Want to find the best private golf courses in each state? You’re in the right spot, and welcome to Golfweek’s Best 2023 list of top private layouts as judged by our international panel of raters.
The hundreds of members of that ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them based on 10 criteria on a points basis of 1 through 10. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings are averaged to produce these rankings.
All the courses on this list are private and don’t accept daily-fee or resort play. We also publish a separate list of top public-access layouts in each state.
KEY: (m) modern, built in 1960 or after; (c) classic, built before 1960. For courses with a number preceding the (m) or (c), that is where the course ranks on Golfweek’s Best lists for top 200 modern and classic courses in the U.S.
* indicates new or returning to the rankings
Editor’s note: The Golfweek’s Best 2023 rankings of top 200 Modern and top 200 Classic Courses will be released June 19.
More Golfweek’s Best for 2023:
- Top 200 Resort Courses
- Top 200 Residential Courses
- Top 50 courses in Mexico, Caribbean, Atlantic islands and Central America
- Top 50 Classic Courses in Great Britain and Ireland
- Top 50 Modern Courses in Great Britain and Ireland
Alabama
1. Shoal Creek
Birmingham (T80m)
2. CC of Birmingham (West)
Birmingham (T102c)
3. The Ledges
Huntsville (m)
4. Old Overton
Birmingham (m)
5. CC of Mobile*
Mobile (c)
Arizona
1. Estancia
Scottsdale (T15m)
2. Desert Forest
Carefree (51m)
3. Scottsdale National GC (The Other Course)
Scottsdale (m)
4. The Rim
Payson (m)
5. Forest Highlands (Canyon)
Flagstaff (T110m)
6. Desert Highlands
Scottsdale (T123m)
7. Whisper Rock (Upper)
Scottsdale (T133m)
T8. Whisper Rock (Lower)
Scottsdale (T139m)
T8. Stone Canyon
Oro Valley (T159m)
10. Silverleaf
Scottsdale (T183m)
11. Mirabel
Scottsdale (T186m)
T12. Forest Highlands (Meadow)
Flagstaff (m)
T12. Troon CC
Scottsdale (m)
14. Pine Canyon
Flagstaff (m)
15. Paradise Valley CC
Paradise Valley (c)
16. Desert Mountain (Cochise)
Scottsdale (m)
17. Flagstaff Ranch
Flagstaff (m)
18. Torreon (Cabin )
Show Low (m)
19. Desert Mountain (Chiricahua)
Scottsdale (m)
20. The Gallery (North)
Marana (m)
Arkansas
1. Alotian Club
Roland (m)
2. The Blessings
Fayetteville (m)
3. Texarkana CC
Texarkana (c)
4. Hardscrabble
Fort Smith (c)
5. Chenal CC (Founders)
Little Rock (m)
California
1. Cypress Point
Pebble Beach (2c)
2. Los Angeles CC (North)
Los Angeles (14c)
3. San Francisco GC
San Francisco (16c)
4. Riviera CC
Pacific Palisades (18c)
5. California GC
South San Francisco (29c)
6. Monterey Peninsula (Shore)
Pebble Beach (T17m)
7. Valley Club of Montecito
Santa Barbara (36c)
8. Olympic Club (Lake)
San Francisco (44c)
9. Monterey Peninsula (Dunes)
Pebble Beach (54c)
10. Bel-Air
Los Angeles (T56c)
11. Martis Camp
Truckee (52m)
12. The Quarry at La Quinta
La Quinta (m)
