From oceanfront fairways to meandering tidal creeks, few settings are as impressive as the top golf courses in the southeast region of the U.S. Luckily, there are plenty of superb golf courses in the area that you can play, too. These are the best public golf courses in the southeast.
Premier Public Golf Courses in the Southeast by State
Florida
TPC Sawgrass
Located in sunny Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, you may be surprised to find that TPC Sawgrass is in fact open to the public. The course is most known as the host of the annual PLAYERS Championship along with its signature hole: the par-3 17th with an island green.
Streamsong Resort
Home to three different public courses, Streamsong Resort is truly an epic golf destination. It’s conveniently located near Orlando, Florida and it’s not too far from Tampa, either. The resort is sprawled across more than 15,000 acres of a rather unique landscape consisting of towering sand dunes and unprecedented contours. Needless to say, it’s unlike any other golf course in the state.
North Carolina
Pinehurst Resort
The Sandhills region of North Carolina is home to some incredible golf courses. Arguably the most impressive can be found at Pinehurst Resort on the fairways of No. 2 and No. 4 – two of the resort’s nine courses. Both courses are no stranger to professional play and, after playing a round on either one, you’ll certainly see why. Tight, firm fairways are met by heavily contoured greens and complex bunkering. And while it might be some of the most difficult golf you’ll play in your life, it’s sure to be some of the most thrilling, too.
Tobacco Road Golf Club
Just a 30-minute drive from Pinehurst will land you at another North Carolina gem: Tobacco Road. Legendary designer Mike Strantz transformed this former tobacco farm into one of the nation’s top 100 public golf courses. The only thing as impressive as the quality of golf at Tobacco Road is its beauty, marked by the stunning contrast of a bright green fairway surrounded by sandy waste areas.
Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club
Pine Needles’ outstanding golf course, designed by Donald Ross in 1927, received some serious air time as host of this year’s U.S. Women’s Open. And if you’re like us, watching it on television only made the urge to travel to the Sandhills even stronger! Pine Needles also boasts a short course dubbed “The Loop” that’s home to three par 3s and one short par 4.
South Carolina
The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island
In the golf-rich state of South Carolina, there’s one course that stands above all others. And that’s the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island. It’s a beautiful beast in every sense of the word. A prevalent ocean wind, firm and fast greens, tight landing areas – the Ocean Course is a test for every aspect of your game.
Harbour Town Golf Links
Harbour Town Golf Links is one of the best public golf courses in the southeast. You’ll likely recognize the bright red and white lighthouse that serves as the background to the 18th hole during the PGA TOUR’s RBC Heritage – South Carolina’s only PGA TOUR event.
Caledonia Golf & Fish Club
From start to finish, every moment is a special one at Caledonia Golf & Fish Club located in charming Pawleys Island, South Carolina. Visitors are greeted with a half-mile-long oak tree tunnel that sets the scene for the remainder of the day. The golf course is tight, lush, and has twists and turns around every corner. After your round, the veranda overlooking the 18th green is the perfect setting for a post-round cocktail.
Georgia
Sea Island Resort
The barrier islands of Georgia are truly celebrated among all the golf courses at Sea Island Resort. The premier golf course of the resort’s three courses is the Seaside Course. It’s a links-style design with its own Lowcountry twist in the form of challenging tidal creeks, salt marshes, and more.
Reynolds Lake Oconee
With six, world-class designs, Reynolds Lake Oconee is one of the great golf meccas of the southeast. Its lakefront setting makes for magnificent views and even greater golf! The signature golf course at the resort is Great Waters. It was originally designed by Jack Nicklaus in 1992 and has recently undergone renovations to restore the course to its original condition.
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