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)

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

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

Looking to play the best golf courses in Massachusetts? 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 Massachusetts

Miacomet in Massachusetts (Courtesy of Miacomet)

1. Cape Cod National
Brewster (m)

2. Miacomet
Nantucket (m)
Book your tee time at Miacomet today

3. Farm Neck
Oak Bluffs (m)

4. Red Tail
Devens (m)

5. The Ranch
Southwick (m)
Book your tee time at The Ranch today

6. Crumpin-Fox
Bernardston (m)
Book your tee time at Crumpin-Fox today

7. George Wright Municipal
Boston (c)

T8. Cranberry Valley Golf Course*
Harwich (m)
Book your tee time at Cranberry Valley today

T8. Pinehills (Nicklaus)
Plymouth (m)
Book your tee time at Pinehills today

10. Granite Links
Quincy (m)

Best private courses in Massachusetts

The Kittansett Club in Massachusetts (USGA/Fred Vuich)

1. The Country Club (Composite)
Brookline (24)

2. Myopia Hunt Club
Hamilton (T31c)

3. Eastward Ho!
Chatham (40c)

4. Essex
Manchester-by-the-Sea (42c)

5. Old Sandwich
Plymouth (29m)

6. Boston GC
Hingham (33m)

7. Kittansett Club
Marion (52c)

8. Sankaty Head
Siasconset (T89c)

9. Salem CC
Peabody (91c)

10. Whitinsville GC
Whitinsville (T92c)

11. Winchester CC
Winchester (T122c)

12. Taconic
Williamstown (T128c)

13. Worcester CC
Worcester (T138c)

14. Nantucket GC
Siaconsett (T167m)

T15. Charles River*
Newton Centre (T149c)

T15. Hyannisport Club
Hyannis Port (T149c)

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

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

Looking to play the best golf courses in Nevada? 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 Nevada

Wynn
Wynn Golf Club in Nevada (Courtesy of Wynn Golf Club)

1. Shadow Creek
North Las Vegas (13m)

2. Cascata
Boulder City (T196m)

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3. Wolf Creek
Mesquite (m)

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4. Edgewood Tahoe
Tahoe (m)

5. Wynn
Las Vegas (m)

T6. Conestoga
Mesquite (m)

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T6. Incline Village (Championship)
Incline Village (m)

8. Paiute (The Wolf)
Las Vegas (m)

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9. Coyote Springs
Moapa (m)

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10. Paiute (Sun Mountain)
Las Vegas (m)

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11. Rio Secco
Henderson (m)

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12. Paiute (Snow Mountain)
Las Vegas (m)

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13. TPC Las Vegas
Las Vegas (m)

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14. Oasis (Palmer)
Mesquite (m)
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15. Reflection Bay at Lake Las Vegas Resort
Henderson (m)

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Best private courses in Nevada

Southern Highlands Collegiate 2022
Southern Highlands during the 2022 Southern Highlands Collegiate in Nevada (Conner Penfold/AmateurGolf.com)

1. Clear Creek Tahoe
Carson City (T114m)

2. Southern Highlands
Las Vegas (T122m)

3. TPC Summerlin
Las Vegas (m)

4. SouthShore
Henderson (m)

5. Montreux
Reno (m)

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

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

Looking to play the best golf courses in Illinois? 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 Illinois

The Glen Club
The Glen Club in Illinois (Courtesy of The Glen Club/Patrick Koenig)

1. Cog Hill GC (No. 4 – Dubsdread)
Lemont (m)

2. TPC Deere Run
Silvis (m)
Book your tee time at TPC Deer Run today

T3. Stonewall Orchard
Grayslake (m)
Book your tee time at Stonewall Orchard today

T3. The Glen Club
Glenview (m)
Book your tee time at The Glen Club today

5. Mistwood
Romeoville (m)

6. Eagle Ridge (The General)
Galena (m)
Book your tee time at Eagle Ridge today

7. Preserve at Oak Meadows
Addison (m)

8. Highlands of Elgin
Elgin (m)

9. Thunderhawk
Beach Park (m)

10. Harborside International (Starboard)
Chicago (m)
Book your tee time at Starboard today

11. Shepherd’s Crook*
Zion (m)

12. Ravisloe
Homewood (c)

13. Cantigny
Wheaton (m)
Book your tee tiem at Cantigny today

14. Annbriar*
Waterloo (m)

15. Blackstone
Marengo (m)

Best private courses in Illinois

Chicago Golf Club
Chicago Golf Club in Illinois (David Alexander/Getty Images)

