Donald Ross

Pinehurst, NC

The most famous course in America

Southern Pines, NC

Pine Needles in Southern Pines, North Carolina, is a classic Donald Ross design that dates to the 1920s and has become one of the most important courses in women's golf. The course has hosted four U.S. Women's Opens, most recently in 2022, along with the 2019 U.S. Senior Women's Open. It's a public course with a traditional Sandhills setting of rolling terrain, pine trees and sandy soil. Kyle Franz completed a significant restoration in 2017, bringing back many of the characteristics of Ross's original design while updating the bunkers, greens and surrounding areas. The course is known for its excellent green complexes, strategic bunkering and the way it uses the natural movement of the property. Pine Needles also has a unique place in golf history thanks to Peggy Kirk Bell, who owned the resort for decades and became one of the most influential figures in women's golf. She helped make Pine Needles a major destination for women's golf instruction and was the first woman inducted into the World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame.

Bedford, PA

The golf course at Omni Bedford Springs in Bedford, Pennsylvania, has one of the longest histories in American golf. Spencer Oldham laid out the first holes in the 1890s, A.W. Tillinghast added work in the following decades, and Donald Ross reworked the course in the 1920s, leaving a layout with three separate design hands in it. The routing follows a narrow mountain valley with Shober's Run crossing it repeatedly, so the golf is dictated by the creek, the hillsides and a set of small, firm greens. It plays as a par 71 and rewards accuracy over length. Forse Design completed a full restoration in 2007, recovering original green edges, bunkering and the Ross features that had been lost over decades of change. The course is open to resort guests.

Colorado Springs, CO

The East Course at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs opened in 1918 as a Donald Ross design, built into the foothills of Cheyenne Mountain at about 6,200 feet. Robert Trent Jones Sr. later reworked and expanded the club's golf, and the East retains Ross bones with Jones-era changes. Altitude and slope define the golf. The ball carries farther than at sea level, and putts break toward the plains no matter how the green looks, which is the local advice every visitor is given. Greens are firm and the routing climbs and falls with the mountain. The course hosted the 1959 U.S. Amateur, won by Jack Nicklaus, the 1995 and 2011 U.S. Women's Opens, and the U.S. Senior Open in 2008 and 2018. Play is available to resort guests.

Southern Pines, NC

Mid Pines in Southern Pines, North Carolina, opened in 1921 as a Donald Ross design and sits across the road from Pine Needles under the same ownership. The routing has never been altered, so the course still plays the way Ross laid it out. Kyle Franz completed a restoration in 2013, removing decades of tree growth and irrigated rough, widening the sandy edges and recovering the original green shapes. The result is firm, fast turf, waste-sand bunkering with native wire grass, and approach shots that can be run into the greens. It plays as a par 72 at a modest yardage, is comfortably walkable, and is open to public and resort play through the Pine Needles and Mid Pines operation.

Southern Pines, NC

Donald Ross classic in the Sandhills: one of the region's oldest courses

Denver, CO

Wellshire Golf Course is an 18-hole public course in Denver, Colorado, that opened in 1926. It is the only course west of the Mississippi designed by Donald Ross, and its tree-lined fairways give the municipal layout a country club feel. The course sits at 3333 South Colorado Boulevard and is run by the City and County of Denver. Mature trees frame most holes, and the routing has kept its original Ross layout through nearly a century of play. The property also includes Hogan's Alley, a par-3 junior course, along with a driving range, putting green, and a chipping green with practice bunkers.

Bolton Landing, NY

Donald Ross masterpiece on Lake George

Last verified 2026-09-17

Hyde Park, MA

George Wright Golf Course opened in 1938 in Hyde Park, a Boston neighborhood, after Works Progress Administration funding helped complete construction on a rugged, boulder-strewn site. Donald Ross designed the par-70 municipal course, carving fairways and greens around granite outcroppings and mature woodland that give it unusually dramatic character for a city-owned facility. Architect Mark Mungeam has led restoration work aimed at preserving Ross's original design intent. The course remains open to the public under the City of Boston Parks and Recreation Department.

Bretton Woods, NH

The Mount Washington Course at Omni Mount Washington Resort is an 18-hole resort golf course in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. Designed by Donald Ross and completed in 1915, the par-72 course measures 7,004 yards from the back tees with views of the Presidential Range. It was restored to Ross's original plans by architect Brian Silva and reopened in 2008, and has hosted multiple New Hampshire Opens and the 2010 New England Open Championship.

Last verified 2026-09-17

Galloway, NJ

The Pines Course at Seaview Golf Resort is an 18-hole course in Galloway Township, designed by William Flynn and Howard Toomey and opened in 1929, with a second nine added by William and David Gordon in 1957. The par-71 layout plays about 6,731 yards from the back tees through southern New Jersey pine forest, with narrow bentgrass fairways and well-guarded landing areas. The Pines is one of two 18-hole courses at Seaview, alongside the Bay Course, and is open to resort guests and the public.