13. Mayacama
Santa Rosa (T77m)
14. Meadow Club
Fairfax (T95c)
15. The Tradition
La Quinta (96mm)
T16. Santa Lucia Preserve
Carmel (T113m)
T16. Lahontan
Truckee (m)
18. Wilshire
Los Angeles (T120c)
T19. Stone Eagle
Palm Desert (T129m)
T19. Vintage Club (Desert)*
Indian Wells (m)
Colorado
1. Ballyneal
Holyoke (4m)
2. Colorado GC
Parker (T29m)
3. Cherry Hills
Englewood (66c)
4. Castle Pines
Castle Rock (55m)
5. CC of the Rockies
Edwards (m)
6. Maroon Creek
Aspen (m)
7. Glacier Club (Mountain)
Durango (m)
T8. Frost Creek
Eagle (198m)
T8. Roaring Fork Club
Basalt (m)
10. Sanctuary
Sedalia (m)
Connecticut
1. Yale Golf Course
New Haven (T69c)
2. CC of Fairfield
Fairfield (101c)
3. Stanwich Club
Greenwich (T104m)
4. Tamarack
Greenwich (130c)
T5. Round Hill GC
Greenwich (T151c)
T5. Bull’s Bridge GC*
South Kent (181m)
Delaware
1. Wilmington CC (South)
Wilmington (m)
2. Bidermann
Wilmington (m)
3. Fieldstone
Greenville (m)
4. The Peninsula
Millsboro (m)
5. DuPont CC (DuPont)
Wilmington (c)
Florida
1. Seminole
Juno Beach (12c)
2. Calusa Pines
Naples (22m)
3. Mountain Lake
Lake Wales (T74c)
4. John’s Island Club (West)
Vero Beach (T72m)
5. Indian Creek
Miami Beach (c)
6. Jupiter Hills Club (Hills)
Tequesta (T80m)
7. The Bear’s Club
Jupiter (T85m)
8. Medalist
Hobe Sound (T87m)
9. McArthur
Hobe Sound (98m)
T10. Loblolly
Hobe Sound (T99m)
T10. Naples National
Naples (T99m)
12. High Ridge
Lantana (T120m)
13. Pine Tree CC
Boynton Beach (T126m)
14. Concession
Bradenton (T133m)
15. Coral Creek Club
Placida 138(m)
16. Pablo Creek
Jacksonville (m)
17. Trump International West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach (T153m)
18. Old Memorial
Tampa (T165m)
19. CC of Florida
Village of Golf (T159c)
20. Red Stick GC*
Vero Beach (m)
Georgia
1. Augusta National GC
Augusta (3c)
2. Ohoopee Match Club
Cobbtown (5m)
3. Peachtree
Atlanta (20c)
4. Augusta CC
Augusta (T72c)
5. East Lake
Atlanta (92c)
6. Ocean Forest
Sea Island (97m)
7. Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee
Eatonton (T104m)
8. Cherokee Town (North)
Dunwoody (c)
9. Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands)
John’s Creek (133m)
10. The Farm
Rocky Face (m)
11. Frederica
St. Simons Island (163m)
12. Ford Field & River Club
Richmond Hill (T165m)
13. Atlanta CC
Marietta (T171m)
14. Lookout Mountain GC
Lookout Mountain (161c)
15. Hawk’s Ridge
Ball Ground (m)
Hawaii
1. Nanea
Kona (m)
2. Kohanaiki
Kailua-Kona (m)
3. Kukui’ula
Koloa (T163m)
4. Hokulia
Kailua-Kona (m)
5. King Kamehameha
Maui (T191m)
Idaho
1. Gozzer Ranch
Harrison (T32m)
2. The Tributary (formerly Huntsman Springs)
Driggs (T91m)
3. Black Rock
Coeur d’Alene (T143m)
4. CDA National Reserve (formally Rock Creek)
Coeur d’Alene (m)
5. Crane Creek
Boise (m)
Illinois
1. Chicago Golf Club
Wheaton (8c)
2. Shoreacres
Lake Bluff (19c)
3. Beverly
Chicago (T51c)
4. Butler National GC
Oak Brook (42m)
5. Old Elm
