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7 PGA TOUR courses you need to play
Golf is a unique sport in that you can play where the pros play and make golf history of your own. Nothing in golf can compare to playing a world-renowned course and following in the footsteps of the game’s best golfers. The feeling is incomparable, and it’s one we think more golfers should experience!
To get you started, here are our picks of the best PGA TOUR courses you can (and should!) play:
PGA Tour courses you can (and should) play
- Pebble Beach
- TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course
- Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill
- Torrey Pines – South
- Harbour Town
- PGA National – Champion
- Innisbrook Resort – Copperhead
Pebble Beach Golf Links (AT&T Pro-Am, U.S. Open, PGA Championship)
One of the most recognizable golf courses in the world, Pebble Beach Golf Links is the definition of a bucket golf course. Golfers will play iconic holes like the par-3 7th to the stunning par-5 18th. Enjoy great views of the Pacific Ocean as you play amongst the clifftop fairways and make memories that will last a lifetime when you play this PGA TOUR and major championship course.
TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course (THE PLAYERS Championship)
Home to arguably the most famous par 3 in golf, the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass is a top bucket-list course designed by Pete and Alice Dye. A challenging layout awaits that will test all facets of your game, especially shot shaping and course management. Subtle elevation changes, undulating greens, and unique bunkering add a degree of difficulty that stump even the best players in the world. Not to mention one of the best finishing stretches in golf with the long par-5 16th, the iconic 17th hole island green, and the testy par-4 18th.
Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill (Arnold Palmer Invitational)
A course fit for “The King” is what you will experience when you visit Orlando and play Bay Hill’s Championship Course. This classic Florida layout offers generous landing areas off the tee with few trees, but bunkers guard the greens and large ponds will make you rethink your shot choices. The course is only available for members and guests staying at The Lodge, so a stay is required to play this stunning course. But with year-round sunshine and pristine course conditions, it is never a bad time to visit Bay Hill!
Torrey Pines – South (Farmers Insurance Open, U.S. Open)
Another California clifftop course that should be on your bucket list is the South Course at Torrey Pines. Located just north of San Diego, this annual PGA TOUR stop has also hosted two U.S. Opens, which adds to the allure of the property. Narrow fairways and tall rough combined with amazing views of the Pacific Ocean and the California coastline make for an unforgettable round of golf. Large bunkers and elevation changes add to the challenge of the course, but the moderately sized greens offer golfers some respite. Who would’ve thought that a municipal course could be so exciting?
Most recognized by the famous red and white striped lighthouse behind the 18th green, Harbour Town is the brainchild of Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. While the course is relatively short for a PGA TOUR event, the challenging design offsets length for accuracy with the narrow fairways framed by overhanging trees making it a shot makers course. A majority of the course winds through the wooded and sandy terrain before looping back towards the coastline with the final two finishing holes playing along the water.
PGA National – Champion Course (Honda Classic, Ryder Cup, PGA Championship)
With the prominent golf tournaments this course has held, it is hard to leave it off the list. A fantastic Jack Nicklaus design, the Champions Course at PGA National is also home to a famous stretch of golf holes called “The Bear Trap.” The fairways and greens are player-friendly while the bunkers and water hazards are the course’s biggest defense. You will enjoy a 5-star experience and feel like a professional when you visit PGA National’s Champion Course.
Innisbrook Resort – Copperhead Course (Valspar Championship)
One of the more under-the-radar courses on Tour, the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort still offers a challenge even to the pros. Designed by Lawrence Packard, the course, while not heavily wooded, requires accuracy with tight fairways, strategically placed bunkers, especially around the greens, and a decent amount of water hazards that come into play. As you head towards the clubhouse, you will encounter “The Snake Pit;” a collection of the most difficult finishing holes on the PGA TOUR.
There you have it, GolfWRXers. Have you played any of these PGA TOUR tracks? What was your experience? Let us know in the comments.
Editor’s note: This article is presented in partnership with Golfbreaks. When you make a purchase through links in this article, GolfWRX may earn an affiliate commission.
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News
Davis Thompson’s winning WITB: 2024 John Deere Classic
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana DF 70 TX
3-wood: Ping G430 Max (15 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX
7-wood: Ping G430 Max (21 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX
Irons: Ping i210 (4) Buy here, Titleist 620 MB (5-9) Buy here.
