These Are The Top 5 Public Golf Courses In Each State (According To Everyday Golfers)

Golf course ratings and reviews always seem a little suspect to me.

The publications that rank courses do it fairly well but are apt to include certain courses based solely on name recognition—or which courses were most accommodating with providing tee times and other goodies to the experts rating them.

That’s why I was interested when our friends at Golf Pass released a list of the top five public courses in each state according to recreational golfers.

These golfers don’t have skin in the game. They are just honestly reviewing courses.

From those ratings, Golf Pass has compiled a handy list of the top public courses in each state.

It’s important to note that these rankings are based on a lot of criteria. It is not purely about the best course according to prestige, condition or design. That’s why you will get to certain states and see notable names missing from the rankings.

Value, playability, staff friendliness and other important parts of the everyday golfer’s experience are highlighted more prominently.

These are less bucket trip places and more “Sunday morning foursome” standouts.

The public course rankings for each state

Does anything stand out in this list?

I’ve played a couple of the Florida and Tennessee courses but haven’t heard of many others on these lists.

Scroll down to your state and let me know if these courses are great places to go for the everyday golfer.

If you click on the state name, you will find the top 20 public courses by state.

Alabama

1. FarmLinks at Pursell Farms – Sylacauga
2. Limestone Springs Golf Club – Oneonta
3. Kiva Dunes – Gulf Shores
4. Craft Farms Resort, Cotton Creek – Gulf Shores
5. Craft Farms Resort, Cypress Bend – Gulf Shores

Arizona

1. Whirlwind Golf Club, Cattail Course – Chandler
2. Laughlin Ranch Golf Club – Bullhead City
3. The Highlands at Dove Mountain – Marana
4. Whirlwind Golf Club, Devil’s Claw – Chandler
5. Granite Falls Golf Course, North Course – Surprise

Arkansas

1. Coopers Hawk – Melbourne
2. Red Apple Inn & Country Club – Heber Springs
3. Bella Vista Country Club, Highlands Course – Bella Vista
4. Mystic Creek Golf Club – El Dorado
5. Glenwood Country Club – Glenwood

California

1. Monarch Beach Golf Links – Dana Point
2. Quail Lodge Resort & Golf Club – Carmel
3. Desert Willow Golf Resort, Firecliff Course – Palm Desert 
4. Poppy Ridge Golf Course – Livermore
5. Maderas Golf Club – Poway

Colorado

1. Pole Creek Golf Club – Tabernash
2. Arrowhead – Edwards
3. Boomerang Golf Links – Greeley
4. Grand Elk Ranch and Club – Granby
5. Four Mile Ranch Golf Club – Cañon City 

Connecticut

1. Manchester Country Club – Manchester
2. Wintonbury Hills Golf Course – Bloomfield
3. Lyman Orchards Golf Club, Jones Course – Middlefield
4. Gillette Ridge – Bloomfield
5. Chris Bargas Golf Club at Whitney Farms – Monroe

Delaware

1. Bear Trap Dunes Golf Club – Ocean View
2. Maple Dale Country Club – Dover
3. Odessa National – Townsend
4. Heritage Shores – Bridgeville
5. Bayside Resort Golf Club – Selbyville

Florida

1. Juliette Falls – Dunnellon
2. Herons Glen Golf & Country Club – North Fort Myers
3. Candler Hills Golf Club – Ocala
4. The Park West Palm – West Palm Beach
5. Streamsong Black – Fort Meade

Georgia

1. Brasstown Valley Resort Golf Course – Young Harris
2. Sanctuary Golf Club – Waverly
3. Meadow Links At George T. Bagby – Fort Gaines
4. Richard B. Russell At Arrowhead Pointe Golf Course – Elberton
5. The Lakes At Laura S. Walker – Waycross

Hawaii

1. Poipu Bay Resort Golf Course – Koloa, Kauai
2. Pearl at Kalauao – Aiea, O’ahu
3. Mauna Lani Resort, South Course – Waimea, Hawai’i
4. The Ocean Course at Hokuala – Lihue, Kauai
5. Ko Olina Golf Club – Kapolei, O’ahu

Idaho

1. Desert Canyon Golf Course – Mountain Home
2. Falcon Crest, Championship Course – Kuna
3. University of Idaho Golf Course – Moscow
4. MeadowCreek Golf Resort – New Meadows
5. Highland Golf Course – Post Falls

Illinois

1. Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois – Urbana
2. Village Links of Glen Ellyn – Glen Ellyn 
3. Blackstone – Marengo
4. El Paso Golf Club – El Paso
5. Lake Carroll – Lanark

Indiana

1. Sandy Pines Golf Club – De Motte
2. Covered Bridge Golf Club – Sellersburg
3. Glendarin Hills Golf Club – Angola
4. Swan Lake Resort, Black – Plymouth
5. Harrison Hills Golf & Country Club – Attica

