Category: Travel

The best public-access and private golf courses in Pennsylvania, ranked

Our hundreds of raters weigh in on the best public-access and private courses in Pennsylvania.

Looking to play the best golf courses in Pennsylvania? Welcome to our annual Golfweek’s Best ranking of public-access and private courses.

Following are the rankings for both types of courses, as judged by our nationwide network of raters. The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them on 10 criteria on a points basis of 1 through 10. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings are averaged to produce all our Golfweek’s Best course rankings.

The courses on the first list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or by staying at an affiliated hotel. If there’s a will, there’s a tee time – no membership required.

KEY: (m) modern, built in 1960 or after; (c) classic, built before 1960. For courses with a number preceding the (m) or (c), that is where the course ranks on Golfweek’s Best lists for top 200 modern and classic courses in the U.S.

* indicates new or returning to the rankings

Best public-access courses in Pennsylvania

Omni Bedford Springs’ Old Course in Pennsylvania (Courtesy of Omni Bedford Springs)

1. Omni Bedford Springs (Old)
Bedford (c)
Book your tee time at Omni Bedford Springs today

2. Nemacolin (Mystic Rock)
Farmington (m)

3. Golf Course at Glen Mills
Glen Mills (m)

4. Olde Stonewall
Ellwood City (m)

5. Hershey CC (West)
Hershey (c)

6. Nemacolin (Shepherd’s Rock)
Farmington (m)

T7. Links at Gettysburg
Gettysburg (m)

T7. Jeffersonville GC
Jeffersonville (c)
Book your tee time at Jeffersonville today

9. Wyncote
Oxford (m)
Book your tee time at Wyncote today

10. Club at Morgan Hill
Easton (m)
Book your teem time at Morgan Hill today

Best private courses in Pennsylvania

Oakmont
Oakmont in Pennsylvania (Fred Vuich/Getty Images)

1. Oakmont CC
Oakmont (6c)

2. Merion (East)
Ardmore (7c)

3. Philadelphia Cricket Club (Wissahickon)
Flourtown (T43c)

4. Fox Chapel
Pittsburgh (62c)

5. Aronimink
Newtown Square (64c)

6. Lancaster CC
Lancaster (T77c)

7. Laurel Valley
Ligonier (86c)

8. CC of Scranton
Clarks Summit (95c)

9. Gulph Mills
King of Prussia (T11c)

10. Stonewall (Old)
Elverson (T122m)

11. Rolling Green
Springfield (T125c)

T12. Huntingdon Valley
Huntingdon Valley (T128c)

T12. Kahkwa Club
Erie (c)

T14. Pittsburgh Field Club
Pittsburgh (T135c)

T14. Saucon Valley (Weyhill)
Bethlehem (T161m)

16. Saucon Valley (Old)
Bethlehem (T138c)

17. Philadelphia CC (Spring Mill)
Gladwyne (141c)

18. Applebrook*
Malvern (T178m)

T19. Longue Vue
Verona (T146c)

T19. Manufacturers
Fort Washington (T146c)

The best public-access and private golf courses in Oregon, ranked

Our hundreds of raters weigh in on the best public-access and private courses in Oregon.

Looking to play the best golf courses in Oregon? Welcome to our annual Golfweek’s Best ranking of public-access and private courses.

Following are the rankings for both types of courses, as judged by our nationwide network of raters. The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them on 10 criteria on a points basis of 1 through 10. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings are averaged to produce all our Golfweek’s Best course rankings.

The courses on the first list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or by staying at an affiliated hotel. If there’s a will, there’s a tee time – no membership required.

KEY: (m) modern, built in 1960 or after; (c) classic, built before 1960. For courses with a number preceding the (m) or (c), that is where the course ranks on Golfweek’s Best lists for top 200 modern and classic courses in the U.S.

* indicates new or returning to the rankings

Best public-access courses in Oregon

Sheep Ranch Bandon Dunes
The Sheep Ranch at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon (Courtesy of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort)

1. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Pacific Dunes)
Bandon (3m)

2. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Old Macdonald)
Bandon (T8m)

3. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Bandon Trails)
Bandon (11m)

4. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Bandon Dunes)
Bandon (12m)

5. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Sheep Ranch)
Bandon (T24m)

