By Jason Lusk

Welcome to Golfweek’s Best list of top 200 Modern courses, built in or after 1960 (pictured atop this story is No. 1 Sand Hills).

Each year we publish three lists that are the foundation of our course-ratings program: Golfweek’s Best Modern CoursesGolfweek’s Best Classic CoursesGolfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play, state by state. We also have Golfweek’s Best 2020: Top 100 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. Each course is then ranked against other courses to produce the final rankings.

To make these lists more up-to-date, Golfweek’s Best has altered how the individual ratings are compiled into the rankings. Only ratings from rounds played in the past 10 years are now included in the compilations within these pages. This will help ensure that any course in the rankings still measures up.

With the change from previous Golfweek’s Best rankings, in which ratings older than 10 years were accepted, there were a few courses that shuffled, and that’s as it should be. Golf courses are never static, and these rankings should not be, either.

Any course that appears on the top 200 Modern or Classic lists has been reviewed by at least 3 percent of Golfweek’s Raters, which works out to 25 entries. The benchmark for the Best Courses You Can Play list doesn’t require as many votes, so you might notice a few discrepancies on courses that appear on those lists but not on the top 200 Modern or Classic lists. 

We hope you enjoy poring over these rankings, and we look forward to hearing your thoughts on this Best Modern Courses list.

Key: p – private; r – resort; d – daily fee; c – casino; re – real estate; * new or returning to the rankings.

Old Macdonald at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Courtesy of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort)

Rank Course (2019) Location Architect(s);
club type 
Year opened  Avg. rating
1 Sand Hills (1) Mullen, Nebraska Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; p 1995 9.16
2 Bandon Dunes (Pacific Dunes) (2) Bandon, Oregon Tom Doak; r 2001 8.76
3 Friar’s Head (3) Baiting Hollow, New York Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; p 2003 8.62
4 Ballyneal (4) Holyoke, Colorado Tom Doak; p 2006 8.39
5 Bandon Dunes (Old Macdonald) (5) Bandon, Oregon Tom Doak and Jim Urbina; r 2010 8.35
6 Sebonack GC (6) Southampton, New York Tom Doak, Jack Nicklaus; p 2006 8.29
7 Whistling Straits (Straits) (7) Mosel, Wisconsin Pete Dye; r 1997 8.19
8 Ohoopee Match Club* Cobbtown, Georgia Gil Hanse; p 2018 8.19
9 Bandon Dunes (Bandon Dunes) (8) Bandon, Oregon David McLay Kidd; r 1999 8.14
10 Wade Hampton Club (10) Cashiers, North Carolina Tom Fazio; p, re 1988 8.14
11 Shadow Creek (9) North Las Vegas, Nevada Tom Fazio; p 1990 8.07
12 Muirfield Village (11) Dublin, Ohio Jack Nicklaus; p 1974 8.05
13 Kiawah Island (Ocean) (13) Kiawah Island, South Carolina Pete Dye; r 1991 7.89
14 Alotian Club (15) Roland, Arkansas Tom Fazio; p 2005 7.86
