The 20 Best Golf Resorts

Bandon Dunes, the coastal Oregon golf destination Keiser opened in 1999, is the new No. 1 in Golf Digest's ranking of the 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America.*All room rates are base prices for high season; NR (not ranked in 2009)

Bandon (Ore.) Dunes Golf Resort

(ranked No. 3 in 2009) SCORE: 89.81 CONTACT: bandondunesgolf.com, 888-345-6008 ROOM RATE:* $250 NEW + NOTABLE: Old Macdonald, the resort's fourth course, is getting raves. A fifth course, made up of 13 par 3s, is set to open next June ... and yet another course is being planned. More on this resort

Stephen Szurlej

Pebble Beach Resort/Inn at Spanish Bay

(ranked No.1 in 2009) SCORE: 87.76 CONTACT: pebblebeach.com, 800-654-9300 ROOM RATE: $615 NEW + NOTABLE: The views, the history, the excellence: They're the reasons the USGA has, on more than one occasion, cut into the traditional 10-year gap for Pebble to host the U.S. Open. More on this resort

Stephen Szurlej

The American Club

(ranked No. 6 in 2009) Kohler, Wis. SCORE: 87.47 CONTACT: americanclubresort.com, 800-344-2838 ROOM RATE: $410 NEW + NOTABLE: The resort will have included two PGAs, a Ryder Cup and a U.S. Women's Open from 2010-'20. When you play Whistling Straits, make sure you know if you're in a bunker. More on this resort

Stephen Szurlej

Sea Island (Ga.) Resorts, THE CLOISTER & THE LODGE

(ranked No. 2 in 2009) SCORE: 87.38 CONTACT: seaisland.com, 866-879-6238 ROOM RATE: $525 NEW + NOTABLE: The learning center at this 54-hole resort has a who's who of teaching greats: Jack Lumpkin, Gale Peterson, Todd Anderson, Mike Shannon, Jared Zak.

Stephen Szurlej

The Greenbrier

(ranked No. 8 in 2009) White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. SCORE: 85.88 CONTACT: greenbrier.com, 800-453-4858 ROOM RATE: $359 NEW + NOTABLE: Starting next summer, a 240- passenger train will begin serving guests from Union Station in Washington, D.C. The five-hour, nonstop ride will include an open-air car.

Courtesy of The Greenbrier

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka'upUlehu

(ranked No. 4 in 2009) The Big Island, Hawaii SCORE: 85.29 CONTACT fourseasons.com/hualalai, 808-325-8000 ROOM RATE: $625 NEW + NOTABLE: Many tee boxes on this Jack Nicklaus design are surrounded by black lava, providing a unique perspective against the clear, blue ocean. Up for 36? The second 18 is included.

Courtesy of Four Season Resort Hualalai

Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua

(ranked No. 15 in 2009) Maui, Hawaii SCORE: 84.56 CONTACT: ritzcarlton.com, 808-669-6200 ROOM RATE: $519 NEW + NOTABLE: The Plantation Course is $50 cheaper if you stay at the resort. Can you hit the 663-yard 18th in two like Bubba Watson did at a 2011 PGA Tour event? Only one way to find out.

Donald Miralle

One & Only Ocean Club/Atlantis

(ranked No. 27 in 2009) Paradise Island, Bahamas SCORE: 84.14 CONTACT: oceanclub.oneandonlyresorts.com, 888-528-7157 ROOM RATE: $890 NEW + NOTABLE: The course is cartpaths-only year-round, so the fairways don't show even the slightest hint of tire tracks. Left-handers, don't fret, Callaway rental clubs are available.

Courtesy of One & Only Ocean Club/Atlantis

Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita

(NR*) Nayarit, Mexico SCORE: 84 CONTACT: fourseasons.com/puntamita, +52 329-291-6000 ROOM RATE: $670 NEW + NOTABLE: Pacifico Golf Course has two par-3 third holes. One version has an island green on lava rock. At high tide, a special vehicle transports you to the putting surface.

Stephen Szurlej

Sandy Lane

(NR*) Barbados SCORE: 83.81 CONTACT: sandylane.com, 246-444-2000 ROOM RATE: $1,445 NEW + NOTABLE: If you're going to be playing a lot of golf, the seven-, 14- or 21-day golf passes make it almost like joining a private club for the time of your stay.