Highland Park (T59)
6. Olympia Fields (North)
Olympia Fields (67c)
7. Medinah CC (No. 3)
Medinah (T85c)
8. Black Sheep
Sugar Grove (T91m)
9. Skokie
Glencoe (T99c)
10. Conway Farms
Lake Forest (m)
11. Olympia Fields (South)
Olympia Fields (T156c)
12. Glen View Club
Golf (c)
13. Merit Club
Libertyville (m)
14. Onwentsia Club*
Lake Forest (T169c)
T15. Bob O’Link GC*
Highland Park (T174c)
T15. Chicago Highlands
Westchester (m)
T15. Rich Harvest Farms
Sugar Grove (m)
Indiana
1. Victoria National
Newburgh (T47m)
2. Crooked Stick
Carmel (T65m)
3. Culver Academies
Culver (T93c)
4. Sycamore Hills
Fort Wayne (m)
5. Chatham Hills
Westfield (m)
Iowa
1. Davenport
Pleasant Valley (T69c)
2. Cedar Rapids CC
Cedar Rapids (T89c)
3. Harvester
Rhodes (T85m)
4. Wakonda Club
Des Moines (c)
5. Des Moines G&CC (North)
West Des Moines (m)
Kansas
1. Prairie Dunes
Hutchinson (11c)
2. Flint Hills National
Andover (T93m)
3. Kansas City CC
Mission Hills (c)
4. Wolf Creek
Olathe (T195m)
5. Shadow Glen
Olathe (m)
Kentucky
1. Valhalla
Louisville (T65m)
2. Idle Hour
Lexington (c)
3. Olde Stone
Bowling Green (m)
4. Hurstbourne
Lousiville (m)
5. Audubon
Louisville (c)
Louisiana
1. Squire Creek
Choudrant (m)
2. New Orleans CC
New Orleans (c)
3. CC of Louisiana
Baton Rouge (m)
4. Metairie CC*
Metairie (c)
5. University Club*
Baton Rouge (m)
Maine
1. Prouts Neck
Scarborough (c)
2. Portland CC
Falmouth (c)
3. York Golf & Tennis Club
York (c)
4. Woodlands Club
Falmouth (m)
Maryland
1. Baltimore CC (East)
Timonium (46c)
2. Congressional (Blue)
Bethesda (49c)
3. Woodmont (North)
Rockville (c)
4. TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm
Potomac (T153m)
5. Caves Valley
Owings Mill (T159m)
6. Burning Tree
Bethesda (c)
7. Columbia
Chevy Chase (T174c)
8. Chevy Chase CC
Chevy Chase (c)
9. Congressional (Gold)
Bethesda (m)
10. Fountain Head
Hagerstown (c)
Massachusetts
1. The Country Club (Composite)
Brookline (T24c)
2. Myopia Hunt Club
Hamilton (T32c)
3. Eastward Ho!
Chatham (T42c)
T4. Essex
Manchester-by-the-Sea (45c)
T4. Old Sandwich
Plymouth (T26m)
6. Boston GC
Hingham (T32m)
7. Kittansett Club
Marion (T51c)
8. Sankaty Head
Siasconset (84c)
9. Whitinsville GC
Whitinsville (88c)
10. Salem CC
Peabody (91c)
11. Winchester CC
Winchester (T118c)
12. Nantucket GC
Siaconsett (T143m)
13. Taconic
Williamstown (131c)
14. Worcester
Worcester (133c)
T15. Hyannisport Club
Hyannis Port (T143c)
T15. Vesper*
Tyngsborough (T143c)
Michigan
1. Crystal Downs
Frankfort (13c)
2. Oakland Hills (South)
Bloomfield Hills (T22c)
3. Kingsley Club
Kingsley (25m)
4. Dunes Club
New Buffalo (43m)
5. Franklin Hills
Franklin (T77c)
T6. Lost Dunes
Bridgman (T129m)
T6. Meadowbrook
Northville (T124c)
T6. Indianwood (Old)
Lake Orion (T124c)
9. Wuskowhan Player’s Club
West Olive (m)
10. Barton Hills
Ann Arbor (T151c)
11. Orchard Lake CC
Orchard Lake (158c)
12. Bloomfield Hills CC
Bloomfield Hills (c)