15 Bandon Dunes (Bandon Trails) (14) Bandon, Oregon Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; r 2005 7.86
16 The Golf Club (12) New Albany, Ohio Pete Dye; p 1967 7.84
17 Nanea (27) Kona, Hawaii David McLay Kidd; p 2004 7.83
18 Estancia (30) Scottsdale Tom Fazio; p, re 1995 7.80
19 Old Sandwich Golf Club (20) Plymouth, Massachusetts Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; p 2004 7.74
20 Kingsley Club (23) Kingsley, Michigan Mike DeVries; p 2001 7.74
21 Whispering Pines (24) Trinity, Texas Chet Williams; p 2000 7.74
22 TPC Sawgrass (Players Stadium) (22) Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida Pete Dye; r 1981 7.71
23 Honors Course (19) Ooltewah, Tennessee Pete Dye; p 1983 7.71
24 Calusa Pines (25) Naples, Florida Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry; p 2001 7.71
25 Rock Creek Cattle Company (17) Deer Lodge, Montana Tom Doak; p, re 2008 7.71
26 Boston Golf Club (26) Hingham, Massachusetts Gil Hanse; p 2005 7.70
27 Pikewood National (18) Morgantown, West Virginia John Raese, J. Robert Gwynne; p 2009 7.68
28 Kinloch Golf Club (21) Richmond, Virginia Lester George; p 2000 7.67
29 Monterey Peninsula (Shore) (34) Pebble Beach, California Robert Baldock, Jack Neville, Michael Strantz; p 1961 7.67
30 Sand Valley (Mammoth Dunes) (28) Nekoosa, Wisconsin David McLay Kidd; r, d 2018 7.61
31 Congaree* Ridgeland, South Carolina Tom Fazio; p 2017 7.57
32 Sand Valley (Sand Valley) (33) Nekoosa, Wisconsin Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; r, d 2016 7.55
33 Spyglass Hill (29) Pebble Beach, California Robert Trent Jones Sr.; r, d 1966 7.55
34 Colorado GC (35) Parker, Colorado Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; p, re 2007 7.55
35 Dismal River Club (Doak) (31) Mullen, Nebraska Tom Doak; p 2013 7.54
36 Galloway National (32) Galloway Township, New Jersey Tom Fazio; p 1995 7.54
37 Pete Dye GC (16) Bridgeport, West Virginia Pete Dye; p 1994 7.53
38 Dallas National GC (40) Dallas Tom Fazio; p 2002 7.53
39 Streamsong (Red) (37) Bowling Green, Florida Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; r 2012 7.50
40 Gamble Sands (42) Brewster, Washington David McLay Kidd; r, d 2014 7.49
41 Gozzer Ranch (36) Arrowpoint, Idaho Tom Fazio; p, re 2007 7.49
42 Oak Tree National (41) Edmond, Oklahoma Pete Dye; p, re 1975 7.47
43 Butler National (59) Oak Brook, Illinois Tom Fazio, George Fazio; p 1974 7.45
44 Kapalua (Plantation) (45) Maui, Hawaii Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; r 1991 7.44
45 Dunes Club (39) New Buffalo, Michigan Dick Nugent; p 1995 7.44
46 Streamsong (Black) (38) Bowling Green, Florida Gil Hanse; r 2017 7.43
47 Shooting Star (46) Teton Village, Wyoming Tom Fazio; p, re 2009 7.40
48 Desert Forest (48) Carefree, Arizona Red Lawrence; p 1962 7.40
49 Martis Camp (62) Truckee, California Tom Fazio; p, re 2007 7.39
50 The Tributary (formerly Huntsman Springs) (43) Driggs, Idaho David McLay Kidd; p, re 2010 7.37

