America's Most Gorgeous Golf Courses

This is where golf architects go for inspiration. Maybe because National Golf Links of America models many of their holes after famous ones from all over the world. Among them are the Road Hole and Eden from St. Andrews, Alps from Prestwick, Redan from North Berwick and Sahara from Sandwich. But don't just waltz up to the front door and ask to play -- they're very much a private club.

National Golf Links of America biggest claim to fame is hosting the first Walker Cup in 1922 (remember that?). Noteworthy given they reprised their role last September when they hosted the event again.

Designed By: Charles B. Macdonald 
Yardage: 6,873 
Par: 73 

Built in 1999, Bandon Dunes is one of five vastly different courses built on the pristine native sand dunes onsite, 100 feet above the Pacific Ocean in Oregon. There's no pricey real estate on the fringe, no golf carts and no splashy clubhouse on the beach, part of an elaborate vision of owner Mike Keiser, who wanted to stay true to the Scottish tradition. Due to often high and rather persistent winds, you'll want to keep the ball low to the ground or you could end up on the beach. Literally.

Designed By: David McLay Kidd  
Yardage: 6,732 (from black tees) 
Slope: 143 (black tees) 

Striking views of the San Jacinto Mountains, streams, native flowers and waterfalls all make up the eye candy at Indian Wells Golf Resort, next to the Miramonte Resort & Spa. From the fauna and flora you'll see, you wouldn't know you're in the middle of the low desert. Not that it's a find -- Indian Wells hosts "more than 600 tournaments annually" so clearly, the secret's out.

Pictured above? Hole number 14 on the Celebrity Course, a par-five with more traps than an episode of Wile E. Coyote v. Road Runner. 

Designed By: Clive Clark 
Yardage: 6,632 (from the blue tees) 
Slope: 132 

If there's one thing South Carolina is known for, it's golf courses -- both mini golf and 18-hole wonders. One reason why it's indeed a compliment that Wild Dunes Resort got voted one of the best in the state according to Golf Digest. There are two 18-hole courses open to the public at Wild Dunes -- the Links Course and the Harbor Course. The Links Course was Tom Fazio's first golf course design ever and comes complete with "rustling palms lining lush, rolling fairways to a finishing hole overlooking the glistening Atlantic Ocean." That's a lot of flowery adjectives, yes, but seriously ... does it get any better than that? 

Designed By: Tom Fazio