AMERICA’S 25 GREATEST COURSES 2025-2026 1 PINE VALLEY, New Jersey 2 AUGUSTA NATIONAL, Georgia 3 CYPRESS POINT, California 4 SHINNECOCK HILLS, New York 5 OAKMONT, Pennsylvania 6 MERION, Pennsylvania 7 NATIONAL GOLF LINKS, New York 8 SAND HILLS, Nebraska 9 PEBBLE BEACH, California 10 FISHERS ISLAND, New York 11 CHICAGO GC, Illinois 12 SEMINOLE, Florida 13 WINGED FOOT (WEST), New York 14 FRIAR’S HEAD, New York 15 CRYSTAL DOWNS, Michigan 16 LOS ANGELES CC (NORTH), California 17 THE COUNTRY CLUB, Massachusetts 18 RIVIERA, California 19 MUIRFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio 20 OAKLAND HILLS (SOUTH), Michigan 21 OAK HILL (EAST), New York 22 PEACHTREE, Georgia
The course is relatively flat and open. Swaths of native sand and wiregrass buffer each hole, but the fairways are not difficult to hit. The greens are hard to hold, and when they’re firm and fast like they are during US Opens, they cause fits for the best players in the world. When resort guests miss them, however, they can spend the day putting their ball back up the slopes and play the entire round without taking a penalty stroke.
on the other hand, are some of the most challenging in the game, especially to certain hole locations, yet manageable to anyone not trying to make birdies. Approaches that miss greens are usually sitting on short grass leaving chip, pitch and putt opportunities. Augusta National is full of Shot Options, but few would say it’s an easy golf course. Pinehurst No 2 (ranked 32nd) is another illustration of how challenge and options can coexist in great design.
23 PACIFIC DUNES, Oregon 24 SHADOW CREEK, Nevada 25 PRAIRIE DUNES. Kansas
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 85
JUNE 2025
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