If we’re being honest with ourselves, we’ll probably never make it to the PGA Tour. It’s just a fact of life. However, just because you don’t get to play alongside the pros doesn’t mean you can’t tee it up where they do.
Some of the best courses in the world — and the very courses that the world’s best play on regularly — are open for public play. Here’s our list of the 11 best PGA Tour courses you could show up to this weekend and get a tee time.
Kapalua Golf, Plantation Course
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Make all of your friends jealous by teeing it up at what is routinely the most envy-inducing course the pros play all year. Kapalua’s Plantation Course plays host to the SBS Tournament of Champions first, the first PGA Tour event of the calendar year. It may not be a major venue, but the amazing destination is the sign of good things to come for many who are unable to get the clubs out because of winter weather. What’s more, only the best get to tee it up on Maui as you needed to win a PGA Tour event the previous season to even receive an invite. Greens fees can be had for as low as $199.
PGA West, TPC Stadium Course
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Right off the bat, we’re sending you to a difficult, pro-style golf course. PGA West returned to the three-course rotation of the CareerBuilder Classic earlier this year following a 19-year hiatus that was brought about because pros complained the track was too hard. Depending on the day of the week, greens fees at this Tour stop can be as low as $89.
TPC Deere Run
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From one of the toughest courses on Tour to one of the easiest. The home of the John Deere Classic routinely plays hosts to birdie-fests on the PGA Tour. Paul Goydos shot his 59 in Silvis, Illinois, and TPC Deere Run was also the scene of Jordan Spieth’s first Tour victory in 2013. The best part about this course? The price. You can play where the pros do for $69.
Innisbrook Resort, Copperhead Course
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The home of the “Snake Pit” hosts the Valspar Classic each year on Tour in the run-up to the first major championship of the year. It’s a testament to the course that it boasts such a strong field year over year and a champion’s list that includes Adam Scott and Jordan Spieth. While you have to be a guest of the resort to play the course, its greens fee starting at $89 can ease the burden.
PGA National, Champion Course
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Getting into some of the big hitters on the list, PGA National’s Champion Course sees one of the very best fields of the year tee it up at the Honda Classic each spring. Located relatively close to many Florida-based professionals’ homes, the Champion is a must-play for anyone in the area, if only to try and make it through “The Bear Trap” unscathed. You can play this course for less than two bills.
Harbour Town Golf Links
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Harbour Town is a Tour staple. Played yearly the week after the Masters, this Hilton Head Pete Dye design is routinely ranked among the players’ favorite courses on the schedule. Locking in a sponsorship with RBC means that the group’s solid stable of ambassadors will tee it up even after the year’s first major. Depending on the time of year and deals available, you could play Harbour Town for as little as $150.
TPC Sawgrass, Stadium Course
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One of the most iconic golf holes in the entire world is available for public play. The home of the PGA Tour’s crown jewel, the Players Championship is just a phone call away for anyone from Vijay Singh or Joe Hacker. The downside of playing such a famous and prestigious course is the price tag. The Stadium Course at Sawgrass will run you upwards of $250.
Bethpage State Park, Black Course
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The top three on this list are as high as they are because of their pedigree. Starting out with Bethpage Black, the pride of the New York metropolitan area, hosted the U.S. Open in 2002 and 2009, the FedEx Cup Playoffs’ The Barclays in 2012 and 2016 and the 2019 PGA Championship. The Black will also host the 2024 Ryder Cup. Greens fees start at $130 on weekdays and New York residents get an even better deal.
Torrey Pines, South Course
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The regular home of the Farmers Insurance Open is held in higher esteem simply for its major championship history. Torrey’s most famous day in the sun came in 2008, when Tiger Woods won the U.S. Open in dramatic fashion. However, it has become a starting point each spring for many of the game’s biggest stars. Torrey will also host the 2021 U.S. Open. Greens fees start at $183 for nonresidents.
Pebble Beach Golf Links
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Perhaps the best public course the United States has to offer, Pebble Beach gets routine play from the best players in the world, whether it be on the PGA Tour, the Champions Tour or as the host of a major championship. The winner’s list at Pebble is a who’s who of golfing royalty from Nicklaus to Watson to Woods. Pebble’s greens fee matches its reputation, running you upwards of $500 for a round.
The Old White TPC
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The Old White TPC located in White Sulpher Springs, West Virginia plays host to the Greenbrier Classic. It is part of the beautiful Greenbrier Resort where a few Tour pros like Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson own homes. Designed by Charles Blair Macdonald and opened for play in 1914, this unique gem was ravaged by a flood in 2016 forcing the cancellation of the tournament. It was restored by noted architect Kieth Foster and is fully open for play to the public. Just remember to bring your wallet. Peak season is north of $400 for 18 holes.
