An Introduction to the Best Private Golf Experiences 

Access to a private golf club elevates your game to the next level. Clubs such as these have state-of-the-art facilities such as impressive clubhouses, well-equipped locker rooms and lounges, in-house golf professionals to help you improve your game, and many other amenities that even the best public courses don’t offer. You’re getting to experience what the pros do. 

If you are searching for the best private golf courses to designate as your home course, consider these private golf courses that have been voted best of the best, time and time again.

1. Cassique Golf Course – Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Tom Watson’s design incorporates the natural terrain of Carolina with fundamental links concepts to create a course of exceptional quality. The front nine resembles links more than the back nine, where marshland and parks prevail. In order to improve the playing characteristics as well as the aesthetics of the terrain, Watson brought several tons of earth from the neighboring John’s Island to construct mounds and undulations. 

Cassique isn’t the only private course on Kiawah Island. The River Course also provides legendary play in a marsh and ocean setting. View the private courses Kiawah Island Club Members have access to. 

2. The Cliffs at Mountain Park Golf Course – Marietta, South Carolina

Located in the foothills of Blue Ridge Mountains, this mountain course boasts an elevation change of 100 feet, providing clear views from the tee. A total of 14 of these holes run along the North Saluda River, creating layered views of the scenery. The Cabin, known as the course’s clubhouse, reflects the rustic yet elegant character of the community. 

Get acquainted with the private golf experience at The Cliffs at Mountain Park. 

3. The May River Golf Club – Bluffton, South Carolina

In addition to the impressive layout, the surrounding May River Forest, which is filled with century-old live oak trees, provides the perfect natural backdrop to the course. Despite the wide, inviting fairways, there are bunkers along the way as well as natural waste areas. Aside from gently undulating greens, the course is also surrounded by white sand bunkers and water hazards. It’s back nine consists of equal numbers of par 3s, 4s, and 5s, making for an interesting variety of challenges.

Discover the May River Golf Club and its private course. 

4. The Estancia Club – Scottsdale, Arizona 

Within The Estancia Community, a 600-acre gated community in Scottsdale, Arizona, lies a private golf club located at the base of Pinnacle Peak Mountain. The Tom Fazio course was built to take advantage of the desert and mountain scenery by utilizing the natural aspects of the land.

Find out what it’s like to play 7,314 yards of golf at The Estancia Club. 

5. Rock Creek Cattle Company – Deer Lodge, Montana

A working cattle ranch is the setting for this Tom Doak golf course, designed within the Rock Creek Cattle Company. Amidst more than 30,000 acres of mountain streams and scenic rocky ranges, this golf course epitomizes the lifestyle of the West. 

Discover the beauty of the Rock Creek Cattle Company and its private golf club. 

6. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club – Southampton, New York

One of the first golf courses in the country, this course dates back to 1891. This course, modeled after a links course from the British Isles, has played host to the US Open several times. The first eight holes are played along rolling sandhills, followed by manicured fairways that deem it an American Classic. 

Take a look at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. 

7. The Commons at Ballyneal Golf Club – Holyoke, Colorado

Another links-style course that can’t be missed, The Commons at Ballyneal is distinctly Colorado in style. You won’t find tee markers here, so you’ll have a more intuitive golfing experience. Featuring tricky greens and sandhills, this match play course is an exciting challenge for players.

Tour The Commons Golf Course at Ballyneal.

8. Seminole Golf Club – Juno Beach, Florida

Known for its challenging play, the Seminole Golf Club’s course offers a different wind direction on each hole. As it runs along the Atlantic Ocean, the course has some interesting elevation changes, something unusual for Florida courses. It’s most famous, however, for its pink stucco Clubhouse, which radiates Spanish flair.

See the famous clubhouse and course at Seminole Golf Club.  

9. Cypress Point Club – Pebble Beach, California

Continually rated among the best courses, Cypress Point never fails to impress. A rocky coastline, elegant cypress trees, and sand dunes make this a stunning course with even more captivating play. Rather than forcing its shape, the course follows the natural terrain’s lead. 

Review the course’s playing stats and club information. 

10. Pronghorn Golf Club – Eugene, Oregon

Pronghorn Golf Club is home to two private golf courses designed by top architects Jack Niklaus and Tom Fazio. Each course offers a slightly different experience hole to hole. Both courses, however, have superb landscaping and offer a memorable playing experience.

Explore the two courses at Pronghorn Club Golf. 

11. Ohoopee Match Club – Cobbtown, Georgia

This Georgian golf course is ranked among the nation’s top 100. In addition to its lakeside landscape and sandy fairways, it offers twenty-two holes for a variety of stakes. Due to the hot summers in places such as Georgia, it is only open in the winter and cooler months. A great option for winter golfing for retirees.

 Consider the seasonal golfing experience at Ohoopee Match Club.

12. Whitetail Club Golf Course – McCall, Idaho

There is no better way to describe this breathtaking course than scenic. The lush greens and manicured fairways are framed by open meadows and Idaho’s rugged mountains. It is a great course for players of all levels, with a variety of holes to keep you on your toes.

Get lost in the scenery at Whitetail Golf Course.

13. Victoria National Golf Club – Newburgh, Indiana

Victoria National is renowned for its imaginative use of land, with holes rooted in natural beauty and top-notch design. A number of players love the finishing stretch between holes 14 and 18. In fact, it has been touted as one of the best finishing holes, as it puts their abilities to the test.

Take a look at everything Victoria National has to offer. 

Seven Golf Courses Come Standard When Living on Kiawah Island

Kiawah is home to five public golf courses, seven total to Club Members who also have access to Cassique and River Course. In addition, there is a sophisticated golf center complete with a Motion Puttlab and in-depth swing analysis. Professional golf instruction, group clinics, and Island-wide tournaments enhance the overall golf experience.

Kiawah is special in that it offers a premier golf lifestyle within easy reach, not a venue you need to travel to. From your home, take a walk, ride a bike, or drive your golf cart to some of the best golf courses in the country. 

Although most of the courses on this list require sponsorships for entry, our five public courses include the prestigious Ocean Course — and the two additional private courses come included with Membership to Kiawah Island Club.