As a PGA Tour professional, I’ve been lucky enough to tee it up on some of the most iconic golf courses in the world. But when it comes to public access golf—courses you and your buddies can book and play—America delivers in spades. Whether you’re grinding it out on tour or just a weekend warrior chasing daylight, these tracks are bucket list experiences, every last one of them.

Here’s my personal walk-through of Golf Digest’s Top 10 Public Golf Courses in the U.S. for 2024. I’ve played them all. Some have tested me, some have humbled me, and a few have flat-out stolen my heart.

1. Pebble Beach Golf Links – Pebble Beach, CA

Pebble Beach isn’t just a golf course. It’s the experience. I don’t care how many PGA Tour stops or U.S. Opens you’ve watched from your couch—the moment you step onto the first tee with the Pacific crashing beside you, it’s different. The stretch from 6 through 8? That’s golf’s version of Amen Corner. And let me tell you, that tee shot on 8 over the cove? You better have the guts (and the wind) dialed in. Pebble tests every part of your game—and rewards every golfer who respects her.

2. Pacific Dunes – Bandon, OR

Tom Doak’s masterpiece at Bandon Dunes Resort. Pacific Dunes feels raw and wild, like golf was meant to be played. The routing is unconventional—four par 3s on the back nine—but it works. The course almost shapes your shots for you if you let it. It’s not a course you overpower. It’s one you dance with. The wind off the ocean can be brutal, but that’s half the fun. My advice? Embrace the ground game. A low spinner beats a high floater out here every time.

3. The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island Golf Resort – Kiawah Island, SC

If you want to feel like you’re playing a major championship, Kiawah’s Ocean Course is your spot. Pete Dye designed this place to mess with your head. Raised fairways, exposure to constant wind, and greens that refuse to give you a break. When Phil Mickelson won the PGA Championship here in 2021, he made it look easier than it is. Trust me—it isn’t. Every shot demands your full attention. If you like a grind, this is heaven.

4. Whistling Straits: Straits Course – Sheboygan, WI

This one’s like Ireland and Lake Michigan had a baby. Pete Dye carved an absolute beast out of an old army base. Over 1,000 bunkers—most of them seem to be right where you don’t want to hit it. There’s no faking it here. If you want to score, you better shape shots into those winds, and you better have touch around the greens. Hosting the Ryder Cup in 2021 only cemented this place as one of the greatest tests of golf anywhere.

5. Shadow Creek – North Las Vegas, NV

This one’s an outlier—a man-made oasis in the desert. Shadow Creek is like stepping into another world. Tom Fazio had an unlimited budget, and he used every penny of it. It’s pure fantasy golf: lush fairways, waterfalls, and elevation changes you don’t expect in the Vegas desert. It’s a private vibe with public access, and it’ll cost you, but if you can swing it? Worth every dime. Just make sure you bring your A-game and maybe a little luck from the blackjack tables.

6. Pinehurst No. 2 – Pinehurst, NC

Donald Ross’ crown jewel. I’ve played U.S. Opens here and walked away with more respect for Pinehurst No. 2 every time. It doesn’t beat you with length; it beats you with precision. The turtleback greens? They’ll send a perfectly good wedge shot 30 yards off the surface if you’re not dialed in. But that’s the beauty of it. It’s a strategic, patient player’s dream. If you love pure golf, Pinehurst No. 2 is church.

7. Bethpage Black – Farmingdale, NY

“WARNING: The Black Course is an extremely difficult course which we recommend only for highly skilled golfers.” Yeah, they mean it. Bethpage Black is tough, no matter your handicap. It’s long, it’s demanding, and the rough? It’s New York rough. Thick. Gnarly. Brutal. But that’s what makes it great. It’s hosted U.S. Opens and PGA Championships, and it never disappoints. There’s nothing like the feeling of grinding out a par on this beast—and knowing you earned it.

8. TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

This one’s in my backyard (literally), and I’ve played it more times than I can count. But it never gets old. The Stadium Course is the ultimate risk-reward layout. Pete Dye’s masterpiece forces you to think on every shot. And yes, the island green at 17 is every bit as nerve-wracking in person as it looks on TV. I’ve seen seasoned pros dunk it, and I’ve seen 20-handicappers stick it to 10 feet. It’s golf’s biggest adrenaline shot.

9. Bandon Dunes – Bandon, OR

The original at Bandon. This is where Mike Keiser’s dream of true links golf in America started—and it still delivers. David McLay Kidd’s routing uses the land beautifully. It’s a walkable, authentic links experience that rewards imagination and shot-making over power. Play it in the morning, when the fog’s rolling in off the Pacific. There’s nothing like it.

10. Mammoth Dunes – Nekoosa, WI

David McLay Kidd again, this time at Sand Valley Resort. Mammoth Dunes is wide, bold, and fun as hell. Big fairways, massive greens, and a course design that makes you feel like a hero. You can swing away out here and not fear the miss. It’s a welcome change of pace and an absolute blast to play. If you’re looking for a course that brings the fun factor, this is it.

These aren’t just golf courses—they’re experiences. Each one teaches you something different about the game and yourself. If you’re serious about golf, you owe it to yourself to play them. Whether you’re making a once-in-a-lifetime trip or just adding to the list, these top 10 public tracks are where legends are made—and memories, too.

See you out there.