Eight states have more than half the top 200 resort golf courses

It’s no surprise: California and Florida have a lot of great golf. That fact is obvious in the new 2026 Golfweek’s Best ranking of the top 200 resort courses in the United States. California leads all states on that list with 20 courses, followed closely by Florida with 19. 

Two states are tied for third place. Think you could name them? For many golfers, one of those in particular might come as a surprise. (We’ll give you a couple paragraphs to think on it.)

With the release of the Golfweek's Best ranking of the top 200 resort golf courses in the U.S., we looked at each state to see which are really the hot spots for players on the move. Turns out, eight states have 10 or more courses on the resort list, and those eight make up more than half the total ranking with a combined 109 of the top 200 resort courses in the U.S. As with California and Florida, some of these states are to be expected to offer great public-access resort golf. Hawaii appears (12 ranked courses), as do Arizona (10) and South Carolina (10). But as mentioned, there are surprises. 

Tied for second with the most courses behind California and Florida are North Carolina and Michigan, each with 13 courses among the top 200. North Carolina would be obvious to most experienced golf travelers, with the Pinehurst region offering an incredible stretch of layouts. Michigan, however, might surprise some less-traveled players – how does a cold-winter state with a short golf season offer so many great courses? It’s all about sites, terrain and great designers. If you haven’t been to the Great Lakes State, you owe it to yourself to go and see. And in that spirit, plan to make plenty of stops in Wisconsin (12) as well. 

Each of the courses listed below is shown with its ranking among the top 200 resort courses in the United States. 

Arizona: 10 ranked resort courses

T78. We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro)

Average rating: 6.60

Location: Fort McDowell

T101. TPC Scottsdale (Stadium)

Average rating: 6.47

Location: Scottsdale

T113. Ak-Chin Southern Dunes

Average rating: 6.40

Location: Maricopa

T126. Golf Club at Dove Mountain (Saguaro/Tortolita)

Average rating: 6.28

Location: Marana

T140. We-Ko-Pa (Cholla)

Average rating: 6.22

Location: Fort McDowell

T144. Troon North (Monument)

Average rating: 6.21

Location: Scottsdale

T144. Ventana Canyon (Mountain)

Average rating: 6.21

Location: Tucson

T171. Whirlwind (Devil’s Claw)

Average rating: 6.10

Location: Chandler

T174. Troon North (Pinnacle)

Average rating: 6.09

Location: Scottsdale

T197. Gold Canyon Golf Resort (Dinosaur Mountain)

Average rating: 5.99

Location: Gold Canyon

South Carolina: 10 ranked resort courses

9. Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Ocean Course)

Average rating: 7.96

Location: Kiawah Island

23. Sea Pines Resort (Harbour Town Golf Links)

Average rating: 7.31

Location: Hilton Head Island

61. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club

Average rating: 6.68

Location: Pawleys Island

T62. Dunes Golf & Beach Club

Average rating: 6.67

Location: Myrtle Beach

100. True Blue

Average rating: 6.48

Location: Pawleys Island

T138. Sea Pines Resort (Atlantic Dunes)

Average rating: 6.23

Location: Hilton Head Island

T162. Sea Pines Resort (Heron Point)

Average rating: 6.14

Location: Hilton Head Island

T180. Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Osprey Point)

Average rating: 6.07

Location: Kiawah Island

T197. Grande Dunes Resort Club

Average rating: 5.99

Location: Myrtle Beach

T197. Legends Golf Resort (Moorland)

Average rating: 5.99

Location: Myrtle Beach

Hawaii: 12 ranked resort courses

T13. Four Seasons Resort Lanai (Manele)

Average rating: 7.65

Location: Lanai

22. Kapalua (Plantation)

Average rating: 7.36

Location: Maui

43. Princeville Makai

Average rating: 6.85

Location: Princeville

T52. Mauna Kea Resort (Mauna Kea)

Average rating: 6.74

Location: Kohala Coast

T58. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

Average rating: 6.69

Location: Kailua-Kona

72. Wailea (Gold)

Average rating: 6.65

Location: Maui

T88. Mauna Lani (North)

