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Top 20 Golf Courses: U.S.
 1. Pebble Beach Golf Links, California
When Tom Morris Jr. won the British Open Championship three years running, they retired the trophy belt in 1870 and came up with a claret jug instead. The Pebble Beach Golf Links has done Young Tom one better by landing atop the Platinum List four years running, and readers show no sign of disenchantment with its charms. Why should they? The all-star ownership group of Clint Eastwood, Dick Ferris, Peter Ueberroth, and Arnold Palmer remains committed to keeping Pebble on its lofty Monterey Peninsula perch. Under Palmer’s direction, a course improvement plan is underway to maintain the traditional design but accommodate advances in golf equipment. The celebratory-minded should book this year at the Inn & Links at Spanish Bay, observing its 20th anniversary. (800) 654-9300 or (831) 644-7960, www.pebblebeach.com
 2. Pinehurst No. 2, North Carolina
Opt for the Centennial Package at the resort, because there are 100 candles on the cake for Pinehurst No. 2. The Donald Ross masterpiece opened in 1907 at 5,860 yards, and has just been growing better (and longer) since. Near the 16th hole is the new Golf Academy, including a one-day DiscoverGolf school for beginners. The 19th Annual Labor Day Food and Wine Festival is August 29 to September 3, and includes time for golf. (800) 487-4653 or (910) 235-8507, www.pinehurst.com
 3. Torrey Pines South Course, La Jolla, California
Moving into third place is the home of the PGA Tour’s annual Buick Invitational, now also buffing up for next year’s U.S. Open, and stretching to a whopping 7,607 yards from the tips. Guests at The Lodge at Torrey Pines (800-656-0087, www.lodgetorreypines.com), which overlooks the South’s 18th green, can secure guaranteed tee times, and rest easily in the only AAA Five-Diamond destination resort in San Diego. (800) 985-4653 or (858) 452-3226, www.torreypinesgolfcourse.com
4. Spyglass Hill Golf Course, Pebble Beach, California
The course and hole names come from Treasure Island, but its diabolical nature comes from that old design pirate, Robert Trent Jones Sr. Tough, perhaps, but readers lifted it to the fourth spot this year. (800) 654-9300 or (831) 644-7960, www.pebblebeach.com
5. Mauna Kea Golf Course, Kohala Coast, Hawaii
If you want to visit this legendary course, you’ll need to wait until late 2008: The course, along with the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, is closed for a major restoration. We expect that when it reopens, with hybrid turf among other improvements, it will be even more impressive. (888) 977-4623 or (808) 882-5400, www.princeresortshawaii.com
6. Blackwolf Run (River Course), Kohler, Wisconsin
Last year’s rumor confirmed: The U.S. Women’s Open will be contested here in 2012. Players should tune up at the Kohler Golf Academy with Ji Kim, one of the country’s Top 50 Instructors, says Golf Digest. (800) 344-2838, www.destinationkohler.com
7. Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
The new forecaddie program should encourage walking at Pete Dye’s Harbour Town. Come fall, players should stroll over to The Sea Pines Resort’s former Sea Marsh Course, opening after a complete redesign by Dye. (800) 732-7463 or (843) 785-3333, www.seapines.com
8. Troon North (Monument Course), Scottsdale, Arizona
This Weiskopf-Morrish design is evolving into a Sonoran desert classic. Dispensing with the loathsome cart path-only rule may alone have raised it up a notch this year. (888) 876-6687 or (480) 585-7700, www.troonnorthgolf.com
9. Plantation Course, Maui, Hawaii
Here’ s a parley: Tune up at the Kapalua Golf Academy, uncork a few at this Crenshaw-Coore design at the Kapalua Resort, and then uncork a few more during the 26th Annual Kapalua Wine & Food Festival June 28 to July 1. (866) 669-2440, www.kapalua.com
10. Cog Hill No. 4, Lemont, Illinois
Moving into the top 10 this year is the Dubsdread course at Cog Hill, which will host the third of four playoff tournaments for the PGA Tour FedEx Cup competition, beginning September 6. (866) 264-4455, www.coghillgolf.com
11. Whistling Straits (Straits Course), Haven, Wisconsin
The fireworks begin at this Pete Dye design July 2 with practice rounds for the U.S. Senior Open, the big bang finish of the final round being July 8. (800) 344-2838, www.destinationkohler.com
12. Bay Hill Club, Orlando, Florida
The new Bay Window dining room overlooks the resort putting green and driving range, where guests just might see resident king Arnold Palmer warming up. The newly titled Arnold Palmer Invitational was played here in March. (888) 422-9445 or (407) 876-2429, www.bayhill.com
13. TPC Stadium Course at Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
The new 77,000-square-foot clubhouse (about 40 percent larger than the White House), opened for business when THE PLAYERS Championship visited in May. (800) 766-7939 or (904) 285-7777, www.tpc.com/daily/sawgrass
14. Monarch Beach Golf Links, Dana Point, California
St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach, is the only California resort hotel named a five-star property by the Mobil Travel Guide, and certainly the only one with a links-style golf course running along the Pacific coast. (888) 876-6687 or (949) 234-3200, www.stregismb.com
15. Bandon Dunes, Bandon, Oregon
It’s the original of the three walking-only beauties at this wind-swept coastal resort, with a fourth on the drawing boards for 2010. Some Golf Academy time with director of instruction Grant Rogers would be worth the trip by itself. (888) 345-6008 or (541)347-4380, www.bandondunesgolf.com
 16. Bethpage Black Course, Farmingdale, New York
The U.S. Open jumps from Torrey Pines in 2008 to another muni, A.W. Tillinghast’s wonder in suburban New York, in 2009. Walking-only players will already notice some expanded tee boxes, and the widening of the fairway around the 12th hole. (516) 249-0701, www.nysparks.state.ny.us/golf
17. (tie) Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Golf Digest recently named this America’ s toughest course, which players can debate in the new $24 million clubhouse, opening in late June/early July. Junior Camps for 12- to 17- year-olds run at the resort from June through Labor Day. (800) 654-2924 or (843) 768-2121, www.kiawahgolf.com
17. (tie) Prince Course, Kauai, Hawaii
The golf/spa Tease For Two package at Princeville Resort is designed for a golfer and non-golfing spouse. But after tackling the mighty Prince course, some players may require the massage, too — or a round on the more benign Makai Course. (800) 826-4400 or (808) 826-9644, www.princeville.com
 19. The Dunes Golf & Beach Club, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
A Robert Trent Jones Sr. Southern classic, dating from 1949, and the best of Myrtle Beach, which is saying something. (866) 386-3772 or (843) 449-5914,
www.thedunesclub.net
20. Pinehurst No. 4, North Carolina
Practice here this year, because in 2008 this Tom Fazio course, along with Pinehurst No. 2, will be looking to determine the best in the country at the 2008 U.S. Amateur Championship. (800) 487-4653 or (910) 235-8507, www.pinehurst.com
U.S. | International | Editor's Picks
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