Last verified 2026-09-17

French Lick, IN

The Donald Ross Course at French Lick Resort is located in French Lick, Indiana, in the rolling hills of the southern part of the state, part of a historic resort dating to the early 1900s. Donald Ross designed the course for resort founder Tom Taggart, and it opened in 1917; it hosted the 1924 PGA Championship, won by Walter Hagen. After decades of wear, the course underwent a $3.5 million restoration completed in 2006 by Lee Schmidt of Schmidt-Curley Design, working with the Donald Ross Society from original hand-drawn Ross sketches found on site, rebuilding 29 fairway bunkers and restoring square, undulating greens. The course operates as part of the French Lick Resort alongside the Pete Dye Course, open to resort guests and the public for daily-fee play.

Jeffersonville, PA

Jeffersonville Golf Club is a public 18-hole course in Jeffersonville, Pennsylvania, owned and run by West Norriton Township. Designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1931, the course was built on the site of a former horse racing track; the 11th and 16th holes sit on the old oval. Ron Pritchard restored the course in 2000, rebuilding more than 40 bunkers. The layout has small, undulating greens set into natural ground. It plays to a par of 70 and 6,430 yards from the longest tees, with a rating of 71.0 and slope of 136.

South Yarmouth, MA

Bass River Golf Course is a public course in South Yarmouth, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod, founded in 1900 as a private nine-hole club. In 1914, architect Donald Ross was hired to redesign and expand the course. The par-72 layout measures 6,138 yards from the back tees, with wide fairways and small, undulating greens typical of Ross's early 1900s work. The par-3 ninth, playing 169 yards across marshland to an elevated green with river views, is generally considered the signature hole. Bass River is owned by the town of Yarmouth and run as one of three municipal golf properties in town; it marked its 125th anniversary in 2025.

Last verified 2026-09-17

Boston, MA

William J. Devine Golf Course occupies part of Franklin Park in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood and is the second-oldest public golf course in the United States, established in 1896. The course grew from an original four holes to a full 18-hole layout, with Donald Ross responsible for a later redesign of the routing. The course is tied to several figures in early American golf: Willie Campbell was its first head professional, Bobby Jones played there as a young golfer, and George Grant, credited with inventing the golf tee, was an early player and advocate for the game. It was renamed in 1967 for William J. Devine, a former Boston parks commissioner. Devine remains a City of Boston-operated public course, playing to a par of 70 over roughly 6,000 yards, and hosts tens of thousands of rounds a year at municipal rates. It has also hosted the Massachusetts Amateur championship.

Providence, RI

Triggs Memorial Golf Course is an 18-hole, par-72 municipal course in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island, owned by the city's Parks Department. Designed by Donald Ross, it was built on the former Obadiah Brown Farm and opened in 1932-1933, making it the only public Ross design in Rhode Island. Golf.com has ranked Triggs among the top 14 municipal courses in the United States, and Golf Magazine has listed it among the best municipal courses in America. FCG Associates has operated the course since 1990, restoring bunkers and greens to Ross's original contours.

Last verified 2026-09-17

Willoughby Hills, OH

Manakiki Golf Course is a public 18-hole course in Willoughby Hills operated by Cleveland Metroparks within the North Chagrin Reservation. Designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1928, the course occupies the former Howard Hanna estate, whose surviving structures now house the clubhouse. The tree-lined, hilly routing features back-to-back par-5s and two dramatic canyon crossings, and it was extensively restored in the early 1990s to recover Ross's original design intent.

Pinehurst, NC

Classic Donald Ross at Pinehurst: walk-on welcome

Wayland, MA

Sandy Burr Country Club is located along the Sudbury River in Wayland, Massachusetts, about 16 miles west of Boston. The club formed in 1921 on land combining two former farms, and Donald Ross served as the designing architect, with the first nine holes completed in 1923 and the second nine finished in 1924. The course occupies a compact, walkable routing with short green-to-tee connections rather than a sprawling resort-style layout, and several holes run along low, marshy ground near the river. From the back tees it plays to roughly 6,427 yards at a par of 72, with quick, sloping greens serving as the course's main defense. Owned by the same family for four generations, Sandy Burr operates on a daily green fee basis with an "Inner Club" available for members seeking competitive play, and it regularly hosts Massachusetts Golf Association events.

