Whistling Straits (Straits)

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Rankings

Golf Digest's Top 100 Public Golf Courses in America

Golf Digest's course list for the layman golfer with access to public tracks only. Courses in BOLD have been played by Billy; a total of 79 so far. Courses in italics are scheduled to played this year.

Top 10 Public Courses

  1. PEBBLE BEACH GOLF LINKS (Jack Neville and Douglas Grant 1919/H. Chandler Egan 1929, Pebble Beach, CA)
  2. PACIFIC DUNES GOLF COURSE (Tom Doak 2001, Bandon, OR)
  3. WHISTLING STRAITS RESORT (STRAITS) (Pete Dye 1998, Haven, WI)
  4. THE OCEAN COURSE (Pete Dye 1991, Kiawah Island, SC)
  5. SHADOW CREEK GOLF CLUB (Tom Fazio 1990, North Las Vegas, NV)
  6. PINEHURST RESORT (NO. 2) (Donald Ross 1907, Pinehurst, N.C.)
  7. BANDON DUNES GOLF COURSE (David McLay Kidd 1999, Bandon, OR)
  8. BETHPAGE STATE PARK (BLACK) (A.W. Tillinghast and Joseph H. Burbeck 1936, Farmingdale, NY)
  9. ERIN HILLS GOLF COURSE (Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry and Ron Whitten 2006, Erin, WI)
  10. SPYGLASS HILL GOLF COURSE (Robert Trent Jones 1966, Pebble Beach, CA)
4th Hole at Bethpage State Park (Black)
4th Hole at Bethpage State Park (Black)

Courses 11-20

  1. TPC SAWGRASS (PLAYERS STADIUM) (Pete Dye 1981, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL)
  2. OLD MACDONALD (Tom Doak 2010, Bandon, OR)
  3. ARCADIA BLUFFS GOLF CLUB (Rick Smith and Warren Henderson 2000, Arcadia, MI)
  4. BANDON TRAILS (Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore 2005, Bandon, OR)
  5. BLACKWOLF RUN (RIVER) (Pete Dye 1990, Kohler, WI)
  6. PASATIEMPO GOLF CLUB (Alister MacKenzie 1929, Santa Cruz, CA)
  7. THE PETE DYE COURSE AT FRENCH LICK RESORT (Pete Dye 2009, French Lick, IN)
  8. SAND VALLEY (Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw 2017, Nekoosa, WI)
  9. STREAMSONG RESORT (RED) (Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw 2012, Streamsong, FL)
  10. KARSTEN CREEK (Tom Fazio 1994, Stillwater, OK)
17th Hole at TPC Sawgrass (Stadium)
17th Hole at TPC Sawgrass (Stadium)

Courses 21-30

  1. CHAMBERS BAY GOLF CLUB (Robert Trent Jones Jr. 2007, University Place, WA)
  2. KAPALUA RESORT (PLANTATION) (Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore 1991, Kapalua, Maui, HI)
  3. HARBOUR TOWN GOLF LINKS (Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus 1969, Hilton Head Island, SC)
  4. STREAMSONG RESORT (BLUE) (Tom Doak 2012, Streamsong, FL)
  5. OMNI HOMESTEAD (CASCADES) (William Flynn 1923, Hot Springs, VA)
  6. MAUNA KEA GOLF COURSE (Robert Trent Jones Sr. 1964/Rees Jones 2008, Kohala Coast, HI)
  7. MAMMOTH DUNES (David McLay Kidd 2018, Nekoosa, WI)
  8. FOREST DUNES GOLF CLUB (Tom Weiskopf 2002, Roscommon, MI)
  9. MANELE GOLF COURSE (Jack Nicklaus 1993, Lanai City, HI)
  10. THE HIGHLAND COURSE AT PRIMLAND (Donald Steel 2006, Meadows of Dan, VA)
7th Hole at Streamsong Resort (Blue)
7th Hole at Streamsong Resort (Blue)

Courses 31-40

  1. THE QUARRY AT GIANTS RIDGE (Jeff Bauer 2003, Biwabik, MN)
  2. STREAMSONG RESORT (BLACK) (Gil Hanse 2017, Streamsong, FL)
  3. SEA ISLAND GOLF CLUB (SEASIDE) (Colt and Alison 1928, St. Simons Island, GA)
  4. THE GREENBRIER (OLD WHITE TPC) (C.B. Macdonald 1914, White Sulphur Springs, WV)
  5. GAMBLE SANDS (David McLay Kidd 2014, Brewster, WA)
  6. Torrey Pines Golf Course (South) (William Bell Sr. 1957/Rees Jones 2001, La Jolla, CA)
  7. PRONGHORN CLUB (NICKLAUS) (Jack Nicklaus 2004, Bend, OR)
  8. FALLEN OAK GOLF CLUB (Tom Fazio 2006, Saucier, MS)
  9. THE BROADMOOR GOLF CLUB (EAST) (Donald Ross 1918/Robert Trent Jones Sr. 1952, Colorado Springs, CO)
  10. May River Golf Club at Palmetto Bluff (Jack Nicklaus 2004, Bluffton, SC)
15th Hole at The Club at Pronghorn (Nicklaus)
15th Hole at The Club at Pronghorn (Nicklaus)

