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Golfweek's Best: Top 100 Resort Courses in U.S.

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Every year, Golfweek’s elite team of course raters, which currently boasts more than 850 evaluators, surveys more than 3,600 courses – grading each nominated course on the basis of Golfweek’s 10 strict standards of evaluation. Collectively, these knowledgeable raters have turned in more than 75,000 votes to compile Golfweek’s Best courses lists. Here are Golfweek’s Top 100 Resort Courses in the USA as listed in our Ultimate Guide. Courses are listed with location, date opened, designer and Golfweek rating:

1. Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach, Calif., 1919
D. Grant, Jack Neville
Avg. rating: 8.9

2. Pacific Dunes
Bandon, Ore., 2001
Tom Doak
Avg. rating: 8.86

3. Pinehurst No. 2
Pinehurst, N.C., 2003
Donald Ross
Avg. rating: 8.4

4. Old Macdonald
Bandon, Ore., 2010
Tom Doak, Jim Urbina
Avg. rating: 8.38

5. Whistling Straits (Straits)
Mosel, Wis., 1997
Pete Dye
Avg. rating: 8.31

6. Bandon Dunes
Bandon, Ore., 1999
David McLay Kidd
Avg. rating: 8.2

7. Shadow Creek
North Las Vegas, Nev., 1990
Tom Fazio
Avg. rating: 8.05

8. Ocean Course
Kiawah Island, S.C., 1991
Pete Dye
Avg. rating: 7.88

9. Bandon Trails
Bandon, Ore., 2005
Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw
Avg. rating: 7.8

10. TPC Sawgrass (Players Stadium)
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., 1981
Pete Dye
Avg. rating: 7.73

TPC Sawgrass-No. 17-The Players Championship

The 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course. (Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports)

11. Spyglass Hill
Pebble Beach, Calif., 1966
Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Avg. rating: 7.7

12. Streamsong (Red)
Streamsong, Fla., 2012
Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw
Avg. rating: 7.52

13. Kapalua Plantation
Maui, Hawaii, 1991
Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw
Avg. rating: 7.4

14. Gamble Sands
Brewster, Wash., 2014
David McLay Kidd
Avg. rating: 7.4

15. Sand Valley
Nekoosa, Wis., 2016
Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw
Avg. rating: 7.31

16. Fallen Oak
Saucier, Miss., 2006
Tom Fazio
Avg. rating: 7.28

17. Harbour Town Golf Links
Hilton Head, S.C., 1970
Pete Dye
Avg. rating: 7.28

18. Streamsong (Blue)
Streamsong, Fla., 2012
Tom Doak
Avg. rating: 7.28

19. Omni Homestead Resort (The Cascades)
Hot Springs, Va., 1923
William S. Flynn
Avg. rating: 7.2

A view from No. 1 Blue teebox looking over the fairway and No. 18 Blue fairway at Streamsong Golf Course.

A view from the No. 1 Blue tee box looking over the fairway and No. 18 Blue fairway at Streamsong Golf Course.

20. Manele Golf Course
Lanai, Hawaii, 1993
Jack Nicklaus
Avg. rating: 7.15

21. Forest Dunes – The Loop (Red & Black)
Roscommon, Mich., 1916
Tom Doak
Avg. rating: 7.1

22. Blackwolf Run (River)
Kohler, Wis., 1988
Pete Dye
Avg. rating: 7.09

23. Sea Island (Seaside)
St. Simon Island, Ga., 2000
Charles H. Alison, Harry S. Colt, Joe Lee, Tom Fazio
Avg. rating: 7.02

24. Erin Hills
Hartford, Wis., 2006
Dana Fry, Michael Hurdzan
Avg. rating: 6.98

25. Mid Pines Club
Southern Pines, N.C., 1921
Donald Ross
Avg. rating: 6.97

26. The Prairie Club (Dunes Course)
Valentine, Neb., 2010
Tom Lehman
Avg. rating: 6.96

27. Highland Course at Primland
Meadows of Dan, Va., 2007
Donald Steel
Avg. rating: 6.88

28. Greenbrier (Old White TPC)
White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., 2015
Charles Blair Macdonald, Seth Raynor, Lester George
Avg. rating: 6.86

29. The Dunes G&BC
Myrtle Beach, S.C., 1949
Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Avg. rating: 6.85

30. May River Course at Palmetto Bluff
Bluffton, S.C., 2004
Jack Nicklaus
Avg. rating: 6.83

Pine Needles Golf Course in Southern Pines, N.C.

Pine Needles Golf Course in Southern Pines, N.C.