Iowa

1. Spring Valley Golf Course – Livermore
2. The Legacy Golf Club – Norwalk
3. Blue Top Ridge At Riverside – Riverside
4. Highland Park Golf Course – Mason City 
5. The Legacy Golf Course at the 19 – Mason City

Kansas

1. Spring Creek – Seneca
2. Cherry Oaks Golf Course – Cheney
3. Trails West Golf Course – Fort Leavenworth
4. Wellington Golf Club – Wellington
5. Turkey Creek Golf Course – McPherson

Kentucky

1. Calvert City Golf & Country Club – Calvert City
2. Shelbyville Country Club – Shelbyville 
3. Silo’s Country Club – Kevil
4. Raven Rock Golf Course – Jenkins
5. Oldham County Country Club – La Grange 

Louisiana

1. TPC Louisiana – Avondale
2. Beaver Creek Golf Club – Zachary 
3. Carter Plantation – Springfield
4. Koasati Pines At Coushatta – Allen Parish
5. Grand Ridge Golf Club – Luling

Maine

1. Sunday River Resort Golf Club – Newry
2. The Ledges Golf Club – York
3. Point Sebago Golf/Beach Resort – Casco
4. Martindale Country Club – Auburn
5. Rockland Golf Club – Rockland

Maryland

1. Whiskey Creek Golf Club – Ijamsville
2. Maryland National Golf Club – Middletown
3. The Links At Lighthouse Sound – Bishopville
4. Bulle Rock Golf Club – Havre De Grace 
5. Eagle’s Landing Golf Course – Berlin

Massachusetts

1. South Shore Country Club – Hingham
2. Pinehills Golf Club, Nicklaus Course – Plymouth
3. Miacomet Golf Course – Nantucket
4. Crumpin-Fox Club – Bernardston
5. Cranberry Valley Golf Course – Harwich

Michigan

1. The Fortress – Frankenmuth
2. Arthur Hills at The Highlands, Boyne Course – Harbor Springs
3. The Lynx Golf Course – Otsego
4. Boyne Mountain Resort, Monument Course – Boyne Falls
5. Gladstone Golf Course – Gladstone

Minnesota

1. The Jewel Golf Club – Lake City
2. Keller Golf Course – Maplewood 
3. Island Pine Country Club – Atwater
4. Thief River Falls Golf Club – Thief River Falls
5. Marshall Golf Club – Marshall 

Mississippi

1. Grand Bear Golf Course – Saucier 
2. Fallen Oak – Saucier 
3. Hattiesburg Country Club – Hattiesburg 
4. The Preserve Golf Club – Vancleave 
5. Diamondhead Country Club – Diamondhead

 Missouri

1. Branson Hills Golf Club – Branson 
2. Mozingo Lake – Maryville
3. Creekmoor – Raymore
4. Ledgestone Country Club – Reeds Spring 
5. Rolling Hills Country Club – Versailles

Montana

1. Wilderness – Eureka
2. Big Sky of Montana Golf Course – Big Sky
3. Pryor Creek Golf Club – Huntley
4. Fairmont Hot Springs Resort – Anaconda
5. Mission Mountain Golf Club – Ronan

Nebraska

1. Tatanka Golf Club at Featherhill – Niobrara
2. Willow Lakes Golf Course – Bellevue
3. Oakland Golf Club – Oakland
4. Skyview Golf Course – Alliance
5. Four Winds Country Club – Kimball

Nevada

1. Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course – Zephyr Cove 
2. Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort, Sun Mountain Course – Las Vegas
3. Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort, Snow Mountain Course – Las Vegas
4. Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort, Wolf Course – Las Vegas
5. Incline Village, Championship Golf Course – Incline Village

New Hampshire

1. Bretwood North Golf Course – Keene
2. Maplewood Country Club & Hotel – Bethlehem
3. Waumbek Country Club – Jefferson
4. Breakfast Hill Golf Club – Greenland
5. Campbell’s Scottish Highlands Golf Course – Salem

New Jersey

1. Heron Glen Golf Course – Ringoes
2. Knob Hill Golf Club – Township
3. Neshanic Valley Golf Course – Neshanic Station
4. River Vale Country Club – River Vale 
5. Shore Gate Golf Club – Ocean View

New Mexico

1. New Mexico Military Institute Golf Course – Roswell
2. Pinon Hills Golf Course – Farmington
3. New Mexico State University Golf Course – Las Cruces
4. Turtleback Mountain Golf & Resort – Elephant Butte
5. Rockwind Community Links – Hobbs 

New York

1. Seven Oaks Golf Club – Hamilton
2. McConnellsville – Blossvale
3. Leatherstocking Golf Course – Cooperstown
4. Batavia Country Club – Batavia
5. Concord Resort and Golf Club, The Monster Course – East Concord

