Golfweek’s Best 2019: Top 200 Modern Courses

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 (below) 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:

Each course is listed with its 2018 ranking in parentheses (if applicable), its  location, architect(s), and an average ranking from all the Golfweek Raters who reviewed it. The top 100 courses included the year opened.

Jack Nicklaus and Muirfield Village Golf Club welcome the cream of the PGA Tour crop each spring, including Tiger Woods in 2019, for the Memorial Tournament. (Chris Condon/PGA Tour)

Top 200 Modern Courses: 1-50

Rank	Course (2018)	Location	Architect(s)	Year opened	Avg. rating
1	Sand Hills (1)	Mullen, Neb.	Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw	1995	9.17
2	Bandon Dunes (2) (Pacific Dunes)/td>	Bandon, Ore.	Tom Doak	2001	8.84
3	Friar’s Head (3)	Baiting Hollow, N.Y	Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw	2003	8.60
4	Ballyneal (4)	Holyoke, Colo	Tom Doak	2006	8.47
5	Bandon Dunes (Old Macdonald) (5)	Bandon, Ore.	Tom Doak and Jim Urbina	2010	8.35
6	Sebonack (6)	Southampton, N.Y.	Tom Doak and Jack Nicklaus	2006	8.33
7	Whistling Straits (Straits) (7)	Mosel, Wis.	Pete Dye; r	1997	8.28
8	Bandon Dunes (Bandon Dunes) (8)	Bandon, Ore.	David McLay Kidd; r	1999	8.17
9	Shadow Creek (9)	North Las Vegas	Tom Fazio; r	1990	8.08
10	Wade Hampton Club (10)	Cashiers, N.C.	Tom Fazio; p	1988	8.05
11	Muirfield Village (11)	Dublin, Ohio	Jack Nicklaus	1974	8.01
12	The Golf Club (13)	New Albany, Ohio	Pete Dye; p	1967	7.86
13	Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Ocean Course) (12)	Kiawah Island, S.C.	Pete Dye; p	1991	7.85
14	Bandon Dunes (Bandon Trails) (15)	Bandon, Ore.	Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw; r	2005	7.82
15	Alotian Club (14)	Roland, Ark.	Tom Fazio; p	2005	7.82
16	Pete Dye GC (18)	Bridgeport, W.Va.	Pete Dey; p	1994	7.78
17	Rock Creek Cattle Co. (19)	Deer Lodge, Mont.	Tom Doak; p	2008	7.76
18	Pikewood National (20)	Morgantown, W.Va.	John Raese and J. Robert Gwynne; p	2009	7.76
19	Honors Course (23)	Ooltewah, Tenn	Pete Dye; p	1983	7.75
20	Old Sandwich GC (17)	Plymouth, Mass.	Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw; p	2004	7.75
21	Kinloch (16)	Richmond, Va.	Lester George; p	2000	7.74
22	TPC Sawgrass (Players Stadium) (21)	Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.	Pete Dye; r	1981	7.74
