Where can you find the best private golf courses in each state? Welcome to Golfweek’s Best 2025 list of top private layouts, as judged by our hundreds of raters.
The members of the 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 2025 list are private and don’t accept daily-fee or resort play. We also publish a list of each state’s top public-access layouts. Keen eyes might notice there are only 49 states included on this list, because Alaska doesn’t have any rated private clubs to include among the rankings.
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
Alabama’s best private golf courses
1. Wicker Point*
Alexander City (m)
2. Shoal Creek
Birmingham (T87m)
3. Country Club of Birmingham (West)
Birmingham (T114c)
4. Willow Point*
Alexander City (m)
5. The Ledges
Huntsville (m)
Arizona’s best private golf courses
1. Estancia
Scottsdale (19m)
2. Desert Forest
Carefree (T73m)
3. Scottsdale National (The Other Course)
Scottsdale (m)
4. Forest Highlands (Canyon)
Flagstaff (T108m)
5. Whisper Rock (Upper)
Scottsdale (T122m)
6. Whisper Rock (Lower)
Scottsdale (m)
7. Desert Highlands
Scottsdale (T149m)
8. The Rim
Payson (T166m)
9. Stone Canyon
Oro Valley (T191m)
10. Mirabel
Scottsdale (m)
11. Silverleaf
Scottsdale (m)
12. Forest Highlands (Meadow)
Flagstaff (m)
T13. Troon Country Club
Scottsdale (m)
T13. Pine Canyon
Flagstaff (m)
15. Flagstaff Ranch
Flagstaff (m)
16. Paradise Valley
Paradise Valley (c)
17. Desert Mountain (Cochise)
Scottsdale (m)
18. The Gallery (North)
Marana (m)
19. Desert Mountain (Chiricahua)
Scottsdale (m)
20. Torreon (Cabin)
Show Low (m)
Arkansas’ best private golf courses
1. Alotian Club
Roland (m)
2. The Blessings
Fayetteville (m)
3. Texarkana Country Club
Texarkana (c)
4. Chenal (Bear Den)*
Little Rock (m)
5. Chenal (Founders)
Little Rock (m)
California’s best private golf courses
1. Cypress Point
Pebble Beach (1c)
2. Los Angeles Country Club (North)
Los Angeles (11c)
3. Riviera
Pacific Palisades (17c)
4. San Francisco Golf Club
San Francisco (T18c)
5. California Golf Club
South San Francisco (29c)
6. Monterey Peninsula (Shore)
Pebble Beach (17m)
7. Valley Club of Montecito
Santa Barbara (T36c)
8. Olympic Club (Lake)
San Francisco (43c)
9. Monterey Peninsula (Dunes)
Pebble Beach (T49c)
10. Martis Camp
Truckee (43m)
11. Bel-Air
Los Angeles (T59c)
12. The Madison Club
La Quinta (m)
13. The Quarry at La Quinta
La Quinta (T62m)
14. Meadow Club
Fairfax (T67c)
15. Lahontan
Truckee (m)
16. Mayacama
SantaRosa (99m)
17. Lake Merced
Daly City (T108c)
18. Wilshire
Los Angeles (T120c)
19. Santa Lucia Preserve
Carmel (T125m)
20. Stone Eagle
Palm Desert (T130m)
Colorado’s best private golf courses
1. Ballyneal
Holyoke (5m)
2. Colorado Golf Club
Parker (35m)
3. Cherry Hills
Cherry Hills Village (T56c)
4. Cornerstone*
Montrose (m)
5. Castle Pines
Castle Rock (T68m)
6. Country Club of the Rockies
Edwards (m)
7. Maroon Creek
Aspen (m)
8. Glacier Club (Mountain)
Durango (m)
9. Frost Creek
Eagle (m)
10. Roaring Fork Club
Basalt (m)
Connecticut’s best private golf courses
1. Yale Golf Course
