Golf is an increasingly expensive sport, especially when it comes to green fees.
There are some courses that have gotten out of control, charging consumers astronomical rates. In a lot of cases, the experience of playing on these layouts doesn’t merit the exorbitant cost.
Fortunately, there are still great courses available for play at a reasonable price point. Not all of them have the hype or history to match their more expensive competitors but they can be every bit as worthy—in some cases, we even prefer playing the “cheaper” layouts.
Here are 15 of our favorite “don’t break the bank” golf courses across the United States. Some of these courses are on the higher end of the “low-budget” definition; some are just fun, affordable tracks you have probably never heard of unless you are a local.
The rates below are based on guest adults playing 18 holes but all of the courses have various discounts for local residents, juniors, seniors or others. Rates may not include a cart. Click on each link for further information.
We have no affiliation with any of the courses—these are just some favorites we have enjoyed.
Have any great budget courses in your area? Share your hidden gems in the comments below.
George Wright (Hyde Park, Massachusetts)
Rates: $50-$57 (MORE)
One of the standout municipal courses in the country, George Wright is named after the Hall of Fame baseball player who championed the growth of golf in the Boston area. The well-maintained Donald Ross layout is hilly and difficult but never feels unfair or contrived. It’s usually crowded, and there is no driving range, but few courses can boast this level of golf for less than $60.
Rustic Canyon (Moorpark, California)
Rates: $34-$104 (MORE)
Just north of Malibu, Rustic Canyon is a dreamland for architecture nerds on a budget. Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner and Geoff Shackelford combined to design a course that is minimalistic, ultra-playable and interesting from a strategy perspective. The native barrancas and sagebrush form a gorgeous backdrop.
Wild Horse (Gothenburg, Nebraska)
Rates: $61-$75 (MORE)
Wild Horse may not be on the level of its more famous and exclusive neighbors but it does offer a believable impression of them. The layout is rugged, firm and fast with expansive fairways framed by fescue. Wind is expected and adds to the whole experience. Military can get on for about half the price of the normal rate.
Royal St. Cloud (Kissimmee, Florida)
Rates: $30-$63 (MORE)
Florida deserves some criticism for unaffordable and/or poor public golf,but Royal St. Cloud in the Orlando area goes against that trend. Even at the height of snowbird season, you can play 18 holes with a cart for $63. It is a links style—as much as a course in central Florida can be considered a links—with fast greens, sand dunes and a solid routing. You can do worse for a lot more money.
Warren Course at Notre Dame (Notre Dame, Indiana)
Rates: $42-$115 (MORE)
There are many university courses that could make this list so we’ve selected two of the best. The first is Notre Dame’s Warren Course, site of the 2019 U.S. Senior Open. It’s a beautifully simple Midwest classic with tricky greens and a captivating mix of holes—some are wide open and others require accuracy as you navigate tree-lined fairways. Maintenance is superb and you can find some terrific deals at twilight and/or in shoulder seasons.
Rawls Course at Texas Tech (Lubbock, Texas)
Rates: Dynamic Pricing ~ $39-$91 (MORE)
Sticking with the college theme, the Rawls Course at Texas Tech is an unexpected delight. Despite being nowhere close to an ocean, the wind-whipped Tom Doak course plays like a legitimate links. It is welcoming off the tee and has massive greens—but the Rawls is far from a pushover. The facility is one of the few that uses true dynamic pricing, regularly allowing cheaper rates for one of the nicest college courses in the country.
Crystal Lake Golf Course (Lakeville, Minnesota)
Rates: $48-$78 (MORE)
About 20 miles due south of Minneapolis, Crystal Lake is relatively short off the tee while offering an intriguing blend of holes. It won’t overwhelm golfers with difficulty—and the green complexes are forgiving with room to miss—but the consistent conditioning and playable nature of the layout makes it a favorite for locals. The back patio is a nice place to be on a summer evening.
Bethpage Red (Farmingdale, New York)
Rates: $55-$100 (MORE)
Bethpage Black gets all the headlines—and it has one of golf’s most famous signs—but Bethpage Red can hold its own. The Red is also an A.W. Tillinghast design but is friendlier than its more brutish sibling. Despite that, it is a layout with tons of sharp doglegs and sudden elevation change. It’s a little more affordable than the Black (which is a tremendous value itself) and you won’t get your teeth kicked in quite as hard.
Buffalo Dunes (Garden City, Kansas)
Rates: $25-$30 (MORE)
It’s difficult to get any cheaper than Buffalo Dunes, a windswept layout known for being one of the best munis in the heartland. The course has been going through an extensive renovation the past few years with trees removed, greens and bunkers rebuilt and regrassing of certain areas. The overhaul has actually saved money because of a reduction in water bills. Buffalo Dunes is in stunningly good shape given how little it costs to play.
The Creek at Qualchan (Spokane, Washington)
Rates: $52-$56 (MORE)
One of our favorite parts about The Creek at Qualchan is its $2,500 unlimited pass. Even in a short season, that is a great deal for avid golfers in eastern Washington. Framed by tall trees, the course has gentle rolling terrain, some quirky holes and surprisingly fast greens. The par-4 13th is one of the more bizarre holes you will find—it’s a steep downhill tee shot leading to a small green perched on a hill—but otherwise it is playable and fun.
Corica Park South (Alameda, California)
Rates: $50-$99 (MORE)
The South Course at city-owned Corica Park is one of the cooler stories in municipal golf over the past 10 years. Inspired by the Australian Sandbelt region, the course was completely rebuilt in 2018 using 120,000 truckloads of dirt to raise the property—that is why you will find unusually firm conditions that complement welcoming fairways and large green complexes (8,500 square feet on average). The greens run at about 11.5 on the Stimpmeter, fast for a muni. Corica Park is a great model for interesting, sustainable municipal golf.
Diamond Springs (Hamilton, Michigan)
Rates: $30-$70 (MORE)
Michigan is a top-tier golf state—we could probably pick any number of reasonably priced gems. We’ll go with Diamond Springs, a true hidden wonder just south of Grand Rapids. The course has generous fairways that are regularly mowed slightly higher than normal to make them more plush. Diamond Springs is tucked away into the trees but doesn’t come off as claustrophobic, giving the feeling of being out in the middle of nowhere. One of the great value plays in Michigan.
Breakfast Hill (Greenland, New Hampshire)
Rates: $37-$61 (MORE)
Breakfast Hill is located near the Atlantic coast just south of the New Hampshire-Maine line. It recently hosted the New Hampshire Open and is a favorite of locals. The course is known for being in good shape, boasting firm greens and having a welcoming layout that isn’t overly challenging. One compliment you will hear a lot about Breakfast Hill: the customer service is as friendly as you will find anywhere.
Tanglewood (Clemmons, North Carolina)
Rates: $37-$64 (MORE)
Just outside Winston-Salem, N.C., Tanglewood is a Robert Trent Jones II design that underwent a major renovation in 2018. The previous iteration of the course hosted the 1974 PGA Championship. Tanglewood has a similar feel to Southern Pines Golf Club across the state—the greens are fast and you can’t get any better, given the price. Golfers in the Charlotte area should be willing to make the drive to play here.
Veterans Memorial (Springfield, Massachusetts)
Rates: $28-$45 (MORE)
It is hard to get a better value than Veterans Memorial in western Massachusetts just north of Hartford, Conn. The conditioning is remarkable for a course you can walk for $28. If you want a straightforward, well-kept golf course at a cheap price, this is a phenomenal option.
