Golf Course Reviews

In March of 2013 I got the crazy idea that I wanted to play all of the Top 100 Courses Public Courses in the country.

It only took about another month when I realized that, while that was great, what I really wanted to do is play the actual Top 100 Courses in the country.

A year after that I realized I’d played more of the Top 100 in the world than I had the US – so an even more grandiose goal was. born.

These days the idea of “list checking” isn’t always met with positivity, so I don’t talk abotu that aspect of Breaking Eighty as much as I once did.

But the bottom line is that I always enjoy experiencing new golf courses, and more importantly, doing it with interesting and passionate people.

Depending on the year and the list I’m a little over halfway through my US and World goal.

Although these days, when considering where to play I tend to go to Top 100 Golf Courses more often than any other place. They do such a good job of presenting a wide variety of unbiased reviews – and I think their lists may be the most accurate of all of them.

That said, one thing that sets me apart from other people trying to accomplish this list is that I’m young – I’m only 28. I started with zero connections in the golf industry and zero connections at any private courses. That said, these days I think pretty much anyone or anything is within reach and if you’re able to provide mutual value to someone else, good things can happen.

Golf Magazine Top 100 in the World Progress (2020-2021) – 53/100

#3 – St Andrews (Old) – St. Andrews, Scotland
#5 – National Golf Links of America – Southampton, NY
#7 – Royal Melbourne Golf Club (West) – Melbourne, Australia
#8 – Oakmont Country Club – Oakmont, PA
#10- Royal Dornoch – Dornoch, Scotland
#11 – Pebble Beach Golf Links – Monterey Peninsula, California
#15 – Merion Golf Club (East) – Ardmore, Pennysylvania
#16 – Pinehurst #2 – Pinehurst, North Carolina
#17 – Turnberry (Ailsa Course) – Ayrshire, Scotland
#18 – Fishers Island Club – Fishers Island, NY
#20 – Los Angeles CC (North) – Los Angeles, CA
#22 – Kingston Heath – Melbourne, Australia
#23 – Winged Foot (West) – Mamaroneck, NY
#24 – Pacific Dunes – Bandon, Oregon
#26 – Friars Head – Baiting Hollow, NY
#28 – Riviera CC – Los Angeles, CA
#30- San Francisco GC – San Francisco, CA
#31 – Prairie Dunes Country Club – Hutchinson, KS
#32 – Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship Course) – Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland
#35 – Barnbougle Dunes Golf Course – Tasmania, Australia
#37 – North Berwick Golf Club – North Berwick, Scotland
#38 – The Country Club (Clyde/Squirrel) – Brookline. Massachussetts
#42 – Somerset Hills CC – Bernardsville, NJ
#45 – New South Wales Golf Club – Sydney, Australia
#47 – Garden City Golf Club – Garden City, New York
#48 – Portmarnock GC – Dublin, Ireland
#50 – California Golf Club of San Francisco – San Francisco, CA
#51 – Royal Troon Golf Club – Ayrshire, Scotland
#52 – Camargo Club – Cincinatti, OH
#53 – Bethpage State Park (Black Course) – Farmingdale, New York
#57 – Ballyneal Golf & Hunt – Holyoke, CO
#62 – Winged Foot (East) – Mamaroneck, NY
#63 – Cruden Bay – Aberdeenshire, Scotland
#64 – Maidstone Club – East Hampton, New York
#66 – Castle Stuart – Inverness, Scotland
#68 – TPC Sawgrass – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
#69 – Whistling Straits (Straits) – Kohler, Wisconsin
#70 – Diamante (Dunes) – Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
#71 – Kingsbarns Golf Links – St. Andrews, Scotland
#72 – Oakland Hills (South) – Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
#74 – Quaker Ridge GC – Scarsdale, NY
#76 – Sleepy Hollow CC – Briarcliff Manor, NY
#79 – Olympic (Lake) – San Francisco, California
#80 – Bandon Dunes – Bandon, Oregon
#83 – The Course at Yale – New Haven, CT
#87 – Bandon Trails – Bandon, Oregon
#89 – Barnbougle Lost Farm – Tasmania, Australia
#91 – Peachtree Golf Club – Atlanta, GA
#92 – Myopia Hunt Club – Boston, MA
#93 – Machrihanish GC – Campbeltown, Scotland
#96 – Royal Melbourne (East) – Melbourne, Australia
#100 – Trump International Golf Links – Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Golf Digest Top 100 Public Progress (2017-2018) (39/100):

