Put Your Swing To Work At These Beginner-Friendly Golf Courses
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Beginner-friendly golf courses are well-manicured and designed to make it easier for players of any skill level to get in a few holes without having to worry about their shots. These golf courses are fun for everyone involved, so there’s no need to worry about not enjoying the sport.
It can be tough to find the best golf courses for beginners, but don’t worry — we’ve got you covered! We’ve compiled a list of beginner-friendly golf courses in different U.S. cities that are just right for people who want to get started with the sport without being overwhelmed.
These courses have been selected to focus on providing a stimulating game and being a good introduction to what playing on any course entails.
10 Highly-Ranked Golf Courses For Beginners
Oxmoor Valley Golf Course
Golf Advisor Rating: 3 stars
This course is located in Louisville, Kentucky. It has 6 holes, and the greens are usually cut at around 7200 feet.
Why beginners like Oxmoor valley golf course:
- The golf course offers a relaxing atmosphere that should be soothing to all those who play.
- It’s considered challenging enough for golfers of all levels.
- The course is open to the public most of the time, and it provides lessons and tournaments as well.
Sewickley Heights Golf Course
Golf Advisor Rating: 3.5 stars
This course is located in Pittsburgh. It’s a par 70 course. The greens are usually at about 7150 feet, and 18 holes total with 9-holes on each side.
Why golfers like Sewickley Heights:
- Sewickley Heights golf course is challenging enough for experienced players while still being accessible to newer players.
- The course has been a favorite of golfers for years, and it also offers a variety of amenities that should be suitable for everyone.
- Tournaments are offered, and they should be exciting for those who want to learn more about the game.
The Hermitage Golf Club
Golf Advisor Rating: 4 stars
This golf course is located in Pennsylvania. It’s 18 holes with 9-holes on each side.
Why golfers like The Hermitage Golf Club:
- The Hermitage Golf Course is known for being very well-maintained.
- It also offers various challenges that should make this golf course perfect for golfers of all levels.
- The club is welcoming to all who want to learn more about the game, and they also offer lessons in addition to tournaments.
Bay View Golf Course
Golf Advisor Rating: 3.5 stars
This one is located in Michigan. It’s 18 holes total with 9-holes on each side. The green turf is usually about 7250 feet long.
Why golfers like Bay View Golf Course:
- This course is very much open to the public, and they welcome new players.
- They have affordable rates, and the club also offers tournaments for those interested in competitive golf.
- They allow the opportunity for anyone to try their hand at golfing, regardless of previous experience or skill level.
- The course welcomes players of all levels, and it’s designed in a way that makes it fun to play for everyone involved.
Pebble Creek Golf Course
Golf Advisor Rating: 4 stars
This golf course is located in Georgia, at the Fort Gordon military base. It’s 18 holes total with 9-holes on each side. The green turf is about 7100 feet long.
Why golfers like Pebble Creek Golf Course:
- This course welcomes beginners since the course is designed to be very welcoming and fun for players of all skill levels.
- It’s affordable as well, and it’s a great place to improve one’s game while still enjoying the fun atmosphere of golfing.
- The course offers lessons and tournaments for those interested in getting more involved with the game or improving their skills.
Cascades Course at Sweetgrass Golf Club
Golf Advisor Rating: 4 stars
This golf course is located in Virginia. It is 18 holes total with 9-holes on each side and a green turf about 7100 feet long.
Why golfers like Cascades Course at Sweetgrass Golf Club:
- Cascades Course at Sweetgrass Golf Club offers discounts to active military personnel and an 18-hole discount to retired veterans.
- The golfers who visit are usually very impressed with the kindness and hospitality offered by this beautiful course.
- It’s a challenging course, but at the same time, it’s not too challenging so that new players can learn more about the game and improve their skills while having fun as well.
Trumbull Country Club
Golf Advisor Rating: 3.5 stars
This is a golf course located in Ohio. It’s 18 holes total with 9-holes on each side. The green turf is about 7100 feet long.
Why golfers like Trumbull Country Club:
- The club offers some very affordable rates, and it’s a great place for new players to start while still offering plenty of challenges for anyone who is more experienced with the game.
- Golfers are usually surprised by how beautiful the course is, in addition to how much fun they have while playing there.
Shorehaven Golf Course
Golf Advisor Rating: 3.5 stars
This golf course is located in Michigan. It’s 18 holes total with 9-holes on each side. The length of the green turf is usually around 6800 feet.
Why golfers like Shorehaven Golf Course:
- Shorehaven Golf Course is designed to be very welcoming for golfers of all skill levels, and it’s a great course that offers many challenging holes in addition to having fun holes.
- It’s a great course for beginners, and it also appeals to experienced golfers, who enjoy practicing their game while also having fun while doing so.
The Oaks at High Point Country Club
Golf Advisor Rating: 4 stars
This is a golf course located in South Carolina. It’s 18 holes total with 9-holes on each side. The green turf is about 7100 feet long.
Why golfers like The Oaks at High Point Country Club:
- Great views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in addition to several other stunning vistas that make this a truly breathtaking golf course.
