It's true that the first city that comes to mind for golfing in NC is probably Pinehurst and not usually cool, green Asheville with its coffee shops, art galleries and walking hipsters.
Every golfer has heard of Pebble Beach and Augusta, but the vast majority of the more than 28 million Americans who play golf regularly spend their weekends on the public and private courses in small towns and cities all over the country. What many of them don’t know is that local courses can often be best-kept secrets and hidden gems.
Livability.com has searched 200 of the most livable cities in America to find the top ten best lesser-known cities for golfers. Here are the best cities and towns for golfers who want to get off the beaten path. And with criteria spanning quality of life and cost of living, to the number of public or private course, to the number of courses offering tournament or year-round play, these aren’t just some of the best cities for golf—they’re great communities for everyone. For in-depth info about these great golf cities, just click on the city names below. Fore!
10. Tyler, Texas
With a warm East Texas climate, an array of private clubs and upscale residential communities built around challenging courses, Tyler has earned a reputation as a golfer’s paradise. The Cascades, a 500-acre golf and residential community on Lake Bellwood, features one of only three Jack Nicklaus golf academies in the country and is home to the Texas State Open, one the biggest non-PGA tournaments in America. There are many more great courses throughout the area as well, including the highly regarded Hollytree Country Club and Willow Brook Country Club, the public—and some say best kept secret of local golfers—Pine Springs Golf Course, and the lavish Eagle’s Bluff on Lake Palestine, named by Golf Week magazine as course of distinction and one of America’s best residential courses.
Browse this full interactive map of golf courses in and around Tyler and get your clubs ready.
9. Asheville, NC
In the heart of the Blue Ridge mountains, Asheville offers some breathtaking golfing. The Grove Park Inn’s golf course opened in 1899 at the base of Sunset Mountain and was redesigned in 1924 by renowned Scottish architect Donald Ross, who also designed the nearby Buncombe County Municipal Golf Course in 1927. Asheville is also home to the Crowne Plaza Resort, the Country Club of Asheville and the Black Mountain Golf Club. Other great courses in the area include the Reems Creek Golf Club in Weaverville, Broadmoor Golf Links in Fletcher, the Maggie Valley Resort and the Waynesville Country Club in Haywood County, and Crooked Creek in Henderson County, all within an hour of this hip and friendly North Carolina gem.
For a full interactive map of golf courses in and around Asheville, click here.
8. Stillwater, OK
Opened in 1994, Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater regularly appears on lists of the best courses in the country and was named Best New Course by Golf Digest magazine. In addition to Karsten Creek, the vibrant college town between Oklahoma City and Tulsa also offers golfers the Stillwater Country Club and the Lakeside Golf Course, both 18-hole courses with a par of 71 and 70, respectively, as well as the Links at Stillwater, a gorgeous and sprawling public course designed by Lindy Lindsey.
For a full interactive map of golf courses in and around Stillwater, click here.
7. Prattville, AL
About 16 miles northwest of Montgomery, Prattville has a population of 100,000 and a love of golf that received global recognition when The Golf Channel beamed the prestigious 2008 Navistar LPGA Classic held here live to a worldwide audience in 2008 and 2009. Both years, the LPGA Classics were held at The Senator, one of three courses at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Capitol Hill. The Capitol Hill complex actually has three 18-hole championship courses—The Senator, The Legislator and The Judge, with The Senator featuring a European links-style layout complete with 150 pothole bunkers. Capitol Hill is one of 11 specific golf venues throughout Alabama that are part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, which has made the state—particularly Prattville—a convenient and affordable golfing destination.
For a full interactive map of golf courses in and around Prattville, click here.
6. Woodland, WA
With mild seasons and the lush backdrop of the Pacific Northwest, the Woodland, Washington area is increasingly praised for its great golfing. Nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, the Lewis River Golf Course features tree-lined fairways of large firs and maples, along with a few ponds and several greenside bunkers. The scenic Longview Country Club, which opened in 1926, features a challenging par-70 layout for its private membership and includes bluegrass fairways and greens. Mint Valley Golf Course in Longview is one of the finest public settings in the state, featuring several water hazards, tall trees and well-bunkered greens that are fast and in excellent condition. Besides the 18-hole layout, Mint Valley has a six-hole, par 3 pitch-and-putt course for golfers looking to improve their short game.
