Every top-100 course you can actually play
Most of America's greatest golf courses are private clubs. These 23 are not. They are ranked below exactly as they sit on the national list — no separate public-only ranking, just the top 100 with the private clubs filtered out.
- Private
- Resort
- Public / semi-private
Show the numbers
| Access | Courses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Private | 77 | 77% |
| Resort | 17 | 17% |
| Public / semi-private | 6 | 6% |
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pacific Dunes
Pinehurst Resort (No. 2)
Whistling Straits (Straits Course)
TPC Sawgrass (Stadium Course)
Bethpage State Park (Black Course)
Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Ocean Course)
Bandon Dunes
Shadow Creek Golf Club
Bandon Trails
The Lido at Sand Valley
Old Macdonald
Harbour Town Golf Links
Spyglass Hill Golf Course
Pasatiempo Golf Club
Streamsong Resort (Red Course)
Streamsong Resort (Black Course)
Erin Hills Golf Course
Gamble Sands
Chambers Bay Golf Course
Pete Dye Golf Club
Kapalua Plantation Course
Sweetens Cove Golf Club
What "public" means on this list
Access is recorded in three categories. Public means anyone can book a tee time, including municipal courses — Bethpage State Park (Black Course), Erin Hills Golf Course, Gamble Sands, Chambers Bay Golf Course and Sweetens Cove Golf Club. Resort means play is open to guests of the attached resort, and often to the general public at a higher rate. Semi-private means a club with members that also sells outside tee times.
12 states are represented, led by Oregon with 4. The oldest is Pinehurst Resort (No. 2) (1907); the newest is The Lido at Sand Valley (2023).
Rates, seasons and booking windows change constantly, so this page does not quote them. Every profile links to the official course website, which is the authoritative source. See how we rank, or browse the TPC Network for more courses open to public play.
Frequently asked questions
How many of America's top 100 golf courses are open to the public?
23 of the 100. 5 are true public or municipal courses, 17 are resort courses open to guests, and the remaining 1 are semi-private. The other 77 are private clubs that require member sponsorship.
What is the highest-ranked public golf course in America?
Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California, ranked #9 nationally. It is a resort course designed by Jack Neville & Douglas Grant (original), H. Chandler Egan (renovation) and opened in 1919.
Which states have the most playable top-100 courses?
Oregon (4), California (3), Wisconsin (3) and Florida (3).
Can I book a tee time through this site?
No. topcourses.golf is an independent reference, not a booking service. Each course profile links to the official course or resort website, which is where tee times, rates and access rules are published.