- It’s a great course for beginners who are not ready to play on many great courses yet.
- It’s also not too difficult for more experienced golfers, as there are several holes out there with some pretty challenging greens and bunkers that will provide plenty of fun challenges for them as well.
- Another thing that makes it appealing to experienced players is how beautiful the course is and how impressive some of the views are while playing on it.
Ponte Vedra Golf Club
Golf Advisor Rating: 4 stars
This golf course is located in Florida. It’s 18 holes total with 9-holes on each side. The length of the green turf is usually about 7100 feet long.
Why golfers like Ponte Vedra Golf Club:
- It’s a very challenging golf course, and the greens are of the highest quality that you’ll see out there. Their shape is also complicated to read and, therefore, quite challenging.
- The landscaped grounds around it are also of high quality, so you’ll always have something pretty and interesting to look at while playing it as well.
- Just like other courses on this list, it’s a beautiful course with great views of the ocean and the surrounding area as well, which is something that more experienced golfers will really appreciate as well if they’re into that type of stuff.
- Solid gameplay: It’s not as simple as tapping the ball to make it go straight. I would’ve liked to see that, but the gameplay is solid and enjoyable.
Cities With The Best Golf Courses For Beginners
Los Angeles
The Los Angeles area is home to some of the best golf courses for beginners. You can get started at El Dorado Golf Club in Long Beach. It is an 18-hole course that’s considered ideal for beginners because it’s short and relatively easy.
The fairways are wide, and the greens are rolling and undulating to help provide an engaging experience. There are also driving ranges where you can practice your swings before heading out to play on the course itself.
The Los Angeles Golf Club in Burbank, California, is another enjoyable option. It has a simple layout that’s easy to follow and offers various challenges that make it exciting for beginners.
This 18-hole golf course is also considered ideal for beginners because the fairways are wide, and the greens are undulated to help you get comfortable with putting. There are also driving ranges where you can practice your swings.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas is one of the most interesting cities in the U.S. when it comes to golf courses for beginners.
Shadow Creek course is challenging but manageable enough for beginners. It is an 18-hole course that includes natural scenery, elevation changes, sand traps, and water hazards — not to mention some tricky greens that may come into play depending on your skill level.
However, it has been branded as a Las Vegas resort course primarily because it is easily accessible for beginners and experts who are willing to expand their game outside of their comfort zone.
San Diego
San Diego is a great city for beginners because it is home to several golf courses designed especially for newcomers to the sport.
The San Diego Golf Course in Mission Valley is an 18-hole course. It features gently sloping fairways and undulating greens (which you may find are more forgiving than those found on a traditional golf course).
The driving range includes iron and wedge ranges as well as a chipping green. The practice area features a covered tee box with access to both indoor and outdoor hitting bays.
Orange County
The Dana Point Golf Club in Dana Point is a scenic 18-hole course that features natural and artificial obstacles. It is composed of small but tricky greens that require accurate drives but will let you enjoy an invigorating experience with thrilling scenery.
Summing up
As a beginner in the sport, it’s recommended that you start on a short course that doesn’t have many hazards or obstacles. These courses will help you refine your golfing skills and feel more comfortable exploring other more difficult options.
Learning the ins and outs of golf can be challenging, but it can also be fun and rewarding. Golf courses designed for beginners will help you get comfortable with the sport while still providing a stimulating experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many holes are on beginner golf courses?
Easy golf courses for beginners will typically contain from 5 to 18 holes. Many of these courses have nine and ten-hole courses, which you may be interested in if you’re interested in seeing how your skills develop as you play more throughout the course.
2. What are the benefits of choosing a golf course for beginners?
While some golf courses specifically look out for beginners, most locations have some aspect of their course that will suit both beginner and advanced players.
In general, beginners find it easier to improve their skills as they can concentrate on learning proper swing technique and form rather than practicing shots on a full-fledged golf course.
The greens tend to be softer, while fairways are wider and more forgiving so that you can concentrate on long shots without having to worry about hitting into hazards or trees.
3. Which golf courses are ideal for beginners?
Golf courses for beginners come in all shapes and sizes, as there are many variables to consider when selecting the best option for you.
4. What are the best types of golf courses for beginners?
The best golf courses for beginners tend to be fairly short and have plenty of fairways. These courses are also welcoming and aren’t too challenging, so you don’t need to feel intimidated when you head out to play.
When you’re looking at the best golf courses for beginners, make sure that they have large, undulating greens and smaller putting surfaces so that you can get used to your putts hitting the green and rolling into the cup.
This will also help you learn how to align new custom irons and wedges in your bag.
5. What are considered easy golf courses?
Easy golf courses are specifically designed with beginner players in mind. They have large fairways, generous greens, and few water hazards or other obstacles that could disrupt your game as a beginner golfer.
They’re often accessible if you have your own equipment and don’t mind playing on less than ideal greens. There are so many easy golf courses around the country.
6. What is considered difficult golf courses?
Difficult golf courses are designed for players of all skill levels, but they generally require putting skills, a strong short game, and a fairly high handicap for beginners. They’re usually challenging in the sense that you’ll need to use good judgment to be able to play them well.