We’ve all seen lists ranking the best golf courses in the country. We’ve seen lists ranking the best public courses, too.
But let’s be honest here: many of us play at municipal courses that never come close to making any of these lists.
So we thought it would be cool to showcase the very best muni in every state.
To be clear, we are talking specifically about municipal courses owned and/or operated by the city/county/town rather than any random public golf course. The definition of muni can be hairy and debated but we’re looking for courses that tie back to their local communities in some official capacity.
These are the places that generally have reasonable rates, lengthy histories and local pride. They matter to golfers everywhere. They operate primarily as a service to the community rather than a profit-first entity. In some rare cases, they are championship-level courses that have hosted the game’s best.
The formula here is simple: the highest-rated muni according to a combination of rankings, public reviews, playability and history.
MGS reader feedback also informed several of the selections. I sent out a call for submissions in this week in our newsletter and we also gathered Twitter responses on Tuesday.
All green fees are based on approximate full-price 18-hole rates for a typical adult public golfer. We did our best here but these rates subject to change and can vary depending on different factors. Please check each course’s website (linked in the bio) for updated info.
The purpose of this story is to be a resource for weekend hackers everywhere. So if you don’t agree with the course chosen for your state, comment below with what course should replace our pick.
If there is a better course for any state, I will update the story accordingly. This is a living document!
Alabama
Highland Park Golf Course (Birmingham)
Green Fee: $59-$99
Highland Park in Birmingham is the oldest golf course in the state, opening as a nine-hole course in 1903 before Donald Ross redesigned and expanded it in 1929. After falling into disrepair in the late 20th Century, the city restored the course in the 1990s, preserving its Ross-inspired character while creating a premier municipal golf facility.
Alaska
Anchorage Golf Course (Anchorage)
Green Fee: $57-$84
Anchorage G.C. opened in 1987 and quickly became Alaska’s top municipal golf course, winding through birch and spruce forests with panoramic views of the Chugach Mountains. It has become one of the state’s top championship venues while offering golfers a uniquely Alaskan experience, complete with frequent wildlife sightings and extended summer daylight.
Arizona
Papago Golf Course (Phoenix)
Green Fee: $68-$86
Papago opened in 1963 on land leased from the City of Phoenix and was designed by William Francis Bell to take full advantage of the Sonoran Desert’s dramatic red sandstone buttes. It has hosted numerous amateur championships and now serves as the home course for the Arizona State men’s golf team. It underwent a major restoration by Forrest Richardson in 2008.
Arkansas
Burns Park Golf Course (North Little Rock)
Green Fee: $24-$28
Burns Park in North Little Rock has two 18-hole courses within the expansive Burns Park, one of the largest city parks in the United States. The Championship Course opened in 1958 and has become a beloved public layout known for its tree-lined fairways, mature landscape and traditional parkland design.
California
Torrey Pines South Course (San Diego)
Green Fee: $73-$90 (resident); $258-$322 (non-resident)
Torrey Pines South in San Diego is one of the most famous municipal golf courses in the world, perched above the Pacific Ocean on the cliffs of the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. Designed by William Bell in 1957 and later redesigned by Rees Jones, the course has hosted numerous PGA Tour events and the 2008 and 2021 U.S. Opens, cementing its place among America’s great championship venues.
Colorado
Patty Jewett Golf Course (Colorado Springs)
Green Fee: $48-$55
Patty Jewett is one of the oldest municipally owned golf courses west of the Mississippi, featuring two classic layouts with panoramic views of Pikes Peak. Owned and operated by the City of Colorado Springs since its opening in 1898, it remains a beloved community landmark that blends historic charm with accessible public golf.
Connecticut
Keney Park Golf Course (Hartford)
Green Fee: $39-$54
Keney Park is one of New England’s premier municipal golf courses, blending Golden Age architecture with a rich public golf tradition dating back to 1927. Designed by Devereux Emmet and later expanded by Robert “Jack” Ross, the Hartford-owned course underwent an acclaimed restoration in 2016 that returned its strategic bunkering, classic green complexes and historic character.