13. Point O’Woods
Benton Harbor (193c)
14. CC of Detroit
Grosse Pointe Farms (c)
15. True North*
Harbor Springs (m)
Minnesota
1. Interlachen
Edina (T62c)
2. Spring Hill
Orono (T45m)
T3. Minikahda Club
Minneapolis (T77c)
T3. White Bear Yacht Club
White Bear Lake (T77c)
5. Hazeltine National
Chaska (T75m)
6. Windsong Farm
Independence (T148m)
7. Somerset
Mendota Heights (c)
8. Northland
Duluth (162c)
9. Minneapolis GC
St. Louis Park (c)
10. Golden Valley CC
Golden Valley (c)
Mississippi
1. Hattiesburg CC
Hattiesburg (c)
2. Annandale GC
Madison (m)
3. Reunion
Madison (m)
4. Laurel CC
Laurel (c)
5. CC of Jackson
Jackson (m)
Missouri
1. St. Louis CC
St. Louis (T56c)
2. Bellerive GC
Creve Couer (112m)
3. Old Warson
Ladue (c)
4. Dalhousie
Cape Girardeau (m)
5. Boone Valley
Augusta (m)
Montana
1. Rock Creek Cattle Company
Deer Lodge (T15m)
2. The Stock Farm
Hamilton (m)
3. Moonlight Basin (Reserve)
Big Sky (m)
4. Spanish Peaks Mountain Club*
Big Sky (m)
5. Iron Horse
Whitefish (m)
Nebraska
1. Sand Hills
Mullen (1m)
2. CapRock Ranch
Valentine (m)
3. Dismal River Club (Red)
Mullen (40m)
4. Omaha CC
Omaha (T106c)
5. ArborLinks
Nebraska City (m)
Nevada
1. Clear Creek Tahoe
Carson City (T108m)
2. Southern Highlands
Las Vegas (T123m)
3. TPC Summerlin
Las Vegas (m)
4. SouthShore
Henderson (m)
5. Montreux
Reno (m)
New Hampshire
1. Bald Peak Colony Club
Melvin Village (c)
2. Baker Hill
Newbury (m)
T3. Manchester CC
Bedford (c)
T3. Lake Sunapee CC*
New London (c)
5. Lake Winnipesaukee
New Durham (m)
New Jersey
1. Pine Valley GC
Pine Valley (1c)
2. Somerset Hills
Bernardsville (21c)
3. Plainfield
Edison (T32c)
4. Baltusrol (Lower)
Springfield (35c)
5. Hollywood
Deal (50c)
6. Ridgewood (Championship)
Paramus (53c)
7. Baltusrol (Upper)
Springfield (T62c)
8. Galloway National
Galloway Township (T47m)
9. Bayonne GC
Bayonne (T61m)
10. Mountain Ridge
West Caldwell (T106c)
11. Hidden Creek
Egg Harbor Township (107m)
12. Essex County CC
West Orange (T113c)
13. Ridge at Back Brook
Ringoes (T120m)
14. Hamilton Farm
Gladstone (T171m)
15. Trump National (Old)
Bedminster (177m)
New Mexico
1. Rainmakers
Alto (m)
2. Las Campanas (Sunset)
Santa Fe (m)
3. Las Campanas (Sunrise)
Santa Fe (m)
4. Albuquerque CC
Albuquerque (c)
5. Four Hills
Albuquerque (m)
New York
1. Shinnecock Hills
Southampton (4c)
2. National Golf Links of America
Southampton (5c)
3. Fishers Island Club
Fishers Island (9c)
4. Friar’s Head
Baiting Hollow (T2m)
5. Winged Foot (West)
Mamaroneck (15c)
6. Sebonack
Southampton (8m)
7. Maidstone Club
East Hampton (T24c)
8. Garden City GC
Garden City (28c)
T9. Quaker Ridge
Scarsdale (T30c)
T9. Winged Foot (East)
Mamaroneck (T30c)
11. Oak Hill (East)
Rochester (T32c)
12. Piping Rock
Locust Valley (T37c)
13. Sleepy Hollow
Scarborough (40c)
14. Creek Club
Locust Valley (T59c)
15. St. George’s
Setauket (T72c)
16. CC of Buffalo
Williamsville (T74c)
T17. Atlantic