Manchester, CT

Manchester Country Club is a private club in Manchester, Connecticut, tracing its origin to 1917 when it opened along a reservoir with a design credited to Tom Bendelow and Devereux Emmet. The course was reshaped in 1935 by A.W. Tillinghast, giving it the routing largely still in play today. The layout follows an old New England style, using natural land contours rather than heavy earthmoving, with small, well-guarded greens and several blind tee shots. Two pairs of par fives and a mix of short and mid-length par fours give the course variety without relying on great length. Manchester Country Club operates as a semi-private club with a membership base and outside events including weddings and tournaments; it plays to a par of 72 at roughly 6,300 yards from the main tees.

Rye, NH

Donald Ross's 1898 New Hampshire Seacoast classic: ocean views, Isles of Shoals backdrop, and a landmark of early American resort golf.

Fort Myers, FL

Fort Myers Country Club, known locally as The Fort, is a public course owned by the City of Fort Myers along the palm-lined McGregor Boulevard. Designed by Donald Ross and built beginning in December 1916, the course opened in December 1917 as the Fort Myers Golf and Yacht Club, making it one of the oldest golf courses on Florida's west coast. Construction was carried out largely by hand and mule teams under Ross associate James B. McGovern. In the 1920s the club counted Thomas Edison and Henry Ford among its early members and neighbors, and its clubhouse restaurant is named for Edison. The course underwent a significant renovation in 2014 intended to preserve Ross's original character while modernizing conditions. Walking is permitted at any time, and the course today offers six sets of tees ranging from roughly 4,300 to 6,600 yards, continuing to operate as a public, city-run facility with a full pro shop and lesson program.

Portsmouth, RI

Montaup Country Club is an 18-hole semi-private course at 500 Anthony Road in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, near Newport. The course is open year-round. It is mostly flat and open, with coastal winds from Narragansett Bay providing much of its challenge. Montaup allows both member and public play, and a clubhouse hosts outings and events. Its waterside location on Aquidneck Island sets it apart among Rhode Island's semi-private clubs.

Galloway, NJ

Donald Ross's 1914 links gem near Atlantic City

Asheville, NC

The Omni Grove Park Inn course sits on the eastern slope of Sunset Mountain within the historic Grove Park Inn estate in Asheville. Donald Ross renovated the layout in the 1920s and gave it the routing still in play today through the Blue Ridge foothills. The par-70 course threads tree-lined, hilly corridors with significant elevation change and long views back toward the Arts and Crafts hotel. At roughly 6,100 yards it is short by modern standards, but uneven lies and steeply elevated approaches make length beside the point. It is the mountain counterpoint to Ross's flatter Sandhills work.

Newton, MA

Newton Commonwealth Golf Course is an 18-hole public course in Newton, Massachusetts, about ten miles from downtown Boston. It began as a nine-hole course in 1897 under the name Commonwealth Club and was expanded and redesigned by Newton resident and architect Donald Ross in the 1920s. The course became public in the late 1970s when the city of Newton purchased the financially struggling private club. It is known for quick greens and relatively narrow, tree-lined fairways, with water and sand bunkers that come into play often, rewarding careful course management over pure length. The course is managed by Sterling Golf Management for the city and is open to residents and visitors, with online tee time booking available seven days ahead. A snack shop on site serves food and beer, and outing packages are offered for groups.

Hot Springs, VA

America's oldest first tee in continuous use

Coral Gables, FL

The Biltmore Golf Course is part of the historic Biltmore Hotel complex in Coral Gables, Florida, developed by George Merrick as part of his 1920s vision for the city. The course was designed by Donald Ross, with ground broken in 1924 and play beginning in 1925 and 1926. The layout retains much of Ross's original routing, including 84 of its 85 original bunkers, restored in a 2007 project led by architect Brian Silva using Ross's original plans and aerial photographs. Bermuda fairways and rebuilt greens now stretch to more than 7,000 yards from the back tees. The course operates as a resort and municipal facility tied to the Biltmore Hotel, open to hotel guests and the public, with a pro shop and practice areas on site.

Granville, OH

Denison Golf Club sits in Granville, Ohio, a village east of Columbus, and was designed in 1924 by Scottish architect Donald Ross, opening for play in 1925. Ross laid out the course for local businessman John Sutphin Jones alongside the Granville Inn, using the area's hilly, wooded terrain rather than building artificial hazards. The 18-hole course plays 6,559 yards to a par of 71, with 63 bunkers and elevated, undulating greens; the 18th green sits about 125 feet above the fairway with views of the Welsh Hills. Denison University acquired the course in 2014, and it remains open to public play with four sets of tees, a clubhouse snack bar, and a pro shop.

Norwich, CT

Tucked into the hills of eastern Connecticut, this historic municipal layout has served Norwich golfers for generations. The course plays over rolling terrain with mature trees lining most fairways, demanding accuracy off the tee. At under 6,000 yards from the tips, it rewards shot-making over raw power. The greens are modest in size but can be tricky when the wind picks up. Ideal for beginners and high-handicappers looking for an affordable, walkable round in a classic New England setting. Green fees are among the most reasonable in the state.