Bluejack National (Courtesy of Bluejack National)

Rank Course (2019) Location Architect(s);
club type 
Year opened  Avg. rating
51 Four Seasons (Manele) (65) Lanai, Hawaii Jack Nicklaus; r 1993 7.37
52 Bluejack National (47) Montgomery, Texas Tiger Woods; p, re 2016 7.36
53 Arcadia Bluffs (Bluffs) (44) Arcadia, Michigan Rick Smith; r, d 1999 7.33
54 Victoria National (72) Newburgh, Indiana Tom Fazio; p 1998 7.33
55 Olde Farm (51) Bristol, Virginia Bobby Weed; p 2001 7.31
56 Sea Pines (Harbour Town GL) (54) Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Pete Dye; r 1970 7.31
57 Streamsong (Blue) (56) Bowling Green, Florida Tom Doak; r 2012 7.31
58 Castle Pines (55) Castle Rock, Colorado Jack Nicklaus; p, re 1981 7.31
59 Chambers Bay (50) University Place, Washington Robert Trent Jones Jr., Bruce Charlton; d 2007 7.31
60 Sweetens Cove (49) South Pittsburg, Tennessee Rob Collins; d 2015 7.30
61 Robert Trent Jones GC (74) Lake Manassas, Virginia Robert Trent Jones Sr., Roger Rulewich; p 1991 7.30
62 Double Eagle GC (53) Galena, Ohio Jay Morrish, Tom Weiskopf; p 1991 7.30
63 Shelter Harbor (64) Westerly, Rhode Island Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry; p 2005 7.29
64 Mountaintop (52) Cashiers, North Carolina Tom Fazio; p, re 2007 7.28
65 Crooked Stick (79) Carmel, Indiana Pete Dye; p 1964 7.27
66 Quail Hollow Club (60) Charlotte George Cobb, Tom Fazio; p 1961 7.24
67 Johns Island (West) (73) Vero Beach, Florida Tom Fazio; p, re 1989 7.24
68 Fallen Oak (63) Saucier, Mississippi Tom Fazio; r 2006 7.23
69 Bayonne GC (61) Bayonne, New Jersey Eric Bergstol; p 2006 7.23
70 Sutton Bay (70) Agar, South Dakota Graham Marsh; p 2014 7.22
71 Grandfather G&CC (68) Linville, North Carolina Ellis Maples; p, re 1968 7.21
72 Long Cove (77) Hilton Head, South Carolina Pete Dye; p, re 1982 7.20
73 Black Sheep (71) Sugar Grove, Illinois David Esler; p 2002 7.19
74 Mayacama (66) Santa Rosa, California Jack Nicklaus; p, re 2001 7.18
75 Hudson National (112) Croton-on-Hudson, New York Tom Fazio; p 1996 7.18
76 Karsten Creek (81) Stillwater, Oklahoma Tom Fazio; p 1994 7.18
77 Diamond Creek (78) Banner Elk, North Carolina Tom Fazio; p, re 2003 7.18
78 Hazeltine National (93) Chaska, Minnesota Robert Trent Jones Sr.; p 1962 7.17
79 Spring Hill (57) Orono, Minnesota Tom Fazio; p 1999 7.16
80 Erin Hills (92) Hartford, Wisconsin Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry, Ron Whitten; r, d 2006 7.14
81 Valhalla (76) Louisville Jack Nicklaus; p 1986 7.13
82 Shoal Creek (83) Birmingham, Alabama Jack Nicklaus; p 1976 7.12
83 Marquette GC (Greywalls) (82) Marquette, Michigan Mike DeVries; d, p 2005 7.11
84 Sea Island (Seaside) (86) St. Simons Island, Georgia Charles H. Alison, Harry S. Colt, Joe Lee, Tom Fazio; r 2000 7.11
85 Jupiter Hills Club (Hills) (96) Tequesta, Florida George Fazio; p, re 2010 7.09
86 The Quarry at La Quinta (69) La Quinta, California Tom Fazio; p, re 1994 7.08
87 Hidden Creek (80) Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; p 2002 7.07
88 Austin GC (98) Spicewood, Texas Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw; p 2001 7.06
89 Clear Creek (87) Tahoe, Nevada Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw; p, re 2009 7.05
90 Stanwich Club (114) Greenwich, Connecticut David Gordon, William Gordon; p 1964 7.05
91 Boot Ranch (103) Fredericksburg, Texas Jim Lipe; p, re 2006 7.05
92 Secession (91) Gibbes Island, South Carolina Bruce Devlin; p 1992 7.05
93 Blackwolf Run (River) (89) Kohler, Wisconsin Pete Dye; r 1988 7.04
94 Wine Valley (116) Walla Walla, Washington Dan Hixson; d 2009 7.04
95 Patriot (95) Owasso, Oklahoma Robert Trent Jones Jr.; p, re 2010 7.04
96 Tradition at La Quinta (104) La Quinta, California Arnold Palmer, Ed Seay; p, re 1997 7.03
97 Forest Highlands (The Canyon) (90) Flagstaff, Arizona Jay Morrish, Tom Weiskopf; p, re 1989 7.02
98 Pronghorn (Fazio) (58) Bend, Oregon Tom Fazio; p, re 2006 7.02
99 Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee (88) Eatonton, Georgia Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; p, re 1998 7.02
100 Stonewall Links (Old) (111) Elverson, Pennsylvania Tom Doak; p 1993 7.00

Pinehurst No. 4 (Courtesy of Pinehurst)

