Top 5 Public Golf Courses in Each State (2026)

These Are The Top 5 Public Golf Courses In Each State (According To Everyday Golfers)

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(https://mygolfspy.com/latest/?category=news-opinion)

• BY Sean Fairholm
• Mar 5th 2026

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Golf course ratings and reviews always seem a little suspect to me.

The publications that rank courses do it fairly well but are apt to include certain courses based solely on name recognition—or which courses were most accommodating with providing tee times and other goodies to the experts rating them.

That’s why I was interested when our friends at Golf Pass released a list of the top five public courses in each state according to recreational golfers.

These golfers don’t have skin in the game. They are just honestly reviewing courses.

From those ratings, Golf Pass has compiled a handy list of the top public courses in each state.

It’s important to note that these rankings are based on a lot of criteria. It is not purely about the best course according to prestige, condition or design. That’s why you will get to certain states and see notable names missing from the rankings.

Value, playability, staff friendliness and other important parts of the everyday golfer’s experience are highlighted more prominently.

These are less bucket trip places and more “Sunday morning foursome” standouts.

The public course rankings for each state

Does anything stand out in this list?

I’ve played a couple of the Florida and Tennessee courses but haven’t heard of many others on these lists.

Scroll down to your state and let me know if these courses are great places to go for the everyday golfer.

If you click on the state name, you will find the top 20 public courses by state.

Alabama (https://email.msgsnd.com/c/eJw0zkvOqzAMhuHVkFmQE5sEBhmcCfuwc2mRgCBCW3X3R1T6Z5b1ftKTgvdQWOVgvLcOR2uceobkzIhivE8IljKLUOIpgkzeSEGnlmDBOkAgMyAY208kQBEHIYFCOHYEW3u0PfWxbmoNz-s6WofOjt3dv58Pv2jruXg1u6gsN18juvmtN7afXs7Cy5XbqWv-t4ybpEfa90rK-z5aaXXfPKwhvvlsOj7rErO-deoMse57Pft12VPeeL9R37tsxfnusJghY1EMCYhIUKEITHAGB0W4yenrkCOplwIcxJBcIPQOE7ovTVC2RCod7DAwAA9svmRH)

1. FarmLinks at Pursell Farms – Sylacauga
2. Limestone Springs Golf Club – Oneonta
3. Kiva Dunes – Gulf Shores
4. Craft Farms Resort, Cotton Creek – Gulf Shores
5. Craft Farms Resort, Cypress Bend – Gulf Shores

Arizona (https://email.msgsnd.com/c/eJw0zsuKgzAUxvGn0V3k3HJxkcVsfIcbAVrxNiWztMPFmZ3OPw-GVvLcyhLx6tJcOO0PR3DwHRaNQFJKZMrmQewRVHGK0Tjf3iCcgAg6BmQBpGiSCJdZQIs7DrBB7t1rY8pProV38z711NPR1NH0fr-HW13nPbR2BR1N5xFeZVUhv5ZWj46mWNqp6vx7c-4LkldK5Xq82ilqWVT4Vh-6xa-3I0le51SUVduv7wqW5bPYZ12XJ5hO1Cfa6y7Z-v6SaYsCYADGzMEMCnQOAS4ZntKPpTy9GxjILlxwjg9FRnBvZWsIoBQX6l6eAAAA__-0zWO9)

1. Whirlwind Golf Club, Cattail Course – Chandler
2. Laughlin Ranch Golf Club – Bullhead City
3. The Highlands at Dove Mountain – Marana
4. Whirlwind Golf Club, Devil’s Claw – Chandler
5. Granite Falls Golf Course, North Course – Surprise

Arkansas (https://email.msgsnd.com/c/eJw0zk2OgzAMhuHTwC7IsU0SFlnMhnvkt0VDE5TQVr39iEqzs-T3k55otYbsxmSl1qjIoFTj3QbMIIlAR2fkQoYMJtIywqzVggzjZhFQAQHLmUDitLAHDjR79pCZzMDw6Lde4hTqY9ztTyPPtDPgOuA6v9nm51z4frQoGXMmXmkXLr62XtuAq09FDXX8fT71sQ10qE-mw9dbEV4dqvK9317yO1LsK9biGJizc2G2optU37VmJ6uHKpPlfZj88XdtoZvZM-gJSRmAgCzNEBmKAoS72o8bSseEmZKUXvCdTs2ZiFtEbpOUmG8WXxLwAA__-HzWOS)

1. Coopers Hawk – Melbourne
2. Red Apple Inn & Country Club – Heber Springs
3. Bella Vista Country Club, Highlands Course – Bella Vista
4. Mystic Creek Golf Club – El Dorado
5. Glenwood Country Club – Glenwood

