Power Rankings: Top places to play in September

We analyzed at your ratings to find trending golf courses and destinations in the U.S. to visit this month.
Crosswater at Sunriver Resort
View of a green at Crosswater at Sunriver Resort

With September upon us, it's the last bit of prime time golf season for many northern destinations. Meanwhile, courses farther south are beginning to see the heat break and the game is about to be more comfortable to play, especially if you like walking.

We've gone back at looked at reviews coast-to-coast for the month of August - about 16,000 total from our community- to see which courses and destinations have been earning high marks from golfers like you. Some of these top courses are destination plays reviewed by golf travelers, but many are from locals offering an inside read of their favorite townie rounds.

Using this data we've compiled a list of 10 great trips, from cities to remote destinations, to take right now coast-to-coast. We've found areas with a handful of top-rated courses and bucketed them into 10 trips that could make for a fun golf trip. Some of these destinations, like North Georgia and Southern Indiana, are great values, while others feature bucket-list plays. We've found a course and trip for everyone - and it's all based on your recent feedback.

Want to contribute to Power Rankings? It's easy! Just write a review of your latest experience.

  1. Central Oregon

    Sunny and dry central Oregon, comprised of Bend-Redmond-Sisters, is a fabulous September option. Pretty soon, snow will start to fall once again on Mt. Hood. One encouraging sign for golfers looking to fly here, Alaska Airlines just announced additional non-stop service to RDM airport.

    Trending Central Oregon
    Sunriver, Oregon
    Resort
    4.9429
    35
    Bend, Oregon
    Public
    4.1599242542
    529

  2. Plymouth, Massachusetts

    A most pleasant destination in the northeast, the Plymouth-area golf scene flies under the radar nationally but is very popular for day trips and weekenders.

    Trending courses around Plymouth
    Plymouth, Massachusetts
    Public
    4.5092815466
    520
    Plymouth, Massachusetts
    Semi-Private
    4.7847750865
    323
    Halifax, Massachusetts
    Private
    4.3461152108
    413
    Taunton, Massachusetts
    Private
    4.5336529412
    456

  3. Northern Michigan

    Cool, long summer days make Northern Michigan a refreshing destination. The sun starts to set a little earlier in September but the trade-off is you begin to see the spectacular fall foliage.

    Trending Northern Michigan courses
    Williamsburg, Michigan
    Private
    4.6364
    11
    Gaylord, Michigan
    Semi-Private
    4.6839839006
    409
    Bellaire, Michigan
    Public/Resort
    4.5920768927
    336

  4. South-Central Wisconsin

    You can whip up a nice little self-guided tour of the southern part of the state based on these trending courses of various price points, from the Milwaukee and Madison area down towards Lake Geneva.

    Trending courses in south-central Wisconsin
    Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin
    Public
    4.7656215662
    190
    Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
    Resort
    4.8038779835
    399
    Green Lake, Wisconsin
    Public
    4.0586080586
    93
    Hartford, Wisconsin
    Public/Municipal
    4.7477361184
    427
    Beloit, Wisconsin
    Public
    4.3146408441
    338

  5. Twin Cities, Minnesota

    The resort regions of Minnesota get a lot of ink, but courses closer to the metro area in Bloomington-Twin Cities are good bargains and have earned high marks this summer.

    Trending Minneapolis-St. Paul courses
    Prescott, Wisconsin
    Public
    4.4057
    212
    Rush City, Minnesota
    Public
    4.3788561782
    207
    Cannon Falls, Minnesota
    Semi-Private
    4.5826321021
    351
    Annandale, Minnesota
    Public
    4.0778235294
    263
    Buffalo, Minnesota
    Public
    4.8983333333
    101
    Stillwater, Minnesota
    Public
    4.4871391649
    439

  6. North Georgia

    Atlanta-area golfers are finding great value well-conditioned courses north of the city. Who's up for a road trip?

    North Georgia trending courses
    Canton, Georgia
    Semi-Private
    4.4284736371
    792
    Buford, Georgia
    Resort
    4.6665491602
    672
    Gainesville, Georgia
    Public
    4.560212248
    1993

    Really great course that has multiple views and shots over Lake Lanier. I love the place and will play again this fall when it is cooler.
    - Bowjangles, review of Lanier Islands on August 20th, 2019

  7. Portland, Oregon

    This Pacific Northwest city is well known for Pumpkin Ridge, but the Reserve Vineyards of Aloha is also a great 36-hole value pick.

    Trending Portland courses
    Oregon City, Oregon
    Public
    1.581
    357
    North Plains, Oregon
    Public
    4.5477716926
    522
    Portland, Oregon
    Public/Municipal
    4.1201044932
    318

  8. SoCal

    SoCal has both top-notch resort courses (Pelican Hill, Ojai Valley) and value courses (Rustic Canyon, Alhambra) to savor. Golf Advisor reviewers have been raving about both.

    Trending SoCal courses
    Ojai, California
    Resort
    4.5525963218
    971
    Newport Coast, California
    Resort
    4.4159882353
    212
    Moorpark, California
    Public
    4.7298529412
    779
    Alhambra, California
    Municipal
    4.1409275093
    1717

  9. Southern Indiana

    Sultan's Run is a favorite add-on when visiting French Lick, while Chariot Run is consistently one of the top-rated casino golf courses on Golf Advisor.

    Jasper, Indiana
    Public
    4.6339271798
    144
    Laconia, Indiana
    Public/Resort
    4.5797619048
    502

  10. Hilton Head Island

    Golf courses from Sea Pines' famed Harbour Town to bargain courses in Bluffton have fared well during the area's busy summer peak season. As school gets back into session, courses are still in great shape, the weather is more comfortable for golf and the island should be less crowded.

    Trending Hilton Head Courses
    Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
    Semi-Private
    4.0112517578
    2065
    Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
    Resort
    4.3928823529
    84
    Bluffton, South Carolina
    Public
    3.6239235294
    1157
    Bluffton, South Carolina
    Public
    3.8800836834
    1918
    Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
    Semi-Private
    4.4
    245

Brandon Tucker is the Sr. Managing Editor for GolfPass and was the founding editor of Golf Advisor in 2014, he was the managing editor for Golf Channel Digital's Courses & Travel. To date, his golf travels have taken him to over two dozen countries and nearly 600 golf courses worldwide. While he's played some of the most prestigious courses in the world, Tucker's favorite way to play the game is on a great muni in under three hours. Follow Brandon on Twitter at @BrandonTucker and on Instagram at @btuck34.

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Power Rankings: Top places to play in September
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