23	Kingsley Club (22)	Kingsley, Mich.	Mike DeVries; p	2000	7.74
24	Whispering Pines (28)	Trinity, Texas	Chet Williams; p	2000	7.66
25	Calusa Pines (24)	Naples, Fla.	Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry; p	2001	7.66
26	Boston GC (25)	Hingham, Mass.	Gil Hanse; p	2005	7.66
27	Nanea (26)	Kona (Big Island)	David McLay Kidd; p	2004	7.66
28	Sand Valley (Mammoth Dunes)*	Nekoosa, Wis.	David McLay Kidd; r	2018	7.63
29	Spyglass Hill (27)	Pebble Beach, Calif.	Robert Trent Jones Sr.; r, d	1966	7.63
30	Estancia (30)	Scottsdale, Ariz.	Tom Fazio; p	1955	7.58
31	Dismal River Club (Doak Course)	Dismal River Club, Mullen, Neb	Tom Doak; p	2013	7.58
32	Galloway National (29)	Galloway Township, N.J.	Tom Fazio; p	1995	7.57
33	Sand Valley (42)	Nekoosa, Wis.	Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw; r, d	2016	7.55
34	Monterey Peninsula CC (Shore) (36)	Pebble Beach, Calif	Robert Baldock, Jack Neville, Michael Strantz; p	1961	7.54
35	Colorado GC (33)	Parker, Colo.	Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw; p	2007	7.54
36	Gozzer Ranch (34)	Arrowpoint, Idaho	Tom Fazio; p	2007	7.53
37	Streamsong (Red) (35)	Fort Meade, Fla.	Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw; r	2017	7.52
38	Streamsong (Black) (31)	Fort Meade, Fla.	Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw; r	2017	7.52
39	Dunes Club (48)	New Buffalo, Mich.	Dick Nugent	1995	7.48
40	Dallas National (39)	Dallas	Tom Fazio; p	2002	7.45
41	Oak Tree National (38)	Edmond, Okla.	Pete Dye; p	1975	7.45
42	Gamble Sands (49)	Brewster, Wash.	David McLay Kidd	2014	7.44
43	Arcadia Bluffs (43)	Arcadia, Mich.	Rick Smith; d	1999	7.42
44	Huntsman Springs (40)	Driggs, Idaho	David McLay Kidd; p	2010	7.42
45	Kapalua (Plantation) (45)	Maui, Hawaii	Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw; r	1991	7.41
46	Shooting Star (41	Teton Village, Wyo.	Tom Fazio; p	2009	7.41
47	Bluejack National (37)	Montgomery, Texas	Tiger Woods; p	2016	7.41
48	Desert Forest (47)	Carefree, Ariz.	Red Lawrence; p	1962	7.39
49	Sweetens Cove (50)	South Pittsburg, Tenn.	Rob Collins; d	2015	7.38
50	Chambers Bay (44)	University Place, Wash	Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Bruce Charlton; d	2007	7.37
Key	d: daily fee	p: private	** returns to list	r: resort	* new

