It’s been a crazy string of decades in golf design, with construction going gangbusters through the 1990s and early 2000s before grinding nearly to a complete halt after the financial crisis of 2007 and ’08. Things have picked up a bit in recent years, especially when considering high-end destinations scattered in far-flung locales around the U.S.
Through it all, these are the best 30 courses opened in the past 30 years in the U.S., as voted by Golfweek’s Best panel of raters.
The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them based on our 10 criteria. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings on each course are averaged to produce a final, cumulative rating.
This ranking is compiled from data included in the 2021 Golfweek’s Best Modern Courses list, and it focuses on the golf courses themselves, not on resorts or private clubs as a whole or other amenities. Each golf course included is listed with its average rating from 1 to 10, its location, architect(s), the year it opened and its status as a private club (p), a resort (r), a daily-fee operation (d) or a real estate development (re).
Other Golfweek’s Best lists include:
Streamsong’s Red Course in Florida (Courtesy of Streamsong/Laurence Lambrecht)
30. Gamble Sands, 7.46
Brewster, Wash.; David McLay Kidd (2014); r, d
T28. Streamsong (Red), 7.51
Bowling Green, Fla.; Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw (2012); r, d
T28. Dallas National, 7.51
Dallas, Texas; Tom Fazio (2002); p
T26. Gozzer Ranch, 7.52
Arrowpoint, Ind.; Tom Fazio (2007); re, p
T26. Dismal River Club (Doak), 7.52
Mullen, Neb.; Tom Doak (2013); p
Congaree Golf Club in South Carolina (Courtesy of PGA Tour)
T24. Colorado GC, 7.54
Parker, Colo.; Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw (2007); re, p
T24. Pete Dye GC, 7.54
Bridgeport, W.Va.; Pete Dye (1994); p
23. Sand Valley (Sand Valley), 7.56
Nekoosa, Wis.; Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw (2016); r, d
22. Congaree, 7.60
Ridgeland, S.C.; Tom Fazio (2017); p
21. Sand Valley (Mammoth Dunes), 7.61
Nekoosa, Wis.; David McLay Kidd (2018); r, d
Rock Creek Cattle Company in Montana (Courtesy of Rock Creek Cattle Company)
20. Kinloch, 7.68
Richmond, Va.; Lester George (2000); p
T18. Calusa Pines, 7.69
Naples, Fla.; Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry (2001); p
T18. Pikewood National, 7.69
Morgantown, W.Va.; John Raese, J. Robert Gwynne (2009); p
17. Rock Creek Cattle Company, 7.71
Deer Lodge, Mont.; Tom Doak (2008); re, p
16. Boston Golf Club, 7.72
Hingham, Mass.; Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner (2005); p
Kingsley Club in Michigan (Courtesy of Kingsley Club/Laurence Lambrecht)
T14. Old Sandwich, 7.74
Plymouth, Mass.; Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw (2004); p
T14. Whispering Pines, 7.74
Trinity, Texas; Chet Williams (2000); p
13. Kingsley Club, 7.75
Kingsley, Mich.; Mike DeVries (2001); p
12. Estancia, 7.78
Scottsdale, Ariz.; Tom Fazio (1995); re, p
11. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Bandon Trails), 7.89
Bandon, Ore.; Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw (2005); r, d
Bandon Dunes at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon (Courtesy of Bandon Dunes)
10. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Sheep Ranch), 8.02
Bandon, Ore.; Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw (2020); r, d
9. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Bandon Dunes), 8.13
Bandon, Ore.; David McLay Kidd (1999); r, d
8. Whistling Straits (Straits), 8.15
Mosel, Wis.; Pete Dye (1997); r, d
7. Ohoopee Match Club, 8.25
Cobbtown, Ga.; Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner (2018); p
6. Sebonack, 8.31
Southampton, N.Y.; Tom Doak, Jack Nicklaus (2006); p
Sand Hills Golf Club in Nebraska (David Cannon/Getty Images)
5. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Old Macdonald), 8.34
Bandon, Ore.; Tom Doak, Jim Urbina (2010); r, d
4. Ballyneal, 8.39
Holyoke, Colo.; Tom Doak (2006); p
3. Friar’s Head, 8.62
Baiting Hollow, N.Y.; Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw (2003); p
2. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Pacific Dunes), 8.75
Bandon, Ore.; Tom Doak (2001); r, d
1. Sand Hills, 9.16
Mullen, Neb.; Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw (1995); p
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