lakes. It’s also a resort destination near Brainerd, MN with four 18-hole courses and various amenities situated on 1000 acres.

9. Wild Horse Golf Club (98.14)9

Without a single building in sight, the serene landscape is accented by knee-high “Wooga” prairie grass. Located in Gothenburg, Nebraska, it’s a diamond in the rough – or more accurately, in central Nebraska.

8. Pronghorn | Nicklaus Course (98.17)8

The Nicklaus Course in Bend, OR is visually stunning. Its ancient lava rock ridges and outcroppings intertwine with natural landscapes and accent magnificent views of the Cascade Mountains.

7. Pinnacle Golf Club (98.21)7

Located in Grove City, OH, Pinnacle is a regular USGA Mid AM host site and features an 18-hole championship course designed by Lanny Wadkins.

6. Black Mesa Golf Club | Black Mesa 1 (98.29)6

Nestled in Northern New Mexico’s Española Valley with views of the Sangre de Cristo and Jemez mountain ranges, Black Mesa Golf Club’s course features dramatic elevation changes and a variety of weather conditions.

5. Fox Run Golf Club (98.37)TOP 20 COURSES UNDER 100 IN THE US 1

Fox Run plays 6,400 yards from the championship tees. Wide fairways and multiple tee boxes make this Ludlow, VT course an attractive option for golfers of all levels.

4. Belvedere Golf Club (98.45)4 1

Belvedere has a rich history and a challenging layout that made this Charlevoix, MI course a regular stop for legends such as Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, and five-time British Open winner Tom Watson.

3. Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club | Arcadia Bluffs (98.49)3 2

The Bluffs course is built to resemble a seaside links course with views of Lake Michigan. If you have time, the property in Arcadia, MI has a second, 18-hole course (South Course) that it describes as “complexity veiled as simplicity.”

2. Bethpage State Park | Black (98.5)2 1

The Black Course (Long Island, NY) has hosted the US Open (twice) and PGA Championship (once). In 2025, it will welcome the Ryder Cup – and possibly some of the most boisterous golf fans on the planet.

1. The Preserve Golf Club | The Preserve (98.95)TOP 20 COURSES UNDER 100 IN THE US 2

The Preserve in Vancleave, MS is all about Southern hospitality and service. Chilled towels, heated cart seats are standard amenities at the award-winning Jerry Pate design.

 

11. Bedford Springs Resort | Old Course

12. Bay Harbor Golf Club | Links/Quarry

13. The Walker Golf Course at Clemson University

14. Red Hawk Golf Club

15. Cinnabar Hills Golf Club | Mountain/Canyon

16. Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort | Wolf

17. Bucks Run Golf Club | Bucks Run

18. Firekeeper Golf Course

19. Beaver Creek Golf Club

20. Old Toccoa Farm

 

Golf is an expensive sport. But playing a round of golf on a well-manicured, upscale course doesn’t have to cost you a week’s worth of groceries.

No doubt, part of the cost of playing a famous course is the name. But many of us are always on the lookout for a quality experience that doesn’t break the bank.

 

With that, what’s the best course in your area for under $100?

 

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