In Wealth-X's inaugural High Net Worth Handbook, golf was ranked as the No. 1 preferred sport amongst individuals with a net worth of $1 million to $30 million.
Many of the top ranking courses are elite private clubs, where non-members can only play if invited by a current member. Other courses are public but come with high green fees as a result of their prestige. Courses in Pebble Beach , California and Augusta , Georgia are often utilized for annual professional golf tournaments such as The Masters .
To score each prestigious course, the Golf Digest panel totals its averages in seven categories , including shot value, aesthetics, and ambience. In addition, 60 evaluations over the past 10 years are required for a course to even be considered.
Golf Digest defines shot value as the variety of risks and rewards when playing each hole. Aesthetics assess the course's scenic value, while ambience takes into account the overall feel and atmosphere.
Below are the top 25 of the 100 courses provided by Golf Digest, in descending order with scores rounded to the nearest tenth.
25. Wade Hampton Golf Club, Cashiers, North Carolina
24. The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Kiawah Island Golf Resort/Facebook
23. Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, California
22. Oak Hill Country Club (East), Rochester, New York
Oak Hill Country Club/Facebook
21. Whistling Straits (Straits), Haven, Wisconsin
Whistling Straits & Blackwolf Run/Facebook
20. Oakland Hills Country Club (South), Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Oakland Hills Country Club/Facebook
19. Los Angeles Country Club (North), Los Angeles, California
World Amateur Tour/Facebook
18. The Country Club, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
17. Pacific Dunes, Bandon, Oregon
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort/Facebook
16. Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, Ohio
The Country Club at Muirfield Village/Facebook
15. Friars Head Golf Club, Baiting Hollow, New York
14. Chicago Golf Club, Wheaton, Illinois
13. Crystal Downs Country Club, Frankfort, Michigan
12. Seminole Golf Club, Juno Beach, Florida
11. Winged Foot Golf Club (West), Mamaroneck, New York
10. Fishers Island Club, Fishers Island, New York
9. Sand Hills Golf Club, Mullen, Nebraska
8. National Golf Links of America, Southampton, New York
7. Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, California
Pebble Beach Golf Links/Facebook
6. Merion Golf Club (East), Ardmore, Pennsylvania
5. Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, Pennsylvania
Leepaxton/Wikimedia Commons
4. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Southampton, New York
Peetlesnumber1/Wikimedia Commons
3. Cypress Point Club, Pebble Beach, California
2. Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia
Masters Tournament/Facebook
1. Pine Valley Golf Club, Pine Valley, New Jersey
Frjlove/Wikimedia Commons
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