6. Silvies Valley Ranch (Hankins)
Seneca (T122m)

7. Silvies Valley Ranch (Craddock)
Seneca (T173m)

8. Sunriver Resort (Crosswater)
Sunriver (m)

[afflinkbutton text=”Book your round at Sunriver today” link=”https://www.golfbreaks.com/en-us/vacations/usa/sunriver-resort/crosswater/?cid=999741591&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=golfweek&utm_campaign=best_public_by_state_list_q2_24_gw”]

9. Pumpkin Ridge (Ghost Creek)
North Plains (m)
Book your tee time at Pumpkin Ridge today

10. Juniper Preserve Pronghorn Club (Nicklaus)
Bend (m)

11. Brasada Ranch (Brasada Canyons)
Powell Butte (m)

12. Gearhart Golf Links
Gearhart (c)
Book your tee time at Gearhart today

13. Tetherow
Bend (m)

14. Langdon Farms
Aurora (m)

15. Tokatee*
McKenzie Bridge (m)
Book your tee time at Tokatee today

Best private courses in Oregon

Eugene CC, ranked No. 90
Eugene Country Club in Oregon (Courtesy of Eugene Country Club)

1. Eugene CC
Eugene (104m)

2. Waverley
Portland (T120c)

3. Pronghorn (Fazio)
Bend (T132m)

4. Pumpkin Ridge (Witch Hollow)
North Plains (m)

5. Columbia Edgewater
Portland (c)

6. Astoria
Warrenton (c)

7. Bend GC
Bend (c)

8. Portland GC
Portland (c)

9. Illahe Hills
Salem (m)

10. Broken Top Club*
Bend (m)

The best public-access and private golf courses in Ohio, ranked

Our hundreds of raters weigh in on the best public-access and private courses in Ohio.

Looking to play the best golf courses in Ohio? Welcome to our annual Golfweek’s Best ranking of public-access and private courses.

Following are the rankings for both types of courses, as judged by our nationwide network of raters. The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them on 10 criteria on a points basis of 1 through 10. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings are averaged to produce all our Golfweek’s Best course rankings.

The courses on the first list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or by staying at an affiliated hotel. If there’s a will, there’s a tee time – no membership required.

KEY: (m) modern, built in 1960 or after; (c) classic, built before 1960. For courses with a number preceding the (m) or (c), that is where the course ranks on Golfweek’s Best lists for top 200 modern and classic courses in the U.S.

* indicates new or returning to the rankings

Best public-access courses in Ohio

Manakiki in Ohio (Kyle Lanzer/Cleveland Metroparks)

1. Firestone (South)
Akron (T165c)

2. Firestone (North)
Akron (m)

3. Fowler’s Mill (Lake & River)
Chesterland (m)

4. Manakiki
Willoughby (c)

T5. The Virtues
Nashport (m)

T5. Firestone (Fazio)
Akron (m)

7. Sleepy Hollow Brecksville (c)

8. Stonelick Hills
Batavia (m)

9. The Quarry
Canton (m)

10. Deer Ridge Golf Club*
Bellville (m)

Best private courses in Ohio

Muirfield Village in Ohio during the 2024 Memorial Tournament (Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports)

1. Muirfield Village
Dublin (10m)

2. Camargo Club
Indian Hill (T27c)

3. The Golf Club
New Albany (21m)

4. Inverness Club
Toledo (46c)

5. Scioto
Columbus (55c)

T6. Brookside
Canton (T71c)

T6. Moraine
Dayton (T71c)

8. Canterbury
Beachwood (87c)

9. Double Eagle
Galena (89m)

10. Kirtland
Willoughby (96c)

11. The Country Club
Pepper Pike (97c)

12. NCR CC (South)
Kettering (T100c)

13. Pepper Pike Club
Pepper Pike (c)

14. Sand Ridge
Chardon (T192m)

15. Coldstream
Cincinnati (cT198)

The best public-access and private golf courses in New Mexico, ranked

Our hundreds of raters weigh in on the best public-access and private courses in New Mexico.

Looking to play the best golf courses in New Mexico? Welcome to our annual Golfweek’s Best ranking of public-access and private courses.

Following are the rankings for both types of courses, as judged by our nationwide network of raters. The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them on 10 criteria on a points basis of 1 through 10. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings are averaged to produce all our Golfweek’s Best course rankings.

The courses on the first list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or by staying at an affiliated hotel. If there’s a will, there’s a tee time – no membership required.

KEY: (m) modern, built in 1960 or after; (c) classic, built before 1960. For courses with a number preceding the (m) or (c), that is where the course ranks on Golfweek’s Best lists for top 200 modern and classic courses in the U.S.

