17 PGA Championship courses you can play

Famous layouts and some hidden gems are part of the championship's storied history.
The 18th hole at Kiawah Island's Ocean Course as captured before the 2021 PGA Championship.

(UPDATED: May, 2023.)

Some critics of the PGA Championship claim it lacks a true identity that distinguishes it from the U.S. Open. Over the years, the PGA has been held at many prestigious private clubs with narrow fairways, fast greens and nasty rough.

But it has also been held at several courses that are accessible to you and me, unlike those of the U.S. Open (for the most part).

With the PGA of America moving its headquarters to Texas, home to the publicly-accessible Fields Ranch East and West at PGA Frisco, perhaps there is an opportunity for the PGA Championship to embrace public courses as the venues for its annual test of the best golfers in the world.

At any rate, you and your fellow golfers can continue the debates over this major championship at more than a dozen of its past host courses. Just pay your green fee and walk in the footsteps of the pros.

Here's where you can do that.

California

Jack Nicklaus won four times at Pebble Beach, including a U.S. Open.

Pebble Beach Golf Links - Pebble Beach, Calif.

Hosted the PGA Championship in: 1977
Architects: Jack Neville and Douglas Grant
Green fee: $625

TPC Harding Park - San Francisco, Calif.

Will Host the PGA Championship in: 2020
Architects: Willie Watson and Sam Whiting
Green fee: $250

Florida

The 15th hole at PGA National's Champion Course kicks off the infamous "Bear Trap," which is one of the most challenging stretches of holes on the PGA Tour.

PGA National Resort & Spa (The Champion) - Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Hosted the PGA Championship in: 1987
Architect: Jack Nicklaus
Green Fee: $400

Indiana

View from the Donald Ross Course at French Lick Resort

French Lick Resort (Donald Ross Course) - French Lick, Ind.

Hosted the PGA Championship in: 1924
Architect: Donald Ross
Green fee:  $135

Minnesota

A view of a fairway at Keller Golf Course (David A. Parker)

Keller Golf Course - Maplewood, Minn.

Hosted the PGA Championship in: 1932, 1954
Architect: Paul Coates; renovation by Richard Mandell
Green fee: $51

North Carolina

The first hole introduces the new look of Pinehurst No. 2, a Donald Ross classic restored by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw in 2011.

Tanglewood Golf Club (Championship Course) - Clemmons, N.C.

Hosted the PGA Championship in: 1974
Architect: Robert Trent Jones, Sr.
Green fee:  $60

Pinehurst Resort & Country Club (No. 2) - Pinehurst, N.C.

Hosted the PGA Championship in: 1936
Architect: Donald Ross
Green Fee: $495

New Jersey

View of the 16th hole from Seaview - The Pines Course

Seaview Resort (Bay and Pines Courses) - Absecon, N.J.

Hosted the PGA Championship in: 1942 (parts of both courses)
Architect: Donald Ross
Green Fee: $250

New York

Bethpage Black's pedigree as both a championship venue and a public gem gives it a unique appeal among golfers.

Eisenhower Park Golf Course (Red Course) - East Meadow, N.Y.

Hosted the PGA Championship in: 1926
Architect: Devereux Emmet
Green Fee: $70

Bethpage State Park (Black Course) - Farmingdale, N.Y.

Hosted the PGA Championship in: 2019
Architect: A.W. Tillinghast, Rees Jones
Green Fee: $160

Ohio

Akron's Firestone Country Club hosted three PGA Championships, dozens of PGA Tour events and, now, a PGA Tour Champions tournament.

Firestone Country Club (South Course) - Akron, Ohio

Hosted the PGA Championship in: 1960, 1966, 1975
Archtects: Bert Way, Robert Trent Jones, Sr.
Green Fee: $235
(Note: This course is accessible by overnight stay-and-play guests of Firestone Country Club.)

Pennsylvania

This bridge leads to the holes of Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort on the island in the middle of the Delaware River.

Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort - Shawnee-on-Delaware, Penn.

Hosted the PGA Championship in: 1938
Architect: A.W. Tillinghast
Green Fee: $90

Hershey Country Club (West Course) - Hershey, Penn.

Hosted the PGA Championship in: 1940
Architect: Maurice McCarthy
Green Fee: $170
(Note: This course is accessible by non-members who stay at Hershey Lodge, The Hotel Hershey or Hersheypark Camping Resort.)

South Carolina

Few modern golf courses carry as much history as Kiawah Island's Ocean Course.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Ocean Course) - Kiawah Island, S.C.

Hosted the PGA Championship in: 2012, 2021
Architect: Pete Dye
Green Fee: $600

Texas

In Dallas, Cedar Crest Golf Course was designed in 1919 by A.W. Tillinghast and later updated by D.A. Weibring in 2004.

Cedar Crest Golf Course - Dallas, Texas

Hosted the PGA Championship in: 1927
Architect: A.W. Tillinghast
Green Fee: $49

Virginia

Belmont Golf Course in Richmond, Va. has been renovated and reimagined by Davis Love III's design firm.

Belmont Golf Course (formerly Hermitage Golf Club) - Richmond, Va.