Portsmouth, NH

Pease Golf Course occupies land in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, that has been used for golf since 1901, when the first nine holes were designed by Alexander Findlay as part of what was then Portsmouth Country Club. A second nine was added in 1931, and the Air Force later operated the site as Pease Air Force Base Golf Course before it passed to the Pease Development Authority in 1991. The facility today has 27 holes across three connected nines, with combined 18-hole routings playing to a par around 71. The layout runs through wooded terrain with streams crossing several holes. Pease is open to public play with online and phone tee time booking, a large driving range, indoor golf simulators, and Grill 28, a year-round public restaurant and bar on site.

Lancaster, SC

Lancaster Golf Club is on the outskirts of Lancaster, South Carolina, operated by Leroy Springs & Company along with three other area courses. The front nine was originally laid out in 1939 by Donald Ross, while the back nine was added later by architect Russell Breeden, giving the course a more open front and a tighter, tree-lined back. The 18-hole course offers membership plans, but daily tee times are open to the public. The club hosts outings and tournaments on a covered patio area. Green fees vary by day and time, with senior and junior discounts offered.

Methuen, MA

Merrimack Valley Golf Club is a semi-private 18-hole, par-70 course in Methuen, Massachusetts, originally designed by Donald Ross in 1906 and owned by the Kattar family since 1971. The course was rebuilt in 2008 by architect George F. Sargent Jr., who preserved several Ross holes and built the rest in that style; it plays 6,016 yards from the gold tees with a 70.0 rating and 128 slope. The property covers about 150 acres of rolling ground with views toward the wooded hills of southern New Hampshire, and the card carries seven par threes. The clubhouse, added with the renovation, looks out over 14 of the 18 holes, and there is a short-game area with a practice bunker but no driving range.

Last verified 2026-09-17

Groton, CT

Shennecossett Golf Course is a public 18-hole golf course in Groton, Connecticut, founded in 1898 and designed by Donald Ross. Set along Long Island Sound and the Thames River, the course offers coastal views from several holes, including sightings of tall ships and submarines on the water. The Town of Groton owns and operates the historic layout as one of the state's most recognized public courses. It remains a fixture of New England golf history along the Connecticut shoreline.

Poland Spring, ME

Poland Spring Golf Course is an 18-hole, par-71 resort course in Poland Spring, Maine, part of the Poland Spring Resort and listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. Originally laid out in 1896 by Arthur Fenn, America's first home-bred golf professional, the course was redesigned into its current 18-hole routing by Donald Ross in 1915, one of his earliest Maine designs. It plays 6,178 yards with a slope of 125 and features velvet bentgrass greens.

Last verified 2026-09-17

Westerly, RI

Winnapaug Country Club is a public 18-hole golf course in Westerly, Rhode Island, along the state's southern coast. The course was designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1922, with fairways that run near Winnapaug Pond and views toward the Atlantic Ocean. The club offers online tee-time booking with dynamic pricing and a mobile app for reservations and deals. A clubhouse restaurant overlooks the pond and 18th hole and is used for both dining and private events. Winnapaug also offers seasonal memberships in addition to daily public play, with the golf season running roughly from April through Thanksgiving weekend.

Last verified 2026-09-17

Beverly, MA

Classic Donald Ross design on the North Shore.

Wilmington, NC

Wilmington Municipal Golf Course, known locally as the Muni, was designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1926 in Wilmington, North Carolina. The 18-hole layout plays to a par of 71 and follows classic Ross routing principles, with USGA rules governing all play. Owned and operated by the City of Wilmington's Parks and Recreation Department, the course is public and open to residents and visitors, with tee times bookable up to a week in advance. The facility includes a driving range, putting and chipping greens, and a pro shop, and local residents of New Hanover, Pender, and Brunswick counties receive discounted rates.

Hibbing, MN

Mesaba Country Club is located on East 51st Street in Hibbing, Minnesota, on the state's Iron Range in the northern part of the state. The club traces its founding to 1921 and features an 18-hole course lined with aspen, birch, and white pine, with winding fairways and undulating greens. Mesaba operates as a semi-private club that welcomes public play, with guest fee schedules for both local and out-of-area visitors. The club includes a pro shop, driving range, and restaurant and bar used for weddings and other events.

