ORLANDO, Fla. – Part of the uniqueness of golf is that any recreational golfer can play some of the very same courses they see the pros play on TV every week, as well as hundreds more that host the sport’s most prestigious tournaments. With bucket lists everywhere in mind, NBC Sports Next’s GolfPass has just released its latest Top 100 list, America’s Top 100 Tournament Golf Courses You Can Play.
To determine its rankings, the editorial team at GolfPass examined the tournament histories of America’s best public and resort courses, from those that have hosted professional events on golf’s major tours, including the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour, to venues where some of the biggest championships are held by the PGA of America and United States Golf Association – even courses hosting college and elite junior tournaments.
“We love this list because it identifies many of America’s top public and resort courses for their commitment to host premier tournaments,” said Jason Scott Deegan, managing editor at GolfPass. “We took into account each course’s tournament history, difficulty, stature in the game and came out with an incredible mix of places to play. It’s not just about playing where the pros play either. We included top college courses and excellent daily fee courses that host prominent amateur and club pro events, as well.”
Both California and Florida each have six ranked courses in the top 25 on the list, including gems like Northern California’s Pebble Beach Golf Links, which has hosted six U.S. Open Championships, more than any other course over the past 50 years; and Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, which has invited the PGA TOUR’s best pros to compete at The King’s Florida home every spring since 1979.
Deegan said his team tried to balance a course’s tournament pedigree against its difficulty and critical acclaim. Golfers also can book tee times – or even a golf vacation – to many of the tournament venues on the list directly from the articles on GolfPass.
Below are the top 25-ranked courses on the America’s Top 100 Golf Courses You Can Play list, which are presented in three articles highlighting 1-25, 26-50, and 51-100, including course descriptions. These lists and the popular Golfers’ Choice lists, can be found in the Travel section on GolfPass.
- Pinehurst No. 2, N.C.
- Pebble Beach Golf Links, Calif.
- PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, Fla.
- Bethpage Black, N.Y.
- Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, S.C.
- Straits Course at Whistling Straits, Wis.
- South Course at Torrey Pines, Calif.
- South Course at Firestone Country Club, Ohio
- Harbour Town at Sea Pines Resort, S.C.
- TPC Harding Park, Calif.
- Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Fla.
- Erin Hills, Wis.
- Chambers Bay, Wash.
- Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale, Ariz.
- Plantation Course at Kapalua, Hawaii
- Stadium Course at PGA West, Calif.
- Champion Course at PGA National Golf Resort & Spa, Fla.
- Shadow Creek, Nev.
- Spyglass Hill at Pebble Beach Resorts, Calif.
- Blue Monster at Trump National Doral Miami, Fla.
- Copperhead at Innisbrook Resort, Fla.
- North Course at La Costa Resort & Spa, Calif.
- Gold Course at Tiburon, Fla.
- Raptor Course at Grayhawk Golf Club, Ariz.
- Seaside Course at Sea Island, Ga.
GOLFPASS HELPS GOLFERS PLAY MORE AND BETTER GOLF: GolfPass offers a vast instructional library featuring more than 4,500 video titles, including Ask Rory, The Golf Fix, The Next Shot, School of Golf, and The Swing Gym, hosted by top instructors like Devan Bonebrake, Nathalie Sheehan, Martin Hall and Chris Como, as well as golf fitness expert Don Saladino. GolfPass also offers a selection of lifestyle content available exclusively as part of a GolfPass membership, including shows like Better off with Hally Leadbetter, Home Course Advantage, My Roots, My Daily Routine, and more. Developed in partnership between global golf superstar Rory McIlroy and NBC Sports Next – the innovation and technology division of NBC Sports – GolfPass is designed for today’s golfer and is the only digital golf membership that delivers exclusive content and comprehensive tee-time benefits designed to help every type of golfer – from beginner to expert – play more and better golf. A GolfPass membership is available in North America at GolfPass.com, in the U.K. and Republic of Ireland at GolfPass.co.uk, and in Australia at www.GolfPass.com.au. The GolfPass membership also is available via connected TV, iOS and Android apps.
About NBC Sports Next
NBC Sports Next is a subdivision of NBC Sports and home to all NBCUniversal digital applications in sports and technology within Golf and Youth & Recreational Sports. Known for its sports technology product innovation, NBC Sports Next equips more than 30 million players, coaches, athletes, sports administrators and fans in 40 countries with more than 25 sports solution products, including SportsEngine, an industry leader in youth sports club, league and team management technology and youth sports editorial content; SportsEngine Play, a first-of-its-kind subscription streaming service for capturing and viewing live and on-demand video of youth and amateur sporting events, and offering the industry’s most comprehensive collection of player development and training content; GolfNow, the leading online tee time marketplace and provider of golf course operations technology and services; and GolfPass, the ultimate golf membership that connects golfers to exclusive content, tee time credits, coaching, tips and other benefits. NBC Sports Next is fueled by its mission to innovate, create larger-than-life events and connect with sports fans through technology to provide the ultimate in immersive experiences.
Dan Higgins
NBC Sports Next
407-496-8107
