Can you really put a price on golf? Well, if the course is one like Shadow Creek, where that price is $500 a person (limo ride included), then the answer is a resounding yes. But don’t worry, if you’re just shy of $500, you can play Pebble Beach for about $15 less. Better yet, you can take our quick course on the best public courses with reasonable green fees.
Mirimichi Golf Course in Memphis, TN ($30-55)
Looking for a peaceful place to play golf? “Mirimichi”, a Native American word, translates to “place of happy retreat”. Its Championship course has over 7,500 yards of championship-level golf with native grassland, waterfalls, and creeks. Cart rental and driving range warm-up with balls included.
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Wild Horse Golf Club in Gothenburg, NE ($46-66)
Hold your horses! Famous for its high winds, fast greens, and “wooga” (the native grass used as its second cut), Wild Horse is located just northwest of Gothenburg—the Pony Express capital of Nebraska. Golf.com rated it #1 on “50 Great Courses for Less Than $50”, and it’s on Golfweek’s list of best modern courses.
Image Source: http://golfweek.com/news/2010/aug/16/unique-look-golf-nebraska/
Salish Cliffs Golf Club in Shelton, WA ($50-55)
Close to Olympia and Seattle, and designed by Gene Bates, the challenging, par-72 layout of Salish Cliffs offers world-class golf and breathtaking Pacific Northwest vistas. It hosted the Pacific Northwest PGA Championship just last year. In addition, Golf Digest recently ranked it as one of the best courses in the state.
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Tobacco Road Golf in Sanford, NC ($54-64)
Down the road, you’ll be remembering the pristine greens of Tobacco Road with a smile, not kicking yourself because you’re still paying it off. Designed by Mike Strantz, one of the greatest golf architects of all time according to Golfweek, Golf Course Architecture rated it #50 in the country. It’s also included in Golf Digest’s “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses”.
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Pacific Grove Golf Links in Pacific Grove, CA ($25-62)
A pretty course doesn’t have to cost a pretty penny. Designed by Chandler Egan, the front nine offers glimpses of Monterey Bay surrounded by Cypress trees. The Scottish links-style back nine overlooks Point Pinos, and was designed by Jack Neville— the original designer of Pebble Beach! Pacific Grove is also on the list of “50 Great Courses for Less Than $50”.
Image Source: http://www.examiner.com
Pinon Hills Golf Course in Farmington, NM ($21-47)
Located in northern New Mexico’s “land of enchantment”, and with rocky hills in the background, Pinon Hills is like a golf oasis in the middle of the desert, waiting to be discovered. Designed by Ken Dye, it’s #7 on Golfweek’s list of the best municipal golf courses, and has been consistently ranked in the top for over twenty years.
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Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Destin, FL ($50-79)
Named one of the best courses you can play by Golfweek for the last three years, this destination resort is located between the Gulf of Mexico and Choctawhatchee Bay. Three of its courses are open to the public: the Links, Baytowne, and Raven. For three years, Emerald Coast Magazine also named it the “Best Resort on the Emerald Coast”.
Image Source: http://www.floridagolf.com
Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, NY ($26-130)
Ever thought about heading to the state park for a round? Well, Bethpage features five courses: Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Black—and the Black is #6 on our bucket list! It hosted two U.S. Opens (the first public course to do so!) and The Barclays. It’s top-ranked by Golf Digest, and the Black course is, of course, one of the top ten “World’s Most Beautiful Courses” by PGA.
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Treetops Resort and Spa in Gaylord, MI (#35-55)
Finally, with skiing, spas, and five excellent courses, it’s hard to top Treetops. The legendary Robert Trent Jones designed the Masterpiece course, while the Premier is the only course in Michigan designed by Tom Fazio. The Signature, Tradition, and Threetops—the #1 par-3 course in America—are all by Rick Smith.
Image Source: http://treetops.com
Save your piggy bank for your Pebble Beach fund. There are courses across America that feel like a million bucks without costing more than your golf shoes. What could be better? Not having to empty your pockets for your golf ball either, thanks to Lost Golf Balls.
