I’ve been fortunate to play golf in all 50 states and across multiple continents. Along the way, I’ve kept lists—favorites, hidden gems, great experiences—but this one might be the most fun.
It started as a simple idea: my favorite golf courses that I’ve played, one for each letter of the alphabet.
But as I worked through it, I realized one list wasn’t enough. So I expanded it—first to include my favorite courses in the United States and internationally… and then one more layer: my home state of Texas.
Because while golf has taken me around the world, a big part of my story is still rooted right here at home.
Some letters were easy. Others… not so much. (X and Z are still a work in progress.) Three Lists, One Game.
Let’s take a walk through the alphabet.
A
Texas: Austin Golf Club – Minimalist design, firm conditions, and a pure golf experience close to home.
USA: Arcadia Bluffs – Big lake views and bold design that feels like American links golf at its finest.
International: Ardglass – Quirky, windswept, and unforgettable.
B
Texas: Briggs Ranch – Quietly excellent, with variety and challenge in equal measure.
USA: Bandon Dunes – Pure golf. Walking, wind, and unforgettable holes.
International: Royal Birkdale – Championship pedigree with art-deco elegance.
C
Texas: Colonial – Hogan’s Alley. Shot-making and history on every hole.
USA: Cherry Hills – Classic, historic, and demanding.
International: Carnoustie – No charm, no mercy… and absolutely brilliant.
D
Texas: Dallas Athletic Club – A familiar test that rewards precision.
USA: Dragon Ridge – Stunning course in the Las Vegas hills.
International: Dunluce Links (Royal Portrush) – One of the great stages in golf.
E
Texas: Escondido – Immaculate, understated, and consistently excellent. USA: Erin Hills — A walking-only test of scale and subtlety, where the wind and contours shape every shot.
International: Elie – Looking through the periscope on the first tee combined with old-school charm and a routing full of personality.
F
Texas: Falconhead – A Hill Country favorite that’s as fun as it is challenging.
USA: Frog Hollow – A lesser-known course that delivers real shot value.
International: Formby – Firm, fast, and beautifully framed.
G
Texas: Gleneagle CC – A steady, enjoyable home-state test.
USA: Grand Bear – Nicklaus in the Mississippi woods—strategic and serene.
International: Gleneagles (King’s Course) – Inland golf at its finest.
H
Texas: Horseshoe Bay (Ram Rock) – Dramatic and demanding through the rocks.
USA: Haig Point – Ferry access and a memorable setting.
International: Hillside – Quietly exceptional next door to Birkdale.
I
USA: Inn of the Mountain Gods – Mountain golf with dramatic elevation changes.
(Still searching internationally—and in Texas…)
J
Texas: Jimmy Clay – A classic Austin municipal with plenty of history.
USA: The Judge (RTJ Trail) – A dramatic start and a strong finish.
International: Jockey Club – A unique and memorable stop.
K
Texas: Kingwood (Forest) – Tree-lined and traditional.
USA: Kiawah Island (Ocean) – A windswept coastal test where the water, the wind and the wildlife —are constant companions.
International: Kauri Cliffs – Simply breathtaking.
L
Texas: Lochinvar – Immaculate conditions and understated excellence.
International: (Open—for now)
M
Texas: Memorial Park – A modern municipal done right.
USA: Mystic Creek – Remote, rugged, and creative.
International: Royal Melbourne – Strategic perfection.
N
Texas: National (Texas) – A fun course in Willis and a solid addition to the list.
USA: Nag’s Head – Coastal charm and character in North Carolina.
International: New Ocean Club – Resort golf at its best.
O
Texas: Oak Hills – Classic design and timeless feel.
USA: Olympic Club – Tight, demanding, and historic.
International: The Old Course (St. Andrews) – Golf’s spiritual home.
P
Texas: Pecan Valley (closed) – A nod to history and great memories.
USA: Pebble Beach – The par 3, #7. The walk up 18 says it all.
International: Portstewart – One of the great front nines in golf.
Q
Texas: The Quarry – Unique, memorable, and fun.
