Top 10 US Golf Destinations
I (shamefully) admit, when it comes to planning a vacation, I typically plan around where and when I can play the
most golf. Yes its true, I am one of those obsessive golfers whose idea of a perfect, relaxing trip is hitting the links as often as possible. One thing I always check out prior to scheduling a tee time is: check the various ratings of the course, both by professionals and by the folks who have played there before.
Knowing A Course’s Rating Is Beneficial
Rating golf courses can be done based on various factors such as proximity to vacations sites, professional rankings of courses difficulty or ease, popularity, or even the quality of golf weather. You can even rate a golf course on how well courses are groomed and how easy they are to get around either on foot or in a golf cart. In this article, I’ve provided you with the Top 10 US Golf destinations based on professional tournament popularity.
Why is it important to know a prospective course’s rating? The reasoning for this is simple. Avid golfers would rather compete on a competitive, yet playable course. Some courses are laid out better than others.
Certain courses are played more than others: some for their particular beauty, others because of the extreme challenges they provide, while others are popular because of the famous developers who created them, like the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia built by Bobby Jones.
The Best U.S. Golf Destinations From Best To Last:
1. Pebble Beach: This storied course is located so close to the ocean that the cliffs alone create a dangerous water hazard. Pebble beach has been used in PGA tournaments for more than 80 years. A public course means fans of the game can play the course they’ve watched their idols play.
2. Augusta National Golf Club: Founded by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts in 1933, this revered Georgia 
course is ensconced by beauty and charm that can only be found in the South.
3. Torrey Pines: It is at this now famous course that Tiger Woods competed despite a terrible knee injury. The breath taking views and challenging holes only added spice to the tension that year. This course is known for its pleasant temperatures, perfect for a round of golf virtually any day of the year.
4. Pinehurst: This course is famous for its rough and ready terrain that adds difficulty and challenges to the game. The location is perfect for golf due to the comfortable year-round tropical weather. It’s widely considered one of the best courses in the Carolinas. That’s quite an honor when considering how many famous courses are found North and South Carolina.
5. Hilton Head Golf Resort: Even the name of this South Carolina course is famous to people who have only a cursory understanding of golf. The Heritage Golf tournament is played at the Harbor Town Golf Links. Players compete for the famed tartan plaid jacket.
6. Myrtle Beach: Hosts PGA Tour Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship and is often referred to as
“The Mother of All Golf Tournaments.” Amateur players get this one big stage to play and feel like the pros. They play for a $500k purse and the title of World Champion of Amateur Golf. Not too shabby a payday for an amateur.
7. Tournament Players Course: This course is one of the two used in Dallas, Texas to host the Byron Nelson Championship, which the first PGA tournament named for a player. The course is lush and green and just perfect for a round of golf in the spring.
8. TPC at Summerlin: Formerly known as The Las Vegas Invitational, this championship course, designed by Bobby Weed, is member of the Tournament Players Club Network operated by the PGA. It also the venue for the tour’s charitable Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open
9. Bay Hill Golf Club & Lodge: Previously known as the Bay Hill Invitational, it hosts the Arnold Palmer 
Invitational. It was here, earlier in 2012, that Tiger Woods finally climbed out of his slump and won a tournament after his much publicized divorce scandal two years ago.
10. Medinah Country Club: Located in Illinois, this historically-rich course has hosted 13 Professional Golf Tournaments, including five majors. Most recently, it was host to the 2012 Ryder’s Cup, where the American team enjoyed a tremendous lead, only to fall apart and eventually lose to Europe.
I hope this list of the top 10 US golf courses for you to play is informative and inspires you to check out one or all of the courses listed above.