Average rating: 6.53

Location: Waimea

115. Wailea (Emerald)

Average rating: 6.39

Location: Maui

119. Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa (Poipu Bay)

Average rating: 6.37

Location: Koloa

122. Ocean Course at Hokuala

Average rating: 6.33

Location: Lihue

T132. Mauna Lani (South)

Average rating: 6.26

Location: Waimea

T166. Turtle Bay Resort (Arnold Palmer)

Average rating: 6.12

Location: Kahuku

Wisconsin: 12 ranked resort courses

4. Kohler Whistling Straits (Straits)

Average rating: 8.14

Location: Mosel

11. Sand Valley (Lido)

Average rating: 7.69

Location: Nekoosa

16. Sand Valley (Sand Valley)

Average rating: 7.51

Location: Nekoosa

18. Sand Valley (Mammoth Dunes)

Average rating: 7.49

Location: Nekoosa

T20. Erin Hills

Average rating: 7.37

Location: Erin

26. Sand Valley (Sedge Valley)

Average rating: 7.25

Location: Nekoosa

40. Kohler Blackwolf Run (River)

Average rating: 6.87

Location: Kohler

77. Kohler Whistling Straits (Irish)

Average rating: 6.61

Location: Mosel

T94. SentryWorld

Average rating: 6.51

Location: Stevens Point

T158. Kohler Blackwolf Run (Meadow Valleys)

Average rating: 6.16

Location: Kohler

T186. Destination Geneva National (Arnold Palmer)

Average rating: 6.05

Location: Lake Geneva

T192. Wilderness Resort (Wild Rock)

Average rating: 6.01

Location: Wisconsin Dells

Michigan: 13 ranked resort courses

T27. Arcadia Bluffs (Bluffs)

Average rating: 7.21

Location: Arcadia

36. Forest Dunes (The Loop Red & Black)

Average rating: 6.94

Location: Roscommon

T62. Arcadia Bluffs (South)

Average rating: 6.67

Location: Arcadia

T62. Forest Dunes (Forest Dunes)

Average rating: 6.67

Location: Roscommon

T84. Boyne Golf Bay Harbor (Links/Quarry)

Average rating: 6.56

Location: Bay Harbor

T107. Gull Lake View Resort (Stoatin Brae)

Average rating: 6.42

Location: Augusta

T128. Tullymore Golf Resort (Tullymore)

Average rating: 6.27

Location: Stanwood

T149. Boyne Golf The Highlands (Arthur Hills)

Average rating: 6.19

Location: Harbor Springs

T166. Hidden River Golf & Casting Club

Average rating: 6.12

Location: Brutus

T171. Pine Mountain Resort (Timber Stone)

Average rating: 6.10

Location: Iron Mountain

T174. Treetops (Signature)

Average rating: 6.09

Location: Gaylord

T177. Tullymore Golf Resort (St. Ives)

Average rating: 6.08

Location: Stanwood

T180. Treetops (Jones Masterpiece)

Average rating: 6.07

Location: Gaylord

North Carolina: 13 ranked resort courses

3. Pinehurst Resort (No. 2)

Average rating: 8.28

Location: Pinehurst

15. Pinehurst Resort (No. 10)

Average rating: 7.57

Location: Aberdeen

32. Pinehurst Resort (No. 4)

Average rating: 7.09

Location: Pinehurst

T41. Mid Pines

Average rating: 6.85

Location: Southern Pines

44. Pine Needles

Average rating: 6.83

Location: Southern Pines

45. High Hampton

Average rating: 6.81

Location: Cashiers

T52. Tobacco Road

Average rating: 6.74

Location: Sanford

86. Pinehurst Resort (No. 8)

Average rating: 6.55

Location: Pinehurst

104. Southern Pines Golf Club

Average rating: 6.46

Location: Southern Pines

T128. Bald Head Island Club

Average rating: 6.27

Location: Bald Head Island

T156. Waynesville Inn & Golf Club

Average rating: 6.17

Location: Waynesville

191. Talamore (Mid South)

Average rating: 6.04

Location: Southern Pines

T194. Pinehurst Resort (No. 7)