USA: Quail Hollow (Ohio) – A quiet standout.
International: (Still looking…)
R
Texas: River Place – Tight, scenic, and demanding.
USA: Rising Sun – A hidden gem on a dude ranch in Montana.
International: Royal County Down – As good as it gets… and the winner of a very crowded “Royal R” battle.
S
Texas: Spanish Oaks – Refined, strategic, and consistently excellent.
USA: Sand Hills – Minimalism at its finest.
International: St. Andrews Beach – Fun, creative, and pure in the Melbourne sand belt.
T
Texas: TPC San Antonio (Oaks) – Big, bold, and championship-ready.
USA: Torrey Pines (South) – A test of patience and power.
International: Te Arai (South) – Modern design with timeless feel.
U
Texas & USA: UT Golf Club – The University of Texas home course that never disappoints.
International: (Open)
V
Texas & USA: Vaaler Creek – Hill Country charm and playability.
International: (Open)
W
Texas: Walden on Lake Conroe – Fun, playable, and full of variety. USA: Webhannet CC – A relaxed New England gem, dating to 1901, where the ocean is never far away.
International: Waitangi – Coastal views that earned it a nickname, “The Torrey Pines of New Zealand.”
X
Still searching… I’m told there is a course in Spain. I’m sure it’s lovely.
Y
Texas: Yaupon – Familiar, challenging, and full of memories.
USA: Yellowstone CC – A strong entry for a tough letter.
International: (Open)
Z
The hunt continues… I have not played a “Z” course
Texas: ZBoaz - near Ft. Worth is gone—and given its “worst course in America” reputation, that may be just as well that I didn’t make it there. International: Zala Springs (Hungary) – A modern addition to the list… and a good excuse for a future trip.
Top 5 that Almost made it
If I’m being honest, this might be my favorite part of the list. Because this is where the real debates happened.
Some letters were crowded. Others… not so much.
And then there’s the “Royal problem.”
The “Royal R Problem” (Aberdeen, Dornoch, Lytham, Belfast, Liverpool).
At some point, I realized I had too many “Royals” and only one letter “R.” That’s not a typo—that’s a crisis. Royal County Down got the nod (barely), but leaving out Aberdeen, Dornoch, Lytham, Belfast, and Liverpool feels like leaving major championship venues on the cutting room floor. If there were a separate “Royal” category, it might be the strongest list of all.
Pacific Dunes (Oregon)
Yes, I already have Bandon Dunes on the list—but Pacific Dunes is every bit its equal. Depending on the wind (and your mood), you could argue it’s the best course on the property. The routing along the coastline is spectacular, and the variety of holes is as good as it gets anywhere in the world.
The Loop (Michigan)
This one stings a little. The Loop is one of the most creative golf experiences I’ve ever had—a reversible course that plays in two completely different directions on alternate days. It held the “L” spot for a long time… until a recent round at Lochinvar reminded me just how good understated excellence can be.
Bethpage Black (New York)
“Warning: The Black Course Is An Extremely Difficult Course…”—and they’re not kidding. This is championship golf in its purest public form. It just happens to fall under “B,” which might be the most competitive letter on the board.
Teeth of the Dog (Dominican Republic)
For a long time, this was my international “T.” Ocean holes, Pete Dye design, and a setting that feels like golf on the edge of the world. But then came Te Arai. Sometimes a new experience doesn’t just join the list—it reshuffles it.
Final Thoughts
Even after 500+ courses… the alphabet still wins a few battles. What I love about this list isn’t just the courses—it’s the memories attached to them.
The people I’ve played with. The weather that shaped the round. The shots that somehow worked… and the many that didn’t.
Golf gives us a reason to explore. To travel. To connect.
And sometimes, it even gives us a way to organize a lifetime of experiences—from Texas… to the United States… to the world… from A-Z.
Our next trip is to the American Club in Kohler, WI. We are playing Whistling Straits, the Irish Course, the River, the Meadows and Blackwolf Run. Could any of these replace current letters? Maybe….
Let me know what your list looks like!
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