Hardest golf courses in America

The hardest golf course in America on our scale is RainDance National Golf Course in Windsor, CO. Most of these are public, so you can test yourself on them.

1. 1RainDance National Golf CourseWindsor, CO · Private · 18 holes · 8,313 yds8.4
2. 2RTJ Golf Trail at Ross BridgeBirmingham, AL · Public · 18 holes · 8,191 yds9.1
3. 3The Pete Dye Course at French LickFrench Lick, IN · Public · 18 holes · 8,102 yds9.7
4. 4RTJ Golf Trail at The ShoalsMuscle Shoals, AL · Public · 18 holes · 8,092 yds9.4
5. 5Antler Creek Golf CoursePeyton, CO · Public · 18 holes · 8,063 yds6.6
6. 6Promontory Pete Dye Golf CoursePark City, UT · Private · 18 holes · 8,061 yds9.9
7. 7Nicklaus Painted Valley Golf Course at Promontory ClubPark City, UT · Private · 18 holes · 8,061 yds9.7
8. 8Castle Pines Golf ClubCastle Rock, CO · Private · 18 holes · 8,054 yds9.7
9. 9The Reserve at Moonlight BasinBig Sky, MT · Private · 18 holes · 8,000 yds9.2
10. 10The Pfau CourseBloomington, IN · Public · 18 holes · 7,908 yds7.0
11. 11Chambers Bay Golf CourseUniversity Place, WA · Public · 18 holes · 7,867 yds9.7
12. 12Eagle Nest Golf ClubLittle River, SC · Public · 18 holes · 7,863 yds7.7
13. 13RTJ Golf Trail at Capitol HillPrattville, AL · Public · 18 holes · 7,806 yds9.5
14. 14Whistling Straits Golf CourseSheboygan, WI · Public · 18 holes · 7,790 yds9.7
15. 15Erin Hills Golf CourseHartford, WI · Public · 18 holes · 7,772 yds9.7
16. 16Sandia Golf ClubAlbuquerque, NM · Public · 18 holes · 7,755 yds9.1
17. 17Windswept Dunes Golf ClubFreeport, FL · Public · 18 holes · 7,752 yds9.5
18. 18The Club At Emerald HillsHollywood, FL · Public · 18 holes · 7,743 yds6.7
19. 19Twin Warriors Golf ClubBernalillo, NM · Public · 18 holes · 7,736 yds9.5
20. 20Paako Ridge Golf ClubSandia Park, NM · Public · 18 holes · 7,711 yds9.6
21. 21Old Works Golf CourseAnaconda, MT · Public · 18 holes · 7,705 yds9.8
22. 22Thanksgiving Point Golf ClubLehi, UT · Public · 18 holes · 7,700 yds8.4
23. 23Pete Dye River Course of Virginia TechRadford, VA · Public · 18 holes · 7,685 yds9.6
24. 24Pikewood National Golf ClubMorgantown, WV · Private · 18 holes · 7,681 yds9.5
25. 25Hazeltine National Golf ClubChaska, MN · Private · 18 holes · 7,674 yds9.7
26. 26Isleta Golf ClubAlbuquerque, NM · Public · 18 holes · 7,674 yds6.9
27. 27Purgatory Golf ClubNoblesville, IN · Public · 18 holes · 7,666 yds9.3
28. 28RTJ Golf Trail at Silver LakesGlencoe, AL · Public · 18 holes · 7,663 yds9.8
29. 29Soldier Hollow Golf CourseMidway, UT · Public · 18 holes · 7,627 yds8.7
30. 30The Bridges Golf ClubGunter, TX · Public · 18 holes · 7,612 yds8.1
31. 31Fields RanchFrisco, TX · Public · 18 holes · 7,609 yds7.8
32. 32Kapalua - The Plantation CourseLahaina, HI · Public · 18 holes · 7,596 yds9.7
33. 33Atkins Golf Club At The University Of IllinoisUrbana, IL · Public · 18 holes · 7,591 yds8.8
34. 34Las Vegas Paiute Golf ResortLas Vegas, NV · Public · 18 holes · 7,580 yds9.8
35. 35Colorado National Golf ClubErie, CO · Public · 18 holes · 7,579 yds8.2
36. 36Indian Creek Golf CourseElkhorn, NE · Public · 18 holes · 7,569 yds9.4
37. 37Echelon Golf ClubAlpharetta, GA · Public · 18 holes · 7,567 yds9.2
38. 38Walnut Creek Golf PreserveWestminster, CO · Public · 18 holes · 7,563 yds8.1
39. 39The Prairie ClubValentine, NE · Public · 18 holes · 7,562 yds9.7
40. 40Atlanta Athletic ClubJohns Creek, GA · Public · 18 holes · 7,557 yds9.8
41. 41University of New Mexico Championship Golf CourseAlbuquerque, NM · Public · 18 holes · 7,557 yds9.0
42. 42Cog Hill Golf & Country ClubLemont, IL · Public · 18 holes · 7,554 yds8.7
43. 43Grande Dunes Resort ClubMyrtle Beach, SC · Public · 18 holes · 7,546 yds9.6
44. 44The Los Angeles Country ClubLos Angeles, CA · Private · 18 holes · 7,530 yds9.5
45. 45Mystic Creek Golf ClubEl Dorado, AR · Public · 18 holes · 7,529 yds9.6
46. 46East Lake Golf ClubAtlanta, GA · Public · 18 holes · 7,526 yds9.8
47. 47Colbert Hills Golf CourseManhattan, KS · Public · 18 holes · 7,525 yds9.5
48. 48Firekeeper Golf CourseMayetta, KS · Public · 18 holes · 7,525 yds8.9
49. 49Nashville Golf & Athletic ClubBrentwood, TN · Private · 18 holes · 7,525 yds8.6
50. 50Old Greenwood Golf CourseTruckee, CA · Public · 18 holes · 7,518 yds9.8