Monroe, NC

Monroe Country Club is a public, city-associated course just south of downtown Monroe, North Carolina, on U.S. 601. Its front nine was laid out by Donald Ross and opened in 1936, built in part with federal relief funding during the Depression era; it is often cited as the last nine-hole course Ross designed. A back nine by architect Tom Jackson was added in the early 1980s, giving the course its current 18-hole routing. The Ross nine has small, subtly contoured greens and modest elevation change, while the Jackson nine opens into broader parkland corridors with more pronounced doglegs. The course plays to roughly 6,725 yards from the longest tees and is open daily for public play, with practice greens, a driving range, and a pro shop on site.

Bethlehem, NH

Maplewood Golf Club is set in the White Mountains of Bethlehem, New Hampshire, on grounds that once surrounded the historic Maplewood Hotel, a summer resort dating to 1876. Golf began here as a nine-hole course in 1904 and was expanded to its current 18-hole routing by Donald Ross in 1914. The layout runs through pine woods and rolling terrain at elevation, and includes an unusual par-6 hole. The 1889 Casino building, restored after a 1960s fire destroyed the main hotel, now serves as the pro shop and clubhouse. The club is semi-private but markets itself as open to the public, with tee times, group stay-and-play packages, a chipping and putting green, and a restaurant on site. It operates seasonally in the warmer months typical of the region.

Orono, ME

Penobscot Valley Country Club, built in 1924 in Orono, is one of the northernmost Donald Ross designs in the country, laid out along the Penobscot River on sandy, well-drained soil. The par-72 course has an open, links-like feel, with sight lines that reveal much of the property from nearly any point on the grounds. It has hosted more than ten Maine Amateur championships, reflecting its long standing in the state's competitive golf. The club offers public access today, supported by a practice range and short-game facilities near Bangor.

El Paso, TX

Painted Dunes Desert Golf Course is a public 27-hole facility in El Paso, Texas, at the foothills of the Franklin Mountains. It was designed by architects Ken Dye and Jeffrey Brauer and is arranged as three nine-hole loops, named East, West and North, that can be combined into different 18-hole rounds, which is why the club does not publish a single par or yardage figure for the whole property. The layout is carved from the Chihuahuan Desert and features undulating greens and rolling terrain that reward accurate approach shots, with native desert plants and wildlife visible throughout the round. The facility includes a golf shop, a bar and grill, and hosts tournaments, outings and private events such as weddings. Tee times can be booked online, and the course offers tiered rates for weekday and weekend play, seniors, twilight rounds, active military and first responders.

Barnwell, SC

Sweetwater Country Club is a semi-private course in Barnwell with one of the oldest nines in the state. The property was donated to Barnwell County in 1933 for a public course, and A. Kemp designed the original nine, built with WPA labor. Russell Breeden designed the second nine, which opened in 1977. The hilly par-71 layout plays to about 6,248 yards with small, fast greens and a pair of downhill par 3s over water at the 10th and 14th.

Saco, ME

Biddeford-Saco Country Club is located in Saco, Maine, near Old Orchard Beach, and has operated since the early 1920s. Donald Ross laid out the original course, of which only nine holes were built at first; architect Brian Silva completed the back nine and renovated the clubhouse in the mid-1980s, with the full 18 holes finished by 1991. The course runs through mature pines on sandy coastal soil and totals around 6,300 to 6,354 yards depending on the tee markers, playing to a par of 70 or 71. The clubhouse occupies a refurbished farmhouse that once sat on the property. Biddeford-Saco is a semi-private, member-owned club that also welcomes public play, with tee times bookable a few days in advance for guests. It has hosted the Maine Amateur Championship on multiple occasions and offers a driving range and practice facilities.

River Vale, NJ

River Vale Country Club is a semi-private course in northern Bergen County, owned by the Township of River Vale and open to public daily-fee play alongside seasonal members. The course dates to 1931 and was designed by Orrin Smith, who spent years working with Donald Ross. The par-72 layout plays 6,504 yards from the blue tees, with tree-lined fairways that punish wayward driving on a moderate-length, classic routing. It has been voted the best public golf course in Bergen County by readers of 201 Magazine multiple years running. The facility includes a Toptracer driving range, and the bar and restaurant are open during the golf season.

Hendersonville, TN

Country Hills Golf Club is a public 18-hole, par-70 golf course in Hendersonville, Tennessee, designed by Leon Howard, located about 20 minutes north of Nashville. The course plays to 6,174 yards from the longest tees over rolling, hilly terrain, with narrow fairways on the front nine and more hazards on the hillier back nine.

Cape Neddick, ME

Golf began here around 1900 on John Pickering's Cape Neddick estate, and by 1919 the family had engaged Donald Ross, whose 18-hole expansion the club dates to that era. Financial trouble around 1950 cost the club nine of those holes, and it played as a nine-holer for roughly half a century. In 1997 the shareholders set out to restore the lost holes, only to find much of the old ground had become federally protected wetlands, so they hired Brian Silva - a close student of Ross - to build a companion nine in the same spirit, weighing nine layouts before settling on one. The reconfigured course reopened in 1999 as a semi-private 18, and the routing today interleaves surviving Ross corridors with Silva's newer holes rather than splitting them into separate nines. It measures 6,257 yards at par 70 over bentgrass, rated 70.1 with a slope of 125, so the interest comes from angles, green contour and the short-game demands of a Ross-lineage design rather than length.

