These days, when a golf course developer gets a piece of seriously spectacular terrain, it's safe to say they are going to try and get the most of their investment by building a championship-caliber layout with a name-brand architect in order to get the highest green fee or membership dues possible.
Yet over the years, there have been some modestly crafted courses all over that are in settings that far exceed their layouts (and green fees). These courses may be munis or operated by trusts, park systems or other non-profit organizations.
Or they may just be several decades overdue for a facelift.
While it's tough to argue against fabulous, high-dollar resort courses like Pebble Beach Golf Links or Edgewood Tahoe, sometimes it's actually nice to play a humbler layout in a dramatic setting because it gives you a chance to grind less over every shot and instead enjoy the walk. You may even card a pretty good score - something tough to do when you play a course with a lot of visual distraction for the first time (See: Whistling Straits).There's also less pressure involved when you're taking less out of your wallet for the experience.
With that in mind I've compiled a collection of my favorite scenic courses you can play for far less than you'd expect given their superlative settings. They are set along the coastline or in mountains or forest, that won't break the bank but will fill up your phone's camera roll. (Editor's Note: Over the years, I've noticed some of my favorite hidden gems enjoy great success and up their fees. You used to be able to play Ardglass in Northern Ireland for closer to 50 quid but now it's double. The Dragon at Nakoma was once under $50 as it went through an ownership change but now crests $100 as well. It's a similar story at Dunmaglas in Northern Michigan which now peaks out around $100 to play).
Perhaps the single-greatest example of a value course in an incredible setting I can think of is Nefyn & District in Wales. It has a clifftop, promontory location that rivals Pebble Beach or Old Head. But it's in a remote part of the country that receives relatively few tourists. The design of the course itself has some basic and weirdly-routed holes that jostle with public trails, a sink hole and car park. But you get a world-class setting, complete with shots played along cliffs and dazzling vistas for a green fee of about $50 USD.
There are many other courses I have yet to visit but have my eye on, like Highland Links in Massachusetts or the many hidden gems around northern Michigan like Crystal Lake Golf Club or Manistee on Lake Michigan. Then there are Tennessee's many gems like Sewanee or Sweetens Cove. There are also lesser-known stalwarts of our Golf Advisor Best-of Lists like Scotch Hall Preserve in the N.C. Outer Banks, or Gunter's Landing in Alabama.
Military courses also have the potential for one-of-a-kind settings that can be played for cheap. Some intriguing picks include South Carolina's Legend at Parris Island, Monterey Pines near Pebble Beach, Coronado's Sea and Air, and Eisenhower Blue in Colorado Springs, not to mention some of their wild Alaskan courses.
12 more scenic courses you can play for cheap
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Elk Ridge Golf Course, Washington
One of the most jaw-dropping drives you can take in this country is heading east of Portland along the Columbia River Gorge. Lo and behold, there are some excellent golf courses too, including one that I played shortly after it reopened following an ownership change, Elk Ridge at Carson Hot Springs. Not only are the gorge views incredible at every turn, but its lofty perch lends it to being one of the driest courses in the Pacific Northwest.
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Pennard Golf Club, Wales
Wales is full of quirky golf courses and perhaps the most raw and rugged - to go along with sublime views - is Pennard. The "Links in the Sky" rumbles along on clifftop ground mostly high above the sea. Minimally maintained, the golf ball bounds unexpectedly in all directions. Cattle and horses roaming the fairways accentuate the sensory experience here. As captivating as the ground is, it's the views that are among the U.K.'s finest and can be played by visitors for £65-75.
![Pennard GC: #10]()
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Northwood Golf Course, California
One of the most affordable courses in the world with Alister Mackenzie influence is along the Russian River at the Northwood Golf Club in Sonoma. It's a casual nine-hole course set beneath towering redwoods. It's simply one of the most awe-inspiring settings you can hit a golf ball in and can be played for less than $30 walking.
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Coronado Golf Course, California
Admittedly I've only been to the parking lot and toured parts of this course set on the idyllic Coronado island minutes from downtown San Diego. The traditional and flat course is a nice respite once you've played the tougher and hillier courses up at Torrey Pines or La Costa. The $42 on the weekends walking for non-residents personifies "bargain."
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Pacific Grove Golf Course, California
One of the most well-known examples of value golf is the "Poor Man's Pebble," Pacific Grove. The back nine of this municipal course around the corner from Pebble Beach is an open, links-like routing played through dunes with Pacific Ocean views. Dynamically priced, non-residents can tee it up here for about $48-75.
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Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada
Niagara-on-the-Lake is the oldest continually operated course in North America and to this day remains a lot of fun to play. The nine holes are wedged between the resort town and Lake Ontario and is full of charm, not to mention an excellent 19th hole. You can walk 18 here for less than $50 in primetime. Be warned, this semi-private course gets busy.
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Kukuiolono Golf Course, Kauai, Hawaii
Hawaii is well known for its excellent resort golf, but there are little local gems all over as well if you know where to look. I've yet to play Kauai's Wailua, regarded by many as essential muni golf. But I enjoyed the laid-back experience at Kukuio'lono immensely. Tourists and ka'amaina alike pay the same $9 fee. It's not on the ocean but high into the hills, set in a Japanese garden with views of the south shore.
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The Resort at the Mountain, Oregon
I played The Resort at the Mountain shortly after Elk Ridge and loved the one-two punch for value. This 27-hole course that winds along a valley floor beside a river feels a bit like a poor man's Banff Springs. The classic layout was updated in recent years by the late-John Harbottle III.
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Gray Plantation, Louisiana
Not far from the big casinos in Lake Charles is a bayou bargain at Gray Plantation. With gorgeous scenery and a tournament-caliber design, it would warrant discussion among Hilton Head/Bluffton's A-list in South Carolina, but in this lesser-trafficked spot can be played for less than $50.