Harbour Town Golf Links is one of Pete Dye’s legendary designs. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Top 200 Modern Courses: 51-100

Rank	Course	Location	Architect(s)	Year opened	Rating
51	Olde Farm (53)	Bristol, Va.	Bobby Weed; p	2001	7.36
52	Mountaintop (54)	Cashiers, N.C.	Tom Fazio; p	2007	7.36
53	Double Eagle GC (46)	Galena, Ohio	Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf	1991	7.36
54	Harbour Town GL (58)	Hilton Head, S.C.	Pete Dye; r	1970	7.35
55	Castle Pines GC (52)	Castle Rock, Colo.	Jack Nicklaus; p	1981	7.35
56	Streamsong (Blue) (55)	Fort Meade, Fla.	Tom Doak; r	2012	7.32
57	Spring Hill (61)	Orono, Minn.	Tom Fazio; p	1999	7.31
58	Pronghorn (Fazio Course) (57)	Bend, Ore.	Tom Fazio; p	2006	7.30
59	Butler National (51)	Oak Brook, Ill.	George Fazio and Tom Fazio; p	1974	7.29
60	Quail Hollow Club (60)	Charlotte, N.C.	George Cobb and Tom Fazio	1961	7.28
61	Bayonne GC (65)	Bayonne, N.J.	Eric Bergstol; p	2006	7.27
62	Martis Camp (68)	Truckee, Calif.	Tom Fazio; p	2007	7.27
63	Fallen Oak (56)	Saucier, Miss.	Tom Fazio; r	2006	7.25
64	Shelter Harbor (63)	Westerly, R.I.	Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry	2005	7.25
65	Four Seasons Resort (Manele) (64)	Lanai, Hawaii	Jack Nicklaus; r	1993	7.25
66	Mayacama (62)	Santa Rosa, Calif.	Jack Nicklaus; p	2001	7.24
67	Atlantic GC (59)	Bridgehampton, N.Y.	Rees Jones; p	1992	7.24
68	Grandfather G&CC (71)	Linville, N.C.	Ellis Maples; p	1968	7.24
69	The Quarry at La Quinta (75)	La Quinta, Calif.	Tom Fazio; p	1994	7.23
70	Sutton Bay*	Agar, S.D.	Graham Marsh; p	2014	7.21
71	Black Sheep (66)	Sugar Grove, Ill.	David Esler; p	2002	7.21
72	Victoria National (67)	Newburgh, Ind.	Tom Fazio; p	1998	7.20
73	Johns Island (West) (73)	Vero Beach, Fla.	Tom Fazio; p	1989	719
74	Robert Trent Jones GC (80)	Lake Manassas, Va.	Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Roger Rulewich; p	1991	7.18
75	The Rim (70)	Payson, Ariz.	Tom Weiskopf; p	1998	7.16
76	Valhalla (78)	Louisville, Ky.	Jack Nicklaus; p	1986	7.15
77	Long Cove (79)	Hilton Head, S.C.	Pete Dye; p	1982	7.14
78	Diamond Creek (81)	Banner Elk, N.C.	Tom Fazio; p	2003	7.14
79	Crooked Stick (76)	Carmel, Ind.	Pete Dye, p	1964	7.14
80	Hidden Creek (77)	Egg Harbor Township, N.J.	Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw; p	2002	7.14
81	Karsten Creek (85)	Stillwater, Okla.	Tom Fazio; d	1994	7.12
82	Marquette Golf Club (Greywalls) (82)	Marquette, Mich.	Mike DeVries; d	2005	7.12
83	Shoal Creek (74)	Birmingham, Ala.	Jack Nicklaus; p	1976	7.11
84	Forest Dunes – The Loop (Red & Black) (69)	Roscommon, Mich.	Tom Doak; r, d	2016	7.11
85	Pinehurst No. 4*	Pinehurst, N.C	Gil Hanse	2018	7.10
86	Sea Island GC (Seaside) (88)	St. Simon Island, Ga.	Harry S. Colt and Charles H. Alison, Joe Lee, Tom Fazio; r	2000	7.09
87	Clear Creek (83)	Tahoe, Nev.	Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw; p	2009	7.08
88	Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee (96)	Eatonton, Ga.	Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw	2009	7.08
89	Blackwolf Run (River) (86)	Kohler, Wis.	Pete Dye; r	1988	7.06
90	Forest Highlands (The Canyon) (87)	Flagstaff, Ariz.	Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf; p	1989	7.06
91	Secession (90)	Gibbes Island, S.C.	Bruce Devlin; p	1992	7.06
92	Erin Hills (99)	Hartford, Wis.	Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry and Ron Whitten; r, d	2006	7.05
93	Hazeltine National (84)	Chaska, Minn.	Trent Jones Sr.; p	1962	7.05
94	Mossy Oak (98)	West Point, Miss.	Gil Hanse; p	2016	7.04
95	Patriot GC (92)	Owasso, Okla.	Robert Trent Jones Jr.; p	2010	7.04
96	Jupiter Hills Club (Hills)**	Tequesta, Fla.	George Fazio; p	2010	7.04
97	Eugene CC (95)	Eugene, Ore.	H. Chandler Egan, Robert Trent Jones Sr.; p	1967	7.03
98	Austin GC (93)	Spicewood, Texas	Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw; p	2001	7.03
99	Wild Horse (89)	Gothenburg, Neb.	Dave Axland and Dan Proctor	1999	7.03
100	Sage Valley (97)	Graniteville, S.C.	Tom Fazio; p	2001	7.00
Key	d: daily fee	p: private	** returns to list	r: resort	* new

Trinity Forest Golf Club is the home course for Jordan Spieth. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Top 200 Modern Courses: 101-150