New Haven (T67c)
2. Tamarack
Greenwich (T108c)
3. Stanwich Club
Greenwich (T108m)
4. Country Club of Fairfield
Fairfield (T117c)
5. Bull’s Bridge
South Kent (m)
Delaware’s best private golf courses
1. Bidermann
Wilmington (m)
2. Wilmington Country Club (South)
Wilmington (T191m)
3. Fieldstone
Greenville (m)
4. The Peninsula
Millsboro (m)
5. DuPont Country Club (DuPont)
Wilmington (c)
Florida’s best private golf courses
1. Seminole
Juno Beach (12c)
2. Calusa Pines
Naples (T24m)
3. Panther National*
Palm Beach Gardens (29m)
4. Dye Course at White Oak
Yulee (67m)
5. Mountain Lake
Lake Wales (T72c)
T6. Belleair Country Club (West)
Belleair (T80c)
T6. Indian Creek
Miami Beach (c)
8. John’s Island Club (West)
Vero Beach (80m)
T9. The Bear’s Club
Jupiter (T89m)
T9. Jupiter Hills (Hills)
Tequesta (T89m)
11. Loblolly
Hobe Sound (95m)
12. McArthur
Hobe Sound (m)
13. Naples National
Naples (T103m)
14. Medalist
Hobe Sound (T119m)
15. Pablo Creek
Jacksonville (m)
16. Pine Tree
Boynton Beach (T125m)
T17. RedStick*
Vero Beach (m)
T17. High Ridge
Lantana (T132m)
19. Trump International West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach (T143m)
20. Coral Creek Club
Placida (T146m)
Georgia’s best private golf courses
1. Augusta National
Augusta (3c)
2. Peachtree
Atlanta (T18c)
3. Ohoopee Match Club
Cobbtown (4m)
T4. Augusta Country Club
Augusta (T85c)
T4. East Lake
Atlanta (T85c)
6. Ocean Forest
Sea Island (T108m)
7. Cherokee Town & Country Club (North)
Dunwoody (T117c)
8. Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands)
Johns Creek (129m)
T9. Lookout Mountain Club
Lookout Mountain (T126c)
T9. Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee
Eatonton (T132m)
11. Atlanta Country Club
Marietta (T157m)
12. Frederica
St. Simons Island (T170m)
13. Ford Field & River Club
Richmond Hill (182m)
T14. The Farm
Rocky Face (m)
T14. Hawk’s Ridge*
Ball Ground (T189m)
Hawaii’s best private golf courses
1. Nanea
Kona (18m)
2. Kukio Golf & Beach Club*
Kailua-Kona (m)
3. Kohanaiki
Kailua-Kona (m)
4. Kukui’ula
Koloa (T170m)
5. Hokulia
Kailua-Kona (m)
Idaho’s best private golf courses
1. Gozzer Ranch
Harrison (T37m)
2. Tributary
Driggs (T100m)
3. Whitetail
McCall (m)
4. Golf Club at Black Rock
Coeur d’Alene (m)
5. CDA National Reserve
Coeur d’Alene (T197m)
Illinois’s best private golf courses
1. Chicago Golf Club
Wheaton (8c)
2. Shoreacres
Lake Bluff (22c)
3. Medinah Country Club (No. 3)
Medinah (T22m)
4. Old Elm
Highland Park (T49c)
5. Beverly
Chicago (T56c)
6. Butler National
Oak Brook (T50m)
7. Olympia Fields (North)
Olympia Fields (T78c)
8. Skokie
Glencoe (T91c)
9. Black Sheep
Sugar Grove (T108m)
10. Conway Farms
Lake Forest (T157m)
11. Olympia Fields (South)
Olympia Fields (T152c)
12. Bob O’Link
Highland Park (T161c)
13. Glen View Club
Golf (c)
14. Onwentsia Club
Lake Forest (T175c)
15. Rich Harvest Farms
Sugar Grove (m)
Indiana’s best private golf courses
1. Victoria National
Newburgh (T53m)
2. Crooked Stick
Carmel (T76m)
3. Culver Academies
Culver (98c)
4. Sycamore Hills
Fort Wayne (m)
5. Club at Holliday Farms