Average rating: 6.00

Location: Pinehurst

Florida: 19 ranked resort courses

12. TPC Sawgrass (Players Stadium)

Average rating: 7.66

Location: Ponte Vedra Beach

17. Streamsong (Red)

Average rating: 7.50

Location: Bowling Green

19. Streamsong (Blue)

Average rating: 7.38

Location: Bowling Green

T27. Streamsong (Black)

Average rating: 7.21

Location: Bowling Green

T46. Cabot Citrus Farms (Karoo)

Average rating: 6.80

Location: Brooksville

T67. Bay Hill Club and Lodge

Average rating: 6.66

Location: Orlando

T78. PGA National Resort (Champion)

Average rating: 6.60

Location: Palm Beach Gardens

97. Innisbrook (Copperhead)

Average rating: 6.50

Location: Palm Harbor

112. Cabot Citrus Farms (Roost)

Average rating: 6.41

Location: Brooksville

T116. Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa (Ocean)

Average rating: 6.38

Location: Palm Coast

120. Trump National Doral Miami (Blue Monster)

Average rating: 6.36

Location: Miami

T149. PGA Golf Club (Dye)

Average rating: 6.19

Location: Port St. Lucie

T152. Camp Creek

Average rating: 6.18

Location: Watersoundww

T156. Hammock Beach Resort & Spa (Conservatory)

Average rating: 6.17

Location: Palm Coast

T164. TPC Sawgrass (Dye’s Valley)

Average rating: 6.13

Location: Ponte Vedra Beach

T180. JW Marriott Marco Island (Hammock Bay)

Average rating: 6.07

Location: Naples

T186. Sandestin (Burnt Pine)

Average rating: 6.05

Location: Miramar Beach

T186. Omni Amelia Island Club (Oak Marsh)

Average rating: 6.05

Location: Amelia Island

T186. PGA Golf Club (Wanamaker)

Average rating: 6.05

Location: Port St. Lucie

California: 20 ranked resort courses

1. Pebble Beach Resorts (Pebble Beach Golf Links)

Average rating: 8.76

Location: Pebble Beach

10. Pebble Beach Resorts (Spyglass Hill)

Average rating: 7.72

Location: Pebble Beach

39. Cache Creek Casino Resort (Yocha Dehe)

Average rating: 6.88

Location: Brooks

48. Pebble Beach Resorts (Links at Spanish Bay)

Average rating: 6.79

Location: Pebble Beach

56. Omni La Costa Resort & Spa (North)

Average rating: 6.71

Location: Carlsbad

T62. Rams Hill

Average rating: 6.67

Location: Borrego Springs

T81. CordeValle

Average rating: 6.59

Location: San Martin

T98. PGA West (Stadium)

Average rating: 6.49

Location: La Quinta

121. The Quail

Average rating: 6.35

Location: Carmel

125. Pelican Hill (Ocean South)

Average rating: 6.30

Location: Newport Coast

T126. PGA West (Nicklaus Tournament)

Average rating: 6.28

Location: La Quinta

T134. Pelican Hill (Ocean North)

Average rating: 6.25

Location: Newport Coast

T140. Park Hyatt Aviara

Average rating: 6.22

Location: Carlsbad

T152. Fairmont Grand Del Mar (The Grand)

Average rating: 6.18

Location: San Diego

T152. Whitehawk Ranch

Average rating: 6.18

Location: Clio

T162. Desert Willow (Firecliff)

Average rating: 6.14

Location: Palm Desert

T174. Fantasy Springs (Eagle Falls)

Average rating: 6.09

Location: Indio

T194. Shadow Ridge

Average rating: 6.00

Location: Palm Desert

T197. Silverado Resort & Spa (North)

Average rating: 5.99

Location: Napa Valley

T197. Carmel Valley Ranch

Average rating: 5.99

Location: Carmel

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Eight states have more than half the top 200 resort golf courses