on May 20, 2018
April 17, 2018 By: Golfweek Staff – Welcome to Golfweek’s annual Best. Each spring, we publish the three lists that are the foundation of our course-ratings program: Golfweek’s Best Classic Courses, Golfweek’s Best Modern Courses and Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play.
The 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 together to produce a final rating for each course. Then each course is ranked against other courses in its state, or nationally, to produce the final rankings.
We hope you enjoy poring over these rankings, and we look forward to hearing your thoughts on this Best Modern Courses (built since 1960) list:
Courses are listed with their 2017 ranking, their overall Rater rating, year opened and course designers:
1. Sand Hills (1) 9.17
Mullen, Neb; 1995; Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw; p
2. Pacific Dunes (2) 8.87
Bandon, Ore.; 2001; Tom Doak; r
3. Friar’s Head (3) 8.61
Baiting Hollow, N.Y.; 2003; Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw; p
4. Ballyneal (4) 8.47
Holyoke, Colo.; 2006; Tom Doak; p
5. Old Macdonald (5) 8.39
Bandon, Ore.; 2010; Tom Doak & Jim Urbina; r
6. Sebonack (7) 8.34
Southampton, N.Y.; 2006; Tom Doak & Jack Nicklaus; p
7. Whistling Straits (Straits) (6) 8.30
Mosel, Wis.; 1997; Pete Dye; r
8. Bandon Dunes (8) 8.19
Bandon, Ore.; 1999; David McLay Kidd; r
9. Shadow Creek (9) 8.04
North Las Vegas, Nev.; 1990; Tom Fazio; r
10. Wade Hampton Club (10) 8.03
Cashiers, N.C.; 1988; Tom Fazio; p
11. Muirfield Village (13) 7.96
Dublin, Ohio; 1974; Jack Nicklaus; p
12. Ocean Course (14) 7.88
Kiawah Island, S.C.; 1991; Pete Dye; r
13. The Golf Club (15) 7.84
New Albany, Ohio; 1967; Pete Dye; p
14. Alotian Club (12) 7.83
Roland, Ark.; 2005; Tom Fazio; p
15. Bandon Trails (17) 7.80
Bandon, Ore.; 2005; Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw; r
16. Kinloch (16) 7.79;
Richmond, Va.; 2000; Lester George; p
17. Old Sandwich (18) 7.78
Plymouth, Mass.; 2004; Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw; p
18. Pete Dye GC (11) 7.77
Bridgeport, W.Va.; 1994; Pete Dye; p
19. Rock Creek Cattle Co. (21) 7.76
Deer Lodge, Mont.; 2008; Tom Doak; p
20. Pikewood National (32) 7.75
Morgantown, W.Va.; 2009; John Raese & J. Robert Gwynne; p
21. TPC Sawgrass (Players Stadium) (22) 7.74
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; 1981; Pete Dye; r
22. Kingsley Club (19) 7.74
Kingsley, Mich.; 2001; Mike DeVries; p
23. Honors Course (20) 7.73
Ooltewah, Tenn.; 1983; Pete Dye; p
24. Calusa Pines (25) 7.71
Naples, Fla.; 2001; Michael Hurdzan & Dana Fry; p
25. Boston GC (24) 7.69
Hingham, Mass.; 2005; Gil Hanse; p
26. Nanea (26) 7.66;
Kona (Big Island); 2004; David McLay Kidd; p
27. Spyglass Hill (23) 7.65
Pebble Beach, Calif.; 1966; Robert Trent Jones Sr.; r, d
28. Whispering Pines (36) 7.60