Zionsville (m)
Iowa’s best private golf courses
1. Davenport
Pleasant Valley (T67c)
2. Harvester
Rhodes (T84m)
3. Cedar Rapids Country Club
Cedar Rapids (94c)
4. Wakonda Club
Des Moines (c)
5. Des Moines Golf & Country Club (North)
West Des Moines (m)
Kansas’s best private golf courses
1. Prairie Dunes
Hutchinson (13c)
2. Flint Hills National
Andover (T103m)
3. Wolf Creek
Olathe (T191m)
4. Hallbrook
Leawood (m)
5. Kansas City Country Club
Mission Hills (c)
Kentucky’s best private golf courses
1. Valhalla
Louisville (T65m)
2. Idle Hour
Lexington (T163c)
3. Olde Stone
Bowling Green (m)
4. Hurstbourne
Louisville (m)
5. Audubon
Louisville (c)
Louisiana’s best private golf courses
1. Squire Creek
Choudrant (m)
2. Country Club of Louisiana
Baton Rouge (m)
3. New Orleans Country Club
New Orleans (c)
4. Metairie Country Club
Metairie (c)
5. University Club
Baton Rouge (m)
Maine’s best private golf courses
1. Portland Country Club
Falmouth (c)
2. Prouts Neck
Scarborough (c)
3. York Golf & Tennis Club
York (c)
4. Woodlands Club
Falmouth (m)
Maryland’s best private golf courses
T1. Baltimore Country Club (East)
Timonium (T46c)
T1. Congressional (Blue)
Bethesda (T46c)
3. Burning Tree
Bethesda (113c)
4. TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm
Potomac (118m)
5. Woodmont (North)
Rockville (c)
6. Caves Valley
Owings Mill (T132m)
7. Columbia
Chevy Chase (166c)
8. Chevy Chase Country Club
Chevy Chase (c)
9. Four Streams
Beallsville (m)
10. Congressional (Gold)
Bethesda (m)
Massachusetts’ best private golf courses
1. The Country Club (Composite)
Brookline (T24c)
2. Myopia Hunt Club
Hamilton (T30c)
T3. Eastward Ho!
Chatham (T41c)
T3. Essex
Manchester-by-the-Sea (T41c)
5. Boston Golf Club
Hingham (T32m)
6. Old Sandwich Golf Club
Plymouth (36m)
7. Kittansett Club
Marion (51c)
8. Sankaty Head
Siasconset (90c)
9. Salem Country Club
Peabody (T91c)
10. Whitinsville Golf Club
Whitinsville (95c)
11. Worcester Country Club
Worcester (T117c)
12. Taconic
Williamstown (122c)
13. Winchester Country Club
Winchester (131c)
14. Nantucket Golf Club
Siasconset (T166m)
15. Hyannisport Club
Hyannis Port (T146c)
Michigan’s best private golf courses
1. Crystal Downs
Frankfort (14c)
2. Oakland Hills (South)
Bloomfield Hills (23c)
3. Kingsley Club
Kingsley (T37m)
4. Dunes Club
New Buffalo (56m)
5. Franklin Hills
Franklin (T80c)
6. Lost Dunes
Bridgman (T139m)
7. Meadowbrook
Northville (T132c)
8. Orchard Lake Country Club
Orchard Lake (T135c)
9. Indianwood (Old)
Lake Orion (T140c)
10. Barton Hills
Ann Arbor (T146c)
11. Wuskowhan Player’s Club
West Olive (m)
12. True North
Harbor Springs (m)
13. Bloomfield Hills Country Club
Bloomfield Hills (c)
T14. Point O’Woods
Benton Harbor (c)
T14. LochenHeath*
Williamsburg (m)
Minnesota’s best private golf courses
1. Interlachen
Edina (66c)
2. Spring Hill
Wayzata (T53m)
3. Minikahda Club
Minneapolis (T78c)
4. Hazeltine National
Chaska (T84m)
5. White Bear Yacht Club
White Bear Lake (T88c)
6. Windsong Farm
Independence (T149m)
7. Somerset
Mendola Heights (c)
8. Northland
Duluth (T168c)