Last verified 2026-09-05

Pocono Manor, PA

Pocono Manor Golf Course, known as the East Course, sits on a high plateau in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, and grew out of a resort founded by Philadelphia Quakers in the early 1900s. Donald Ross laid out the original nine holes in 1911, and they opened for play in 1912; William Flynn added the remaining holes across Route 314 during the 1920s to complete the 18-hole routing. The course rolls across thin-soiled pasture and second-growth woodland, with the famous 77-yard downhill par-3 seventh among its most recognizable holes. From the back tees it plays to a par of 72 over about 6,063 yards. The Inn at Pocono Manor closed after a 2019 fire, but the golf course reopened in 2020 and operates today as a public, daily-fee facility under Oliphant Golf Management, with memberships also offered.

Buck Hill Falls, PA

Buck Hill Golf Club is located in Buck Hill Falls, Pennsylvania, in the Pocono Mountains, on wooded mountainside terrain within a longtime cottage and resort community founded by Philadelphia Quakers in the early 1900s. Robert White laid out the original nine holes in 1907, and Donald Ross added two more nines about twenty-five years later, giving the property its current 27-hole configuration across the White, Red and Blue courses. The Ross-designed courses underwent a multi-year restoration completed in 2022 with architect Rees Jones. Play is available to members and guests of the Buck Hill Falls community, with practice areas and a clubhouse serving all three nines.

Elk Rapids, MI

Elk Rapids Golf Club is a public nine hole course on the west shore of Elk Lake in Elk Rapids, Michigan. Village residents built the course to draw tourists after voters approved a bond for the project in 1922, and architect Donald Ross designed the layout on a former farm site the following year. Construction began in 1923 and the course held its grand opening in July 1924, making it one of the older Ross designs still in operation. The par 36 routing plays a little over 3,000 yards and follows a classic out and back links style along the lakefront, taking about two hours to walk. The club is member owned through stock shares but has historically kept the course open for public play as well. A lakefront clubhouse includes a pro shop and patio space, and the course is recognized as a Michigan historical site.

Waynesville, NC

The Waynesville Inn and Golf Club dates to 1926, when Donald Ross designed its original nine. In 2023 Bobby Weed combined the old 27 holes into one par-72 18-hole course that keeps the Ross character. The property has 72 guest rooms, a range, a short game area and a par-3 course, and tee times are open to guests and the public.

Sarasota, FL

Historic 27-hole municipal course in Sarasota designed by Donald Ross, recently renovated. One of Florida's most beloved public golf facilities.

Winston-Salem, NC

Reynolds Park Golf Course is a public, city-owned course in Winston-Salem that opened in 1930. The par-71 layout measures 6,534 yards but plays longer, with rolling ground, mature trees and creeks crossing many holes. The 18th climbs to an elevated green. It is walkable and has a range and short game area.

Farmville, NC

Farmville Country Club dates to 1935 and is tied to a Donald Ross design. The par-71 course covers 6,206 yards on about 125 acres off Highway 258. It has few bunkers, and water comes into play on several holes. The club takes public play and has a practice range and putting green.

Asheville, NC

Asheville Municipal Golf Course is an 18-hole Donald Ross design that opened in 1927 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The front nine plays wide open, while the back nine is tighter and more wooded, rewarding accuracy. Hurricane Helene damaged the front nine, which is serving as a disc golf course during restoration, and the back nine remains open for regular golf. Check with the course for current conditions before booking.

Williamston, NC

Roanoke Country Club in Williamston, North Carolina, is a semi-private club in the coastal plain of the northeastern part of the state. The 18-hole course was designed by North Carolina architect Gene Hamm and opened in the mid-1950s, with sources citing 1954 or 1955. The layout is set on rolling terrain relative to the surrounding flat coastal plain, offering multiple tee options for a range of golfers. Note: this club is distinct from the similarly named Roanoke Country Club in Roanoke, Virginia, an older A.W. Tillinghast design founded in 1899.

Sanford, NC

Sanford Golf Course is a city-owned public course in Sanford, just off US 1 between Raleigh and Pinehurst. It is a 1934 Donald Ross design with pine-lined fairways, and Buffalo Creek runs along the back nine. It has a large range, chipping green, practice bunker and putting green.

Lee, MA

Donald Ross's 9-hole design in Lee, Greenock Country Club, features classic New England terrain with elevation changes and views of the surrounding Berkshires.