1. Chicago GC
Wheaton (8c)

2. Shoreacres
Lake Bluff (20c)

3. Old Elm
Highland Park (56c)

4. Butler National
Oak Brook (45m)

5. Olympia Fields (North)
Olympia Fields (T71c)

6. Beverly
Chicago (76c)

7. Medinah CC (No. 3)
Medinah (T84c)

8. Skokie
Glencoe (T98)

9. Black Sheep
Sugar Grove (T100m)

10. Conway Farms
Lake Forest (T167m)

11. Glen View Club
Golf (c)

12. Olympia Fields (South)
Olympia Fields (59c)

13. Bob O’Link GC
Highland Park (T165c)

14. Rich Harvest Farms
Sugar Grove (m)

15. Onwentsia Club
Lake Forest (T173c)

Things to know about the Claret Jug, awarded to the British Open winner

The Champion Golfer of the Year earns a big paycheck and of course the Claret Jug.

The Champion Golfer of the Year, aka the winner of the British Open, earns a large sum of money, many accolades and the historic Claret Jug. OK, not the Claret Jug. We can explain.

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There have been 151 Opens contested over the years but the trophy wasn’t yet created for the first nearly dozen tournaments.

And did you know that the Claret Jug has a lesser-known formal name of The Golf Champion Trophy?

But what about the trophy? Here are some more interesting facts about the Claret Jug.

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

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

Looking to play the best golf courses in Idaho? 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 Idaho

Coeur d’Alene Resort in Idaho (Courtesy of Coeur d’Alene Resort)

1. Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort (Circling Raven)
Worley (m)

T2. Ridgecrest*
Nampa (m)

T2. Coeur d’Alene Resort
Coeur d’Alene (m)
Book your tee time at Coeur d’Alene today

4. Sun Valley GC
Sun Valley (c)

5. BanBury
Eagle (m)
Book your tee time at BanBury today

Best private courses in Idaho

The Tributary (formerly Hunstman Springs)
Tributary in Idaho (Courtesy of the Tributary)

1. Gozzer Ranch
Harrison (34m)

2. Tributary
Driggs (T100m)

3. GC at Black Rock
Coeur d’Alene (T154m)

4. CDA National Reserve (formerly Rock Creek)
Coeur d’Alene (195m)

5. Blue Lakes*
Jerome (c)

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

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

Looking to play the best golf courses in Tennessee? 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 Tennessee

Sewanee in Tennessee (Courtesy of Sewanee)

1. Sweetens Cove
South Pittsburg (90m)
Editor’s note: Sweetens Cove is closed for the summer of 2024, but will reopen in the fall with fresh greens.

2. Stonehenge
Fairfield Glade (m)

3. Course at Sewanee
Sewanee (m)
Book your tee time at Sewanee today

4. Fairfield Glade (Heatherhurst Brae)
Fairfield Glade (m)

5. Hermitage Golf Course (President’s Reserve)
Old Hickory (m)
Book your tee time at Hermitage today

Best private courses in Tennessee

The Honors Course in Tennessee (Copyright USGA/Russell Kirk)

1. Honors Course
Ooltewah (18m)

2. Holston Hills
Knoxville (T108c)

3. GC of Tennessee
Kingston Springs (T118m)

4. Spring Creek Ranch
Collierville (m)

5. Black Creek
Chattanooga (m)

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

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

Looking to play the best golf courses in Mississippi? 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 Mississippi

Old Waverly in Mississippi (USGA/Russell Kirk)

1. Fallen Oak
Saucier (T83m)

2. Mossy Oak
West Point (T129m)

3. Old Waverly GC
West Point (m)

4. The Preserve
Vancleave (m)

5. Dancing Rabbit (Oaks)
Philadelphia (m)

6. Shell Landing
Gautier (m)
Book your tee time at Shell Landing today

7. Dancing Rabbit (Azaleas)
Philadelphia (m)

8. Grand Bear
Saucier (m)
Book your tee time at Grand Bear today

9. The Oaks*
Pass Christian (m)
Book your tee time at The Oaks today

10. Windance
Gulfport (m)
Book your tee time at Windance today

Best private courses in Mississippi

1. Hattiesburg CC
Hattiesburg (c)

2. Annandale
Madison (m)

3. Reunion
Madison (m)

4. Laurel CC
Laurel (c)

5. CC of Jackson
Jackson (m)

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

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

Looking to play the best golf courses in South Carolina? 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 South Carolina

