Golf Ratings · Golf trips · Best golf resorts
Best golf resorts in America
The golf resorts the major rankings agree on, from the coasts to the desert. Ranked from 10 independent outlets. Last checked October 22, 2026.
GOLF · Golf Digest · Golfweek · Golf World (Today's Golfer) · USA TODAY 10Best · Travel + Leisure · Conde Nast Traveler · Forbes Travel Guide · Forbes · Golfbreaks
-
1

California
Pebble Beach Resorts
Forbes' best golf resort overall, and Pebble Beach Golf Links is Golfweek's top resort course in the country. The resort is No. 2 at Golf Digest and No. 5 in Golf World's ranking of the world's resorts.
- Golfweek#1 of 200
- Golf Digest#2 of 75
- Golf World (Today's Golfer)#5 of 100
- ForbesBest overall
- Golfbreaks#3 of 17
- GOLFOn their list
- Travel + LeisureOn their list
- Forbes Travel GuideOn their list
What the 8 sources found
- Golfweek Panel test Best course, Pebble Beach Golf Links, ranks 1 of 200 U.S. resort courses; a course rank, not a resort rank. Source
- Golf Digest Panel test No. 2 of 75 in Golf Digest's panel resort ranking, scored by 48 panelists. Source
- Golf World (Today's Golfer) Panel test No. 5 of 100 in Golf World's world resort ranking. Source
- Forbes Editors' picks Forbes Vetted's best U.S. golf resort overall, named for The Lodge at Pebble Beach. Source
- Golfbreaks Editors' picks No. 3 of 17 on Golfbreaks' U.S. resort list. Source
- GOLF Editors' picks One of 25 U.S. picks on GOLF's 2026 world resort list, unranked. Source
- Travel + Leisure Editors' picks One of 15 unranked picks in Travel + Leisure's U.S. golf resort guide. Source
- Forbes Travel Guide Editors' picks Picked as a destination golf resort; hotel holds Forbes Four-Star (The Inn at Spanish Bay) rating per the article. Source
87/100 -
2
South Carolina
Kiawah Island Golf Resort
Ninth at Golf Digest and tenth in the world at Golf World. The Ocean Course is ninth of 200 resort courses at Golfweek.
- Golfweek#9 of 200
- Golf World (Today's Golfer)#10 of 100
- Golf Digest#9 of 75
- Golfbreaks#1 of 17
- GOLFOn their list
- Travel + LeisureOn their list
- ForbesOn their list
What the 7 sources found
- Golfweek Panel test Best course, Ocean Course, ranks 9 of 200 U.S. resort courses; a course rank, not a resort rank. Source
- Golf World (Today's Golfer) Panel test No. 10 of 100 in Golf World's world resort ranking. Source
- Golf Digest Panel test No. 9 of 75 in Golf Digest's panel resort ranking, scored by 53 panelists. Source
- Golfbreaks Editors' picks No. 1 of 17 on Golfbreaks' U.S. resort list. Source
- GOLF Editors' picks One of 25 U.S. picks on GOLF's 2026 world resort list, unranked. Source
- Travel + Leisure Editors' picks One of 15 unranked picks in Travel + Leisure's U.S. golf resort guide. Source
- Forbes Editors' picks In a Forbes contributor's unnumbered top 10 U.S. resorts with a national draw. Source
86/100 -
3

North Carolina
Pinehurst Resort
No. 3 in the world at Golf World and No. 8 at Golf Digest. Its No. 2 course is the third best resort course in Golfweek's ranking.
- Golfweek#3 of 200
- Golf World (Today's Golfer)#3 of 100
- Golf Digest#8 of 75
- GOLFOn their list
- Travel + LeisureOn their list
- Conde Nast TravelerOn their list
- ForbesOn their list
What the 7 sources found
- Golfweek Panel test Best course, No. 2, ranks 3 of 200 U.S. resort courses; a course rank, not a resort rank. Source
- Golf World (Today's Golfer) Panel test No. 3 of 100 in Golf World's world resort ranking. Source
- Golf Digest Panel test No. 8 of 75 in Golf Digest's panel resort ranking, scored by 57 panelists. Source
- GOLF Editors' picks One of 25 U.S. picks on GOLF's 2026 world resort list, unranked. Source
- Travel + Leisure Editors' picks One of 15 unranked picks in Travel + Leisure's U.S. golf resort guide. Source
- Conde Nast Traveler Editors' picks Named among Conde Nast Traveler's 11 golf hotels worldwide, unranked. Source
- Forbes Editors' picks In a Forbes contributor's unnumbered top 10 U.S. resorts with a national draw. Source
86/100 -
4

