Top 10 Public Golf Courses in the United States for 2025

Your trusted guide to America's finest fairways

Experience golfing greatness without the membership. These top 10 public courses deliver championship-level play, breathtaking views, and unforgettable challenges that will elevate your game.

Paired with Hole19 you'll be able to conquer these 10 amazing courses. See how you can take advantage of our app to get the best out of your game.

Top 10 Public Golf Courses That Will Transform Your Game

The right course can change everything about your golf experience, including courses like PGA West, Pasatiempo in Santa Cruz, California, the Pete Dye Course at French Lick in French Lick, Indiana University, and Sand Valley in Rome, WI.

Whether you're tracking your performance with Hole19 or looking for that perfect backdrop for your next round, these public gems combine accessibility with world-class design to help you play your best golf ever, as indicated by their course rankings.

Pebble Beach Golf Links, California – Master Coastal Shot-Making

Pebble Beach sits on the beautiful Monterey Peninsula. It looks out over pacific dunes and waves. This top public course is famous for its beauty and great golf experience.

Feel confident navigating the challenging coastal winds with accurate GPS yardages to navigate those small, lightning-fast greens. The iconic par-3 seventh tests your club selection skills with Pacific Ocean winds demanding precision and commitment to your shot.

Make better decisions with hole-specific Notes for those tricky approach shots – perfect for managing the dramatic elevation changes and coastal hazards that make Pebble Beach legendary.

Pinehurst No. 2, North Carolina – Sharpen Your Short Game

Pinehurst No. 2 is a famous golf course by Donald Ross located in Southern Pines, North Carolina, near Pine Needles. It is in the Sandhills area of the state and is known as a real treasure. With its crowned greens and rolling fairways, this course asks a lot from the best players.

Those iconic crowned greens demand pitch-perfect short game skills. Track your approach shot accuracy and putting stats to identify improvement areas as you navigate one of golf's greatest tests. With Hole19's Shot Tracker, you'll know exactly how far you hit each club – essential knowledge for attacking Pinehurst's strategic layout.

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Oregon – Build Your Links Game Strategy

Bandon Dunes is on the rough and beautiful coast of Oregon. The golf here looks a lot like the old courses you might find in Scotland. This golf spot features five top courses, including the Dunes Course, Old Macdonald, Bandon Trails, and Sheep Ranch, as well as the notable Silvies Valley Ranch.

Embrace the true spirit of links golf where the ground game matters as much as aerial approaches. Use Plays Like Distances to account for the constant coastal winds, giving you the confidence to hit the right club every time. With five distinct courses at your fingertips, Bandon Dunes lets you track multiple rounds and compare your performance across different layouts.

Bethpage Black, New York – Test Your Mental Strength

Bethpage Black is in Farmingdale, New York. It is known as one of the toughest public courses in the country, rivaling other famous courses like Erin Hills. The course was designed by A.W. Tillinghast. It is famous for hosting big tournaments, like the 2019 PGA.

Know exactly what you're facing with accurate GPS readings on this championship monster. With narrow fairways and punishing rough, tracking your Fairways Hit percentage helps target practice priorities. The walking-only policy tests your stamina – use your performance stats to pace yourself through this legendary challenge.

Whistling Straits, Wisconsin – Conquer Links-Style Challenges

Whistling Straits gives you a one-of-a-kind golf outing right on Wisconsin's Lake Michigan coast. Pete Dye designed this Irish course to look like old Irish links courses and added rough ground and changing winds, similar to the experience at Blackwolf Run.

Navigate over 1,000 bunkers with confidence using precise hazard mapping. The constant Lake Michigan winds make Club Recommendation an essential tool for smart shot selection. Track your sand save percentage to measure improvement on one of golf's most bunker-heavy designs.

TPC Sawgrass, Florida – Master Pressure Shots

TPC Sawgrass sits in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and is well-known as the home of The Players Championship. The course is famous for the island green on the 17th hole.

Feel the pressure drop with exact yardages to that iconic island green. Track every shot on this strategic Pete Dye masterpiece where position means everything. Compare your performance to friends with shared scorecards – perfect for those buddy trip bragging rights at the 19th hole.

Streamsong Red, Florida – Experience Modern Links Excellence

Streamsong Red is easy to spot in Florida because of the links-style course, rolling hills, and very big greens, similar to the famous seaside course. It is made by Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw, and Rees Jones. Every shot you take here feels like you are on a journey.

Make confident decisions on massive greens with precise pin positions. Track putts per round to measure improvement on these challenging surfaces. Using Notes feature helps you remember strategic landing areas on returning visits to this modern masterpiece.

Arcadia Bluffs, Michigan – Find Your Edge with Lake Michigan Views

Arcadia Bluffs gives you a special golfing experience with beautiful views. It sits on the coast of Lake Michigan, and the Bluffs Course there stands out for its big hills and amazing looks at the water, much like the famed Marquette Golf Club.

Use Distance Arcs to navigate the dramatic elevation changes with confidence. Track your performance across both the Bluffs and South courses to compare your strengths on different designs. Our detailed Maps provide crystal-clear details to avoid costly mistakes on blind shots.

Chambers Bay, Washington – Adapt to Links-Style Play

Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington, brings real Scottish links style golf to this part of the world. The course was made by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and sits right by the coast. It has wide fairways that go up and down, keeping players interested through every hole, much like the experience at Big Cedar Lodge.

Master firm, fast conditions by tracking your driving distance and roll. Use Advanced Performance Stats to identify which clubs perform best in linksy conditions. Save course notes for each visit as this dynamic layout changes dramatically with different weather conditions.

Torrey Pines South, California – Play Like the Pros

Torrey Pines South in La Jolla, California, is a top spot for public golf and is often mentioned alongside famed courses like Spyglass Hill. The course sits high on coastal cliffs. There, you can look out at the Pacific Ocean while you play.

Experience the same championship challenge the pros face with accurate GPS yardages to narrow targets. Track your performance on the challenging South Course versus the more forgiving North Course. Use Club Recommendations for smart strategic play on one of the PGA Tour's most demanding layouts.