* indicates new or returning to the rankings

Best public-access courses in New Mexico

Black Mesa in New Mexico (Courtesy of Black Mesa)

1. PaaKo Ridge
Sandia Park (T138m)

2. University of New Mexico (Championship)
Albuquerque (m)

3. Black Mesa
Espanola (m)

4. Red Hawk
Las Cruces (m)
Book your tee time at Red Hawk today

5. Rockwind Community Links
Hobbs (m)
Book your tee time at Rockwind Community Links today

6. Cochiti GC
Cochiti Lake (m)

7. Sandia
Albuquerque (m)
Book your tee time at Sandia today

8. Piñon Hills
Farmington (m)
Book your tee time at Piñon Hills today

9. Twin Warriors
Santa Ana Pueblo (m)

10. Taos CC
Taos (m)
Book your tee time at Taos CC today

Best private courses in New Mexico

Rainmakers in New Mexico (Courtesy of Rainmakers)

1. Rainmakers
Alto (m)

2. Las Campanas (Sunset)
Santa Fe (m)

3. Las Campanas (Sunrise)
Santa Fe (m)

4. Canyon Club at Four Hills
Albuquerque (m)

5. Albuquerque CC
Albuquerque (c)

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge reported to have survived horrifying wildfire in Canada

With horrifying flames nearby, historic Canadian lodge remains standing.

A massive wildfire that rushed into Jasper in Alberta, Canada, has left much of the town in ruins. Local news outlets reported that 30 to 50 percent of structures have burned as 300-foot-plus walls of flames poured across the mountainous landscape Wednesday and Thursday. Nearby Jasper National Park likewise suffered extensive damage.

The area is also home to the historic Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and its golf course, which opened in 1925 with a layout by famed Canadian designer Stanley Thompson. The course is rated among the best classic courses in the country.

The lodge was evacuated as the fires approached, but after many anxious hours it appears the lodge and course escaped most of the damage so far, as firefighters are still combating the inferno.

The lodge posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday evening that the hotel did incur fire damage, but most of the lodge’s structures had so far remained intact, including the main lodge. While it will take time to assess all the damage around the lodge, its operators posted “we are deeply relieved that much of the property was spared and the resort will reopen in the future.”

Guests with upcoming reservations in the short term were advised their plans will be canceled as the full scope of the fire damage is evaluated. The lodge asks that anyone who has booked a visit call 800-257-7544 or 403-762-2211 to reach the reservations team for further guidance.

The staff went on to thank the many organizations that have fought the fire or offered assistance, care and relief. The lodge pledged its support to the community and colleagues when rebuilding efforts begin.

The best public-access and private golf courses in Nebraska, ranked

Our hundreds of raters weigh in on the best public-access and private courses in Nebraska.

Looking to play the best golf courses in Nebraska? Welcome to our annual Golfweek’s Best ranking of public-access and private courses.

Following are the rankings for both types of courses, as judged by our nationwide network of raters. The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them on 10 criteria on a points basis of 1 through 10. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings are averaged to produce all our Golfweek’s Best course rankings.

The courses on the first list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or by staying at an affiliated hotel. If there’s a will, there’s a tee time – no membership required.

KEY: (m) modern, built in 1960 or after; (c) classic, built before 1960. For courses with a number preceding the (m) or (c), that is where the course ranks on Golfweek’s Best lists for top 200 modern and classic courses in the U.S.

* indicates new or returning to the rankings

Best public-access courses in Nebraska

The Dunes Course at the Prairie Club in Nebraska (Courtesy of the Prairie Club)

1. Landmand
Homer (T40m)

2. Prairie Club (Dunes Course)
Valentine (94m)

3. Wild Horse
Gothenburg (113m)
Book your tee time at Wild Horse today

4. Prairie Club (Pines Course)
Valentine (m)

5. Bayside
Brule (m)
Book your tee time at Bayside today

Best private courses in Nebraska

Sand Hills
Sand Hills Golf Club in Nebraska (David Cannon/Getty Images)

1. Sand Hills
Mullen (1m)

2. CapRock Ranch
Valentine (15m)

3. Dismal River Club (Red)
Mullen (51m) • p.98

4. Omaha CC
Omaha (T122c)

5. Lost Rail*
Gretna (T147m)

The best public-access and private golf courses in New York, ranked

Our hundreds of raters weigh in on the best public-access and private courses in New York.

Looking to play the best golf courses in New York? Welcome to our annual Golfweek’s Best ranking of public-access and private courses.

