Playing a genuinely famous golf course is an experience every golfer dreams about, but many think the world’s best tracks are locked behind the gates ofprivate clubs. The truth is, many of America's most iconic and revered courses are open to the public, ready for you to walk the same fairways as the legends ofthe game. This guide will walk you through five of the country's top bucket-list courses you can actually book a tee time for, complete with a coach’s advice onhow to tackle their signature challenges.
There's perhaps no more famous meeting of land and sea in golf than Pebble Beach. Clinging to the dramatic cliffs of the Monterey Peninsula, this course isn'tjust a layout, it's a landmark. Walking down the fairways, you feel the weight of a century of golf history on your shoulders - from the triumphs of Jack Nicklausand Tiger Woods to the Bing Crosby Pro-Am's celebrity shenanigans. The price tag is steep, but the feeling of hitting a shot with the Pacific waves crashingbelow is an unforgettable reward.
The second shot on the par-4 8th is one of the most breathtaking and demanding in all of golf. After a blind tee shot over a cliff, you're left with a mid-to-shortiron approach over a massive chasm to a small, heavily-sloped green. Here’s how to give yourself the best chance:
If Pebble Beach is a dramatic spectacle, Pinehurst No. 2 is a subtle, strategic masterpiece. Located in the sandhills of North Carolina, it's oftenconsidered the St. Andrews of American golf. Donald Ross's genius is on full display here, not with overwhelming length or water hazards, but with thelegendary "turtleback" greens. There is no flat spot. Every green is a crowned surface that expertly repels any approach shot that isn't perfectly executed,sending it trickling down into a tightly mown collection area.
Playing No. 2 is an education in approach play and recovery. You will miss greens, how you handle those misses determines your score.
Home of The Players Championship, the Pete Dye-designed Stadium Course in Ponte Vedra Beach is a test of precision and nerve. It’s "stadium golf" personified, with mounds and spectator areas built into the design, but the true character comes from Dye's diabolical architecture. No two holes are alike, and he forces you to make strategic decisions on every single shot with a mix of water hazards, massive waste bunkers, and undulating greens. And of course, there’s the 17th.
It's only about 137 yards from the back tee, but it has caused more sleepless nights for tour pros and amateurs than any other par-3 in the world. The tee shot ispurely psychological.
Another Pete Dye masterpiece, this one sculpted along two miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. It's an imitation of an ancient Irish links course, but on a grander, more punishing scale. With over 1,000 bunkers (many of which are not technically considered "hazards," meaning you can ground your club), relentless winds, and constant visual intimidation, the Straits Course is a beautiful beast. It has hosted three PGA Championships and a Ryder Cup, proving its mettle as one of golf's sternest tests.
Your mental game and course management are more important here than raw power. Success is about playing smart and avoiding the big number.
Opened in 1999, Bandon Dunes feels like it has been on the Oregon coast forever. This is not golf in a park, this is golf in nature. Mike Keiser's vision was to build a true, walkable, Caddie-only links golf experience, and he succeeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams. We're listing the resort as a whole because with six incredible courses (Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, Bandon Trails, Old Macdonald, Sheep Ranch, and the par-3 Preserve), it's a destination unlike any other. The designs prioritize fun and creative shot-making over punishing difficulty.
To score well at Bandon, you have to throw out your normal "target golf" mindset of flying the ball all the way to the hole. You have to use the ground.
Playing any of these fantastic US courses is an experience that stays with you long after the final putt drops. From the ocean spray at Pebble to the strategic puzzles at Pinehurst and Sawgrass, these tracks offer more than just a round of golf - they offer a connection to the history and soul of the game.
Navigating these world-class layouts often comes down to smarter on-course decisions and a solid game plan for each shot. That’s where tools like Caddie AI can make a huge difference. I give you instant, personalized strategies for any hole, help with club selection on tricky approaches, and even offer advice when you find yourself in a tough lie. It's like having an expert caddie in your pocket, taking the guesswork out so you can play with more confidence, especially when facing the round of a lifetime.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
