American golf courses offer some of the most stunning layouts in the world, combining championship-level challenges with landscapes ranging from Pacific cliffs to Wisconsin lakeshores. The beauty of golf in the United States is that many legendary courses remain accessible to the public, letting everyday golfers walk the same fairways that hosted major championships.
Whether you’re chasing bucket list experiences or looking for new challenges, 2026 offers plenty of reasons to plan golf trips across the country. Here is a list of U.S. golf courses to try in 2026.
Pebble Beach Golf Links
This California icon is located on the Monterey Peninsula, with nine dramatic holes perched directly above the Pacific Ocean. The course has hosted six U.S. Opens and will host its seventh in 2027, with green fees around $600 reflecting its status as America’s number one public course.
Holes six through eight create golf’s most spectacular stretch along the coast, and walking these fairways with a caddie remains one of the sport’s ultimate experiences.
Whistling Straits
Built on flat Wisconsin farmland transformed into massive dunes along Lake Michigan, this Pete Dye masterpiece hosted the 2021 Ryder Cup. The Straits course stretches over 7,500 yards with every dramatic hole offering views of the lake through fescue-covered mounds.
Walking-only, with caddies recommended, this Irish links-style layout in the American Midwest creates an unforgettable test of golf amid stunning scenery.
TPC Sawgrass
Home to The Players Championship and golf’s most famous island green on the par-3 17th, this Florida course challenges every aspect of your game. The Stadium Course features strategic water hazards, tight fairways, and the electric atmosphere of professional tournament golf translated to public play.
Book well in advance, as tee times fill quickly at this bucket-list venue that proves why it’s considered the fifth major.
Pinehurst No. 2
Donald Ross designed this North Carolina masterpiece in 1907, and the course has hosted multiple U.S. Opens with its distinctive turtleback greens. The strategic layout rewards precise shot-making over raw power, with narrow fairways and challenging lies throughout.
Located in the Sandhills region about 75 minutes from Raleigh, Pinehurst remains one of the most historically significant courses in American golf.
Bandon Dunes
This Oregon resort features multiple world-class courses built along the Pacific coast in true links style. Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, and Old Macdonald all deliver windswept fairways, natural dunes, and stunning ocean views without the transatlantic flight to Scotland.
The walking-only policy and remote location create an immersive golf experience that attracts purists worldwide.
Kiawah Island Ocean Course
Stretching along 2.5 miles of Atlantic beachfront in South Carolina, this Pete Dye design hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup and 2012 PGA Championship. Ten holes play directly along the ocean with unpredictable coastal winds affecting every shot.
The exposed location and challenging layout make this one of the toughest resort courses in America, with stunning views compensating for the difficulty.
Bethpage Black
New York’s public championship course has hosted multiple U.S. Opens and features a warning sign at the first tee cautioning that the course is extremely difficult. Thick, rough, demanding length, and unforgiving design create a genuine test that doesn’t coddle players.
Green fees remain remarkably reasonable for residents, making this championship pedigree accessible to everyday golfers willing to tackle the challenge.
Torrey Pines
Perched on cliffs overlooking the Pacific near San Diego, Torrey Pines combines breathtaking coastal views with a layout that hosted the 2008 U.S. Open. The South Course presents the greater challenge with narrow fairways and strategic bunkering throughout.
Public access to this championship venue and stunning scenery makes advance booking essential during peak season.
TPC Scottsdale
The stadium-style 16th hole becomes the loudest venue in golf during the Waste Management Phoenix Open, with thousands of fans creating a raucous atmosphere. The desert course features strategic bunkering and a challenging layout that tests accuracy more than distance.
The vibrant setting and accessibility make this a favorite among both professionals and recreational players seeking a memorable golf experience.
Chambers Bay
This Pacific Northwest links-style course hosted the 2015 U.S. Open and sprawls across rolling terrain with Puget Sound views. The walking-only layout features massive fescue-covered dunes and greens that blend seamlessly with fairways in true Scottish fashion.
Located near Tacoma, the course offers a unique American interpretation of links golf, with dramatic elevation changes that are uncommon in traditional seaside courses.
Erin Hills
Wisconsin’s other championship venue hosted the 2017 U.S. Open with wide fairways, fescue rough, and natural prairie landscapes. The modern design showcases expansive views across rolling hills while maintaining strategic challenges through green complexes and natural hazards.
Public access to this U.S. Open venue provides opportunities to experience championship conditions without private club restrictions.
Spyglass Hill
Just up 17-Mile Drive from Pebble Beach, this Robert Trent Jones design combines Pine Valley and Augusta National influences. The opening five holes play through spectacular coastal dunes before moving inland through towering Monterey pines.
Many consider this the finest course never to host a major championship, with a challenging layout that rivals its more famous neighbor.
Harbour Town Golf Links
This South Carolina Pete Dye design features the iconic red-and-white lighthouse and hosts the RBC Heritage annually. Tight fairways, small greens, and strategic bunkering demand precision and accuracy over power.
The picturesque coastal setting on Hilton Head Island and challenging layout create a favorite destination for golfers seeking shot-making tests.
Shadow Creek
This exclusive Las Vegas course, carved from desert into lush parkland, represents golf design extravagance. Tom Fazio transformed barren land into a masterpiece with waterfalls, streams, and towering trees imported to create a secluded oasis.
Access requires staying at MGM properties or connecting, but the experience ranks among America’s most luxurious golf venues.
Streamsong Resort
Florida’s unexpected golf destination features three distinctive courses built on former phosphate mining land. Tom Doak’s Red and Blue courses, plus Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw’s Black course, all feature significant elevation changes, rare in Florida golf.
The remote location south of Orlando creates an immersive golf-only resort experience.
Pacific Dunes
Often rated the best course at Bandon Dunes Resort, Tom Doak’s design maximizes the dramatic Oregon coastline. Every hole offers ocean views with routing that takes full advantage of natural dunes and coastal features.
Walking these fairways with wind whipping off the Pacific creates the most authentic links experience available in North America.
Planning Your 2026 Golf Trips
The American golf architecture and its best settings are displayed by these top courses, which range from ocean-side cliffs to the hills of the prairies and even the oases of the desert. Reservations must be made long before, as the most renowned places get booked for tee times months in advance, particularly during the high seasons.
The expenses for green fees and trips are worth it because they provide experiences that not only deepen your appreciation for course design and the natural landscapes surrounding American golf courses but also make these courses world-class destinations.
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