When it comes to golf in America, we all know the heavy hitters.
California. Florida. New York. The list goes on.
These states all have a variety of championship golf courses and prestigious venues (California and Florida also appear on the worst golf courses in America ranking for 2026, but I digress).
From public to private to resort facilities, these states are known for offering tons of amazing golf courses.
But this article isn’t about obvious destinations; this is about the states that don’t get the publicity they deserve.
The states included in this list are accepted as solid (or even great) golf states by the real ball knowers. They may not be the first places you think of when you are designing a golf trip but they should be much higher on the list.
A note before getting started. Some states don’t appear on the list because I would say they are properly hyped. An example of this would be Wisconsin. Everyone knows about Whistling Straits, Sand Valley, Erin Hills, etc.
I would say the same thing of Oregon. It might have qualified as underrated 10 years ago but Bandon is too big now.
You might be thinking, “Where is X state?” but it’s probably not on the list because it’s already talked about so much.
This list is specifically about golf states that punch well above their weight despite not having the PR machine working overtime for them. Where to draw that line is totally subjective.
10. Kentucky
Being from Nashville, I’m a simp for a great day trip to play golf in Kentucky.
This is not a state with many prestigious courses but it combines a few standout private tracks (Valhalla, Olde Stone, Idle Hour, etc.) with a tremendous depth of value courses. There are a ton of fun public courses that won’t break the bank. My mind goes to places like Dale Hollow, Mineral Mound and Park Mammoth.
Is it a top golf state? Is it even a top 20 golf state? Maybe not, but I think Kentucky is underrated in the grand scheme of things.
9. New Mexico
Arizona takes all of the accolades when discussing desert golf but New Mexico is no slouch.
I’ll start in Santa Fe with The Club at Las Campanas Sunset Course, a Jack Nicklaus design with dramatic elevation changes and gorgeous mountain views. The Sunrise Course is also a top-tier offering in the state. Golf at 7,000 feet above sea level!
The public side has contenders for the top 100 public tracks in America. Paako Ridge and Black Mesa are in rugged settings with outstanding views. Twin Warriors is more of your classic desert golf.
New Mexico doesn’t have the depth of other states on this list but the top end is formidable.
8. Indiana
While it isn’t a thrilling state overall—Indiana is Ohio’s more boring brother—the hoosiers have some surprisingly strong golf.
Of course, you can start the discussion with a pair of Pete Dye standouts: Crooked Stick and the Dye Course at French Lick.
But Indiana also gains points for two awesome university courses: the Pfau Course at IU and the Warren Course at Notre Dame.
Also on the public side is Brickyard Crossing and the Donald Ross Course at French Lick, of which I did a review for last year. I’ll also give a shoutout to Sultan’s Run, a terrific track in the French Lick area that is reasonably priced.
7. Idaho
The first course that comes to mind with Idaho is Coeur d’Alene, home of the famous floating island green.
But Idaho has more to offer. Gozzer Ranch and The Club at Black Rock are private gems which are complemented by public courses like Circling Raven, The Idaho Club and Sun Valley.
Northern Idaho is the spot here as Circling Raven, Coeur d’Alene and Idaho Club can be played in a loop. And, hey, you aren’t all that far away from the spectacular Gamble Sands a few hours to the west in Washington State.
6. Minnesota
You don’t hear Minnesota mentioned much as a top golf state. After adding up the tally of top courses, that seems odd.
The trio of Interlachen, Spring Hill and Hazeltine are heavy hitters on the private side. The public golf is less celebrated but Giants Ridge, The Wilderness at Fortune Bay and Deacon’s Lodge are no pushovers. I’ll also throw Chaska Town Course in the mix as a place I enjoyed playing.
While this rating is mainly about golf courses, I’ll also say that Minnesota’s short season is slightly offset by extended summer daylight and a strong golf culture.
Minnesota has the most golfers per capita of any state so that ought to count for something.
5. Arkansas
You don’t associate Arkansas with golf but it’s a sneaky good golf state.
The Alotian Club (Fazio) is a top 100 course in the country. The Blessings, which recently hosted the NCAA Championship, is home to the University of Arkansas. Then you add in Diamante and Texarkana, two more private standouts.
That is one knock against Arkansas—most of the best golf is private. Mystic Creek is really the only public course in contention for the top course in the state.
However, Arkansas is home to a lot of big, burly courses in excellent condition. And the private golf carries the state to certified underrated status.
4. Missouri
Whenever I’m asked to recommend a nontraditional golf destination, I like to throw Missouri in the mix.
With the development of Big Cedar Lodge, I think golf in the Ozarks definitely has its place. Does it have the substance and depth that a few other states on this list have? No, but I don’t say that as a jab. There are still plenty of choices and it’s a cool place to hang out with more than just golf on the menu.
Payne’s Valley and Ozarks National have definitely pushed Missouri up in the rankings.
I would also say that St. Louis has some solid golf pedigree with St. Louis C.C. and Bellerive.
3. Alabama
I’ll defend the Yellowhammer State and not just because of Jason Isbell.
Your first association with Alabama golf is likely the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, a 26-course offering spread out across the state. That’s 468 holes of golf that are relatively affordable and there are fantastic state resident/membership programs.
Ross Bridge, Capitol Hill, Grand National, Oxmoor Valley … these are some really strong layouts. In terms of maximizing high-quality golf while not paying astronomical prices, I’m not sure you can do much better than the RTJGT.
And then you go to the private side: Shoal Creek, Old Overton, Country Club of Birmingham.
I’ll also say there is a lot more land movement throughout ‘Bama than you expect. It’s not Florida. There are some really cool places to check out.
2. Michigan
There is an argument to be made that Michigan is no longer an underrated golf state but I’m still going to include it here.
From an Alister Mackenzie behemoth (Crystal Downs) to major championship pedigree (Oakland Hills) to Tom Doak’s innovative reversible layout (The Loop at Forest Dunes), Michigan golf gets an A+ for versatility.
The variety here is remarkable. Do you want old-school treelined golf at private facilities? Windswept linksy public courses that weave in and out of the dunes? Quirky as hell? Michigan has all of these categories with room to spare.
Arcadia Bluffs, Kingsley, Detroit Golf Club—Michigan is a stout golf state.
1. Nebraska
When I first thought of writing about underrated golf states, Nebraska immediately came to mind.
The sandy hills and links-like terrain of the Cornhusker state make for a highly unique environment, especially given how Nebraska is located centrally within the country. I’ll admit that getting there isn’t necessarily easy but it’s so worth the trip.
An added benefit is this isn’t Bandon or a place where golfers are flocking in droves. There are amazing courses to be found where you don’t have to book two years in advance. My only fear is that Nebraska will soon shift out of the underrated category as everyone catches on.
If you want a crash course on Nebraska golf, I highly recommend this No Laying Up deep dive as they traveled through the state earlier this year. But the spark notes is that you have Sand Hills, Prairie Club, Landmand, Wild Horse … these are some of the best courses in the country, let alone the state.
So those are my 10 most underrated golf states. What do you think?
Let me know in the comments.
Top Photo Caption: Landmand is one of the top new courses in the country. (Courtesy Landmand)
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