Best of collegiate golf courses in 2019

Golfers' Choice: Top 25 college golf courses

You don't have to be a booster or alumni to play these public-access, university-affiliated golf courses
Walker golf course at Clemson - hole 17
The Walker Course at Clemson University is known for its Tiger Paw par-3 17th.

The United States is home to a wide array of university-affilated golf courses at campuses large and small. Some are historic and exclusive, like Yale Golf Course. Others are relatively new and affiliated with resorts. A surprising amount are humble and only nine holes, especially at smaller universities.

Many of these collegiate courses are open to the public, and when they are, the rounds are typically affordable and feature scenic, development-free layouts. Other times they are conveniently located right on or next to campus, which makes for a fun day of golf followed by a festive meal or watching a game.

We found the most popular college courses available to the public by assessing our golf course reviews community. We applied our Golf Advisor Index logic that weights recent reviews over older ones. Courses needed at least one 2019 review to be considered for this list and also offer non-affiliated guest access.

You don't have to root for any of these schools during bowl season or March Madness to enjoy their golf courses.

Want to get involved in future rankings? Click here to review a golf course, whether it’s your first or your 100th.

  1. Kampen Course at Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex

    West Lafayette, Ind. |Read reviews
    Purdue University
    Guest green fees: $92-$109

  2. University Ridge Golf Course

    Verona, Wisc. | Read reviews
    University of Wisconsin
    Guest green fees: $50-94

  3. Seven Oaks Golf Club

    Hamilton, N.Y. | Read reviews
    Colgate University
    Guest green fees: $35-65

  4. University of Michigan Golf Course

    Ann Arbor, Mich. | Read reviews
    University of Michigan
    Guest green fees: $125-150

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      Favorite college golf courses

    • University of Georgia Golf Course

      Athens, Ga. | Read reviews
      University of Georgia
      Guest green fees: $42-$49

    • Zollner Golf Course

      Angola, Ind. | Read reviews
      Trine University
      Guest green fees: $29-$39 through April 2020

    • Ackerman-Allen Course at Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex

      West Lafayette, Ind. | Read reviews
      Purdue University
      Guest green fees: $92-$109

    • The Walker Golf Course at Clemson University

      Clemson, S.C. | Read reviews
      Clemson University
      Guest green fees: $50-$70

    • Rawls Golf Course at Texas Tech

      Lubbock, Texas |Read reviews
      Texas Tech University
      Guest green fees: $39-$89

    • Sewailo Golf Club

      Tucson, Ariz. | Read reviews
      University of Arizona
      Guest green fees: $40-$86

    • Colbert Hills Golf Course

      Manhattan, Kan. | Read reviews
      Kansas State University
      Guest green fees: $65-$79

    • Cobblestone Park Golf Club

      Blythewood, S.C. | Read reviews
      University of South Carolina
      Guest green fees: $50-$65

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    • The Course at Sewanee

      Sewanee, Tenn. | Read reviews
      University of the South
      Guest green fees: $20-$25 (nine holes) plus $10 cart per player

    • Championship course at the University of New Mexico

      Albuquerque, N.M. | Read reviews
      University of New Mexico
      Guest green fees: $39-$59

    • Finley Golf Course at UNC

      Chapel Hill, N.C. | Read reviews
      University of North Carolina
      Guest green fees: $58-$90

    • Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame

      South Bend, Ind. | Read reviews
      University of Notre Dame
      Guest green fees: $60-$90

    • Meadows Golf Club

      Allendale, Mich. | Read reviews
      Grand Valley State University
      Guest green fees: $42-$59

    • Big Blue Course at the University Club

      Lexington, Ky. | Read reviews
      University of Kentucky
      Guest green fees: $48-$60

    • Pete Dye River Course at Virginia Tech

      Blacksburg, Va. | Read reviews
      Virginia Tech
      Guest green fees: $55-$89

    • West Course at Forest Akers

      East Lansing, Mich. | Read reviews
      Michigan State University
      Guest green fees: $43-$69

    • Lonnie Poole Golf Course at NC State

      Raleigh, N.C. | Read reviews
      North Carolina State University
      Guest green fees: $62-$85

    • New Mexico State University

      Las Cruces, N.M. | Read reviews
      New Mexico State University
      Guest green fees: $26-$33 plus $14 cart per person

    • Katke Golf Course

      Big Rapids, Mich. | Read reviews
      Ferris State University
      Guest green fees: $65-$70

    • Duke University Golf Club

      Durham, N.C. | Read reviews
      Duke University
      Guest green fees: $50-$65 through January (summer rates not available yet)

    • Eagle Crest Golf Club

      Ypsilanti, Mich. | Read reviews
      Eastern Michigan University
      Guest green fees: $55-$67

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    Golfers' Choice
    Golfer's Choice rankings are determined by our community of reviewers.
    24 Comments
    Default User Avatar

    Taconic at Williams College, Yale and Scarlet at OSU need to be on the list

    Default User Avatar

    Stanford?

    ?name=K%20W&rounded=true&size=256

    Questionable list of the Scarlet Course at Ohio State not in your top 25....please.

    103dfe16-883f-49da-8ef4-4e1d980f70a0.jpg?v=637187714306012939

    Scarlet doesn't allow public access so it's not eligible.

    ?name=J%20P&rounded=true&size=256

    Cant believe Furman University isn't on this list.

    Default User Avatar

    Taconic, Williams College

    Default User Avatar

    This list is bogus. Yale and OSU Scarlet are perennial #1 and #2 college courses in the country.

    103dfe16-883f-49da-8ef4-4e1d980f70a0.jpg?v=637187714306012939

    neither are open to the public therefore not eligible.

    Default User Avatar

    Obviously, your readers have never played Colorado National (home course for CU Boulder) or Palouse Ridge (Washington State University) or they'd be at the top of your list.

    ?name=D%20J&rounded=true&size=256

    Bogus list because you left Yale off the list.

    103dfe16-883f-49da-8ef4-4e1d980f70a0.jpg?v=637187714306012939

    Yale is private

    Default User Avatar

    How can Blessings golf club in Fayettville Arkansas not be on this list?

    Default User Avatar

    Because Blessings is private

    Default User Avatar

    GREAT VALUES AND SOME GREAT HISTORY. I CONCUR
    OHIO STATE'S SCARLET A REAL GEM. A SLEEPER AND EXCEDINGLY BEAUTIFULL IN AUTUMN IS WILLIAMS COLLEGE COURSE "TACONIC"

    Round Trip Feature: Atlantic City
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