Top 100 Golf Courses in the World You Can Play
Discover the ultimate bucket‑list of public‑access courses – from historic links to modern masterpieces.
EXPLORE THE FULL LISTReady to tick off your dream courses? We’ve curated the definitive ranking of the 100 greatest golf courses on the planet that welcome public play. Whether you’re planning a dedicated golf trip or simply looking for inspiration, this guide spans iconic links, towering championship layouts, secluded resort gems, and hidden public treasures. Every course listed here is accessible to visitors – some require a resort stay or advance booking, but all can be played by you.
Arguably the most famous public course in America, this cliffside championship venue delivers breathtaking Pacific views and a history of U.S. Opens.
Green fee: $595–$625The Home of Golf. This historic links is a pilgrimage every golfer must make, with its double greens, Swilcan Bridge, and relentless strategy.
Green fee: $300–$400A minimalist links masterpiece carved into towering sand dunes. Ocean views on nearly every hole make it a standout at Bandon Dunes.
Green fee: $100–$295Set against the Mountains of Mourne, this links test is often ranked the world’s best. Dramatic dunes and blind shots create an unforgettable round.
Green fee: $320–$385Perched on dramatic cliffs, this resort course offers jaw‑dropping ocean panoramas and a thrilling, immaculately maintained layout.
Green fee: $260+A faux‑links brute along Lake Michigan that has hosted PGA Championships and the Ryder Cup. Expect rugged bunkers and windswept fairways.
Green fee: $410–$560Famous for the 2012 PGA Championship and the 2021 PGA, this windswept coastal beast offers 10 holes right along the Atlantic.
Green fee: $350–$400The People's Country Club – a true public brute that has hosted U.S. Opens and PGA Championships. A walking‑only test of nerve.
Green fee: $75–$150One of the toughest Open Championship links, demanding precision in any wind. Hogan, Watson, and Cabrera all triumphed here.
Green fee: $280–$310The 2019 Open host is a spectacular links with cavernous bunkers, elevated tees, and the famous Calamity Corner.
Green fee: $285–$360A private club that welcomes visitors on select days. Its circular routing and subtle challenges define championship links golf.
Green fee: $335–$400A modern links that feels like it's been there forever. Every hole offers a view of the North Sea, and conditioning is flawless.
Green fee: $320–$400Canada’s purest links experience, with wide fairways, dramatic coastal views, and the feel of a remote Scottish outpost.
Green fee: $150–$220Sister to Cabot Links, this cliff‑hanging masterpiece delivers postcard views on almost every hole, with a routing that defies imagination.
Green fee: $150–$220An exclusive resort course (MGM) built from nothing into a desert oasis. Lavish conditioning and a tranquil, private-club atmosphere.
Green fee: $600 (includes limo & caddie)Home of The Players and the iconic island green 17th. A must‑play championship venue that tests every club in the bag.
Green fee: $450–$600Re‑imagined by Martin Ebert, this Open links boasts the famous lighthouse hole and stunning coastal scenery.
Green fee: $260–$450A modern dunescape design with rugged edges and massive bunkers, offering a taste of links golf in central Florida.
Green fee: $200–$300A timeless Highland links that many regard as the purest golf experience in the world. Raised greens and wild gorse frame every shot.
Green fee: $220–$285A classic heathland gem with immaculate presentation and strategic variety. A favorite of Harry Colt and golf architecture purists.
Green fee: $320–$385Often overshadowed by its older sibling, this superb links shares the same timeless turf and is a joy to play.
Green fee: $130–$180The original Bandon course, a true links with rolling fairways, native fescue, and ocean breezes that change by the minute.
Green fee: $100–$295A modern links that quickly earned a spot on the Scottish Open rotation. Sweeping views of the Moray Firth and bold design features.
Green fee: $245–$310Host of the Scottish Open, this modern layout blends seamlessly with the classic East Lothian landscape. A true test in the wind.
Green fee: $270–$350A legendary links in County Kerry where the dunes create a rollercoaster round. Tom Watson famously called it a “fair test.”
Green fee: $220–$275The “St Andrews of Ireland” – a fun, quirk‑filled links with blind shots (the Dell) and a charming village atmosphere.
Green fee: $200–$250A historic links just north of Dublin, host to numerous Irish Opens. Its subtle strategy and perfect turf are unforgettable.
Green fee: $250–$300An Open Championship links known for its towering dunes and art deco clubhouse. Hosted Spieth’s dramatic 2017 win.
Green fee: $285–$360The quirkiest of the Open rota links, with giant sand hills and humpty fairways that demand creative shotmaking.
Green fee: $285–$360A celebrated heathland course that has hosted the Ryder Cup and many major qualifiers. Heather, gorse, and fast-running fairways define the challenge.
Green fee: $245–$310A majestic parkland layout set in the Perthshire hills. Part of the 2014 Ryder Cup venue and a masterpiece of James Braid.