Caledonia
Caledonia Golf & Fish Club in South Carolina (Courtesy of Caledonia Golf & Fish Club/Brian Oar)

1. Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Ocean)
Kiawah Island (14m)

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2. Sea Pines Resort (Harbour Town GL)
Hilton Head Island (59m)

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3. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club
Pawleys Island (T187m)

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4. The Dunes Golf & Beach Club
Myrtle Beach (154c)

5. True Blue
Pawleys Island (m)

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6. Sea Pines Resort (Atlantic Dunes)
Hilton Head Island (m)

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7. Sea Pines Resort (Heron Point)
Hilton Head Island (m)

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8. TPC Myrtle Beach
Murrells Inlet (m)

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9. Tidewater
North Myrtle Beach (m)

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10. Legends Golf Resort (Moorland)
Myrtle Beach (m)

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T11. Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Osprey Point)
Kiawah Island (m)

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T11. Myrtle Beach National (King’s North)
Myrtle Beach (m)

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13. Legends Golf Resort (Heathlands)
Myrtle Beach (m)

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T14. Barefoot Resort & Golf (Dye)
North Myrtle Beach (m)

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T14. Grande Dunes Resort Club
Myrtle Beach (m)

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T16. Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Cougar Point)
Kiawah Island (m)

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T16. Heritage Club
Pawleys Island (m)

T16. Prestwick*
Myrtle Beach (m)

19. Palmetto Dunes (Robert Trent Jones)
Hilton Head Island (m)

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20. Barefoot Resort & Golf (Love)*
North Myrtle Beach (m)

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Best private courses in South Carolina

Congaree Golf Club
Congaree Golf Club in South Carolina (Courtesy of the PGA Tour)

1. Congaree
Ridgeland (T24m)

2. Yeaman’s Hall
Charleston (T43c)

3. Sage Valley
Graniteville (T49m)

4. Cherokee Plantation
Yemassee (m)

5. Long Cove
Hilton Head Island (70m)

6. Secession
Gibbes Island (T86m)

7. Palmetto
Aiken (T106c)

8. Colleton River (Pete Dye)
Bluffton (T107m)

9. Cliffs at Mountain Park
Travelers Rest (T129m)

10. Spring Island (Old Tabby Links)
Okatie (T134m)

11. Kiawah Island Club (Cassique)
Kiawah Island (T147m)

12. Greenville CC (Chanticleer)
Greenville (m)

T13. Palmetto Bluff (May River)
Bluffton (T171m)

T13. Kiawah Island Club (River)
Kiawah Island (T176m)

15. CC of Charleston
Charleston (T146c)

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

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

Looking to play the best golf courses in Indiana? 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 Indiana

The Donald Ross Course at French Lick Resort in Indiana (Courtesy of French Lick Resort)

1. French Lick Resort (Pete Dye)
French Lick (T167m)

2. French Lick Resort (Donald Ross)
French Lick (c)

3. The PFAU Course at Indiana
Bloomington (m)
Book your tee time at the PFAU Course at IU

4. Warren GC at Notre Dame
South Bend (m)
Book your tee time at Warren GC today

5. Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex (Kampen)
West Lafayette (m)

6. Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex (Ackerman-Allen)
West Lafayette (c)
Book your tee time at Birck Boilermaker today

7. The Fort
Indianapolis (m)
Book your tee time at The Fort today

8. Brickyard Crossing
Indianapolis (m)
Book your tee time at Brickyard Crossing today

9. Chariot Run
Laconia (m)
Book your tee time at Chariot Run today

10. Harrison Hills
Attica (c)
Book your tee time at Harrison Hills today

Best private courses in Indiana

Victoria National Golf Course
Victoria National in Indiana (Courtesy of Victoria National)

1. Victoria National
Newburgh (T47m)

2. Crooked Stick
Carmel (T65m)

3. Culver Academies
Culver (T100c)

4. Sycamore Hills
Fort Wayne (m)

5. Club at Holliday Farms*
Zionsville (m)