#1 – Pebble Beach Golf Links – Monterey Peninsula, California
#2 – Pacific Dunes – Bandon, Oregon
#4 – Whistling Straits (Straits Course) – Kohler, Wisconsin
#6 – Pinehurst #2 – Pinehurst, North Carolina
#7 – Bandon Dunes – Bandon, Oregon
#8 – Bethpage Black – Farmingdale, New York
#9 – Erin Hills Golf Course – Hartford, Wisconsin
#10 – Old Macdonald – Bandon, Oregon
#11 – Spyglass Hill – Monterey Peninsula, California
#12 – TPC Sawgrass – Ponte Vedra Beach, CA
#13 – Arcadia Bluffs – Arcadia, Michigan
#14 – Bandon Trails – Bandon, Oregon
#15 – Blackwolf Run (River Course) – Kohler, Wisconsin
#17 – Streamsong (Red course) – Streamsong, Florida
#18 – Pasatiempo – Santa Cruz, California
#22 – Streamsong (Blue) – Streamsong, Florida
#24 – Chambers Bay – Tacoma, Washington
#25 – Forest Dunes Golf Club – Roscommon, Michigan
#36 – Pronghorn Golf Club (Nicklaus Course) – Bend, Oregon
#44 – The Links at Spanish Bay – Monterey Peninsula, CA
#45 – Whistling Straits (Irish Course) – Kohler, Wisconsin
#48 – Wolf Creek Golf Club – Mesquite, Nevada
#49 – The Dormie Club – West End, North Carolina
#50 – Crosswater Golf Club – Bend, Oregon
#51 – Cog Hill #4 (Dubsdread) – Lemont, Illinois
#55 – Tobacco Road Golf Club – Sanford, North Carolina
#56 – Cascata Golf Club – Boulder City, Nevada
#60 – Blackwolf Run (Meadow Valleys) – Kohler, Wisconsin
#61 – Trump National Doral (Blue Monster) Miami, FL
#63 – Tetherow Golf Club – Bend, Oregon
#64 – Pinehurst #8 – Pinehurst, North Carolina
#68 – Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club – Southern Pines, North Carolina
#72 – Bay Harbor (Links/Quarry) – Bay Harbor, Michigan
#75 – Atunyote Golf Club – Verona, New York
#78 – The Bear at Grand Traverse – Acme, Michigan
#80 – Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club (Ghost Creek) – North Plains, Oregon
#84 – The Bull at Pinehurst Farms – Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin
#90 – Kaluhyat Golf Club – Verona, New York
#96 – Coeur d’Alene Resort – Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Related: Whistling vs. Pebble vs. Pacific: What is the Best Public Course in America?

Golf Digest Top 100 US Progress (2019-2020) (55/100)

Here are the golf courses I’ve played on the 2019-2020 Golf Digest Top 100 List:

#5 – Oakmont Country Club – Oakmont, PA
#6 – Merion Golf Club – Ardmore, PA
#7 – Pebble Beach Golf Links (And Here) – Monterey Peninsula, CA
#8 – National Golf Links of America – Southhampton, NY
#10 – Fishers Island Club – Fishers Island, NY
#11 – Winged Foot (West) – Mamaroneck, NY
#15 – Friars Head – Baiting Hollow, NY
#16 – Muirfield Village – Columbus, OH
#17 – Pacific Dunes – Bandon, OR
#18 – The Country Club (Clyde/Squirrel) – Chestnut Hill, MA
#19 – Los Angeles CC – Los Angeles, CA
#20 – Oakland Hills CC – Bloomfield Hills, MI
#21 – Whistling Straits (Straits) – Kohler, WI
#22 – Oak Hill (East) – Rochester, NY
#23 – Riviera Country Club – Los Angeles, CA
#27 – Prairie Dunes – Hutchinson, KS
#29 – Pinehurst #2 – Pinehurst, NC
#30 – Peachtree Golf Club – Atlanta, GA
#32 – Gozzer Ranch Golf & Lake Club – Coeur d’Alene, ID
#33 – Olympic Club (Lake) – San Francisco, CA
#35 – San Francisco Golf Club – San Francisco, CA
#36 – Bandon Dunes – Bandon, OR
#37 – Bethpage State Park (Black) – Farmingdale, NY
#38 – The Golf Club – New Albany, OH
#41 – Baltusrol (Lower) – Springfield, NJ
#44 – Camargo Club – Cincinatti, OH
#45 – Spyglass Hill – Monterey Peninsula, CA
#46 – Ballyneal Golf & Hunt – Holyoke, CO
#49 – TPC Sawgrass – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
#50 – Old Macdonald – Bandon, OR
#51 – Garden City Mens Club – Garden City, NY
#52 – Winged Foot (East) – Mamaroneck, NY
#53 – Medinah #3 – Chicago, NY
#57 – Scioto CC – Columbus, OH
#59 – Old Sandwich – Boston, MA
#61 – Baltusrol (Upper) – Springfield, NJ
#63 – Somerset Hills – Bernardsville, NJ
#67 – Maidstone Club – East Hampton, NY
#68 – Arcadia Bluffs – Arcadia, MI
#69 – Bandon Trails – Bandon, OR
#70 – Estancia Club – Scottsdale, AZ
#71 – Quaker Ridge GC – Scarsdale, NY
#73 – Essex County Club – Manchester, MA
#76 – Myopia Hunt Club – South Hamilton, MA
#78 – Kittansett Club – Marion, MA
#81 – Hudson National GC – Croton-on-Hudson, NY
#82 – Plainfield CC – Edison, NJ
#84 – Valhalla GC – Louisville, KY
#85 – Aronimink GC – Newtown Square, PA
#86 – Valley Club of Montecito – Montecito, CA
#87 – Boston Golf Club – Hingham, MA
#89 – Sleepy Hollow CC – Briarcliff Manor, NY
#91 – Golf Club at Black Rock – Coeur d’Alene, ID
#96 – The Preserve – Carmel, CA
#97 – Blackwolf Run (River) – Kohler, WI