Green fee: $195–$285The modern Ryder Cup course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, with dramatic water carries and a testing finish.
Green fee: $195–$285A modern classic with a reversible course (The Loop) and a stunning Weiskopf design winding through pines and hardwoods.
Green fee: $150–$250Perched on Lake Michigan, this public course feels like a coastal links with dramatic elevation changes and unforgettable sunsets.
Green fee: $100–$225Gil Hanse’s bold design at Streamsong, with dramatic contours, wide fairways, and massive greens reminiscent of the great Australian sandbelt courses.
Green fee: $200–$300Tom Doak’s contribution to the Streamsong trio, featuring a unique double‑plateau green and a more intimate, strategic routing.
Green fee: $200–$300The restored Donald Ross masterpiece, host to multiple U.S. Opens. Its turtleback greens and sandy waste areas demand creativity.
Green fee: $195–$495One of the most visually striking and fun public courses in the country. Blind shots, dramatic landforms, and creative routing at a great value.
Green fee: $100–$200A classic resort course that has hosted the PGA Tour’s RSM Classic. Marsh views and a cool ocean breeze define the round.
Green fee: $250–$350PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage host, famous for its red‑and‑white lighthouse and tree‑lined, strategic design by Pete Dye.
Green fee: $250–$350A player‑friendly Tom Fazio design with wide corridors, beautiful marsh views, and a more relaxed alternative to the Ocean Course.
Green fee: $200–$275A Mike Strantz design with huge fairways, bold bunkering, and a refreshing, risk‑reward philosophy. A Myrtle Beach highlight.
Green fee: $100–$150A beautifully manicured Lowcountry gem with live oaks, antebellum‑style clubhouse, and a memorable 18th hole over water.
Green fee: $150–$200A Donald Ross design that has hosted multiple U.S. Women’s Opens. Rolling terrain and classic Ross greens that demand precise approaches.
Green fee: $100–$250Another Ross gem in the Sandhills, with a charming, old‑school feel. Firm, fast conditions and subtle strategy define the experience.
Green fee: $100–$200Often called “the poor man’s Pine Valley,” this public layout features sandy waste areas, dramatic bunkering, and a secluded natural setting.
Green fee: $50–$100Home of the rowdy WM Phoenix Open. The famous 16th hole coliseum is a bucket‑list experience you can play year‑round.
Green fee: $150–$450A pure desert public course with no homes in sight, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Strategic options and stunning Sonoran views.
Green fee: $100–$225A quintessential desert target‑golf experience, with giant saguaros and stunning boulder formations framing every hole.
Green fee: $100–$250Dramatic rock outcroppings and high‑desert scenery make this resort layout unforgettable. The back nine plays through towering granite formations.
Green fee: $150–$300The co‑host of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro‑Am. A demanding Robert Trent Jones Sr. design that opens through coastal dunes before climbing into the forest.
Green fee: $415–$465A Scottish‑style links along the Pacific, with pot bunkers, native grasses, and a bagpiper closing the day at sunset.
Green fee: $300–$395Alister MacKenzie’s home course, a semi‑private gem with rolling fairways, deep bunkers, and some of the finest green complexes in the world.
Green fee: $250–$350A public U.S. Open venue perched on the cliffs of La Jolla. The views are spectacular, and the kikuyu rough is punishing.
Green fee: $50–$250Host of the 2015 U.S. Open, this dramatic public links on Puget Sound features massive dunes, fescue turf, and a lone tree behind the 15th green.
Green fee: $80–$200A wide, firm, and fast links‑style course above the Columbia River. The generous fairways invite you to unleash the driver.
Green fee: $100–$200The first course at the Keiser’s Wisconsin sand‑based resort, evoking the heathland courses of England. Firm turf and strategic bunkers.
Green fee: $100–$225David McLay Kidd’s wide, rollicking design at Sand Valley, with massive fairways and greens that create endless fun and shot options.
Green fee: $100–$225The 2017 U.S. Open site, a public walking‑only course with dramatic glacial terrain, knee‑high fescue, and panoramic views.
Green fee: $150–$300Pete Dye’s original Kohler layout, a shotmaker’s paradise along the Sheboygan River. Precise iron play is rewarded.
Green fee: $200–$350The second course at Whistling Straits, a kinder, more playful links experience with meandering streams and wild dune grasses.
Green fee: $200–$350Tom Doak’s reversible course – you play it clockwise one day, counter‑clockwise the next. A pure, minimalist golf experience.
Green fee: $150–$250A stunning public course on the Upper Peninsula, built through rocky outcroppings with Lake Superior as a backdrop.
Green fee: $100–$200A tribute to C.B. Macdonald, this wide‑open links features enormous greens and template holes like the Biarritz and Cape.
Green fee: $100–$295The newest addition to Bandon, with 1 mile of ocean frontage, broad fairways, and a natural, free‑flowing design.
