21 articles
Spyglass Hill is the Pebble-area public round for golfers who want more grind, more strategy, and slightly less brand-theater than Pebble Beach itself. This practical 2026 review covers booking rules, current fee range, caddie costs, cart-path-only logistics, and whether it is worth the money.
Tobacco Road is the Pinehurst-area side trip for golfers who want something louder, stranger, and more memorable than another polished resort round. This practical 2026 review covers current booking rules, dynamic pricing, pace expectations, and trip fit.
Pine Needles is the Pinehurst-area Donald Ross round for golfers who want championship pedigree, current public-access booking, and premium pricing that still feels easier to defend than full resort-only golf. This practical 2026 review covers current rates, booking rules, and trip fit.
Mid Pines is the Sandhills play for golfers who want classic Donald Ross architecture, current public-access rules, and premium-but-defensible pricing without the full Pinehurst resort gatekeeping. This practical 2026 review covers current rates, booking windows, and trip fit.
A practical Whistling Straits review built from current official Kohler course details, 2026 golf policies, caddie fees, and travel logistics so you can decide whether the Straits Course is actually worth the trip.
Southern Pines is the Pinehurst-area round for golfers who want Donald Ross character without full resort-gatekeeping. This practical 2026 review covers current public access, posted rates, booking windows, and how the course fits a smart Sandhills trip.
Pinehurst No. 4 is not the history-flex round at the resort. It is the smarter Pinehurst splurge for a lot of golfers. This practical 2026 review covers current access rules, caddie and cart setup, maintenance timing, and why No. 4 may fit your trip better than No. 2.
Pinehurst No. 2 is not a casual check-the-box round. This practical 2026 review covers current access rules, package premiums, caddie costs, maintenance dates, and whether the Donald Ross masterpiece is still worth planning a trip around.
Sheep Ranch is the Bandon course built to show off the Pacific without apologizing for it. This practical 2026 review covers current rates, caddie costs, booking rules, practice-range logistics, aeration dates, and whether the views justify the money.
Ozarks National is the Big Cedar course for golfers who want more strategy and less spectacle. This practical 2026 review covers current public rates, caddie costs, booking windows, aeration dates, and whether the Coore-Crenshaw design is worth building a Missouri trip around.
Payne's Valley is the loudest public-golf flex in Missouri for a reason. This practical 2026 review covers current Big Cedar rates, forecaddie costs, rider fees, aeration windows, and whether the Tiger Woods design is actually worth building a trip around.
Forest Dunes is one of the smartest public-golf trip bases in the Midwest. This practical 2026 review covers current greens fees, replay math, lodging rates, and why the Roscommon property works so well for golfers who want more than one great round.
Bandon Dunes is not just the course that started the resort. It is still one of the smartest first bookings on property if you want huge views, real wind decisions, and a cleaner introduction to Bandon's golf than the hype machine usually admits.
Mammoth Dunes is not subtle. This practical 2026 review covers current Sand Valley rates, walking-only logistics, caddie costs, and why the giant-fairway public course may be the best pure-fun splurge in Wisconsin.
Bethpage Black is not the prettiest bucket-list round in America, but it might be the sharpest value. This practical review covers current 2026 rates, booking rules, walking demands, and why the Black is still absolutely worth the trouble.
SentryWorld is not the rugged walking-architecture flex of Wisconsin golf. It is a polished, fully inclusive public round with enough practical trip value to justify the price if you want comfort, service, and a strong course in one stop.
Sand Valley is not subtle. The original course at the Wisconsin resort is a walking-heavy, firm-and-fast public round that absolutely deserves a place on a serious Midwest golf trip.
Erin Hills is not a casual muni detour. This Hartford public course is a full walking-day commitment with real 2026 rate pain, huge glacial terrain, and enough golf substance to justify the splurge if you want a Wisconsin headliner.
Arcadia Bluffs is not subtle. This Lake Michigan public-course giant is expensive, visually loud, and very much worth the trip if you want one of the biggest golf experiences in the Midwest.
Lawsonia Links does not need resort flash to matter. This Green Lake public course offers bold architecture, practical value windows, and one of the smartest Midwest golf-trip rounds you can book if you know what kind of day you actually want.
American Dunes is not just a flag-waving branding exercise. This Grand Haven public course has real architecture, real meaning, and enough practical trip value to justify the drive if you build the day correctly.