Courses 41-50

  1. THE PRAIRIE CLUB (DUNES) (Tom Lehman and Chris Brands 2010, Valentine, NE)
  2. WILDERNESS CLUB (Lee Schmidt, Brian Curley and Nick Faldo 2009, Eureka, MT)
  3. WHISTLING STRAITS (IRISH) (Pete Dye 2000, Haven, WI)
  4. SENTRYWORLD GOLF COURSE (Robert Trent Jones Jr. 1982, Stevens Point, WI)
  5. The Loop (Black) (Tom Doak 2016, Roscommon, MI)
  6. CORDEVALLE GOLF CLUB (San Martin, CA)
  7. The Loop (Black) (Tom Doak 2016, Roscommon, MI)
  8. THE LINKS AT SPANISH BAY (Robert Trent Jones Jr. 1987, Pebble Beach, CA)
  9. PGA West (TPC Stadium) (La Quinta, CA)
  10. PAA-KO RIDGE GOLF CLUB (Ken Dye 2000, Sandia Park, NM)
4th Hole at The Prairie Club (Dunes)
4th Hole at The Prairie Club (Dunes)

Courses 51-60

  1. COG HILL GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB (NO. 4 DUBSDREAD) (Lemont, IL)
  2. TOBACOO ROAD GOLF CLUB (Sanford, NC)
  3. WOLF CREEK GOLF CLUB (Dennis Ryder 2000, Mesquite, NV)
  4. Marquette Golf Club (Greywalls) (Mike DeVries 2005, Marquette, MI)
  5. CROSSWATER GOLF CLUB (Bob Cupp 1995, Sunriver, OR)
  6. THE DUNES GOLF AND BEACH CLUB (Myrtle Beach, SC)
  7. Blackwolf Run (Meadow Valleys) (Kohler, WI)
  8. THE GOLF COURSES AT LAWSONIA (LINKS) (William Langford and Theodore Moreau 1930, Green Lake, WI)
  9. THE CLASSIC AT MADDENS RESORT (Brainerd, MN)
  10. OLD WAVERLY GOLF CLUB (Bob Cupp and Jerry Pate 1988, West Point, MS)
9th Hole at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club
9th Hole at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club

Courses 61-70

  1. Tullymore Golf Club (Jim Engh 2001, Stanwood, MI)
  2. CASCATA GOLF CLUB (Rees Jones 2000, Boulder City, NV)
  3. MOSSY OAK GOLF CLUB (Gil Hanse 2016, West Point, MS)
  4. Pinehurst Resort (No.8) (Pinehurst, NC)
  5. MAKAI GOLF CLUB (Robert Trent Jones Jr. 1971/2010, Princeville, Kauai, HI)
  6. NEMACOLIN WOODLANDS RESORT & SPA (MYSTIC ROCK) (Farmington, PA)
  7. GOLDEN HORSESHOE GOLF CLUB (GOLD) (Williamsburg, VA)
  8. WILD HORSE GOLF COURSE (Dan Proctor and Dave Axland 1999, Gothenburg, NE)
  9. Troy Burne Golf Club (Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry, and Tom Lehman 1999, Hudson, WI)
  10. ATUNYOTE GOLF CLUB AT TURNING STONE RESORT (Tom Fazio 2004, Verona, NY)
11th Hole at Mystic Rock Golf Course at Nemacolin
11th Hole at Mystic Rock Golf Course at Nemacolin

Courses 71-80

  1. TETHEROW GOLF CLUB (David McLay Kidd in 2008, Bend, OR)
  2. THE WILDERNESS AT FORTUNE BAY (Jeff Bauer 2004, Tower, MN)
  3. THE VIRTUES GOLF CLUB (Nashport, OH)
  4. BULLE ROCK (Pete Dye 1998, Havre de Grace, MD)
  5. Trump National Doral Miami (Blue Monster) (Dick Wilson 1961 and Gil Hanse 2013, Miami, FL)
  6. RED SKY RANCH AND GOLF CLUB (FAZIO) (Tom Fazio 2002, Wolcott, CO)
  7. CALEDONIA GOLF AND FISH CLUB (Mike Strantz 1994, Pawleys Island, SC)
  8. RED SKY RANCH AND GOLF CLUB (NORMAN) (Greg Norman 2003, Wolcott, CO)
  9. PINE NEEDLES LODGE AND GOLF CLUB (Donald Ross 1928, Southern Pines, NC)
  10. Bay Harbor Golf Club (Links/Quarry) (Bay Harbor, MI)
7th Hole at Makai Golf Club
7th Hole at Makai Golf Club