Hawaii
Four Seasons Resort Lanai
The No. 1 golf resort in the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best reader vote and No. 3 at Golf Digest. Its Manele course ranks tied 13th of 200 resort courses at Golfweek.
- Golf Digest#3 of 75
- Golfweek#13 of 200
- USA TODAY 10Best#1 of 10
- Golf World (Today's Golfer)#44 of 100
- ForbesBest for couples
- GOLFOn their list
- Forbes Travel GuideOn their list
What the 7 sources found
- Golf Digest Panel test No. 3 of 75 in Golf Digest's panel resort ranking, scored by 23 panelists. Source
- Golfweek Panel test Best course, Manele, ranks T13 of 200 U.S. resort courses; a course rank, not a resort rank. Source
- USA TODAY 10Best Member vote No. 1 of 10 in the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best reader vote. Source
- Golf World (Today's Golfer) Panel test No. 44 of 100 in Golf World's world resort ranking. Source
- Forbes Editors' picks Forbes Vetted's pick for couples. Source
- GOLF Editors' picks One of 25 U.S. picks on GOLF's 2026 world resort list, unranked. Source
- Forbes Travel Guide Editors' picks Picked as a destination golf resort; hotel holds Forbes Five-Star rating per the article. Source
86/100 -
5

Wisconsin
The American Club
Home of Whistling Straits, Golfweek's fourth best resort course. Seventh at Golf Digest, and named by eight outlets, as many as any resort in this top 10.
- Golfweek#4 of 200
- Golf Digest#7 of 75
- Golf World (Today's Golfer)#24 of 100
- ForbesBest for outdoor lovers
- GOLFOn their list
- Travel + LeisureOn their list
- Conde Nast TravelerOn their list
- Forbes Travel GuideOn their list
What the 8 sources found
- Golfweek Panel test Best course, Whistling Straits (Straits), ranks 4 of 200 U.S. resort courses; a course rank, not a resort rank. Source
- Golf Digest Panel test No. 7 of 75 in Golf Digest's panel resort ranking, scored by 62 panelists. Source
- Golf World (Today's Golfer) Panel test No. 24 of 100 in Golf World's world resort ranking. Source
- Forbes Editors' picks Forbes Vetted's pick for outdoor lovers. Source
- GOLF Editors' picks One of 25 U.S. picks on GOLF's 2026 world resort list, unranked. Source
- Travel + Leisure Editors' picks One of 15 unranked picks in Travel + Leisure's U.S. golf resort guide. Source
- Conde Nast Traveler Editors' picks Named among Conde Nast Traveler's 11 golf hotels worldwide, unranked. Source
- Forbes Travel Guide Editors' picks Picked as a destination golf resort; hotel holds Forbes Four-Star rating per the article. Source
85/100 -
6

Wisconsin
Sand Valley Golf Resort
Fourth at Golf Digest and 18th in the world at Golf World, with its Lido course 11th of 200 resort courses at Golfweek.
- Golf Digest#4 of 75
- Golfweek#11 of 200
- Golf World (Today's Golfer)#18 of 100
- GOLFOn their list
- ForbesOn their list
What the 5 sources found
- Golf Digest Panel test No. 4 of 75 in Golf Digest's panel resort ranking, scored by 55 panelists. Source
- Golfweek Panel test Best course, Lido, ranks 11 of 200 U.S. resort courses; a course rank, not a resort rank. Source
- Golf World (Today's Golfer) Panel test No. 18 of 100 in Golf World's world resort ranking. Source
- GOLF Editors' picks One of 25 U.S. picks on GOLF's 2026 world resort list, unranked. Source
- Forbes Editors' picks In a Forbes contributor's unnumbered top 10 U.S. resorts with a national draw. Source
85/100 -
7

Florida
Streamsong Resort
Sixth in the world at Golf World and 13th at Golf Digest, with the Red course 17th of 200 resort courses at Golfweek.
- Golf World (Today's Golfer)#6 of 100
- Golfweek#17 of 200
- Golf Digest#13 of 75
- GOLFOn their list
- ForbesOn their list
What the 5 sources found
- Golf World (Today's Golfer) Panel test No. 6 of 100 in Golf World's world resort ranking. Source
- Golfweek Panel test Best course, Red, ranks 17 of 200 U.S. resort courses; a course rank, not a resort rank. Source
- Golf Digest Panel test No. 13 of 75 in Golf Digest's panel resort ranking, scored by 50 panelists. Source
- GOLF Editors' picks One of 25 U.S. picks on GOLF's 2026 world resort list, unranked. Source
- Forbes Editors' picks In a Forbes contributor's unnumbered top 10 U.S. resorts with a national draw. Source
85/100 -
8

Georgia
Sea Island Resort
Sixth at Golf Digest and picked by GOLF, Travel + Leisure and Forbes, whose guide gives The Lodge at Sea Island five stars.
- Golf Digest#6 of 75
- Golfweek#24 of 200
- Golf World (Today's Golfer)#39 of 100
- ForbesBest for groups
- GOLFOn their list
- Travel + LeisureOn their list
- Forbes Travel GuideOn their list
What the 7 sources found
- Golf Digest Panel test No. 6 of 75 in Golf Digest's panel resort ranking, scored by 27 panelists. Source
- Golfweek Panel test Best course, Seaside, ranks 24 of 200 U.S. resort courses; a course rank, not a resort rank. Source
- Golf World (Today's Golfer) Panel test No. 39 of 100 in Golf World's world resort ranking. Source
- Forbes Editors' picks Forbes Vetted's pick for groups, named for The Lodge at Sea Island. Source
- GOLF Editors' picks One of 25 U.S. picks on GOLF's 2026 world resort list, unranked. Source
- Travel + Leisure Editors' picks One of 15 unranked picks in Travel + Leisure's U.S. golf resort guide. Source
- Forbes Travel Guide Editors' picks Picked as a destination golf resort; hotel holds Forbes Five-Star (The Lodge at Sea Island) rating per the article. Source
84/100 -
9