Following are the rankings for both types of courses, as judged by our nationwide network of raters. The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them on 10 criteria on a points basis of 1 through 10. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings are averaged to produce all our Golfweek’s Best course rankings.

The courses on the first list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or by staying at an affiliated hotel. If there’s a will, there’s a tee time – no membership required.

KEY: (m) modern, built in 1960 or after; (c) classic, built before 1960. For courses with a number preceding the (m) or (c), that is where the course ranks on Golfweek’s Best lists for top 200 modern and classic courses in the U.S.

* indicates new or returning to the rankings

Best public-access courses in New York

Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point
Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point in New York (Courtesy of Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point)

1. Bethpage State Park (Black)
Farmingdale (26c)
Book your tee time at Bethpage Black today

2. Leatherstocking
Cooperstown (T161c)
Book your tee time at Leatherstocking today

3. Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point (formerly Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point)
New York (m)
Book your tee time at Ferry Point today

4. Turning Stone Resort Casino (Atunyote)
Verona (m)

5. Sagamore
Bolton Landing (c)

6. Bethpage State Park (Red)
Farmingdale (c)
Book your tee time at Bethpage Red today

7. Montauk Downs State Park
Montauk Point (m)
Book your tee time at Montauk Downs today

8. Greystone
Walworth (m)

9. Turning Stone Resort Casino (Shenendoah)
Verona (m)

10. Pound Ridge
Pound Ridge (m)
Book your tee time at Pound Ridge today

11. Ravenwood
Victor (m)

12. Mansion Ridge*
Monroe (m)
Book your tee time at Mansion Ridge today

13. Saratoga National
Saratoga Springs (m)
Book your tee time at Saratoga National today

14. Turning Stone Resort Casino (Kaluhyat)*
Verona (m)

15. Centennial*
Carmel (m)
Book your tee time at Centennial today

Best private courses in New York

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
Shinnecock Hills in New York (David Cannon/Getty Images)

1. Shinnecock Hills
Southampton (4)

2. National Golf Links of America
Southampton (5c)

3. Fishers Island Club
Fishers Island (9c)

4. Friar’s Head
Baiting Hollow (2m)

5. Winged Foot (West)
Mamaroneck (15c)

6. Sebonack
Southampton (7m)

7. Maidstone Club
East Hampton (25c)

8. Garden City GC
Garden City (29c)

9. Oak Hill (East)
Rochester (30c)

10. Winged Foot (East)
Mamaroneck (33c)

11. Quaker Ridge
Scarsdale (T34c)

12. Sleepy Hollow
Scarborough (37c)

13. Piping Rock
Locust Valley (39c)

14. Creek Club
Locust Valley (T60c)

15. St. George’s
Setauket (T66c)

16. Glens Falls
Queensbury (T68c)

17. CC of Buffalo
Williamsville (T77c)

18. Fenway
Scarsdale (T84c)

19. Hudson National
Croton-on-Hudson (T71m)

20. Atlantic GC
Bridgehampton (m)

The best public-access and private golf courses in Colorado, ranked

Our hundreds of raters weigh in on the best public-access and private courses in Colorado.

Looking to play the best golf courses in Colorado? Welcome to our annual Golfweek’s Best ranking of public-access and private courses.

Following are the rankings for both types of courses, as judged by our nationwide network of raters. The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them on 10 criteria on a points basis of 1 through 10. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings are averaged to produce all our Golfweek’s Best course rankings.

The courses on the first list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or by staying at an affiliated hotel. If there’s a will, there’s a tee time – no membership required.

KEY: (m) modern, built in 1960 or after; (c) classic, built before 1960. For courses with a number preceding the (m) or (c), that is where the course ranks on Golfweek’s Best lists for top 200 modern and classic courses in the U.S.

* indicates new or returning to the rankings

Best public-access courses in Colorado

The Broadmoor’s East in Colorado (Courtesy of the Broadmoor)

1. Redlands Mesa
Grand Junction (m)
Book your tee time at Redlands Mesa today

2. Red Sky (Fazio)
Wolcott (m)

3. The Broadmoor (East)
Colorado Springs (c)

T4. RainDance National*
Windsor (m)

T4. Red Sky (Norman)
Wolcott (m)

6. Haymaker
Steamboat Springs (m)

7. CommonGround
Aurora (m)
Book your tee time at CommonGround today

T8. TPC Colorado
Berthoud (m)

T8. The Broadmoor (West)
Colorado Springs (c)

