The US Open and PGA Championship are often played at very tough golf courses, but what are the hardest layouts in the United States?
When it comes to the hardest golf courses in the USA, you might cast your mind to Winged Foot, Pinehurst No.2 or Bethpage Black after recent events…
However, none of these, along with plenty of other big names, make it into the top ten!
There are major championship venues, as well as those to have hosted either the Ryder Cup or Solheim Cup, on this list, but we bet that the course at the top of the list is one you haven’t heard of before…
What are the hardest golf courses in the United States?
We have collated the ten hardest golf courses across the pond, and there are some that would scare the life out of a scratch golfer, let alone a high-handicapper.
Among our stats, we have also included the amount of shots that a 15-handicapped would get if they were playing off the back tees at these golf courses, and the results are staggering.
Take a look at the top ten here…
10=. Torrey Pines (South Course)
It is well known as being one of the hardest courses in the United States, but the South Course at Torrey Pines only just sneaks its way into top ten. The South is the host of the Farmers Insurance Open every year on the PGA Tour, and has also played host to the US Open on two occasions – most recently when Jon Rahm secured his maiden major title in 2021.
Fact File:
Par – 72
Yardage (Black) – 7,802
Course Rating – 78.8 (+6.8)
Slope Rating – 148
Course Handicap for a 15 Index – 26
10=. Promontory (Nicklaus Painted Valley Course)
At more than 8,000 yards from the tips, the Painted Valley Course at Promontory is one of the longest layouts you will find in the United States. Designed by Jack Nicklaus to be an inland links course, the Par 72 Painted Valley begins with a par 5 of more than 715 yards if you play off the tips…
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Fact File:
Par – 72
Yardage (Gold) – 8,098
Course Rating – 78.8 (+6.8)
Slope Rating – 152
Course Handicap for a 15 Index – 27
8=. Castle Pines
You want more 8,000 yard layouts? Well, Castle Pines is another of those, and it is also another Jack Nicklaus design. It comes in just shy of Promontory’s distance, measuring 8,054 yards from the Black International tees. Opened in 1981, the course is one of Denver’s finest, and certainly its toughest!
Fact File:
Par – 72
Yardage (International) – 8,054
Course Rating – 79 (+7.1)
Slope Rating – 154
Course Handicap for a 15 Index – 28
8=. Kiawah Island (Ocean Course)
At ONLY 7,356 yards, the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island is the shortest on this list, but for us mere mortals, that is still plenty far enough! Despite being 700 yards shorter than Castle Pines, the Ocean Course also offers a Course Rating of 79.1, +7.1 compared to its par of 72. That is thanks to having the hardest possible Slope Rating of 155!
The venue has played host to some of the world’s biggest tournaments, including the 1991 Ryder Cup and two PGA Championships. Rory McIlroy was victorious at Kiawah in 2012, while Phil Mickelson made history by becoming the oldest man to ever win a major championship, doing so at the age of 50 in 2021.
Fact File:
Par – 72
Yardage (Black) – 7,356
Course Rating – 79.1 (+7.1)
Slope Rating – 155
Course Handicap for a 15 Index – 28
7. Southern Hills
By Slope Rating, Southern Hills comes in at just 142, 12 less than the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island. However, thanks to it being a Par 72, the course plays 7.2 shots over par as its Course Rating, making it slightly harder than the South Carolina venue.
Again, it is not too long in modern standards, at just shy of 7,500 yards. However, the thick rough and narrow fairways make it perfect for major championship golf. It is the only five-time venue of the PGA Championship, while three US Opens have also been hosted at Southern Hills. Raymond Floyd, Nick Price, Retief Goosen, Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas are among the winners at this famous venue.
Fact File:
Par – 71
Yardage (Pink) – 7,481
Course Rating – 78.2 (+7.2)
Slope Rating – 142
Course Handicap for a 15 Index – 26
5=. Country Club of Brookline
The Country Club of Brooklie is the oldest golf-oriented country club in all of the United States, and many will know its history. All golf fans of a certain vintage will remember the infamous ‘Battle of Brookline’ at the 1999 Ryder Cup, while Matt Fitzpatrick completed the US Amateur and US Open double, winning both events at the Country Club.
Again, the Championship Course is not the longest compared to some on this list, at less than 7,300 yards. However, there is plenty of danger around, with strategically placed bunkers, thick rough on both sides of fairways, and small, undulating greens. Despite being less than 7,300, the Course Rating is at +7.3.
Fact File:
Par – 70
Yardage (Championship) – 7,264
Course Rating – 77.3 (+7.3)
Slope Rating – 150
Course Handicap for a 15 Index – 27
5=. Oak Hill (East Course)
The other venue in the United States to have a Course Rating of +7.3 is another to have also hosted multiple major championships. It is also another example where extreme length is not needed to make a golf course difficult.
The Ryder Cup, PGA Championship and US Open have all been played on the East Course at Oak Hill, which was designed by Donald Ross in the 1920s. Lee Trevino and Jack Nicklaus have both won majors at Oak Hill, with Brooks Koepka also doing so at the 2023 PGA Championship.
Fact File:
Par – 70
Yardage (Championship) – 7,390
Course Rating – 77.3 (+7.3)
Slope Rating – 153
Course Handicap for a 15 Index – 28
3=. Inverness Club
Four times a US Open host venue, along with two PGA Championships, two US Senior Opens and the 2021 Solheim Club, the Inverness Club has seen some of the greats of the game take to its fairways throughout its long and storied history.
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At 7,730 yards from the Black tees, the Inverness Club has a Course Rating of 78.4 (+7.4), which sees it into a tie for 3rd place on this list of the hardest golf courses in the United States. It was the venue of Suzann Pettersen’s final putt in golf, as she won the Solheim Cup for the European team.
Fact File:
Par – 71
Yardage (Black) – 7,730
Course Rating – 78.4 (+7.4)
Slope Rating – 151
Course Handicap for a 15 Index – 27
3=. Butler National
Also coming in with a Course Rating of 78.4, or +7.4 to par, is Butler National. Tom Fazio was the man to design the course, which is narrow and tree-lined, and with plenty of penal areas should golfers miss the fairways.
Butler National played host to the Western Open on the PGA Tour from 1974 to 1990, with Tom Watson being a three-time winner of the tournament during its time at the Illinois venue.
Fact File:
Par – 71
Yardage (TEES) –
Course Rating – 78.4 (+7.4)
Slope Rating – 155
Course Handicap for a 15 Index – 28
2. Rich Harvest Farms
The host of the 2009 Solheim Cup – Rich Harvest Farms – is 2nd on the list. It’s Slope Rating is actually higher than the Pete Dye Course at French Lick, but it comes in +0.7 shy of taking home the title of hardest course in the United States! Still, at 79.8 and almost eight shots over par being the average, you can’t argue with how difficult it is.
Fact File:
Par – 72
Yardage (Bronze) – 7,671
Course Rating – 79.8 (+7.8)
Slope Rating – 155
Course Handicap for a 15 Index – 28
1. French Lick Resort (Pete Dye Course)
The hardest course in the United States is at the French Lick Resort in Indiana. Man-made lakes, volcano bunkers and huge elevation changes, the Pete Dye Course has something to scare everyone! The venue played host to the 2015 Senior PGA Championship, with winner Colin Montgomerie calling it “one of the iconic courses of America”.
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Fact File:
Par – 72
Yardage (Golds) – 8,102
Course Rating – 80.5 (+8.5)
Slope Rating – 151
Course Handicap for a 15 Index – 29
Have you played any courses in this list? What would you say are the hardest golf courses in the United States? Let us know your thoughts with a post on X, formerly Twitter!
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