9. Minneapolis Golf Club
St. Louis Park (c)
10. Somerby Golf Club
Byron (m)
Mississippi’s best private golf courses
1. Hattiesburg Country Club
Hattiesburg (c)
2. Annandale
Madison (m)
3. Reunion
Madison (m)
4. Laurel Country Club
Laurel (c)
5. Country Club of Jackson
Jackson (m)
Missouri’s best private golf courses
1. St. Louis Country Club
St. Louis (T152c)
2. Bellerive
St. Louis (T116m)
3. Old Warson
Ladue (c)
4. Norwood Hills (West)
St. Louis (c)
5. Oakwood Country Club*
Kansas City (T185c)
Montana’s best private golf courses
1. Rock Creek Cattle Company
Deer Lodge (16m)
2. The Stock Farm
Hamilton (m)
3. Yellowstone Club*
Big Sky (m)
4. Yellowstone Country Club
Billings (m)
5. Moonlight Basin (Reserve)
Big Sky (T122m)
Nebraska’s best private golf courses
1. Sand Hills
Mullen (1m)
2. CapRock Ranch
Valentine (T13m)
3. GrayBull*
Maxwell (m)
4. Lost Rail
Gretna (94m)
5. Dismal River Club (Red)
Mullen (115m)
Nevada’s best private golf courses
1. Clear Creek Tahoe
Carson City (m)
2. The Summit Club*
Las Vegas (m)
3. Southern Highlands
Las Vegas (T132m)
4. TPC Summerlin
Las Vegas (T197m)
5. Montreux
Reno (m)
New Hampshire’s best private golf courses
1. Bald Peak Colony Club
Melvin Village (c)
2. Baker Hill
Newbury (m)
3. Manchester
Bedford (c)
4. Lake Sunapee
New London (c)
5. Nashua
Nashua (c)
New Jersey’s best private golf courses
1. Pine Valley Golf Cub
Pine Valley (2c)
2. Somerset Hills
Bernardsville (21c)
3. Plainfield
Edison (T32c)
4. Baltusrol (Lower)
Springfield (T36c)
5. Hollywood
Deal (T52c)
6. Baltusrol (Upper)
Springfield (61c)
7. Ridgewood (Championship)
Paramus (T62c)
8. Galloway National
Galloway Township (m)
9. Bayonne Golf Club
Bayonne (79m)
10. Mountain Ridge
West Caldwell (101c)
11. Essex County Country Club
West Orange (T106c)
12. Hidden Creek
Egg Harbor Township (T146m)
13. Trump National Bedminster (New)*
Bedminster (m)
14. Trump National Bedminster (Old)
Bedminster (T166m)
15. Due Process Stable
Colt’s Neck (m)
New Mexico’s best private golf courses
1. Las Campanas (Sunset)
Santa Fe (m)
2. Rainmakers
Alto (m)
3. Las Campanas (Sunrise)
Santa Fe (m)
4. Alto Golf Estates (Outlaw)*
Alto (m)
5. Canyon Club at Four Hills
Albuquerque (m)
New York’s best private golf courses
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 (2m)
5. Winged Foot (West)
Mamaroneck (16c)
6. Maidstone Club
East Hampton (T24c)
7. Sebonack
Southampton (11m)
8. Garden City Golf Club
Garden City (27c)
9. Sleepy Hollow
Scarborough (T30c)
10. Winged Foot (East)
Mamaroneck (T32c)
11. Oak Hill (East)
Rochester (35c)
12. Piping Rock
Locust Valley (38c)
13. Quaker Ridge
Scarsdale (40c)
14. Creek Club
Locust Valley (T59c)
15. St. George’s
Setauket (T67c)
16. Glens Falls
Queensbury (T72c)
17. Country Club of Buffalo
Williamsville (T74c)
18. Fenway
Scarsdale (77c)
19. Hudson National
Croton-on-Hudson (T76m)
20. Atlantic Golf Club
Bridgehampton (m)
North Carolina’s best private golf courses
1. Old Town Club
Winston-Salem (15c)
2. Wade Hampton Club
Cashiers (T7m)
T3. Quail Hollow Club
Charlotte (T58m)
T3. Diamond Creek
