When it comes to golf, finding a good deal is always a win. In a time where the game is more popular than ever and inflation is high, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to find affordable options. With this in mind, GOLF’s course raters and editors set out to compile a list of 18-hole golf courses in the United States that provide exceptional value for the price. To make the cut, the courses had to be accessible to the public, offer a recommended golfing experience, and have peak-season weekend walking rates below $100.
For the list, the focus was on the country’s best affordable golf courses by region, dividing them into categories like Southeast, Northeast, Heartland, and West. The criteria for selection included recommendations from industry experts, course raters, editors, and the golf-loving audience. The Heartland region stood out for its quantity of affordable courses, benefiting from more land and fewer residents resulting in lower fees.
Despite the challenges, some major metropolitan areas like Boston, Denver, and New York City still featured low-cost gems like George Wright, CommonGround, and Bethpage State Park with fees below $100. The list also showcased courses designed by legendary architects like A.W. Tillinghast, Donald Ross, Pete Dye, and Jack Nicklaus, adding significant star power to the selection. Former major championship sites like Cedar Crest and Tanglewood were included as well.
Municipalities play a significant role in providing exceptional public golf courses with about 40% of the selected courses being owned by cities. Examples like Cleveland’s Sleepy Hollow and Manikiki, along with Alabama’s RTJ Trail and Highland Park in Birmingham, were recognized for their commitment to maintaining affordable and high-quality public golf courses. The hope is that more municipalities will follow suit and invest in promoting the use of outdoor spaces, including restoring legendary Golden Age designs.
The creation of this list aims to encourage courses to stay value-minded and continue to provide affordable golfing experiences. Feedback from the audience is welcome to discover more worthy candidates and grow the compilation over time. The goal is to incentivize courses to prioritize value and affordability while still providing exceptional golfing experiences. Visit the Course Finder tool to discover affordable golf courses near you and enjoy a great round without breaking the bank.
