The Best Golf Courses I Played in 2025

Teeing off on Black Desert in Ivins, Utah.

(Author's note: These courses are all new to me, and I have intentionally excluded any courses I've played in the past.)

Honorable mention (in no order):

Old American, The Colony, Texas—Situated along the shores of Lake Lewisville, Old American has the highest number of playable water hazards I’ve ever seen on a public golf course in the Lone Star State. Other highlights include the par three fifth, the par five sixth, and the par three eleventh, all of which incorporate the drink to some degree. Without question, it is one of the best daily fee options in the nation’s fourth largest metropolitan area. That’s saying something, even if the Justin Leonard and Tripp Davis design is a little redundant at times.

Southern Hills, Hot Springs, South Dakota—This Dick Phelps design is a wonderful little track located along the southern border of South Dakota’s picturesque Black Hills. The back nine is the superior side and is highlighted by a quartet of holes beginning on the dramatic par-three tenth and concluding with the beautiful, straightaway par five thirteenth. The front nine is a little bland, but for what you’re paying this is a no-brainer. In an area with an unexpected amount of good golf, don’t forget about Southern Hills.

Anchorage, Anchorage, Alaska—I’d be remiss not to mention Anchorage, a place I played in the late hours of the evening under the summer Alaskan sun. The host of the 2022 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur isn’t going to wow you with its conditions or variety, but the course is just good enough to stand out in an area where noteworthy golf courses are few and far between. Plus, you’re in Alaska, so life is good.

Hazeltine National (Aerie), Chaska, Minnesota—Hazeltine National, the only United States site to have been selected twice to host the Ryder Cup, debuted a new short course earlier this year and my goodness is it fun. The ten-hole, par 30 routing was designed by Davis Love III and sports a completely separate look and feel than its championship counterpart. The undulations are wild and the bunkers are penal. Without question, Aerie is one of the best par three courses I’ve ever played.

15. Firestone (North), Akron, Ohio

Robert Trent Jones, Sr.’s second design at the renowned Firestone Country Club, which opened is 1969, is situated on the north side of East Warner Road and is a course defined by a reservoir that surrounds much of the routing. In fact, there are ten holes in which the lake is considered in play. The course plays like a typical resort style golf course and a lot of the holes rely on water to derail your round instead of presenting genuine strategic challenges. Just like the South course, if you can’t hit a ball straight on the North, you will be punished severely. The final stretch, highlighted by the penultimate hole, a 218-yard par three that is all carry, is perhaps the best time to whip out your camera on the entire Firestone property.

14. Fox Run, Ludlow, Vermont

The first golf course I ever played in New England, Fox Run will always hold a special place in my heart. Everyone talks about the signature downhill par three eighth, but in reality the course is more than its main attraction. The fifth and sixteenth are two unique challenges that lay next to each other geographically but couldn’t play anymore differently. Golden fescue and striped flagsticks are subtle details that add to the overall Fox Run experience. In a peculiar way, a walk here carries the quiet charm of a time long gone. There’s nothing here but you and the course and Vermont’s Okemo Valley in all its mountain glory. The course doesn’t really get interesting until the third hole, and a number of the par threes leave much to be desired. As far as hidden gems in New England go, Fox Run should be near or at the top of your list. The awe-inspiring landscapes and exceptionally fun golf make for a memorable outing. Moreover, you get to experience Vermont in all its magnificence.

13. Firestone (Fazio), Akron, Ohio

Consider me pleasantly caught off guard by what was supposed to be the “worst” offering of Firestone Country Club’s trio. The recently renovated Fazio sports wide open fairways, rolling hills, and expansive views of the property. I really enjoyed Fazio’s playability, too, and how distinctly different it is than the other two courses at the club. I do, however, think it is a tad dramatic to refer to the back nine as a “links” like so many on the property do. The green of the fifteenth, a 476-yard par four, is supposedly one of the highest points of elevation in Ohio. The South basks in glory and the North earns the love from its members, but the Fazio cannot be overlooked. Make sure you stop at the 7/12 Grille for a burger dog!