Delaware
Rock Manor Golf Course (Wilmington)
Green Fee: $49-$89
Rock Manor is Delaware’s premier municipal golf course. Opened in 1927, the course was transformed by architect Lester George in 2008 into a modern layout that takes full advantage of its strategic bunkering and natural elevation changes.
Florida
Winter Park Golf Course (Winter Park)
Green Fee: $20-$54
Winter Park is one of America’s most celebrated municipal golf courses, proving that great design and community golf can thrive on a compact footprint. Opened in 1914 and reimagined by Keith Rhebb and Riley Johns in 2016, the nine-hole layout features bold green contours and classic architecture that has earned national acclaim. Owned by the City of Winter Park, WP9 has become a modern model for walkable municipal golf.
Georgia
Augusta Municipal Golf Course (Augusta)
Green Fee: $25-$35 (resident); $85-$95 (non-resident)
Augusta Municipal, known as The Patch, is one of Georgia’s most historic municipal golf facilities, providing affordable public golf in the same city that hosts the Masters. Opened in 1926, the course recently underwent a renovation that honors its classic roots while adding improved playing conditions, practice facilities and community amenities. It’s become one of the standout municipal courses in the country.
Hawaii
Wailua Golf Course (Lihue)
Green Fee: $18-$23 (resident); $80-$100 (non-resident)
Wailua G.C. is one of Hawaii’s most historic municipal courses, offering a scenic and affordable public golf experience on the island of Kauai. Designed by Toyo Shirai and opened in 1961, the course sits along the eastern coastline with dramatic views of the Pacific Ocean, lush tropical vegetation and the island’s distinctive mountain backdrop.
Idaho
Quail Hollow Golf Course (Boise)
Green Fee: $50-$55
Quail Hollow is a popular municipal course known for its scenic setting, affordability and welcoming atmosphere for golfers of all skill levels. Designed by Robert Muir Graves and opened in 1997, the layout winds through rolling terrain with tree-lined fairways, water features and views of the Boise foothills.
Illinois
Jackson Park Golf Course (Chicago)
Green Fee: $33-$42
Jackson Park dates back to 1893 with connection to the city’s early park system and the growth of public golf in America. Located near Lake Michigan, the course has long served as an accessible community golf hub and is known for its classic parkland setting. It is currently undergoing a major restoration project.
Indiana
Pleasant Run Golf Course (Indianapolis)
Green Fee: $24-$45
Pleasant Run opened in 1923, serving generations of golfers as part of the city’s public golf tradition. Designed by Bill Diddel, one of Indiana’s most influential golf architects, the course features a classic parkland layout with mature trees and a strong Golden Age character.
Iowa
Waveland Golf Course (Des Moines)
Green Fee: $30-R48
Waveland G.C. offers a historic and affordable public golf experience in the heart of the city. Opened in 1901, it is one of the oldest municipal courses west of the Mississippi River and features a classic parkland layout shaped by the natural terrain along the Raccoon River.
Kansas
Sand Creek Station Golf Course (Newton)
Green Fee: Dynamic
Sand Creek Station is a highly acclaimed municipal golf course designed by Jeff Brauer, featuring links-inspired holes, native prairie grasses and strategic bunkering. Owned and operated by the City of Newton, the course offers a championship-caliber public golf experience while serving as one of the premier municipal facilities in the Midwest.
Kentucky
Seneca Golf Course (Louisville)
Green Fee: $14-$28
Seneca Golf Course opened 1962, becoming a centerpiece of the city’s public golf system. Located within the scenic Seneca Park, the course features a classic parkland layout with mature trees, rolling terrain and a welcoming design that has introduced generations of golfers to the game.