North Carolina

1. Woodlake Country Club – Vass
2. Thistle Golf Club – Sunset Beach
3. Springdale Resort – Canton
4. Tot Hill Farm Golf Club – Asheboro
5. Tobacco Road Golf Club – Sanford

North Dakota

1. Bully Pulpit Golf Course – Medora
2. Bois De Sioux – Wahpeton
3. Jamestown Country Club – Stutsman County

Ohio

1. Chippewa Golf Club – Doylestown
2. Stillwater Valley Golf Club – Bradford 
3. Pine Hills Golf Club – Hinckley 
4. Snow Hill Country Club – New Vienna 
5. River Greens Golf Course – West Lafayette

Oklahoma

1. Tinker Golf Course – Oklahoma City
2. Twin Oaks Golf Club – Duncan
3. Peoria Ridge Golf Course – Miami 
4. Prairie West Golf Club at Weatherford – Weatherford
5. The Club at Forest Ridge – Broken Arrow

Oregon

1. Quail Ridge Golf Course – Baker City
2. Juniper Golf Club – Redmond
3. Indian Creek Golf Course – Hood River
4. The Resort at the Mountain – Welches
5. Running Y Ranch – Klamath Falls

Pennsylvania

1. Tyoga Golf Course – Wellsboro
2. Skytop Lodge Golf Course – Skytop
3. Jeffersonville Golf Club – Norristown 
4. Toftrees Resort – State College
5. River Valley Golf Club – Westfield 

Rhode Island

1. Meadow Brook Golf Club – Richmond
2. Fenner Hill Country Club – Hope Valley
3. Triggs Memorial Golf Course – Providence
4. Newport National Golf Club – Middletown
5. Laurel Lane Country Club – West Kingston

South Carolina

1. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club – Pawleys Island
2. The Walker Golf Course at Clemson University – Clemson
3. Grande Dunes Resort Club – Myrtle Beach
4. The Links at Stono Ferry – Hollywood
5. Shaftesbury Glen Golf & Fish Club – Conway

South Dakota

1. Rapid City Elks – Rapid City
2. Madison Golf & Country Club – Madison 
3. Rocky Run Golf Course – Dell Rapids

Tennessee

1. Pickwick Landing State Park Golf Course – Pickwick Dam
2. Egwani Farm – Rockford 
3. Lake Tansi Resort – Crossville 
4. Island Pointe Golf Club – Kodak
5. Towhee Club – Spring Hill

Texas

1. Hideout Golf Club – Brownwood
2. Live Oak Golf Club – Abilene
3. Palo Duro Creek Golf Club – Canyon
4. John Pitman Municipal Golf Course – Hereford
5. Kissing Tree Golf Club – San Marcos

Utah

1. TalonsCove Golf Course – Saratoga Springs
2. Coral Canyon Golf Course – Washington
3. Carbon County Golf Club – Helper  
4. Birch Creek Golf Course – Smithfield 
5. Logan River Golf Course – Logan

Vermont

1. Jay Peak Golf Course – Jay
2. Stratton Mountain Resort Golf Club – Stratton Mountain
3. Ralph Mhyre – Middlebury
4. Woodstock Country Club – Woodstock
5. Crown Point Country Club – Springfield

Virginia

1. The Omni Homestead Resort & Spa, Cascades Course – Hot Springs
2. Bryce Resort Golf Course – Mt Jackson
3. Colonial Heritage – Williamsburg
4. Independence Golf Club, Championship Course – Midlothian
5. Massanutten Resort Golf Club, Mountain Greens – Massanutten

Washington

1. Chambers Bay – University Place
2. Gamble Sands Golf Club – Brewster
3. Gamble Sands, Scarecrow Course – Brewster
4. Cedars at Dungeness – Sequim
5. Suncadia Resort, Prospector Course – Cle Elum 

West Virginia

1. Glade Springs Village, Woodhaven Course – Daniels
2. Glade Springs Village, Stonehaven Course – Daniels
3. The Greenbrier, The Meadows Course – White Sulphur Springs
4. The Highlands Golf Club at Fisher Mountain – Brandywine
5. Raven Golf Club At Snowshoe Mountain – Snowshoe

Wisconsin

1. Mascoutin Golf Club – Berlin
2. Glacier Wood Golf Club – Iola
3. Glen Cairn Golf Club – Ogdensburg
4. Turtleback Golf & Conference Center – Rice Lake
5. Skyline Golf Course – Black River Falls

Wyoming

1. Star Valley View Golf Course – Afton 
2. Cottonwood at Torrington – Torrington
3. Kendrick Golf Course – Sheridan
4. Riverton Country Club – Riverton
5. White Mountain Golf Course – Rock Springs