Palm Beach Par 3
Everybody loves a hidden gem. Whether it’s a restaurant or bar or in this case, a golf course you really didn’t know much about before you played it.
But how do you really define a hidden gem? There are all sorts of surprisingly good golf courses hidden out in the middle of nowhere. But if they are so hard to get to, what’s the point unless for some reason you already had an obscure reason to be in the area.
What we’re really talking about are the courses you might have overlooked or didn’t know about that are in some areas that already have lots of golf courses or a famous resort nearby. All the courses on this list meet that criteria. We’ve also included different kinds of courses (Some of these aren’t championship length). And while many of the locals certainly know about them, if you’re visiting from another area, you might not be familiar.
Let’s take a look.
Winter Park (WP9) near Orlando, Fla.
Since its remarkable renovation in 2016, this has become one of our favorites for a number of reasons. First of all, since it’s just nine holes, it’s great for getting a quick round of golf at a quality course that will test all your skills. It’s inexpensive (less than $30), and it’s beautiful and peaceful. Set in wonderful neighborhood of Winter Park where the course borders a cemetery, churches and a railroad track that AmTrack travels on, the young architect duo of Riley Johns and Keith Rhebb transformed the former rundown and ordinary into remarkable with interesting greens and bunker complexes, and rolling fairways through the pines. Don’t let the yardage (2,480) fool you. This par-35 is a joy to play and certainly challenging.
Winter Park 9
Palm Beach (Florida) Par 3
One of the best short courses in the country, the Palm Beach Par 3 course is on one of the most expensive pieces of real estate in the country. Laid out between the Intercoastal Waterway and the beach on the Atlantic Ocean of southeast Florida, the views are magnificent, to say the least. And this paspalum course, designed by Raymond Floyd, is always in great condition. The holes along the beach are particularly breathtaking. You’ll also want to spend some time in the clubhouse, which has one of the best golf course restaurants in the country – Al Fresco, which draws golfers and nongolfers alike.
Palm Beach Par 3
Pacific Grove (Calif.) Golf Links
All the way on the other coast is what many call “The Poor Man’s Pebble Beach.” While it really doesn’t look like Pebble Beach Golf Links, it’s actually more linksy than the more famous U.S. Open site, at least when it comes to the back nine. The front nine, which has some quirky holes that wind through a neighborhood, serves as a warm-up to the main attraction – holes 11 and on, which play along the Pacific Ocean. This dunes layout actually feels a bit like Irish or Scottish links with the wind blowing off the sea, which encourages players to flight their ball accordingly. The back nine was designed by Jack Neville, who is largely responsible for Pebble Beach, so the comparison is natural. The back nine is also where you catch views of the famous Point Pinos Lighthouse. It’s truly a magical experience, and best of all, you can play it for a small fraction of what it costs to play Pebble.
Pacific Grove Golf Links
Goat Hill Park, Oceanside, Calif.
Originally opened in 1952 as nine-hole, par-36 Center City Golf Course, the course was redesigned as an 18-hole short course in the early 1990s and became affectionately known as “Goat Hill” by the locals. It has ocean views and breezes, and a genuine muni atmosphere, but it wasn’t until John Ashworth and the community got ahold of it a few years ago that something really special occurred there. Ashworth, who founded his own apparel company named after him, later sold it, and then got back into the golf lifestyle business with laid-back Linksoul, was the driving force behind the course’s resurrection. The 4,500-yard, par-65 course has small greens and lots of hills. It continues to improve each day and is truly a great example of what a community can do when it works together. In addition to the main course there’s also a three-hole kids course designed gratis by Gil Hanse, a disc course, and an overall great vibe where every age is welcome. There’s no strict dress code, and green fees that won’t compromise your ability to pay rent.
Goat Hill
Belvedere Golf Club, Charlevoix, Mich.
Locals sure know about Belvedere, and some pretty famous golfers over the years have made their mark here as well. But many who go to Northern Michigan to visit some of the more famous resorts there are skipping this jewel, and they shouldn’t. This 1923 Willie Watson parkland design, a par-72 that now plays just under 7,000 yards, got a meticulous restoration in 2017, and it’s never looked better. The holes of this longtime host of the Michigan Am are classic, and more challenging than they might first appear, given how tricky some of the greens can be. This semi-private course has been a longtime favorite of Hall of Famer Tom Watson, who is a member and returns occasionally to play it and relish, among other holes, the par-4 16th, which has one of the most baffling greens you’ll ever play. Gene Sarazen called it one of the best par-4s in America.