Louisiana
Audubon Park Golf Course (New Orleans)
Green Fee: $25-$70
Audubon Park offers an urban golf experience beneath centuries-old live oaks in the heart of historic Audubon Park. Opened in 1898, the course combines scenic beauty, accessibility and a rich connection to the city’s recreational heritage.
Maine
Riverside Golf Course (Portland)
Green Fee: $48-$53
Riverside Golf Course offers 27 holes of affordable public golf along the Fore River. Opened in 1931, the course has a classic parkland character with tree-lined fairways, varied terrain and a long history as a cornerstone of Portland’s golf community.
Maryland
Pine Ridge Golf Course (Baltimore)
Green Fee: $29-$75
Pine Ridge is known for its classic parkland layout and long-standing role in the city’s public golf system. Designed by Edmund Ault and opened in 1959, the course features tree-lined fairways and a traditional design that provides an enjoyable challenge for golfers of all levels.
Massachusetts
George Wright Golf Course (Boston)
Green Fee: $46-55 (resident); $61-$70 (non-resident)
George Wright is celebrated for its dramatic terrain, classic design and status as a public-golf masterpiece. Designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1938, the course was restored in the early 2000s and remains a shining example of how municipal golf can deliver a championship-quality experience to the public.
Michigan
Huron Meadows Metropark Golf Course (Brighton)
Green Fee: $16-$52
Huron Meadows Metropark Golf Course is a peaceful parkland experience through wetlands and woodlands. Operated by the Huron-Clinton Metroparks, the course is known for its natural beauty, thoughtful layout and commitment to providing high-quality, accessible golf for the community.
Minnesota
Chaska Town Course (Chaska)
Green Fee: $50-$86
Chaska Town Course was designed by Arthur Hills and offers a championship-quality layout with strategic bunkering and scenic prairie and wetland features. Owned and operated by the City of Chaska, the course has hosted numerous amateur championships and is recognized as one of the finest examples of municipal golf in the Midwest.
Mississippi
The Refuge Golf Course (Flowood)
Green Fee: $55-$75
The Refuge is a premier public golf facility known for its championship layout, natural beauty and challenging design through wetlands, woods and native landscapes. The course has become one of the state’s top municipal golf destinations, combining high-quality conditions with an environmentally focused setting.
Missouri
Swope Memorial Golf Course (Kansas City)
Green Fee: $39-$84
Swope Memorial combines a classic parkland setting with nearly a century of public golf tradition. A comprehensive renovation by Todd Clark and Chris Wilczynski recently restored the course’s strategic design, modernized its infrastructure and transformed Swope into one of the Midwest’s top municipal golf facilities.
Montana
Old Works Golf Course (Anaconda)
Green Fee: $45-51 (resident); $70-$125 (non-resident)
Old Works in Anaconda is one of America’s most distinctive municipal golf courses, designed by Jack Nicklaus on the reclaimed site of the historic Anaconda copper smelter. Owned by Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, the course is renowned for its striking black slag bunkers and its remarkable transformation of an industrial landscape into a public golf destination.
Nebraska
Highlands Golf Course (Lincoln)
Green Fee: $24-$50
Highlands Golf Course is known for its tree-lined fairways and championship-caliber layout. Owned and operated by the City of Lincoln, the course has become a cornerstone of Nebraska public golf by combining excellent conditions with an affordable and welcoming experience for golfers of all skill levels.
Nevada
Boulder Creek Golf Club (Boulder City)
Green Fee: $22-49 (resident); $60-$70 (non-resident)
Boulder Creek offers 27 holes of desert golf with dramatic mountain views and a unique Southwest setting. The course combines scenic beauty, excellent value and a strong commitment to public access, making it a standout example of municipal golf in Nevada.
New Hampshire
Derryfield Country Club (Manchester)
Green Fee: $27-$48
Derryfield C.C. in Manchester is the state’s premier municipal golf course, offering a classic New England layout with sweeping views of the city and surrounding hills. Owned and operated by the City of Manchester, the course has a long history of providing high-quality, accessible public golf while maintaining the character and traditions of a private club.
