• After spending more than 30 years write about golf and having visited over 200 courses, I have my favorites.
• Cypress Point Club and Spyglass Hill are beautiful courses in California.
• Cabo del Sol and the Grove Park Inn at Omni Golf have some of the most beautiful courses I’ve ever seen.

A great golf course is like a classical piece of sculpture; except that the medium is not just a piece of marble or wet clay, but the soil itself.

given Economic impact of the US golf industry It’s in the billions and has reportedly grown by 63% in the last two decades, so it’s no wonder there are so many course options.

I’ve been writing about golf and travel for over 30 years and have played hundreds of green puzzles like this. The best architects use the natural flow of the land, native trees and grasses to create a fair but challenging route.

It’s hard to narrow down my favorite courses, but these stand out for their beauty and enduring appeal to golfers of all skill levels.

Here are eight of my all time favorite golf courses.

I’ll never forget Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach, California

While I was at the University of Michigan for four years, I had the opportunity to play golf on a course designed by Alister MacKenzie. I never thought I would one day review the golf course architect’s greatest achievement, Cypress Point Club.

Located on the Pacific Ocean in Pebble Beach, California, this site is both beautiful and extremely exclusive; Only about 250 CEOs and other elites are members.

Legendary 16^he The hole – a par 3 with choppy surf and a daunting tee shot over steep rocks – will live in my mind forever.

Nearby Spyglass Hill is also incredible

Just down the coast from Cypress Point, along the Pacific, is a classic Robert Trent Jones Sr. Spyglass Hill design stands out.

Considering its prized location near Carmel-by-the-Sea and its enduring popularity among golfers, it’s well worth the steep green fees of around $415.

Spyglass is a three-layered confection: it heads uphill and downhill through dense pine forests and harsh sand dunes – it even has a very brief encounter with the sea.

Northern Michigan’s Forest Dunes Golf Club is one of the Mitten State’s best-kept secrets

Golf pro Tom Weiskopf drilled 18 holes along aromatic, pine-covered sand dunes in the middle of Michigan farmland to create Forest Dunes Golf Club.

Forest Dunes alone is worth the trip to Roscommon, Michigan, and you should also play the masterful companion track, The Loop.

A rare Tom Doak “reversible” design, The Loop features two different, 18-hole layouts on the same piece of ground. Play one way on Monday and then enjoy a completely different route on Tuesday.

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is located on a majestic stretch of pristine Oregon coastline.

No modern golf enthusiast can fail to pay tribute to Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon, where seven different courses sit on 2,500 acres above the ocean.

Designed by architect David McLay Kidd, the course was inspired by Scotland’s ancient link trails, which were often located in grassy natural areas between sea and land. The course pays homage to Scottish heritage with strong winds and panoramic views of the entire property.

This is huge; Plan to stay at the resort for a week and book a foot massage when you return. You can cover 40 miles on your feet until the last spectacular hole.

Gamble Sands in remote Brewster, Washington is a must-visit

Golfers of all skill levels will enjoy Gamble Sands’ wide fairways and equally generous greens. Nothing beats three drivable par 4s overlooking the Columbia River.

You can also stay on site and play the 14-hole short course Quicksands for fun between meals.

Additionally, a second 18-hole course designed by Kidd is planned to be introduced there in 2025.

Scottsdale has it. Some of Arizona’s best courses

Scottsdale, Arizona is home to more than 200 golf courses and a choice snowbirds’ winter getaway from all over.

The wealthiest of them probably call the private gated community Desert Mountain their home away from home.

There are six Jack Nicklaus courses at the facility. The first, Renegade, is considered among his most ingenious designs.

Featuring six double greens and seven tee boxes, it can play from 4,400 to 8,000 yards and offers picturesque views of the Sonoran Desert sunset.

Grove Park Inn at Omni Golf remains popular after 100 years

The Carolinas are known for their great golf. North Carolina is home to the justifiably famous Pinehurst No. It boasts 2 courses, but let’s not overlook Omni Golf’s Grove Park Inn. Asheville.

surrounded by glory Blue Ridge MountainsThe course dates back more than a century and was originally designed by renowned architect Donald Ross.

The adjacent Grove Park Inn is also worth a visit for its 43,000-square-foot underground spa. The historic facility has hosted names such as Barack Obama and F. Scott Fitzgerald, as well as countless golf legends.

Cabo del Sol is among Mexico’s best resorts and has great golf opportunities too

Mexico has seen an explosion of new golf courses in the last decade, but Tom Weiskopf’s Cabo del Sol course in Los Cabos has been one of the biggest draws for more than 20 years.

It deserves praise for its views alone; The sparkling Sea of ​​Cortez can be seen from all 18 holes as the course passes through desert waters and sand.

The course is also undergoing a $20 million renovation with some stunning new holes and a flashy clubhouse. If you happen to be there, don’t leave without trying the local sea bass tacos.