California (https://email.msgsnd.com/c/eJw0zsGurCAMxvGn0R2mtAV0weJufA8ocMbEEQOemczb3zjJ2TXp0t-yTsHJYzZa-fQ0ozajg8fEVBrISOusC6Bc0AJaILjxdhFj5tHQAsErA2BxmnhCCxkIkcoTPPA8OwUiT1Oe4-8d1nX2gfwOuA67v93v6qXs5Q-93MOB6tfDKuwrptfXaBlxj7peq5e86f-O-ibpXSupv67mr7VBS99pCqt9Hbl3Jo26S1c0bm5d6HLVN-3akAzHrfrcZT8X9jlDcago4DWiZgIBEwKALNYKtotdrw8W15yYcopRgJrIszQs6hjpw1wjy-D8AAP_hb9kdA)

1. Monarch Beach Golf Links – Dana Point
2. Quail Lodge Resort & Golf Club – Carmel
3. Desert Willow Golf Resort, Firecliff Course – Palm Desert
4. Poppy Ridge Golf Course – Livermore
5. Maderas Golf Club – Poway

Colorado (https://email.msgsnd.com/c/eJw0zsGurCAMxvGn0R2mtAV0weJufA8ocMbEEQOemczb3zjJ2TXp0t-yTsHJYzZa-fQ0ozajg8fEVBrISOusC6Bc0AJaILjxdhFj5tHQAsErA2BxmnhCCxkIkcoTPPA8OwUiT1Oe4-8d1nX2gfwOuA67v93v6qXs5Q-93MOB6tfDKuwrptfXaBlxj7peq5e86f-O-ibpXSupv67mr7VBS99pCqt9Hbl3Jo26S1c0bm5d6HLVN-3akAzHrfrcZT8X9jlDcago4DWiZgIBEwKALNYKtotdrw8W15yYcopRgJrIszQs6hjpw1wjy-D8AAP_hb9kdA)

1. Pole Creek Golf Club – Tabernash
2. Arrowhead – Edwards
3. Boomerang Golf Links – Greeley
4. Grand Elk Ranch and Club – Granby
5. Four Mile Ranch Golf Club – Cañon City

Connecticut (https://email.msgsnd.com/c/eJw0zk2q7CAQhuHVJDNDaZUaBw7uJPvwpzwtpGOIdjdn95c0nFlBvR882VsLJczspbXK4KqkmReJUaduRgrAdcsSVtisOjYSHCk5uoVKAMIJDWCVIujCJRQR4pQCNeJ4Nl-pGX1J7z7h9jnH3Cf5PaJrV9Pplp-3lDL3fwaS2cYU37yLkd-3tmtQWuQRyt91vuJek7hXIrXX1bmLeojUjoPTqOk1vj--ukiPVhOLWzhfi7atez1yPwMxw37vct-n5tw2sVg4wJpMxIiJBA5wCwJoNFWmfm4cmQ40LIOUYEoyOtq0NrlYzEkmB-eUAAD__2rIZU0)

1. Manchester Country Club – Manchester
2. Wintonbury Hills Golf Course – Bloomfield
3. Lyman Orchards Golf Club, Jones Course – Middlefield
4. Gillette Ridge – Bloomfield
5. Chris Bargas Golf Club at Whitney Farms – Monroe

Delaware (https://email.msgsnd.com/c/eJw0zkvOqzAMhuHVwCzIsXOBQQZnwj6S2LRIlKCEFnX3R1T6Z5b8ftLDwXtYYi9Be4-ORtSuf4ZoWaeIC3sBa1ILKId5wk5WRDu14CADgiMtgQah8kkMJlsMgkWQ2Nn4NUebechl1ehed5Hq2jfx3OHc7XdQ2Psi1HbO0OOpzPGj-yqciftZXa4Zyknaosf9fxTtua1b1Subxrk6bWXbFs8YpVfg-pTeVnWbOom9fXkMu-lzps687yivut-t5lO742BkspqhTBq2ZDBFksBwBxuxo0X5yRmMM5MshoRTInA2mXGcyHvUyYg20H8Cg8AAP_m0ZlYw)

1. Bear Trap Dunes Golf Club – Ocean View
2. Maple Dale Country Club – Dover
3. Odessa National – Townsend
4. Heritage Shores – Bridgeville
5. Bayside Resort Golf Club – Selbyville

Florida (https://email.msgsnd.com/c/eJw0zkuq6zAMxvHVJDMHWVL8GHhwJ9mHn6eGNA52Tkt3f0nhzIT4fBLTmsofs5Oao2KDEo1P5xhY02RBllL5ZU2CDppa9lHymuhuToEVEDAciWQuFgOwJHWwAEKk5kYnuNnHGmJ7Tnv7nFd55jo34TbhNv7V5-2l5OP8YdTLhd3byLnx61dH6hFvI4xKtF3nb9hrFPdKxPbbRx6iHqLsrdfkvch4iPVmMWt27uLrbjaH3Z65Hy0x836nOX4x8XZdbMXgZIkiZiIkgwpo8gImKitRWzZdjxTYXppxCIFBrYGMsaY0ycJYM88vhwAAAPZe9jdA)

