The 10 Best Golf Resorts (You've Probably Never Heard Of)

I’m a little shocked that Cabot Cape Breton didn’t make the list.

The French Lick Resort in French Lick, IN should be on this list. It doesn't get the recognition or traffic Pinehurst, Pebble Beach, Bandon, Kiawah and other more well-known resorts do, but it boasts two exceptional 18 hole golf courses in the Ross and Dye and the 9-hole Valley course, designed by Tom Bendelow, is not to be overlooked. The French Lick Springs and West Baden hotels are among the country's most historic and iconic and the property itself is about an hour and half drive from either Indianapolis or Louisville international airports. There's a Casino attached to the French Lick Springs Hotel, that is a fun night out, in additoin to many excellent dining options between the two hotels, golf courses and the town of French Lick itself. It's kid/family friendly and there are a lot of fun activities to partake in besides golf. If you've never been, you need to go as you will be blown away.

Someone should make an excel sheet of the top 100 golf courses in the US (2 in each state if possible)

Treetops gaylord mi

You forgot Eagle Ridge in Galena, IL Highlighted by "The General" consistently rated in the top 100 golf courses by Golf Digest.

Maddens golf resort in brainerd, MN. The classic is a must. One of the top courses in MN IMO

Shangri la in Oklahoma

Arizona has some spectacular golf and Scottsdale is a mecca. But if you head north about an hour to Prescott Valley Stone ridge golf club is a hidden gem challenging always in great shape and out of the heat. If ur in AZ makena point. To play it

Check out Williamsburg VA

I’ll stick to the 50th state and it’s main islands:

Hualalai is truly an experience. There’s a few great resort experiences outside Kona on the Big Island which kick our courses on Oahus butt. Try to finish at sunset.

On Oahu turtle bays resort and the Palmer course is pretty cool. The fazio course is still closed since civid but has looked playable ever since. They are removing bunkers and eventually plan to open it as a more simple family course. They should be pushed to do so.

Mauis kapalua resort with the bay course and plantation course is a must experience. Overlooking honolua bay, arguably the ost beautiful place on earth.
Wailea not far away is a cool place.

Nothing comes to mind on Kauai but Kauai is such a special place. You will find a resort course although seems to not be as many s Maui and the big island. I would say those are the two for a lot or resort golf variety.

Sweetgrass and Sage Run with Island Resort and Casino In the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Definitely worth the trip.

The Cliffs at Possum Kingdon. Graham TX. Beautiful views. Lots of carries...

Trappers Turn Wisconsin Dells

Palmetto Bluff..May River golf course SC

Check out Dismal River in Mullen Nebraska

Canyata Golf Club, Marshall, IL

Hahahaha. Pnw guy chooses pnw courses.

Pine Dunes in Frankston, TX. No frills amazing golf experience, played 54 holes over two days and didn’t have a group in front of or behind us the entire time. Rooms are right off the 18th green so bring your phones or flash lights for late night putting competitions.

Totally agree about Turning Stone. Great golf courses.

Sand Hollow Golf resort in hurricane Utah. (2 hours outside of Las Vegas)

Is well known but few have played it… Cabot Cliffs / Links in Nova Scotia is by far the best I’ve been too and I’ve been to almost every bucket list destination in NA.

Also, Lajitas in Terlingua TX. Amazing food, great course that is very tough. Great experience.

Crystal springs in NJ. Has the top public course in the state with Ballyowen

"Northern Michigan" lol...not really

How much did the Oregon Board of Tourism pay you for this segment?

Paako Ridge (about 1/2 hour outside Albuquerque) is gorgeous and affordable. At one time it was ranked as high as number six for best public courses. While you are there, you can also play the University of New Mexico championship, course, and Sandia golf club. Probably about the best golfing experience that you could have with three affordable golf clubs close together.

Check out Landmand Golf Course in Homer, Nebraska. One of the best new public courses on many review lists.