Belvedere Golf Club
The Highlands of Elgin (Ill.)
Another example of a community investing in its golf course, the city of Elgin outside of Chicago, brought in architect Keith Foster to basically replace the old Spartan Meadows Golf Course. He added nine holes that play around a 12-acre quarry lake, but more than that, the whole property has a bit of a links look with wide fairways, mounding, large greens, and creative bunkering that makes it a lot of fun to play. On the quarry side, several holes sit on top of a bluff, overlooking the water. In addition to the course, the clubhouse has a terrific restaurant, there’s a lighted driving range, short-game area, and 9,000-square-foot putting green.
The Highlands of Elgin
The Red Course at Bethpage, Farmingdale, N.Y.
Just about every golfer knows about Bethpage Black, the U.S. Open course with a sign that dissuades anyone who doesn’t bear a single digit handicap index. If you’re not open to the Black challenge, don’t want to pay the higher green fee, or simply couldn’t get a tee time on Black, you might want to consider the Red Course. It’s also designed by A.W. Tillinghast, has much of the same features, and isn’t the grind of the Black Course. In fact, you should play Red whether you play Black or not. It’s that good, which is why it’s often referred to as “Baby Black.” Make no mistake, however, Red is pretty tough, too, so you’ll want to play the proper tees (it can max out at 7,100 yards). It doesn’t have the long forced carries and relentless high fescue of Black, but the beauty and variety of holes are all there. Plus you’re at Bethpage, perhaps the greatest municipal facility in America.
Red Course at Bethpage
Gus Wortham Park, Houston
When it comes to municipal facilities in Houston, Memorial Park, home of the Houston Open on the PGA Tour, gets all the hype, and deservedly so after the Tom Doak renovation of a few years ago. But if you play public golf in Houston, or you’re visiting the Bayou City, Gus Wortham Park should be at the top of your list. First off, for non-Houston residents, it’s way cheaper to play – a little more than $50 including cart – and it’s always in superb shape, especially the greens. Gus Wortham, which at its current site just east of downtown was originally designed by Houston Country Club member A.W. Pollard, was renovated by Baxter Spann in 2017-’18. Unlike most courses on the upper Texas coast, there are actual hills at Gus Wortham, and the new greens complexes are raised with interesting bunkers and lots of tricky undulations. From the tips, it’s a little less than 7,000 yards, but there are some daunting shots and holes, including the dogleg right par-4 sixth, which runs above a Bayou tributary overlooking an historic cemetery. The par-4 finishing hole features an intimidating tee shot and tricky approach uphill to a shallow green where precision is mandatory.
Gus Wortham Park
Sultan’s Run, Jasper, Ind.
If you’ve ever been to French Lick Resort in southern Indiana, you probably know about the two incredible golf courses there that are close to the hotels. We’re talking about the Pete Dye Course and Donald Ross Course, both of which are exceedingly beautiful and challenging and have played host to some very high profile tournaments. But there’s a third (or fourth, depending how you look at it) course that most visitors don’t play or haven’t considered, but should. It’s Sultan’s Run, built on the meadows that the Supreme Sultan, a very famous horse and sire to other championship horses, once roamed. About 30 minutes from the main resort, the course was designed by Dye protege Tim Liddy. The 6,900-yard layout is stunning in its own right (and considerably cheaper to play than the Dye Course) with wonderful bunkering, contours, and incredible finish hole that has a waterfall behind the 18th green. It’s consistently ranked among the top public layouts in Indiana, but because of its location, often ignored by resort guests.
Sultan’s Run
Dobson Ranch Golf Club, Mesa, Ariz.
The golf course, while certainly enjoyable, won’t blow you away at Dobson Ranch. But the experience will. This is a model every public course should try to emulate, and that it comes from a municipal is even that more remarkable. It all starts upon check-in at the clubhouse, where staff will make you feel super welcome. The club’s Toptracer range, where you can see your shots on screen for instant analysis, is super cool. The carts have bluetooth speakers. And the 6,600-yard parkland course, designed by Red Lawrence, just keeps getting better and better under the direction of Paradigm Golf, which manages the place. Paradigm also ramped up the food and beverage service, and it’s open late like the driving range, which is very popular under the lights. Combined with a recent short-game area addition, it’s not only one of the best places to practice in the Phoenix area, but also the most fun. Plus, it’s not far from Pheonix’s Sky Harbor Airport.
Dobson Ranch Golf Club