Elizabethton, TN

Elizabethton Golf Course is an 18 hole public facility in Elizabethton, Tennessee. The course was designed by D.J. DeVictor and opened in its current form in 1973. It plays to a par of 72. The layout is situated in the rolling hills and foothills of Northeast Tennessee. It features quick greens and natural areas that reflect the beauty of Southern Appalachia. The property includes a fully stocked golf shop and ample practice facilities for visitors. Golfers of all levels can enjoy the scenic views.

Laurinburg, NC

Scotch Meadows Country Club in Laurinburg traces back to a Donald Ross design and was later renovated by Russell Breeden. The par-72 course plays 6,603 yards with a 129 slope, Bermuda fairways and greens. It takes public play and has a range and pro shop.

Norfolk, VA

Sewells Point Golf Course is an 18-hole Navy MWR course on Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, established in 1927 and designed by Donald Ross. The course uses Champion Hybrid Bermuda greens and plays to a par of 71, with a fully stocked pro shop, club fittings and PGA lessons available by appointment. While it operates on base, Sewells Point is open to the public in addition to hosting military outings and command events. Tee times can be booked online, with hours running from 7 a.m. to dusk on weekdays and slightly earlier on weekends. Golf, membership and lesson rate sheets are posted through the Navy MWR website.

Durham, NC

Hillandale Golf Course is Durham's oldest public golf facility. The club was founded in 1911, and the current George Cobb layout opened in 1961 after the course moved to its present site. The par-71 course plays 6,339 yards. It has a driving range and practice areas and hosts First Tee and charity events.

Manning, SC

Wyboo Golf Club is located in Manning, South Carolina, in the Santee-Cooper golf region, adjacent to the Deercreek Plantation community and near Wyboo Plantation. The public course plays 7,205 yards to a par of 72 across 18 holes. The layout sits within the low country landscape typical of the Santee-Cooper lakes area, and the club is a separate facility from the neighboring Players Course at Wyboo. Wyboo Golf Club offers a full-service clubhouse, tee time booking, and membership options alongside daily public play.

Warwick, RI

Goddard Memorial State Golf Course is a nine-hole course within Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick, Rhode Island, and is the only state-run golf course in Rhode Island. It opened in 1939 and plays to 3,021 yards with a par of 36 from its longest tees. The course sits amid the park's broad lawns and mixed forest of trees gathered from around the world, alongside bridle trails and picnic areas that make Goddard one of the state's most visited metropolitan parks. Operated by Rhode Island State Parks, the course offers walkable, low-key public golf in a historic parkland setting.

Francestown, NH

Crotched Mountain Golf Club is an 18 hole public course in Francestown, New Hampshire. The front nine was designed by Donald Ross and dates back to 1922, while the back nine was added later to complete the layout. The Crotched Mountain facility is set in the rolling hills of the Monadnock region and offers views of the surrounding mountains. The course plays to a par of 70 and features excellent greens and a challenging design that reflects its Donald Ross heritage. The property also includes a driving range and a historic tavern.

Mccall, ID

A golf course in Mccall, ID. McCall Golf Course offers a pleasant golfing experience.

Holyoke, MA

Originally designed by Donald Ross, Wyckoff Country Club is an 18-hole par-69 semi-private course in Holyoke, MA featuring rolling terrain and panoramic views of Mount Tom.

Chautauqua, NY

Chautauqua offers two distinct 18-hole courses: the Lake Course by Seymour Dunn and the Hill Course by Donald Ross, both providing varied terrain and challenge.

Huntington Woods, MI

Rackham Golf Course is a public course in Huntington Woods, a Donald Ross design dating to 1925. The 18-hole layout plays over rolling terrain, a historic Detroit-area muni that has served golfers for a century.

Shreveport, LA

Querbes Park Golf Course is a historic 18 hole facility in Shreveport that celebrated its centennial in 2025 [1](https://www.ktbs.com/news/querbes-park-celebrates-100-years-with-1-million-hole-in-one-challenge/article_1c2d142a-a11a-4254-90d9-07bf5e5840ca.html) [3](https://www.shreveportbossieradvocate.com/food_and_entertainment/querbes-park-golf-100-years-party/article_9f467aa4-1dd2-459f-bd25-b25b870a0929.html). Opened in 1924 as the Broadmoor Golf Club, it was renamed in 1944 to honor former Mayor Andrew C. Querbes, Sr [3](https://www.shreveportbossieradvocate.com/food_and_entertainment/querbes-park-golf-100-years-party/article_9f467aa4-1dd2-459f-bd25-b25b870a0929.html) [4](https://sbmag.net/happy-birthday-to-the-bees/). The course has hosted legendary players like Sam Snead and Ben Hogan and served as the training ground for PGA champions Hal Sutton and David Toms [2](https://spargolf.org/querbes-park-golf-course/) [3](https://www.shreveportbossieradvocate.com/food_and_entertainment/querbes-park-golf-100-years-party/article_9f467aa4-1dd2-459f-bd25-b25b870a0929.html). Recent renovations have enhanced the Bermuda grass playing surfaces and updated the tennis facilities at the park [2](https://spargolf.org/querbes-park-golf-course/) [5](https://shreveportbossierjournal.com/2022/03/22/vision-under-construction-now-reality-at-querbes-park/).