Hosted the PGA Championship in: 1949
Architect: A.W. Tillinghast, Davis Love III
Green Fee: $58
(Note: Davis Love III and his design firm converted Belmont from 18 holes to 12 holes, plus a short course, in 2021.)

Wisconsin

The American Club, and Whistling Straits in particular, have set the standard as a bucket-list golf destination in Wisconsin.

Whistling Straits (Straits Course) - Haven, Wisc.

Hosted the PGA Championship in: 2004, 2010, 2015
Architect: Pete Dye
Green Fee: $630

Destination Kohler - Champions' Trail Golf Package

FROM $617 (USD)
KOHLER, WI | Enjoy 2 nights’ accommodations at The American Club or the Inn at Woodlake and 3 rounds of golf at Blackwolf Run (River or Meadow Valleys Course) and Whistling Straits (Straits or Irish Course)
17 accessible PGA Championship host golf courses
Pebble Beach, California
Resort
4.9851833333
46
San Francisco, California
Public
4.1862705882
420
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Resort
2.8397529412
31
French Lick, Indiana
Resort
4.9472588235
32
Maplewood, Minnesota
Public/Municipal
4.7108235294
103
Clemmons, North Carolina
Public
3.1474470588
306
Pinehurst, North Carolina
Resort
4.9654
37
Absecon, New Jersey
Public/Resort
4.2828294118
621
Farmingdale, New York
Municipal
4.8315529412
60
East Meadow, New York
Municipal
3.1111
45
Akron, Ohio
Private
4.5732235294
21
Shawnee-On-Delaware, Pennsylvania
Resort
4.0120529412
175
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Private
4.7142857143
2
Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Resort
4.9464285714
65
Dallas, Texas
Public/Municipal
3.7222
18
Richmond, Virginia
Public/Municipal
3.9133470588
87
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Public
4.1333333333
26

Have you played any of these PGA Championship courses? Please share your comments below!


Updated 5/20/21, 10:02 AM: This article was originally published in 2017 and was updated in 2021 with new information and green fees.
Tim Gavrich is a Senior Writer for GolfPass. Follow him on Twitter @TimGavrich and on Instagram @TimGavrich.
82 Comments

I have had the pleasure to play all 27 holes at Shawnee in the same day, back in 1990. It was early spring (probably late April) and they had just reopened after the winter. But it was an especially warm day and a weekday, so the course was quite empty. I played the first 18 with another twosome, but the final by myself and as you can tell it was a very memorable experience.

I've also played the Sea View Courses in NJ, mostly off season, and the last time was last fall with my son. Again it a was beautiful day, and a little windy, but we had a great time playing the Bay Course. I think the Pines course closes from November until mid March or April.

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The average "public" golfer stands a better chance at playing a private course (as a guest) than at the astronomical greens fees listed above for these "non-private" courses. These quasi public courses are "public" in name only. Even the more reasonably priced courses will balloon their fees after a "big PGA, USGA tournament" is held there. I make these comments as observations only, since I do not have any solutions to offer ..... I leave that to people smarter than I.

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Torrey Pines hasn't hosted the PGA Championship, but it is public and has hosted the US Open

Played Pebble Beach 2X in 2003. Absolutely worth every penny for the experience. Back then it was $480 per round, so $575 now still seems worth it. If you are a fan of the game, there is no place like it on earth, except for possibly St. Andrews. Expensive “bucket list” trip before I got married. We combined It with 2 rounds at Spanish Bay and one at Spyglass Hill.

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I played the Straits sister course many years ago on a cold, rainy, windy day. I believe it was in November. I think I’m the only player who finished the back 9. Was just passing through so I couldn’t pass it up. I think it was $120. Drinks by the huge fireplace in the clubhouse after the round along with gourmet food made it a very worthwhile and memorable round.

Tanglewood just underwent a multimillion dollar renovation in 2018 and is an excellent course. Probably one of the best “hidden gems” in the state if not country, less than $40 during the week.

I've played both courses at Whistling Straits as well as Pecan Valley, San Antonio, TX (not listed), which I believe hosted the PGA in 1965. I don't know Pecan Valley's current status but in 2003 when I played, it was a terrific course with streams throughout and lots of trees.

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I play Beth Page 3 times a week, NY resident rates are cheap, Red Course is my favorite . If you dont score we'll on first 3 holes on Black, look out ! 17 ( par ) and 18 are not that tough. Black is a long, tough walk, ( no electric carts ) And on Wed Nights in the summer, ladies night, Great band out side !

Pebble Beach, awesome, but a one time treat $$$$

San Diego , has great pubic Course

PGA National in Florida a great get away . Stream Song , is SO SO over rated $$$ World Woods, is a tenth of the price, 36 awesome holes, 2 acre putting green practice area . A practice area that has a par 3/4/ and 5

Hit them straight, and stay healthy .

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sorry but the majority of the courses are for the wealthy.

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A course that costs $200 + to play is public in name only. Most of the “public” can’t or shouldn’t afford to pay that. These courses have owned the land for a long time in most cases. So what is the justification for charging such an exhorbidant amount?

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The justification is that people will pay it.

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17 PGA Championship courses you can play