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North Course at Torrey Pines
Not only is the North Course at Torrey Pines among the more affordable full-length courses on the Pacific Ocean, it's also one of the most affordable PGA Tour venues. But this layout, recently renovated by Tom Weiskopf, is far easier to the average player than its demanding neighbor.
At about $100-$130 to non-residents, the North Course is half the cost as the South Course, which is about half the cost of Pebble Beach, but is about double the fee of Coronado. So you can decide if that price point is "value" to you.![The North at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego - hole 15]()
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Green Gables Golf Club, PEI, Canada
Prince Edward Island features a deep roster of courses that collectively hang their hat on two things: quaintness and value.
Playing the national parks courses of Canada is one of the ultimate bucket-list things you can do in golf travel, and one of the best chances to do so is at Green Gables National Park. The rate at Green Gables peaks out at $100, but this is a destination that is a lot like Myrtle Beach in that most folks book stay-and-play packages that bring the daily room and board down to that range. It's a lot less expensive compared to Jasper Park Lodge and Banff Springs and also about 30% cheaper than neighboring Highlands Links on Cape Breton Island.
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Montrose Golf Club, Scotland
Discovering Montrose this summer while covering The Open at the infamously un-aesthetic Carnoustie was an epiphany. Just about an hour's drive northeast along the coast, Montrose delivers player-friendly links with a dazzling opeing stretch along a dunes formation referred to as "The Bents." At just £50, if Montrose was closer to St. Andrews it'd likely cost double to play.
Yeah I've played both Highland Links and Green Gables. The former is Top 5 Canada and $100. The two should not really be compared.
Hi
My wife and I are coming to the Charlotte NC if September for a family wedding. We are high handicappers (28/26) and would like to play a couple of rounds of golf. Our home club is Holywood, Northern Ireland - home of Rory McIlroy (no - we don't know him personally).We are used to paying around $50 for a round on Irish courses (yes - you can play Rory's course for $50 at quiet times, but its worth much more) - any information on suitable courses in NC would be appreciated.
Peter
I would suggest you try Rocky River golf club or C.T. Meyers ( muni) both worth money and the trip.
Cornelius
Hi Peter! Thank you for reaching out! We would be happy to assist you in booking reservations for your upcoming trip. Please contact us via email, at TRAVEL@GOLFCHANNEL.COM, with your contact information. We will do our very best to find some courses that suit your needs.
We look forward to hearing from you!
When heading to Phoenix,there are great views and value in Prescott at Stoneridge Canyon.It has a similar forced carry design,with views,and value as Tobiano in Kamloops British Columbia.
Tobacco Road was one of my favorites over the 60 years of play. Each hole seemed to have a Wow factor...
My buddies and I play Northwoods every year for several days. Nothing more
beautiful. Gaylord and Vern keep it in great shape. Roger Maltbie one of our
fellow players says the Par 5 -- 9th hole is the toughest finishing hole in Northern
Calfornia. I can attest to that. Worth the trip.
Brooksville Golf & CC, Brooksville FL does not have an ocean view, but the back nine has 4 very unique holes, and I consider the view extra special. I have a small Monday travel group from The Villages, FL(all retired) and travel to with-in an hour's drive. We play this course with Groupgolfer vouchers for $25 or under.
Love these articles! Does anybody know of good golf courses in the Phoenix area that are in the $75 range. I am going in November with a bunch of buddies. We are all 70 and on pensions so our budgets are limited. Thanks for responding.
Looked up some courses a couple years ago. Haven't played all of them but they get good ratings. $75 will go further in November than February. https://www.golfadvisor.com/galleries/for-peak-season-value-save-green-on-these-affordable-phoenix-scottsdale-golf-courses
Should you wish to play a serious links course with a view, do not overlook Cornwall. St. Enodoc will bring not only a serious challenge but spectacular views. West Cornwall isn’t bad either. Cornwall’s north coast is rugged and tempestuous.
I've been to Cornwall and St. Enodoch is fantastic! Price has crept up compared to the UK courses I selected so I left it out, but that setting is wonderful. Trevose quite great too. Got rained out at Burnham & Berrow but drove it and also looked excellent.
Not sure if anyone has noted, but Scotch Hall Preserve is on the interior Chesapeake Bay, a good distance from the Outer Banks.
Thanks for clarification. Haven't been to OBX but when researching it seemed like you could stop off at Scotch Hall if on Hwy 17 or Hwy 64 en route.
I love this kind of review. Bargain courses with great views. I've played a few of these (Coronado, Torrey North, Pacific Grove) and it gives me some ideas for future destinations. Thanks.
Nice, jealous you got on Wailua, I've driven past it three times but haven't been able to squeeze in a round. Always heard it is packed so that is great to hear you can get on. Utah (as well as New Mexico) are two big holes in my resume. Hope to check both out for great value.
Great advice, Brandon. I've always wanted to do an affordable tour of Michigan. And you were spot about Wailua on Kauai. Might be the best muni value in the country, definitely in Hawaii. Walking 18 after 2pm in the summer, which I did multiple times in June, is like $20. I played by myself and finished in like 3 hours. Multiple oceanfront holes and they keep the course in fantastic shape. You might also check out the State of Utah owned courses in Midway - Soldier Hollow (links style) and Wasatch Mountain. 36 holes at both courses, very reasonably priced and the views are spectacular .
Thanks Brian. Look up the courses in Michigan around Crystal Lake: Pinecroft, Champion Hill & Crystal Lake GC. All scenic and very affordable. Or Little Traverse Bay & Dunmaglas closer to Petoskey.
Miacomet on Nantucket has some pretty spectacular views.