12. Kiva Dunes, Gulf Shores, Alabama

On an early morning in January, my friend Luke and I braved out the unseasonably chilly Gulf Coast conditions to play Kiva Dunes, a former member of Golf Digest’s Top 100 Public. Kiva Dunes is the sort of golf course that doesn’t require flash to destroy you. Absolutely nothing about the layout will wow you, but I guarantee you’ll come away genuinely impressed. Many places rely on exorbitant elevation changes and sweeping views to wow golfers, but this Jerry Pate design is less concerned with optics and more involved in making sure you’re challenged with subtle movements and hard-nosed golf. Other than the excellently formed putting surfaces, the quartet of par threes are Kiva Dunes’ greatest strength. Many who encounter Kiva Dunes often lament the missed opportunity to showcase gulf views, given the track’s close proximity, but I wasn’t bothered. I was more concerned with a few par fours looking and playing similarly. Even still, when you’re on the Alabama Gulf Coast and seeking a worthy challenge on the links, it’s Kiva Dunes or bust.

11. Gentle Creek, Prosper, Texas

Gentle Creek, situated in the northeastern Dallas suburb of Prosper, is perhaps best known as the home of several YouTube golfers, but the course itself is nothing to scoff at. A generous club pro let me on the course, and I teed it up with a kind member, Chris, who doubled as my playing partner and guide. The front nine was okay if not a little unremarkable. The third, a downhill, dogleg right par four with a few extremely penal bunkers and a perched green complex, was my favorite hole on the front, with the par three ninth a close second. Holes twelve through fifteen were my favorite stretch on the course, and the eighteenth, pictured to the left, is an awesome closing hole. The thirteenth, a 570-yard dogleg right par five, with its approach played through a thin copse of trees half as wide as the fairway that precedes it, is a sight to behold. There’s a good reason Gentle Creek is a sought after invitation in this part of Texas.

10. Firekeeper, Mayetta, Kansas

Generally considered the best public course in the Sunflower State, Firekeeper is a Jeff Brauer design situated next to Prairie Bend Casino on Potawatomi land just north of Topeka. Bunkers are strategically placed around the routing, and fescue outlines just about every hole. The course plays to a robust 7560 yards, four of the par fours stretching longer than 480, and the difficulty matches the length. Conditions are impressive and the contoured greens provide a stern but fair test. Some holes are repetitive and play similarly, especially in the first part of the round. The two nines are distinctly prairie golf and tree-lined parkland golf, and I personally favored the latter half. The best endorsement I can give the track is that if I found myself in Kansas City and had time to set up a round, I’d make the one-hour trip to the west and take on Firekeeper. It’s a better public golf course than any other I’ve played in the region.

9. Hawktree, Bismarck, North Dakota

My introduction to the wacky world of Jim Engh golf course design came this summer in the form of Hawktree, a central North Dakota layout. There are rock walls, fescue, elevation changes galore, and black slag bunkers. The stunning topography and quirky hole layouts showcase both the best and worst of Hawktree. What I mean by that is that while the views are jaw dropping, many decisions are difficult to make without prior knowledge of the golf course. The par-three third, par-four fourth, and par-five fifth are all stellar holes with a ton of variety. That’s the name of the game at Hawktree. The topography of Bismarck and the surrounding area is really impressive, and Hawktree makes the most of its land. A friend of mine from the area named Bryan told me the course plays very differently when the wind is howling, so I guess that just means I’m obliged to return. North Dakota golf is extremely underrated as a whole, and Hawktree might just be the best of them.

8. RainDance National, Windsor, Colorado

Hailed two years ago as America’s second best new public golf course by Golf Digest, RainDance National is known for its extreme length. The track’s claim to fame is that, at 8463 yards, it is the longest golf course in North America. Mercifully for me, I played a purple/blue combination tee at 7300 yards. You might think that playing golf in Colorado in February is a miserable undertaking, but RainDance National was plain showing off the day I played it. Conditions were great, and the greens rolled fast and firm. Thank the good Lord for speed slots and high elevation. The course suffers a bit due to its playability. Take the tee shot on the par four fifth, which requires a 280-yard carry over high desert wash. Be that as it may, the Fred Funk design will be considered for top one hundred public status in many national publications, and it’s a worthy discussion.