Trinity, Texas; 2000; Chet Williams; p
29. Galloway National (27) 7.59
Galloway Township, N.J.; 1995; Tom Fazio; p
30. Estancia (31) 7.58
Scottsdale, Ariz.; 1995; Tom Fazio; p
31. Streamsong (Black)* 7.57
Fort Meade, Fla.; 2017; Gil Hanse; r
32. Dismal River Club (Doak Course) (29) 7.56
Mullen, Neb.; 2013; Tom Doak; p
33. Colorado GC (33) 7.55
Parker, Colo.; 2007; Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw; p
34. Gozzer Ranch (28) 7.54
Arrowpoint, Idaho; 2007; Tom Fazio; p
35. Streamsong (Red) (35) 7.52
Fort Meade, Fla.; 2012; Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw; r
36. Monterey Peninsula CC (Shore) (37) 7.50
Pebble Beach, Calif.; 1961; Robert Baldock, Jack Neville, Michael Strantz; p
37. Bluejack National* 7.50
Montgomery, Texas; 2016; Tiger Woods; p
38. Oak Tree National (38) 7.47
Edmond, Okla.; 1975; Pete Dye; p
39. Dallas National (40) 7.47
Dallas; 2003; Tom Fazio; p
40. Huntsman Springs (34) 7.45
Driggs, Idaho; 2009; David McLay Kidd; p
41. Shooting Star (42) 7.45
Teton Village, Wyo.; 2009; Tom Fazio; p
42. Sand Valley (61) 7.45
Nekoosa, Wis.; 2016; Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw; r, d
43. Arcadia Bluffs (39) 7.45
Arcadia, Mich.; 1999; Rick Smith; d
44. Chambers Bay (41) 7.43
University Place, Wash.; 2007; Robert Trent Jones Jr. & Bruce Charlton; d
45. Kapalua (Plantation) (43) 7.42
Maui, Hawaii; 1991; Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw; r
46. Double Eagle GC (30) 7.41
Galena, Ohio; 1991; Jay Morrish & Tom Weiskopf; p
47. Desert Forest (44) 7.40
Carefree, Ariz.; 1962; Red Lawrence; p
48. Dunes Club (46) 7.40
New Buffalo, Mich.; 1995; Dick Nugent; p
49. Gamble Sands (45) 7.39
Brewster, Wash.; 2014; David McLay Kidd; r
50. Sweetens Cove (59) 7.38
South Pittsburg, Tenn.; 2015; Rob Collins & Tad King; d
51. Butler National (47) 7.34
Oak Brook, Ill.; 1974; George Fazio & Tom Fazio; p
52. Castle Pines GC (48) 7.34
Castle Rock, Colo.; 1981; Jack Nicklaus; p
53. Olde Farm (50) 7.32
Bristol, Va.; 2001; Bobby Weed; p
54. Mountaintop (51) 7.31
Cashiers, N.C.; 2007; Tom Fazio; p
55. Streamsong (Blue) (55) 7.30
Fort Meade, Fla.; 2012; Tom Doak; r
56. Fallen Oak (53) 7.30
Saucier, Miss.; 2006; Tom Fazio; r
57. Pronghorn (Fazio Course) (54) 7.30
Bend, Ore.; 2006; Tom Fazio; p
58. Harbour Town GL (52) 7.29
Hilton Head, S.C.; 1970; Pete Dye; r
59. Atlantic GC (62) 7.29
Bridgehampton, N.Y.; 1992; Rees Jones; p
60. Quail Hollow Club (60) 7.28
Charlotte, N.C.; 1961; George Cobb, Tom Fazio; p
61. Spring Hill (58) 7.27
Orono, Minn.; 1999; Tom Fazio; p
62. Mayacama (49) 7.26
Santa Rosa, Calif.; 2001; Jack Nicklaus; p
63. Shelter Harbor (57) 7.25
Westerly, R.I.; 2005; Michael Hurdzan & Dana Fry; p
64. Manele (73) 7.24
Lanai, Hawaii; 1993; Jack Nicklaus; r
65. Bayonne GC (63) 7.23
Bayonne, N.J.; 2006; Eric Bergstol; p