31. Forest Dunes (Weiskopf Course)
Roscommon, Mich., 2003
Tom Weiskopf
Avg. rating: 6.82

32. Pine Needles
Southern Pines, N.C., 1927
Donald Ross, John Fought
Avg. rating: 6.79

33. French Lick Resort (Pete Dye Course)
French Lick, Ind., 2009
Pete Dye
Avg. rating: 6.78

34. Rams Hill
Borrego Springs, Calif., 2014
Tom Fazio
Avg. rating: 6.77

35. Trump National Doral Miami (Blue Monster)
Doral, Fla., 1962
Dick Wilson, Gil Hanse
Avg. rating: 6.74

36. We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro)
Fountain Hills, Ariz., 2006
Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw
Avg. rating: 6.73

37. Caledonia
Pawleys Island, S.C., 1994
Michael Strantz
Avg. rating: 6.73

38. Full Cry at Keswick Hall and Golf Club
Charlottesville, Va., 2014
Pete Dye
Avg. rating: 6.71

39. Whistling Straits (Irish)
Mosel, Wis., 1999
Pete Dye
Avg. rating: 6.69

40. CordeValle
San Martin, Calif., 2000
Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Avg. rating: 6.67

No. 7 at Whistling Straits

No. 7 at Whistling Straits.

41. Linville GC
Linville, N.C., 1924
Donald Ross
Avg. rating: 6.66

42. Golden Horseshoe (Gold)
Williamsburg, Va., 1965
Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Avg. rating: 6.61

43. Pronghorn (Nicklaus)
Bend, Ore., 2004
Jack Nicklaus
Avg. rating: 6.6

44. Atlantic City CC
Northfield, N.J., 1923
William S. Flynn, Tom Doak
Avg. rating: 6.58

45. Nemacolin Woodlands (Mystic Rock)
Farmington, Pa., 1995
Pete Dye
Avg. rating: 6.58

46. Pine Dunes Resort & GC
Frankston, Texas, 2001
Jay Morrish
Avg. rating: 6.58

47. Ritz-Carlton GC at Dove Mountain (Saguaro & Tortolita)
Marana, Ariz., 2009
Jack Nicklaus
Avg. rating: 6.57

48. Bay Hill Club
Orlando, Fla., 1961
Dick Wilson, Arnold Palmer
Avg. rating: 6.57

49. Crystal Springs Resort (Ballyowen)
Hamburg, N.J., 1998
Roger Rulewich
Avg. rating: 6.57

50. Tobacco Road
Sanford, N.C., 1998
Michael Strantz
Avg. rating: 6.57

Mar 16, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; A tee box on the range is reserved containing a golf bag and umbrella for Arnold Palmer during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at Bay Hill Club and Lodge. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Arnold Palmer will forever be linked to Bay Hill in Orlando. (Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports)

51. PGA West (Stadium)
La Quinta, Calif., 1986
Pete Dye
Avg. rating: 6.53

52. Wilderness at Fortune Bay
Tower, Minn., 2004
Jeff Brauer
Avg. rating: 6.53

53. Barona Creek
Lakeside, Calif., 2000
Gary Roger Baird, Todd Eckenrode
Avg. rating: 6.52

54. Sand Hollow (Championship Course)
St. George, Utah, 2008
John Fought, Andy Staples
Avg. rating: 6.52

55. Broadmoor (East)
Colorado Springs, Colo., 1918
Donald Ross, Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Avg. rating: 6.5

56. Pinehurst (No. 8)
Pinehurst, N.C., 1995
Tom Fazio
Avg. rating: 6.49

57. Princeville Makai
Princeville, Hawaii, 1971
Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Avg. rating: 6.48

58. Black Jack’s Crossing
Lajitas, Texas, 2012
Lanny Wadkins
Avg. rating: 6.46

59. Cape Cod National
Brewster, Mass., 1987
Mark Mungeam, Brian Silva
Avg. rating: 6.42

60. Links at Spanish Bay
Pebble Beach, Calif., 1987
Robert Trent Jones Jr. , Sandy Tatum, Tom Watson
Avg. rating: 6.41

The 15th hole at Pinehurst No. 8.

The 15th hole at Pinehurst No. 8.