10. Bear Dance
Larkspur (m)
Book your teem time at Bear Dance today

Best private courses in Colorado

Cherry Hills
Cherry Hills Country Club in Colorado (Courtesy of Cherry Hills/Brian Walters)

1. Ballyneal
Holyoke (4m)

2. Colorado GC
Parker (27m)

3. Cherry Hills
Cherry Hills Village (63c)

4. Castle Pines
Castle Rock (57m)

5. CC of the Rockies
Edwards (m)

6. Maroon Creek
Aspen (m)

7. Glacier Club (Mountain)
Durango (m)

8. Frost Creek
Eagle (m)

9. Roaring Fork Club
Basalt (m)

10. Denver CC*
Denver (T183c)

The best public-access and private golf courses in Minnesota, ranked

Our hundreds of raters weigh in on the best public-access and private courses in Minnesota.

Looking to play the best golf courses in Minnesota? Welcome to our annual Golfweek’s Best ranking of public-access and private courses.

Following are the rankings for both types of courses, as judged by our nationwide network of raters. The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them on 10 criteria on a points basis of 1 through 10. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings are averaged to produce all our Golfweek’s Best course rankings.

The courses on the first list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or by staying at an affiliated hotel. If there’s a will, there’s a tee time – no membership required.

KEY: (m) modern, built in 1960 or after; (c) classic, built before 1960. For courses with a number preceding the (m) or (c), that is where the course ranks on Golfweek’s Best lists for top 200 modern and classic courses in the U.S.

* indicates new or returning to the rankings

Best public-access courses in Minnesota

Madden's Gull Lake
The Classic at Madden’s on Gull Lake in Minnesota (Courtesy of Madden’s on Gull Lake)

1. Giants Ridge (Quarry)
Biwabik (T122m)

T2. Breezy Point Resort (Deacon’s Lodge)
Brainerd (m)
Book your tee time at Breezy Point

T2. Madden’s on Gull Lake (Classic)
Brainerd (m)

4. Wilderness at Fortune Bay
Tower (m)

5. Giants Ridge (Legend)
Biwabik (m)

6. Chaska Town Course
Chaska (m)

7. Meadows at Mystic Lake
Prior Lake (m)
Book your tee time at Mystic Lake

8. StoneRidge
Stillwater (m)

9. The Wilds
Prior Lake (m)

10. Rush Creek
Maple Grove (m)
Book your tee time at Rush Creek today

Best private courses in Minnesota

Hazeltine National in Minnesota (USGA/Russell Kirk)

1. Spring Hill
Wayzata (T47m)

2. Interlachen
Edina (65c)

3. Minikahda Club
Minneapolis (T81c)

4. Hazeltine National
Chaska (T77m)

5. White Bear Yacht Club
White Bear Lake (T89c)

6. Windsong Farm
Independence (T154m)

7. Northland
Duluth (T161c)

8. Somerset
Mendola Heights (c)

9. Minneapolis GC
St. Louis Park (c)

10. Somerby Golf Club*
Byron (m)

The best public-access and private golf courses in Maine, ranked

Our hundreds of raters weigh in on the best public-access and private courses in Maine.

Looking to play the best golf courses in Maine? Welcome to our annual Golfweek’s Best ranking of public-access and private courses.

Following are the rankings for both types of courses, as judged by our nationwide network of raters. The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them on 10 criteria on a points basis of 1 through 10. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings are averaged to produce all our Golfweek’s Best course rankings.

The courses on the first list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or by staying at an affiliated hotel. If there’s a will, there’s a tee time – no membership required.

KEY: (m) modern, built in 1960 or after; (c) classic, built before 1960. For courses with a number preceding the (m) or (c), that is where the course ranks on Golfweek’s Best lists for top 200 modern and classic courses in the U.S.

* indicates new or returning to the rankings

Best public-access courses in Maine

Boothbay Harbor CC in Maine (Courtesy of Boothbay Harbor)

1. Boothbay Harbor
Boothbay (c)

2. Cape Arundel
Kennebunkport (c)

3. Belgrade Lakes GC
Belgrade Lakes (m)

4. Kebo Valley*
Bar Harbor (c)
Book your tee time at Kebo Valley today

5. Sugarloaf
Carrabassett Valley (m)

Best private courses in Maine

1. Portland CC
Falmouth (c)

2. Prouts Neck
Scarborough (c)

3. York Golf & Tennis Club
York (c)

4. Woodlands Club
Falmouth (m)