7. Cape Arundel, Kennebunkport, Maine

Cape Arundel is steeped in golf history. Renowned course architect Walter Travis, born in Australia during the American Civil War, put into place the elements that would become Cape Arundel in 1896. It is the playground of the Bush family, a place George Herbert Walker and his son are both venerated. The first tee box is the site of George W.’s famous “Now watch this drive” quip. The defining feature of Cape Arundel is its perched, undulating green complexes. The back nine is extraordinarily scenic, its views most notable on the eleventh, thirteenth, fourteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth. Cape Arundel is pure fun from start to finish. It’s no surprise that Golf Club Atlas has included the course among its 147 Custodians of the Game. The contemporary golf world never gets to be what it is today without places like Cape Arundel. The margin between seventh and second-best on this list is razor thin.

6. The Rim, Payson, Arizona

The Rim may is merely an eighty minute drive by car from Scottsdale, but it may as well be an entirely different galaxy. With the aid of a friendly member, I was able to take on the 1999 Tom Weiskopf design, a property that showcases mighty ponderosa pines, spectacular views, and memorable golf hole after memorable golf hole. Look no further than the thirteenth, a downhill dogleg left par five played into a green dramatically set in front of a rock that resembles an elephant, to hammer home that sentiment. One of the best three hole stretches in all of Arizona—one of the country’s best golf states—is the eighth through the tenth, beginning with an aesthetically pleasing par three over water and culminating in a strenuous second-shot walk up the incredibly difficult par four tenth. What lies between, the par five ninth—featured in the photo left of this caption—is a stout test that is capable of producing scores of three and seven. There are a lot of unpredictable bounces at times, and that can be frustrating to the golfer who doesn’t know how to play the course. Even still, I wasn’t shocked to learn The Rim is a stalwart of GolfWeek’s best modern courses in the country. It’s a wonderful track.

5. Spanish Oaks, Bee Cave, Texas

A work trip and a kind host allowed me the opportunity to take on Spanish Oaks, long considered one of central Texas’ most lauded golf courses. The gated community is home to Tour players and professional athletes, and I can’t blame them for setting up shop on this beautiful track. From the post-ninth hole brisket tacos to the jovial and knowledgable trio—shoutout to Joel, Mike, and Gianna—I teed it up with, everything about Spanish Oaks was fun. The entire place is, as the kids say, a vibe. The green complexes are tricky but fair, further proof that the 6900-yard Bobby Weed design’s difficulty stems not from its overpowering length. My favorite hole was the penultimate offering, a 575-yard high risk, high reward par five guarded by a false front, two large water hazards, and a number of penal bunkers. The terrain of the area was used very well, but the walking golfer might struggle with all the hills. The exposed rock formations scattered throughout the course add an aesthetic appeal and a striking contrast to the putting surfaces. I was a little bummed to hear from our host that the club has suffered financial troubles, and I hope the membership continues to thrive because Spanish Oaks is an awesome place.

4. Lake Winnipesaukee, New Durham, New Hampshire

Among the most rewarding aspects on the journey to play golf in every state has been discovering hidden gems along the way. Places like Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire truly embody what I’m getting at. Conditions are great, the layout is fun yet challenging, and the elevation changes are aplenty. I wasn’t a fan of holes eight and eighteen, but they are a small percentage of an otherwise outstanding golf course. The sixteenth deserves a post of its own. The 388-yard beaut has two rotating sets of tee boxes, the left being the more attractive spot to hit your first. The carry from the back tee is almost two hundred yards through a chute of tall conifers and over a pond. A canoe in the center of the water is designed to be your intended aiming point. The scenery, like the rest of the course, is spectacular. Lake Winnipesaukee deserves a little more national love than it garners. The track has the look and feel of the Giants Ridge Quarry course and Forest Highland’s Canyon routing, two places I hold in high regard. Mountain golf, when routed properly, is a blast, and Lake Winnipesaukee is a blast.

