Public access guide
Best public golf destinations
You don't need a member to play America's best. These destinations stack top-100 public courses inside a single, bookable trip.
Every pick on this list is true public-access — stay-and-play, daily-fee or resort guest. We rank by course pedigree, ease of booking, and how many memorable rounds you can fit into a long weekend.
#1
CA, USA
Pebble Beach
Cliffs, cypress, and the eighth hole — the most copied 100-yard shot in golf.
- Best season
- Apr – Oct
- From
- $4,200
- Luxury
- 98/100
- Nightlife
- 68/100
#2
OR, USA
Bandon Dunes
Five walking-only links on a Pacific bluff. The closest thing American golf has to a pilgrimage.
- Best season
- Jun – Oct
- From
- $2,900
- Luxury
- 78/100
- Nightlife
- 42/100
#3
FL, USA
Stuart
Quiet golf scene in Treasure Coast. Locals know the value plays; visitors should skip unless lodging or schedule already brings them here.
- Best season
- Winter
- From
- $1,250
- Luxury
- 95/100
- Nightlife
- 66/100
GA, USA
Greensboro / Lake Oconee
Quiet golf scene in Lake Country. Locals know the value plays; visitors should skip unless lodging or schedule already brings them here.
- Best season
- Spring-Fall
- From
- $1,250
- Luxury
- 77/100
- Nightlife
- 36/100
FL, USA
Miami
Underrated stop in South Florida. A short list of solid public courses, a few resort options, and almost no waiting list — best treated as a side trip rather than a full week.
- Best season
- Winter
- From
- $1,380
- Luxury
- 81/100
- Nightlife
- 51/100
SC, USA
Aiken
Aiken — a quieter regional golf market with a handful of credible tracks and easy access via AGS.
- Best season
- Spring-Fall
- From
- $1,110
- Luxury
- 88/100
- Nightlife
- 41/100
NY, USA
Long Island
Shinnecock, NGLA, Bethpage Black — the densest great-course strip in America.
- Best season
- May – Oct
- From
- $1,380
- Luxury
- 90/100
- Nightlife
- 72/100
#8
CA, USA
Monterey Peninsula
Spyglass, MPCC, Pacific Grove. The whole peninsula is a green book.
- Best season
- Apr – Oct
- From
- $1,850
- Luxury
- 96/100
- Nightlife
- 68/100
WI, USA
Kohler / Whistling Straits
Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run. Pete Dye at his most theatrical, on a freshwater coast that plays like the British Isles.
- Best season
- May – Oct
- From
- $1,890
- Luxury
- 95/100
- Nightlife
- 42/100
#10
SC, USA
Myrtle Beach
The original buddies-trip capital — 100+ tracks, oceanfront condos, and a Sunday tee sheet that takes an hour to read.
- Best season
- Mar – May, Sep – Nov
- From
- $900
- Luxury
- 55/100
- Nightlife
- 82/100
WI, USA
Door County
Quiet golf scene in Wisconsin Lakeshore. Locals know the value plays; visitors should skip unless lodging or schedule already brings them here.
- Best season
- Summer
- From
- $1,160
- Luxury
- 68/100
- Nightlife
- 45/100
#12
AZ, USA
Scottsdale
TPC Scottsdale, We-Ko-Pa, Troon North. Desert architecture, rooftop pools, and Old Town until 2 a.m.
- Best season
- Nov – Apr
- From
- $1,500
- Luxury
- 85/100
- Nightlife
- 92/100
FAQs
What is the best public golf resort in America?
+−
Bandon Dunes (5 courses), Pinehurst (10 courses) and Streamsong (3 courses) lead the multi-course pure-public list.
Can I play Pebble Beach without a member?
+−
Yes. Pebble is a daily-fee resort — book directly through Pebble Beach Resorts. Stay-and-play guests get priority and discounted rates.
Notable courses
Courses featured in this guide
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach · Neville / Grant
Par 72 · 7,075 yd
Spyglass Hill
Pebble Beach · Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Par 72 · 6,960 yd
Pacific Dunes
Bandon Dunes · Tom Doak
Par 71 · 6,633 yd
Bandon Dunes
Bandon Dunes · David McLay Kidd
Par 72 · 6,732 yd
Martin County Golf Course
Stuart
Sailfish Sands Golf Course
Stuart
Reynolds Lake Oconee - Great Waters
Greensboro / Lake Oconee
Reynolds Lake Oconee - National Bluff
Greensboro / Lake Oconee
Travel tips
What our editors actually do
- 01Bandon, Pinehurst and Streamsong are the gold standard — multi-course campuses fully open to the public.
- 02Book GolfNow alerts for top-100 courses — last-minute cancellations open up regularly inside 72 hours.
- 03Stay on-property: resort guests get priority tee times over walk-ins by 48 hours.
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