Banner Elk (T58m)
5. Mountaintop
Cashiers (T73m)
6. Roaring Gap Club
Roaring Gap (T80c)
7. Grandfather (Championship)
Linville (T81m)
8. Eagle Point
Wilmington (86m)
9. Charlotte Country Club
Charlotte (T99c)
10. Biltmore Forest
Asheville (116c)
11. Linville Ridge
Linville (m)
12. Champion Hills
Hendersonville (T157m)
13. Dormie Club
West End (T170m)
14. Cape Fear
Wilmington (T152c)
15. Country Club of North Carolina (Dogwood)
Pinehurst (T191m)
North Dakota’s best private golf courses
1. Fargo Country Club
Fargo (c)
2. Oxbow Country Club
Oxbow (m)
3. Apple Creek
Bismarck (c)
4. Grand Forks Country Club
Grand Forks (m)
Ohio’s best private golf courses
1. Muirfield Village
Dublin (T7m)
2. Camargo Club
Indian Hill (28c)
3. The Golf Club
New Albany (T20)
4. Inverness Club
Toledo (48c)
5. Scioto
Columbus (T54c)
6. Moraine
Dayton (T67c)
7. Brookside
Canton (84c)
8. Canterbury
Beachwood (87c)
9. The Country Club
Pepper Pike (T96c)
10. NCR Country Club (South)
Kettering (T99c)
11. Kirtland
Willoughby (T104c)
12. Double Eagle
Galena (106m)
13. Pepper Pike Club
Pepper Pike (c)
14. Sand Ridge
Chardon (m)
15. Westbrook*
Mansfield (c)
Oklahoma’s best private golf courses
1. Southern Hills
Tulsa (T32c)
2. Oak Tree National
Edmond (61m)
3. The Patriot
Owasso (121m)
4. Oaks*
Tulsa (c)
5. Twin Hills
Oklahoma City (c)
Oregon’s best private golf courses
1. Eugene Country Club
Eugene (T112m)
2. Waverley
Portland (130c)
3. Pronghorn (Fazio)
Bend (T143m)
4. Pumpkin Ridge (Witch Hollow)
North Plains (m)
5. Columbia Edgewater
Portland (c)
6. Awbrey Glen*
Bend (m)
7. Bend Golf Club
Bend (c)
8. Astoria
Warrenton (c)
9. Portland Golf Club
Portland (c)
10. Illahe Hill
Salem (m)
Pennsylvania’s best private golf courses
1. Oakmont Country Club
Oakmont (6c)
2. Merion (East)
Ardmore (7c)
3. Philadelphia Cricket Club (Wissahickon)
Flourtown (45c)
4. Fox Chapel
Pittsburgh (64c)
5. Aronimink
Newtown Square (65c)
6. Lancaster Country Club
Lancaster (76c)
7. Laurel Valley
Ligonier (T80c)
8. Country Club of Scranton
Clarks Summit (T96c)
9. Gulph Mills
King of Prussia (T106c)
10. Stonewall (Old)
Elverson (T125m)
11. Rolling Green
Springfield (125c)
12. Huntingdon Valley
Huntingdon Valley (T132c)
13. Saucon Valley (Old)
Bethlehem (T135c)
14. Applebrook
Malvern (T149m)
T15. Kahkwa Club
Erie (c)
T15. Pittsburgh Field Club
Pittsburgh (T137c)
17. Manufacturers
Fort Washington (T140c)
18. Sunnehanna*
Johnstown (144c)
19. Saucon Valley (Weyhill)
Bethlehem (T176m)
20. Longue Vue
Verona (145c)
Rhode Island’s best private golf courses
1. Newport Country Club
Newport (58c)
2. Wannamoisett
Rumford (T62c)
3. Shelter Harbor
Westerly (T71m)
4. Misquamicut
Westerly (T88c)
5. Sakonnet
Little Compton (c)
South Carolina’s best private golf courses
1. Old Barnwell*
Aiken (T24m)
2. Yeaman’s Hall
Charleston (44c)
3. Congaree
Ridgeland (T27m)
4. Tree Farm*
Batesburg (T40m)
5. Cherokee Plantation
Yemassee (m)
6. Sage Valley
Graniteville (T58m)
7. Long Cove
Hilton Head Island (T71m)
8. Secession
Gibbes Island (m)
9. Palmetto
Aiken (T104c)
10. Colleton River (Pete Dye)
