Best Public Golf Courses in the US for 2025

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

Public access golf in the United States has never been better. Some of the most stunning, challenging, and historically significant courses in the world are open to any golfer willing to pay the green fee and book a tee time. Here at The Birdie Putt, we highlight the best public courses across the country — from seaside masterpieces to inland gems that belong on every golfer's bucket list.

Pebble Beach Golf Links (California)

Pebble Beach is arguably the most iconic golf course in America. Perched along the rugged Monterey Peninsula with ocean views on half its holes, it has hosted six US Opens and produced some of the most dramatic moments in golf history. Tee times are available to the public — but at $600+ per round on weekdays and significantly more on weekends, it requires planning and budget. Book months in advance; demand far exceeds availability year-round. It's a true bucket-list experience that lives up to every expectation.

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Oregon)

Bandon Dunes on the Oregon coast is America's premier golf resort, offering five distinct courses including the world-renowned Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, and Sheep Ranch courses — all walking only, all oceanside, all extraordinary. Golf Digest consistently ranks multiple Bandon courses in its top 10 public courses nationwide. The resort experience is immersive: no carts, caddies encouraged, and a remote location that means golf is the entire trip. Green fees range from $100–$350 depending on course and season.

Pinehurst No. 2 (North Carolina)

The Home of American Golf. Pinehurst No. 2, designed by Donald Ross and recently restored to its original sandy-waste surrounds, has hosted the US Open, the PGA Championship, and the US Amateur. The Donald Ross crowned greens are unlike anything else in American golf — approach shots that catch the wrong side of the green funnel away from the hole, making every approach decision genuinely strategic. Public tee times are available through the Pinehurst Resort, with packages including accommodation and multiple rounds.

TPC Sawgrass (Florida)

Home of The Players Championship, TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course is the most famous Pete Dye design in America. The par-3 17th Island Green is one of the most photographed holes in golf — surrounded entirely by water with a tiny strip of green as the target. You can play the same course the pros play annually, and tee times are available publicly through the TPC booking system. Budget $300–$500 for the full experience.

Bethpage Black (New York)

A state-owned municipal course on Long Island that has hosted two US Opens and a Ryder Cup — Bethpage Black is democracy's greatest gift to golf. Green fees for New York state residents are around $50–$80 on weekdays; non-residents pay more but still a fraction of comparable private club quality. The course is genuinely difficult — a warning sign at the first tee tells you it "is an extremely difficult course which we recommend only for highly skilled golfers" — but mid and high handicappers play it daily. Book online months in advance; demand is extraordinary.

Whistling Straits (Wisconsin)

Site of the 2021 Ryder Cup and three PGA Championships, Whistling Straits on the shores of Lake Michigan is one of the most dramatic golf experiences in the Midwest. The Pete Dye design features thousands of hand-placed bunkers, fescue rough, and Lake Michigan views across its 18 holes. Public play is available at the American Club Resort in Kohler, with packages including accommodation at one of the finest golf resorts in the country.

Public golf in America offers experiences ranging from $20 municipal rounds to $600 bucket-list pilgrimages. The best public courses aren't just accessible — they're genuinely world-class, and planning a golf trip around two or three of them makes for an unforgettable season highlight.