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There are few things golfers hate more than waiting.
Playing a round of golf without having to linger on a tee box or in a fairway while the group ahead clears the landing area or green is an increasingly rare treat, especially as the popularity of the game continues to surge.
But even with more golfers than ever taking to the course, there are still plenty of facilities whose operators continue to value a comfortable but swift pace of play. More often than not, they accomplish this with a combination of well-spaced tee times (i.e. at least 10 minutes apart) and a well-trained ranger corps who are doing more than just tooling around the course in exchange for free golf.
Over the past year, these 25 courses earned particularly high marks from thousands of golfers like you for fostering a good pace of play. They each received at least 10 reviews in 2023 to qualify. If pace of play is something you value in your golf life, keep these two-dozen-and-one public golf courses in mind as you make your way around the country in 2024:
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UNC Finley Golf Course
Chapel Hill, North CarolinaPublicGreen fee: $120
What they're saying: "The course has gotten a huge facelift and it's showing its fangs. Gorgeous but imposing and traps. Well groomed fairways with rough that seems to eat poorly hit shots. UNC Finley is a must-play course now!" - CraigInChapelHill -
Hills of Lenawee Golf Club & Banquet Center
Adrian, MichiganPrivateGreen fee: $65
What they're saying: "Arrived at [the] course and was greeted with a smile and asked if we wanted to bring forward our tee time. [We] accepted and were able to play the course in less than 4 hours .....2 ppl on a Saturday morning!!" - babacandy -
Metamora Golf & Country Club
Metamora, MichiganPrivateGreen fee: $45
What they're saying: "Played this course while on vacation in Michigan. Will always put this on my vacation calendar." - Fresch -
Waterford Golf Club
Venice, FloridaSemi-PrivateGreen fee: $80
What they're saying: "Very friendly and accommodating staff. Course was in good shape and pace of play was good. What else could you ask for." - nolan2509462 -
Glade Springs Village - Woodhaven Course
Daniels, West VirginiaSemi-PrivateGreen fee: $125
What they're saying: "I have golfed since 1969 and this is by far the best course I have ever played. Not only that it was the cheapest I have ever paid for a quality course and the best part was my wife and I had the whole course to ourselves. Not a soul on it but us." - Lennac -
Thunder Bayou Golf Links
Green fee: $36
What they're saying: "These guys are doing a great job with fairways and the greens are amazing! I play a lot (3-4 times per week) in this region and this is by far one of the best courses in the area." - mawoodfield -
Discovery Bay Golf Club
Port Townsend, WashingtonPublicGreen fee: $45
What they're saying: "I was late to my tee time because of traffic but the young man in the clubhouse understood and let me out as soon as I got there." - RandallP1 -
Puakea Golf Course
Green fee: $179
What they're saying: "Excellent course. Not crowded at all." - Jim1788424 -
Fountain Springs Golf Course
Peterstown, West VirginiaPublicGreen fee: $40
What they're saying: "Rolling through West Virginia and found this place. (I) gotta be honest on the way there I wasn’t expecting much. I got there and this place was beautiful and the people were so nice and for the price I paid it’s ridiculously cheap" - Stuart2172769 -
Furnace Creek Inn & Ranch Resort
Death Valley, CaliforniaResortGreen fee: $79
What they're saying: "My goal was to keep playing golf when it was cold in Vegas for a few days and why not see Death Valley at the same time. I was really surprised with this gem of a course and loved it." - JimmyMartin2020 -
Woodland Hills Golf Club
Sandusky, MichiganSemi-PrivateGreen fee: $34
What they're saying: "I've been here about 2 times now. Both times were great! Greens were nice, tee boxes were nice. The layout was perfect and the weather was beautiful. What more could you ask for? I went in the morning on weekdays so pace of play isn't an issue" - GolfPass reviewer -
The Sea Ranch Golf Links
Green fee: $80
What they're saying: "I play this course every opportunity I get to visit Sea Ranch...The new management is making great progress in making it even better." - GolfPass reviewer -
Sugarbush Golf & Country Club
Green fee: $50
What they're saying: "It has been a few years since I have played at Sugarbush and I was pleasantly surprised with all of the updates to the course and clubhouse. I would give them 10 stars if possible." - Michael5531396 -
GlenLakes Country Club
Green fee: $80
What they're saying: "Decent course and conditions, had the place to ourselves, an hour plus drive was the only downside." - GolfPass reviewer -
The Club at Lac La Belle
Green fee: $175
What they're saying: "Don’t miss this GEM! Perhaps everyone in Wisconsin knows about it. But as an out-of-state guest I’m glad I found it." - Shane5861704 -
Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois
Urbana, IllinoisPublicGreen fee: $89
What they're saying: "I was able to play at my own pace as a single on a beautiful Sunday morning. The course was perfect. Staff were all friendly. Really nothing bad to say." - alexwright920 -
The Greenbrier Resort - Old White
White Sulphur Springs, West VirginiaResortGreen fee: $560
What they're saying: "Course best condition I’ve seen it. Our caddie Cuz is the man. If (you) book a time here in summer months definitely ask for him" - GolfPass reviewer -
The Highlands Golf Club at Fisher Mountain
Franklin, West VirginiaPublic/ResortGreen fee: $45
What they're saying: "Great layout. Not too long and in very good condition. If you don't know about this place you should. Check it out." - nathanshafer151 -
Founders Club of Pawleys Island
Pawleys Island, South CarolinaSemi-PrivateGreen fee: $85
What they're saying: "There weren’t a lot of people playing so we flew through the course at the pace we like. Would definitely play again." - GolfPass reviewer -
Pronghorn - Nicklaus Course
Bend, OregonPublic/ResortGreen fee: $215
What they're saying: "The starter fit me into a tee time about an hour early to help me with pace of play. It sure did, and I had a fun day enjoying the surroundings of the course and great playing conditions of the course." - GolfPass reviewer -
Viroqua Hills Golf Course
Viroqua, WisconsinSemi-PrivateGreen fee: $60
What they're saying: "The staff and community seem to take great pride in this small town 18 hole course. I play it a few times a year and it never disappoints." - GolfPass reviewer -
Skytop Lodge Golf Course
Skytop, PennsylvaniaResortGreen fee: $66
What they're saying: "Very nice layout, good conditions, friendly staff, and overall enjoyable experience." - tchrist6464 -
Superior National Golf Club at Lutsen
Lutsen, MinnesotaPublic/ResortGreen fee: $109
What they're saying: "Beautiful course and layout with great pace of play. Greens were nice and little bit of brown grass due to lack of rain in area in May, but overall top notch experience." - GolfPass reviewer -
Oshkosh Country Club
Green fee: $78
What they're saying: "I always have a great round here. The staff is helpful, pace of play is fast, the layout is pretty standard, but it is always in excellent condition which helps with the simple blueprint." - CoreyCouturier -
Eagle Trace Golf Course
Morehead, KentuckySemi-PrivateGreen fee: $40
What they're saying: "Course can play long if you want it to. Greens are smooth but not super fast" - April7752174
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