Bridgehampton (m)
T17. Fenway GC
Scarsdale (T80c)
T19. Hudson National
Croton-on-Hudson (73m)
T19. Glens Falls CC
Queensbury (T85c)
North Carolina
1. Wade Hampton Club
Cashiers (6m)
2. Old Town Club
Winston-Salem (T22c)
3. Diamond Creek
Banner Elk (T53m)
4. Quail Hollow
Charlotte (T59m)
5. Roaring Gap Club
Roaring Gap (83c)
6. Grandfather (Championship)
Linville (T69m)
7. Mountaintop
Cashiers (T71m)
8. Eagle Point
Wilmington (90m)
9. Charlotte CC
Charlotte (T95c)
10. Biltmore Forest CC
Asheville (116c)
11. Champion Hills
Hendersonville (T159m)
12. Cape Fear
Wilmington (T137c)
13. Dormie Club
West End (T171m)
14. Linville Ridge
Linville (m)
15. CC of North Carolina (Dogwood)*
Pinehurst (m)
North Dakota
1. Fargo CC
Fargo (c)
2. Oxbow CC
Oxbow (m)
3. Apple Creek
Bismarck (c)
4. Grand Forks CC
Grand Forks (m)
Ohio
1. Muirfield Village
Dublin (T11m)
2. Camargo Club
Indian Hill (27c)
3. The Golf Club
New Albany (T17m)
4. Inverness Club
Toledo (47c)
5. Scioto
Columbus (T59c)
6. Brookside
Canton (T69c)
T7. Moraine
Dayton (T80c)
T7. Canterbury
Beachwood (T80c)
9. Double Eagle
Galena (79m)
10. Kirtland
Willoughby (T97c)
11. NCR CC (South)
Kettering (T104c)
12. The Country Club
Pepper Pike (T109c)
13. Sand Ridge
Chardon T133 (m)
14. Pepper Pike Club*
Pepper Pike (c)
15. Coldstream
Cincinnati (c)
Oklahoma
1. Southern Hills
Tulsa (T42c)
2. Oak Tree National
Edmond (50m)
3. The Patriot
Owasso (T116m)
4. Twin Hills*
Oklahoma City (c)
5. Oklahoma City G&CC
Nichols Hills (c)
Oregon
1. Eugene CC
Eugene (T102m)
2. Pronghorn (Fazio)
Bend (T120m)
3. Waverley
Portland (T120c)
4. Pumpkin Ridge (Witch Hollow)
North Plains (m)
5. Resort at Eagle Point*
Eagle Point (m)
6. Columbia Edgewater
Portland (c)
7. Astoria
Warrenton (c)
8. Bend GC
Bend (c)
9. Portland GC
Portland (c)
10. Illahe Hills
Salem (m)
Pennsylvania
1. Oakmont CC
Oakmont (6c)
2. Merion (East)
Ardmore (7c)
3. Philadelphia Cricket Club (Wissahickon)
Flourtown 41(c)
4. Fox Chapel
Pittsburgh (64c)
5. Aronimink
Newtown Square (65c)
6. Lancaster CC
Lancaster (76c)
7. Laurel Valley
Ligonier (T85c)
8. CC of Scranton
Clarks Summit (T93c)
9. Kahkwa Club
Erie (c)
10. Gulph Mills
King of Prussia (117c)
T11. Huntingdon Valley CC
Huntingdon Valley (T118c)
T11. Stonewall (Old)
Elverson (T116m)
13. Rolling Green
Springfield (T124c)
14. Saucon Valley (Weyhill)
Bethlehem (T133m)
15. Philadelphia CC (Spring Mill)
Gladwyne (132c)
T16. Longue Vue Club
Verona (T135c)
T16. Saucon Valley (Old)
Bethlehem (T135c)
18. Pittsburgh Field Club
Pittsburgh (T137c)
T19. Manufacturers
Fort Washington (T140c)
T19. Lehigh
Allentown (T140c)
Rhode Island
1. Newport CC
Newport (55c)
2. Wannamoisett
Rumford (c58)
3. Shelter Harbor
Westerly (T161m)
4. Misquamicut
Westerly (T89c)
5. Rhode Island CC
Barrington (c)
South Carolina
1. Yeaman’s Hall
Charleston (39c)
2. Congaree
Ridgeland (24m)
3. Cherokee Plantation
Yemassee (m)
4. Long Cove