3. Firestone (South), Akron, Ohio

“Historically significant” most accurately captures the essence of Firestone Country Club’s South course. Tiger Woods, who won eight times on the property, hit his “shot in the dark” on the eighteenth hole in 2000 en route to victory. Jack Nicklaus made a “miracle routine par” on the sixteenth on his way to winning the 1975 PGA Championship at Firestone. A few of the holes are a little dull from an architectural standpoint, and an average amateur golfer might loathe its length or difficulty. That being said, it’s impossible to deny Firestone South’s place as a giant that has tested nearly every one of the game’s best golfers. The third hole, a dogleg right played over a small pond and into a down-to-front sloping green, is one of the best par fours I saw this year. I played the signature sixteenth from its full 667 yards and was faced with 220 yards in on my third shot. I hit the best five iron in quite some time, carrying the pond in the image to the left and finishing about twelve feet from the hole. To have such a great opportunity to make birdie at a historic site like the South was the stuff golf trip dreams are made of. It was a fitting conclusion to an unforgettable visit.

2. Desert Highlands, Scottsdale, Arizona

Have you ever played a back nine that seems to get better with each hole? This is the experience at Scottsdale’s Desert Highlands, a place most notable for its stout bunkering, incredible vistas, and its variety of zero or hero shot options. Look at the stretch between thirteen and seventeen and attempt to identify a poor hole. You can’t. Perhaps the dogleg left, par five eighteenth is a bit of a let down, but that’s because the preceding hour encompasses nothing but pure, unadulterated golfing joy. In fact, there is no better view anywhere in the surrounding area of the iconic Pinnacle Peak than from the fourteenth tee box. There was a renovation this year to remove obstacles that impeded playability, and I’d be interested to see what the new product’s look and feel. Desert Highland’s historical significance stems far beyond its forty-two-year stay; the Jack Nicklaus design was home to the first official Skins Game, a competition that included the likes of Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Tom Watson. Thanks, Jeff, for showing me your great club. The golf scene of Scottsdale, Arizona is littered with first tier country clubs, and Desert Highlands is one that shouldn’t be overlooked.

1. Black Desert, Ivins, Utah

St. George, Utah has become one of the United States’ newest must-visit golf destinations, and Black Desert is the crown jewel. Between the red rock backdrops, lively green grass, jet black lava, and sugar white sand, Tom Weiskopf’s final design is an homage to the color wheel. Black Desert backs up its jaw-dropping landscapes with exceptional golf. Every spot on the course is impeccably conditioned. The greens have a generous amount of slope, and some are perched while others are played into. There is an insane variety in the layout, no two golf holes looking or playing the same. If I were to nitpick a bit, I would say without a forecaddie on hand, a few tee shots are impossible to predict. The greens fee seems too expensive on the surface, but what do you expect from a high-caliber course like this? Black Desert is worth every penny and then some. The highest compliment I can give the golf course is that I opted to play it on Super Bowl Sunday, and because of my decision, I was forced to watch the big game on tape delay. And yet, I’d do it all over again. Black Desert rocks.

Top Ten of 2024

Honorable Mention: Blue Top Ridge, Riverside, Iowa; Verrado (Founder’s), Buckeye, Arizona; Chariot Run, Laconia, Indiana

10. Spirit Hollow, Burlington, Iowa
9. Elkhorn Ridge, Spearfish, South Dakota
8. Park Mammoth, Park City, Kentucky
7. Cragun’s (Lehman Legacy), Brainerd, Minnesota
6. Deacon’s Lodge, Breezy Point, Minnesota
5. SouthShore, Henderson, Nevada
4. Mossy Oak, West Point, Mississippi
3. The Red Course at The Loop, Roscommon, Michigan
2. Troon Country Club, Scottsdale, Arizona
1. Forest Dunes, Roscommon, Michigan