Rank	Course	Location	Architect(s)	Score
101	GC of Tennessee	Kingston Springs, Tenn.;	Tom Fazio; pa	7.00
102	Ocean Forest GC	Sea Island, Ga.	Rees Jones; p	6.99
103	Boot Ranch GC	Fredericksburg, Texas	Jim Lipe; p	6.98
104	Tradition at La Quinta	La Quinta, Calif.	Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay; p	6.97
105	Trinity Forest GC	Dallas	Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw; p	6.97
106	Concession GC	Bradenton, Fla	Jack Nicklaus; p	6.97
107	Prairie Club (Dunes Course)	Valentine, Neb.	Tom Lehman; r, p	6.97
108	High Ridge CC	Lantana, Fla.	Joe Lee; p	6.96
109	Stone Canyon	Tucson, Ariz.	Jay Morrish; p	6.96
110	Naples National GC	Naples, Fla.	Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry	6.96
111	Stonewall Links (Old)	Elverson, Pa.	Tom Doak; p	6.95
112	Hudson National GC	Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y	Tom Fazio; p	6.94
113	Primland (Highland)	Meadows of Dan, Va.	Donald Steel; r	6.94
114	Stanwich Club	Greenwich, Conn.	William Gordon and David Gordon	6.94
115	Kiawah Island Club (Cassique)	Kiawah Island, S.C.	Tom Watson; p	6.93
116	Wine Valley GC	Walla Walla, Wash.	Dan Hixson; d	6.93
117	Lahontan	Truckee, Calif.	Tom Weiskopf; p	6.93
118	Frederica GC	St. Simons Island, Ga.	Tom Fazio; p	6.93
119	Eagle Point Club	Wilmington, N.C.	Tom Fazio; p	6.92
120	Saucon Valley CC (Weyhill)	Bethlehem, Pa	William Gordon and David Gordon; p	6.91
121	Pine Tree CC	Boynton Beach, Fla.	Dick Wilson; p	6.91
122	Spring Island (Old Tabby Links)	Okatie, S.C.	Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay; p	6.91
123	Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands)	Johns Creek, Ga.	Joe Finger and Rees Jones; p	6.89
124	Cliffs at Mountain Park	Travelers Rest, S.C.	Gary Player; p	6.88
125	Loblolly GC	Hobe Sound, Fla.	P.B. Dye	6.88
126	Paa-Ko Ridge GC	Sandia Park, N.M.	Ken Dye; d	6.88
127	Santa Lucia Preserve	Carmel, Calif.	Tom Fazio; p	6.88
128	Harvester	Rhodes, Iowa	Keith Foster; p	6.88
129	Old Memorial	Tampa, Fla.	Steve Smyers; p	6.88
130	Greenville CC (Chanticleer)	Greenville, S.C.	Robert Trent and Jones Sr.; p	6.87
131	Dormie Club	West End, N.C.	Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw; d, p	6.87
132	Spring Creek Ranch	Collierville, Tenn.	Jack Nicklaus; p	6.87
133	Stone Eagle GC	Palm Desert, Calif.	Tom Doak; p	6.86
134	World Woods (Pine Barrens)	Brooksville, Fla.	Tom Fazio; d	6.86
135	The Bear’s Club	Jupiter, Fla.	Jack Nicklaus; p	6.85
136	Montage Palmetto Bluff (May River Course)	Bluffton, S.C.	Jack Nicklaus; r	6.85
137	Windsong Farm	Independence, Minn.	John Fought and Tom Lehman; p	6.84
138	Bellerive GC	Creve Couer, Mo.	Robert Trent Jones Jr.; p	6.84
139	Whisper Rock (Upper Course)	Scottsdale, Ariz.	Tom Fazio; p	6.84
140	Redlands Mesa	Grand Junction, Colo.	Jim Engh; d	6.83
141	Hamilton Farm	Gladstone, N.J.	Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry; p	6.82
142	Southern Highlands	Las Vegas	Robert Trent Jones Jr.; p	6.82
143	The Farm GC	Rocky Face, Ga.	Tom Fazio; p	6.81
144	Rams Hill GC	Borrego Springs, Calif.	Tom Fazio; r, d	6.81
145	Kukui’ula	Koloa, Hawaii	Tom Weiskopf; p	6.80
146	Links of North Dakota	Ray, N.D.	Stephen Kay: p/td>	6.80
147	Nantucket GC	Siasconset, Mass.	Rees Jones; p	6.79
148	Black Rock	Coeur d’Alene, Idaho	Jim Engh; p	6.79
149	Flint Hills National	Andover, Kan.	Tom Fazio; p	6.78
150	CC of the Rockies	Edwards, Colo.	Jack Nicklaus; p	6.78
Key	d: daily fee; * new	p: private	** returns to list	r: resort

Sung Hyun Park won the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J. (Elsa/Getty Images)

