Hardest Course You've Ever Played (in the U.S.)

[Middler]

Muirfield Village in OH, and Cog Hill in IL are the toughest courses I’ve ever played myself, but I haven’t been to as many bucket list courses as some here. Recently played Tobacco Road, looks really rough but not as hard as it looks - the most unique course I’ve ever seen/played - fascinating!

[ballplayer002003]

On 4/27/2021 at 6:15 PM, KC Golf said:

I agree that Pinehurst #7 is very difficult.  I remember #2 being very difficult on approaches with long irons.  I didn't play the tips on #2 and the greens were more receptive given it had rained that week, but it was still hard getting the ball close.  I can see how it would be amazing as test for the world's best with a US Open set up.

I would say that on a typical windy, Fall day in Bandon, OR.  Pacific Dunes and Bandon Dunes are some of the toughest courses to play in America.  Even with caddies telling you where to hit it, it can still be very hard to hit and keep it on the greens and make putts.  Some par 3s were next to impossible with the wind gusts.  I learned how to take half swing 5 and 6 irons for trajectory distance control.  I should note that I was very impressed at how good the caddies were.  

 

My buddy played Bandon and said the same thing!  He absolutely loved the courses.  Bandon is on my bucket list for sure.  Call me crazy, but I hope we play when it's windy as hell...I just feel like it's only right to do that.  haha

[Ben_Howell34]

Toughest I’ve ever played was Fallen Oak in Biloxi. Beautiful course in the middle of nowhere, greens like glass. To be fair I’m no golf savant and about an 11 handicap, not well traveled golf wise, but looking to change that!! 

3 minutes ago, Ben_Howell34 said:

Toughest I’ve ever played was Fallen Oak in Biloxi. Beautiful course in the middle of nowhere, greens like glass. To be fair I’m no golf savant and about an 11 handicap, not well traveled golf wise, but looking to change that!! 

Edited May 9, 2021 by Ben_Howell34

[Dodgerfan]

Hardest most difficult course I ever played was in Zionville Indiana called Wolf Run.   It had a stretch of three holes that Nick Faldo was quoted as saying were the hardest three holes in a row he has played.    Unfortunately the club closed in I believe 2017.

[J0K3R]

I'll just put this one in there as well.  Can't find the actual scorecard but numbers here are accurate.

[BEEJ]

Hardest course and best course I ever played was the Kampen Course at Birick Boilermaker Golf Complex. Pete Dye redesigned both courses at Purdue. I have to admit my bias as I am Purdue alum. Indiana has an underrated golf scene.

[Brian A]

Played in a charity outing at Laurel Valley in PA. Didn’t realize how prestigious it was. That being said it was the hardest course I have ever played. The greens were the fastest I’ve ever seen. Normally I am a decent putter (avg 31 putts per round) and I couldn’t hit a putt to save my life. Beautiful course though

[WildcatGolf]

Hardest Course I have ever played is Bellerive, and it just happened to be the week before a Mid-Am event at the club. They had the greens rolling almost a 12 on the stimp-meter, and the greens were hard and fast.

Shot 84, 14 greens in Regulation, and had 45 PUTTS. On the Day I played it was 92 degrees and we teed off at 1:30. 

[Bosox04]

Musgrove Mill Clinton, SC

[tchat07]

Local course in Maryland. The Club at PB Dye. Was ranked the 27th hardest course in the country in 2007 by Golf Digest. Multiple blind tee shots and approach shots. Multi tiered undulated greens. Tall fescue rough. Yeah that course can be an absolute brute if you are playing for the first time.

[Shapotomous]

Toughest days of golf I have experienced were in heavy wind on courses in the Ocean City, MD area on our fall golf trips.  One year we played Rum Pointe the day after a hurricane brushed the coast.  The wind was still blowing about 30mph and that course is right on the bay.  We knew we were in trouble that morning when we saw whitecaps in the hotel pool.  We actually used our brains and moved up a set of tees that day but it was still an extremely tough day of golf! 

Another year we played a Nicklaus course, Bayside in Selbyville, DE in some serious wind and I was the only one to break 100.  We didn't move up a set of tees that day and it showed.  The group actually took that course out of the rotation for quite a few years because everyone found it so difficult.

