Golfpass Reveals Newest Addition to Golfers’ Choice Lists, Unveiling Best Public Golf Courses in Four Distinct Regions

Photo: Chambers Bay, Courtesy of Chambers Bay 

Inaugural Regional Golfers’ Choice Lists Features Head-to-Head Rankings of Top 25 Public Golf Courses in New England, the Midwest, the Southeast, and the West Coast, as Chosen by Recreational Golfers

No. 1 Ranked Courses by Region:
New England – South Shore Country Club (Massachusetts)
Midwest – The Jewel (Minnesota)
Southeast – Brasstown Valley Resort (Georgia)
West Coast – Chambers Bay (Washington)

Newest Edition of Golfers’ Choice Joins Previously Revealed Lists, Including  ‘Top 50 Public Golf Courses in the U.S.’, ‘Best Warm-Weather Golf Courses’ and ‘Best Public Course in Each State’

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 2, 2026 – GolfPass today revealed a new addition to the popular Golfers’ Choice lists, unveiling the top 25 public golf courses, as chosen by recreational golfers, in four distinct regions of the country – New England, the Midwest, the Southeast, and the West Coast.

The new regional lists allow recreational golfers to view and compare the top-ranked courses by geographical regions, giving golfers another helpful resource when planning trips and booking tee times.

This fourth installment of 2026 Golfers’ Choice lists joins the previously-released Top 50 Public Golf Courses in the U.S., Best Warm-Weather Golf Courses, and Best Public Course in Each State lists, which all live on a dedicated Golfers’ Choice page on GolfPass. Later this month, GolfPass will publish the final edition of Golfers’ Choice 2026 with six additional lists ranking top international golf courses.

The Golfers’ Choice lists are generated by golfer reviews on GolfNow and GolfPass throughout 2025, determining the best public golf courses played by recreational golfers each year. Unlike golf course rankings published by industry insiders, the Golfers’ Choice lists are completely consumer driven – by recreational golfers, for recreational golfers.

“We’re excited about these new lists,” said Jason Scott Deegan, managing editor of GolfPass. “They add another valuable resource for traveling golfers. One of the things I’ve learned over the years in this business is that most golf trips are regional and done by car. These lists compare the top courses in four distinct regions of the country, head-to-head. For example, golfers in Illinois can see which top courses in the neighboring states of Indiana or Wisconsin might be worth driving to for their next vacation.”

Below are the top five courses from each region (click the link in each section to view the complete top 25 list):

NEW ENGLAND

1. South Shore Country Club (Hingham, Massachusetts)
2. Pinehills Golf Club – Nicklaus Course (Plymouth, Massachusetts)
3. Manchester Country Club (Manchester, Connecticut)
4. Jay Peak Golf Course (North Troy, Vermont)
5. North at Bretwood Golf Course (Keene, New Hampshire)

MIDWEST

1. The Jewel (Lake City, Minnesota)
2. Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois (Urbana, Illinois)
3. Sandy Pines Golf Club (DeMotte, Indiana)
4. Mascoutin Golf Club (Berlin, Wisconsin)
5. Chippewa Golf Club (Doylestown, Ohio)

SOUTHEAST

1. Brasstown Valley Resort (Young Harris, Georgia)
2. TPC Louisiana (Avondale, Louisiana)
3. Woodlake Country Club (Vass, North Carolina)
4. Juliette Falls (Dunnellon, Florida)
5. Herons Glen Golf & Country Club (North Fort Myers, Florida)

WEST COAST

1. Chambers Bay (University Place, Washington)
2. Monarch Beach Golf Links (Dana Point, California)
3. Quail Lodge Resort & Golf Club (Carmel, California)
4. Desert Willow Golf Resort - Firecliff Course (Palm Desert, California)
5. Gamble Sands Golf Club - The Sands Course (Brewster, Washington)

The reviews accumulated by GolfPass and GolfNow come from golfers of various ages, handicaps and budgets, making the Golfers’ Choice lists a true showcase of the golf course characteristics that are the most important to avid golfers across the country.

GOLFPASS HELPS GOLFERS PLAY MORE AND BETTER GOLF: Developed in partnership with global golf superstar Rory McIlroy, GolfPass is the only digital golf membership that delivers exclusive content and comprehensive tee-time benefits to help every golfer – from beginner to expert – play more and better golf. GolfPass provides members numerous perks to improve their golf game, enjoy more of the sport they love, and save money on tee times. Members get exclusive tee-time benefits and discounts on GolfNow bookings, including waived fees, tee-time credits, and Tee Time Protection. Additionally, members get unlimited access to more than 4,500 instructional videos, including titles, such as Ask Rory, The Golf Fix, The Next Shot, School of Golf, and The Swing Gym, hosted by top instructors like Devan Bonebrake, Nathalie Sheehan, Martin Hall, and Chris Como, as well as golf fitness expert Don Saladino. GolfPass also offers a selection of exclusive lifestyle content, including shows like Better Off with Hally Leadbetter, Home Course Advantage, My Roots, My Daily Routine, and more. A GolfPass membership is available in North America at GolfPass.com, in the U.K. and Republic of Ireland at GolfPass.co.uk, and in Australia at www.GolfPass.com.au. The GolfPass membership also is available via connected TV, iOS and Android apps.