| 2025-2026 Ranking
These 10 courses missed out on our top 200 by decimal points
Some mainstays in our course rankings fell out of our ranking of America's Second 100 Greatest Courses for the first time
Brian Oar
The margins are insanely thin. Our most recent set of course rankings were based on nearly 88,000 evaluations submitted over our 10-year scoring cycle. Our panelists submit scores up to the fourth decimal point across six scoring categories, so the results are always painstakingly tight.
This year was perhaps the tightest our rankings have ever been. Grandfather Golf and Country Club in Linville, N.C., fell out of our ranking of America’s Second 100 Greatest Courses for the first time since we expanded the list to 200 courses in 2015. It missed by less than two hundredths of a decimal point. Dismal River’s Red Course, Tradition Golf Club in La Quinta, Calif., and Long Cove Club in Hilton Head all missed out by a tenth of a point or less.
With an influx of new courses being built and debuting in our top 200, it has pushed out some great courses. For now. The courses on the below list will contend for a coveted spot in our top 200 next time around—and they are still worthy of the spotlight.
After opening in 2009, Ballyhack made its first appearance on our top 200 in 2017 and held steady on the list through 2024 before falling off in this edition.
The new Black Desert Resort in southern Utah.
Brian Oar
Black Desert Resort will host a new PGA Tour event in Fall 2024.
Brian Oar
Another public course making an impressive debut is Black Desert (above), which is No. 35 on our ranking of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses.
Hanse's 18th hole has a number of strategic elements to navigate.
A massive bunker complex at the 15th hole guards the green.
The East course's 13th hole looks like it always sat naturally within these live oaks and mesquite trees.
The greensite at the 10th hole is carved into the property's natural features.
The rugged eight green complex at the East.
This is the first cycle that the Gil Hansedesigned East course has been eligible. Though it finished just outside the top 200 in our overall ranking, the 2027 and 2034 PGA Championship host debuts at No. 34 on our 100 Greatest Public list.
Patrick Koenig
Patrick Koenig
Roger Ferris + Partners
Patrick Koenig
Patrick Koenig
Patrick Koenig
One of the newest clubs in the Hamptons, The Bridge nearly broke into our top 200 for the first time last cycle, finishing at No. 202. Will 2027 be its year?
Courtesy of Nicklaus Design
After cracking our top 200 for the first time in 2023-’24, Jack Nicklaus’ South Florida club took a step back, though it remains on the cusp of a return.
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Rob Kaufman / Kaufman Photography
Joann Dost
This iconic Pete Dye design dropped out of our top 200 for the first time since we expanded our ranking beyond the top 100. Long Cove made our top 100 from its debut in 1983 until 2010.
Channing Benjamin
Known for fields of perfectly manicured wildflowers adorning the playing surrounds—a nod to Arnold Palmer’s wife, Winnie—Tradition fell out of the top 200 for the first time since 2019 by less than a tenth of a decimal point.
LC Lambrecht
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Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
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Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
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Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
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Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
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Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
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Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
The highest-ranked course at this 36 hole facility, the Tom Doak-designed Red course had been listed inside our top 200 since it debuted in 2017.
Gary Lawson/Courtesy of the club
Mike Klemme Photography/courtesy of Karsten Creek
Gary Lawson/Courtesy of the club
Gary Lawson/Courtesy of the club
Gary Lawson/Courtesy of the club
The home of Oklahoma State’s golf program just finished a major renovation by architect Andrew Green, so it will be interesting to see if the brawny Tom Fazio design returns to our top 200 soon.
Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of Laurence Lambrecht
Courtesy of Laurence Lambrecht
Courtesy of Brian Gomsak
Courtesy of Laurence Lambrecht
Courtesy of Laurence Lambrecht
One of the country’s great mountain designs fell out of our top 200 for the first time by less than two hundredths of a decimal point.