Bluffton (T112m)
11. Kiawah Island Club (Cassique)
Kiawah Island (T149m)
12. Spring Island (Old Tabby Links)
Okatie (T157m)
T13. Greenville Country Club (Chanticleer)
Greenville (m)
T13. Cliffs at Mountain Park
Travelers Rest (T163m)
15. Kiawah Island Club (River Course)
Kiawah Island (T179m)
South Dakota’s best private golf courses
1. Sutton Bay
Agar (70m)
2. Minnehaha
Sioux Falls (c)
3. Dakota Dunes Country Club
Dakota Dunes (m)
4. The Country Club of Sioux Falls*
Sioux Falls (c)
Tennessee’s best private golf courses
1. Honors Course
Ooltewah (T22m)
2. Holston Hills
Knoxville (112c)
3. Golf Club of Tennessee
Kingston Springs (T116m)
4. Spring Creek Ranch
Collierville (m)
5. Black Creek
Chattanooga (m)
Texas’ best private golf courses
1. Whispering Pines
Trinity (T37m)
2. Dallas National
Dallas (48m)
3. TXO (formerly Wolf Point Ranch)
Port Lavaca (m)
4. Brook Hollow
Dallas (c)
5. Bluejack National
Montgomery (T87m)
6. Austin Golf Club
Spicewood (T103m)
7. Spanish Oaks
Bee Cave (T119m)
8. Colonial
Fort Worth (T126c)
T9. Austin Country Club
Austin (T139m)
T9. Boot Ranch
Fredericksburg (T139m)
11. Trinity Forest
Dallas (T149m)
12. Escondido
Horseshoe Bay (T170m)
13. Club at Carlton Woods (Fazio Championship)
The Woodlands (m)
14. Maridoe Golf Club*
Carrollton (m)
15. Oak Hills
San Antonio (T183c)
Utah’s best private golf courses
1. Victory Ranch
Kamas (m)
2. Glenwild
Park City (m)
3. Promontory (Painted Valley)
Park City (m)
4. The Country Club
Salt Lake City (c)
5. Entrada at Snow Canyon
St. George (m)
Vermont’s best private golf courses
1. Ekwanok
Manchester (T91c)
2. Country Club of Vermont
Waterbury Center (m)
3. Burlington Country Club
Burlington (c)
4. Rutland Country Club
Rutland (c)
5. Vermont National
South Burlington (m)
Virginia’s best private golf courses
1. Kinloch
Manakin-Sabot (T32m)
2. Robert Trent Jones Golf Club
Lake Manassas (47m)
3. Olde Farm
Bristol (T92m)
4. Trump National Washington D.C. (Championship)
Potomac Falls (m)
5. Bayville
Virginia Beach (m)
6. River Bend
Great Falls (m)
7. Country Club of Virginia (James River)
Richmond (c)
8. Governor’s Land at Two Rivers
Williamsburg (m)
9. Ballyhack*
Roanoke (m)
10. Cutalong
Mineral (m)
Washington’s best private golf courses
1. Aldarra
Sammamish (T163m)
2. Sahalee (South/North)
Sammamish (T185m)
3. Seattle Golf Club
Seattle (c)
4. Suncadia (Tumble Creek)
Roslyn (m)
5. Tacoma Golf & Country Club
Lakeland (c)
West Virginia’s best private golf courses
1. Pikewood National
Morgantown (T20m)
2. Pete Dye Golf Club
Bridgeport (64m)
3. Greenbrier Sporting Club (Snead)
White Sulphur Springs (m)
4. Williams
Weirton (c)
5. Wheeling Country Club
Wheeling (c)
Wisconsin’s best private golf courses
1. Milwaukee Country Club
Milwaukee (T54c)
2. Blue Mound
Wauwatosa (T108c)
3. Pine Hills
Sheboygan (T180c)
4. Oneida
Green Bay (c)
5. Green Bay Country Club
Green Bay (m)
Wyoming’s best private golf courses
1. Shooting Star
Teton Village (T50m)
2. Snake River Sporting Club
Jackson (m)
3. Devils Tower
Hulett (m)
4. Three Creek Ranch
Jackson (Modern)