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 50-08F) Buy here, Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks (54-08M, 60-04T) Buy here.
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (46), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (50-60)
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #7 Buy here.
Grip: SuperStroke Pistol GTR Tour
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Ball: Titleist Pro V1 Buy here.
The winning WITB is presented by 2nd Swing Golf. 2nd Swing has more than 100,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 John Deere Classic
GolfWRX is on site this week at the 2024 John Deere Classic. With the Scottish Open next week and The Open Championship two weeks away, those who have qualified will be looking to shore up their games in Silvis, Illinois, before heading to European shores.
On the equipment front, we spotted some new SuperStroke x Marvel grips and got an in-hand look at impressive custom Scotty Cameron putters. Our WITB galleries already feature a look at Jason Day’s wares, and general complement the spread.
Be sure to check back throughout the week as we add more photos from TPC Deere Run!
General Albums
- 2024 John Deere Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 John Deere Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 John Deere Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 John Deere Classic – Tuesday #2
- 2024 John Deere Classic – Tuesday #3
- 2024 John Deere Classic – Tuesday #4
WITB Albums
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 John Deere Classic
- Josh Teater – WITB – 2024 John Deere Classic
- Michael Thorbjornsen – WITB – 2024 John Deere Classic
- Austin Smotherman – WITB – 2024 John Deere Classic
- Joseph Bramlett – WITB – 2024 John Deere Classic
- C.T. Pan – WITB – 2024 John Deere Classic
- Anders Albertson – WITB – 2024 John Deere Classic
- Seung Yul Noh – WITB – 2024 John Deere Classic
- Blake Hathcoat – WITB – 2024 John Deere Classic
- Jimmy Stanger – WITB – 2024 John Deere Classic
- Cole Sherwood – WITB – 2024 John Deere Classic
- Anders Larson – WITB – 2024 John Deere Classic
- Bill Haas – WITB – 2024 John Deere Classic
- Tommy “2 Gloves” Gainey WITB – 2024 John Deere Classic
- Tracy Vest – Iowa PGA Section Champ – – WITB – 2024 John Deere Classic
- Jorge Campillo (Iniguz) – WITB – 2024 John Deere Classic
Pullout Albums
- Garrick Higgo – 2 Aretera shafts in the bag – 2024 John Deere Classic
- Jhonattan Vegas’ custom Cameron putter – 2024 John Deere Classic
- Bud Cauley’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 John Deere Classic
- 2 new Super Stroke Marvel comics grips – 2024 John Deere Classic
- Swag blade putter – 2024 John Deere Classic
- Swag Golf – Joe Dirt covers – 2024 John Deere Classic
- Swag Golf – custom John Deere cover – 2024 John Deere Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 John Deere Classic
- Fujikura’s new Ventus Red and Black VeloCore+ shafts – 2024 John Deere Classic
See what GolfWRXers are saying about the photos and join the discussion in the forums.
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Protected: Highlights from the Wilson Golf Product Testing and Fitting Experience at Pinehurst
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Scott
Apr 8, 2024 at 8:39 pm
GREAT LIST! Professional caddie and have looped all the courses on the list. If you have the cash (and it will take A LOT) these PGA played courses are incredible!
Randall Davis
Apr 8, 2024 at 7:18 pm
I have not had the pleasure of playing any of these courses, but I have played a US OPEN course in NY.
Bethpage black is an amazing course. I must have played it 100 times when I was younger, and it was quite a challenge. I also remember paying 3 dollars during the week and 4 dollars on the weekend. I assure you it is no longer cheap, but it is well worth the challenge. And, it is quite a challenge.
Michael
Apr 8, 2024 at 4:08 pm
Play Torrey Pines North before playing the South. I’ve played both dozens of times living in Del Mar during the Winter. Tom Weiskopf made the North into a gem that any local and vacationer will enjoy. All the South is is long and Rees Jones is the most boring modern architect. Play the South once to get beat up. But if time and money are precious, the North is more worth it.
Joe
Apr 8, 2024 at 1:30 pm
Just played Pebble Beach this last Friday. It was the greatest walk and course I have had the chance to play. I walked and got a chance to walk along the coastline and stand where Speith almost went off the cliff (lol). It costs a few bucks to play, but it is something that I will remember for life. My wife walked with me and she loved it also. Ate at The Bench after walking off 18. It was pretty special.