Rank Course Location Architect(s);
club type 
Avg. rating
101 Colleton River (Pete Dye) Bluffton, S.C. Pete Dye; p, re 7.00
102 The Bear’s Club Jupiter, Fla. Jack Nicklaus; p, re 6.99
103 Naples National Naples, Fla. Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry; p 6.99
104 Eugene CC Eugene, Ore. H. Chandler Egan, Robert Trent, Jones Sr.; p 6.99
105 Forest Dunes (The Loop Red & Black) Roscommon, Mich. Tom Doak; r, d 6.98
106 Primland (Highland) Meadows of Dan, Va. Donald Steel; r 6.98
107 Sage Valley Graniteville, S.C. Tom Fazio; p 6.97
108 Prairie Club (Dunes Course) Valentine, Neb. Tom Lehman; r 6.97
109 Eagle Point Wilmington, N.C. Tom Fazio; p 6.97
110 Mossy Oak West Point, Miss. Gil Hanse; r, d 6.96
111 Concession Bradenton, Fla. Jack Nicklaus; p, re 6.96
112 GC of Tennessee Kingston Springs, Tenn. Tom Fazio; p 6.95
113 Ocean Forest Sea Island, Ga. Rees Jones; p 6.95
114 McArthur Hobe Sound, Fla. Tom Fazio, Nick Price; p 6.94
115 Pinehurst No. 4 Pinehurst, N.C. Donald Ross, Gil Hanse; r 6.94
116 Stone Canyon Tucson, Ariz. Jay Morrish; p, re 6.93
117 Whisper Rock (Lower Course) Scottsdale Phil Mickelson, Gary Stephenson; p 6.93
118 Flint Hills National Andover, Kansas Tom Fazio; p 6.93
119 Giants Ridge (Quarry) Biwabik, Minn. Jeff Brauer; r, d 6.92
120 The Rim Payson, Ariz. Tom Weiskopf; p, re 6.92
121 Saucon Valley (Weyhill) Bethlehem, Pa. David Gordon, William Gordon; p 6.92
122 Mayfield Sand Ridge (Sand Ridge) Chardon, Ohio Tom Fazio; p 6.92
123 Club at Carlton Woods (Fazio) The Woodlands, Texas Tom Fazio; p, re 6.92
124 Loblolly Hobe Sound, Fla. P.B. Dye; p 6.92
125 Spring Island (Old Tabby Links) Okatie, S.C. Arnold Palmer, Ed Seay; p, re 6.91
126 Pine Tree Boynton Beach, Fla. Dick Wilson; p 6.91
127 Lost Dunes Bridgman, Mich. Tom Doak; p 6.91
128 Cliffs at Mountain Park Travelers Rest, S.C. Gary Player; p, re 6.90
129 Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands) Johns Creek, Ga. Joe Finger, Rees Jones; p 6.89
130 Trinity Forest Dallas Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; p 6.89
131 Silvies Valley Ranch (Hankins) Seneca, Ore. Dan Hixson; r, d 6.89
132 Stone Eagle Palm Desert, Calif. Tom Doak; p, re 6.88
133 Wild Horse Gothenburg, Neb. Dave Axland, Dan Proctor; d 6.88
134 Whisper Rock (Upper Course) Scottsdale Tom Fazio; p 6.88
135 Santa Lucia Preserve Carmel-By-The-Sea, Calif. Tom Fazio; p, re 6.87
136 Windsong Farm Independence, Minn. John Fought, Tom Lehman; p 6.87
137 Kiawah Island Club (Cassique) Kiawah Island, S.C. Tom Watson; p, re 6.87
138 Medalist Club Hobe Sound, Fla. Pete Dye, Greg Norman, Bobby Weed; p 6.86
139 The Bridges at Rancho Sante Fe Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. Robert Trent Jones Jr.; p, re 6.86
140 Paa-Ko Ridge Sandia Park, N.M. Ken Dye; d, re 6.85
141 Dormie Club West End, N.C. Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; p 6.84
142 Bellerive Creve Coeur, Mo. Robert Trent Jones Sr., Rees Jones; p 6.84
143 Frederica St. Simons Island, Ga. Tom Fazio; p, re 6.84
144 Greenville CC (Chanticleer) Greenville, S.C. Robert Trent Jones Sr.; p 6.84
145 Lahontan Truckee, Calif. Tom Weiskopf; p, re 6.83
146 Nantucket GC Siasconset, Mass. Rees Jones; p 6.83
147 French Lick (Pete Dye Course) French Lick, Ind. Pete Dye; r, d, c 6.82
148 The Farm Rocky Face, Ga. Tom Fazio; p 6.82
149 Silvies Valley Ranch (Craddock) Seneca, Ore. Dan Hixson; r, d 6.82
150 Montage Palmetto Bluff (May River) Bluffton, S.C. Jack Nicklaus; r 6.82

We-Ko-Pa’s Saguaro (Courtesy of We-Ko-Pa Golf Club/Lonna Tucker)