Well in Bend I agree Crosswater is best course in the area but the Nicklaus course at Pronghorn sucked. Aspen Lakes and Black Butte and Tetherow all better than Pronghorn.

Giants Ridge and Wilderness in MN are great

Sunriver note: The lodging options are effectively in rented out, furnished condos and townhouses, with many different amenity options (private hot tubs, trail access, etc.), so depending on your trip makeup (buddies vs. family) pick and choose the lodging that best fits your needs, as they aren't all the same.

Salish Cliffs is an awesome course. Just make sure to wait until July to play. Not sure if it’s because the course is relatively new or what, but the fairways are pretty soggy in the wet months around here. You could lose a shoe

Three for you, all within a couple hours from one another: Omni Bedford Springs in PA is a Tillinghast that got redone by Donald Ross in the 20s. Feels like an old Northeastern club because it is. Also in PA is Nemacolin, which has two Pete Dye courses, one used to host the 84 Lumber Classic, and then across the border in MD is Rocky Gap Casino Resort, which has the most affordable Nicklaus design I think ever and has a neat (little) lakeside casino resort nestled in the mountains.

Wildstone in Cranbrook BC, a Gary Player designed Course. There are 4 other awesome courses within half hour drive; Shadow Mountain, St Eugene, Trickle Creek and Bootleg Gap. And the CAD-USD exchange rate means they would be extremely cheap for you.

I’ve had the pleasure of playing JPL many times, too bad you got snowed out…….you owe it to yourself to play the Wilderness Club in Montana, definitely in the top 5 (along with Jasper) of my 150 or so courses that I have played, you will not be disappointed

Come back to Canada in Alberta. The Crow”s nest pass has a very well hidden gem in Blairmore. It’s 18 holes of mountain golf perfection.

Nemacolin Resort, Farmington, PA - former PGA stop.

I played near Banff and had a tee time at Kananaskis Country Golf Course in the middle of August. Got to the course, my last day of the trip. 9.30 tee off and 3" of snow. Boo!

McDowell Mountain GC Scottsdale. Play Chambers Bay last year unbelievable.

Besides Michigan being a golf mecca, it is on the extreme western edge of the Eastern time zone. During the longest days you can play till 9:00pm. Have a look at Arcadia Bluffs! 🌅🏌️

Whitewater just outside of Thunder Bay Ontario is pretty bad ass and its under $100.00 per round in Canadian Dollars so i think thats somewhere around 90 cents American... come on man!!! You cant do better. Alice Cooper frequently flys there just to play golf. Seen him a few times.

The Old Barn Resort near Lanesboro Minnesota. South east Minnesota has some beautiful landscape and the course is amazing.

Big Cedar in Missouri. They have courses designed by Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Crenshaw and Tom Fazio. With the Ozark Mountains as the backdrop, it’s absolutely stunning. Incredible courses.

Danzante Bay, Loreto, Mexico. On the Sea of Cortez. Incredible golf, incredible views.

The Rock, Drummond Island , U.P. Michigan

You should check out historic French Lick, Indiana. The Donald Ross course is unique and excellent, the Pete Dye course is like playing golf in heaven. You could loop in Victoria National if you can get on this Dormie Network course or swing over to Sultan’s Run, a really solid public course. French Lick also offers a casino and numerous other activities.

Granby Ranch, CO. The clubhouse is a trailer, but the course overlooks Rocky Mountain National Park. And the course is pristine.

We need that kind of video for Europe 🇪🇺

Your from Portland? That’s all I need to know.

The Robert Trent Jones Trail down in Alabama has 11 complexes each with 2 full 18 holes courses plus most have an 18 hold par 3 course that is a great test. Inexpensive to play and always in great shape. They are spread across the state so you can make a week long golf trip out of 3 of them which are probably only going to be a 50 mile drive from your base. Condition is always great and the people are extremely hospitable. I have played both courses at 7 of the complexes on golf trips down there, all great.

You missed the Midwest. The Prairie Club in the middle of nowhere Nebraska. World class courses and experience!