66. Black Sheep (56) 7.22
Sugar Grove, Ill.; 2002; David Esler; p
67. Victoria National (64) 7.22
Newburgh, Ind.; 1998; Tom Fazio; p
68. Martis Camp (65) 7.21
Truckee, Calif.; 2007; Tom Fazio; p
69. Forest Dunes – The Loop (Red & Black)* 7.20
Roscommon, Mich.; 2016; Tom Doak; r, d
70. The Rim (66) 7.19
Payson, Ariz.; 1998; Tom Weiskopf; p
71. Grandfather G&CC (72) 7.18
Linville, N.C.; 1968; Ellis Maples; p
72. Johns Island West (68) 7.16
Vero Beach, Fla.; 1989; Tom Fazio; p
73. Shoal Creek (69) 7.15
Birmingham, Ala.; 1976; Jack Nicklaus; p
74. The Quarry at La Quinta (78) 7.15
La Quinta, Calif.; 1994; Tom Fazio; p
75. Crooked Stick (70) 7.15
Carmel, Ind.; 1964; Pete Dye, p
76. Hidden Creek (79) 7.15
Egg Harbor Township, N.J.; 2002; Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw; p
77. Valhalla (77) 7.14
Louisville, Ky.; 1986; Jack Nicklaus; p
78. Long Cove (71) 7.12
Hilton Head, S.C.; 1982; Pete Dye; p
79. Robert Trent Jones GC (75) 7.11
Lake Manassas, Va.; 1991; Robert Trent Jones Sr. & Roger Rulewich; p
80. Diamond Creek (86) 7.11
Banner Elk, N.C.; 2003; Tom Fazio; p
81. Greywalls (81) 7.10
Marquette, Mich.; 2005; Mike DeVries; d
82. Clear Creek (82) 7.10
Tahoe, Nev.; 2009; Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw; p
83. Hazeltine National (67) 7.09
Chaska, Minn.; 1962; Robert Trent Jones Sr.; p
84. Karsten Creek (76) 7.09
Stillwater, Okla.; 1994; Tom Fazio; d
85. Blackwolf Run (River) (87) 7.08
Kohler, Wis.; 1988; Pete Dye; r
86. Forest Highlands (The Canyon) (85) 7.08
Flagstaff, Ariz.; 1989; Jay Morrish & Tom Weiskopf; p
87. Sea Island GC (Seaside) (90) 7.06
St. Simon Island, Ga.; 2000; Harry S. Colt & Charles H. Alison, Joe Lee, Tom Fazio; r
88. Wild Horse (89) 7.06
Gothenburg, Neb.; 1999; Dave Axland & Dan Proctor; d
89. Secession (84) 7.04
Gibbes Island, S.C.; 1992; Bruce Devlin; p
90. Ocean Forest (88) 7.03
Sea Island, Ga.; 1994; Rees Jones; p
91. Patriot GC (83) 7.02
Owasso, Okla.; 2010; Robert Trent Jones Jr.; p
92. Austin GC** 7.02
Austin, Texas; 2001; Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw; p
93. Tradition at La Quinta (94) 7.01
La Quinta, Calif.; 1998; Arnold Palmer & Ed Seay; p
94. Eugene CC (91) 7.01
Eugene, Ore.; 1967; H. Chandler Egan, Robert Trent Jones Sr.; p
95. Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee (92) 7.00
Eatonton, Ga.; 1998; Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw; p
96. Sage Valley (97) 6.99
Graniteville, S.C.; 2001; Tom Fazio; p
97. Mossy Oak* 6.99
West Point, Miss.; 2016; Gil Hanse; d
98. Erin Hills* 6.99
Hartford, Wis.; 2006; Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry & Ron Whitten; r, d
99. Trump National (Old) (80) 6.99
Bedminster, N.J.; 2004; Tom Fazio; p
100. The Madison Club* 6.98
LaQuinta, Calif.; 2006; Tom Fazio; p
* new; ** returns to list; p: private; r: resort; d: daily fee