Buffalo, NY

Grover Cleveland Golf Course is a historic 18-hole public course in Buffalo, NY, notable for hosting the 1912 U. S. Open and featuring designs by Ganson Depew, Walter Travis, and Donald Ross. It offers a challenging experience with difficult green complexes and a layout reminiscent of British Isles courses.

Savannah, GA

Bacon Park Golf Course is a 27-hole municipal complex in Savannah, Georgia. Donald Ross designed the course in 1926. It has three 9-hole loops: Cypress, Live Oak, and Magnolia, which combine into three 18-hole layouts. This city-owned facility is one of the Southeast's oldest public courses.

East Providence, RI · Location not mapped

Agawam Hunt is a private club in East Providence, Rhode Island. Its first course was built in the 1890s by Willie Park Jr., and Donald Ross expanded and redesigned it into a full 18 in 1920. The course plays to par 70 and 6,273 yards from the back tees. Geoffrey Cornish later worked on it, and more recently Gil Hanse and Ian Andrew. Agawam Hunt has served as a U.S. Open qualifying site. Golf is for members and their guests.

Last verified 2026-08-31

Chicago, IL · Location not mapped

Beverly Country Club, founded in 1908 in what is now Evergreen Park, Illinois, grew out of members of the Auburn Park Golf Club who purchased the 160-acre former Sherman Farm. The original layout was credited to club professional George O'Neil with assistance from Tom Bendelow, and in 1918 Donald Ross was engaged to redesign the course, producing a routing in which no two consecutive holes run in the same direction despite the rectangular property. The course uses a ridge left by prehistoric Lake Chicago that runs through the back nine. In 2002 architect Ron Prichard led a restoration recapturing Ross-era features, and the club has hosted the 1931 U.S. Amateur and multiple Western Opens.

Highland Park, IL · Location not mapped

Bob O'Link Golf Club is a private, all-male club in Highland Park, Illinois. The original course was designed by Donald Ross in 1916 on a tight 125-acre site. In 1923 the club acquired additional land and hired C.H. Alison to redesign the layout, which reopened in 1925. Sitting on the floodplain of the Skokie River, the course long struggled with drainage; after severe winter turf damage in 2014, architect Jim Urbina removed hundreds of trees, improved drainage and irrigation, and restored greens closer to Alison's original design intent. The par-72 course plays 6,713 yards from the back tees. The club is private, with access limited to members and their guests.

Highland Park, IL · Location not mapped

Exmoor Country Club in Highland Park, Illinois was incorporated in 1896 as Illinois' third golf club, on 93 acres of the former Francis Stupey farm. The original nine-hole course, opened in 1897, is credited to Charles Blair Macdonald with contributions from H.J. Whigham and professional James Tweedie. Donald Ross redesigned the course in 1915, creating the varied par-5s, strong par-3s and deceptively challenging short par-4s that define the current layout, with a restoration by Ron Prichard completed in 2003 and further green work by Andrew Green. Exmoor has hosted numerous USGA and Western Golf Association championships and produced multiple U.S. Amateur champions and Olympic medalists.

Highland Park, IL

Old Elm opened in 1913 on gently rolling ground near Lake Michigan and is one of the few Harry Colt designs in North America, with Donald Ross administering construction on site. Drew Rogers began a restoration in 2010 that continues, widening the course and favoring firm turf and short-grass surrounds over rough. It is a men's club with a very low public profile and ranked No. 94 in GOLF's 2024-25 U.S. Top 100.

Glencoe, IL

Skokie Country Club is a private club in Glencoe, Illinois, founded in 1897. Tom Bendelow laid out the original 18 holes in 1904, Donald Ross redesigned the course in 1914, and William Langford and Theodore Moreau reworked the layout in 1938 while preserving Ross's design intent. The parkland course plays to a par of 72 at 7,091 yards from the back tees and features varied green complexes across rolling terrain near Lake Michigan's North Shore suburbs. It has hosted national championships including the 1922 U.S. Open, the 1909 and 1952 Western opens, and multiple USGA and Western Amateur events. Skokie holds Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary certification for its environmental management practices. The club is private and open to members and their guests only, with no public access to tee times.