Courses 81-90

  1. POPPY HILLS GOLF COURSE (Robert Trent Jones Jr. 1986 and again in 2013, Pebble Beach, CA)
  2. WORLD WOODS GOLF CLUB (PINE BARRENS) (Tom Fazio 1993, Brooksville, FL)
  3. Pelican Hill Golf Club (Ocean South) (Tom Fazio 1991, Newport Coast, CA)
  4. QUINTERO GOLF CLUB (Rees Jones 2000, Peoria, AZ)
  5. OMNI BARTON CREEK RESORT (FAZIO CANYONS) (Tom Fazio 1999, Austin, TX)
  6. HUALALAI GOLF COURSE (Jack Nicklaus 1996, Kailua-Kona, HI)
  7. PUMPKIN RIDGE GOLF CLUB (GHOST CREEK) (North Plains, OR)
  8. THE PRAIRIE CLUB (PINES) (Graham Marsh 2010, Valentine, NE)
  9. Belvedere Golf Club (Willie Watson 1927/Ray Didier renovation 1961/Bruce Hepner restoration 2016, Charlevoix, MI)
  10. TPC San Antonio (AT&T Oaks) (Greg Norman and Sergio Garcia 2010, San Antonio, TX)
18th Hole at Caledonia Golf and Fish Club
18th Hole at Caledonia Golf and Fish Club

Courses 91-100

  1. MID PINES INN AND GOLF CLUB (Donald Ross 1921 and Kyle Franz 2013, Southern Pines, NC)
  2. Boyne Highlands (Heather) (Robert Trent Jones 1968, Harbor Springs, MI)
  3. Torrey Pines Golf Course (North) (William F. Bell 1957, La Jolla, CA)
  4. Great Waters Course at Reynolds Plantation (Jack Nicklaus 1992, Eatonton, GA)
  5. Grand Traverse Resort and Spa (The Bear) (Acme, MI)
  6. Pelican Hill Golf Club (Ocean North) (Tom Fazio 1993, Newport Coast, CA)
  7. POIPU BAY GOLF COURSE (Robert Trent Jones Jr. 1991, Koloa, Kauai, HI)
  8. KALUHYAT GOLF CLUB AT TURNING STONE RESORT (Robert Trent Jones Jr. 2003, Verona, NY)
  9. The Donald Ross Course at French Lick Resort (Donald Ross 1917, French Lick, IN)
  10. INNISBROOK GOLF RESORT (COPPERHEAD) (Edward Lawrence Packard 1972/Jerry Pate and Steve Wenzloff renovation 2015)
14th Hole at Coeur d-Alene Resort
14th Hole at Coeur d-Alene Resort

Dropped from the 2017-18 list

  • THE PRINCE COURSE (Robert Trent Jones Jr. 1990, Princeville, Kauai, HI)
  • The Harvester Golf Club (Rhodes, IA)
  • DORMIE CLUB (Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw 2010, West End, NC)
  • SPRING CREEK GOLF CLUB (Ed Carton 2006, Gordonsville, VA)
  • THE BULL AT PINEHURST FARMS (Jack Nicklaus 2003, Sheboygan Falls, WI)
  • Linville Golf Club (Donald Ross 1928, Linville, NC)
  • EDGEWOOD TAHOE GOLF COURSE (George Fazio 1968, Ronald Fream 1980, Tom Fazio 2008, Lake Tahoe, NV)
  • Belgrade Lakes Golf Course (Clive Clark 1998, Belgrade Lakes, ME)
  • Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point (Jack Nicklaus 2014, Bronx, NY)
  • COEUR D'ALENE RESORT GOLF COURSE (Scott Miller 1991, Coeur d'Alene, ID)
  • WE-KO-PA GOLF CLUB (SAGUARO) (Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw 2006, Fort McDowell, AZ)
  • Dancing Rabbit Golf Club (Tom Fazio and Jerry Pate 1997, Choctaw, MS)
  • Omni Barton Creek Country Club (Fazio Foothills) (Tom Fazio 1986, Austin, TX)

    • Dropped from the 2015-16 list

  • The Golf Club at Cuscowilla (Eatonton, GA)
  • PINEHURST RESORT (NO.4) (Pinehurst, NC)
  • Turtle Bay Resort (Palmer) (Kahuku, Oahu, HI)
  • TRUMP NATIONAL GOLF CLUB LOS ANGELES (Pete and Perry Dye 1999, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA)
  • Maderas Golf Club (Johnny Miller 1999, Poway, CA)
  • Sandpiper Golf Course (William F. Bell 1972, Santa Barbara, CA)
  • OLD WORKS GOLF COURSE (Jack Nicklaus 1997, Anaconda, MT)
  • Bay Hill Club (Champion/Challenger) (Dick Wilson 1962, Orlando, FL)
  • CIRCLING RAVEN GOLF CLUB (Worley, ID)
  • Buffalo Ridge Golf Club (Tom Fazio 1999, Hollister, MO)
  • WAILEA GOLF CLUB (GOLD) (Robert Trent Jones Jr. 1993, Wailea, Maui, HI)

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