Hilton Head Island (63m)
5. Sage Valley
Graniteville (T65m)
6. Secession
Gibbes Island (T80m)
7. Colleton River (Pete Dye)
Bluffton (T102m)
8. Palmetto
Aiken (T111c)
9. Spring Island (Old Tabby Links)
Okatie (T113m)
T10. Cliffs at Mountain Park
Travelers Rest (T126m)
T10. Kiawah Island Club (Cassique)
Kiawah Island (T126m)
12. Greenville CC (Chanticleer)
Greenville (m)
13. Palmetto Bluff (May River)*
Bluffton (T139m)
14. Kiawah Island Club (River Course)
Kiawah Island (T150m)
15. CC of Charleston
Charleston (T143c)
South Dakota
1. Sutton Bay
Agar (T56m)
2. Minnehaha
Sioux Falls (c)
3. Dakota Dunes CC
Dakota Dunes (m)
Tennessee
1. Honors Course
Ooltewah (T19m)
2. Holston Hills
Knoxville (T106c)
3. GC of Tennessee
Kingston Springs (T129m)
4. Spring Creek Ranch
Collierville (m)
5. Black Creek
Chattanooga (m)
Texas
1. Whispering Pines
Trinity (31m)
2. Dallas National
Dallas (T37m)
3. Bluejack National
Montgomery (T69m)
4. Brook Hollow
Dallas (c)
5. Austin GC
Spicewood (T93m)
6. Colonial
Fort Worth (T102c)
7. Boot Ranch
Fredericksburg (T99m)
8. Spanish Oaks
Bee Cave (T148m)
9. Trinity Forest
Dallas (T153m)
T10. Escondido
Horseshoe Bay (T155m)
T10. Maridoe*
Carrolton (m)
12. Club at Carlton Woods (Fazio Championship)
The Woodlands (m)
13. Austin CC
Austin (169m)
14. Oak Hills*
San Antonio (T174c)
T15. Club at Carlton Woods (Jack Nicklaus Signature)
The Woodlands (m)
T15. Preston Trail*
Dallas (m)
Utah
1. Victory Ranch
Kamas (m)
2. Glenwild
Park City (T195m)
3. Promontory (Painted Valley)
Park City (m)
4. The Country Club
Salt Lake City (c)
5. Talisker Club at Tuhaye
Kamas (m)
Vermont
1. Ekwanok
Manchester (T99c)
2. CC of Vermont
Waterbury Center (m)
3. Burlington CC
Burlington (c)
4. Vermont National
South Burlington (m)
5. Rutland CC*
Rutland (c)
Virginia
1. Kinloch
Richmond (T29m)
2. Robert Trent Jones GC
Lake Manassas (T45m)
3. Olde Farm
Bristol (T77m)
4. Bayville Golf Club
Virginia Beach (m)
5. CC of Virginia (James River)
Richmond (c)
6. Trump National Washington D.C. (Championship)
Potomac Falls (m)
7. Governor’s Land at Two Rivers
Williamsburg (m)
8. River Bend
Great Falls (m)
T9. Cutalong*
Mineral (m)
T9. Creighton Farms
Aldie (m)
Washington
1. Aldarra
Sammamish (T143m)
3. Sahalee (South/North)
Sammamish (T171m)
4. Seattle GC
Seattle (c)
4. Suncadia (Tumble Creek)
Roslyn (m)
5. Tacoma G&CC
Lakeland (c)
West Virginia
1. Pikewood National
Morgantown (T19m)
2. Pete Dye GC
Bridgeport (44m)
3. Greenbrier Sporting Club (Snead)
White Sulphur Springs (m)
4. Williams
Weirton (c)
5. Moundsville CC
Moundsville (c)
Wisconsin
1. Milwaukee CC
Milwaukee (48c)
2. Blue Mound
Wauwatosa (129c)
3. Oneida
Green Bay (c)
4. Pine Hills
Sheboygan (T196c)
5. West Bend CC
West Bend (c)
Wyoming
1. Shooting Star
Teton Village (T56m)
2. Snake River Sporting Club
Jackson (T198m)
3. Devils Tower
Hulett (m)
4. Powder Horn
Sheridan (m)
5. Three Creek Ranch
Jackson (m)