[QuantumGolf_X]

BAYONET at Bayonet and Black Horse near Monterey. The course is long, add the marine layer and the ball doesn't fly at all. The par 4 9th is probably the toughest hole I have ever played. Uphill, dogleg right, and the green is surrounded by bunkers. The golf course is punishing, but it is a great classic layout in a beautiful setting. I'm always game for some torment out there.

[Paul Hedrick]

For me it would have to be Tobacco Road in Sanford North Carolina.  This course was so far out of my skill level; it was horrible.  I enjoy courses that are challenging, just not ones that are soul crushing.  I know that given the chance to play there again, I will pass on it. 

[Lmerrick]

Bethpage Black all the way back on all tee boxes. Our caddy let us play back box on every hole. Most boxes had back tees up at least one box from the back. It was a beating. Best 82 I ever shot. 

[Tom the Golf Nut]

Bethpage Black before it was a tour stop. It didn't have the high maintenance it does these days.

I had a rough time at TPC River Highlands right after the tour played the Travelers there. Like the next day after. My buddies best friend was the superintendent. Brutal green speeds. The greens were pretty easy to read but the speed was like putting on linoleum. The course was a bear from the pro tees. After a few holes I had to move up to the human tees. It really made me appreciate how well the Pro's play.

[Rickp]

17 hours ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

Bethpage Black before it was a tour stop. It didn't have the high maintenance it does these days.

I had a rough time at TPC River Highlands right after the tour played the Travelers there. Like the next day after. My buddies best friend was the superintendent. Brutal green speeds. The greens were pretty easy to read but the speed was like putting on linoleum. The course was a bear from the pro tees. After a few holes I had to move up to the human tees. It really made me appreciate how well the Pro's play.

Played TPC Cromwell often.  We lived only short distance and one of my buddies lived next to 9th green.  
Like you stated days after Tournament were tough and I was barely able to see fareways from Pro Tees!!  The few days B4 they shut course down for the Tournament was also a bear.  It was a fun time.  
My buddy is down here in Fort Meyers.

[Headhammer]

On 1/24/2021 at 10:40 AM, Watchnut33 said:

Harbour Town was incredibly difficult, as there is zero room for error off the tee and the course is so tight that if you’re not in the right part of the fairway you have to be able to shape your shot to have a chance at the green. Great course though, reallY enjoyed shooting over 100 there. 

I’m not far from there, is it public? I love trying out new courses, even when they’re way harder than I should play. 

Hmmmmmm, wife and I were planning a weekend at Harbour Town this summer. She's straight as an arrow off the tee-me, not so much!

[Rickp]

58 minutes ago, Headhammer said:

Hmmmmmm, wife and I were planning a weekend at Harbour Town this summer. She's straight as an arrow off the tee-me, not so much!

Hope you & Wife play Harbor town.  It’s really nice.  It’s different than when I played there 15-18 years ago I think for the better.

[JimmyShanks415]

I played Baltusrol a couple weeks before the 2016 PGA Championship and given the conditions, it is probably the hardest round of golf I have ever played. Rough was thick enough you could drop a ball and lose it. Greens were fast enough to land on the front and roll off the back with anything more than like 9i or wedge. Absolutely gave me an appreciation for what pros deal with on a week to week basis.

For something a little different... The Shattuck in Jaffrey, NH is a 142 slope at only a little over 6000 yards. Target golf at its finest. Couple buddies and I usually go once a year towards the end of the season to lose half the balls in the shag bag.

Edited May 6, 2022 by JimmyShanks415

[Rickp]

4 hours ago, JimmyShanks415 said:

I played Baltusrol a couple weeks before the 2016 PGA Championship and given the conditions, it is probably the hardest round of golf I have ever played. Rough was thick enough you could drop a ball and lose it. Greens were fast enough to land on the front and roll off the back with anything more than like 9i or wedge. Absolutely gave me an appreciation for what pros deal with on a week to week basis.

For something a little different... The Shattuck in Jaffrey, NH is a 142 slope at only a little over 6000 yards. Target golf at its finest. Couple buddies and I usually go once a year towards the end of the season to lose half the balls in the shag bag.

The Shattuck is definitely a bear to play. We did a road trip there many years ago.