61. Horseshoe Bay (Summit Rock)
Horseshoe Bay, Texas, 2012
Jack Nicklaus
Avg. rating: 6.41

62. Salish Cliffs
Shelton, Wash., 2011
Gene Bates
Avg. rating: 6.4

63. Innisbrook (Copperhead)
Tarpon Springs, 1974
Edward Packard, Lawrence Packard
Avg. rating: 6.4

64. The Wilderness Club of Montana
Eureka, Mont., 2009
Nick Faldo
Avg. rating: 6.39

65. Wynn GC
Las Vegas, Nev., 2005
Tom Fazio
Avg. rating: 6.37

66. Mauna Kea Beach  GC
Kamuela, Hawaii, 1966
Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Avg. rating: 6.37

67. Reynolds Lake Oconee (Great Waters)
Greensboro, Ga., 1992
Jack Nicklaus
Avg. rating: 6.36

68. Farmlinks at Pursell Farms
Sylacauga, Ala., 2003
Michael Hurdzan
Avg. rating: 6.36

69. Pelican Hill (Ocean North)
Newport Coast, Calif., 1993
Tom Fazio
Avg. rating: 6.34

70. Tatanka
Niobrara, Neb., 2015
Paul Albanese
Avg. rating: 6.33

71. Four Seasons Resort (Hualalai)
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 2008
Jack Nicklaus
Avg. rating: 6.33

72. Wolf Creek
Mesquite, Nev., 2000
Avg. rating: 6.33

73. The Preserve
Vancleave, Miss., 2007
Jerry Pate
Avg. rating: 6.32

74. PGA National (Champion)
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., 1981
Tom Fazio, Jack Nicklaus
Avg. rating: 6.31

75. True Blue
Pawleys Island, S.C., 1997
Michael Strantz
Avg. rating: 6.29

76. Red Sky (Fazio)
Wolcott, Colo., 2003
Tom Fazio
Avg. rating: 6.29

77. Firekeeper
Mayetta, Kan., 2011
Jeff Brauer, Notah Begay
Avg. rating: 6.28

78. Pelican Hill  (Ocean South)
Newport Coast, Calif., 1992
Tom Fazio
Avg. rating: 6.26

79. Omni Barton Creek (Fazio Canyons)
Austin, Texas, 2001
Tom Fazio
Avg. rating: 6.26

80. The Prairie Club (Pines)
Valentine, Neb., 2010
Graham Marsh
Avg. rating: 6.25

Donald Ross Course at French Lick Resort

Donald Ross Course at French Lick Resort

81. French Lick (Ross)
French Lick, Ind., 1917
Donald Ross
Avg. rating: 6.25

82. Legends Golf Complex (Moorland)
Myrtle Beach, S.C., 1990
P.B. Dye
Avg. rating: 6.23

83. Sagamore
Bolton Landing, N.Y., 1928
Donald Ross
Avg. rating: 6.22

84. Hammock Beach Resort (Ocean)
Palm Coast, Fla., 2000
Jack Nicklaus
Avg. rating: 6.22

85. Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa (Poipu Bay)
Kauai, Hawaii, 1991
Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Avg. rating: 6.21

86. Troon North (Monument)
Scottsdale, Ariz., 1990
Jay Morrish, Tom Weiskopf
Avg. rating: 6.2

87. Reynolds Lake Oconee (Oconee)
Oconee, Ga., 2000
Rees Jones
Avg. rating: 6.18

88. Ak-Chin Southern Dunes
Maricopa, Ariz., 2002
Brian Curley, Lee Schmidt
Avg. rating: 6.17

89. Troon North (Pinnacle)
Scottsdale, Ariz., 1996
Tom Weiskopf
Avg. rating: 6.16

View of Troon North in Scottsdale, Ariz., during the Golfweek West Coast Junior Invitational.

Troon North in Scottsdale, Ariz.

90. Turning Stone Resort (Atunyote)
Verona, N.Y., 2004
Tom Fazio
Avg. rating: 6.16

91. Omni Bedford Springs (Old Course)
Bedford, Pa., 1923
Donald Ross, A.W. Tillinghast, Ron Forse
Avg. rating: 6.16

92. The Classic at Madden’s Lake
Brainerd, Minn., 1997
Scott Hoffman
Avg. rating: 6.16

93. Camp Creek
Panama City Beach, Fla., 2001
Tom Fazio
Avg. rating: 6.15

94. Bald Head Island Club
Bald Head Island, N.C., 1974
George Cobb, Tim Cate
Avg. rating: 6.14

95. Wailea GC (Gold)
Maui, Hawaii, 1994
Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Avg. rating: 6.14

96. TimberStone
Iron Mountain, Mich., 1995
Jerry Matthews
Avg. rating: 6.14

97. Sandestin (Burnt Pine)
Destin, Fla., 2005
Rees Jones
Avg. rating: 6.14

98. Turnberry Isle Miami (Soffer)
Aventura, Fla., 1972
Robert Trent Jones Sr., Raymond Floyd
Avg. rating: 6.13

99. We-Ko-Pa (Cholla)
Fountain Hills, Ariz., 2001
Scott Miller
Avg. rating: 6.1

100. Stonewall Resort
Roanoke, W.Va., 2003
Arnold Palmer
Avg. rating: 6.1

 

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