For a full interactive map of golf courses in and around Woodland, click here.
5. Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville and Franklin, a cozy small town just south of Nashville, offer a wealth of golfing options. In addition to being Music City, Nashville is staking a claim to Golf City with courses like Gaylord Springs, a Scottish links-style course on the banks of the Cumberland River. McCabe Golf Course, a unique 27-hole course, is located just minutes from downtown Nashville in the trendy Sylvan Park neighborhood. Franklin features public and private courses surrounded by rolling green hills and horse farms. With beautiful backdrops and mild seasons, Franklin offers a long golfing season at numerous courses in and around the city. The nearby Legends Club has two 18-hole courses, one for members and one for outside play, with wide open fairways, some mounding and a few sand bunkers. Other local courses can be found at Temple Hills Golf and Country Club, Forrest Crossing and the Old Natchez Country Club.
For a full interactive map of golf courses in and around Nashville and Franklin, click here.
4. Castle Rock, Colorado
With great designs and breathtaking Rocky Mountain views, Castle Rock is home to some of the best courses in all of Colorado. And one of the finest in the city is Red Hawk Ridge, a public course that gives even the toniest of private courses a run for their money. Elsewhere in Castle Rock, two highly rated bent-grass courses make golfing in the area even more inviting. The Plum Creek course at the Plum Creek Golf & Country Club is a par-72 that opened in 1984 and was designed by Pete Dye. The Jack Nicklaus-designed, 18-hole Castle Pines course at the Country Club at Castle Pines opened in 1986. Just outside Castle Rock are great courses like the Golf Club at Bear Dance in Larkspur and the Club at Pradera in Parker.
For a full interactive map of golf courses in and around Castle Rock, click here.
3. Albuquerque, New Mexico
Surrounded by the stunning Sandia Mountains, golf courses in Albuquerque add lush splashes of green to the sunny New Mexico scenery. One of the best mixes of traditional golf greens with native landscapes is Sandia Golf Club, located on the grounds of Sandia Resort & Casino. The club has the distinction of being the longest course in all of New Mexico, at 7,779 yards, and features two lengthy par fives that measure more than 600 yards apiece – at 630 and 610 yards. Another top venue in Albuquerque is Isleta Eagle Golf Course, which includes 27 holes designed around three lakes. Twin Warriors Golf Club at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa has 18 holes that are set along grassy knolls and ridges. The fairways are lined with juniper and pinon pine trees, and the course is graced with interesting eroded land areas called arroyos.
For a full interactive map of golf courses in and around Albuquerque, click here.
2. Fishers, Indiana
Not only is the gently rolling countryside of central Indiana perfectly suited to great golf, courses like the one at the River Glen Country Club in Fishers offer plenty of challenges‚ including intimidating tee shots‚ rabid doglegs‚ water on at least 11 holes and undulating greens. The great courses and the longer season in Indiana regularly attract players from as far away as Michigan and Wisconsin. Other great courses in the Fisher area include nearby Britton Golf Course, Ironwood Golf Club and the Gray Eagle Golf Course and Academy.
For a full interactive map of golf courses in and around Fishers, click here.
1. Eugene, Oregon
Nestled in the Willamette Valley, one of the prettiest areas in the entire Pacific Northwest, Eugene offers a number of distinctive golf sites for low-handicappers and duffers alike. RiverRidge Golf Campus features a covered driving range‚ a regulation 18-hole golf course‚ a par-3 nine-hole course and a nine-hole executive course, all in the same complex. Nearby, Eugene Country Club is ranked a Top 100 layout by Golf Digest magazine. Not far away, Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell offers one of the most challenging tests of golf in the Willamette Valley‚ with a 7‚100-yard setting from the back tees during tournament play. There are also several great public courses available in the area‚ including Fiddler’s Green‚ Laurelwood and Oakway.
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