Rank Course Location Architect(s);
club type 
Avg. rating
151 Rustic Canyon Moorpark, Calif. Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner, Geoff Shackelford; d 6.81
152 Coral Creek Club Placida, Fla. Tom Fazio; p 6.81
153 Chechessee Creek Okatie, S.C. Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; p 6.81
154 Forest Dunes (Weiskopf) Okatie, S.C. Roscommon, Mich.; Tom Weiskopf; r, d 6.80
155 Sand Hollow (Championship) Hurricane, Utah John Fought, Andy Staples; r, d 6.80
156 Forest Creek (North) Pinehurst, N.C. Tom Fazio; p, re 6.80
157 Aldarra Sammamish, Wash. Tom Fazio; p 6.80
158 Trump National (Old) Bedminster, N.J. Tom Fazio; p 6.80
159 Kukui’ula Koloa, Hawaii Tom Weiskopf; p 6.79
160 Trump International West Palm Beach, Fla. Jim Fazio; p 6.79
161 Ridge at Back Brook Ringoes, N.J. Tom Fazio; p 6.78
162 Metedeconk National Jackson Township, N.J. Roger Rulewich; p 6.78
163 Southern Highlands Las Vegas Robert Trent Jones Sr., Robert Trent Jones Jr.; p, re 6.78
164 Spanish Oaks Bee Cave, Texas Bobby Weed; p, re 6.77
165 Black Rock Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Jim Engh; p, re 6.77
166 Hamilton Farm Gladstone, N.J. Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry; p 6.77
167 Whistling Straits (Irish) Mosel, Wis./td> Pete Dye; r 6.75
168 The Bridge Bridgehampton, N.Y. Rees Jones; p 6.75
169 Old Memorial Tampa, Fla. Steve Smyers; p 6.75
170 King Kamehameha Maui, Hawaii Robin Nelson; p 6.75
171 World Woods (Pine Barrens) Brooksville, Fla. Tom Fazio; d 6.74
171 World Woods (Pine Barrens) Brooksville, Fla. Tom Fazio; d 6.74
172 Suncadia (Tumble Creek) Cle Elum, Wash. Tom Doak; p 6.74
173 Cog Hill (No. 4 – Dubsdread) Lemont, Ill. Rees Jones, Dick Wilson; d 6.73
174 Sherwood Thousand Oaks, Calif. Jack Nicklaus; p 6.73
175 El Dorado Indian Wells, Calif. Tom Fazio; p, re 6.73
176 FarmLinks at Pursell Farms Sylacauga, Ala. Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry; r, d 6.73
177 Golden Horseshoe (Gold) Williamsburg, Va. Robert Trent Jones Sr., Rees Jones; r 6.73
178 Santa Ana CC Santa Ana, Calif. Jay Blasi; p, re 6.72
179 The Ford Plantation Richmond Hill, Ga. Pete Dye, Tim Liddy; p, re 6.72
180 Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards Sunset, S.C. Tom Fazio; p, re 6.72
181 Caves Valley Owings Mill, Md. Tom Fazio; p 6.72
182 Briggs Ranch San Antonio Tom Fazio; p, re 6.72
183 Caledonia Golf & Fish Club Pawleys Island, S.C. Michael Strantz; r, d 6.72
184 Desert Highlands Scottsdale Jack Nicklaus; p, re 6.71
185 Liberty National Jersey City, N.J. Bob Cupp, Tom Kite; p 6.71
186 Crosswater Sunriver, Ore. Bob Cupp, John Fought; r, re 6.70
187 Old Waverly West Point, Miss. Bob Cupp, Jerry Pate; r, re 6.70
188 Floridian Palm City, Fla. Tom Fazio; p 6.70
189 Atlanta CC Marietta, Ga. Willard Byrd, Joe Finger, Mike Riley; p 6.69
190 Frost Creek Eagle, Colo. Tom Weiskopf; r, re 6.68
191 Escondido Horseshoe Bay, Texas Tom Fazio; p, re 6.68
192 CordeValle San Martin, Calif. Robert Trent Jones Jr.; r 6.68
193 Keswick Hall (Full Cry) Charlottesville, Va. Pete Dye; r 6.67
194 Beach Hotel Kohala Coast, Hawaii Robert Trent Jones Sr.; r 6.67
195 Silverleaf Scottsdale Tom Weiskopf; p, re 6.66
196 Applebrook Malvern, Pa. Gil Hanse; p 6.65
197 Victory Ranch Kamas, Utah Rees Jones; p, re 6.65
198 Rams Hill Borrego Springs, Calif. Tom Fazio; r, d, re 6.64
199 We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro) Fort McDowell, Ariz. Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; r, d, c 6.64
200 The Wilderness at Fortune Bay Tower, Minn. Jeff Brauer; r, d, c 6.64

Original article written by Jason Lusk of GolfWeek.com on July 31st, 2020
Read the original article HERE

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