Top 100 Golf Courses – Best in World Progress (43/100)

#5 – National Golf Links of America – Southampton, NY
#6 – Royal Melbourne Golf Club (West) – Melbourne, Australia
#7 – St Andrews (Old) – St. Andrews, Scotland
#8 – Oakmont Country Club – Oakmont, PA
#10 – Turnberry (Ailsa Course) – Ayrshire, Scotland
#13- Royal Dornoch – Dornoch, Scotland
#16 – Pebble Beach Golf Links – Monterey Peninsula, CA
#15 – Merion Golf Club (East) – Ardmore, PA
#18 – Fishers Island Club – Fishers Island, NY
#20 – Kingston Heath – Melbourne, Australia
#21 – Pacific Dunes – Bandon, Oregon
#23 – Los Angeles CC (North) – Los Angeles, CA
#26 – Barnbougle Dunes Golf Course – Tasmania, Australia
#27 – Friars Head – Baiting Hollow, NY
#28 – Pinehurst #2 – Pinehurst, North Carolina
#30 – Riviera CC – Los Angeles, CA
#32 – North Berwick Golf Club – North Berwick, Scotland
#34 – Winged Foot (West) – Mamaroneck, NY
#35 – Prairie Dunes Country Club – Hutchinson, KS
#36 – Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship Course) – Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland
#37- San Francisco GC – San Francisco, CA
#43 – Somerset Hills CC – Bernardsville, NJ
#44 – Portmarnock GC – Dublin, Ireland
#45 – Kingsbarns Golf Links – St. Andrews, Scotland
#48 – The Country Club (Clyde/Squirrel) – Brookline. MA
#49 – New South Wales Golf Club – Sydney, Australia
#50 – Camargo Club – Cincinatti, OH
#52 – Ballyneal Golf & Hunt – Holyoke, CO
#54 – Oakland Hills (South) – Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
#56 – California Golf Club of San Francisco – San Francisco, CA
#57 – Garden City Golf Club – Garden City, New York
#61 – Maidstone Club – East Hampton, New York
#62 – Bethpage State Park (Black Course) – Farmingdale, New York
#66 – Trump International Golf Links – Aberdeenshire, Scotland
#68 – Cruden Bay – Aberdeenshire, Scotland
#73 – Bandon Dunes – Bandon, Oregon
#75 – Bandon Trails – Bandon, Oregon
#76 – Oak Hill (East) – Rochester, NY
#85 – Whistling Straits (Straits) – Kohler, Wisconsin
#89 – Sleepy Hollow CC – Briarcliff Manor, NY
#90 – Barnbougle Lost Farm – Tasmania, Australia
#91 – Myopia Hunt Club – Boston, MA
#97 – Baltusrol (Lower) – Springfield, MA

Their full list.

Other Golf Course Reviews

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Full Review: Best Golf Courses in Oregon – Everything You Need to Know

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Canadian Golf Courses

Prince Edward Island, Canada
Banff Springs Golf Course – Banff, Alberta
Stewart Creek Golf Club – Canmore, Alberta
Jasper Park Lodge – Jasper, Alberta

International Golf Courses

Barnbougle Dunes – Tasmania, Australia
Nirwana Golf Club – Bali, Indonesia
Diamante Dunes – Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Quivira Golf Club – Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Vilingilli Golf Course – Shangri-La, Maldives
Punta Espada Golf Club – Cap Cana, Dominican Republic
Mid Ocean Club – Bermuda
New South Wales Golf Club – Sydney, Australia
Punta Mita Pacifico Course – Punta Mita, Mexico
Punta Mita Bahia Course – Punta Mita, Mexico

Scotland Golf Courses

All of Our Best in State Round-Ups