Hardest golf courses in each state

1. AlabamaRTJ Golf Trail at Ross Bridge · Birmingham9.1
2. AlaskaMoose Run Golf Course · Fort Richardson8.2
3. ArizonaThe Golf Club at Dove Mountain · Marana9.5
4. ArkansasMystic Creek Golf Club · El Dorado9.6
5. CaliforniaThe Los Angeles Country Club · Los Angeles9.5
6. ColoradoRainDance National Golf Course · Windsor8.4
7. ConnecticutLake of Isles · North Stonington9.7
8. DelawareBayside Resort Golf Club · Selbyville8.7
9. District of ColumbiaLangston Golf Course & Driving Range · Washington7.7
10. FloridaWindswept Dunes Golf Club · Freeport9.5
11. GeorgiaEchelon Golf Club · Alpharetta9.2
12. HawaiiKapalua - The Plantation Course · Lahaina9.7
13. IdahoLinks Golf Club · Post Falls8.9
14. IllinoisAtkins Golf Club At The University Of Illinois · Urbana8.8
15. IndianaThe Pete Dye Course at French Lick · French Lick9.7
16. IowaBlue Top Ridge Golf Course · Riverside9.2
17. KansasColbert Hills Golf Course · Manhattan9.5
18. KentuckyPersimmon Ridge Golf Club · Louisville9.4
19. LouisianaTPC Louisiana · Avondale9.6
20. MaineFalmouth Country Club · Falmouth8.9
21. MarylandLodestone Golf Course · McHenry6.2
22. MassachusettsPinehills Golf Club · Plymouth9.7
23. MichiganArcadia Bluffs South Course · Arcadia9.4
24. MinnesotaHazeltine National Golf Club · Chaska9.7
25. MississippiFallen Oak Golf · Saucier9.7
26. MissouriCreekmoor Golf Course · Raymore9.1
27. MontanaThe Reserve at Moonlight Basin · Big Sky9.2
28. NebraskaIndian Creek Golf Course · Elkhorn9.4
29. NevadaLas Vegas Paiute Golf Resort · Las Vegas9.8
30. New HampshireThe Golf Club of New England · Stratham9.5
31. New JerseyArcola Country Club · Paramus9.7
32. New MexicoSandia Golf Club · Albuquerque9.1
33. New YorkBethpage Black Golf Course · Farmingdale9.7
34. North CarolinaPinehurst No. 2 · Pinehurst9.7
35. North DakotaOxbow Country Club · Oxbow9.2
36. OhioBoulder Creek Golf Club · Streetsboro7.2
37. OklahomaSouthern Hills Country Club · Tulsa9.7
38. OregonJack Nicklaus Course of Pronghorn Club at Juniper Preserve · Bend8.2
39. PennsylvaniaOakmont Country Club · Oakmont9.5
40. Rhode IslandNewport National Golf Club · Middletown7.8
41. South CarolinaEagle Nest Golf Club · Little River7.7
42. South DakotaElkhorn Ridge Golf Club · Spearfish8.6
43. TennesseeNashville Golf & Athletic Club · Brentwood8.6
44. TexasThe Bridges Golf Club · Gunter8.1
45. UtahPromontory Pete Dye Golf Course · Park City9.9
46. VermontVermont National Country Club · South Burlington9.5
47. VirginiaPete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech · Radford9.6
48. WashingtonChambers Bay Golf Course · University Place9.7
49. West VirginiaPikewood National Golf Club · Morgantown9.5
50. WisconsinWhistling Straits Golf Course · Sheboygan9.7
51. WyomingRochelle Ranch Golf Course · Rawlins9.0

Common questions

More lists

• Easiest golf courses in America ›
• Most scenic golf courses in America ›
• Golf courses by state ›

Updated October 2026