The Best Golf Courses in the Greater Bay Area

Established in 1953, Riviera Country Clubwas originally a nine-hole course before it was expanded to 18 holes. Unlike the previous courses, Riviera has only one course available to players.

This golf course is right off Interstate 10, due south of the Pomona Fairplex and Brackett Field Airport. Even though the course isn’t actually in the mountains, you will find fairly hilly terrain, with jacaranda trees and views of the San Gabriels adding to the experience. This golf course, which feels like it could be at the end of the earth, rests on cliffs above Golden Cove and Point Vicente Lighthouse in Rancho Palos Verdes. Designer William Bell also capitalized on the hillside slopes to create some challenging holes that require deft putting. Sharpen your golf-stroke mechanics or work on your hook with a PGA head pro at this Brookline course, which offers instruction for all player levels, as well as clinics and junior programs. Constructed in 1933, the course was renovated six years ago to enhance the quality of play and provide new obstacles . Bonus points for custom golf-club fittings and a restaurant that serves three squares a day.

Emerald Course at Wailea Golf Club

The views combined with prime conditions give the feel of a private course, but Firecliff is, in fact, public and was developed by the city of Palm Desert. Designed by Dye in 1981, the layout demands accuracy and proper placement. With close to 100 bunkers trouble lurks everywhere, though overall it’s extremely playable. As a whole, New York’s top five public courses best courses – with an average rating of 6.76 – are no match for the elite private courses. While the top five private courses are the best lineup in the country, the top five public-access courses rank a still-strong 11th when compared to the elite public courses of other states. Oregon is No. 1 on that list, and New York falls between No. 10 Virginia and No. 12 Nevada.

Since then, the Michael Hurzan/Dana Fry design is implementing a series of cool promotions to keep them in the forefront. Some of my favorites included the Kettle Loop, a five hole rotation played from different tee boxes and yardages than the Championship layout and their remarkable lighted putting course. Overnight guests also have access to their ultra-cool caddie barn, complete with dart boards and ping pong and pool tables. Talk about an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience you can’t find anywhere else. Photo courtesy of Sand Valley Golf Resort.The newest addition to the high-end public resort golf scene in the Midwest is Sand Valley Golf Resort, located four hours north of Chicago in tiny Rome, Wisconsin. Chicago native Mike Keiser, the same man who brought us Bandon Dunes and Cabot Links, has struck gold with his latest walking-only, multi-course destination. It began in 2017 with the opening of Sand Valley, a stunning Crenshaw/Coore design that is highlighted by massive sand blowouts and 360-degree vistas.

The Oasis Golf Club – Canyons

Those challenges along with elevation changes and thick Bermuda rough can make this a difficult course to score on. You’ll need to take advantage of the easier holes, like the short downhill dogleg right par-4 14th hole with those wetlands on the left but out of play. One of the most visually stunning courses in the area, Verdict Ridge offers beauty, challenge, conditions and amenities on par with nearby private clubs. The Bay Course at Kapalua is beautifully landscaped and offers stunning views of the Island of Molokai in the distance. This 18-hole course sits on over 6,600 yards while playing at a par-72.

© 2023 Economic Development Partnership of North CarolinaEDPNC- Privacy- Terms of Use- AccessibilityFIRSTS THAT LAST and the NC design are registered service marks of the EDPNC. And part of the same resort is another Ross gem, Mid Pines Golf Club (see the 5th-place ranking). With impeccable putting conditions, Southern Dunes Golf Club and Shingle Creek Golf Club topped the list for Best Greens in Orlando. The only negative is the “Luxury Price Tag”, which keeps Ritz-Carlton Golf Club away from the top spots in the rankings.

Haus of Golf

The Glen Club also is highlighted by a majestic 48,000-square-foot clubhouse that features superb dining, tastefully appointed overnight accommodations, a grand ballroom, and the finest in corporate amenities. Besides Dubsdread #4, Cog Hill features three other top public venues, #1, #2, and #3. Cog Hill also offers Stay and Play Packages with the nearby Marriott Burr Ridge. A former home course of mine, this club is back to top-tier status with new superintendent Mike Stell making several improvements and keeping the bentgrass greens in great shape. Since a 2019 renovation and change in ownership, Skybrook’s upgraded amenities and course conditions have carried it into the Top 5 on this list.

• “I thought the course design and layout of Champions Gate’s International golf course was very unique to Orlando…”
• Unlike other Arizona golf courses, there are no homes, condos or townhomes lining these fairways…It is just you and the elements, with giant saguaros in the foreground framed by magnificent mountains in the distance.
• The beautiful 18-hole walking course is set with the rolling hills of the park and is open throughout the year, weather permitting.
• Designed by Dye in 1981, the layout demands accuracy and proper placement.
• Another Lloyd Clifton course design can be found at DeBary Golf and Country Club, which has hosted U.S.
• With the residential homes lining most of the holes, there is a ton of out-of-bounds to go along with many natural hazards.

Just off the I-376 East,Meadowink Golf Courseis located roughly forty minutes from Downtown. The 18-hole par 72-course layout is designed with strategically placed bunkers and water hazards.

Verdict Ridge Golf & Country Club – Denver

While the North Course was designed by Bill Amick, the South Course was designed by Lloyd Clifton. In fact, it was Clifton who oversaw a redesign of the South Course at Daytona Beach Golf Club. On the scale of 1 to 10, New York’s top five courses averaged a whopping 8.82 rating, placing it ahead of No. 2 California, No. 3 New Jersey and every other state. It may be the private club capital of Florida, but golfers endorse these public-access courses.

When it comes to finding the perfect destination for a leisurely vacation, Hawaii is known for beautiful year-round weather and remarkable views at every turn. The island’s topography provides the perfect canvas for exceptionally unique Maui golf courses that challenge those of various skill levels. Opened in 1996, Celebration Golf Club was a design collaboration between the father-son duo of Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Robert Trent Jones Jr. The course features generous fairways that dogleg around numerous lakes and bunkers on the front nine. On the back side, there are a few more tree-lined holes, though the fairways are still wide.

Golfbaan Spaarnwoude

It’s never been easier to design custom hats, golf balls, clubs, headcovers and more. The fact the munis allow dogs on a leash always turns visitors’ heads, but it’s just part of the low-key culture here. When the popular Bluebonnet Hill Golf Course on Austin’s east side closed at the end of 2019 for redevelopment, it was a shocking and huge blow to public golf in Austin.

At the opposite end of the spectrum from the private retreats is Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, which is tops on Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play list for New York. Tillinghast in 1935 and an “extremely difficult” track as noted by a famous sign at the first tee, the Black has been revamped from a somewhat ragged layout to a major destination. It also hosted two PGA Tour FedEx Cup Playoff events and will be the site of the 2024 Ryder Cup, giving New Yorkers plenty to weigh in on as an American team takes on the Europeans. The following is a curated list of the best public golf courses in the Greater Bay Area — including Napa Valley and Sonoma County Wine Country. See on mapArnold Palmer issued a straightforward challenge to players at Mid South Club, with few visual tricks and a mixture of risk/reward from virtually every tee. Like the man, this is a course on which to hitch up your trousers and charge. A favorite of locals and considered one of Palmer’s best designs, the private Mid South is worthy of making the effort to get on via an area golf package.