Oregon
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
No. 1 at both Golf Digest and Golf World, and Pacific Dunes is Golfweek's second best resort course. Readers voted it tenth in the 2026 10Best poll.
- Golf Digest#1 of 75
- Golf World (Today's Golfer)#1 of 100
- Golfweek#2 of 200
- GOLFOn their list
- Travel + LeisureOn their list
- ForbesOn their list
- USA TODAY 10Best#10 of 10
What the 7 sources found
- Golf Digest Panel test No. 1 of 75 in Golf Digest's panel resort ranking, scored by 60 panelists. Source
- Golf World (Today's Golfer) Panel test No. 1 of 100 in Golf World's world resort ranking. Source
- Golfweek Panel test Best course, Pacific Dunes, ranks 2 of 200 U.S. resort courses; a course rank, not a resort rank. Source
- GOLF Editors' picks One of 25 U.S. picks on GOLF's 2026 world resort list, unranked. Source
- Travel + Leisure Editors' picks One of 15 unranked picks in Travel + Leisure's U.S. golf resort guide. Source
- Forbes Editors' picks In a Forbes contributor's unnumbered top 10 U.S. resorts with a national draw. Source
- USA TODAY 10Best Member vote No. 10 of 10 in the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best reader vote. Source
84/100 -
10

Colorado
The Broadmoor
11th of 75 at Golf Digest and 34th in the world at Golf World, and a pick at GOLF and Travel + Leisure. Its East course is the best ranked of its courses at Golfweek.
- Golf Digest#11 of 75
- Golf World (Today's Golfer)#34 of 100
- Golfweek#81 of 200
- GOLFOn their list
- Travel + LeisureOn their list
- ForbesOn their list
What the 6 sources found
- Golf Digest Panel test No. 11 of 75 in Golf Digest's panel resort ranking, scored by 18 panelists. Source
- Golf World (Today's Golfer) Panel test No. 34 of 100 in Golf World's world resort ranking. Source
- Golfweek Panel test Best course, East, ranks T81 of 200 U.S. resort courses; a course rank, not a resort rank. Source
- GOLF Editors' picks One of 25 U.S. picks on GOLF's 2026 world resort list, unranked. Source
- Travel + Leisure Editors' picks One of 15 unranked picks in Travel + Leisure's U.S. golf resort guide. Source
- Forbes Editors' picks In the Forbes contributor's unnumbered 'Next 10', below his top 10. Source
82/100
How we score
We don't test gear ourselves. We read the major independent tests and reviews, turn each verdict into a score out of 100, and combine them. Lab and robot tests count twice as much as one reviewer's opinion, and panel tests one and a half times, so no single outlet can carry a product. Each outlet counts once per product.
A product needs reviews from at least 3 different outlets to be ranked, at least two of them established publications, labs or creators rather than small one-person sites, and its score starts near the middle until enough of them agree, so a few rave reviews can't put it at the top. We leave out any review where the reviewer has a deal with that product's brand, or where the video is a paid partnership for it. Affiliate links and ads are common across golf media, so on their own they don't rule a source out.
Photos are the resorts' own. We don't use affiliate links, and nobody pays to be on this list.
Reviews from before 2024, and reviews of an older version of a product sold under the same name, are left out. Products affected: Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Big Cedar Lodge, Fairmont Grand Del Mar, Four Seasons Resort Lanai, Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, French Lick Resort, Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, Omni PGA Frisco Resort, Pebble Beach Resorts, Pinehurst Resort, Primland, Pronghorn Resort, Sand Valley Golf Resort, Sea Island Resort, Silvies Valley Ranch, Streamsong Resort, The American Club, The Broadmoor, The Greenbrier, The Omni Homestead Resort, The Resort at Pelican Hill, The Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain, The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay, The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, The Sea Pines Resort.
Sources
- GOLF Top 100 Golf Resorts in the World (2026) · Best golf resorts in the U.S. and Canada (Top 100 Resorts 2024-25)
- Golf Digest America's 75 best golf resorts
- Golfweek Top 200 resort courses in the U.S.
- Golf World (Today's Golfer) Top 100 Golf Resorts in the World
- USA TODAY 10Best Best Golf Resort (2026 Readers' Choice) · Best Golf Resort (2025 Readers' Choice)
- Travel + Leisure 15 Best Golf Resorts in the U.S.
- Conde Nast Traveler 11 Hotels Every Golf Lover Should Know About
- Forbes Travel Guide 11 Best Destination Golf Resorts In The United States
- Forbes The 8 Best Golf Resorts In The US, According To Expert Golfers (Forbes Vetted) · Top 10 Golf Resorts in the U.S. Worth the Trip (10 top U.S. golf resorts with a national pull)
- Golfbreaks Best golf resorts in the US