GA has 3 of the best public golf courses for 2026, Golfweek says. Here’s where

Georgia may be home to the prestigious golf tournament, The Master’s, but Augusta isn’t the only award-worthy course in the state.

Golfweek, one of golf’s leading voices, just released their 2026 list the top 100 public-access golf courses in the U.S. and Georgia has three spots on the list.

This list is a major national nod for Georgia’s golf scene, with three of the state’s standout resorts landing inside the top tier.

For the golf-enthusiasts, this list reads like a map for a road trip to visit the best publicly available course the country has to offer.

#30 - Sea Island (Seaside)

Sea Island is Georgia’s top-ranked public course and keeps its perch as the state’s marsh-and-links showpiece.

• Average rating: 7.30
• 2025 ranking: 30
• Location: St. Simons Island
• Architect(s): Charles H. Alison, Harry S. Colt, Joe Lee, Tom Fazio (T75 modern)

#31 - McLemore (The Keep)

The Lookout Mountain cliff-edge course, McLemore, is a repeat name on Golfweek’s radar, and it’s still a reliable course for faithful players.

• Average rating: 7.27
• Location: Rising Fawn
• Architect(s): Rees Jones, Bill Bergin (80 modern)

(tied for) #97 - Reynolds Lake Oconee (Great Waters)

It may be the oldest of Georgia’s three ranked courses, but Great Waters held a spot on national rankings for over three decades.

• Average rating: 6.63
• 2025 ranking: T92
• Location: Greensboro
• Architect(s): Jack Nicklaus (modern)

How the courses are rated

The rankings reflect both hands‑on experience and professional judgment, not just crowd votes or one‑off reviews.

Who contributes:

Golfweek’s rankings are driven by a panel that includes:

• Golfweek editors and staff
• Independent golf experts
• Editorial curation

Contributing factors:

Although Golfweek doesn’t publish a public formula, these elements are weighed together to produce an overall score that feeds into the final ranking.

• Design and architecture
• Playability
• Condition
• Overall experience
• Public access

The list-building process:

It typically works like this:

• Golfweek starts with a long list of public courses across the U.S. that have national or regional recognition.
• Many courses are played and reviewed multiple times, sometimes over several years, so rankings aren’t based on a single visit.
• Experts and editors assign scores or qualitative ratings for the key factors listed above.
• Golfweek’s team compiles those inputs, checks for consistency, and orders the top 100.
• Annual refresh

Three courses in Georgia being ranked in the top 100 is not just remarkable for the state, it’s a national benchmark built from a multi‑source, multi‑year evaluation process.

Have you ever played at any of these courses? Send me your pics or memories via email at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.