Courtesy of Sandy Lane

The Broadmoor

(ranked No. 12 in 2009) Colorado Springs SCORE: 83.45 CONTACT: broadmoor.com, 866-837-9520 ROOM RATE: $360 NEW + NOTABLE: These tricky greens will test the very best. At the 2011 U.S. Women's Open, U.S. Women's Amateur champ Danielle Kang had 17 three-putts and a four-putt.

Courtesy of The Broadmoor

T-12. One & Only Palmilla

(ranked No. 11 in 2009) Los Cabos, Mexico SCORE: 83.41 CONTACT: palmilla.oneandonlyresorts .com, 866-829-2977 ROOM RATE: $725 NEW + NOTABLE: Its 27 holes weave in and around cacti and overlook stretches of ocean. The Classic Golf package includes transportation to and from the airport in a Hummer.

Stephen Szurlej

T-12. Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort

(ranked No. 10 in 2009) SCORE: 83.41 CONTACT: pinehurst.com, 800-487-4653 ROOM RATE: $340 NEW + NOTABLE: Famed No. 2 reopened in March after a restoration made it look like it did in Donald Ross' day. Resort guests receive drastic discounts on its eight courses.

Stephen Szurlej

T-14. Four Seasons Resort Lana'i (Hawaii), The Lodge at Koele

(ranked No. 30 in 2009) SCORE: 83.33 CONTACT: fourseasons.com/koele, 808-565-2000 ROOM RATE: $345 NEW + NOTABLE: The course is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, giving the superintendent an extra day to keep the fairways in pristine condition. The 17th tee faces a 200-foot drop, ensuring a big drive.

Courtesy of Four Seasons Resorts Lanai

T-14. The Inn at Palmetto Bluff

(NR*) Bluffton, S.C. SCORE: 83.33 CONTACT: https://www.palmettobluff.com/, 866-706-6565 ROOM RATE: $575 NEW + NOTABLE: Play golf as it was meant to be: on foot. Caddies will help you navigate the May River Golf Club's beautiful-yet-penal oak trees and white-sand bunkers.

Courtesy of Palmetto Bluff

Fox Harb'r Golf Resort & SPA

(NR*) Wallace, Nova Scotia SCORE: 83 CONTACT: foxharbr.com, 866-257-1801 ROOM RATE: $350 NEW + NOTABLE: A new golf academy lets guests customize the lesson plan. The championship course's entire back nine has water views, with Nos. 14-18 set along the Northumberland Strait.

Courtesy of Fox Harb'r Golf Resort & Spa

Kiawah Island (S.C.) GOLF Resort

(ranked No. 7 in 2009) SCORE: 82.56 CONTACT: kiawahresort.com, 800-576-1570 ROOM RATE: $405 NEW + NOTABLE: Next year's PGA Championship will be at the Ocean Course, No. 1 on Golf Digest's ranking of America's 50 Toughest. If you want to break 90, try some of the resort's other 72 holes.

Jensen Larson

Four Seasons Resort Lanai (Hawaii) at Manele Bay

(ranked T-13 in 2009) SCORE: 82.11 CONTACT: fourseasons.com/manelebay, 808-565-2000 ROOM RATE: $325 NEW + NOTABLE: Three holes of the aptly named Challenge at Manele are laid out along cliffs. That big splash below might be from your golf ball or from whales migrating there in the winter.

Courtesy of Four Seasons Resorts Lanai

Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch

(NR*) Beaver Creek, Colo. SCORE: 82.08 CONTACT: ritzcarlton.com, 970-748-6200 ROOM RATE: $199 NEW + NOTABLE: Stay at this outdoorsy resort and you'll have access to the Red Sky Golf Club courses designed by Greg Norman and Tom Fazio.

Courtesy of Red Sky Golf Club

St. Regis Princeville (Hawaii) Resort

(NR*) SCORE: 82 CONTACT: stregisprinceville.com, 808-826-9644 ROOM RATE: $375 NEW + NOTABLE: The Makai course reopened in 2010 after a makeover, and the Prince reopens this fall. New, luxurious Crown suites complete the package.

Walter Iooss Jr.