Green fee: $100–$295A beautiful contrast to the links courses, winding through coastal forest and dunes. The routing climbs to a stunning viewpoint.
Green fee: $100–$295A David McLay Kidd design that blends high‑desert terrain with rugged bunkers and firm turf. A semi‑private gem in central Oregon.
Green fee: $100–$200A high‑desert resort course set among ancient junipers and lava rock. Impeccable conditioning and dramatic elevation changes.
Green fee: $150–$300A resort course that meanders along the Deschutes River, with mountain views and a serene, secluded feel.
Green fee: $150–$250Famous for the floating green on the 14th hole, reached by a small boat. A scenic resort course with impeccable service.
Green fee: $200–$300Stanley Thompson’s masterpiece in the Canadian Rockies. Towering peaks, the Bow River, and a historic castle hotel create an epic round.
Green fee: $115–$190Another Thompson classic, with wide fairways carved through a national park. Wildlife sightings and breathtaking scenery are part of the package.
Green fee: $115–$190A mountain resort course with dramatic elevation changes, rushing creeks, and dense forests. The backdrop of Blackcomb Mountain is unforgettable.
Green fee: $115–$190A spectacular public course overlooking Kamloops Lake, with rugged desert terrain and a thrilling, modern design.
Green fee: $75–$115A rugged, minimalist semi‑private course on a hillside overlooking Nicola Lake. Firm, fast, and wildly fun.
Green fee: $115–$150One of the world’s greatest championship tests. The composite course used for the Presidents Cup is available to visitors on weekdays.
Green fee: $330+A revered sandbelt course with firm turf, creative bunkering, and a world‑class routing. Regularly hosts the Australian Open.
Green fee: $265+A true public links on Tasmania’s northeast coast, with towering dunes, firm fairways, and a remote, windswept beauty.
Green fee: $80–$100Adjacent to Barnbougle Dunes, this course features more elevation change and stunning ocean views, with a sleek, modern design.
Green fee: $80–$100A bucket‑list public course on a remote island, with 10 holes hugging the coastline. The setting rivals the best in the world.
Green fee: $85–$105A dramatic clifftop course on King Island, with panoramic ocean views and a wild, natural feel that rivals Cape Wickham.
Green fee: $85–$105A dramatic clifftop layout overlooking Botany Bay. Limited visitor access, but worth the effort for a world‑class experience.
Green fee: $230+A Greg Norman design set among spectacular dunes on the Mornington Peninsula. Visitors can play on selected weekdays.
Green fee: $165+An under‑the‑radar heathland gem, architecturally rich with heather, gorse, and a wonderful variety of holes. Excellent value.
Green fee: $90–$155A charming Surrey heathland course with a strong collection of par 4s and subtle green complexes. A favorite among purists.
Green fee: $100–$170A modern parkland championship test that has hosted the British Masters. Wide fairways and large greens encourage attacking golf.
Green fee: $130–$230A rugged links in North Devon with giant dunes, fast‑running fairways, and a true championship pedigree.
Green fee: $100–$155A superb links overlooking the Bristol Channel, host to the Senior Open and the Walker Cup. Firm turf and a welcoming club.
Green fee: $155–$230Known as the “Links in the Sky,” this quirky public course sits high above Three Cliffs Bay. Wild, fun, and utterly unique.
Green fee: $65–$100A remote links on the Mull of Kintyre with one of the most thrilling opening tee shots in golf – over the Atlantic.
Green fee: $100–$170A wildly imaginative links with blind shots, towering dunes, and a stretch of holes set right against the North Sea.
Green fee: $170–$230A historic links full of character – stone walls, the famous Redan hole, and views across the Firth of Forth.
Green fee: $195–$260A classic links that rises and falls over ancient turf, with panoramic views from the high points and a genuine Scottish welcome.
Green fee: $195–$260A renowned Open links with the famous Postage Stamp hole and a back nine that plays into the prevailing wind.
Green fee: $300–$360Where the Open Championship began. This historic links is packed with blind shots, deep bunkers, and a timeless sense of adventure.
Green fee: $180–$260A classic Ayrshire links squeezed between the railway and the sea, with firm turf, wispy rough, and a formidable back nine.
Green fee: $180–$260A hidden gem on the Solway Firth, this links offers a stern but fair test with wonderful greens and a peaceful, remote setting.
Green fee: $80–$130Often overshadowed by the Ailsa, this is a superb championship course with panoramic views of the Ailsa Craig and a tough closing stretch.
Green fee: $150–$250A luxurious modern parkland resort course that has hosted a World Golf Championship. Immaculate conditioning and a high‑end experience.
Green fee: $230–$300A Jack Nicklaus Signature design in the Sierra Nevada. Towering pines, mountain air, and exceptional variety make it a must‑play public course.
Green fee: $120–$200Note: Green fees are approximate and may vary by season, tee time, and resort stay requirements. Always check the official course website or call ahead for the latest rates and visitor policies.