 Top 200 Modern Courses: 151-200

Rank	Course	Location	Architect(s)	Rating
151	Lost Dunes	Bridgman, Mich.	Tom Doak; p	6.78
152	Forest Dunes GC (Weiskopf Course)	Roscommon, Mich.	Tom Weiskopf; r, d	6.78
153	Old Waverly GC	West Point, Miss.	Bob Cupp and Jerry Pate	6.77
154	Forest Creek Golf Club (North Course)	Pinehurst, N.C.	Tom Fazio; p	6.76
155	Chechessee Creek	Okatie, S.C.	Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw; p	6.76
156	Sand Hollow GC (Championship Course)	Hurricane, Utah	John Fought and Andy Staples; r, d	6.75
157	Sherwood CC	Thousand Oaks, Calif.	Jack Nicklaus; p	6.75
158	Aldarra Golf Club	Sammamish, Wash.	Tom Fazio; p	6.75
159	Trump National GC (Old)	Bedminster, N.J.	Tom Fazio; p	6.75
160	Club at Carlton Woods (Fazio)	The Woodlands, Texas	Tom Fazio; p	6.75
161	Cog Hill GC  (No. 4, Dubsdread)	Lemont, Ill.	Rees Jones and Dick Wilson; d	6.75
162	Rustic Canyon	Moorpark, Calif.	Gil Hanse and Geoff Shackelford; d	6.75
163	Caledonia G & FC	Pawleys Island, S.C.	Michael Strantz; r, d	6.74
164	Whisper Rock (Lower Course)	Scottsdale, Ariz.	Phil Mickelson and Gary Stephenson; p	6.74
165	Whistling Straits (Irish Course)	Mosel, Wis.	Pete Dye; r	6.74
166	French Lick Resort (Pete Dye Course)	French Lick, Ind.	Pete Dye; r, d	6.74
167	Spanish Oaks Golf Club	Bee Cave, Texas	Bobby Weed; p	6.73
168	Pumpkin Ridge GC (Witch Hollow)	North Plains, Ore	Bob Cupp; p	6.73
169	King Kamehameha Golf Club	Maui, Hawaii	Robin Nelson; p	6.72
170	Metedeconk National GC	Jackson Township, N.J.	Roger Rulewich; p	6.72
171	Giant’s Ridge (Quarry Course)	Biwabik, Minn.	Jeff Brauer; d	6.71
172	Ridge at Back Brook	Ringoes, N.J.	Tom Fazio; p	6.70
173	Victory Ranch GC	Kamas, Utah	Rees Jones; p	6.70
174	Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards	Sunset, S.C.	Tom Fazio; p	6.70
175	Briggs Ranch GC	San Antonio, Texas	Tom Fazio; p	6.70
176	Black Diamond Ranch (Quarry)	Lecanto, Fla.	Tom Fazio; r, p	6.69
177	Chicago Highlands	Westchester, Ill.	Arthur Hills; p	6.69
178	Kiawah Island Club (River Course)	Kiawah Island, S.C.	Tom Fazio; p	6.69
179	Medalist Club	Hobe Sound, Fla.	Pete Dye and Greg Norman; p	6.69
180	Coral Creek Club	Placida, Fla.	Tom Fazio; p	6.68
181	The Ford Plantation	Richmond Hill, Ga.	Pete Dye and Tim Liddy; p	6.68
182	Promontory (Painted Valley)	Park City, Utah	Jack Nicklaus; p	6.68
183	Roaring Fork Club	Basalt, Colo.	Jack Nicklaus; p	6.68
184	Floridian	Palm City, Fla	Tom Fazio; p	6.67
185	Pablo Creek	Jacksonville, Fla.	Tom Fazio; p	6.67
186	We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro)	Fort McDowell, Ariz	Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw; r, d	6.66
187	The Bridge	Bridgehampton, N.Y.	Rees Jones; p	6.66
188	Keswick Hall and GC (Full Cry)	Charlottesville, Va.	Pete Dye; r	6.66
189	Black Rock	Hingham, Mass.	Brian Silva; p	6.66
190	Santa Ana CC	Santa Ana, Calif.	Jay Blasi; p	6.65
191	Trump International	West Palm Beach, Fla.	Jim Fazio; p	6.65
192	Trump National Doral Miami (Blue Monster)	Doral, Fla.	Dick Wilson and Gil Hanse; r, d, p	6.65
193	Great Horse GC	Hampden, Mass.	Brian Silva; p	6.65
194	El Dorado CC	Indian Wells, Calif.	Tom Fazio; p	6.65
195	The Bridges at Rancho Sante Fe	Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.	Robert Trent Jones Sr.; p	6.65
196	Olde Stone	Bowling Green, Ky.	Arthur Hills; p	6.64
197	Bulle Rock GC	Havre de Grace, Md.	Pete Dye; d	6.64
198	Trump Golf Links Ferry Point	New York	Jack Nicklaus and John Sanford	6.64
199	Shadow Glen GC	Olathe, Kan.	Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf; p	6.64
200	Dalhousie Golf Club	Cape Girardeau, Mo.	Jack Nicklaus; p	6.64
Key	d: daily fee; * new	p: private	** returns to list	r: resort