1. Juliette Falls – Dunnellon
2. Herons Glen Golf & Country Club – North Fort Myers
3. Candler Hills Golf Club – Ocala
4. The Park West Palm – West Palm Beach
5. Streamsong Black – Fort Meade

Georgia (https://email.msgsnd.com/c/eJw0zs3KqzAQxvGr0V1kMjMmcZHF2Xgf-bQBaySxLb37g4V3NwzB37Rag3ZjclKrVGRQanGhyWpE2qOYBSzCdKgYzIZPGaAzDQWi4AKCFjOBBKnhT1woNmzvwMzMDz71o84hfocdu4rrMP9GAdcD18lMW93z6XqgwHXq7l32oWL79JrG3D1qV-i5rrfPm9BHGvRKiv1lMX5RBbqm0r7vdPrYvwqCUkcevGZkM9jtqmvRwxPd1xo7532cvz3XZGb2TPoCUkZgIAszRAZigKEu9qPGyrHhJmSlF7wnU7NmYhbRG6TlJhvFt8X8AAAD_3DYY3k)

1. Brasstown Valley Resort Golf Course – Young Harris
2. Sanctuary Golf Club – Waverly
3. Meadow Links At George T. Bagby – Fort Gaines
4. Richard B. Russell At Arrowhead Pointe Golf Course – Elberton
5. The Lakes At Laura S. Walker – Waycross

Hawaii (https://email.msgsnd.com/c/eJw0zkuKrDAUxvHV6CxyXkl0kMGduI-8bAOWEWOX1O4vFvTscPh8EvOWlh8nx1aS4ZHQtOvbqSYNGotmQ2iMVYmTdrnYPWERNIXR0AGGAQ1A9IwSQCJrIMEWITHTuDVftqehlhfebW6zpax86mjua7sefuq2HL61J-hovk7zpvy6V1aPTuaQ26XqsvfdfyGrUT1rFSsv2fLTZVdrf72pXzf-WwqrrXErB5cf7pY972ew1b2lF9-f0yfp2zH58u6nKbgMURATCzMEEEnDzBGwwvayfSXEyNTXoRzCoHB6CDjOLG1hEEyCvRvR8DAAD__6XQYrs)

1. Poipu Bay Resort Golf Course – Koloa, Kauai
2. Pearl at Kalauao – Aiea, O’ahu
3. Mauna Lani Resort, South Course – Waimea, Hawai’i
4. The Ocean Course at Hokuala – Lihue, Kauai
5. Ko Olina Golf Club – Kapolei, O’ahu

Idaho (https://email.msgsnd.com/c/eJw0zkvOqzAMhuHVwCzIiZ0LgwzOhH3k4pRIlCBCW3X3R1T6Z5b1ftKTvbVQwsheWqsMOiXNuPrgisosmZwtVlO2gTBFrSUxOCpurF6BMoBAUiNINc0UgRLqSBEKoRsInv3R9zyl9hw3v17X0Qf8N6hlUMvn85kebStH6P0OBrVcZ3jzJkJ-197OQS2R-yVa-buOV9xqEvdKpPY6O3dRd1FzWNvvy2cXaW01sbht4-lT2d2TlvdMzDfpO-d9mP7091ea1ikDGBlBkJERLoHABcMliknc14eTI0cyHkHCOC0ZGcm9FaJSOxJBjfXv0PAAD__4JPY3U)

1. Desert Canyon Golf Course – Mountain Home
2. Falcon Crest, Championship Course – Kuna
3. University of Idaho Golf Course – Moscow
4. MeadowCreek Golf Resort – New Meadows
5. Highland Golf Course – Post Falls

Illinois (https://email.msgsnd.com/c/eJw0zsGurCAMxvGn0R2mtBVwweJufA-LcIaEASOemczb3zjJ2TXp0t-u7cW0jZGr61FQw61GReJhfcEgm0mFmM44gp6ISoLTlaZMweAQ0QsJ4JNE4LC3CgWVggMbmB4dlet2n0J5j8YrOvpAwZcB1zf7f000o6tt7vYMD1OrdXLGrbX7m3c8BVYr9US3X8SslB3WvVGiZ49d5apyKbm23L-PeHYVHi2HqG7eePrQam3nVHLd43Ort-pzl34fGGXn1E2LQG03omJIMC8bwAuGEraLma8PBteYmKKuwiBmYWdW8ha1MJRM4wvj8DAAD__3vKZHM)

1. Atkins Golf Club at the University of