New Jersey
Hominy Hill Golf Course (Colts Neck)
Green Fee: $37-$57
Hominy Hill in Colts Neck is one of the finest public golf courses in the state, offering a championship-caliber layout designed by Robert Trent Jones. Owned by Monmouth County, the course features strategic bunkering and classic parkland design that has made it a cornerstone of New Jersey’s public golf system.
New Mexico
Arroyo del Oso Golf Course (Albuquerque)
Green Fee: $22-$34
Arroyo Del Oso is known for its mature tree-lined fairways, strategic layout and views of the Sandia Mountains. The course has been a cornerstone of New Mexico public golf for decades, combining championship-caliber play with affordable public access.
New York
Bethpage Black Course (Farmingdale)
Green Fee: $44-$80 (resident); $88-$160 (non-resident)
Bethpage Black is one of the world’s most celebrated public golf courses, renowned for its demanding A.W. Tillinghast design and championship pedigree. Bethpage has hosted multiple U.S. Opens, a PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup. It stands as the gold standard of publicly owned golf in America.
North Carolina
Mooresville Golf Club (Mooresville)
Green Fee: $31-$55
Mooresville G.C. is a historic municipal golf course known for its traditional layout, tree-lined fairways and strong connection to the local community. Owned and operated by the Town of Mooresville, the course provides an affordable and enjoyable public golf experience while preserving the character of classic small-town municipal golf.
North Dakota
Prairie West Golf Course (Mandan)
Green Fee: $37
Prairie West is known for its open prairie setting and scenic views of the surrounding landscape. The course provides an affordable golf experience while reflecting the character and natural beauty of western North Dakota.
Ohio
Manakiki Golf Course (Willoughby Hills)
Green Fee: $21-$51
Manakiki G.C. outside of Cleveland has a classic 1924 Donald Ross design with dramatic elevation changes, ravines and strategic green complexes. Operated by Cleveland Metroparks, Manakiki has been carefully preserved as a Golden Age gem, providing golfers with a historic championship experience in a beautiful parkland setting.
Oklahoma
Lincoln Park Golf Course (Oklahoma City)
Green Fee: $27-$33
Lincoln Park has two 18-hole courses that have hosted state championships and generations of public golfers. Owned and operated by the City of Oklahoma City, it remains one of the state’s most significant municipal golf destinations, combining championship tradition with affordable public access.
Oregon
Eastmoreland Golf Course (Portland)
Green Fee: $28-$59
Eastmoreland was designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1918, featuring a classic parkland layout with tree-lined fairways and strategic greens. Owned and operated by the City of Portland, the course is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most significant public golf facilities, preserving the character and traditions of Golden Age golf.
Pennsylvania
Cranberry Highlands Golf Course (Cranberry Township)
Green Fee: $55-$60 (resident); $70-$81 (non-resident)
Cranberry Highlands is a championship public golf course designed by Arthur Hills, featuring rolling fairways, strategic bunkering and immaculate conditioning across a former farmland landscape. Owned and operated by Cranberry Township, the course has become one of Pennsylvania’s best municipal golf destinations, combining tournament-quality design with outstanding public access.
Rhode Island
Triggs Memorial Golf Course (Providence)
Green Fee: $24-$65
Triggs Memoria was designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1932, featuring classic parkland architecture and a scenic setting within Roger Williams Park. Triggs has long been a centerpiece of Rhode Island public golf, preserving Ross’s strategic design.
South Carolina
Charleston Municipal Golf Course (Charleston)
Green Fee: $23-$50 (resident); $68-$90 (non-resident)
Charleston Municipal has served as a cornerstone of public golf in the Lowcountry for nearly a century. Known for its accessible layout, community importance and recent restoration efforts, the course represents Charleston’s commitment to preserving affordable and inclusive golf for future generations.
