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
    4.9428571429
    35
    Bend, Oregon
    Public
    4.1614856945
    533

  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
    4.4684341259
    545
    Plymouth, Massachusetts
    Semi-Private
    4.8852244872
    336
    Halifax, Massachusetts
    Private
    4.344413916
    450
    Taunton, Massachusetts
    Private
    4.5323048492
    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
    4.6363636364
    11
    Gaylord, Michigan
    Semi-Private
    4.7014696915
    415
    Manistee, Michigan
    Resort
    4.5526315789
    38
    Bellaire, Michigan
    Public/Resort
    4.4089408941
    341

  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
    4.844054396
    195
    Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
    Resort
    4.8249662739
    410
    Green Lake, Wisconsin
    Public
    4.3354880414
    94
    Hartford, Wisconsin
    Public/Municipal
    4.7312093718
    439
    Beloit, Wisconsin
    Public
    4.298266837
    351

  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
    4.4056603774
    212
    Rush City, Minnesota
    Public
    4.372556926
    212
    Cannon Falls, Minnesota
    Semi-Private
    4.569401119
    354
    Annandale, Minnesota
    Public
    4.1094147583
    263
    Buffalo, Minnesota
    Public
    4.8257142857
    101
    Stillwater, Minnesota
    Public
    4.5020097835
    449

  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
    4.2290377865
    800
    Gainesville, Georgia
    Public
    4.5565669988
    2053

    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
    1.5809925094
    357
    North Plains, Oregon
    Public
    4.5942573966
    535
    Portland, Oregon
    Public/Municipal
    4.0830828875
    330

  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
    4.4794480967
    992
    Newport Coast, California
    Resort
    4.2661321164
    212
    Moorpark, California
    Public
    4.8198198198
    779
    Alhambra, California
    Municipal
    3.9939510407
    1739

  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
    4.3369275115
    148
    Laconia, Indiana
    Public/Resort
    4.8499772589
    504

  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
    4.0430812872
    2108
    Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
    Resort
    4.6874557052
    86
    Bluffton, South Carolina
    Public
    3.6532427046
    1158
    Bluffton, South Carolina
    Public
    3.902911453
    2048
    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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