South Dakota
Prairie Green Golf Course (Sioux Falls)
Green Fee: $42-$72
Prairie Green Golf Club is a modern municipal golf course known for its rolling prairie terrain, challenging layout and scenic views across the landscape. Owned and operated by the City of Sioux Falls, the course provides a championship-style public golf experience that complements the city’s historic Elmwood Golf Course.
Tennessee
Harpeth Hills Golf Course (Nashville)
Green Fee: $21-$34
Harpeth Hills was designed by E. Lawrence Packard that features rolling hills, tree-lined fairways and a challenging layout shaped by the natural terrain of Percy Warner Park. Owned and operated by Metro Nashville Parks, the course has been a cornerstone of Nashville public golf since 1964.
Texas
Memorial Park Golf Course (Houston)
Green Fee: $21-$38 (resident); $90-$140 (non-resident)
Memorial Park is one of America’s standout municipal golf courses, featuring a Tom Doak redesign that transformed it into a championship venue for the PGA Tour’s Texas Children’s Houston Open. Owned and operated by the City of Houston, the course combines world-class architecture with affordable public access, demonstrating the highest standard of modern municipal golf.
Utah
Mountain Dell Golf Course (Salt Lake City)
Green Fee: $50
Mountain Dell in Parley’s Canyon is one of the state’s premier publicly owned golf facilities, featuring two championship layouts set amid the scenic Wasatch Mountains. Owned and operated by Salt Lake County, the Canyon and Lake courses offer a memorable mountain golf experience that combines championship-caliber design with exceptional public access.
Vermont
Green Mountain National Golf Course (Killington)
Green Fee: $60-$150
Green Mountain National is known for its stunning mountain setting, challenging layout and natural beauty throughout the Green Mountain landscape. Owned by the Town of Killington, the course offers a championship-quality public golf experience that blends strategic design, forested terrain and the character of Vermont’s rugged outdoors.
Virginia
Herndon Centennial Golf Course (Herndon)
Green Fee: $41-$58 (resident); $45-$64 (non-resident)
Herndon Centennial features a scenic 18-hole layout with tree-lined fairways and strategic challenges for golfers of all skill levels. The course has earned a reputation as one of Northern Virginia’s top public golf destinations while serving as a centerpiece of the local community.
Washington
Chambers Bay (University Place)
Green Fee: $109-$209 (resident); $149-$325 (non-resident)
Chambers Bay is a world-renowned public golf course built on a former gravel quarry along Puget Sound, featuring a dramatic links-style design by Robert Trent Jones Jr. The Pierce County-owned course gained international recognition by hosting the 2015 U.S. Open and stands as one of the best examples of championship-quality municipal golf in America.
West Virginia
Speidel Golf Club (Wheeling)
Green Fee: $31-$155
Speidel Golf Club is highlighted by the championship Jones Course, an Arnold Palmer design that winds through the rolling hills of the Ohio Valley. A part of a resort that is owned by the City of Wheeling, Speidel Golf Club has earned statewide acclaim for combining championship-caliber golf with broad public access in one of West Virginia’s premier park systems.
Wisconsin
Brown Deer Park Golf Course (Milwaukee)
Green Fee: $81
Brown Deer Park is renowned for its championship-caliber layout and its long tenure as host of the PGA Tour’s Greater Milwaukee Open. Owned and operated by Milwaukee County, the course blends classic parkland design with a rich competitive history, making it one of the Midwest’s premier public golf destinations.
Wyoming
Bell Nob Golf Course (Gillette)
Green Fee: $40
Bell Nob Golf Course blends rolling prairie terrain with dramatic views of the surrounding high plains, creating a fun and challenging layout for players of all abilities. Owned and operated by the City of Gillette, the course has become a cornerstone of the community by providing affordable, well-maintained public golf in northeastern Wyoming.
Didn’t see your favorite muni on the list? Comment down below with your pick!
